Far Horizons: Tales of Sci-Fi, Fantasy and Horror. Issue #17 August 2015 | Page 39

Start of
Term

“Tell me everything. Who are the people to
know? Where do we go? Tell me.” Stacey was so
excited, and both her sister and best friend laughed at
the sight.
“Calm down Stace, you’ll have a fit before
you’ve been here a day.”
“Oh shush Peg, aren’t you excited to be here?”
Peggy Van Alwen, Stacey’s best friend since
they were oh,about four, chuckled. “Yes I’m excited,
but I’m not going crazy about it.”

By Jim King
Laughter and shouts echoed from the ivy-clad
stone walls as happy youngsters met and mingled
along the wide main street, so excited to be starting
university and not a one of them worried that they
would be amongst this year’s victims.
Stacey Parkins was laughing as she tried to
look everywhere at once, her long, dark brown hair
swinging to and fro while she looked from the accommodation blocks to the great hall to the towers and
then to the hundreds of eighteen-year-olds just like her
who had gathered on their first day here.
Beside her, her best friend was silent but just
as happy. Her eyes were wide as she looked at the
people around them and listened to the voices. Every
continent and nation sent students here, and the clothing of every nation graced the corridors and paths of
Cranston Hall.
Stacey felt someone tap her left shoulder and
she turned that way only to hear a laugh from her
right. “Got you again spud.” Turning to her right Stacey saw the grinning face of her big sister, two years
older and a veteran of the hall. “Hey Amanda, this is
fantastic.”
Amanda laughed. “Told you so, best place in
the world. So much to learn, so much fun to be had.”

“Come on sis! Who are the people? Who do
you know?” Stacey pointed at a group a people with
bright red tabards over tee shirts and jeans; they were
standing beside a table piled with leaflets. “Who are
they?” She pointed to a group dressed entirely in black
who strode through the crowds surround by empty
space as people saw them coming and stepped aside.
“Hey Goths.” Then she pointed to a tall distinguished
looking man, coal-black gown over an old-fashioned
charcoal suit and white shirt who stood in the doorway
of the great hall. “Not bad for an old guy; who’s he?”
She kept pointing and asking till her sister
sighed and started explaining.
#
“Isn’t it fantastic Mr Symonds? All these wonderful, happy new students.”
Doctor Marcus Edward Symonds turned his
head slowly and looked down his great, hooked nose
at the short woman who had stepped out of the great
hall and stopped beside him under the arch of its main
doors. His dark eyes stared from under eyebrows shot
with grey and above a thick beard more silver than
black these days. He grunted.
The woman didn’t seem bothered by his mood
and continued to speak. She seemed as excited as the
new students.
“I love this. New beginnings. So many fresh

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