The town known as Farrago is built upon the bones of other towns. Centuries ago, before the great geological upheavals that reshaped the stream into a river and grew mountains out of valleys, a network of highways connected rural settlements with larger cities. Factories pumped out smoke and electrical pylons chained their way across the fields. Now, slabs of Anthropocene concrete lie buried under layers of silt and soil, slowly eroded by thick root systems. Given enough time, trees grow in concrete.

​

     For as long as anyone can remember, the people of Farrago have held an annual festival in the centre of town. People from the surrounding villages travel for days for the feast; nomadic tribes include Farrago in their loops. It is known as the Farrago ‘Bazaar’ – an old word that lost its meaning somewhere in the dimly remembered past, for currency has been outlawed in Farrago for three hundred years. The concept of exchange is looked upon with deep suspicion. There are no markets in Farrago, no trade. For visitors, this can be difficult to internalise; outsiders are notorious for committing faux pas in Farrago by attempting to barter with locals.

​

     What is valued in Farrago are not material goods, but knowledge. Maestro aeternus, studens aeternus, goes the town motto, which is engraved on a plaque near the outskirts of the town. A more common turn of phrase is this: “Whoever asks for food will be fed; whoever asks for knowledge will be taught.” The sharing of knowledge is of paramount importance in Farrago. To continually teach, and continually learn, is considered a civic duty. It is thought that the fall of the old world was due to knowledge specialisation and incuriosity – people were content to let others know how to grow crops, how to fix pipes, how to build houses, how to weave cloth. They relied on a system that failed, and then they were helpless. Centuries later, Farragonians are still haunted by the cautionary tale of the Collapse.

​

     In order to learn and teach, the Farragonians use a formal apprenticeship system. After completing an apprenticeship and passing a final test, Farragonians are rewarded with a coloured button which is sewn onto their sash, as a sign to others in the town that they are competent in that skill. At a glimpse, a Farragonian’s standing in the town can be gauged through the number of buttons on their sash.

​

     The greatest sin for a Farragonian is ‘hoarding’ – hoarding of knowledge, and hoarding of goods. To be accused of hoarding is enough to be brought before the Judges as a criminal, and to be found guilty will result in imprisonment until that which has been hoarded is shared. This is a simple process of distribution when it is goods that have been hoarded, but more difficult when the prisoner is hoarding secret knowledge. Unprovoked violence is also unlawful, and Farrago is a generally peaceful town, despite occasional drunken misbehaviour on the night of the Bazaar. The town Principal, elected every two years, represents Farrago ceremonially and leads meetings of the town’s adults to decide on policy.