lChapter Two

The Desert Saga

S'nor

The Shoe Maker

Vulcan's hot, dry, dusty climate lent itself to the wearing of light weight foot gear with contrasting weight soles to absorb the heat. The weight of the soles allowed the wearer to negotiate even the most heated sands or paved street. This type of footwear was what was worn with Vulcan robes. With trousers, boots were the acceptable foot attire for males and females. Spock had to become use to the daily use of boots as footwear when he first entered Star Fleet Academy.

The soft material against the Vulcans foot insured there were no foot disorders such as corns, callouses, bunions, hammer toes which were quite prevalent in city dwellers on Terra. On Vulcan, both male and females wore the same two styles slippers, laced or open. Each pair of shoes was made by hand for the individual who ordered it. Measurements were taken and entered in to the store's data bank to update any information already encrypted there.

Traditionally, this trade, like so many others, was handed down from father to son or if the male had no sons, to a nephew. Since the killing of an animal for its hide was against "The Vulcan Way". Articles, such as slipper, bags, luggage, and suits for use by individuals riding a motorcycle, that on Terra would have been manufactured using leather were made with a synthetic substitute which was extremely durable, water proof and easy to maintain.

S'on's reputation as a highly skilled tradesman in his field of expertise insured him of return customers. The only latitude within the choices his customers could have was the color of the slipper. Another observation that elevated his product was the subtitle elevated designs on the surface of slipper he created for a female wearer.

The design and construction of the Vulcan slipper, along with their practiced graceful purposeful strides,* contributed to the silence associated with either the approach or departure of a Vulcan.

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What would have been observed about this large group of men to gather each year to harvest crops from the large agricultural locations was that most were in business for themselves or joined with a small business group. This time away from the cities, immersed in the quiet of the country, was used to regenerate their creative instincts.

S'nor, like so many others used the opportunity to search for different plant sources for use in the manufacture of his product. Although this was an independent study, any finds or discoveries would have to be reviewed by his trade guild. One of the ideas he had already been given license to pursue was the addition of colorful designs on slippers made for females. He had noticed that Terran females took delight in different styles of footwear. Although he desired no deviation from the basic design that had serviced his people for centuries, the addition of colorful embroidery, or paintings, or threadwork he felt appealed to females of the higher houses who traveled off-planet and displayed these slippers at various Vulcan sponsored affairs.

He and the family of weavers that worked along with St'gon, the tailor had created robes and shoes sold as a set, both being made in the same color.

He recalled that the first customer to view and purchase his works was Osu Sarek's Terran wife, Lady Amanda. He was in the back workroom when he heard the signal bell ring and he came into the display room to be greeted by The Lady, who was in fact one of his favorite customers. She was accompanied by her son, Spock. He had observed how much the young man had grown since last he had seen him.

At the time of their last visit to the store Lady Amanda informed him that the family would be off planet for some time and that she needed to have two pair of slippers for her son—one that would fit him then, and another pair that would allow for his certain growth while they were away from home.

S'nor calibrated information using his growth rate during the past year, his projected growth since he was now fifteen sun cycles and could be expected to have accelerated growth and S'nor was able to determine the size of the extra pair of slippers.

At that between age, Lady Amanda's son had been an extremely aesthetically pleasing youth, quiet, polite and exceptionally attentive to his mother. S'nor recalled he had stored all the necessary information and turned to inform Lady Amanda when the slippers would be ready and discovered her deeply engrossed in the examination of the displayed colored slipper. She inquired,

"If I brought all my robes to you would you be able to make slippers to match them?"*

S'nor answered in the affirmative.

She informed him that these would be delivered to him the next day.**

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Like so many of the workers who joined one another each year, searching the natural settings while away from the city he found this was a way to spark his creativity. When not working he would roam the outdoors searching for things in nature that would trigger his creativity energies. After his previous experience he was certain that the guild would be receptive to any of his further suggestions and would allow him to test any additional ideas out on a select group of customers.

But, all creative ideas stopped the day of Va Pak. He heard the panic in his families' voices which stated the hopelessness of their situation. Although the exodus was orderly, the supplies taken were meager the group of 325 males that escaped Vulcan's implosion were in a state of shocked disbelief; for some escape from the repercussions of 'The Immeasurable Loss' was found in their joining with their lost loved ones in death. For others, it would be in their efforts to memorialize them through their most glorious feats of creativity.

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*Purposeful Stride: A Vulcan traditionally learned this type of walking at an early age. It was exceptionally graceful and practiced by both men and women. It looked especially impressive when the Vulcan was wearing robes, so that is when it would be employed. (this is not cannon but is my sister M'Celeste's creation)

**In my story, 'The Ambassador's Son', chapter twelve, Spock points to Lady Amanda's robes hanging in the closet and the matching slippers on the shelf above.