The Best of All Possible Worlds

by Karen Lord

“To Cygnians, the Caretakers are the guardians of humanity. They’re supposed to save the best of us from the worst of us, even if it’s only a remnant. We’re not perfect here on Cygnus Beta, but at least for those who claim to have been brought by the Caretakers, there’s an additional claim that they were saved for a reason, chosen for a purpose. Not because they’re better than any other group but because there’s something unique they possess, some characteristic that contributes to the fullness of humanity. It’s a responsibility, not a point of pride. It’s something to live up to, and it helps keep us going.”

The Caretakers are to human ethics what a compressor is to an audio engineer. Compression is god? Or is god a compressor?

“If all the tales are true, no one’s seen the Caretakers face to face. No flaming chariots, no wheels within wheels, no wings. It’s a very boring legend when you think about it—just some people following the music of an invisible Pied Piper, disappearing into one cave near Hamelin, Terra, and emerging from another cave near Hamelin, Cygnus Beta.”