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Skid
The tasting of the plant


Written and Published by Keith Fenwick
PO Box 90312
Auckland
New Zealand

mailto: [email protected].

Copyright (C) Keith Fenwick 2000

The Author asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work.

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A planet called Skid
Keith Fenwick

Also by Keith Fenwick in the Skid series
Skid 2
Return to Skid
Skid 3
Another place called Skid

The tasting of the plant

"We thank you almighty for this harvest." Inel wondered what the words really meant, for
on this planet he was the almighty.
It was a tedious, but possibly the most significant duty of Skid's ruler the annual tasting of
the plant. The origins of the elaborate ceremony were long forgotten, as was the reason the
ceremony was enacted year after year.
Whatever the case it seemed best to carry on regardless. It was a case of continuing a
tradition for traditions sake without question, for to question the need for this ceremony, in this
age would question all Skid's traditions, the very reason for there being a Skidian society at all.
Despite its tremendous significance there was not much to it really. Trying not to tumble
headfirst into the bubbling liquid from his platform, Inel dipped an exquisitely carved, long
handled ladle, into one of the vast open vats where the planet's synthofood was produced. Then
after much chanting and exaggerated gesturing, he tasted some of the latest batch. It was
considered a propitious sign if that he did not keel over on the spot.
It would have been quite a simple process except it proceeded only after an hour or so of