Dear readers, tonight with us is an interplanetary settler, from a group of humans which escaped Earth. He’s here to tell us about exploration expeditions with centuries old technology, with survival of the species hanging in the balance.

Tell us a little about where you grew up. What was it like there?

I was one of the first children born after we landed on the planet we named Imagine! Our ‘Generation Ship’ was taken apart to form our habitat, where I lived my first twenty years. My childhood was pretty happy and uneventful. Went to school every day and learned science. Ate meals in the dining hall with the whole community. Worked out in the recreation center in the evenings.

Did you have any favourite toys as a child? Any cherished memories?

I really liked the building toys we had in school for our “creativity breaks”. We really didn’t have many toys of our own, because we didn’t have much room in our quarters, especially because I had to share a room with my two younger brothers.

Memories – The only thing that stands out was the day my friend Pritz showed up with a baby Beast that he’d met out on the plains. That was pretty cool. When it grew up Pritz taught me how to ride it!

What was your job?

When I graduated from school I was assigned to Maintenance. It was pretty boring. Changing lightbulbs. Fixing broken toilets – pee-uw! I was glad to get away from that.

What are you doing now?

I’m proud to be part of the first expedition into the mountains since the one twenty years ago when my father died. The colony desperately needs resources, especially metals, so we are following the creek up into the mountains to see if we can find where the ore-bearing stones in the creek are coming from.

What did you first think when you found the remains of the helicopter?

The first thing I thought was that maybe we’d find my father’s corpse in it! I was scared to look. But when we got all the creepers off it, there were no remains there. Also, no clue as to what happened to him.

What was the scariest thing in your adventures?

The first night we were camping out, I started wondering if there were any large predators watching us. Pritz assured us that the Beasts would give us some warning if anything dangerous came close. But I kept glancing over my shoulder when we were sitting around the campfire. But so far, so good!

What is the worst thing about hiking through the forest?

I think sleeping in the tent. The sleeping mats are not very thick so it’s not comfortable. And Granth snores! And he has the nerve to suggest that I’m the one snoring! Luckily, we are usually so tired that even thin mattresses and snoring can’t keep us awake.

What is the best thing about it?

Finding new kinds of plants and animals. The Climbers are so cute, and the Pankun trees are amazing! When you put your hand on their trunks you almost feel like you can hear them thinking, I can’t explain it. And they don’t mind if you cut off their bottom branches. And their nuts are delicious, and Jehani says they’re very nutritious.

Tell us a little about your friends.

Granth has always been my best friend. He’s the one who is really interested in rocks and geology. I just want to build things. Jehani is really smart and she’s had a bit of medical training. Pritz of course is the Beast Whisperer, he takes care of the Beasts who are carrying our gear. He’s also made friends with the Climbers. And of course, there’s Pirrul. She likes plants and is busy finding new foods for Rennie to cook. So together we have all the skills for a good expedition.

Any romantic involvement?

I think everybody knows by now that Pirrul and I are, ahem, romantically involved. Pirrul is great! We’ve grown up together and she is always up for an adventure. The fact that she wanted to come on this expedition is proof that she’s the woman for me! I want to ask her to marry me, I’m just waiting for the right moment.

Whom do you really hate?

Oh! That’s easy! Yarenga. I hate Yarenga. He’s been bullying me ever since preschool. Just because his father is the Captain, he thinks he’s better than everybody else. He’s not nearly as smart as he thinks he is.

What’s your favourite food, colour, and pastime?

My favourite food has always been pakoras – you know, those little fried packets of pea flour filled with potatoes and veggies. Dipped in hot sauce! Yum! My favourite colour has to be red, like my hair. Pastime? When I was at school I liked lifting weights in the evenings. After sitting still all day it felt good to be stretching my muscles. Now we’re on the expedition, my muscles are getting a good workout all the time. What I find myself doing in the evenings is daydreaming about how I might build stuff like furniture.

What does the future hold for you?

I like it so much up here in the mountains, I’m already thinking about starting a permanent settlement up here. It would be good to do what I want, not just what I’m told by an Officer down in the Colony. If we find a good spot, I’d like to try my hand at building a house. Maybe my friends will stay, too. I’m pretty sure Pirrul will!

Can you share a secret with us, which you’ve never told anyone else?

I don’t have any secrets, but there’s a big secret I want to find out. We’ve been here for twenty years, so why have we not gone out exploring before now? Something weird happened before I was born, and I think it had something to do with the death of my real father. But nobody will talk about it! They all just shut up when I get anywhere close to asking. I’m going to find out what happened!

Debut author N. A. Walker is an avid reader of science fiction and has a particular interest in survival techniques. In addition to reading, she loves gardening, working for social justice, travelling, and camping in the mountains. She lives in Winnipeg, Manitoba, with her husband and two poodles. She has five adult children and six grandchildren.

You can find Eiric on the of A Planet Called Imagine.

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