Salty and Cara – Purple Peak 7
Love and crime in a world of fruits and vegetables – a juicy fable.
Third story, final episode: Salty is back from Purple Peak, but has urgent business to attend to. So Cara makes a trip to Turnip Town, where they are celebrating their glorious annual ‘Festival of Colors’.
What is this all about? [Overview and Table of Contents]
Bright as Nightlight
When she arrived at the gates, Alpha and Beta were already waiting for her. Beta had outdone herself. She was dressed in a fabulous multi-colored outfit that resembled some kind of exotic insect. Alpha wore a dark red coat and a hat of the same color with a bunch of green leaves on it. ‘The stereotypical classic understatement,’ Cara thought to herself as she imagined how her mate would dress up if it ever came to the occasion. Which would not be on this date, that was quite certain. Salty had arrived in New Valley. He had stopped by her new home. But he had looked terrible. And that was not only due to the fact that he had traveled far and long. He had just been able to tell her that the Mayor of New Valley was expecting him first thing in the morning. She had asked for more information, but he had refused. In a certain manner she was not really used to from him. Which worried her. But she also knew that there was nothing she could do to help him at the moment.
All the better, then, that she was now on her way to the most spectacular party of the year. Not that she had ever dreamed of actually getting in. That was strictly limited to the residents of Turnip Town – and those who had the means and connections to pay their way in. Really important fruit.
While she had been lost in thought, her colleagues had been making assessments of her wardrobe.
“You look ravishing!” Though Beta was definitely always a good sport, there was that little pang of envy she could not hide.
“Well, it’s your coat. I just spruced it up a bit.”
“Mostly by wearing it, dear, you are so beautiful. Just that. No polishing needed.” Beta had found her old self again. Cara really liked her, because everything about her was real. It was hard to imagine that she was actually a high-bred.
Alpha laughed: “I’m going to be so glamorous tonight with you two by my side. They will all turn green with jealousy.”
“That would be bad,” Beta remarked, “because that would mean that all the fancy lighting had gone into the fields. They go through a lot of trouble to make sure the light around here is always the right color.”
“They do?” Cara had simply never been to this part of New Valley before, and it was all very strange to her at the moment.
“This is the public part of Turnip Town,” the makeshift beet root next to her explained, “which means any root can walk around here all day without having to worry about green marks.”
“Isn’t it too dark for you? And what about the potatoes? I heard that they live completely in the dark in a separate part of this district.”
“That is true. When they do come out, sometimes accompanied by their Isopod pets, they usually wear hoods, masks, and coats that basically brush the ground all the time. But we don’t live here. We live in what is commonly known as the Plant Light District. The place for the really amazing fruits. Culture, music, art, architecture, the wildest parties. We have it all.”
“Hm, still. There would have to be asymmetrical lighting patterns, which would mean resting under daylight instead of a half-dark night sky.”
“Very well observed. You are not, by any chance, the mate of a famous detective, are you? Oh, you are!” Jokingly, Alpha lined up in the middle between them and began to lead them into the district. “They’re going to close the doors soon, so you better get a move on, my lovely companions.”
“Closing the doors? For what?”
“Oh, it’s tradition. It’s also a way of reminding the ordinary people of the New Valley – and their public police – that this place has its own rights and governs itself.”
“It does? But it can’t. The law for New Valley says that everyone…”
“Ah, law, splat, splat … Turnip Town makes sure that New Valley’s nightlife and infrastructure works the way it should, and in return they get to do things pretty much the way they want.”
“Who is ‘they’?”
“The big turnip and beet families – especially the Ourbecks – are certainly the top roots here. And the potato clans from below. And the Don’s family, of course. Their money bought the place and everything in it. Without the Tomatonis, there would be nothing but underground mines and a few shacks. Don T’s grandfather turned it into a business and put a little sparkle on it, created the real nightlife of New Valley. That’s what this place is all about. That, and the job placements for all the turnips and beets. That’s mostly where the Ourbecks made their money.”
“I see…” Cara had no time to wonder, because now the big parade was underway. Behind her she heard a loud thud as massive doors fell into place in thick walls. But the thought was quickly overtaken by the sound of great drums. A wave of song and music, carried by a sea of instruments, was now moving down through the main passageway. Riding that wave were opulently decorated moving stages mounted on large cargo floaters. They were filled with dancers, singers, and other performers. Cara smiled as she plunged deeper into the spirited elements of Turnip Town and followed her friends down into the mountain.
“Closing the doors? For what?”
“Oh, it’s tradition. It’s also a way of reminding the ordinary people of the New Valley – and their public police – that this place has its own rights and governs itself.”
All rights reserved. Copyright ‘Salty & Cara’ by Mag M. Schaper 2023-2025
Side Notes:
- Do you get the feeling that this is not really the end of the story? Well, you are right! Because next year, at the end of January (last post of the month, as always), the adventure continues as Cara is plunged into a mystery in the new story ‘Plant Light District’.
- You have no idea what is going on? Well, maybe take a look at the [Salty and Cara – Info Page], the [Salty and Cara – Who is Who] page or the [Salty and Cara – How About] page.
Needless to say, the stories about Salty and Cara are pure figments of my imagination. No resemblance to any person or place – present or past – is intended. But I am sure you have already figured that out 😉