[AUDIO) We begin on a space station, hearing the hum of the slow turning engine. The room is large and nearly empty.

ARCHIVIST: Welcome to the Archives. Our record for review today will be from section 27: Historical Worlds. Today’s sample is from Tiroh, then a rich farming world. Please note that any opinions expressed in these samples belong solely to the speaker on record and do not reflect the views of this station, the archival union, or the Collected Archives itself. If anything in this review causes listener distress or confusion please report to the nearest attendant for assistance. Potential sources of distress include mild cursing. Please also note there will be time for questions and observations once the sample has concluded.

[AUDIO] [At the sound of an electronic swoop, the sounds of the space station fade away. They are replaced by a rushing stream. There’s a little wind.

LAS: Well I… I guess I’ve turned it on, though I don’t know what I’m supposed to say.

[AUDIO] small, mechanical noises followed by the long sound of a line being cast out into the water. The sound of the line being played out continues as Las speaks.

LAS: It’s um… It’s… It’s sunrise, or just about. The stream’s a bit high and fast from last night’s rain. I guess that’ll be good for the green too.

The launch isn’t until almost dark, so I have most of the day. I figured to spend the morning here. Otherwise it’s just too long a goodbye.

Ah!

[AUDIO] A splash the fishing line being reeled in

LAS: Heh, eh, ah! Hah! Almost had ya!

You can see the farm from here, you know. It looks just fine. Plenty of green, neat rows of it just like always. You’d never think, just looking…

[AUDIO] the line being cast again

LAS: [with a slight laugh] I think this recorder’s scaring all the birds off. Usually I’ve company when I fish. Then again, the fish are scarce too.

Glad it’s clear out. If I got to pick a day to hold onto, take with me it’d be one like this.

[AUDIO] the soft ticking of the line playing out, then being slowly reeled in as Las speaks

LAS: I think the thing I’ll… I’ll miss most, besides all of you of course, is this quiet. Up there everything will be tied to generators and computers and engines, even the air. I expect you get used to the drone of it after a while but… eh.

Funny that we’re leaving in spring. You’d expect it to be later.

[AUDIO] A few clicks as he fiddles with the reel, then the sound of the line being cast again

LAS: Remember that song, the one about the seasons?

[LAS - singing]: IF SPRING’S A BRIGHT YOUNG MORNINGTHE PROMISE OF A DAYTHEN AUTUMN’S SOFT SURRENDERHELPS TO SLEEP THE COLD AWAY

[AUDIO] the sound of the line being reeled back in slowly

LAS: I keep thinking about it. About how Tiroh’s like a year, and the year before was the Andoli moon, and the next year will be some new place, except all the seasons are generations long.

You’d never know it without putting your hands in the ground or counting the crops, that we’re almost to Tiroh’s winter. I hope once we get there there’ll be enough left to keep things green for you, at least for long enough.

[sings again]TILL WE RETURN TO SPRINGTIMELET ME DREAM, LET ME RESTAND REMEMBER SUN, REMEMBER GREEN, REMEMBER

I just wish it were earlier, that we still had some summer left, here.

[AUDIO] faster clicking as the line is pulled in

LAS: You all hope once we’re on the orbitals I’ll move on, find a partner, have some children and go looking for our next spring. Maybe I will, but I’m not there yet.

[AUDIO] reeling the line in quickly followed by a small splash

LAS: Damnit, lost the hook.

[AUDIO] a couple of footsteps and the sound of a metal lid being opened

LAS: They say the orbitals are more efficient, but you know I have to wonder. Why didn’t we start off with them then?

Tiroh’s beautiful, and ours. Why use it up first? We’ve had orbitals before, on the last three worlds at least. Why didn’t we just set them up right away?

I know, that’s a question for some leader or scholar or Attendant at the Center, not someone like us, but I still wonder.

And yes, I know better than to ask once I get there, I’m not a comple- Ooh! Hey!

[AUDIO] fast reeling and finally, a splashLAS: There we go! I was beginning to think I’d have to get on that rocket without any luck at all.

Well, time to go then. There’s long enough for lunch before I pack.

I don’t know if this is the kind of message you all wanted but, I hope so.

[AUDIO] Las hums a bit more of the song, the words “springtime” and “let me rest” coming through the humming while walking toward the recorder and turning it off]

[AUDIO] an electronic swoop again signals a change. The sounds of the stream fade away and the sound of the space station returns.

ARCHIVIST: The speaker in this sample, Las, was part of the orbital farming community which eased the transition from depleted Tiroh to the world Haised. Although we have since learned how to monitor our green worlds and keep food production demands low enough to prevent permanent damage to their ecosystems, the shift from Tiroh’s surface to orbital farms proved to be too late. This recording was discovered while the orbital station was being dismantled and moved. The inhabitants of that station were dispersed to nearby worlds by that time.

This concludes today’s record. If you have any questions or wish to comment on today’s experience, please visit an attendant and they will happily record your response.

[AUDIO] With a softer swoop, the sounds of the hall fade out to be replaced by the sound of a smaller, softer room. An office.

FIRST ATTENDANT: Hmm… You do love your farmers, don’t you.

ARCHIVIST: They asked me for.. Unplanned moments, ordinary people. I think they find it more honest.

FIRST ATTENDANT: They’re dragging their feet. I’ve had just about enough of it, and of your farmers and children. Show them something special next time, something real.

ARCHIVIST: I- yes. I will.

[MUSIC[ A sparse, lonely repeating motif with a sound like crystal, a shifting bed of strings underneath.

CREDITS: The Last Echoes is written by Trace Callahan with editing by Evan Tess Murray. Direction is by Evan Tess Murray. Sound design and music are by Trace Callahan. This episode features James Reily, Chijioke Williams, and Trace Callahan. We are so glad you’re here to share these stories with us. You can find us online at Lastechoespod, on Twitter, the Fediverse, and Tumblr or visit our website lastechoes.com. We’d love to hear from you.

Thank you to our season one supporters, including Maddie, Rebekah, Kate, Anne, Christopher, Holly, Tina, Stephanie, and Caroline.

Keep telling your story, the fishing trips and sunrises, the old songs and new adventures. Together, our stories make our whole world. And when all that’s left is an echo, no one’s voice is small.