We were afraid of the great storm that raged on Rigal our home planet. This storm came every fifty years like clockwork. Everyone in my hometown worked together so that we could survive a two year stint underground.

The water had to be purified and placed in gourds. The meat had to be salted and cured. At least so much bushels of everything from corn to wheat had to be prepared to be stored.

Last month we had a devastating blight on the bean crop. We managed to selvage a half of the bean crop. Fortunately we had a lot...