April 9, 2024
Editor’s Note: This post is not available to Inland readers, and can only be viewed by Outland readers such as you. The reason is that 98 percent of Bricklyn’s populace is not aware of the Outland, human world. Please do not share what you will read with any Bricklynites you may happen to speak with!
by Samantha B. Fortune, Bricklyn Eagle Health & Science Reporter
Two dozen Bricklyn Kyndige joined an excursion to Vermont’s Outerlands yesterday. The trip, sponsored by The Samfundet, was to view the solar eclipse that crossed the northwestern quarter of Vermont. As a Kyndige myself, I accompanied the group both out of personal interest and to cover the event for the Outland online edition of The Bricklyn Eagle.
As many Outland readers know, only Bricklynites who are Kyndige are aware of the Outland world. Ninety-eight percent of Bricklynites are not even aware of the fact that the Realm of Bricklyn is located within the confines of the Outland city of South Burlington.
The Samfundet — the organization that represents Kyndige Bricklynites — organized a special bus trip to the Vermont Outerlands, that is, the portion of Vermont located within five miles of its border with Bricklyn. It is only in this limited part of the Outland world that some Bricklynites (i.e., Kyndige) are able to visit.
Viewing a Total Solar Eclipse
The purpose of the trip was to view the April 8, 2024 solar eclipse, a phenomenon unknown in the Realm of Bricklyn for the simple reason that the Earth’s Sun is never visible in Bricklyn.
Before embarking yesterday, Bricklyn’s Chief Cosmologist, O’Neal DeGas Brickson, briefed the group on the mechanics of solar eclipses and their quite special place in human history.
The group travelled to a quite scenic viewing spot just two miles west of the Brickooski River (the border between Bricklyn and South Burlington).
Shortly after arriving, the eclipse began, reaching totality at about 3:26 pm. Reactions ranged from shock and disbelief to a feeling of rapturous joy.
Bricklynites React to the Eclipse
Nancy B. George, of Bricklyn Junction, found the experience “completely otherworldly,” adding that “this has been only the fifth time I’ve been in the Outerlands, so I’ve only seen the actual Sun and Moon in person a few times. But to see the Sun being gobbled up by the Moon was a startlingly beautiful sight.”
Standing next to Nancy George, South Bricklyn resident Gary Tiler Morris, nodded in agreement.
“As a Kyndige,” he said, “I’m privileged, but also burdened, by knowledge of the Outland world. While it is hard to be one of those few Bricklynites aware that our Realm is confined within an alien world inhabited by humans and may even be a simulation, being a Kyndige does afford the opportunity to view some remarkable natural phenomena not present in our own Realm.”
For Sam Slaterbrick, seeing the eclipse confirmed the wisdom of a decision he only recently made. “As a sophomore at Bricklyn University, I just decided a few weeks ago to major in cosmology. Hearing our Chief Cosmologist talk before we headed to the Outerlands, and then experiencing the eclipse, makes me hope that one day I’ll be able to work in the Chief Cosmologist’s office.”
The only bad news coming out of the trip was hearing that the next total solar eclipse slated to traverse Vermont won’t come for another 55 years (on May 1, 2079). But there are a number of places around the globe where the wait will be a lot shorter! ✥
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