Beetles Finish Memorial; Committee Claims Credit

Lachlan Petrosyan, chair of the Remembrance Committee, spent Thursday standing in a cathedral he says his committee designed. The vault was meant to be a forest of glow-tube timber, one trunk for each of the 4,100 settlers lost in the Second Thaw. Beetles ate the plan.

What do you make of the nave?

"It is better than the forest. We said so at the vote, and the vote was eleven to two."

When did you notice the beetles?

"In the fourth year. The trunks were leaning together. We assumed settling. Then there were arches, and Dalia in Maintenance said arches do not occur by settling."

Did you stop them?

"We met every week for six years to discuss stopping them. We drafted a Beetle Liaison Plan. We hung a sign. Cosmin read the sign aloud to them once, very clearly."

The beetles farm fungus on the vault's walls, which now glows blue and smells of bread.

"The beetles raised the roof. We raised the matter of credit. The plaque reads 'Designed by the Remembrance Committee, with the beetles.' Some wanted 'with assistance from.' We compromised."

Has the committee visited since the vote?

"Every week. We stand where the forest was meant to be. The beetles walk over our feet. They have never once looked up."