The Edge
The Center of Activity for All Al Amarjans
The Edge is by far the most populous and popular city found on the Isle
of Al Amarja. Home to about 350,000 people, it is a bustling metropolis that
is growing by leaps and bounds. Many international businesses have decided to base
their Mediterranean operations there, and the number is growing yearly, as
Her Exaltedness's lenient tax code attracts more and more business to the city.
The cosmopolitan nature of the city is apparent even to the most unprepared
tourist. The people come from all walks of life. Not only have the residents come
from the diverse cultures abound throughout the entire Mediterranean, but there
have been immigrants from all over the world in recent years, adding to the cultural
salad and expanding the freedom that our citizens enjoy.
This becomes apparent from the style of architecture; older areas of the city,
like Great Men or Four Points, have traditional Muslim-style buildings, while the
newer and more renovated sections, like Golden or Broken Wings, have skyscrapers
like they have in the Americas or East Asia. Places like the Burbs are built in a
more Italian flavor, while Flowers and Science sport a much more avant-garde style
of architecture. In fact, architecture is almost a hobby of many Al Amarjans; anyone
arriving at D'Aubainne International Airport has commented on the wondrous construction
of the Terminal itself, a creation of Her Exaltedness's son, Jean-Christophe
D'Aubainne.
The Edge gets its name from its location by the sea. The shore of the Edge is taken
up by a wide expanse of cliffs, from which a precipitous drop into the ocean is
inhabited by the city's garbage men. These people are in a program similar to the
one found in Cairo, in Egypt. The garbage men were originally the poorest of the Edge,
but have found new wealth as they sort the trash, removing anything hazardous and
allowing only the most biodegradable materials to reach the ocean. The schools of
fish that have developed there are spectacular, and construction of the D'Aubainne
Ecological Aquarium is expected to start sometime next year.
The Edge is divided into ten barrios, which are each like little cities in their own
right. Each barrio, except for the Burbs, extends from a central plaza.
Arms Barrio
Centered around the Plaza of Arms, this is where many of the offices of government can be found.
Freedom City is
where the actual seat of government is, but offices like the Peace Force, Office
of Revenue, the Democratic Bureau of Investigation and the Center for Paranormal
Control can all be found here. It is usually not visited by the tourists, because
a thorough safety check is required before entry.
Broken Wings Barrio
Broken Wings acts as the living, shopping, and entertainment sector for the upper
class of Al Amarja. The barrio is named after the Plaza of Broken Wings, so named
for the old, crumbling, statue of Icarus that resided there. In 1987, the statue
was restored by the Broken Wings Community Action Society, a benevolent volunteer
group who strives to make Al Amarja a better place to live. To be in this barrio,
one needs to purchase a pass from Dunkleberg's Security, a mere formality if you
do not have a criminal record (which means most of us).
The Burbs
The Burbs is mostly a middle-class barrio. Its architecture dates back to the Italian
occupation of our island. American sensibility has allowed expansion to take place,
so most people have spacious yards and have an easy commute from here to their workplaces.
The roads are clean, the parks kept beautiful, and the atmosphere remains idyllic
in comparison to the breakneck pace of the rest of the Edge. Off to the east of the
Edge, it was the last barrio to be developed and so does not have a central plaza.
Flowers Barrio
This is where the artists enjoy being. Think of San Francisco's Haight-Ashbury,
New York City's SoHo, add the amazing insight of your average Al Amarjan, five
cups of cappucino, and you get the Plaza of Flowers. The center of the plaza
has a well-tended garden supported by local artists, with a central platform
built for performances by anyone and everyone. Most of the people who live
here lead experimental lifestyles, and so much of the area is declared
"public pornography," but I would still recommend a visit just to see human
creativity in action.
Four Points Barrio
This is the oldest barrio in the Edge, and the Plaza of the Four Cardinal Points
was where the city was founded. Don't feed the baboons! They belong to the Dog-Faces,
a group of locals who help the Peace Force in the protection of the habitants of
the barrio. The fountain in the center has fallen into disrepair recently, and is
scheduled to be fixed next year, but still, the striking beauty of the ancient
buildings in the area can still be seen. Most of the nation's genetically
challenged live here, in a strong community for the disabled.
Golden Barrio
This barrio means business. This barrio IS business. Many multinational corporations
have built skyscrapers here, and the trade industry is booming so much, that many new
companies are moving into Traboc
in order not to crowd the surrounding buildings. Overseeing the central Plaza of Gold
is Swaps, the nexus of all the businesses here. Swaps, managed by Her Exaltedness's
daughter, Constance D'Aubainne, acts as the stock exchange, moneylending services,
main banking branch, and moneychanger. The Plaza of Gold itself has been turned into a giant
underground parking structure, which is growing all the time in compliance with
Jean-Christophe D'Aubainne's wishes. Everyone here has a million to make!
Great Men Barrio
This is one of the more run down barrios in the Edge, which is sad to see. Statues
depicting the great figures of our world (Julius Caesar, Akhenaton, Abraham Lincoln,
Arthur, and Genghis Khan to name a few) can be found throughout the Plaza of Great Men.
Still, the contrast of those less fortunate give an ironic and melancholy atmosphere
to the barrio.
Justice Barrio
Justice Barrio is a testament to the power and importance of the working man. The
plaza is home to most of the Edge's blue-collar workers, and it is their pride that
shows strongly in the cleanliness of their streets and businesses. A gallows is
found in Justice Barrio, and it is used by the government for capital punishment.
This area is far better than most of the rest of the world in their blue-collar
districts; it's not only safe, the residents have freedom.
Science Barrio
D'Aubainne University is located here, and so much of the population is students and
professors. Experimentation is the word of the barrio, and the Plaza of Science has
a large platform built for the purposes of demonstrations! Al Amarja celebrates this
youthful inspiration, and we invite our tourists to partake of the festivities.
Sunken Barrio
Sunken Barrio is so named because of Sunken Plaza, which is about six feet lower than
the surrounding land, due to an Artesian well located at the center of the plaza. As
the water splashes forth, catching the light on our statue of Her Exaltedness, Monique
D'Aubainne, it is usually the first true taste of culture that a tourist will
receive. Victory Highway, which extends to D'Aubainne International Airport, ends here.
Duty-free shops, hotels, taxi services, entertainment services, and other businesses
in the area cater to the tourism industry. Also, located here is the Temple for Divine
Experience, the only truly nondenominational temple in the world! It is run by Her
Exaltedness's daughter, Cheryl D'Aubainne, and with her benevolence, she has helped
the first sect get a web presence of their own:
The Temple of the Sommerites.
This article is © 1996 by John Miguel Baker, faustus@psu.edu. Used with permission.
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