Symphony of a Million
© 2009 by Dan Graves
Joseph Kagawa’s Trinity Symphony is sometimes called “The Symphony of a Million,” or “The Twelve Worlds’ Symphony” because a million performers on twelve worlds participated in the premiere, back in 521— the biggest coordinated effort between the worlds up to that time. But on Ankwon’s World, Kagawa’s masterpiece has always been known as the JAH Symphony. The knuckle-biting experience by which Jez, Adjai, and Hub attached their initials to the work is a story worth repeating.
Zarbin Station.
The aisle of the command center of Zarbin Space Station was a gully between high banks of switches, knobs, orbs, sliders, levers, throttles, joysticks, meters, gauges, vernier scales, gradiometers, dials, computer screens, theodilites, and every other instrument its personnel needed to monitor and manipulate their massive habitat and its communication apparatus.
Facing forward and on either side, multi-layer windows of tempered glass looked out upon the grandeur of the Marin-Hope Expanse. Stars winked in the front window, as spokes of the station’s semi-detached centrifugal wheel eclipsed them in its steady revolution of about four turns a minute. Thrusters stabilized the station itself, however, so that it did not turn, for even in weightlessness, rotation would be about as pleasant as a ride in a clothes dryer.
The staff turned now as Captain Collier exclaimed with triumph in her voice, “Read this!”
She passed a printout to Adjai Suwemi who was stationed at her elbow, floating with his magnetic shoes detached from the metal floor. Adjai glanced down the communiqué. It was rewarding news indeed, considering the efforts they had expended over the last few days.
“Well, what does it say?” asked a young woman in a pale, immaculate bodysuit, annoyance in her voice.
Jez thinks I’m being favored because of my upcoming role in the symphony, guessed Adjai.
“It’s from First Octant, Prime,” he said aloud for the benefit of everyone. “Earth writes: ‘Coincidence perfect. All here are eager for tomorrow’s multiplex. The Great King will be delighted.’”
“We’ll do a final adjustment tomorrow morning,” said Collier, “but it appears Zarbin Station is set to fulfill its role in the greatest combined act of worship in human history.”
The technicians erupted with whistles and cheers. Adjai cheered with them. What a tour de force it will be, he thought. And we’re part of it!
Just two and a half months earlier, Jez and he had graduated from high school on the planet Ankwon; now they were here, in an entirely different solar system, thousands of miles from the nearest planetary body, about to make history. Surely Jez, too, must feel the excitement. He glanced at her. She stared through the windows into space, seemingly without emotion.
“That’s all for today,” continued the captain. “To your projects, all of you…And Adjai, find Mark. He’s waiting to show you over the power plant.”
Symphony of a Million