The Fall of Chance by Terry McGowan Read Free Book Online Page B

your losses somewhere. One child dressed was a net win and they had two other, bigger, fish to fry.
    “That’s right, it’s my Fall today,” he answered.
    Jenna looked thoughtful as she flicked at her horse’s wooden mane. “Will you be getting married?” she asked.
    Unt smiled. “Not for a couple of days - and only if I’m lucky - but today I’ll find out who I’m going to marry.”
    “Will you and Bulton marry the same girl?”
    Unt laughed. “I shouldn’t think so.”
    “I hope you do,” said Jenna. “Then you can all come and live here with us.” With that, she put her horse back on the floor and girl and horse galloped away on all fours.
    Unt helped himself to a second cake and by the time he’d finished, the whole family was assembled in the kitchen. Yvesse had made a brave attempt of taming her son’s wild look but it was a losing battle. Already, errant tufts were starting to break loose.
    Sandy gave a single loud clap. “Right, family. Everyone here? Yes? Then let’s get going.”
     
     
    *              *              *              *
     
     
    The procession up to the Square was a cleaned-up alternate version of the night before. The family walked in a single line abreast, Bulton between his parents and Unt on Sandy’s right. Unt held Jenna’s hand while the other two girls bickered noisily on the far left.
    They were one of a score of such lines coming from this direction alone. Ahead of them, a friend of Unt’s – Telon - was with his family and Unt had seen two other groups behind them. Other similar groups would be making their way up all the thoroughfares connecting to the Square.
    In amongst the families there were scattered other groups, all heading in the shared direction. The Fall was a big event for the whole community, not just those touched directly and so it was of interest to everyone. As Councillor Pello had said last night, it was a celebration of the whole community.
    Friends and acquaintances called good wishes as they passed. Sandy took charge of answering these. Bulton was strangely quiet.
    Fortune Square was a riot of colour. Bunting and banners were everywhere, like an explosion of joy. The eleven colours of the eleven Orders were scattered in and among each other as though clamouring for attention. Last night’s braziers now had their fierce, primal energy subdued and drowned underneath this bloom of optimism.
    Beneath the gaudy display, the crowds were gathering. Those in the Fall were distinctive in their self-made outfits and were mostly gathered near the front. Unt and Bulton’s family struggled to find a spot where they could squeeze in together.
    They stood facing Fate Hall and it wasn’t long before the little girls grew restless and started playing up. Sandy continued his proud-father role, greeting and receiving wishes from other nearby people who were also waiting.
    Old people, moving alone or in pairs, seemed on a mission to fill in every space between the families and they called out good-luck messages to the waiting youngsters. At least a dozen people Unt had never met squeezed his shoulder, smiled and offered either best wishes or advice not to worry. Unt simply endured it. He had more to worry about than exchanging simple pleasantries with strangers. His friends about him seemed to be doing the same.
     
     
    *              *              *              *
     
     
    Time dragged. It seemed the waiting would never end. In keeping with the spirit and purpose of the occasion, the Fall would be declared at a random time anywhere after eleven. Unt wondered how long it had been: there was no clock in the Square and he wasn’t lucky enough to have a watch.
    A deep, resonant, metallic sound filled the Square, stopping all chatter in its tracks. Without any person appearing from the Hall, the great doors opened inward. The shadowed interior began to suck in people like a vacuum. The