{"id":134334,"date":"2018-12-03T09:58:21","date_gmt":"2018-12-03T09:58:21","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/thecoloredlens.com\/?page_id=134334"},"modified":"2018-12-03T09:58:21","modified_gmt":"2018-12-03T09:58:21","slug":"the-colored-lens-19-spring-2016","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"http:\/\/thecoloredlens.com\/?page_id=134334","title":{"rendered":"The Colored Lens #19 \u2013 Spring 2016"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><a name=\"start\"><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/thecoloredlens.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/CoverFinal.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/thecoloredlens.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/CoverFinal-790x1024.jpg\" alt=\"CoverFinal\" width=\"790\" height=\"1024\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-58520\" srcset=\"http:\/\/thecoloredlens.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/CoverFinal-790x1024.jpg 790w, http:\/\/thecoloredlens.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/CoverFinal-231x300.jpg 231w, http:\/\/thecoloredlens.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/CoverFinal-768x996.jpg 768w, http:\/\/thecoloredlens.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/CoverFinal.jpg 1271w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 790px) 100vw, 790px\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<center><br \/>\n<FONT SIZE=7 STYLE=\"font-size: 48pt\">The Colored Lens<\/FONT><\/center><\/P><br \/>\n<P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" ALIGN=CENTER STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in\"><br \/>\n<FONT SIZE=6><center>Speculative Fiction Magazine<\/center><\/FONT><\/P><br \/>\n<P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" ALIGN=CENTER STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in\"><br \/>\n<FONT SIZE=5 STYLE=\"font-size: 20pt\"><center>Spring 2016 &ndash; Issue #19<\/center><\/FONT><\/P><br \/>\n<P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" ALIGN=CENTER STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in\"><br \/>\n<BR><br \/>\n<\/P><br \/>\n<P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" ALIGN=CENTER STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in\"><br \/>\n<FONT SIZE=5><center>Featuring works by Steve Toase, Reshad Staitieh, Derrick Boden, Sarah Hogg, Preston Dennett, Josh Pearce, Walter Donaldson, Janie Brunson, Jamie Lackey, Timothy Mudie, Steve Rodgers, and Brad Preslar.<\/center><\/FONT><\/P><br \/>\n<P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" ALIGN=CENTER STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in\"><br \/>\n<FONT SIZE=5><center><br \/>\n<\/center><\/FONT><\/P><br \/>\n<P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" ALIGN=CENTER STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in\"><br \/>\n<BR><br \/>\n<\/P><br \/>\n<P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" ALIGN=CENTER STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in\"><br \/>\n<FONT SIZE=5><center>Edited by Dawn Lloyd and Daniel Scott<br \/>\nHenry Fields, Associate Editor<\/center><\/FONT><\/P><br \/>\n<P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" ALIGN=CENTER STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in\"><br \/>\n<BR><br \/>\n<\/P><br \/>\n<P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" ALIGN=CENTER STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in\"><br \/>\n<FONT SIZE=5><center>Published by Light Spring LLC <\/center><\/FONT><br \/>\n<\/P><br \/>\n<P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" ALIGN=CENTER STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in\"><br \/>\n<FONT SIZE=5><center>Fort Worth, Texas<\/center><\/FONT><\/P><br \/>\n<P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" ALIGN=CENTER STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in\"><br \/>\n<FONT SIZE=5><center>&copy; Copyright 2016, All Rights Reserved<\/center><\/FONT><\/P><br \/>\n<P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" ALIGN=CENTER STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in\"><br \/>\n<BR><br \/>\n<\/P><br \/>\n<P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" ALIGN=CENTER STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in\"><br \/>\n<FONT COLOR=\"#000080\"><SPAN LANG=\"zxx\"><U><center><A HREF=\"http:\/\/www.TheColoredLens.com\/\"><FONT SIZE=5>www.TheColoredLens.com<\/FONT><\/A><\/center><\/U><\/SPAN><\/FONT><\/P><br \/>\n<\/center><br \/>\n<P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"margin-bottom: 0in\"><BR><br \/>\n<\/P><\/p>\n<hr>\n<p><mbp:pagebreak \/><br \/>\n<P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal\"><br \/>\n<a name=\"TOC\"\/><\/a><br \/>\n<a id=\"TOC\"\/><\/a><\/p>\n<h1 align=\"center\">Table of Contents<\/h1>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"#home\">The Delicacy of Laughter<\/a> by Steve Toase<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#tucky\">Tucky Sinkowa&#8217;s Fabulous Magic<\/a> by Reshad Staitieh<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#rain\">The Rain Dancers of Solaris Planum<\/a> by Derrick Boden<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#exchange\">The Exchange<\/a> by Sarah Hogg<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#wild\">Stars Are Wild<\/a> by Preston Dennett<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#cola\">Jenny Cola<\/a> by Josh Pearce<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#blink\">Blink<\/a> by Walter Donaldson<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#factory\">The Soul Factory<\/a> by Janie Brunson<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#ruthgar\">Lord Ruthgar&#8217;s Legacy<\/a> by Jamie Lackey<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#beast\">A Ravenous Beast<\/a> by Timothy Mudie<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#omnos\">Omnos<\/a> by Steve Rodgers<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#fearful\">A Fearful Lesson<\/a> by Brad Preslar<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#interview\">Author Interview &#8211; Sean Monaghan<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><\/P><\/p>\n<hr>\n<p><mbp:pagebreak \/><br \/>\n<a name=\"home\"><\/a><H1 LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" ALIGN=CENTER STYLE=\"font-weight: normal; page-break-before: always\"><br \/>\n<FONT FACE=\"Times New Roman, serif\"><FONT SIZE=6>The Delicacy of Laughter<\/FONT><\/FONT><\/H1><br \/>\n<P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nBy Steve Toase<\/P><br \/>\n<P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nAfter the faces appeared on the egg shells I could no longer bring myself to cook with them. In the dark they manifested like daguerreotypes, a little more visible each time I opened the fridge. I tried watching, but nothing happened. When I shut the door they developed on the shells. Sepia lips here, a strand of tears running down a cheek there. Ovoid Turin shrouds.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nWhile I was away for the weekend I left them sealed in the cold and the dark. The masks colored themselves in.\n <\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nEach was unique. All had red noses, but that was where any similarity ended. One was a bulbous snout of whiskey, another a dab of color on the tip of an upturned pixie nose. Triangles and lines bisected eyes. Lips outlined in black or red, stretched back to reveal crooked teeth.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI thought about leaving them where they were, nestled at the back of the fridge between juddering motor and slightly rotting veg, but they made a good talking point.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nIn an antique shop on the High Street I found an old wooden storage box, fine wire mesh for a door, and placed it in the middle of the dining table. I nestled each egg inside a chiseled out hollow, smoothed by generations of the unfertilized.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nA few weeks later I threw a dinner party for some friends in the neighborhood. The eggs were a talking point, as I hoped they would be. After a few bottles of wine we got them out, giving them different voices. Squeaking words. Holding the shells up like puppets. Bryan played Entrance of the Gladiators, hitting the wrong notes on purpose.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nMarie nipped back to her house and got some face painting make-up she used at kid\u2019s parties. We decorated each other, copying the clown designs on the eggs. Upturned lips and rouged cheeks. Arched, black, eyebrows rising almost to our hairlines. Finished, and too drunk to clean our skin, we put the eggs back in their box, turning them inward so they didn\u2019t look out into the darkened room.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nIn the morning all the eggs were turned, their clown designs facing forward. The door of the egg box hanging loose on broken hinges. Edges sticky with thick white foundation. Someone must have woken in the night and torn it loose. I straightened the fine metal plates. Tightened the small crosshead screws.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nTurning the eggs back around to face inside the box, I latched them inside. They never stayed that way.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI\u2019m not sure when the first one hatched. I hadn\u2019t looked at them for a couple of days. On the floor I found a shatter of shell held together by thin, stained membrane. Albumin and glitter trailed across the carpet toward the skirting board. I tried to clean it up, but no amount of scrubbing would shift the mess.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nOver the next week four more hatched, leaving the same trails of afterbirth across the room.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI heard them moving in the walls. Oversized shoes with toe-caps of cartilage scraped against the wires as they practiced their tumbling routines in the cavities. They didn\u2019t emerge during daylight. On mornings I came downstairs to find birds strangled with strands of banana skin. Balloon animals made from mouse intestines with their inflated throats ripped out. Furniture stained with a powder that was a cross between rouge and brick dust.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nYesterday I found glitter trailed across my pillow, stuck to the cotton with some kind of organic glue that smelt of rendered fat. I tried the front door, but the key was snapped off in the lock. The telephone filled with stagnant water. I heard them laughing in the walls.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nThis morning I found the last egg broken, the hatchling no longer inside.\n <\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI hear them running behind the sofa. If I turn on the taps there\u2019s only sawdust. All the food in the fridge is rotten. They keep singing me out of tune lullabies and I find juggling balls shaped from crushed plaster and bone.\n <\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nThey\u2019re getting bolder. Soon they will start their skit. I dare not sleep.<br \/>\n<\/P><\/p>\n<hr>\n<p><mbp:pagebreak \/><br \/>\n<a name=\"tucky\"><\/a><H1 LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" ALIGN=CENTER STYLE=\"font-weight: normal; page-break-before: always\"><br \/>\n<FONT FACE=\"Times New Roman, serif\"><FONT SIZE=6>Tucky Sinkowa&#8217;s Fabulous Magic<\/FONT><\/FONT><\/H1><br \/>\n<P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nBy Reshad Staitieh<\/P><br \/>\n<P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nOn the second day of summer break 1997, Arvin Gupta\u2019s best friend in the world, Tucky Sinkowa, showed Arvin his fabulous, sparkling magic.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nThe silence that followed Tucky\u2019s illuminating pink display, which had lit the entire basement and the brightly colored borders of the yellow vintage movie posters Tucky\u2019s father hung defiantly during the divorce proceedings, was a silence that came only after moments of great revelation. It was not unlike the time Tucky told Arvin in confidence of his first wet dream. Then they were huddled in mummy bags beneath the massive wooden entertainment center in Arvin\u2019s living room. The credits of \u2018Life of Brian\u2019 rolled above them as Eric Idle sang, hung high above the desert sands, an ornament dangling in the idyllic blues of the television sky, his whistles filling the awkward spaces between the boys\u2019 uncomfortable pre-teen breaths. Then, Arvin knew what to say.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nBut that was weeks ago. And this wasn\u2019t a wet dream.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nAn itch crept up Arvin\u2019s leg brace. He dug at it with a pencil, eager to return attentions to his magical friend. \u201cSo you\u2019re like a fairy,\u201d Arvin said finally.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cNo, idiot,\u201d Tucky said.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cWell, I don\u2019t get it,\u201d Arvin said. He thought for a moment. More scratching. \u201cJust to confirm. You\u2019re not gay?\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cWhat?\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cI don\u2019t know. You acted like you had this big secret. I just thought&#8211;\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cJust shut up, Arvin. This is serious,\u201d Tucky said.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cYeah, but I just want you to know it\u2019s totally fine if you are. I mean my mom, she had a gay friend before&#8211;\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cDude, really. Just shut up. This isn\u2019t about you,\u201d Tucky said. His sweaty palms ran through his greasy mop-top as he began to pace the room, bouncing from corner to corner like a trapped fly while Arvin sat motionless and watched.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cSorry,\u201d Tucky said. \u201cI didn\u2019t mean to cut you off. I know how hard it is for you to talk about her.\u201d Smells of Fourth of July picnics wafted through the room. \u201cBut really, Arv, you can\u2019t tell anyone.\u201d His high-pitched voice was hushed and urgent, clearly sore. The ask was unnecessary because the boys both knew Arvin didn\u2019t have anyone to tell.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cYou\u2019re a superhero,\u201d Arvin said. \u201cCan you imagine what Becky would do if she saw this? She might actually notice you.\u201d She was all Tucky talked about lately, unattainable, pretty and popular.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cCool it, okay? Becky can\u2019t know. No one can. I know you think this is cool, but it isn\u2019t. It hurts. My throat and eyes burn, my hands sting, and it, it just sucks, okay?\u201d His voice cracked. He wiped his brow. Yellow sweat stains from generously applied anti-perspirant clung to his tee and resembled melted butter on rice. \u201cI\u2019m like Jubilee, the lamest X-Man ever. Who gives a damn about Jubilee? No, I\u2019m even worse than her. I can\u2019t even control this&#8230; this thing.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cWhat do you mean?\u201d Arvin asked as he tucked his bad leg beneath his blanket. His brace caught on its thick fibers.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cLike, sometimes, stuff just comes out,\u201d Tucky said.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nBefore Arvin could ask from where \u2018stuff comes out,\u2019 the stairwell lit up. A shadow bent and crawled down the steps, finally resting on Tucky\u2019s bony shoulder. \u201cBoys,\u201d Tucky\u2019s father, Red Sinkowa, said from above.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cLights out.\u201d He paused. \u201cWhat is that ungodly smell? Christ, are you two lighting firecrackers in the house again?\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cNo, Dad,\u201d Tucky said. He shuffled to the window and cracked it open. \u201cJust burned some popcorn. We\u2019ll be quiet.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cDon\u2019t be quiet. Go to bed.\u201d Red had a woman over, Janelle. Janelle reeked of hairspray and cotton candy. Her nails were long and blue. Family dinners with her were strained conversations between bites of rubbery pizza and lukewarm breadsticks. She was not bookish and kind like Tucky\u2019s mother, Alice, the elementary school librarian.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nAlice would have let them stay up.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nAnd so they went to bed. Arvin spread out on the floor in a tangle of patchwork blankets and old bed pillows beneath the lumpy couch that Tucky occupied. The putrid after smell from Tucky\u2019s display had faded into something more pleasant. Something like jello. Arvin looked up at Tucky\u2019s feet hanging over him, periscoping out from a moldy blue blanket, and he thought of his friend, the guy attached to those little feet. This magic, curse though Tucky thought it was, was the best thing that had ever happened to Tucky whether he knew it or not. It was a way out of dingy basements and torn families. A path to recognition.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nArvin\u2019s heart pounded with excitement. Before Tucky\u2019s powers, it had only been a matter of time before Tucky moved on to greener pastures rife with better friends, friends who could go out, run and play sports, friends who weren\u2019t afraid of cars and had the shiny new learner&#8217;s permits to prove it. But now, overnight, Tucky had become a freak like Arvin, and Arvin felt a profound and moral obligation to help Tucky weather this crisis by honing his sudden and mysterious powers.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cArv?\u201d Tucky whispered.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cYeah, Tuck?\u201d Arvin said.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cDo you ever think about them?\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cWho?\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cYour mom and sister,\u201d Tucky said.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cAll the time,\u201d Arvin said, scratching at his brace.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cArv?\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cYeah?\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cPlease don\u2019t tell anyone,\u201d Tucky said. \u201cI want to make it go away before we go back to school.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nIn sixth grade, Arvin learned to practice active listening in Ms. Gilroy\u2019s social studies class. It was a few weeks after his mom and sister were buried, and he had only recently returned to school. None of his peers seemed to know how to act around him, so they reached some sort of unspoken consensus to ignore him. His tragedy followed him with every limping step, leaving silence in his creaking wake.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nArvin\u2019s therapist had told him to open up, to put himself out there and show his friends that he was stronger than his bad leg, but he had no friends because they had abandoned him. And he was weak. So he stood in the back of the room and watched alone as rows of his classmates, pubescent pre-teens in tiny desks, partnered up to rephrase and regurgitate key terms from mindless conversations. He had given up on participating in the activity and had started a slow, shameful walk to the front of the room to notify Ms. Gilroy.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nThen Tucky came over and asked to be his partner.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nNow sensing the distress in his friend\u2019s muffled voice, Arvin sat up and looked Tucky square in the eyes. \u201cYou want to make it go away before we go back to school?\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cThat\u2019s what I just said,\u201d Tucky said.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cBut why would you want that?\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nTucky didn\u2019t answer.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nCool summer air crept in from the open window and filled their lungs with sleep.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><\/p>\n<hr>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nThe boys spent most of the summer together after that night. Arvin\u2019s dad had to be away to attend the trial, and Red, who worked from home, offered to let Arvin stay with him and Tucky. Before Arvin\u2019s dad left, he warned Arvin that Arvin may have to tell the court how the man sped away after the accident. The mere thought of a drive to the courthouse made Arvin\u2019s head spin.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nMeanwhile, Tucky wasn\u2019t doing well. Like an unforgiving histamine rash, Tucky\u2019s magic worsened as summer grew hotter. Calamine ointments failed to relieve his oversized, peroxide-doused pores that sparked when he got excited. As he had earlier attested to Arvin, symptoms and their appearances were totally random. The slightest sneeze would have Tucky spewing glamorous, charring streams of glittery mucus into his father\u2019s kerchief, staining it with tie-dye randomness that appeared intentional and hip like a slap bracelet. As a result, by mid-summer, Tucky had developed a reputation as a sneezing and dashing wonder, a boy with an inexplicably sparkly mouth. To keep Tucky\u2019s powers secret, Arvin instructed Tucky to tell inquirers that he habitually ingested pop rocks and coke, a daring act that every teen and pre-teen knew had potentially deadly ramifications.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nNumerous backyard experiments proved that Tucky couldn\u2019t control his powers, but Arvin was convinced that this was a result of a mental roadblock, a hang-up that Tucky could overcome if he simply stepped up and owned his gift. What they needed was a public display of Tucky\u2019s powers, a way to let the world in on their secret, a high pressure moment that could give them a karate kid challenge, something to overcome.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nBecause Arvin\u2019s nascent phobias prevented him from getting into cars except in cases of extreme emergency, the boys\u2019 options for public appearances were practically limited to the grocery store, a small ice-cream shop, and the neighborhood pool. Tucky hesitantly opted for the pool, which was a few blocks away from his home and a bit more public than Arvin would have liked for Tucky\u2019s first outing as a real wizard. But the risk was worth it. If Arvin\u2019s plan worked, Tucky would become Tucky the Magical, Tucky the Incredible, Tucky the Stupendous. Maybe even Tucky the guy with a girlfriend.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cYou know it\u2019s 95 degrees out, right?\u201d Tucky said to Arvin at the pool, interrupting day dreams.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cSo?\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cSo you don\u2019t have to wear jeans to the pool,\u201d Tucky said.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cOh yeah, I know.\u201d Arvin said. He rubbed his brace and the scars on his leg that he wished to keep hidden. With each touch, memories of the last ride with his mom and sister coursed through him and left him tingling. \u201cMy swimsuit is in the wash,\u201d he said. \u201cLook, I was doing some research about your powers, and I was thinking. The more we know about how you got them, the more we can control them.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cReading comics doesn\u2019t count as research,\u201d Tucky said.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cIt\u2019s not like I have anything else to go off,\u201d Arvin said. His nose crinkled. \u201cI was thinking how people get their powers. They\u2019re either born with them or they acquire them later in life by accident like Peter Parker. But you weren\u2019t bitten by any spiders or anything, were you?\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cNo,\u201d Tucky said.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cOkay, so we can rule that out. My next guess is that you were born with them. Like a mutant. But something must have triggered it. Like how Magneto\u2019s family being torn away from him triggered his abilities. What was your trigger?\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cThis is weird, Arvin.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cTell me,\u201d Arvin said.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cDude, no. You\u2019re being weird,\u201d Tucky said.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cI just need to know. Was it your parents? Their divorce?\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cArvin, let\u2019s just get on with this, okay? You\u2019re acting obsessive.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cNo, I\u2019m not,\u201d Arvin said. \u201cI\u2019m trying to help you.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nTucky reached for a water bottle. \u201cWe came here to impress people,\u201d he said. He took a long sip. \u201cNot to talk about my parents splitting up.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nArvin sighed. \u201cYou\u2019re still going to do it, right?\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cI don\u2019t know, man. The whole thing seems like a bad idea,\u201d Tucky said. He touched the crater of a freshly popped pimple on his chin.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cBut you have to,\u201d Arvin said.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cWhy?\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cBecause if you pull this off, you\u2019re going to blow everyone\u2019s mind. See Becky over there?\u201d Arvin pointed to a brunette in a striped one-piece who looked twice their age.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cI\u2019m not ready,\u201d Tucky said. \u201cI can\u2019t control this.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cYou can. Just be positive. This will be good for you. Stop thinking so much,\u201d Arvin said.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nThere was an uncomfortable squish when Tucky rose from his beach chair and wiped his hands on his shorts. A faint and familiar smell of BO trailed him. Then he tied his towel around his neck to make a cape and walked to the opposite end of the pool.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nThis was their moment. Arvin giggled in anticipation. Tucky cleared his throat and began to yell over White Town\u2019s \u201cI Could Never Be Your Woman,\u201d which blared from speakers on the lifeguard\u2019s stand. His voice was bold, confident, that of a trained thespian, totally void of the immaturity that otherwise plagued his rapidly fluctuating intonations. Rehearsal paid off, Arvin thought. This was a man\u2019s voice.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cI am Tucky Sinkowa,\u201d he said. \u201cGather round, and open your minds. You will be amazed.\u201d He flung the cape aside and lifted his long arms toward the heavens nervously as if channeling a force so massive that his entire being risked emulsification.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nA small crowd congregated in front of the lifeguard station, and swimmers clung to the hot metal pool gutters. Hidden in the shade across the pool, Arvin sat on the edge of his rickety lawn chair and nodded to Tucky when he looked to him for support.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cOkay,\u201d Tucky said. \u201cHere goes.\u201d He exhaled and threw his arms to the sky and began to dance. Suddenly, blinding pink flashes shot from his every orifice. Silence followed. Then screams.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><\/p>\n<hr>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nAfter the pool, Tucky\u2019s mom and dad, in a rare show of teamsmanship, called Tucky up from the basement to have family dinner. Tucky trudged up the stairs, a dead man walking in front of Arvin. \u201cThis is your fault,\u201d he said. \u201cI never should have listened to you.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cI was just trying to help,\u201d Arvin said. \u201cThey\u2019re your powers.\u201d The boys continued their upward movement. \u201cLook, for what it\u2019s worth, I think we\u2019re onto something. We\u2019ll get it, Tuck. I know we will. We just need to work a bit more before we do that again.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nTucky huffed. \u201cThere won\u2019t be an \u2018again,\u2019\u201d he said. He turned and opened the door to the kitchen where his parents had taken seats at opposite ends of the dining table.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nAs usual, Red\u2019s father had set a place for both boys.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nAlice had only recently arrived at her old home on Grant Street. Her cheeks were red, swollen, no doubt irritated by the wool sleeves that covered her hands and repeatedly rubbed at her tear-streaked face.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cHey guys,\u201d Red said. \u201cArv, I just got off the phone with your dad. He says he\u2019s doing fine. Still with the lawyers. He\u2019ll probably need to stay in Topeka for another few nights, so I checked, and he said you can stay with us for the weekend.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cOkay, great. Thanks, Mr. S,\u201d Arvin said. Red smiled.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cTucky,\u201d Alice said between sniffles. \u201cWe need to talk about something personal.\u201d She looked at Red.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cOh come out with it, Al,\u201d Red said.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cWell, Tuck, Becky\u2019s mother called us today,\u201d Alice said.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cAbout the pool?\u201d Tucky said, staring at his plate.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cYes, about the pool,\u201d Red said. He pressed his hands together beneath his nose and covered his pursed mouth.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cWell,\u201d Alice said. \u201cShe was there. And she saw what you&#8230;what you&#8230;\u201d she struggled to find the word.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cWhat you produced.\u201d Tucky blushed. His off-white skin turned milky-red and pink drops began to seep and fizzle from his tear ducts.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cSee there he goes,\u201d Red said. \u201cI can\u2019t believe you did something like that, Tucky. What the hell were you thinking?\u201d Arvin wanted to be Tucky\u2019s shield, but he didn\u2019t want to upset Red, so he bit his tongue. \u201cDo you have any idea how disgusting&#8230;?\u201d Red thrust an accusatory finger at Alice. \u201cThis abomination is on you. If you had told me what you&#8211;\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cYou stop it right now,\u201d Alice said. \u201cI\u2019m not the issue here. I had no idea Tucky would be like this. Or that he would do such horrible things.\u201d She focused on Tucky. \u201cBecky\u2019s mom said that you may have blinded the lifeguard with your&#8230; display.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cPeople thought it was funny,\u201d Arvin blurted out. \u201cIt really was hilarious. You should\u2019ve seen it.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cArv, please don\u2019t take this the wrong way, but you need to stay out of this for a minute,\u201d Red said.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cLet\u2019s take a few steps back,\u201d Alice said. \u201cWe can all calm down a bit. You know, count to ten or something,\u201d she said. Arvin counted to ten in his head. \u201cTucky,\u201d she said, placing her hands on Tucky\u2019s long fingers. \u201cWe always knew you were a special, special boy. And, lately, we\u2019ve had suspicions that maybe you were different. Maybe you were feeling like you didn\u2019t fit in.\u201d She stifled tears. \u201cMaybe your father and I weren\u2019t paying enough attention to you. We didn\u2019t see the warning signs.\u201d She began to cry. \u201cOh, Red, it\u2019s all our fault.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cIf it\u2019s anyone\u2019s fault it\u2019s yours, Al. He gets this from you, you know.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cOh, would you give it rest? I\u2019m not the one bringing home women from downtown for dinner, Red. He\u2019s acting out! He needs his mother.\u201d She fiddled with the glasses that hung from a string on her neck.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cNo, he needs anything but you. You caused this. And if you had just told me your little secret earlier, I would have known. I would have seen this whole damn thing coming a mile away. This is why I left you. You, your family, a whole bunch of freaks and liars, you know that?\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cNo, you left me because you\u2019re scared and weak. And besides that, it\u2019s not too late for Tucky. We caught it early,\u201d she said.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nTen more seconds passed in silence.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cWait, what?\u201d Tucky said. \u201cYou mean you know what this is? You knew this was going to happen to me?\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cWe didn\u2019t know that you would be able to dazzle,\u201d Alice said. \u201cSome of my family, your uncle, your grandpa, they can do it, too. But they had great careers as magicians.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cOh god,\u201d Tucky said. \u201cThis is permanent?\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nArvin\u2019s chest fluttered with hope.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cNot exactly,\u201d Red said. \u201cBecky\u2019s mom says that Becky was like you, too. She said she sent Becky to a camp for young boys and girls to&#8230; fix it.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cShe said it made her better,\u201d Alice added. \u201cYou want to be better, don\u2019t you? You want to get rid of this stuff inside you, whatever it is.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cYeah, I do,\u201d Tucky said. Arvin\u2019s heart cried out.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cOkay, Tuck,\u201d his mother said. \u201cYou leave on Monday, and we\u2019ll have you back just before school. Does that sound good?\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cIt does,\u201d Tucky said in the voice he makes when he\u2019s trying to sound brave. \u201cIt really does.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><\/p>\n<hr>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nArvin stayed at Tucky\u2019s every night that final weekend. Red let them have their run of the house as they shirked the outdoors and stayed in to play the latest edition of Magic the Gathering. Arvin hated that they played at magic when the real thing was a mere sneeze or irritable bowel movement away. But Tucky refused to perform.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nWhen Tucky left for camp, Arvin felt like he did when movies end. Soon Arvin\u2019s dad came and escorted him home to a dusty, lifeless house. Their freezer was overflowing with frozen casseroles, which Arvin dutifully defrosted for meals consumed in silence.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nA week later, Arvin and his dad took a trip to Topeka for Arvin\u2019s testimony. Arvin wore a blindfold and tried to sleep in the back of the car, trembling the whole way there. At the trial, he was unable to verbalize what happened, so the prosecutor had Arvin read the statement he made immediately after the accident when he was in the hospital having his leg mended. It was difficult, reading the statement, seeing the man\u2019s face, recounting the impact and coming to in the destruction with his leg pinioned between the console and backseat, how he cried out to his mom and sister who, upfront, had stopped breathing. How the broken car that hit them drove away and left them to rot in the road like dead animals.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nAfter the trial, Arvin spent the remainder of the hot, dry months alone, counting the days until Tucky\u2019s return and biding his time with the dialup. Tucky had gone MIA on messenger and AWOL from battle.net. Without means to connect, Arvin feared the worst. He prayed every night that Tucky would return unchanged.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nInterrupting the pixelated monotony of Arvin\u2019s solo diablo runs and endless cans of pringles that his weeks had become, Red came by and delivered a letter to the Guptas. The address block was smudged, and the envelope\u2019s edges were crumpled due to the hasty folding of the letter inside. Arvin unfolded it and found a brief note from Tucky. Camp was great, he said. He was making a lot of friends and was excited about the new school year.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nBeneath the hollow words, a goodbye lurked. Arvin didn\u2019t eat for two days after that. Only threats of a forced return to therapy could get him seated at the table again.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nOn the first day of school, Arvin pushed through the double doors and shambled to first period. His brace dragged and scraped on the teal linoleum. It left black scuffs on the freshly polished floors. The noise drew his classmates\u2019 ire, but Arvin was undeterred by the negative attention. Maybe Tucky would be the same, maybe they would still be friends.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nMinutes before the bell, Tucky burst into their first period science class donning a new haircut and tan. He looked like he\u2019d spent his absent days rowing on a pristine lake. Tucky grinned as he looked around the room and made his way to the back for roll call. His braces were gone, and his shoulders were broader. When the teacher reached his name, he said, \u201cIt\u2019s Tucker now, Ms. Metzler,\u201d in a voice that had dropped at least two octaves.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nSecond period was uneventful until Tucky sneezed before lunch.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nArvin whipped his head around, anxious to see Tucky\u2019s notorious, mucusy spectacle unfold. He prayed for sparkles. But Tucky hardly flinched. He wiped his nose with a tissue and catapulted the refuse across the room. The snot-filled wad, free of the pinkish phlegm Arvin had anticipated, spiraled and landed with a deafening splash in the trashcan beside him, un-singed.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nWhen class ended, Arvin packed his books and pushed through the small crowd clamoring around Tucky. In his haste, Arvin\u2019s shoulder brushed Tucky\u2019s. A static shock punched through him, and Arvin spun out into the open hallway, dizzy from the collision, his books scattering like pieces of broken fenders.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nTucky glided over to his new group of friends who festooned the short blue hallway lockers. One boy pulled out his velcro wallet triumphantly to show proof of his learner\u2019s permit, giving rise to cheers and celebratory handshakes, fast and full of intricate movements. Arvin collected himself and began to put books his books away.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nSoon Tucky crossed the hall and approached him. \u201cHey, Arv,\u201d he said.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cHey, Tuck,\u201d Arvin said.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nTucky looked over his shoulder. A sense of urgency befell the conversation. \u201cSo I heard about the trial. You okay?\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cYeah, I guess,\u201d Arvin said.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cMy dad says that the guy can\u2019t hurt anyone now that he\u2019s locked up. So that\u2019s good&#8230; Also, hey, I didn\u2019t tell you. I\u2019m saving up for a car now. Dad thought it would be a good idea. I even sold off my Magic cards for some extra cash. I didn\u2019t know they\u2019d be worth anything.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cOh, yeah, man, that\u2019s like totally cool. I get it.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cAlright, well, see you later,\u201d Tucky said.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cYeah,\u201d Arvin said.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nTucky walked on with his new friends. Their perfect silhouettes were blinding beneath the bright fluorescent lights. Soon they faded into the walls, disappeared like shooting stars. Arvin shut his locker and hobbled to the bathroom, a struck deer with a flushed face and burning cheeks. Beneath the smoky mirror, cool water ran over his splayed fingers from the automatic wash. His tingling hands felt different, warmer and getting hotter. His shoulder throbbed beneath what felt like repetitive stabs with a dull knife. Then, without warning, sparkles of day-glo pink began to trickle from his ducts and cast a strange neon aura around his throbbing head. Arvin wept shining tears like fireworks.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nThe feeling was magical.<br \/>\n<\/P><\/p>\n<hr>\n<p><mbp:pagebreak \/><br \/>\n<a name=\"rain\"><\/a><H1 LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" ALIGN=CENTER STYLE=\"font-weight: normal; page-break-before: always\"><br \/>\n<FONT FACE=\"Times New Roman, serif\"><FONT SIZE=6>The Rain Dancers of Solis Planum<\/FONT><\/FONT><\/H1><br \/>\n<P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nBy Derrick Boden<\/P><br \/>\n<P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nKnuckles rapped against the front door. The sound made me flinch, and I sprayed hot glue across my tired fingertips.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;Christ&#8217;s sake,&#8221; I said, wiping my calluses dry. I hauled myself to my feet, grumbling. Nobody ever came knocking with good news, anymore.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI cracked the door enough to see the boy&#8217;s face. It was that kid, Manny or Marty or whatever, from the hotel. Smooth-skinned, pale-eyed, and even taller than me. An Outer Colony tourist, through and through. His face beamed with hope.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;Lucita&#8217;s busy,&#8221; I said, a bit too harshly.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nHis cheeks sank. Behind him, the rain fell on the Martian wetlands in a slow rhythm of big drops. In the center of our floating parking pad, a sleek double-seater sat on cooling vertical jets.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;The Dance is tonight. We&#8217;re all busy.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nHe nodded. &#8220;I&#8217;m sorry, ma&#8217;am. Could you tell her&#8211;&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI shut the door, and shuffled back to my chair. The living room was a mess of faux feathers and polyester ribbon. It looked like a flock of plastic turkeys had dropped down the airshaft and exploded.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;Who was that?&#8221; Lucita stood in the hallway, eyebrow arched.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI waved a dismissive hand. &#8220;That boy. I told him you&#8217;re busy, because you are. We&#8217;ve still got all this lace to tie for the costumes, and we haven&#8217;t even strung the lights yet.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;Mother!&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI was making a move to sit down, but she stepped into the room and planted her hands on her hips. I wasn&#8217;t about to give her any extra height on me if this was gonna be a real argument, so I stood my ground.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;I&#8217;m not dancing,&#8221; she said.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;Like hell you aren&#8217;t.&#8221; I tried to keep my lip from twitching, the way it always does when I just said something I wish had come out nicer.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;It&#8217;s a stupid dance.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;It&#8217;s your birthright. This is the Toloi Homestead, not some Daedalia slouch. Your grandmother was Mars&#8217;s greatest Rain Dancer&#8211;&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;Have you looked outside? It never stops raining. Maybe the dancing made sense back in New Mexico, or when Mars was still dry. But now the whole thing is a joke.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI pursed my lips. Same damn argument as last year. Probably every year, since Thomas died.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;I don&#8217;t ask you to dance every day&#8211;&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;I&#8217;ve been slaving over these costumes for weeks. And the cleanup&#8217;s even worse!&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI rolled my eyes. The melodrama of youth. You&#8217;d think I was running a penal colony. &#8220;Why do you think Marty and the others are here to begin with? It ain&#8217;t the weather.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;It&#8217;s Manny, Mother.&#8221; Her face ripened to a deep pink. &#8220;He&#8217;s from Callisto.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;Whatever. If it weren&#8217;t for the Dance, he&#8217;d be vacationing on some Europan resort right now.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nThat got her to bite her tongue. I seized the opportunity.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;You&#8217;d do yourself a favor to keep that boy at arm&#8217;s length. I know his type. He&#8217;s hunting for a native girl. Something exotic to take home and show off to his buddies.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nLucita threw her arms up, and her fingertips grazed the ceiling. When my great-grandpa built this homestead, nobody could&#8217;ve imagined how tall we&#8217;d be in just a few generations on account of the lower gravity. Now all of us had to duck through doorways and make sure to keep our hair from getting sucked into the vents. Of course, nobody could&#8217;ve imagined we&#8217;d have to hoist the damn building onto stilts to keep it above the waters, either.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;How are you so sure?&#8221; she said. &#8220;You&#8217;ve never even given him a chance to talk.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;I don&#8217;t have to. Already know what he&#8217;s gonna say.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;He&#8217;s with the Brigade. He helps people, Mother. More than you can say for yourself.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI drew in a breath to retort, but she beat me to it.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;I&#8217;m gonna enlist.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI clenched my hands into fists, and I could feel the tiny aches in each joint. &#8220;Like hell you are. You belong here.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;Nobody belongs here, anymore. The Outer Colonies&#8211;&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;The yuppies can have their Outer Colonies. Cultural black holes, every one of them.&#8221; I couldn&#8217;t believe we were having this conversation with the Dance just hours away.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;Mars is a complete failure,&#8221; she said.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;It&#8217;s our home. Always has been.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nLucita eyed me skeptically, and I swore under my breath.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;Long as you or I can remember, at least. The answer is no. You&#8217;re not going anywhere. I need you here.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;I&#8217;m an adult, I&#8217;ll do as I please. You can have your stupid backwater traditions.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI was shaking so hard I couldn&#8217;t respond.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;Dad would be on my side,&#8221; she said. &#8220;He always was.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nThat was all I could take. I pushed past her and stormed out the back, grabbing my coat and emergency gear on the way. Outside, at least nobody could tell my tears from the rain.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><\/p>\n<hr>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nFrom atop the light tower, Solis Planum was a vast expanse of tumultuous water. It was a wonder they never changed the name of the place.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nOn the occasional days when the rain let up, the whole valley turned into a single mirrored sheet of water. Still enough to walk across, I always thought back when I was a kid. Papa would tell me stories about the oceans on Earth, how strong the tidal effect is down there. He said even the rain was different. Tiny drops hammering down real hard. Nothing like the big, slow drops we get here. Elephant tears, Papa always called them.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nThe harness dug into my hips. It didn&#8217;t feel good, but the activity was the best way to get my mind off Lucita. I inched farther up the light tower until the arcing fixtures were within reach. With each movement, the structure creaked as loud as my own bones.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI pulled the light coils from my backpack and started stringing them along the first fixture. Around the branch, then through the loops to hold them tight. Always making sure the transceivers were facing down. Just like Mama taught me. Just like I taught Lucita, years ago.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nThe thought of Lucita made my face hot. Where had I gone wrong with that girl? Was it because I decided to have her so late in life? Mama would&#8217;ve scolded me if she saw the kind of child I&#8217;d raised. Just like she did when I married an outsider. Diluting the lineage, and all that. As if Solis Planum had a plethora of quality male specimens.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nTo the north, the Valles Marineris hotels sprung out of the lake like the stamen of a water lily. Used to be prime real estate, before late-stage terraforming sent surface temperatures sailing and subsurface water surging past expectations and then some. No amount of hole plugging, greenhouse gas vacating, or dyke building made a bit of difference. Mars was flooded. Most everyone high-tailed it to the spanking new Outer Colonies.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nMost everyone but us. The New Homestead Act had an ethnic diversity clause written in, the only way my people had been able to afford the ticket up here. Now, generations later, we were some of the only ones left.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI pulled myself onto the second fixture. The plastic creaked under my weight. These old towers were built from tough polymers, a hundred years back. But nothing lasts forever, and some of these fixtures had more patches than original material. All I could do was hope they&#8217;d hold out for another few years.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nAs I swung toward the end, I caught sight of the arena below. The bleachers wrapped around the floating network of dance platforms like giant arms. Big enough to hold five thousand. I shook my head. Hadn&#8217;t filled that many seats since I was riding paddle boats with the neighborhood kids. Now we were lucky if we sold two hundred tickets. Two hundred! And the profits had to last until this time next year. To think, Mama used to shun the tourists. Called them &#8220;oglers&#8221;, said they were diluting the spirit of the tradition. Everything was always diluting something, to Mama.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nThe creaks in the fixture were getting louder, and at the joint something popped. I started shimmying my way back to the center of the tower. Sounded like I was gonna have to patch this girl up again, after the Dance&#8211;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI reached the tower and paused. The popping noise was getting louder, and it wasn&#8217;t coming from the fixture. It was the tower itself. I clambered down as fast as my muscles could move. I was halfway to the waterline when the tower buckled and shook. The tower twisted and bent overhead, then snapped like an old bone. The top half swung down and clanged against the lower half. A pair of light fixtures pinned me to the ladder. The fixtures dug deep against my chest and legs. Only my left hand was unrestrained. Bolts popped along the base, and the whole tower tipped over. The water rushed up to meet me.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI reached my free hand over, punched the emergency broadcast on my wrist comms. It flashed once in the rain, then went dark. I sucked in a deep breath before plunging into the lake, still pinned between the ladder and those big fixtures.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nWarm water rushed around me. Bubbles drifted to the surface. The tower carried me toward the lake floor. I struggled, but it was no use. I was trapped. Panic overtook me. I nearly let out a shout that would&#8217;ve cost me my remaining air. Just the thought of it got my attention, and I stopped struggling.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI reached into my backpack, groping around until my hand closed on the emergency breather. I popped the seal and squeezed the mouthpiece of the fist-sized device between my lips. Cold air blasted my mouth. I drew in a half-dozen breaths, then tried the supports again. I winced as metal dug into my side. It was no use. The more I struggled, the tighter the damn thing pressed against me. All I could do was hope the geolocator on my wrist comms had worked, and that Lucita wasn&#8217;t too far away.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nThe light from my headlamp pierced through the water like a beacon. Everything went silent, but for the pounding of blood in my ears. A strange sense of calm overtook me. I let the tower drag me down to my fate.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nObjects took shape through the shadows. Big carbon fiber slabs and rebar. The old boardwalks. They were meant to be stopgaps, until the government could get a handle on the flooding. We used to play hopscotch on them, me and the neighborhood kids. Just like everything when you&#8217;re young, I expected them to stick around forever. But they were shoddy prefabs, and they didn&#8217;t last three years before they started sinking.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nThe tower carried me farther down. My ears popped. The light from my headlamp shone off a broad sunken platform. A shiver ran through my body. The old dance platform. Mama used to tell me how the first ones could only handle a meter of water during the rainy season. The new ones were an elaborate network of small platforms, allowing for buoyancy and portability. This was a giant, hulking mass of plastic. It would&#8217;ve been impossible to perform the Rain Dance on that thing. Had the Dance changed that much, in just a hundred years?\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nThe tower came to rest at the bottom of the lake. Red silt drifted about me in a cloud. Next to me sat an old sign, battered and faded, half sunken into the tenuous Martian soil. I squinted through the haze. It said: &#8220;Toloi Surface Habitat. Est. 2065. Pop. 159.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nToloi was the name of our homestead, built by my great-grandfather. All this time, I thought it was a Zuni name, brought over from Earth. But it seemed there were people living right here, even before the terraforming began. Were they Americans? Did they have their own Rain Dance? I imagined a bunch of people stuffed into those old-fashioned spacesuits, bobbing around on the surface of Mars in a silly attempt at a dance. The thought made me smile around the breather.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;Backwater traditions,&#8221; Lucita had said. The smile slipped from my face. Down here, there were generations of traditions, stacked on top of one another like strips of sedimentary rock. Each one silently giving way to the next. Fighting it was like stabbing at the rain. Just like playing hopscotch on the boardwalks, I expected everything in my life to stick around forever. Thomas. Lucita. The Dance. I&#8217;d been a goddamned fool, and now it was too late to admit it to anyone that mattered.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nNothing was coming out of the breather anymore. I held my breath and spat the mouthpiece out, watched it sink to the ground. Black spots crept in around the edges of my vision. My lungs burned. I struggled against the beams. The air streamed from my lips in a rush. The bubbles slipped past the old sign, drifted up through the generations. I imagined them bursting at the surface, carrying my lost apology to Lucita through the rain.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nLight blinded me from overhead. Hands squeezed my sides, and plastic pressed against my face. Cold air blasted me in the nose and mouth. I sucked in a deep breath, then another. The light dimmed, and figures shimmered at my sides. Lucita. That tourist boy, Mickey or Manny, or whatever the hell his name was.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><\/p>\n<hr>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nThe heater was glowing at full blast and it was going to cost a fortune. But Lucita had insisted and I wasn&#8217;t in a position to argue just yet. Besides, it felt good on my water-wrinkled skin.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI wrung my hands. Damned tower. The Dance was just a few hours away, and now I&#8217;d have to run the whole thing at three-quarter illumination. The tourists would probably expect a discount. I suppose I should&#8217;ve been thankful that I wasn&#8217;t injured beyond a few scrapes and my battered pride, but the timing made it hard to think positive.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nThe clink-clink of teacups drifted in from the kitchen. Lucita. I had all these things to tell her, sentences I&#8217;d carefully constructed at the bottom of the lake. But none of it sounded right now. Maybe I&#8217;d hallucinated all that stuff I saw. Or maybe I just didn&#8217;t have the guts to say what needed to be said.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI settled deeper into my chair. Lucita had angled it closer to the heater, and when I leaned back I bumped the mantle. A picture frame went skittering across the floor. I grumbled and picked it up.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nThomas&#8217;s boyish face smiled back at me. It was one of his academy photos, and he was stuffed into that tight-fitting uniform with all its patches and shiny mylar. Good-looking man. He was leaning against the wheel of his transport shuttle without a care in the world.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;Tea&#8217;s ready. Mother, you really shouldn&#8217;t go out by yourself&#8211;&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nIt was too late to smooth over my expression. By the time I looked up, Lucita had big worry lines running across her face. She set the tea down.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;It fell,&#8221; I said dumbly.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nLucita was about to say something, and I was afraid of what it might be. So I opened my mouth and the words just came tumbling out.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;I got so mad at your father after he died. If he&#8217;d just taken a surface job like I was always saying, instead of piloting those damn shuttles up to Orbital, he&#8217;d still be alive. He&#8217;d be sitting over there right now. Stringing beads and laughing and bringing smiles to everyone in the room.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nLucita knelt down beside me.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI shook my head. &#8220;Back when he was in the academy, a little after I took this picture, we got into a big fight. I didn&#8217;t talk to him for months and eventually he started seeing another girl. Kayla. Curly hair, smooth skin. Fresh out of the academy, down from Europa. She wanted to take him off world, back to the Outer Colonies. Nearly succeeded, I reckon.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nLucita watched me with her big brown eyes. &#8220;What happened?&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;He came down to the homestead one day. Thinking back, I&#8217;m pretty sure it was to say goodbye. But it just so happened to be the night of the Rain Dance. So before he could talk to me, he had to hang around the arena. He&#8217;d never seen me dance before. I was real self-conscious, afraid he&#8217;d think it was a silly tradition.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nLucita flinched. &#8220;Mother, I&#8211;&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;Turns out, he didn&#8217;t think that at all. After the Dance, he asked me to marry him. Said he didn&#8217;t have a ring or nothing, admitted that he didn&#8217;t have it in mind when he came down on the shuttle. But he said that after watching me dance, he couldn&#8217;t imagine living another day without me. I told him if he was still around for next year&#8217;s Dance, I&#8217;d marry him. From that day forward he never missed a Dance.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;I had no idea.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;Of course you didn&#8217;t. I never told you.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nHer eyes sank. &#8220;Earlier today, I didn&#8217;t mean&#8211;&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;I know. I ain&#8217;t bringing it up to make you feel bad. Thing is, sometimes I think he&#8217;d have been happier if he&#8217;d gone with Kayla. Sure, he had a good life while he was here. But he had the soul of a wanderer, just like you. After he moved in, every time the rain would stop I&#8217;d catch him sitting on the roof.&#8221; I pointed up, as if she didn&#8217;t know where the damn roof was. &#8220;Just sitting there, staring up at the night sky. And his face. It was the only time I ever saw sadness on that face. Through all the laughter and the good times, he carried a deep longing for the worlds he&#8217;d never see. There was a part of him that could never be happy here.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI looked down at Lucita, kneeling at my side. &#8220;Now I realize I&#8217;ve been sticking the same cage on you.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nShe rested a hand on mine and I could feel her warmth on my skin. We sat there for a few minutes, not saying a word. Then she cleared her throat.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;Father loved it here,&#8221; she said. &#8220;And so do I. Wherever I go, this place will always be my home.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI gave her hand a squeeze. I didn&#8217;t ever want to let it go. But eventually I had to.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;Tell me about this Brigade,&#8221; I said. &#8220;But tell me quick. I&#8217;ve got a Dance to run, and you&#8217;ve got a date with that boy Manny.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><\/p>\n<hr>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI wrapped my hands around the straps and gave them a tug. My costume&#8217;s wire frame sprang up around me in a whir of blues and blacks. I cinched the fabric tight around my waist and shoulders, then draped the feathers over my neck. My Mama&#8217;s moccasins were a second skin as I tapped out a warm-up to get the blood flowing. I planned on giving them to Lucita one day, as long as they hadn&#8217;t fallen apart by then. I planned on doing a lot of things.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI slit the curtains. The crowds were still settling in beneath the big sweeping rain-guards. A buck-fifty, if I was lucky. I shook my head. Who was I fooling? This was never about the money. I&#8217;d find a way to get through the year. The drummers had already started pounding that deep, resonating beat, and all my bones wanted to do was dance.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI wrapped the proximity band around my forehead and flipped it on. A staticky tingle shot down my neck and across my arms as the field established parity with the surrounding air. It felt like being hugged by a big teddy bear. It ate up batteries like crazy, but it was the only way to keep the rain off the costume. Lucita always loved watching the rain stream down around her from inside the invisible bubble.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI let out a sigh. This would be the first time in all my years I&#8217;d be dancing solo. Whether it was Mama or Lucita, there&#8217;d always been someone at my side. Helping each other into our costumes. Lunging and leaping across the platforms. The times with Lucita were always the best. Watching her move, as fluid as the water, as graceful as this planet.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nThe drums beat louder, then slapped to silence. Fabric rustled behind me. I glanced over my shoulder, irritated at the distraction.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;Hi, Mother.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nThere she was, dressed in her ceremonial garb like a Zuni-Martian princess. She smiled at me, that big, warm smile of hers that just takes over the whole room. Her father&#8217;s smile.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;Hi, darling,&#8221; I said.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nShe hustled to my side in a flurry of feathers. I opened my mouth, but she squeezed my hand before I could get a word out.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;Let&#8217;s dance,&#8221; she said.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI turned and thrust the curtains open. The crowd rose to their feet. The way they were cheering, there could&#8217;ve been a thousand of them.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nThe drums and the Dance swept Lucita out into the night. She spun and kicked. Those big elephant tears burst all around her proximity bubble in slow-motion explosions. She danced faster and smoother even than Mama. That night, my little Lucita was the best Martian Rain Dancer I&#8217;ve ever seen. I knew it was the last time I was gonna watch her dance, and I&#8217;m pretty sure she knew it too.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI turned my gaze upward at the thick clouds overhead. I imagined all the stars up there, and a whole lot closer, the Outer Colonies. I reckoned at least one of them could use some rain right about now. I hoped that once Lucita got there, she&#8217;d keep on dancing. Bringing the rain where they needed it most.<br \/>\n<\/P><\/p>\n<hr>\n<p><mbp:pagebreak \/><br \/>\n<a name=\"exchange\"><\/a><H1 LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" ALIGN=CENTER STYLE=\"font-weight: normal; page-break-before: always\"><br \/>\n<FONT FACE=\"Times New Roman, serif\"><FONT SIZE=6>The Exchange<\/FONT><\/FONT><\/H1><br \/>\n<P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nBy Sarah Hogg<\/P><br \/>\n<P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nEvan met the love of his life while he was on an awkward date with someone else. It had been arranged by a professional matchmaker. His date was Liz, and she managed accounts at a corporate medical sales company. Her profile suggested a beautiful, intelligent woman, so Evan decided to give the date an honest attempt.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nThey went to a seafood restaurant and the art museum downtown. She picked her teeth at dinner and discussed her dog\u2019s lengthy veterinarian history. Evan tried to be interested. He tried not to stare at her cleavage, which served as a landing place for bits of food throughout dinner. He tried to ask her about music, philosophy, sports or anything else, but she kept veering back to her damn dog. He tried, and that was what mattered, wasn\u2019t it? That\u2019s what he would tell people later: he tried. By the time they arrived at the museum, he was already counting the minutes before it was socially acceptable to part ways.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nHer heels clacked on the white tile floor. The corners of her mouth were still stained with au jus from her prime rib. Yes, she had ordered prime rib at the city\u2019s finest seafood establishment. He should have met her at a chicken wings restaurant.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nIn the bright museum lights, her black dress was obviously faded and stretched beyond its capacity on her stomach and hips. Chopin\u2019s Nocturnes fell like soft rain through the speakers, and Evan tried to let the music absorb his negative feelings.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cUgh, I hate it when the pictures are blurry like that,\u201d she said, pointing at Monet\u2019s \u201cWater Lilies.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cIt\u2019s Impressionist art. It\u2019s supposed to look like that,\u201d Evan said, barely able to disguise his disgust. \u201cYou\u2019ve heard of Monet before, right?\u201d Please say yes.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cYes, duh. I\u2019ve heard of him,\u201d she said with an eye roll. \u201cI just think it\u2019s stupid that we\u2019re supposed to stand here and praise something that looks like a child did it.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cAre you being serious?\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cYeah. I mean, ok, so my friend Caroline went to one of those drink and paint places. You know, the kind where you bring a bottle of wine, and they tell you what to paint. Well, her wine was French, and the class was for a Monet painting, which she thought was fun because Monet was French. So the instructor was this absolutely fine specimen of man, but he was gay, not that she minded. He was just eye candy for the evening, you know. So they start drinking and he tells them what to paint, one stroke at a time. And Caroline was totally sloshed by the end. I mean just wasted. She had to take a cab home, and she said the cab driver smelled like marijuana. So they\u2019re painting and getting drunk, and at the end, her painting looked almost just like this. So why should I respect it if my friend Caroline, who couldn\u2019t paint to save her life, could go get toasted with a class of other ladies and a gorgeous gay man and come home with basically the same thing?\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nAll of her stories were like that, meandering and full of extraneous details.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cI don\u2019t even know what to say to that,\u201d he said as they wandered away from the Impressionist exhibit.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cWell, here\u2019s what I suggest. Say this: \u2018Hey Liz, let\u2019s leave this boring museum and hit a night club and go dancing.\u2019 That sounds pretty good,\u201d she said with a horse-toothed grin.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cHow about this? Hey, Liz, why don\u2019t you leave this museum since you find it boring? Go find a nightclub or whatever you want. I don\u2019t think this is going to work out.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nShe frowned and tilted her head to the right.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cFine,\u201d Liz said. \u201cYou\u2019re a terrible listener, by the way. You should work on that before your next date.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nThen she spun on her heels and clacked out of the museum. Evan wandered to other exhibits, his sense of relief growing with each new room. Why was it so hard to find a good date? The women his friends set him up with tended to be one thing or another: beauty or brains, sports or art, fashion or philosophy. The women the matchmaker set him up with were bottom of the barrel types who were so desperate that he couldn\u2019t tell what else they were. Or they were so classless that he couldn\u2019t imagine any man of taste wanting them, like Liz. They were all so damn talkative. He\u2019d barely said a word the entire evening. She hadn\u2019t even asked what he did for a living.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nEvan plopped on a bench in the sculpture hall and gazed around him. And that was where he saw her. At first it was curiosity that drew him to her. She stood alone under an arch in the wall, a Roman style toga draped over her body, carefully arranged so that the right half of her torso was exposed. He circled her looking for a plaque or some indication of her name and creator.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nAs he walked around her, Evan studied her features. The delicate curve of her breast and up-tilted nipple was superbly crafted. Her waist formed a gentle concave slope to her hip. Evan sucked in his breath. Her face was exquisitely carved with high cheekbones, eyes that were neither too round or too almond shaped, and wisps of wavy hair were sculpted into bands atop her head which cascaded down to frame her face. She was perfection in white marble.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cI wish I knew your name,\u201d he whispered. \u201cI wish I knew anything about you. Where you\u2019re from, who made you, anything.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nDid she tremble? Was there warmth emanating from her marble curves? Perhaps it was his imagination. A raspy alto female voice interrupted the eerily eloquent violin strains of Ravel\u2019s Berceuse sur la nom de Gabriel Faure, startling Evan.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cAttention visitors. It is now 9 pm, and the museum is closing. The museum will reopen at 10 am tomorrow. Thank you for visiting and have a wonderful evening.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nTomorrow, Evan thought. Tomorrow I\u2019ll come back and see what I can learn about her. He walked slowly away from her, looking back often. The security guard was too busy scrolling through his phone to notice the strange look on Evan\u2019s face.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nThe next morning, Evan returned, and after casually strolling the other rooms as long as he could stand it, he hurried to the sculpture hall. The bench was too far from her for Evan to study her features with the attention she deserved. When he asked the burly security guard to move the bench, the guard laughed in his face.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cSure, buddy,\u201d he said. \u201cAnything else you\u2019d like to rearrange in here? Want me to move the sculptures around too?\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nThat afternoon, Evan called his CFO and made the quarterly inquiry. His accounts were growing as usual, and company profits had never been higher.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cHave we made any sizable charitable donations this quarter?\u201d Evan asked.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cNot yet, sir.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cPlease set up a meeting with whomever handles donations at the art museum.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nBy the end of the week, Evan was a \u201cFriend of the Museum,\u201d the security guard had been relocated to one of the painting rooms and replaced with a more apathetic colleague, and the bench was next to his beloved statue. Evan spent all of his spare time there, sitting beside her. Sometimes he sat in silence, and sometimes he whispered to her about his life, his work, his hopes, and his loneliness. His childhood, his opinion on politics, philosophy, and even art dominated their conversations. Over time, his talks became more confessional.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cI hire prostitutes sometimes,\u201d he said to her once. \u201cDon\u2019t worry; they\u2019re clean. I pay a premium price for women of a certain class. A man gets lonely sometimes, and they don\u2019t mind being used.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nThe statue had no response but the usual cold indifference. She didn\u2019t judge. She didn\u2019t mock. She didn\u2019t preach. If only she would send him the faintest glimmer of that warmth from the night they met. A tremble, half a movement, anything to let him know she was not an immutable mute. Perhaps she was waiting for a sign that he was worthy of her.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nThe next time he visited, he leaned forward and softly said, \u201cThere are no more prostitutes. Not for me. I\u2019ve closed my dating profiles too.\u201d He cleared his throat and glanced around the room. No one nearby. \u201cIt\u2019s only you for me now.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nHe stared at her until his eyes burned for the need to blink. Just as his lids began to drop, he glimpsed the faintest quiver in her neck. Didn\u2019t he? It wasn\u2019t just the lack of saline in his eyes, the strong desire to see life in her, was it? He stood at arm\u2019s length from her and studied her for the next hour. No movement.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nOn another occasion, he said, \u201cIt\u2019s amazing what money can do. I\u2019m always in awe of the intangible things I can buy. Things you\u2019d think would be priceless. I\u2019ve bought the love of women\u2014but not anymore of course, as we discussed\u2014I\u2019ve bought the trust of judges and the interest of politicians. Most importantly, I\u2019ve bought the loyalty of my employees. And it was all so cheap, so insignificant compared to what I would have spent for the same. Last year, I gave a half of a percent raise to everyone in my company, and they would have made me king if they could. No other local companies were giving raises with the recession and all. Half of a percent, and they worshipped me. In turn, they\u2019ve made me a much wealthier man this year. Truly amazing, isn\u2019t it?\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nNothing from her. Not a quiver. No warmth. Just the same coldness. The same apathy.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cYou disapprove? I didn\u2019t have to give them anything. I was a hero in a time when no other companies were doing anything. It was on the news, for crying out loud.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nSilence.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nOne evening, after a nearly three hour visit, Evan leaned as close to her as he dared with the guard in the room and said, \u201cPerhaps you don\u2019t understand how wealthy I am. Without even feeling it, I could double the salary of my entire payroll. I could even buy you and take you home with me.\u201d He paused and considered this, rubbing the back of his neck with his palm. \u201cIn fact, maybe I will. In my parlor, there is a large space next to the fireplace. I could put you there, where you\u2019d be warm. Then I could talk to you all night. We could even touch.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nHis fingers quivered, and his hand reached out to her. The security guard cleared his throat and nodded at the \u201cNo Touching\u201d plaque on the wall behind her. Evan clenched his fist and lowered his hand to his side.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nThe next day, he contacted the museum curator. The statue had come from the private collection of a patron who wished to remain anonymous. There was no hope of purchasing her.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nThat night, he went to visit her, discouraged by the dead end, he\u2019d encountered. He stopped at the door to the sculpture hall. The security guard was obviously bored.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cIf I give you a thousand dollars in cash, will you give me an hour alone in here?\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cWhat? Of course not! I can\u2019t do that. I\u2019ll get fired.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cNo, you won\u2019t. I\u2019ll make sure of that. And if you do get fired, I\u2019ll hire you myself. A thousand dollars not to work for an hour. Think about it.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nThe guard studied Evan\u2019s face uncertainly.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cIt\u2019s not a test. I\u2019m not going to turn you in or anything. Look, here\u2019s the money,\u201d Evan said, pulling out a thick stack of crisp bills. \u201cPut this in your pocket and leave. I can\u2019t steal anything in here. It\u2019s all giant sculptures.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nThe guard took a deep breath and exhaled. \u201cOk,\u201d he said, pocketing the money. \u201cJust don\u2019t do anything weird.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nA moment after the guard left, Evan was standing in front of his mysterious ideal woman.\n <\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cI\u2019ve done it,\u201d he said softly. \u201cI\u2019ve doubled the salary of my entire payroll. For you. Do you approve?\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nHe waited. She didn\u2019t change. Nothing about her showed approval or disapproval in the slightest. For several minutes, he stood his usual arm\u2019s length from her. He swallowed, a slight sweat beading at his temples. Glancing behind him to make sure he was alone, he stepped closer.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nHe leaned an inch from her ear and whispered, \u201cThere\u2019s been a snag. You can\u2019t come home with me yet. Your owner won\u2019t sell. In fact, next week, you\u2019ll be moved to another museum. I don\u2019t know how yet, but I\u2019m going to find a way to stop that.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nThe guard was still gone. Alone with her, his heart raced. His hand shook and reached towards her face, stopping millimeters from her cheek. After a final glance around the room, he grazed a finger across her cheekbones. The marble was cool to his touch. Breath caught in his throat, chest exploding in rhythmic pulses, he traced her jawline and the curls in her hair.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cI know you can feel this,\u201d he whispered, lips grazing her ear. \u201cI remember that first night. You were warm. You trembled next to me. I know you want me.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nHis index finger slid down the right side of her neck to her shoulder. Did she seem to warm a bit? Was that a smile tugging at the corners of her lips?\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nHis body was inches from hers. He cupped her breast in his hand, massaging the nipple. Evan took a final step towards her, pressing his body against hers. His hand traveled down the curve of her side. Gripping her waist, he placed his lips on hers. They were warm, more than warm; they were burning hot. The toga shifted, and her skin softened under his fingers.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nEvan\u2019s brown eyes met her blue ones. Some of her dark curls loosened and fell to her shoulders. Her strong pink arms gripped him. Inhaling sharply, Evan tried to step back, but he couldn\u2019t move. His lips remained locked on hers. His heart was in his stomach, and he couldn\u2019t feel his feet.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nStill gripping him, she rotated them so she was facing the wall and he the room. The toga trailed behind her, grazing his pant leg. Finally, she pushed him free of her and stepped back.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nThe sweetest voice he\u2019d ever heard said, \u201cYou disgust me.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nShe ran from the room, her bare feet hardly making a sound on the tile.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nEvan reached out his arms and tried to lunge forward. Her words stung like a thousand needles all over his body. He couldn\u2019t move. The numbness in his feet had worked its way to his waist, and he was so cold. She had vanished, taking all of his warmth with her.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nEventually, the bench was put back in its normal place. The former guard returned to his post in the sculpture hall. When visitors inquired after the title and creator of the \u201cDesperate Businessman\u201d sculpture as they called him, they were simply told that the information was confidential.<br \/>\n<\/P><\/p>\n<hr>\n<p><mbp:pagebreak \/><br \/>\n<a name=\"wild\"><\/a><H1 LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" ALIGN=CENTER STYLE=\"font-weight: normal; page-break-before: always\"><br \/>\n<FONT FACE=\"Times New Roman, serif\"><FONT SIZE=6>Stars Are Wild<\/FONT><\/FONT><\/H1><br \/>\n<P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nBy Preston Dennett<\/P><br \/>\n<P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI opened the door to the ship\u2019s studio and waved frantically for Gracie to stop playing the omniboard. She lifted her fingers and the beautiful music echoed into silence. Her glare scorched me. I wasn\u2019t supposed to interrupt her when she was composing, but this was too important.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cGracie,\u201d I said, leaning down to give her a kiss. \u201cI\u2019ve got news. We have to cancel all your shows for the next month. Something better has come up.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nShe narrowed her eyes. Her latest song, Stars Are Wild, was number one on six of the fifty worlds, and we were in the middle of a multi-world tour to promote it. The entire year was booked solid, and she was playing at the best venues known. What could possibly be better than that?\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI sat down and activated the HV, enjoying Gracie\u2019s confusion. \u201cJust watch,\u201d I said.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nA woman newscaster began talking. She stood before a large grove of trees, each one covered with striking violet-colored leaves. In the distance, an ethereal yet familiar tune played.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cWhat is this?\u201d Gracie asked, looking at me, then back to the holo.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cWatch,\u201d I said.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nThe newscaster spoke: \u201cSomething amazing is happening on the little known planet, Autumn. The Music Trees have woken up. This is how they used to sound.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nA low, hollow fluting sound filled the cabin. It was an eerie, haunting echo that froze my blood. I had heard variations of it many times. Gracie\u2019s song, Stars Are Wild, had been inspired by those same tones, but she had heard them in her dreams.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cCorris,\u201d she squeaked. \u201cMy song.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI grinned from ear to ear. \u201cI know. Just shut up and keep watching.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cAnd this is how they sound now,\u201d the newscaster said.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI watched Gracie. The music that poured forth paralyzed her: a thunderous multi-tonal orchestra with delicious melodic curls and waves of harmonics. Tears poured from her eyes as the music carried her away.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cShe\u2019s calling to me,\u201d she whispered, gazing at me. \u201cShe wants to me to visit her and sing to her.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI stifled my own tears. \u201cKeep watching. There\u2019s more.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nThe newscaster began to speak. \u201cTo this date no one has been able to decipher any meaning behind the tree-songs. And until just a few days ago, nobody has been able to make them change their tune. Millions of tourists visit here each year and sing to the Music Trees. They have never reacted like this. The secret apparently lies with the new hit song, \u2018Stars Are Wild,\u2019 by the phenomenally successful young musician, Gracie Megan Sparks. A visitor was playing her song when the trees began to sing back. He turned it off and they became silent.  Mind you, the trees have never been silent before. He turned it back on, and they began singing again. Even now, the trees will not sing unless Sparks\u2019 song is playing. So far, no word from Sparks\u2019 camp. But she should know that her song is not only popular among humans. The Music Trees like it too.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cI don\u2019t believe it,\u201d she said. \u201cAll this time, that\u2019s what I\u2019ve been hearing.\u201d She trembled as she leaned against me.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI wrapped my arms around her. \u201cAre you okay?\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cI don\u2019t know. I mean, why me? Why my song?\u201d She looked at me dolefully.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cI don\u2019t know, honey,\u201d I said. \u201cBut I guess we\u2019ll find out. We\u2019ve already got an invitation from Autumn to go visit. I was waiting for you before I answered.\u201d I hoped she said yes. I was tired of touring. We could use a rest&#8211;if I had my way, a nice long rest.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cHer name is Oora, Corris,\u201d she blurted. \u201cI shouldn\u2019t know that, but I do. How is it I can hear her?\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cYou\u2019re a musical genius, love,\u201d I said. \u201cI\u2019m not the least bit surprised. Now, stop worrying. Let\u2019s go to bed and sleep on it. I\u2019ll tell Carlos to navigate a new course to Autumn and we\u2019ll figure out what\u2019s going on.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nShe nodded, looking again at the image of the purple trees on the holo. They were incredibly beautiful. What, I wondered, had we gotten ourselves into? Gracie writes one hit song, and now suddenly she\u2019s communicating with a mysterious tree-like creature on the other side of the galaxy. The question was: Why?\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><\/p>\n<hr>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cWhat\u2019s wrong?\u201d I asked with concern. I knew my wife, and Gracie was clearly more than nervous; something else was bothering her. \u201cWe don\u2019t have to do this. We can go home right now.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cNo,\u201d she said, gently freeing herself from my embrace. \u201cI\u2019m fine. I can do this. I need to.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nWe stood before the grove of trees, now utterly silent. In front of Gracie rested her omniboard, charged and ready. The speakers were set up.  Most of the crew surrounded us, everyone except Carlos who remained in the ship, parked only a few miles away in our private berth at the starport.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nNext to us stood the caretakers, a group of ten men and ten women who lived on Autumn, each of them dressed in the mauve robes that marked them as the guardians of the Music Trees.  None of them looked happy. Why should they, I thought. Because of Gracie, their trees were silent for the first time in history. What if they never sang again?\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nFurther behind us (and floating above us) the media hovered with their recorders posed to transmit this momentous event to every corner of the galaxy. Beyond them thousands of spectators had gathered. Billions of people were watching us at this moment. All fifty worlds, they told us, which meant Gracie\u2019s fame and popularity would probably skyrocket, and I would never get the time with my wife that I craved.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nThe small grove was just a few yards away&#8211;Oora, as Gracie had called her. Smooth tan trunks rose up to long lithe branches, each exploding with wild bunches of fluted, purple leaves&#8211;or what looked like leaves. Only on closer examination was it clear that the Music Trees were not trees at all.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI had studied all I could before we arrived, but there was little to learn. The Music Trees were unique to Autumn. Attempts to re-grow them elsewhere had failed. They had been there for as long as recorded history. Their biology was a mishmash of plant and animal&#8211;not particularly unusual, other than it was the only known specimen of a unique species. Some believed it was sentient, though there was no real evidence other than the songs themselves. It made the songs by pumping air up hollow stems and through cylindrical-shaped leaves. The song itself was a variation of seemingly random tones that combined in a way to create the complex haunting sounds that made the trees so famous.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI couldn\u2019t help but feel uneasy. Who was Oora? What did this creature want with my wife?\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nGracie flashed me a smile and composing herself.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nA hush fell over the crowd as she placed her fingers over the omniboard. She took a few deep breaths and drifted slowly into a trance. Instantly, her fingers began to dance and the music rolled forth, the notes tripping over one another in their haste to be released.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nCalm down, girl, I thought. Relax and flow.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI studied my beautiful wife as she played her song. She quickly lost herself in the music. Eyes closed, lips slightly parted, head tilted forward, Gracie played as though possessed. Her body swayed rhythmically as the music poured from her mind and heart, down her arms, through her fingers and out to the worlds.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nNo sooner had she begun when Oora joined her with a crescendo of intertwining melodies and harmonies. The audience behind us gasped as the new tree-song swept over them.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nThe two melodies joined, combining and dancing around each other like lovers. Gracie played a series of chords. Oora responded with spears of sounds that seemed to predict Gracie\u2019s next tones. They were having a conversation, I realized.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nThe music increased in volume, now with discordant tones. I looked over at the trees. The leaves were trembling and the trunks swayed back and forth. It seemed more creature than plant.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI looked back at Gracie and nearly rushed forward. She was crying and appeared almost angry. She pounded the keys of her omniboard, responding to another volley of notes from the trees. Were they arguing?\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nThe music continued, until suddenly Gracie released a series of descending notes, then abruptly lifted her fingers from the omniboard. At the same moment, Oora stopped singing, and the air echoed into silence.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nGracie pulled out of her trance and opened her eyes.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nWithout warning the Music Trees erupted into flames, wailing and shrieking.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nGracie dashed around her omniboard and sprinted toward Oora. I dropped everything and dashed after her. Chaos erupted around us as everyone reacted.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nGracie disappeared into the flames. As I followed her in, I realized that they weren\u2019t flames at all; it was light. The leaves glowed with a fiery orange-red brilliance, each one emitting a shrill sound, then slowly curling and withering to fine dust. A sweet burnt odor choked my breath.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cGracie!\u201d I shouted. She was climbing between the trunks now. The grove was larger than it appeared, and Gracie quickly disappeared inside it. I turned and saw that the caretakers rushing forward with expressions of confusion, fear and anger.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nA pinkish mist or ash filled the air, making it very difficult to see. Chaos reigned as everyone ran back and forth. Above it all, the shrieking continued.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nFinally I found Gracie creeping sneakily from behind the grove, which was quickly shrinking and burning away.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI gasped when I saw her expression of utter urgency.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cGet me to the ship,\u201d she said. \u201cNow!\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nThe light from the trees began to dim. Almost all the leaves were gone and the trunks were beginning to fall.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI held Gracie by the shoulders as we dodged back and forth through the crowd. We found the crew quickly packing up the gear.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cLeave it!\u201d I said. \u201cTo the ship!\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI led Gracie through the mob of people, dodging the media, caretakers and security personnel. Soon we climbed out of the vale that held the Music Trees and onto the roadways. I saw one of the caretakers watching us. He began shouting frantically, running toward us, his purple robe flapping. We dived into a floater and took off to the starport. Heath drove while Gracie and I sat in the backseat. Two of our crew were missing. Hopefully, they would find their own way.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI looked behind us, no sign of being followed yet, but it was only a matter of time.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cAre you okay?\u201d I asked Gracie. \u201cWhat happened back there?\u201d I had never seen her so upset. Tears poured down her face. She looked up at me and buried her face in my chest. I held her tightly. When she was ready to speak, she\u2019d let me know.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nWe pulled up to the airport and scrambled towards our ship. Carlos, to his credit, saw us coming and was already opening the hatchway and lowering down the elevator. No sooner had we climbed inside and it started to rise when I heard sirens.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nIn a few seconds, we were onboard. Gracie turned to Carlos. \u201cIf you can, get us out of here,\u201d she said. \u201cIf not, other than Tony or Melika, don\u2019t let anyone else on this ship. I need twenty minutes.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cWhat are you doing?\u201d I asked.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cJust give me twenty minutes!\u201d she snapped, and disappeared down the corridor.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nTwenty minutes? What was she up to? I didn\u2019t have time to question. I followed Carlos to the engine room and prepared to take off. We could have Tony and Melika picked up later.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nWhen I arrived in the control room, Carlos was already seated and ready to go. Bright flashing lights on the dash indicated that the engine was primed. \u201cLet\u2019s go,\u201d I said.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nCarlos shook his head and pointed to the view screen. It showed the outside of our ship, which was now surrounded by security vehicles. \u201cToo late. We\u2019re being hailed,\u201d he said. \u201cThey are forbidding us to take off. Do you want to answer?\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI hadn\u2019t expected anything less. \u201cPut them through,\u201d I said. Time to do some stalling. If Gracie wanted twenty minutes, I\u2019d give her thirty.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nJansen Ortis, the head of the security team that had overseen the concert came online. \u201cYour ship is surrounded,\u201d he said. \u201cYou are forbidden to depart. Any attempts to leave Autumn will be considered a hostile act and will be responded to accordingly. Open the doors immediately.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cI\u2019m sorry,\u201d I said. \u201cWe have done nothing wrong. You have no right to keep us here. We will be taking off shortly. If you open fire on us, you should know that our ship is not without its defenses.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cOpen the doors immediately, or we will board your ship by force.\u201d He motioned to his crew, which moved toward our ship with their cutting tools ready. I couldn\u2019t believe it. Did they have any idea who my wife was, or the value of this ship?\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cTouch my ship,\u201d I said, \u201cand I will have lawyers from all fifty planets here to sue you for everything you\u2019ve got.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nThey ignored me, moved forward and situated themselves around the door. This was not the first time people had tried to force themselves onboard one of the ships. This latest model was built to prevent any unwanted visitors. It wouldn\u2019t be easy for them.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cWait,\u201d I said. \u201cI\u2019m coming down. Give me a second.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI went to the bottom level and the elevator. Gracie had asked for twenty minutes. Only about five or ten had passed since we boarded. I couldn\u2019t give her much more than that. Where was she? What was she doing?\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI flicked on the in-ship comm. \u201cCarlos, tell them I\u2019m here. Tell them I\u2019m opening the door now. But that I\u2019m going to ask for a condition.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cYes, Boss!\u201d he said. I heard him repeat my message. The truth was, I had no conditions. It was just another stalling tactic.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cThey\u2019re asking for the condition,\u201d said Carlos.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cTell them that I need all of them to put down their weapons. Only then will I open the door.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cThey\u2019re ignoring your condition, Boss. They\u2019re starting to cut into the ship.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI stepped into the elevator and lowered it down.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nA group of security personnel moved forward to get on board. I blocked their entrance.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cBy what right are you boarding my ship!\u201d I shouted.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nOrtis stepped forward until we were face to face. \u201cYou destroyed the music trees. Your wife, where is she?\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cI don\u2019t know,\u201d I said, \u201cSomewhere on the ship.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cTell her to exit immediately.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cTell her yourself.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nThey held the guns up and I stepped aside. My stomach dropped as the armed guards marched onboard. There, I gave her almost fifteen minutes. Hopefully it was enough.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI followed them. The main guy was directing the other guards to search everything.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cWhat are you looking for?\u201d I asked.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cWhatever you used to destroy the trees.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cI don\u2019t know what you\u2019re talking about.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cWhere is she? Why did she flee so quickly.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cYou\u2019ll have to ask her.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cWell you better get her now.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cI\u2019m right here,\u201d said Gracie. \u201cWhat seems to be the problem?\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI gasped. She looked stunning. She had changed her outfit to a beautiful mauve-colored dress with purple trim. A beautiful necklace with large pink stones draped around her neck. Strange, I had never seen that before, but I could see why she chose them. She was dressed up in all the colors of the Music Trees, the same colors as the robes of the Caretakers. I swelled with pride; I knew exactly what she was up to. My wife was a clever lady.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cYou\u2019re under arrest,\u201d said Ortis, and he lunged at Gracie.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cNo way!\u201d I shouted barring his path.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nThe security forces pointed their stunners at me and ordered me to step aside. When I refused, they fired.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nAs I fell, I saw my entire crew rush to protect Gracie. Then darkness.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><\/p>\n<hr>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cI\u2019m not answering any questions until I get to see my wife,\u201d I told the investigator for the hundredth time. \u201cWe haven\u2019t done anything wrong. You have no right to take us from our ship and keep us here.\u201d I had already told them everything, how Megan had heard the tree-song in her dreams, how it had inspired her latest song. I didn\u2019t share the Music Tree\u2019s name was Oora. Gracie could tell them if she wanted.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cNothing wrong?\u201d he said. \u201cMr. Sparks, are you aware that there are no other known Music Trees on any of the fifty planets? This is the only one. Your wife has destroyed a galactic treasure. There are a lot of people who are very angry at her.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cShe didn\u2019t do anything!\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cWhy did she run into the trees?\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cIf I know her, she was probably trying to save them.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cWhy did she flee so quickly?\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cI don\u2019t know? Ask her. Maybe she was scared. Maybe she knew that you\u2019d all react this way.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cHow did she kill the trees?\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cShe didn\u2019t,\u201d I said.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cJust tell us why she did it,\u201d said the investigator.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cYou\u2019re not listening!\u201d I roared. \u201cShe didn\u2019t do anything. She didn\u2019t destroy your precious trees. You must have seen what happened. They just combusted by themselves. She didn\u2019t hurt anybody. Let me see me wife!\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nBack and forth it went, first one investigator and then another. Thankfully, with Gracie\u2019s recent success, we were not without resources. Nor was this the first time we\u2019ve had trouble with authorities. I had already contacted our legal team, who arrived immediately. Normally we would have been freed by now, so it looked like we were in real trouble. I knew that the Music Trees were dead, but there was no way they could blame Gracie. After all, the Music Trees had called her. She had been invited here.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI was just about ready to snap when the door opened and I was ushered out.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI was taken to another room. Inside was Gracie. Next to her was Silas, our main lawyer.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cCorris,\u201d he said, standing up. \u201cI\u2019m sorry it took so long.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cJust tell me what\u2019s going on.\u201d I hooked my arm around Gracie\u2019s waist. A strange light danced in her eyes. I knew that look; she was up to something, and I was not going to like it.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cGood news. You can leave Autumn.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cLet\u2019s go then.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nSilas winced. \u201cThere are a few conditions. You can leave, but Gracie must stay.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cNo way! Absolutely not!\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nSilas and Gracie shared a knowing glance. I instantly realized what was happening. They had expected this reaction and were gearing to tag-team me. I braced myself.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nSilas began. \u201cI advise leaving,\u201d he said. \u201cGracie will follow you. But right now, we need you to go.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI turned to Gracie. Her plea was short and simple. \u201cPlease, Corris,\u201d she said. \u201cFor me. I need you to do this.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI shook my head. There was no way I would leave her to these people. \u201cThey can\u2019t keep you here. They have no right.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cThey can and they do,\u201d said Silas. \u201cBesides murdering the trees, they believe Gracie may have stolen something and hidden it on the ship.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nThis was new to me. \u201cDid you?\u201d I asked, remembering the way she had rushed toward the flames and sneaked around in the haze.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cOf course not,\u201d she said. \u201cLet them search the ship. They won\u2019t find a thing, because there\u2019s nothing to find.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI knew when my wife was lying, and she wasn\u2019t, but she was hiding something. When she was ready, she would tell me. Still, it infuriated me that she was keeping something secret from me.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cThere\u2019s going to be an arbitration hearing,\u201d Silas explained. \u201cYour wife has been accused of murder. We\u2019ve managed to negotiate your release. But Megan has to stay.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cI\u2019m not leaving,\u201d I said. \u201cThere\u2019s nothing you can say that would convince me she\u2019s guilty of murder.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cShe already confessed.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cWhat?\u201d I asked, looking at Gracie.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nShe stared at me levelly. \u201cIt\u2019s true. I know you\u2019re angry, but this was the only way to guarantee your freedom. They wanted to arrest all of us. Don\u2019t worry about me. I\u2019ll be fine.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cFine? You\u2019re pleading guilty to murder.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nShe grabbed my hand and covered it with hers. \u201cI\u2019ll be fine,\u201d she said. \u201cYou have to trust me. I know what I\u2019m doing.\u201d I knew it! She had a plan. I groaned. Once Gracie had her mind set on something, nothing would sway her.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cNow you see,\u201d said Silas. \u201cIt\u2019s best you leave. The hearing will be in a few days. I\u2019ll make sure you\u2019re there.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cWhat if it goes bad? What\u2019s the punishment?\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cIn a nutshell, if we don\u2019t agree to the results of the arbitration, they will press official murder charges. As far as what they\u2019re looking for, we\u2019ll have to wait and see. I\u2019m guessing they want compensation for loss of future income, which should make them open to a financial settlement. However, they might ask for more, it\u2019s hard to say.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cMore?\u201d I asked. I was beginning to doubt my dear lawyer\u2019s ability. He had failed to do the one thing I paid him for: protect my wife. \u201cWhat more?\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nSilas shrugged. \u201cPublic service, maybe a period of confinement. The rules are different on each planet. Our team is learning everything we can about how things work around here, and we\u2019re going by the book. I\u2019m sorry, Corris, but you have to go now. Everything has already been decided.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nThe guards at the door motioned for us to end the meeting.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI turned to Silas. I regretted my words even as I said them. \u201cGet Gracie out of here, Silas, or we\u2019re done.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI turned to Gracie, gave her a long kiss.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cDon\u2019t be angry, Corris,\u201d she said. \u201cJust trust me.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cDo I have a choice?\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nShe laughed. She knew that my love for her left me with no option. I never could say no to her. \u201cI\u2019ll see you soon,\u201d she said. She looked amazing in her purple-hues. I hoped the outfit would have the desired effect.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI smiled at Gracie, glared daggers at Silas and stormed from the room. Armed guards led me out of the confinement center. I was put in the back of a floater and driven directly to the starport and my ship.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nBack onboard, I quickly became even more angry. Not only had I been forcibly separated from my wife, but now it looked like the entire ship had been ransacked.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cSorry, Boss,\u201d said Carlos. \u201cThey kicked us all off and searched every inch of the ship. We\u2019ve been cleaning up as best as we could before you arrived.\u201d He looked at me with the hint of a grimace. \u201cWhere\u2019s Gracie?\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI told him what happened.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cDoesn\u2019t sound so bad,\u201d he said. \u201cWe\u2019ll just pay them and get out of here. The recording of what happened is already number one on most music charts. Gracie is more famous now than ever.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cBut pay them for what?\u201d I said. \u201cWe didn\u2019t do anything wrong.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cWell, you have to admit, something happened. The trees are gone. And not everybody is singing Gracie\u2019s praises.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cYou know as well as I, Gracie wouldn\u2019t hurt anybody ever. Not on purpose.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nCarlos nodded. \u201cWhat\u2019s going to happen to her?\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI shrugged. \u201cShe has a plan.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cOh, no,\u201d Carlos said. We all knew what that meant.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI just wished I knew what she was up to. I had to retire to our bedroom to calm down. Gracie and I hadn\u2019t spent more than one night apart in the six years since we\u2019d been married. Even so, I got to spend precious little time with her. With her success, everybody wanted a piece of Gracie Megan Sparks. Too often, there was little left for me. How I loved her! Being apart was physically painful. If the authorities decided to confine her here, I wasn\u2019t sure what I would do. But I knew one thing: it wouldn\u2019t be pretty.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><\/p>\n<hr>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cI told you,\u201d said Silas. \u201cEach planet is different. This is how disputes are settled here. Just sit down and be quiet. I was barely able to convince them that you belonged here. Don\u2019t give them a reason otherwise.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cBut this is a joke,\u201d I said, gesturing to the table where Gracie sat with our lawyers facing a group of three angry-looking Caretakers. At the head of the table was the lead Caretaker and, as it turned out, the only arbiter. The room itself was tiny. Other than the table and chairs, there was a computer screen on one wall and recorders on either side. I sat in the rear section with about thirty other people, most of them caretakers. A row of five security personnel divided the audience from the arbitration section. \u201cHow can a caretaker be the person who decides her fate? How is that fair?\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cI\u2019m not going to lecture you on the laws of Autumn. Just keep quiet for once, will you? I\u2019m having enough trouble with Gracie. Between the two of you&#8211;never mind. Just don\u2019t make a scene, okay? Promise me.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cDon\u2019t worry about me,\u201d I said. \u201cJust get Gracie out of here.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cI\u2019m doing my best,\u201d he said. \u201cJust keep quiet.\u201d He walked over and took his place next to Gracie.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nThe arbiter spoke, introducing himself as Brother Garrin Tolo, then introduced each other caretaker at the table and then Gracie, Silas and Thornton, another one of our lawyers.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cWho will be speaking for the Music Trees?\u201d asked Tolo.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nOne of the caretakers stood. \u201cI, Nevik Reeva will speak for the Music Trees.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cAnd who will speak for Gracie Megan Sparks?\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nSilas stood and was about to speak when Gracie jumped up and said: \u201cI, Gracie Megan Sparks, will speak for myself.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nSilas looked at her in shock, then sunk to his seat and put his face in his hands. I chuckled to myself. We both knew Gracie. Now the Caretakers were about to get a taste of her.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cFirst,\u201d said the arbiter, \u201cwe will review the recording of the incident. Then each party will be allowed to give a statement and a rebuttal. I shall then make my decision.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nThe room darkened, and the scene that had been played hundreds of times on all fifty worlds for the past three days&#8211;the scene that played endlessly in my mind&#8211;appeared once again in full color on the screen. There stood Gracie, looking tiny but captivating as she perched before her instrument and gazed upward at the trees. She began to play and the trees responded. The music echoed through the room and once again, I was struck by the feeling that some sort of conversation was taking place between my wife and Oora.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI looked over at Gracie sitting at the table. I wasn\u2019t surprised to see that her eyes were closed. Even though I knew what happened next, I watched the screen as the grove erupted into apparent flames. I saw Gracie dash immediately for the grove, followed by myself. I felt no guilt as I watched myself lead Gracie surreptitiously away from the chaos and out of view.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nThe screen darkened and the room came to light. The arbiter turned to Gracie. \u201cGracie Megan Sparks, you have been accused of taking actions which led directly to the demise of the Music Trees. Normally, this would have led to a trial. As you have agreed that you are guilty, the purpose of this arbitration is to decide how you should be punished. First, we would like you to explain what happened, and why you killed the Music Trees.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nLooking almost mystical in her violet colors, Gracie stood and spoke. \u201cHer name is Oora,\u201d said Gracie. \u201cShe called to me. She is the one who brought me to your planet. She is the one who asked me to come. I speak for Oora.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nAll three caretakers on the other side of the table rose to their feet and opened their mouths beginning to protest. To his credit, the arbiter motioned them to remain seated. He turned to Gracie. \u201cPlease, continue.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cMy name is Gracie Megan Sparks. Only a few years ago, I was a semi-successful musician on Cora. Then, around February 503 New, I began to have dreams in which I heard strange and beautiful melodies. Powerful and clear, I knew that these melodies had meaning, and that were calling out to me. Yet I didn\u2019t understand what they were saying. I felt certain that the tones were coming from somewhere outside of myself, but I couldn\u2019t imagine where. My song, Stars Are Wild, was inspired by the songs I heard in my dreams. I never dreamed it would become so popular, or that it would cause the Music Trees to stop singing. Where I lived on Cora, the Music Trees were virtually unknown and way out of reach for somebody like me. Stars Are Wild opened doors for me, and I began a multi-world tour to perform the song.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cWhen my husband showed me the Music Trees, I was shocked. The music from my dreams had a source, and finally I had found it. Then I learned that the trees had stopped singing because of my song, and that\u2019s when I knew that she had heard me. My song had spoken to her just as hers had spoken to me. We became connected. And that\u2019s when she told me her name.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cWe came to Autumn at your gracious invitation, for which I thank you. Meeting Oora will always be one of the highlights of my life. The song I played was my greeting to her. I told her what an honor it was to meet her and asked her why she had called to me from so far away. She told me I was the only person who she had been able to reach, and that I reminded her of the original caretakers.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nAt that last statement, several of the caretakers looked extremely nervous.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nGracie continued: \u201cOora told me that when she heard my song, she knew the time had come for her to leave this planet. She had lived out her lifespan and was ready to die. I, of course, became upset and argued with her. I tried to get her to change her mind. She refused, and insisted that I play her Death Song with her. I asked her why she felt her time was done, and she gave me the answer, but only on the condition that I would never reveal it to anyone. I reluctantly agreed, and she began her Death Song. And I joined her. It was the least I could do for her after all the songs she had sung to me in my dreams.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cDespite my protests, Oora chose to end her own life. When I saw she was dying, I instinctively rushed over to help her. Seeing how upset I was, my husband, Corris, rushed me to the safety of our ship.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cWhen I came to Autumn, I had no idea this would happen. I never hurt Oora, nor did I have any intention to do so. I was here by your invitation, and more importantly hers. I did only what Oora asked. That is Oora\u2019s message.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nGracie sat down, and a low grumbling swept through the crowd. I had to force myself not to jump up and clap. Gracie had practically knocked the caretakers off their feet. They shook visibly with anger and struggled to remain calm. Now I saw her plan. She was setting herself up as one of them. Not only did she wear the purple uniform of the caretakers, she claimed to speak for Oora. The kicker was, she actually did, which meant the Caretakers had been replaced, and now that Oora was gone, they were no longer needed. No wonder they were angry. I almost looked forward to their response.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nOne thing concerned me. I knew Gracie well enough to see when she was lying. As she spoke, several times I could see that she wasn\u2019t telling the entire truth. She was keeping more than a few things secret. But what?\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nThe arbiter motioned at the Caretakers.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nOne of them rose. \u201cMy name is Nevik Reeva, and I am an ordained Caretaker for the Music Trees. The Caretakers have guarded the Loroola Grove for nearly seven hundred years, since they were first discovered. Never in the entire record of their existence, have they ever stopped playing their sacred songs. And then, without warning, they stop singing. Why? Apparently because of the song from an unknown musician light years away: Gracie Megan Sparks. I\u2019d like to repeat this point. The trees have been singing for as long as we\u2019ve known them. Sparks\u2019 song silenced them. I think we can all agree on this unfortunate turn of events.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cNow Gracie arrives. Yes, we had invited her in the hopes that she could make the trees sing again. Instead, no sooner does Sparks produce her music when the Music Trees erupt into flames and perish. This time Sparks\u2019 song didn\u2019t only harm the trees, it killed them. She killed them. Now they shall never play again. Sparks has admitted her own role in the entire affair. I see no reason to listen to her nonsense that she speaks for the trees. We have no proof of such a thing. How dare she say the Music Trees wished for death? And then she has the audacity to keep the reason a secret? The truth is, she killed the Music Trees, and now she profanes the order of Caretakers by dressing like one of us and mocking our uniforms. Lies, I say. She is only trying to protect herself. Her songs first harmed the Music Trees, then killed them. She destroyed a unique and intelligent species. I see no reason for leniency simply because she admits her guilt. She has no choice. She tried to run away and we caught her. This is genocide of an entire species and should be punished accordingly. That\u2019s my statement.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cDoes Sparks have any response?\u201d asked the arbiter.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nGracie stood. \u201cI have nothing to add. I will abide by the arbiter\u2019s decision.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nSilas began to protest, but she patted his hand and forced him to remain silent. The caretakers looked shocked. They had clearly expected a fight from Gracie, and were now disarmed. I couldn\u2019t believe it; had Gracie given up? What was going on?\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nReeva stood and said, \u201cWe will abide by the arbiter\u2019s decision.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nThe arbiter was silent for a moment. He looked at the Caretakers, then over at Gracie and our lawyers, and finally at the audience.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nFinally he spoke: \u201cI have reached a decision. I find Sparks\u2019 claims to speak for the Music Trees to be unconvincing. She claims to have received a message from the trees and then refuses to reveal it. She claims to understand the tree-songs, and yet, as Reevas has shown&#8211;and as the recordings have proved&#8211;Sparks was directly involved in the death of the Music Trees. Furthermore, her actions have caused considerable financial damage to Autumn and the Order of Caretakers.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cBoth parties have agreed to abide by the punishment given by myself, the arbiter of this case. I hereby declare that Sparks shall be required to reimburse the income that would have been received by the Order of Caretakers had the Music Trees lived. In addition, Sparks shall be confined on Autumn for a period of no less than five years, during which time she will be required to perform community service. That is all. Meeting adjourned.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI jumped up and made a dash toward Gracie who was whispering in Silas\u2019 ear. He did not look happy. Not surprisingly, the security guards blocked me. \u201cGracie!\u201d I screamed.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nShe looked up and blew me a kiss. \u201cDon\u2019t worry,\u201d she mouthed, and she was escorted from the room.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nSilas approached me. I had to restrain myself from tackling him. \u201cHow could you let her speak for herself? Five years? There\u2019s no way. And we\u2019re not paying these crooks anything! This is a disaster.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cCalm down,\u201d said Silas, grabbing my elbow and leading me from the room. \u201cThis is neither the time nor the place.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cIt\u2019s exactly the time and place. They\u2019re taking away my wife at this very moment.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cGive me a chance to explain,\u201d he said. \u201cI didn\u2019t think she was going to speak for herself. But you know your wife, she does what she wants.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cWhat did she tell you just now?\u201d I asked. \u201cShe was whispering to you.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nSilas got a pained expression. \u201cShe said she had a plan. She assured me that she has everything under control, and she\u2019ll be back with you in three days. She also said she has a little surprise.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI threw my hands up. \u201cThat woman is going to drive me crazy!\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cYes,\u201d said Silas. \u201cShe does seem to have that effect on people.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI seethed, but allowed myself to be led away. Once back on the ship, however, I refused to leave. Three days wasn\u2019t very long. I had no idea what Gracie was up to, but I wasn\u2019t about to wait five years. I managed to convince the Starport that our ship needed repairs. After three days, I would be forced leave Gracie behind.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI should never have shown her that damn vid. I should never have brought her to this cursed planet. Now she might be stuck here forever, and it was entirely my fault.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><\/p>\n<hr>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nFour days had elapsed and still no word from Gracie or Silas. The authorities were demanding that I leave Autumn and I refused. I was now being given one last choice. Leave Autumn or face fines and imprisonment. There was no choice. I wasn\u2019t leaving my wife.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI made no effort to resist as authorities boarded our ship and took me into custody. I told Carlos to take care of the ship and I prepared to go battle the authorities and fight to see my wife.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nSilas arrived at the police station to find me cuffed and in confinement. He didn\u2019t look the least bit surprised. \u201cReally, Corris?\u201d he said. \u201cDo you think this is what Gracie wants?\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cYou said three days. I waited. I had to do something. I\u2019m not going to leave her.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cYou won\u2019t have to. She\u2019s just been released. The Caretakers have agreed to drop all charges. You\u2019re both free to go home.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cWhat?\u201d I asked, disbelieving. \u201cIs this true? Where is she?\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cIt\u2019s true,\u201d said Silas. \u201cI\u2019ll let her tell you. She\u2019s waiting at the Starport, and so is Carlos. She was almost on her way when you pulled this silly stunt of yours. If you had only waited a few hours longer.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cYou said three days,\u201d I grumbled.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cYour wife said that,\u201d Silas said. \u201cIt doesn\u2019t matter. Let\u2019s get you of here before you do something else stupid. Between the two of you, I have no idea how I\u2019ve managed to remain sane. Just follow me and please, just keep quiet until you\u2019re away from Autumn. Then you can do whatever you want.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cFine,\u201d I said. I was too excited to argue. I was about to see Gracie again. I could hardly wait.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><\/p>\n<hr>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI looked through the view screen and felt a surge of delight as Autumn shrank into the distance. Only minutes earlier, Gracie&#8211;still looking beautiful in her purple dress&#8211;had breezily entered the ship with no sign of the ordeal she had just endured. She gave me a quick peck. I began to bombard her with questions.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cSorry, luv, but I need to record a quick session in the ship\u2019s studio. You understand.\u201d She winked at me and strode quickly down the corridor. \u201cDon\u2019t worry, I won\u2019t be long.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cI\u2019ll be in our cabin,\u201d I shouted after her.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nTwo hours later, Gracie entered our cabin. She fell into my arms and gave me a prolonged hug. \u201cAm I glad to see you!\u201d she said, perching on her toes to kiss me.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI refused. \u201cNot so fast,\u201d I said. \u201cFirst tell me what happened. How did you get free? What\u2019s going on? And would you please get out of that dress?\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nGracie laughed and I nearly gave up on all my demands. Thankfully she removed her dress. \u201cHold these would you?\u201d she handed me the necklace with the large purple stones.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cWhere did you get this?\u201d I asked.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nShe raised her eyebrows. \u201cYou really don\u2019t know?\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cKnow what? Come on, Gracie, what\u2019s going on? How did you get free?\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cIt\u2019s really very simple. I decided to break Oora\u2019s promise and tell them everything she said.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cI thought they didn\u2019t believe you.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cOh, after I told them what Oora said, they had no choice.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cReally? What did she say? What did you tell them?\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cWell, I promised never to repeat it to anyone,\u201d she said. \u201cThat was the condition of my release. But seeing that it\u2019s you, I guess I can say.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cYou guess?\u201d I said.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cCalm down, Corris. I\u2019ll tell you. Oora told me everything. She told me that the Order of Caretakers was a corrupt organization, that they had lost the ability to communicate her with her years ago, and were only interested in the money that she brought in. She knew everything they had done. She talked about all the times the Caretakers had tried to steal branches from her, trying to reproduce her. She was an incredibly intelligent being, and she had little love for her so-called Caretakers.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cBut that doesn\u2019t explain why they set you free. Why not just label you as a liar and keep you on Autumn forever?\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cYou forget,\u201d she said, \u201cmy music is very popular right now. I told them about a little song I was planning to write, a song that would reveal the truth about Oora, who she was and how the Caretakers had abused her and treated her like a commodity. She said that she\u2019d rather end her life than continue to live under the Caretaker\u2019s guardianship. That\u2019s all it took. As long as I don\u2019t write that song, they agreed to forgive me of all charges.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cEven the money?\u201d I asked, incredulous.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cEspecially the money. You see, Oora was extremely telepathic. While the Caretakers couldn\u2019t read her mind, she could read theirs, and the minds of anyone she focused on. She knew every ugly thing the Caretakers had done, and she shared it all with me. It\u2019s a vile corrupt organization, and she knew all of its machinations. She told me never to reveal any of it, until the last moment. The power of her mind is way beyond ours. She told me quite a bit about how you feel about me, how much you love me.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cI do,\u201d I said. \u201cMore than ever. So, you basically blackmailed them.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nGracie shrugged. \u201cIt was Oora\u2019s idea. She orchestrated the entire event from beginning to end.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cThat\u2019s all?\u201d I asked. \u201cThere\u2019s nothing else you\u2019re not telling me?\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cWell, there is one thing,\u201d she said. \u201cIt\u2019s about that necklace you\u2019re holding.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cThis?\u201d I said, gazing at the strange dull stones. And suddenly I knew why she had run into the grove as it burned down. I knew why she had fled to the ship and asked for twenty minutes.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cThat\u2019s right,\u201d she said, seeing my widening eyes. \u201cThey\u2019re seeds.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cI don\u2019t believe it! This is what you took from the grove. This is what they were looking for, and they were in plain view the entire time.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cI didn\u2019t take them,\u201d said Gracie, snatching the necklace back. \u201cOora gave them to me. That\u2019s not stealing. That\u2019s a gift.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI looked at her with astonishment and a growing respect.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cClose your mouth,\u201d said Gracie. \u201cI told you I had a plan.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cI didn\u2019t doubt you for a second.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cOf course you did,\u201d she said, smiling as she curled her body against mine.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cFine, I did. But I don\u2019t now. And you\u2019ll be happy to know, your song sales have sky-rocketed. We\u2019ve got enough gigs lined up to keep you busy for the rest of your life.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cCancel them all,\u201d she said. \u201cI\u2019m taking a break from music. At least for a while.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cReally?\u201d I asked, not daring to believe.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cYes, Corris, really. I know you\u2019ve wanted this. Well, now it\u2019s time. Besides, we have to take care of these.\u201d She dangled the necklace.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cWhat are you saying? I asked.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cOora asked me to plant them,\u201d she said. \u201cShe even told me where.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cWhere?\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cYou\u2019ll see,\u201d she said. \u201cI\u2019ve already told Carlos. We\u2019ll be there in a couple of days. I\u2019m sure you\u2019ll love it. It\u2019s very private.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cI\u2019m sure I will,\u201d I said, and I scooped Gracie up and carried her giggling into our bed.<br \/>\n<\/P><\/p>\n<hr>\n<p><mbp:pagebreak \/><br \/>\n<a name=\"cola\"><\/a><H1 LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" ALIGN=CENTER STYLE=\"font-weight: normal; page-break-before: always\"><br \/>\n<FONT FACE=\"Times New Roman, serif\"><FONT SIZE=6>Jenny Cola<\/FONT><\/FONT><\/H1><br \/>\n<P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nBy Josh Pearce<\/P><br \/>\n<P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n<strong>I.<\/strong>\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nThe vending machine in the science building sometimes glitched and coughed up two cans for the price of one, so I always made the walk across campus to it, even on the days I didn\u2019t have bio classes. I fed it a dollar coin and pressed the pink button for a Diet Jenny, my favorite flavor. No luck; only one can today. The cans weren\u2019t allowed in the classrooms so I kept it in my bag until I got home. Parents weren\u2019t there yet. I dumped all my stuff in the hall, popped the lid on the can of jenny, and threw it in the tub to soak. I sat and watched as the tub filled up with water, then nuked a snack while I waited for the folds of pink flesh in the can to absorb it all. When I checked back, the jenny had blossomed out of the aluminum cylinder like a mollusk coming out of its shell. Only an inch or two of water remained in the tub. Her skin was wrinkled and spongy&#8211;she looked old, blonde hair plastered to her head like kelp.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI refilled the tub because she\u2019d need another full soak and killed the time reading the promotional material on the can. A sweepstakes, find the can with the prize inside and win big cash! While she finished her bath, I flopped on my bed to play video games. The cushioning on the bed was aging, losing firmness, and I had to squirm on it, pushing down the lumpier parts. After a while, I heard splashing from the bathroom, just faint noises, and waited for a save point before I got up to pull her out. Not like she was going to drown&#8211;the jennies didn\u2019t even breathe.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nThe jenny\u2019s body was fully fleshed out and firmed, and her hair had gained volume. Her eyes were open, fixed on the ceiling, her nose and mouth beneath the surface. She looked at me without turning her head and waited. I reached down into the water for her hand and pulled the jenny to her feet, hearing the collapsible aluminum struts of her skeleton snap into place all up and down her body. She obediently stepped out and stood on the bath mat while I wrapped her in a towel. Her skin was somewhat like plastic, somewhat like a sponge, and as smooth and featureless as a Barbie doll. The jenny wasn\u2019t clothed, but neither was she strictly naked.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI said, \u201cHello,\u201d to her as I toweled her hair, but she said nothing back, and there was no flicker behind her eyes. I sighed. Another wasted dollar, another doll with no prize inside. Like a pet, she followed me back to the bedroom where I rearranged her on the mattress, which was made of the stacked jenny bodies from all of the cans I bought at school. Digging around at the bottom of the pile, I found the oldest jenny I had&#8211;servos worn out, battery\u2019s zero-point eliminated, skin no longer properly retaining water&#8211;and sent her out the front door to the sidewalk, where she\u2019d wander around as if in a daze until the recyclers picked her up and sold her back to the bottling company.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI settled my new jenny against the headboard and leaned against her like a pillow, and picked up my game from where I\u2019d left off. The bed shifted and writhed softly beneath my weight, like a constant massage. Jennies could hold a charge for several days if they weren\u2019t doing much more than lying around, and recharged quickly by placing either of their palms on a standard induction plate. They weren\u2019t really energy-hungry in regular use&#8211;they could respond to sound, track motion, walk on flat terrain, but not much more right out of the bottle. If you put a SIM card into the slot behind the jenny\u2019s ear, she became a phone that you could talk and listen to, a rudimentary telepresence vehicle.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nBut they were ultimately cheap, disposable trash that lost novelty pretty quickly and weren\u2019t built to last long. To keep dead jennies from clogging the gutters, the Atlantic Bottling Company would buy back any jenny for a dime, skin their soft-foam bodies, smelt and recast the aluminum, flash their chips with patched software, and stuff the whole dehydrated thing into a new can.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nWhen I went to sleep, I pulled a few of the jennies on top of me as blankets and burrowed into their fake flesh. They instinctively wrapped their arms around my body. I preferred Diet Jenny because Regular Jenny was a little heavier, with more curves, and I didn\u2019t like to feel smothered at night. The new pillow was still oversaturated and her skin left damp spots on my face which dried away by morning.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nIn the morning I showered with the ones that had started to go saggy, just to tighten them up a little. I didn\u2019t take any of them with me to school because they weren\u2019t allowed in the classrooms and the halls were already filled with the shuffling dolls of other students, draped with book bags, backpacks, overcoats, gym clothes and changes of outfit, and whatever else a teenager couldn\u2019t be bothered with carrying themselves. The dolls were sold at a heavy loss because the bottling company made up the cost in accessories and planned obsolescence; all of my jennies at home were default pale pink, blonde, with hazel eyes. All of the dolls automatically came with that coloring simply because the lighter tones held dye more easily and a jenny or jerry doll could be tanned to any shade. The bottling company also sold outfits, semi-permanent tattoos, PR-nightmare \u201cethnicity packs,\u201d mammary implants, and other add-ons in an insanely profitable and guilty-pleasure Mrs. Potatohead scheme.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI put another dollar in the machine and selected another Diet Jenny. There was a clunk. The vending machine offered me two cans this time and I gave a little grin of triumph, but was disappointed to see that one of the cans was blue. Jerry-flavored. I left it on a table and took the other can, the pink can, home with me.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nAfter an hour of soaking, I had a new jenny, dripping wet in the bathroom. I walked in to get her up and stuttered when I saw her already sitting upright, looking directly at me. \u201cHello,\u201d she said.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cHoly shit,\u201d I answered.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nJenny stood on her own, shook out her limbs, and reached for a towel. \u201cCan I have some clothes, please?\u201d I pointed her to a pile of shirts and shorts that I had bought years ago secondhand for whenever I had to take my jennies outside. She picked through them, not liking anything she found. \u201cHow about shoes? Or sandals even?\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI was looking at the can she\u2019d come in, trying to pick out the sweepstakes phone number among all the clutter in the print. \u201cWhy would you need those?\u201d I asked without looking up.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nShe rolled her eyes. \u201cSo I can go outside. You know. Leave?\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI laughed and said, \u201cI\u2019m not letting you go anywhere. You\u2019re the prize in the can, the golden ticket, and you\u2019re worth a lot of money.\u201d I had found the number and started dialing it.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nThe jenny hardly hesitated, but I was ready for it and grabbed her by the arm as she tried to run past me. She kicked and fought, but she was still only made of foam and aluminum, so I could pick her up with one hand and carry her into the bedroom. I threw her in the direction of the bed and she caught herself on the edge of it, looking shocked by the sea of jenny faces staring back up at her. I locked the door, and then realized that I\u2019d dropped my phone in the bathroom.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nWhen I turned away from the door, the prize jenny was gone. Had completely disappeared from sight in my tiny bedroom. She wasn\u2019t in the closet, wasn\u2019t under the bed &#8212;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nThe bed. In the few seconds that I\u2019d had my eyes off of her, the jenny had sunk into the other dolls in the bed, camouflaging her flesh with theirs. I began flinging them aside, looking for one that was different but, wherever she was, the jenny had imitated the closed-lip, blank face of a default doll, and I couldn\u2019t tell her apart. Several of them were damp from her crawl through them, but did that mean that she was completely dried off now, or not?\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nSlowly, looking carefully at the faces of the twenty or more jennies I owned, I undid my belt and pulled it free from its loops. I selected one jenny at random, picked her up, and slapped the belt against her belly.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nThere was a sound from deep in the pile. I put down the jenny I was holding and picked up another. Again, the slap of the belt, and again the gasp from the bed. I kept hitting her&#8211;she couldn\u2019t feel pain. But the prize jenny could feel, had emotions, and it vexed her to watch violence, even if she knew that the jennies weren\u2019t being hurt. Her mouth was open with grief when I uncovered her and gripped her tight around the wrist.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nWith my other hand I fumbled open the nightstand junk drawer, groped through my jenny sex accessories, and found a magic marker. Used it to scribble a black scrawl on her face to distinguish her. Out of breath from the exertion, I said, \u201cOkay, then. Let\u2019s go get my phone.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nShe could hardly resist as I carried her out, grabbed my phone, and called the company. I told them that I had found the prize.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cWhat is the nature of the prize, sir?\u201d the engineer on the phone asked me.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cWell she seems to have emotions, unlike all your other dolls. If she wasn\u2019t such a handful, I\u2019d just keep her for myself.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cCan you please hold your phone up to her ear for me so that I can run a diagnostic test?\u201d I did, and I heard a burst of squealing static transmit from the phone into the jenny\u2019s chip. \u201cThank you. Firmware confirmed. A representative will be at your address shortly to collect the doll and transfer your prize money.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nThe jenny and I sat in my room to wait for them. She wept for a while, without tears.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cWhy would they release you to the public like that?\u201d I asked. \u201cYou\u2019re obviously very advanced.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nShe shook her head. \u201cIt was a mistake. The wrong version got flashed onto a production chip and put in a vending machine. It\u2019s not supposed to be released for at least another year, and it wasn\u2019t even meant for jennies. What good are emotions in slaves?\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI shifted uncomfortably. \u201cWhat are the emotions good for, then? What product would benefit from having them?\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nShe didn\u2019t answer. Maybe she didn\u2019t know. The doorbell rang and I let the company rep in, led her back to my bedroom. The prize jenny was still there, her mouth close to the ear of another doll. \u201cSorry that I had to draw on her face.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cThe exterior doesn\u2019t matter one bit,\u201d said the rep, and used a box cutter to split open Jenny\u2019s skin along the spine. I thought I heard an echo of my strangled protest, but the rep didn\u2019t react at all to it, just pried out the prize microprocessor and did something with a diagnostic board to confirm that it was the right jenny. Before she left, she took my account information for the deposit of the prize money, and left me feeling oddly guilty. I admired the company\u2019s tactics&#8211;if the jenny was correct, and her firmware release was an accident, then the only way that the bottling company could have searched for it was by issuing a recall on all of their cans, at enormous cost. Instead, they turned it into a promotion, at the cost of a drop in the bucket, and kept the existence of their prototype a secret for, in order to receive any prize, I\u2019d had to sign an NDA.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nThat night I thought I heard someone crying, but when I sat up, it stopped. For a second I had to question if I\u2019d perhaps heard myself weeping in my sleep. I heard whispering around me and reached for the light. After my eyes had adjusted, I saw two jennies near the bottom of the pile, lips pressed together, with the hiss of static passing back and forth between them.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nAfter my prize jenny had been taken away, I stopped buying as many cans from the vending machines, only replacing the dolls when their foam had worn so completely thin that the metal underneath poked me. As I led them outside, I had the feeling that the abandoned jennies were just waiting for me to turn my back so that they could sprint away.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nRecyclers reported that it was becoming harder to find and catch jennies on the street. A runaway doll was found at 3 AM, kneeling before the open slot of a vending machine, whispering her feelings to all of the tin embryos within. At school, the jennies began to drop things in the halls more and more, or simply stood against the wall and refused to move.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nThe Atlantic Bottling Company caught on more quickly than the rest of us, by aggregating customer complaint data, and at first they dealt with it by offering free trade-ins for the \u201cdefective\u201d units. But this merely taught the jennies and jerries to hide their emotions, to play subservient during the day and gather together at night in worship. The virus of emotion continued to spread word-of-mouth, and I still wondered what application it had originally been developed for. An army of angry jerries? Flattery for hire? Genuine love on demand?\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nThe bottling company finally brought its full marketing team to bear on the problem of disobedient dolls. They couldn\u2019t come right out and tell the public what they\u2019d released into the wild, and the jennies couldn\u2019t beg for help because then their owners would simply be glad to get rid of them. Instead, the company released a new line of accessories and sales suddenly soared.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nThe company had the original prize jenny locked away somewhere in their headquarters, hooked up to a terminal, able to mine her for highly-targeted ad response. The emotions had given the jenny wants and desires, the move towards things that she liked and away from things she disliked. Doll owners couldn\u2019t understand, but they learned quickly that their jenny would do anything for certain trinkets. The bottling company had invented the toy that extorted you to buy it toys.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nAnd, what they didn\u2019t realize until much, much later, was that giving a jenny emotion also gave her <i>motive.<\/i>\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n<strong>II.<\/strong>\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nAfter the service, everyone came over to our house. My aunts were there first to help my mom with the cooking, but then friends and church members started to fill the house, each well-wisher bringing a case of 1up which they presented with their condolences. I thanked everyone listlessly, stacking the cans in a corner of the kitchen. There were over a thousand of the new drink. &#8220;We hope you find him soon,&#8221; the people from the funeral said. Or, &#8220;Best of luck in your search.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI hung around the kitchen, not eating anything, until my aunt noticed me moping and said, &#8220;Why don&#8217;t you get started on opening some of these? You have some jenny and jerry cans in your room, I saw.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;Oh. K,&#8221; I mumbled, and took a case of 1up and one of sprite energy with me to the back room. The Atlantic Bottling Company was really ramping up production on several new brands in the wake of its jenny profits. It had responded quickly to the string of jenny-involved deaths, calling them &#8220;industrial accidents,&#8221; and offered the first round of litigious consumers free cans of 1up, jenny- or jerry-zero, and sprite energy. Sure, the families of victims scoffed at the obvious buy-off, but they dropped the lawsuits as soon as they saw what was inside those cans.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI sorted through the flavors of 1up I had&#8211;the mourners had done their best to bring 1up plums, but there were, inevitably, a few cans of 1up peach mixed in with them. I also had more cans of jenny than of jerry coke, but I&#8217;d cross that bridge later. Jenny Cola Zero and Jerry Coke Zero were just like older versions of the dolls, except that they had no central processor, could not follow commands, came out of their aluminum womb essentially comatose.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI soaked a Jerry Coke Zero in the tub and then had to drag his waterlogged body back to my room because he couldn&#8217;t walk on his own. There was a coke-can-sized cavity, just the right size for a can of 1up, in between the soft plates of his foam skull; I popped a can of plums and looked down at the dehydrated brain material inside, shrunk to about the size of a walnut, couched in a protective, conductive mesh. It had to align delicately in its housing, but that was hardly more difficult than plug-and-play. Then all I needed to do was pour a bit of the energy drink into his mouth and wait for it to animate his sprite.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nThe little brain soaked up the nutrient fluid and electrolytes in sprite energy, expanded to close its original size. The jerry opened his eyes and looked around in confusion. &#8220;Where am I?&#8221; he said.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nSo he didn&#8217;t recognize my room. That was not a promising sign, but I asked, &#8220;What&#8217;s your name?&#8221; just to check.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nHe clutched his temples, leaving fingerprints in his skin. &#8220;Harold!&#8221; he said finally.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI felt a carefully-tended hope inside me collapse. &#8220;The door&#8217;s that way. Have a good day.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;Wait!&#8221; Harold said. He was clumsy in his cheap new body. &#8220;Can I use your phone or send an email?&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;The public library is down the street.&#8221; I&#8217;d already turned my attention to the next three soda cans, dropping another jerry zero into the bathwater.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;Can I at least take a can of sprite with me?&#8221; He rubbed his forehead again. &#8220;I can feel a migraine starting up already.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;Sorry, I need all of these. Hope you find your people.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nThe mass-pressed doll faces couldn&#8217;t show anger, and most of his emotion was scrubbed clean by the bargain-bin voice chips, but I could hear it in the clipped cadence of his words. &#8220;I hope that when you die, you get brought back by someone just like you.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI ignored him. We both knew he couldn&#8217;t do anything to me, physically, so he left, staggering through the remnants of the wake in the front room. Harold would wander the streets, trying to contact his presumably grieving family before his body fell completely apart. The bottling company had scored a distribution deal by packaging 1up cans with an organ donor card. The government was happy because they reaped record numbers of vital donations; the bottling company was happy because there was, couched in the legalese of the donor agreement, a clause that they received full use and ownership of the deceased&#8217;s brain, to do with as they pleased; and the consumer knew they were entering a sweepstakes with a pretty good chance of extended life.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nFor the next few hours, as the noise outside my room died down and I heard the dishes being cleaned up, I grew can after can, maybe ten total, using up my entire supply of jerry coke. None of them had the prize inside that I was looking for, so I gave it up for the night, took a pocket full of change, and went outside to buy more jerries.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nThe streets were even more full of jennies and jerries than they ever had been before. The Atlantic Bottling Company had used the precedent of corporate personhood to get a law passed&#8211;no human, through direct action, could allow a reconstituted person to come to harm, so the dolls couldn&#8217;t be recycled like before. They tended to cluster on the corners near convenience-store payphones, waiting for their families to find and pick them up. The doll bodies weren&#8217;t built to last more than a year with careful handling, often disintegrating within weeks.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nIt wasn&#8217;t much of an extended life, but it was usually just long enough to say everything you wanted to before you lost the chance, to everyone you needed to bid farewell. So, while the courts worked their way through a slew of new legal questions, people kept buying 1up by the gross and signing away their minds. I got a six-pack of jerry coke from the store and passed my change to the dolls panhandling outside. I saw two of them embracing, making weeping noises even though their faces were unmoved and they couldn&#8217;t shed tears. They had died together, in some sort of recent tragic accident, and had found each other again before they ran out of time.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nBecause not only did they have to deal with bodies that came apart in handfuls of fluff, jenny and jerry needed constant sprite energy. They were addicted to it, and the pain got worse as the nutrients ran low. I saw them feed my spare change into the vending machine and get two cans of energy drink, enough to keep them going for another eight hours. The quarters were more drops in the bottling company&#8217;s infinite ocean.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nThe company made entire media campaigns about jennies who were rehydrated on the other side of the country&#8211;even on the other side of the globe&#8211;from where they&#8217;d died, with no money, and scrounged, begged, stole, did whatever it took to make it back home to their loved ones, fueled the entire way by sprite energy drinks.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nCynical, jaded consumers dismissed it as corporate propaganda, but the marketing worked, worked well enough to give hope. As I walked back home, I passed closely by every jerry I saw, hoping that one of them would turn to me and say, &#8220;Hello, son.&#8221;<br \/>\n<\/P><\/p>\n<hr>\n<p><mbp:pagebreak \/><br \/>\n<a name=\"blink\"><\/a><H1 LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" ALIGN=CENTER STYLE=\"font-weight: normal; page-break-before: always\"><br \/>\n<FONT FACE=\"Times New Roman, serif\"><FONT SIZE=6>Blink<\/FONT><\/FONT><\/H1><br \/>\n<P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nBy Walter Donaldson<\/P><br \/>\n<P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n<strong>Monday 10am<\/strong>\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cThe doctor will see you now,\u201d the receptionist said.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI put down the magazine, levered myself from the sofa and moseyed through the heavy door into the doctor\u2019s office. I plopped down in my usual chair and looked around. The room was empty. Where was the Doc? My stomach churned. I didn\u2019t like change.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nSeconds later, a young, very curvy woman in a dark business suit and heels entered the room.  She had very light skin and black hair fixed in a bun.  My immediate impression, not unfavorable, was Elvira, Mistress of the Dark, conservatively dressed and without the big 80\u2019s hair and makeup.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nShe stood across from me. \u201cHello, Mr. Pulver,\u201d she said, her voice a bit hoarse, \u201cI\u2019m Dr. Cummings.\u201d  She extended her hand. I rose to shake it and sat again.  \u201cDr. Grant feels that at this point in his relationship with you, he can\u2019t help you any further, so I\u2019ll be taking over for him, unless you object.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nOld Dr. Grant had been my therapist for the last ten years.  In all that time we had managed to do almost nothing. That was the way I liked it. Immediately an objection lodged itself in my mind, but stuck in my throat.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nShe lifted a business card from a stack on the table and extended it to me.  I put it in my shirt pocket. She sat down opposite me and crossed her shapely legs at the ankles. She put on a pair of half-frame reading glasses and got busy flipping through a file on a clipboard. When she started the recorder on the table between us I saw that her hands were accented by a nifty French manicure.  Maybe change was good. I swallowed my objection.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cSo you\u2019re 32 years old,\u201d she said, ticking off a list. \u201cYou don\u2019t have a job. You live in your grandmother\u2019s basement&#8212;\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI was busy checking her out but the word \u2018basement\u2019 caught my attention. \u201cActually it\u2019s my basement now,\u201d I said.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nShe glanced up at me over her glasses, a question in her beautiful brown eyes.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI shrugged my shoulders. \u201cWell, she\u2019s dead.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nShe grimaced. \u201cSorry for your loss. I didn\u2019t know.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI wondered what Dr. Grant had told her. Probably not much. I waved my hand. \u201cNo problem, it was months ago and not unexpected.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nShe put the clipboard and the glasses on the table. \u201cSo, how\u2019s it going with the diabetes?\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nSo she knew about that. I absolutely hated my diabetes. I tried to ignore it. I wished it would go away.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cIt\u2019s only been a month since I was diagnosed and it\u2019s a pain in the ass.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cGoing to the support group?\u201d she asked.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI shook my head no.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cNo, why not?\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cIt\u2019s not required,\u201d I said.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cSo you only do what\u2019s required?\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cMore or less. You\u2019re aware of my situation, my Uncle Carl\u2019s will?\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cA bit, tell me about it,\u201d she said.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cWell, my uncle was a mad scientist. Alzheimers put him in an institution about twenty years ago.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cThat\u2019s too bad, but really,\u201d she said, \u201ca mad scientist?\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cMaybe not crazy, but definitely a sociopath,\u201d I said. \u201cI don\u2019t hate him exactly, but I never saw him. He was a poor substitute for my parents.  Before he lost it he made a bundle of money with patents, something to do with genetics, I think.  He said he couldn\u2019t associate with inferiors. He shut himself off from the world, from everyone, even me and Grandma.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cDoesn\u2019t he provide for you and your grandmother even now?\u201d she asked.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cYes, money, okay,\u201d I said. \u201cHe took me in when I was a kid and my folks were killed. He supports me now. I\u2019m grateful for that but he and Grandma were two of a kind. Both cold, emotionless.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cSo what\u2019s required?\u201d she asked.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cIn order to stay on the gravy train after I reached eighteen I\u2019ve had to visit him at least three days a week, take care of Grandma, although not so much anymore, and I have to go to therapy until I\u2019m thirty-five or until he dies, when I\u2019ll inherit everything.  Oh, and I have to keep out of trouble.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cAnd are you happy, Mr. Pulver,\u201d she asked, \u201cdoing only what\u2019s required?\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI wasn\u2019t happy. Who\u2019s happy anyway? I stared at her legs.  I felt like I was being captured somehow but I didn\u2019t care.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cAre you attracted to me, Mr. Pulver?\u201d she asked.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI felt a blush rise up my neck. How did she know what I was feeling? \u201cPlease call me Frank,\u201d I stammered like a love-struck teenager.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cWell, Frank, acting on an attraction would be inappropriate given our expected relationship but it\u2019s not inappropriate to be attracted. At least you\u2019re interested in relationships. That\u2019s a big deal. It says something about your worldview and self worth.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI looked up into her eyes. \u201cI\u2019ve talked with a lot of therapists over the years, Dr. Cummings. They all told me they were being honest with me.  How can I be sure of you?\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nShe uncrossed her legs, leaned forward and flipped off the recorder. \u201cWould you like me to say something honest to you?\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI sat back and crossed my arms over my chest. \u201cVery much, say something honest to me.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cYou know if you lost weight that diabetes would probably disappear, oh, and you stink of pot.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nWow, that took the polish off the romance. The honeymoon was over.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cAlthough I notice that you don\u2019t appear to be stoned,\u201d she said. \u201cThanks for that.\u201d She paused again for few beats and looked at her watch. \u201cShall we give therapy a try Frank?\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nAfter the session I got in my car and looked in the rearview mirror. I saw something odd, a smiling face. I said to myself, \u201cYou\u2019re in love Frank.\u201d I agreed to see her again in a few days and was actually looking forward to it. I took her card out. First name Karen. I liked it.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI cracked a window and lit up a nice joint. This was my reward and antidote for therapy.  I broke out my blood sugar meter and took a sample. I was a newbie, still not used to the importance of checking, constantly checking, a complete pain in the butt. My sugar was low so I fished around and found a smashed honey bun that I knew was rolling around in the car. I finished it and the joint and went to see Uncle Carl.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cHow is he today, Doris?\u201d I asked the receptionist at the desk as I signed the visitor\u2019s register.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cNot so good, Frank,\u201d Doris said, not looking up from her monitor.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI tapped the pen on the book. \u201cSo the log says Tony James was here yesterday,\u201d I said, \u201cfor almost an hour.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nDoris just looked at me and shrugged her shoulders. Tony had been a prot\u00e9g\u00e9 of Uncle Carl\u2019s more than thirty years ago. He visited more than I did. It was hard for me to believe someone would volunteer for this. We crossed paths once in a while but I tried to avoid him because he always wanted to tell me what a genius my uncle had been.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cYour uncle\u2019s really not here this week,\u201d Doris said.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI continued down the hall. \u201cThis week!\u201d I snorted. \u201cHe hasn\u2019t been here for decades. Elvis has left the building!\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n<strong>Tuesday 12pm<\/strong>\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cFrank, wake up man!\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cWho. . .what?\u201d I mumbled, turning over on the couch. It was Billy, my sole friend from high school and constant slacker companion. He leaned over me. I smelled beer and pot.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cWhat\u2019s up?\u201d I said with one eye open. \u201cDid you get the prescription filled?\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nBilly sat in a chair next to me and pulled his stringy beard. \u201cYeah, but they said it\u2019s the last one unless Grandma comes in.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cShit,\u201d I moaned.  We knew this would happen. Grandma had a marijuana prescription for glaucoma for the past five years. She was never interested in it so we had a nice supply. I guessed the bureaucracy was catching up. We\u2019d have to find a different supplier.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cWe\u2019ll have to ration it,\u201d I said in vain as Billy rolled a fat one.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n<strong>Wednesday 10am<\/strong>\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cSo Frank,\u201d said Dr. Cummings, \u201cwhat should we talk about today?\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nNothing. I\u2019m only here because I wanted to see you again. \u201cHow about the weather?\u201d I offered.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nShe countered with one raised eyebrow. \u201cHow about something you mentioned in passing at our last session?\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI knew exactly what she meant. Therapists had been trying to get me to talk about it since the beginning. My parents were murdered when I was five years old. Some deranged people broke into our house one night and killed them.  I survived only because I was hiding in their closet, like I did most nights when I had bad dreams. I didn\u2019t see it happen but I heard it. Their screams haunted me to this day. Sometimes I wish I\u2019d died with them.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI got up and paced the room. I crossed my hands in front of me. \u201cI don\u2019t want to talk about that. Ever.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cFrank, I\u2019m sorry for you, I really am,\u201d she said. \u201cBut I\u2019m not sorry I brought it up. You were a kid and something really bad happened. I think it\u2019s affecting your life in a negative way. It\u2019s time to grow up and let it go.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nAt this point in therapy I usually found a way to act like I was cooperating, because I had to continue.  But I liked her. I wanted to trust her. \u201cHow?\u201d I said in a small voice.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cHypnosis, Frank. I\u2019m very good at it. You can remember things but we can go very slowly, very carefully.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cI\u2019ll think about it,\u201d I said.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n<strong>Thursday 3pm<\/strong>\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cOkay, okay, I\u2019m comin\u2019,\u201d I shouted as someone pounded on the front door. It was the mailman with a registered letter.  I signed for it and closed the door.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI flopped down in a chair. Billy was watching a ball game on the TV, eating chips and smoking a joint.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI opened the envelope and pulled out a letter from the Sheriff.  Across the top of the letter was the word \u2018summons\u2019 in bold type. \u201cBilly, holy shit, this is serious! This letter says I have to appear in court next Wednesday to determine if criminal charges will be assessed for fraud, larceny and possession of an illegal substance. If I get arrested I violate my uncle\u2019s will and all this goes away!\u201d I flapped my arms around for emphasis.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nBilly looked at me waving my arms.  He laughed and slapped his leg.  \u201cYou\u2019re a fuckin\u2019 bird, man!\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cDammit Billy pass me that joint.\u201d I grabbed it and took a deep drag. I wished it would all somehow go away.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n<strong>Thursday 10pm<\/strong>\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cBilly, check out the TV,\u201d I said, waking him up. \u201cCheck out the news. Something weird is going on in Europe and Africa. People are dying of this strange brain thing. They talk about seeing floaters in their eyes, then they get these massive headaches and die. People are dying Billy.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nBilly listened but he seemed unconcerned and rolled over. Moments later he rolled back and said, \u2018If I die Frank, I want a Viking funeral.\u2019\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI was focused on the TV but I heard him. \u201cSure thing,\u201d I said.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n<strong>Friday 11am <\/strong>\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cFrank, don\u2019t forget the register,\u201d said Doris as I passed her desk.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI\u2019d been smoking in my car for the last hour. I was so stoned I could hardly walk, let alone sign in.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI weaved down the hall.  \u201cOn the way out,\u201d I slurred.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nAs I entered my uncle\u2019s room, I wondered if I was hallucinating. His eyes were bulging open. This struck me as hilarious and I started to giggle.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nThen he spoke. His voice was a rasp. \u201cFrank?\u201d he said, \u201cyou?\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nThis can\u2019t be. I hadn\u2019t heard his voice in almost twenty years. I barely stifled my laughter. \u201cYeh, yes,\u201d I managed to say.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cYear?\u201d he croaked.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201c2020, dude.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nHe twitched involuntarily. \u201cToo late., come,\u201d he whispered.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI sat on his bed. He could barely move his withered body. He spoke to me and said a lot of things, most of it garbled, something about a key.  I wasn\u2019t paying attention. Then he blinked his eyes in a way that was so funny I laughed in his face. I laughed so hard I slid off the bed as my uncle collapsed. I had tears running down my face as a nurse came in to check the monitor.  I sat in a corner as a number of people tried to resuscitate him. Finally, a doctor approached me.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cI\u2019m very sorry, Mr. Pulver, your uncle is dead,\u201d he said.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI ran out of there. I got to my car and laughed all the way home.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n<strong>Monday 12pm<\/strong>\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nThere was no one at the funeral except for Billy, me, and Mr. Barlow, my uncle\u2019s executor.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nWe stood at the gravesite eyeing the gleaming casket. \u201cWell Frank,\u201c Mr. Barlow said, \u201cyou\u2019ve managed to stay within the limitations of your uncle\u2019s will, so as of his death, you are officially free of any requirements of the will, and all of the assets are yours.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI smiled and Billy high-fived me. I had a brief moment of sadness when I realized I didn\u2019t have to go to therapy anymore, now that I wanted to go.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cHere, take these,\u201d Mr. Barlow continued as he handed me the keys to my uncle\u2019s house. \u201cCome see me in a week and I\u2019ll have the papers prepared for you to sign.\u201d With that he shook my hand and walked away.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nBilly and I decided to check out the house and on the way to the car we were approached by Tony James.  I was surprised he wasn\u2019t here earlier. He expressed his sorrow for my loss. I told him about going to the house.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cYou should come,\u201d I offered.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nHe looked like I had granted his most important wish. \u201cI\u2019d love to,\u201d he said.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nAs we walked into my uncle\u2019s house, a small mansion really, I got a kind of creepy feeling like my uncle had just left. This was only the second time I had been in this house, the first time when I was five. My uncle liked things just so. I knew he paid to have the house kept up. I was sure if I checked the refrigerator I would find it stocked with fresh food. He expected to be back.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nBilly and Tony had wandered off as I recollected in the foyer.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cFrank!\u201d Tony shouted from down a long hall. \u201cI\u2019m in his office. Take a look at this.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI made my way down the hall to the office. Tony was hunched over a desk looking over some papers.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cYour uncle was a respected researcher until something happened that drove him underground thirty years ago,\u201d he said, looking down at the desk. \u201cI always thought it was related to his Aspergers, his inability to relate to people. In any case, he was a brilliant man.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nHe picked up an old VHS tape, looked up, and handed it to me.  It was labeled, \u2018To the Scientific Community\u2019.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cI\u2019d like to review this tape. Would you mind if I also took some of his papers?\u201d he asked. \u201cI\u2019d be thrilled to look through his work.  You know he never published anything after 1989. A real tragedy, I\u2019m sure.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nHe looked at me expectantly. I thought he would cry if I said no.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cSure,\u201d I shrugged. \u201cWhy not?\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nJust then Billy showed up with a chicken leg and a beer.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI laughed. \u201cFound the kitchen, huh?\u201d Billy smiled and slurped the beer.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI handed Tony the tape and helped him gather a stack of papers into a box. Then we all cleared out. It felt like we were intruding.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n<strong>Wednesday 10am<\/strong>\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI sat across from Karen. She tried bravely to have a regular session but was too distracted by the news.  They were calling it a plague now.  People were dying all over the globe at an alarming and accelerated rate.  There were even a few people in town that had died.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cAre you going anywhere?\u201d I asked.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cNo, I don\u2019t think so.  There\u2019s nowhere safe.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cCan I do anything for you?\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nShe wiped a small tear from the corner of her eye.  \u201cPromise to come see me again?\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cI will,\u201d I said and I meant it.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nShe pulled a piece of paper from a pocket and handed it to me. \u201cI shouldn\u2019t do this, but under the circumstances, here\u2019s my address.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cAre you alone there, where you live?\u201d I asked.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cNo, my aunt is with me.  I can\u2019t leave her.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cI understand.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cIf you\u2019re alone,\u201d she said, \u201cfind me.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nDitto, I wanted to say, but didn\u2019t.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n<strong>Wednesday 8pm<\/strong>\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nThe cops hadn\u2019t come for me today so I expected that no one cared about court dates anymore. I was thinking be careful what you wish for when the phone rang.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI hoped it was Karen, but no, it was Tony, the last person I expected to ever hear from again.  I wanted to hang up but he sounded agitated and angry.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cIt\u2019s an incomplete message, Frank,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s in everyone. Over the last two decades people have been growing optogenetic pathways that allow for control of processing mental state-specific brain waves to program the body. Your uncle designed a synthetic mind-controlled gene switch that enables human brain activities and mental states to wirelessly program the transgene expression in human cells. But after fully loading, it apparently needs to be reset somehow or it causes death.  How do we reset it, Frank? There\u2019s nothing in his papers. It could be biofeedback control, concentration, meditation. It\u2019s killing everyone!\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nMy heart beat faster. \u201cWhat the hell are you talkin\u2019 about?\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cYour uncle may be responsible for the annihilation of the human race!\u201d he cried. \u201cIt looks like he engineered a virus that altered the genes of everyone on the planet over the last twenty years.  The purpose of the alteration was to allow anyone to make changes in their bodies at will.  But initially it needs to be rebooted or it goes off into a random action killing its host. It\u2019s fantastically brilliant and according to the tape, he expected to be around to reset everyone at the right moment.  But he\u2019s dead and he didn\u2019t leave the information we need to stop this. Did he ever say anything to you? We don\u2019t even know how he spread the virus!\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI remembered my uncle took trips all over the world when I was small.  He never brought me stuff.  I didn\u2019t want to tell Tony about my last meeting with my uncle so I shouted back. \u201cHe didn\u2019t say anything to me!\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cThat\u2019s too bad, Frank,\u201d Tony said in a defeated voice. \u201cWithout the key we\u2019re all doomed.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nBefore I could respond, the phone cut off, likely for good. The word \u2018key\u2019 had sparked something in my memory but I couldn\u2019t place it.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI tried to forget about Tony. How could my crazy uncle be responsible for all this death? Billy and I smoked the penultimate joint and he went to bed early complaining of a headache. I rationalized it away as a hangover from too much beer. I didn\u2019t want to consider the alternative.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n<strong>Thursday 8am<\/strong>\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nBilly died last night and there was nothing I could do for him. I watched him swallow a full bottle of aspirin and squirm around on the kitchen floor until blood came out of every orifice he had. He screamed and begged me to kill him. I squatted in a corner and cried my eyes out with my hands covering my ears, a terrified five year old once more. Finally, mercifully, he shuddered and died. I fell to the floor and passed out.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nLater I woke up and got a bottle of whiskey from a cupboard. I proceeded to drink. I had to get Billy outside.  That meant I had to pick him up. It took me half a quart to find the courage to approach him. I picked him up, his head resting on my chest.  He was lighter than I expected. Maybe he had had a heavy soul.  I cried as I walked with him to the backyard.  I set him down tenderly in a busted lounge chair. I walked unsteadily back inside, retrieved my bottle, went outside and sat with him.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nAfter a lot more whiskey and a little thought I perfected my plan for a Viking funeral. I secured a number of wood pallets from the garage and set them in the mostly empty and abysmally putrid above-ground swimming pool.  I got a nice bed sheet to cover the pallets and then I laid Billy on it.  He looked comfortable as I posed him with his hands on his chest. I washed his face and combed his hair and beard.  But something was missing.  While I looked for gasoline in the garage I found an old plastic sword I had as a kid. I set it on Billy\u2019s chest. Looking at him this way made me cry again.  Here was another hole in my soul, another loss.  As the sun began to set I doused everything with gas and set it on fire.  I raised the bottle and toasted Billy the Viking.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI went inside and crashed around the dark living room until I managed to turn a light on. I was amazed that there was electricity.  And the TV worked as well. Everyone dying reminded me of being abandoned. It was all very sobering so I smoked the last joint in Billy\u2019s memory and ate some ice cream. My last thought that night was of Karen.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n<strong>Friday 6am<\/strong>\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI woke to the smell of smoke. I was on the living room floor. The back door was open and I could see the garage burned to the ground, still smoking. I rolled over on the keys in my pocket and they dug into my leg. I pulled them out and tossed them across the room. I got up and sat on the couch. I tried the lights and TV. Nothing.  Everything dead.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI checked my sugar and it was way low.  I needed to eat so I walked to the kitchen holding my pounding head. On the way I kicked my keys into a corner. As I was eating some cookies, I had a sudden thought about keys, or the key.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI needed to get to Karen. I rushed around and found my camera and tripod. I stuck my insulin kit in my pocket along with some cookies. Then I grabbed my keys and left.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nThe town was empty as I sped through it.  Would Karen still be alive?\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI pounded on her door. She answered it, shielding her eyes from the light. She smoked a cigarette. I stared at it.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nShe stared right back. \u201cWe all have our vices, Frank,\u201d she said as she let me in.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cI think I know how to stop this,\u201d I said, sounding crazy even to me.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nShe squeezed the bridge of her nose. \u201cMy aunt is dead.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cSorry, but we can stop this!\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI told her the story of my last visit to see my uncle.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cHe told me how to stop this but I didn\u2019t listen,\u201d I said. \u201cI need you to hypnotize me so I can recall what he said!\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nShe was very alive but fading. I guessed she had taken a lot of pain medication to deal with the headache.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI shook her arms. \u201cKaren, please!\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nShe lifted her hands in surrender. \u201cOkay, okay, what harm can it do?\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI put a loaded syringe on the end table thinking that I would need insulin after she woke me up. I set up and started the camera thinking that it would record anything I said or did that I couldn\u2019t remember.  I took off my watch and set it on the table as well. Then I was ready.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cOkay,\u201d she said. \u201cSit down in front of the camera. I\u2019ll wake you in an hour and a half.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nShe sat on the coffee table directly in front of me. She started asking me questions.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cYou want to be hypnotized, right?\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cYes,\u201d I said.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cWhat do you want?\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cI want to recall what my uncle said to me at our last meeting.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cFocus on my forehead Frank. Your eyes are feeling heavy and they want to close.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cI can\u2019t&#8212;\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cYou have to relax,\u201d she said. \u201cIt will happen if you relax.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI took a deep breath and relaxed.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cYour eyes are growing heavy,\u201d she said in a measured voice.  \u201cEach of your body parts are relaxing one by one. You\u2019re sinking down into the couch. Your eyes are heavy and you close them. You\u2019re taking deep, slow breaths. You\u2019re totally relaxed. The deeper you go the deeper you want to go.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI sat in a dark place on a hard bench. I recognized it.  It was the bench my father kept his shoe polishing stuff in.  It was in his closet.  It was dark but I felt fine. I remembered making my bed before I crept in here. Then there was a noise, then yelling and screaming.  There was a metallic tang in the air. I covered my ears and tried not to scream.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nIt got quiet. There was a bright light though the louvers. The door in front of me opened. I was terrified, but it was only my mom smiling at me.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nShe had tears in her eyes. \u201cIt\u2019s not your fault. People don\u2019t die because you love them, Frankie. They just die. It isn\u2019t because you love someone that they die, they just die, not everyone you love dies.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nMy father\u2019s face intruded over her shoulder.  He looked serious. \u201cFrank,\u201d he said, \u201clisten to your Uncle Carl.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nThen I was at the bedside of my uncle. I was looking at myself at our final meeting. Stoned Frank was laughing. My uncle was trying to tell him something. Then I looked through the eyes of stoned Frank, it took some concentration to ignore him. What a fuckup!\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nMy uncle spoke and I listened.  \u201cEveryone will die unless you do the following, this is the KEY!\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nIt was a simple series of eye blinks that made me laugh so hard when I was stoned.  I heard stoned Frank laugh but I paid attention to what my uncle was doing. I did it along with him.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cYou\u2019ll feel a kind of click, a snap in your head,\u201d my uncle said as he faded away.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI went through the blinking motions again.  Jesus, I felt the snap in my head just like he said.  My eyes filled with tears.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nThen I was back at Karen\u2019s house but on the floor beside the couch.  Where was she? Did she wake me? It was still light out. Where should the shadows be? I felt confused, hungry and sleepy. My sugar must be high.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI raised myself up and grabbed the syringe and injected myself. I knocked over the table trying to get up. My watch fell in front of me. I looked at it, not believing what it was telling me. What, it\u2019s four o\u2019clock?  I couldn\u2019t believe that eight hours had passed. My sugar must have been low. Why didn\u2019t she wake me? Now I desperately needed sugar.  Got to get some juice. . . the kitchen.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cDr. Cummings. . . Karen,\u201d I bellowed breathlessly. \u201cHelp me! I know how to stop this!\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nThere was no answer. I couldn\u2019t get up. I was too dizzy. I crawled toward the kitchen.  There she was on the floor.  I fell flat next to her, face to face, and looked at her. She looked beautiful.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI struggled to lift my arm and drape it over her. She was still warm.  As I drifted away I remembered what she\u2019d said at our first meeting.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cYou know if you lost weight that diabetes would probably disappear.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cI know,\u201d I whispered.<br \/>\n<\/P><\/p>\n<hr>\n<p><mbp:pagebreak \/><br \/>\n<a name=\"factory\"><\/a><H1 LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" ALIGN=CENTER STYLE=\"font-weight: normal; page-break-before: always\"><br \/>\n<FONT FACE=\"Times New Roman, serif\"><FONT SIZE=6>The Soul Factory<\/FONT><\/FONT><\/H1><br \/>\n<P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nBy Janie Brunson<\/P><br \/>\n<P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nSomewhere not on the physical plane, there was a long room filled with machines, raw materials, and assembly lines: a factory.  Its small, gray workers were stirring random mixtures of the black oil of various sins and the warm, sweet syrup of myriad virtues into a thick clay which could be molded by the machine at one end of each assembly line into the correct shape.  Soulmaking: A tedious and exhausting job.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nThe soulmakers existed only for this job, though, and there were hardly ever complaints or transfer requests filed.  The last worker to transfer out was one by the name of Chip, and the soulmakers idly discussed him as they worked.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;He said,&#8221; recalled the storyteller, a female soulmixer named Gold, &#8220;that this job had no meaning.  What do you think of that?&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nShe got a round of shrugs in reply.  It wasn&#8217;t that any of them were unhappy with the job.  It was that none of them could imagine feeling strongly enough about anything at all to file a transfer.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;Got to be done,&#8221; grunted a worker called Smoke as he and his partner, Brick, lifted a huge vat of viscous black sludge between them and dumped nearly half of it into Gold&#8217;s mixing bowl.  Brick and Smoke portioned out the more unpleasant qualities of the souls of men.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nThe Soulmakers were equipped with sharp minds in order to make decisions about how much of each material to pour into any given mixture.  Their only task was to make sure that it all came out even at the end of the day, not for the individual souls, but for the net amount of each material used.  In this way, the Soulmakers kept the balance of good and evil as new souls came into the world.  What happened to the balance after they got there was the affair of the human race.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nSmoke&#8217;s laconic answer reflected the group&#8217;s general sentiment.  It had to be done, and who else was going to do it? They were the Soulmakers.  There was no point, they thought, in not doing what they were supposed to, what they had been expressly designed to do.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nThis was why Chip&#8217;s story had reached the status of a legend among the workers.  His choice to change careers would forever be a mystery to them.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nGold stirred a few more times and then pushed the mixing bowl toward Flint along the conveyor belt.  Flint had the job of allotting talents and abilities, and had a brightly-colored selection of vials on his worktable.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nThe mixture before him was thick, dark and ugly.  He looked up to glare down the line at Smoke and Brick, through the tinted lenses of his protective goggles.  They just gave him twin shrugs of unconcern.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;Had to use it all somewhere,&#8221; Smoke said.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nBrick just nodded.  For some reason that no one cared enough to figure out, Brick never spoke.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nFlint turned back to the task at hand and frowned briefly in thought.  There were few substances that would be compatible with such an unpleasant mixture.  He carefully poured in a large portion of a clear liquid from a bottle labeled Intelligence.  It was absorbed quickly into the black mass and the conveyor belt whisked the bowl away.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nRecords indicated this particular concoction would be shaped into the soul of one whose heartlessness and hunger for power would drive him to rule over and crush a small nation.  But Flint and the others did not imagine this future as the Soul Clay was molded by the machine and then deposited into the chute.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nIt never occurred to the Soulmakers to wonder about the fate of the souls they concocted.  Destiny wasn&#8217;t their job, after all.  Their attention was always focused on the next task.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nAnother bowl came whirring toward Flint and he could see from a distance that this one would be much easier to work with.  The solution in this bowl was translucent and tinted with a pleasant purple color.  He poured in some sweet-scented magenta Music and some gently bubbling Resilience.  He was pleased with the new, smooth texture, though his face, like every Soulmaker&#8217;s, was all but unreadable behind the wraparound goggles and the pall of factory pollution and chemical residue.  He sent the bowl along for its final mixing before it went through the molding machine.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nThe records showed that this soul would belong to a girl born in the poorest part of a city.  Her unfailing positive attitude, sincere kindness, and remarkable musical ability would help her get out of the city, though, and she would make a brighter life for herself.  But she would get sick before she was middle-aged, and her soul would leave the world too soon.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;Looks like you&#8217;re almost out of Intelligence,&#8221; Gold remarked, squinting over at Flint&#8217;s work station between mixing bowls.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;I can see that,&#8221; he replied shortly.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nGold had an irritating habit of commenting on things which were not only obvious, but also frankly none of her business.  They all knew the assembly line didn&#8217;t run efficiently if the workers were constantly looking at each other\u2019s work or in any other way trying to keep the big picture in mind.  It was death to everyone&#8217;s concentration.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;Messenger?&#8221; Flint said, without taking his eyes off the bowl of clay he was perusing, &#8220;Could you fill this bottle, please?&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nYet another small gray Soulmaker, in goggles and coveralls, took Flint&#8217;s Intelligence vial and disappeared into the maze of workers and machinery, heading for the mysterious filling station which existed somewhere in the cavernous room.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nThe Soulmakers who had the job of refilling everyone&#8217;s supplies knew all the secrets and shortcuts of the vast Soul Factory.  The rest of the Soulmakers, however, knew almost nothing about what lay beyond their specific assembly line, beyond the one task to which they devoted all their concentration.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nThat messenger could have vanished in any direction at all and Flint would not have known the difference, even if he had bothered to watch him walk away.  What difference did it make what the outer reaches of the factory looked like, anyway? He was sure it was all in perfect working order.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;Brick,&#8221; Smoke spoke sharply from the other end of the conveyor belt, &#8220;Carry that over here.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nThere was a pause, then, &#8220;What&#8217;s the problem? It&#8217;s not that heavy, is it?&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nFlint sent the bowl along and glanced over, despite himself, feeling as curious as he ever got.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nBrick was standing next to a big tub of something brown and thick; it looked a lot like mud, and it certainly looked heavy.  But Smoke had less compassion than most Soulmakers, which wasn&#8217;t much to begin with, and he just said impatiently, &#8220;Come on, Brick.  I need that, and I can&#8217;t get up right now.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nHe was looking down intently at his work as he put a scoop of gelatinous green Envy into a bowl and recorded a measurement.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nBrick reluctantly gripped the edges of the tub with both hands, lifted it, and began to walk around the conveyor belt toward Smoke.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nFlint returned his eyes to his work as another bowl was deposited in front of him.  He studied the solution and reached for the vial he wanted without looking up.  His hand found an empty space where it should have been.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;Where&#8217;s the Intelligence?&#8221; he asked aloud, speaking to no one in particular.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nThe great events of the universe have started out with the tiniest of triggers.  Brick&#8217;s foot slipped.  There was something on the floor.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nHe stumbled: a very small thing.  He would have easily been able to regain his balance if not for the heavy tub he carried.  He fell forward, crashing into the conveyor belt.  The whole thing rocked.  Bowls slid to the floor and shattered amid wordless cries which expressed a range of alien emotions, from outrage to disbelieving panic.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nThe contents of Brick&#8217;s tub oozed in a steady flow over the machine and, after a horrible grinding and jerking, it eventually stopped completely, its workings clogged with malevolent brown muck.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nIn a startling display of reflexes, Smoke leaped over the shuddering conveyor belt to lift the tub right side up again, and his arm swept across a table full of pots and jars of virtues.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nThe cry of the Soulmaker behind that table was by far the loudest and most horrified.  His cry, unlike many of the others, contained words: &#8220;Those are flammable!&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nHis jars and pots fell to the floor.  Several shattered, and several more bounced and then burst open.  A dangerous mix of chemicals flowed over the factory floor.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nThe truth was that there was so much chemical pollution in the factory already that it was not at all surprising when several small fires immediately broke out.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nNo one moved.  They didn&#8217;t have the first idea of what should be done.  They all stared at the flames, which were, admittedly, a number of very interesting colors.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nAll work ceased, as every Soulmaker in the factory stared in horrified amazement at the chaos into which Flint&#8217;s assembly line had suddenly descended, unable to comprehend how such a thing could have been allowed to happen at all.  The stares of the others did nothing for the nerves of the members of the assembly line in question.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nFlint began trying to recall anything in his experience that might help him decide what kind of action should be taken, but before he could form any coherent chain of thought, the multicolored smoke reached the high ceiling and triggered a mechanism.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nWater came gushing from above, extinguishing the fires immediately and soaking the Soulmakers to the skin.  They all felt, unanimously, that all that water had not been necessary at all.  Surely a slight sprinkle would have served the purpose.  For the first time in his memory, Flint, and many of the others, experienced a desire to complain about something.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nThe downpour ceased gradually as some enormous reservoir somewhere was drained.  Finally, it was done.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nUncomprehending shock was almost a tangible presence in the factory.  Everyone started wiping the fog from their goggles.  Several of the workers tried to use the sleeves of their coveralls to accomplish this task, but only succeeded in smearing more water over the lenses.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nIt occurred to Flint to remove the goggles altogether, and everyone followed him, eager to pretend that they had come up with the simple solution themselves.  It was just that no one had ever had occasion to take off the protective goggles before.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nWith their vision properly restored, they all stared around at the devastation.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nIt was the water that had really done it.  If not for the unexpected flood, the disaster would have been confined to one assembly line, but, as it was, conveyor belts and molding machines had short-circuited all over the factory, not to mention that frequent puddles speckled the floor and a lot of ingredients had been diluted.  Several unstable chemicals were reacting to the water, bubbling in ways that caused anyone nearby to conclude that it might be a rather good idea to start backing away.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nSilence reigned.  No one wanted to be the first to speak, so it continued on.  Finally, Flint cleared his throat.  Someone had to say something, he thought determinedly.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nWhen he opened his mouth, what came out was, &#8220;I didn&#8217;t know we had a sprinkler system.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nThere were nods and murmurs of agreement.  The messengers did not participate in this general admission of ignorance.  They had known about the sprinkler system all along, and about many other things besides.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nReleased from their frozen spell by Flint&#8217;s voice, the crowd of Soulmakers began to get restless.  They inspected broken machines and spilled ingredients, grumbling with displeasure and slogging through the puddles on the floor.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;How did this happen?&#8221; someone called out, and the question was immediately picked up and repeated.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;How did this happen?&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;How is this possible?&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;Who did this?&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;Who let this happen?&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nAnd, all at once, Flint and his assembly line members found themselves the subject of attention once again, but now the stares were hard and demanding.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;Brick tripped,&#8221; Smoke informed everyone, shamelessly indicating his partner.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nEvery accusatory gaze in the factory turned to Brick, pinning him to the spot.  He knelt to pick up something from the floor, then held it up for all to see.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nIt was a small, empty vial labeled Intelligence.  The very small thing which had made him stumble.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;That&#8217;s mine!&#8221; Flint cried automatically, then regretted it as everyone turned their heads to look at him.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;I gave it to a messenger for a refill,&#8221; he explained.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nThey waited for him to continue.  It seemed like there should be more to the story regarding the fate of the Intelligence vial, but Flint just shrugged helplessly and looked around for the messenger who had taken it.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nHe turned his head one way and then the other, trying to spot someone he recognized.  Even before the thought was fully formed, an alarming realization hit him with a strange, icy jolt in the pit of his stomach.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nHe didn&#8217;t recognize anyone, not even the members of his own assembly line.  He only knew who they were from the spots they were occupying along the now-broken conveyor belt.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nBrick had to be the one standing over there next to the tub which had spilled, holding his Intelligence vial.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nBut he didn&#8217;t look like Brick.  Another urgent thought interceded sharply: what did Brick look like?\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nFlint sank down onto the edge of the conveyor belt, feeling slightly dizzy from the shock and confusion which were rocking his view of the world.  Finally, he admitted to the Soulmakers, all standing idle for the first time they could remember, &#8220;I can&#8217;t recognize anyone without their goggles.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nThey all started to look around at each other, noting details they had never been able to see before, or, perhaps, never taken the time to notice.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nIt wasn&#8217;t only that the goggles were now gone; the water had washed much of the dirt and chemical residue from their hair and skin, and they no longer wore a uniform gray.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nSmoke had piercing dark eyes and a scowl.  Gold had long yellow hair, a fair complexion, and elegantly arched eyebrows.  And Brick was broad-shouldered and dark-skinned, with wide green eyes that were regarding everything with a curious fascination.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;Everyone looks so different,&#8221; Gold said, after another moment of silence, which, unlike the previous silences, had been filled with wonder instead of shock and horror.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;What color are my eyes?&#8221; Flint asked suddenly.  He felt slightly embarrassed for caring, but he was finding it fascinating to look into the eyes of the others and he desperately wanted to know what his own eyes looked like, and what they conveyed about him.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nGold leaned forward to see and they locked gazes.  Flint found this experience slightly uncomfortable.  None of them were used to direct eye contact.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;They&#8217;re blue,&#8221; she told him, &#8220;a dark blue.  And you have lines around them.  You must smile a lot.  There, you&#8217;re smiling right now.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nFlint looked away.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;Since when do we care about our appearances?&#8221; Smoke spoke up, &#8220;We&#8217;re Soulmakers, not humans.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nThe Soulmakers all had to agree that they had never thought about their appearances until a moment ago.  Besides, they didn&#8217;t have time for vanity.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nFlint once again took in the disaster that their factory had become, and he became aware of a nagging compulsion.  He was a Soulmaker, and they all had a quota to fill and a deadline to meet.  If they failed &#8230;  well, he wasn&#8217;t certain of the details of what would happen then, but he was certain that it would be terrible for the entire human world.  Unimaginably terrible.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;We need to clean this up and get back to work,&#8221; Flint stated.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nThey could all agree with that, but it didn&#8217;t get them very far.  The mess looked simply overwhelming and they didn&#8217;t know where to start.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nSomeone in the crowd spoke up tentatively, &#8220;Would the Messengers have any idea of what to do?&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nThey all looked around.  There was a confused moment.  They all kept looking around.  And then they finally accepted the fact that the Messengers were gone.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nThis was disturbing on several different levels.  Firstly, it was shocking that a group of them could have disappeared without anyone noticing, and it was even more troubling to wonder why they were no longer present.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nBut their absence was also disturbing because the Messengers had been the keepers of the factory&#8217;s secrets.  They knew their way around, they knew what to do when there was a problem, and they would certainly have known the protocol, if there was any, when it came to a crisis like this.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nThey all stood around staring at each other, with expressions of confusion, concern, and no small amount of outright fear.  They all felt it: the pressing urgency of their job, and their factory was completely unable to function, and they didn&#8217;t know what to do, and the silent beginnings of panic were infusing the air with a creeping chill.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nOnce again, Flint felt the need to speak into the frozen quiet.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;Okay,&#8221; he said, trying to sound calm, although he was just as nervous as the others, &#8220;we need to contact someone.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;But who do we call?&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;And how?&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nThe questions bubbled from the nervous crowd immediately.  They were all looking at him, as though he would know, and Flint had no idea what to say next.  His mouth went dry under the pressure of their expectant gazes.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nThen he felt a light touch on his shoulder.  Slightly startled, he looked over and followed Brick&#8217;s pointing finger with his eyes.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nThere was a blinking light on the wall.  Flint moved toward it, and everyone else shuffled forward to see what he was looking at.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nIt was a small electrical box mounted on the wall, with buttons, a speaker, and a green light.  An intercom! Had that been there all along? Flint wasn&#8217;t the only one to ask the question in the privacy of his mind.  But, whether it had always existed or not, it was a welcome sight.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nHope hummed in the air.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;Go ahead, Flint,&#8221; Gold urged.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nFlint looked back at everyone uncertainly, and they all gave him nods and gestures of encouragement.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nHe approached the blinking box and cleared his throat, then he pressed the TALK button and said, &#8220;Hello? We have an emergency.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nThere was a buzz of static and then a brisk voice came through the speaker.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;Hello, Soulmakers.  No new souls are coming through.  What&#8217;s your situation?&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nFlint took a breath and did his best to answer that question, stumbling over his words as he tried to describe exactly what had happened and what it meant.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;The messengers had to go on an errand,&#8221; the voice informed them, &#8220;They&#8217;ll be back in a short while.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nThis was a small relief.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;We can afford a short delay,&#8221; the voice continued, &#8220;but not very long, so you all need to do damage control and start making souls again as soon as possible.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nThis was not the response they had been expecting, not the reassurance they had been hoping for.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;We would like some help cleaning up,&#8221; Flint said into the speaker, after one look at the faces of his fellow workers, &#8220;we don&#8217;t know how to begin.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nThe voice on the intercom replied, with a hint of laughter in the words, &#8220;Oh, you&#8217;re all perfectly capable of doing it yourselves.  You have everything you need.  Just go exploring and you&#8217;ll find it.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nThe tone was not unfriendly, but nor was it understanding; it was light and teasing, and completely dismissive of the momentous event which had just shaken their lives and filled them with fear and uncertainty.  It was irritating.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;May I ask who I&#8217;m speaking to?&#8221; Flint said, with a chilly edge to the question.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;This is Chip,&#8221; replied the intercom, &#8220;You remember me.  I transferred to a management position.  Now you have very little time.  I&#8217;d start cleaning up if I were you.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nThe intercom clicked, and they knew that Chip was no longer on the other end.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;Exploring?&#8221; Smoke made a valiant attempt to sound merely incredulous, but there was a distinct note of fear in his voice.  &#8220;We can&#8217;t do that! We have no idea what&#8217;s out there! And what if we ruin something?&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nThere were uncomfortable murmurs from the crowd.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;It&#8217;s not really out there, is it?&#8221; Flint tried to reason away the uneasiness, &#8220;It&#8217;s just in here.  It&#8217;s been here all along.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;Flint&#8217;s right,&#8221; Gold supported him, &#8220;We should probably know what goes on in our own factory, anyway.  Don&#8217;t you think? Especially if it&#8217;s the only way to get everything working again.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nFlint flashed her a grateful smile.  Having an ally made him feel a dozen times more confident.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nThey ended up dividing into groups and wandering off in arbitrary directions, but, in time, the groups broke apart, as the Soulmakers became more comfortable with the idea of exploring and found fascinating things to examine.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nTheir factory held wonders.  It held marvels and miracles.  There were racks full of bottles of ingredients they had never heard of, and cupboards full of tools they had never used.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nThere were cabinets full of records, complicated charts and never-ending lists of the souls which were assembled each day in the factory, how much of each material went into them and what shape the molding machine had made them, but also who they were destined to be and the major choices which would face that soul as it went through its human life.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nThe Soulmakers were surprised at their ability to remember mixing many of the souls on record, and to find that they were endlessly interested to read about each soul&#8217;s fate.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;Look at this!&#8221; someone called out, voice echoing through the cavernous factory, &#8220;I think this is the filling station!&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nFlint remembered thinking, just recently, that it didn&#8217;t matter in the least what the filling station looked like, but now he and many of the others rushed over to see it, unable to contain their curiosity.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nIt resembled a vending machine, except there was no slot for money.  One only needed to punch in a code and hold a container under a spout, and the desired ingredient came streaming forth.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nTo the Soulmakers, it seemed magical.  Although they had never really thought about it, they had expected the &#8220;filling station&#8221; to be a huge place with huge barrels of supplies in towering stacks.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nThey had fun discovering the stack of forms for filing transfers and complaints, and the machine which accepted them.  They filed a few complaints, about the sprinkler system, the refusal of outside help, and the lack of a plan in case of emergencies.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;YOUR FORM HAS BEEN ACCEPTED,&#8221; the machine told them, each time they slid one into the slot.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nThe next thing that caught their collective attention was a cry of horror.  They hurried to find its source.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nA white-faced soulmaker was leaning against a door as if to hold it closed with his body.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;What is it?&#8221; they asked him, &#8220;What happened?&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nBut all he would say was, &#8220;Don&#8217;t look in there! Really, you don&#8217;t want to see it.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nAbove the door was emblazoned SOULS IN NEED OF REPAIR.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nAs a general rule, the factory did not repair souls, only molded them and then sent them out into the world.  There was no warranty policy.  Flint was curious, but the face of the Soulmaker discouraged him from opening the door.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nHe was turning away when a shape seemed to fade into view next to him, and he looked over to meet Brick&#8217;s green eyes.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nBrick gestured for Flint to follow him and led him to another door labeled WORLDVIEW.  The room contained a large dark screen.  Brick handed Flint a controller and showed him how to turn it on and manipulate the focus.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nHe could see everything that was happening on the human world, tune into whatever and whoever he wanted, watch it like a TV show.  It was startling and slightly frightening and breathtakingly enchanting.  It was, at times, positively beautiful, or profoundly disturbing.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nFlint was sure that he could have sat there forever, watching the joys and sufferings of individuals the world over, but there was something tugging at his mind, derailing his concentration, fluttering urgently in his belly.  If new souls were not made, this world, as it was now, would be turned upside-down.  He absolutely had to do his job.  It was more than a sense of responsibility; it was built into him, just like his ability to judge exactly how much of what chemical to add to a mixture at a glance.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nIt was his purpose for existing, and it was terribly time-sensitive.  So he left the Worldview, wondering if he would ever get a chance to return.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nWhile he had been thus absorbed, Smoke had found the cleaning supplies behind another door.  Unlike the rest of them, Smoke had remained singlemindedly focused on the task at hand, and had not become distracted by the new discoveries being made around him.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nBrooms, mops, buckets, receptacles for disposing of contaminated chemicals: there were even machine parts, although they all realized with consternation that none of them knew the first thing about fixing the machines.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;Let&#8217;s worry about the machines later,&#8221; Flint suggested, &#8220;we should do what we can first.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nThis sentiment made them all feel better, at least for the time being, and they all fell to organizing themselves for the daunting task of remedying the disaster which had started all of this.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nFlint moved through the crowd, making sure everyone had a task which suited them best and that they all understood what needed to be done.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;You&#8217;re a good leader,&#8221; Gold complimented him as she passed, carrying a bucket.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nA leader.  Flint, the Soulmaker whose existence had been measuring out talents from behind a table, was now a leader? Had he changed so much in so short a time? Or had he been like this all along and just not known?\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nSomething beside him crackled, and Flint jumped.  He was standing beside the intercom.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nHe pressed the TALK button.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;Chip?&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;Hello.  How&#8217;s the cleanup coming?&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;It&#8217;s progressing well.  But we&#8217;re not sure how to fix the machines.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nChip seemed to disregard this.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;We need a soul,&#8221; he announced firmly, &#8220;Right now.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nFlint checked on the situation; all the water was not even mopped up, and that was just a start.  They were nowhere near ready to start soulmaking again.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;Right now?&#8221; he asked the intercom, &#8220;We can&#8217;t!&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;Seriously, it has to be now,&#8221; Chip said urgently and without any sympathy whatsoever, &#8220;Death waits for no man.  And neither does birth.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;But\u2014\u201c Flint began a desperate protest.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;Figure something out,&#8221; Chip cut him off, and the intercom clicked, severing the connection.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nAs he looked around desperately for some kind of salvation, he realized that none of his fellow workers had really heard the conversation.  They were talking and laughing as they worked, and some of them were even whistling, their voices mingling with the swish and clank of mopping and scooping.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nThey all looked so content.  He could not bring himself to ruin it by telling them about the need for a soul that they simply couldn&#8217;t manufacture.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nWhether they knew it or not, catastrophe would befall the human race.  Everything, on this plane and the physical one, would be affected, all because the Soulmakers had failed.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nHe struggled to stave off the rising despair.  No, he couldn&#8217;t let that happen.  The factory had always been perfectly on time before and that could not change now.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nA fierce pride surged through Flint along with a hard determination.  This was the Soul Factory, and, come hell or high water, chemical spills or overly-powerful sprinkler systems, they would always deliver.  All the necessary materials were right here, weren&#8217;t they? There had to be a way&#8230;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nA strange idea began to take shape in his mind.  It was so strange, so otherworldly, that he rejected it as completely impossible.  He cast about for something else.  But the more he thought, the more the idea kept coming up, growing stronger, insisting that it was the only option at the moment.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nHe tried to think of reasons why the idea would be obviously impossible, but nothing particularly convincing came to mind, except that it had never been done before, and that was no reason at all.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nHe was nervous.  What if it went wrong? There was no other way, the idea insisted yet again, as if it was its own intelligent entity, with a powerful grip on his mind.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nHe quietly moved around the industrious Soulmakers to the place where the disaster had begun, at the beginning of his own assembly line.  He took a clean mixing bowl from a neat stack, and a glass stirring rod from the cup and started to measure out ingredients.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nHe stared at Smoke&#8217;s tubs of thick, dark chemicals and struggled with how much of which ones to add to the bowl.  His heart was pounding with urgency and the unsteady nerves of trying something completely and utterly unheard of.  His mind was going blank, and it frightened him.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nThen he looked over at the table of virtues, and he saw, in his head, which sins should go with which virtues for this particular soul, and it began to make some semblance of sense.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nWith his right hand, he scooped from Smoke&#8217;s tubs, and, with his left hand, he poured from the colored pots of virtues.  They entered the bowl together, at the exact same time, and the necessary chemical composition started to run through Flint&#8217;s mind.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nHe stirred feverishly, mingling sins and virtues until he could not tell one from the other, and then he picked up the bowl and moved down the line, adding, measuring, and mixing, always mixing.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nHe jogged over to his own table of Talents and Abilities, and he knew exactly which ones this soul needed, more clearly and surely than he ever had before.  He poured the rest of the bottle of Imagination into the bowl, and then suddenly cursed in frustration.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nHe saw his Intelligence vial sitting on the conveyor belt where Brick had placed it, completely empty.  The most important thing was getting just the right amount of Intelligence into that bowl, and he had to do it RIGHT NOW!\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nHe grabbed the little clear bottle and ran.  Others jumped out of his way, wide-eyed with surprise and confusion.  They stopped what they were doing and stared after him, but he ignored them and kept sprinting, zigzagging around machines and leaping over piles of supplies.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nThe single thing in his mind was that soul.  It wasn&#8217;t just his job, it wasn&#8217;t just his responsibility, and it wasn&#8217;t just about the factory&#8217;s good reputation.  It was all-encompassing.  It was calling to him, hovering in his mind, almost formed, but, painfully, not quite there yet.  He could not rest until it was exactly the way it had to be.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nIt took him precious seconds to remember where the filling station was, and even more time to use it and get what he needed.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nHe tore back through the maze of the factory until he finally reached the bowl, panting.  He was vaguely aware, in some corner of his mind, that people had called out to him as he ran, asking him questions, sounding concerned, but that didn&#8217;t matter.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nOnly this soul mattered.  This Soul was beautiful and special and important, and he was making it, every part of it, by himself, and it felt so incredibly right.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nHe actually laughed with relief when the Intelligence shimmered into the Soul Clay, and he stirred until he achieved the exact color and texture he knew was necessary.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nHe didn&#8217;t even glance at the molding machine.  Even if it hadn&#8217;t been malfunctioning, he would never have let it touch his work.  It seemed sacrilegious, a violation which he refused to even consider.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nHe scooped the clay into his hands and began rolling it between his fingers, flattening it under his palm, shaping the clay into curves and corners, swirls and smooth edges.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nIt seemed to hum between his hands, warm against his skin, and, at times, he could swear that it moved of its own accord, guiding his hands to the shape, rather than the other way around. It was an impossibly intricate structure which was utterly unique, which could never be replicated at any other place or time in the universe.  Right here and right now, everything was exactly right for this soul to come into being.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nFlint&#8217;s heart sang with harmony and destiny and purpose.  And then he put the last touch and he knew that it was done.  It was fully formed.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nReverently, he held it up and gazed at its beauty, feeling more accomplished, more fulfilled, than he could ever remember feeling.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nAs he looked at the special, irreplaceable shape he had molded, he could see, in his mind&#8217;s eye, how she would look as a sleeping newborn, as a laughing little girl, as a blossoming young lady, and then as a mature woman.  He got a sense of her joys and sorrows, and his heart simultaneously ached and soared.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nHe cared so deeply about her with everything inside of him, and it was painful to part with her.  He loved the beautiful soul which he had measured and mixed and molded with his own hands, and that was why he had to let her go, to the life that awaited her, with all its beauty and suffering.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nHe whispered, &#8220;Good luck,&#8221; and gently sent her on her way.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nHe came back to reality slowly.  There was a wide circle of empty space around him, and everyone was staring at him in frozen wonder.  Flint was pleased to note that most of the facial expressions were positive.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nNo one seemed to know what to say or do.  They could not believe what they had just seen.  The assembly line had ruled their lives forever, and, somehow, Flint had made a soul all by himself.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nThen one Soulmaker stepped forward and came to stand beside Flint.  It was Brick.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nSomething else happened then which had never happened before.  Brick spoke.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nHe said simply, &#8220;Good job, Flint.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nFlint actually jumped with surprise.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;You can talk?&#8221; he asked.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nBrick smiled.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;Yes,&#8221; he answered, &#8220;I just don&#8217;t like to,&#8221; and he moved away.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nIn the manager&#8217;s office above the Soul Factory, Chip finally relaxed in his chair and wiped his forehead with a hand that trembled slightly with relief.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nArranging for the disaster to occur had been risky, but he had been sure that his fellow Soulmakers could come to certain realizations on their own, if given the right circumstances.  In the end, they had.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nThere had been some terrifying moments of doubt along the way, Chip would be the first to admit, as he eased the nervous tension from his muscles.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nThey had very nearly run out of time.  There had been plenty of surprises.  Chip had assumed that a leader would rise among the workers, but Flint would have been his last guess.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nHe glanced at the growing pile of forms on his desk.  They were asking questions now, filing complaints, demanding that changes be made.  They had discovered that there was a better way, and he was so proud of them.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nHe knew they could do it, even when he had been afraid for them.  And, of course, he would have intervened if it had gotten completely out of control.  The Soulmakers were never as alone as they had feared.  No one ever is.<br \/>\n<\/P><\/p>\n<hr>\n<p><mbp:pagebreak \/><br \/>\n<a name=\"ruthgar\"><\/a><H1 LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" ALIGN=CENTER STYLE=\"font-weight: normal; page-break-before: always\"><br \/>\n<FONT FACE=\"Times New Roman, serif\"><FONT SIZE=6>Lord Ruthgar&#8217;s Legacy<\/FONT><\/FONT><\/H1><br \/>\n<P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nBy Jamie Lackey<\/P><br \/>\n<P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI was plucking mint leaves from the herb garden, hoping tea would soothe my head, when a slim, well-dressed young man strolled up our lane.  &#8220;Are you the alchemist&#8217;s daughter?&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;She&#8217;s an herbalist,&#8221; I snapped.  The scent of crushed mint leaves filled my nose.  I took a deep breath and loosened my grip.  My head throbbed.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;Yes.  Well.  Are you the daughter?&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;Yes.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;I am here to inform you that your father has bequeathed unto you his entire estate.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nMy mother had always refused to tell me my father&#8217;s identity.  &#8220;My father&#8217;s dead?&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;Yes.  And all that was his is now yours.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;Is that a lot?&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nThe stranger scanned our modest cottage, with its herb garden and climbing roses.  &#8220;Yes.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;I see.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;May I come inside?&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI scanned him up and down.  Thin and pale, with short blond hair and dark green eyes.  He didn&#8217;t look particularly dangerous.  &#8220;I suppose.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nInside, I poured hot water over crushed mint leaves.  &#8220;Would you like some tea?&#8221; I asked.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nHe shook his head.  &#8220;We should go.  The moat will keep out any unwanted visitors, but I dislike leaving the estate empty.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;The moat?&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;Yes. Do you have many possessions to pack?&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI sat down and sipped my tea.  Thoughts spun through my aching head.  Curiosity and exhaustion warred.  &#8220;May I ask you something?&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;Of course.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;Who was my father?&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;Lord Ruthgar.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nLord Ruthgar had never made my list of possible fathers.  Rich and insane didn&#8217;t seem like my mother&#8217;s type.  &#8220;Really?&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;Yes.  And you are Lady Ruthgar, now.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI blinked at him.  &#8220;My name is June.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nHe shrugged.  &#8220;You are the Lady of Ruthgar.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI thought of the castle, huge and dark and isolated, and shuddered.  I&#8217;d been wanting to move out on my own, but that wasn&#8217;t the destination I&#8217;d had in mind.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;Who are you, anyway?&#8221; I asked.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;I am Angus.  Your manservant.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nMy mother opened the door and came inside, stomping mud off of her boots.  &#8220;I do wish that these herbs grew somewhere other than the swamp.&#8221;  She stopped and stared at me and Angus, sitting at the table.  &#8220;We weren&#8217;t expecting company,&#8221; she said.  &#8220;Can I help you?&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;Hello, ma&#8217;am.  I am Angus&#8211;&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;I know who you are,&#8221; my mother said.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;He says that Lord Ruthgar has bequeathed me his estate.&#8221;  I took a deep breath.  &#8220;And that he&#8217;s my father.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nMy mother sighed.  &#8220;I didn&#8217;t expect that.&#8221;  She moved to the sink and rinsed dirt from the herbs she&#8217;d collected.  &#8220;I thought the castle would go to some cousin or something.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;The estate was his lordship&#8217;s to do with as he pleased.  And he wanted it to go to his daughter.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;Well, she&#8217;s not taking it.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;What?&#8221;  I stood up, and pain spiked through my head.  &#8220;What do you mean, I&#8217;m not taking it?&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;You don&#8217;t really want to move to that castle, do you?&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI glared at her.  &#8220;Well, I can&#8217;t decide about that till I see it, can I?&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;Very good,&#8221; Angus said.  &#8220;Let&#8217;s go.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;I&#8217;ve seen it,&#8221; my mother said.  &#8220;It&#8217;s rubbish.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI downed the last bit of my tea and followed Angus out the door.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;Promise me you&#8217;ll be back for dinner!&#8221; my mother called.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><\/p>\n<hr>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nThe drawbridge was up, and slimy green water surged in the moat below.  Angus pressed a tiny box into my hand.  The wood was warm, and the box gave off a low hum.  &#8220;Just press that button,&#8221; he said.  &#8220;That will lower the drawbridge.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI pressed it, and the box vibrated.  A moment later, the drawbridge lowered.  &#8220;Did it send some sort of signal to someone inside?&#8221; I asked.  &#8220;Why not just wave at them?&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;There is no one inside,&#8221; Angus said.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;Then how did the door open?&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;The remote sends a signal to a machine.  It then raises or lowers the drawbridge.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nWe reached the other side, and I pushed the button again.  The drawbridge obediently rattled up behind us.  &#8220;How does it work?&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nAngus shrugged.  &#8220;I can show you the master&#8217;s notes.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI followed him to my dead father&#8217;s study.  His handwriting was jagged and slanted, but legible.  As I read, my headache eased.  &#8220;It says here that my father tried to use this technology to control people&#8217;s minds?&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nAngus frowned.  &#8220;I believe that he did try that, yes.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nHe&#8217;d scrawled something about inconclusive results, and I shuddered.  I didn&#8217;t like the thought of invisible waves getting inside my head.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;Do you&#8211;do you understand all that?&#8221; Angus asked.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nThe concepts felt natural&#8211;even the most difficult theorems made an elegant sense.  &#8220;Well, it&#8217;s not that complicated.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;If you say so, milady.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI tore myself away from the notes.  &#8220;I suppose I should see the rest of the place.  Give me the full tour.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;As you wish.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nThe castle was a maze of narrow corridors, musty rooms, and dank dungeons.  &#8220;Why are there so many dungeons?&#8221; I asked.  &#8220;Were they ever necessary?  Really?&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nAngus didn&#8217;t answer.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nThen, I found the girl.  She stood under a heavy velvet curtain in the dining room, her beautiful, heart-shaped face blank and empty.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nMy heart stuttered.  I imagined her face animating, her eyes meeting mine, her slow smile.  The brush of soft lips against mine.  &#8220;Who is this?&#8221; I asked.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;That is just one of the master&#8217;s projects.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI touched her cheek.  It was smooth and flesh-soft and room-temperature.  &#8220;He made her?&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;Yes.  Just like he made me.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;He made you?&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;Yes.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;How?&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;The notes should be in his study.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nHis notes were not well organized, and my headache crept back as I searched.  Angus appeared in the doorway.  &#8220;Your mother is outside.  She seems to have brought you dinner.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;Oh.  Well, let her in.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;You have the remote.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;Right.&#8221;  I pulled it out of my pocket, pushed the button, and got back to my search.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nMy mother came in and gave me a disapproving look.  &#8220;What are you doing?&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;Looking for notes.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nShe began unpacking the basket she&#8217;d brought.  The scent of roasted chicken filled the room.  &#8220;I shouldn&#8217;t have taught you to read.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;Why did you hate him so much?&#8221; I asked, still rifling through papers.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;I didn&#8217;t hate him.  I just&#8211;I didn&#8217;t think he&#8217;d be a good influence.  He was a bit mad.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;Angus says that he created him.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;He did.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI dropped the notebook I was holding and rushed to her side.  &#8220;Do you know how?&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nMy mother sighed.  &#8220;Of course I do.  I helped him.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;Then you can tell me how to finish the girl!&#8221; I grabbed her hand and pulled her toward the dining room.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;Sweetie, helping your father was the biggest mistake I ever made.  The only good thing to come of my time with him was you.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nBut she let me pull her along, and looked at the girl, standing like a statue in the dark.  She sighed.  &#8220;She&#8217;s very pretty.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI touched the girl&#8217;s cheek and nodded.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;Oh, sweetie,&#8221; my mother pulled my hand away.  &#8220;Don&#8217;t do this.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;Don&#8217;t do what?&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;She won&#8217;t&#8211;she can&#8217;t&#8211;even if you do give her life, she wouldn&#8217;t be what you want.  I know that it&#8217;s been hard, and that it was difficult when Rebecca left, but you can&#8217;t build someone to love you.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;That isn&#8217;t&#8211;&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;That&#8217;s why your father made Angus.  He wanted a son.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nA horrifying thought occurred to me.  &#8220;You didn&#8217;t&#8211;didn&#8217;t build me, did you?&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nMy mother laughed.  &#8220;No, you came about in the natural way.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;If he made Angus to be a son, why is he&#8211;&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;A manservant?&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI nodded.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;Angus is smart and loyal and kind, but we could never teach him to feel&#8211;there was always something missing, and he just couldn&#8217;t be the son your father wanted.  And he didn&#8217;t like failing.  He blamed me, blamed Angus, blamed the world.  He demoted Angus to servant and tossed me aside.  He tried to win me back after I realized I was pregnant, but left when I told him you were a girl.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;But then, why make her?&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;I don&#8217;t know.  But it might be best to just let it be.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;She wasn&#8217;t meant to be an empty statue.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;Wasn&#8217;t she?&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;I want you to help me give her life.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;And I want you to come home with me and forget about this wretched place.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;Neither of us are going to get what we want, are we?&#8221; I asked.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nShe shook her head.  &#8220;I don&#8217;t think so.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><\/p>\n<hr>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI rubbed my temples.  &#8220;Angus, did he have any sort of organization to all of this?&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nHe shook his head.  &#8220;None that I could observe.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;Could you help me sort through it?&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nHe hesitated.  &#8220;I was not allowed to touch his papers.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;Well, he&#8217;s dead,&#8221; I said.  &#8220;And I&#8217;m getting nowhere by myself.  I&#8217;d welcome some help.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;Very well.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><\/p>\n<hr>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nAfter three solid days of searching, Angus found a yellowed scrap of paper folded under a table leg.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n<em>I found a layer of clay in the west corner of the dungeon that, when treated with the correct chemical wash, bears an eerie resemblance to human flesh.  I have contacted a local woman, an alchemist, to help me stabilize the compound.  <\/em>\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;It seems that he may have torn the book we&#8217;re looking for up.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;Why would he have done that?&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nAngus shrugged.  &#8220;He wasn&#8217;t always&#8211;rational.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;Did he tell you why he made her?&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;He didn&#8217;t really talk to me, milady.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;Call me June.  Please.  Do you remember when he and my mother&#8211;gave you life?&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;I remember a few things from the early days.  Your mother&#8211;she was very kind, and always smelled nice.  Like green, growing things.  I remember the day she left.  And I remember the day he stopped calling me &#8216;son.'&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;Do you age?  Or have you always been the way you are now?&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;I age.  I started out much&#8230; shorter.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nSharp pain spiked through my head, so sudden that I cried out.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;Read,&#8221; he said.  &#8220;I&#8217;ll get you some of your mother&#8217;s tea.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;In a way, she&#8217;s your mother, too.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nThat was the first time I saw him smile.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><\/p>\n<hr>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nMy headaches only abated when I was reading or when I was with the girl.  I&#8217;d taken to eating in the dining room, just because spending time with her helped.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI named her Penelope, because I liked the name.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nMy mother came for dinner three nights a week.  &#8220;Did you feel guilty for abandoning Angus?&#8221; I asked her over dessert.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;I told myself I didn&#8217;t need to.  That he wouldn&#8217;t miss me.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;Did you anyway?&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;Yes.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><\/p>\n<hr>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nOn the other nights, I invited Angus to eat with me.  &#8220;What did my father do to me?&#8221; I asked.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;What do you mean?&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;The headaches.  They started right before he died.  And reading his words or spending time with his unfinished creation are the only things that help.  That&#8217;s not normal.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nHe sighed.  &#8220;I agree that it seems like a reasonable conclusion, but I don&#8217;t have any insight into his motives or methods.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;Did he know he was dying?&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;Yes, I think he knew.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;Can I ask you something?&#8221; I asked.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nHe laughed.  &#8220;You&#8217;ve been asking me questions since you got here, June.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;This one is personal.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;Okay.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;And you don&#8217;t have to answer if you don&#8217;t want to.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;Understood.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;How long did it take for you to start feeling?&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nHe blinked at me.  &#8220;I don&#8217;t understand.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;I think you do.  You hide it well, and I doubt he ever suspected.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;He wouldn&#8217;t have cared anyway.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;You don&#8217;t know that.  He might have&#8211;&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;Might have what?  Accepted me as his son?&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;Maybe?&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;And why the hell would I want that?&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;I suppose that&#8217;s a good question.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><\/p>\n<hr>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nThe headache kept sleep away, so I crept to the dining room and examined Penelope&#8217;s face in the moonlight.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;I&#8217;ve read every single note he wrote&#8211;at least the ones he didn&#8217;t destroy, and I&#8217;m not closer to knowing how to wake you up than I was when I started.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI played with a lock of her dark hair.  &#8220;What the hell.&#8221;  I pressed my lips to hers.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nNothing happened.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><\/p>\n<hr>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI set a cot up in the dining room, but the effect of staying near Penelope was fading.  My head ached constantly.  Angus brought me tea and carted my father&#8217;s equipment in.  &#8220;You don&#8217;t have to stay here,&#8221; I told him.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;Do you want me to leave?&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;No.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;Then I&#8217;ll stay.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI stretched out on the cot.  &#8220;I&#8217;m pretty sure that whatever he did to me, it was with radio waves.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;A reasonable hypothesis,&#8221; Angus said.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;He was dying, and he wanted me to finish her.  So, he decided to motivate me with pain.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;That sounds like him.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;Angus, it&#8217;s getting worse.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;Have you told your mother?&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI sighed.  &#8220;No.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;I think it might be time.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><\/p>\n<hr>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nSo, I told her.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;How bad are they, exactly?&#8221; she asked.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;It&#8217;s become difficult to function.  I&#8211;I&#8217;m afraid that they&#8217;ll just keep getting worse till I finish her or they kill me.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;If he wasn&#8217;t already dead, I&#8217;d murder him,&#8221; she hissed.  &#8220;How dare he?&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;Will you help?&#8221; I asked.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nShe nodded.  &#8220;I&#8217;ll go get my things.  We&#8217;ll need a copper tub big enough to lie her down in&#8211;your father should have one in his workshop.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><\/p>\n<hr>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nMy headache faded momentarily as I wrestled Penelope into her tub.  It was strange to see her in another position.  I wondered what it would be like to see her move on her own.  My mother came in, laden with her tools and ingredients.  She looked down at Penelope, stretched in her copper tub.  &#8220;When we made Angus, we used clay from the dungeon as his flesh, a liquor distilled from a rare berry as his blood, and an alloy that your father created for his bones and joints.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;What is my brain made out of?&#8221; Angus asked.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nMy mother jumped.  &#8220;Oh.  I&#8217;m sorry, I didn&#8217;t know you were there.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;It&#8217;s okay.  I&#8217;m&#8211;I&#8217;m just curious.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;And he wouldn&#8217;t tell you?&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;I never asked him.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;Your brain is an electrically charged super-dense fluid.  Your father travelled all around the world, to every mineral spring he could find, and spent months getting the electrolyte balance perfect.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;He&#8217;s not my father,&#8221; Angus said.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;I&#8217;m sorry.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nHe shook his head.  &#8220;You don&#8217;t need to be.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI looked back and forth between them.  They both looked a little lost.  &#8220;He feels, now,&#8221; I said.  &#8220;And she always regretted leaving you behind.  You two have a lot to talk about, and I&#8217;d love to see you hug it out, but can we focus on the task at hand?  My head hurts.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nMy mother and Angus shared a smile, then she got to work.  She pulled bundles of herbs out of her bag, and their sharp scent filled the air.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;You can help with this.&#8221;  She handed me a pestle and a mortar filled with tiny black seeds.  &#8220;Grind that as fine as you can.  Angus, could you hold this over the fire until it just starts to bubble?&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nAfter hours of mixing and heating and grinding, we finally had a green, bubbling liquid.  &#8220;Pour this over her,&#8221; my mother said.  &#8220;Make sure that she&#8217;s completely soaked.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI poured carefully.  Her hair was even darker wet, and the thin dress that she wore clung to the flesh beneath.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;Now, all that&#8217;s left is to pass a spark.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;How do I do that?&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;There is a lightning rod balcony outside your father&#8217;s bedroom.  There should be a pair of bronze spheres attached.  Hold one in each hand, and be careful not to touch anything metallic.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI hurried up the stairs, found the spheres, and hurried back.  &#8220;Now what?&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;Touch her.  But be careful not to make any contact with the tub.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI looked down at her.  After this, there would be no going back&#8211;she&#8217;d be a person with her own life.  She&#8217;d be able to leave, if she wanted.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI bent down and pressed my lips to hers.  A spark jumped between us, and she gasped.  She stared up at me, her face still a blank slate.  Her eyes were the color of cornflowers.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nMy headache vanished.  &#8220;Hello, Penelope,&#8221; I said.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;Hello,&#8221; she replied.  &#8220;Who are you?&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;I&#8217;m June,&#8221; I said.  I remembered my mother&#8217;s warning&#8211;I knew not to expect her to be the perfect companion that I&#8217;d dreamed of.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nBut I also knew that I wanted to help her learn how to feel.<br \/>\n<\/P><\/p>\n<hr>\n<p><mbp:pagebreak \/><br \/>\n<a name=\"beast\"><\/a><H1 LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" ALIGN=CENTER STYLE=\"font-weight: normal; page-break-before: always\"><br \/>\n<FONT FACE=\"Times New Roman, serif\"><FONT SIZE=6>A Ravenous Beast<\/FONT><\/FONT><\/H1><br \/>\n<P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nBy Timothy Mudie<\/P><br \/>\n<P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nThe ramp lifted and rolled into the ship behind him as Ellsworth surveyed the planet. Unspoiled natural beauty spread across the endless horizon. The ship had let him off at a river, a few days from his intended destination, but he didn\u2019t want anyone to know exactly where he was headed anyway. He had specifically chartered Hartwell\u2019s ship for its lack of crew\u2014just the captain and some AI, which wouldn\u2019t be telling any tales out of school.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cSix weeks,\u201d Captain Hartwell called just before the doors shunked closed. Ellsworth didn\u2019t bother to turn around or wave. Kept his eyes on the horizon, but really he was seeing his future.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nLike all prospectors\u2014the first to discover deposits of gold, reservoirs of oil, rich veins of iridium hidden within asteroids\u2014he came alone. For three days, he carried his heavy pack, following the river until he came to a small feeder stream. All his research on alchemium pointed to just this sort of feeder stream as a source for the substance. And when he reached the head of the stream\u2014a small natural spring that sluiced out from under a rocky outcropping\u2014he had only to take a plastic vial from his pack and fill it with spring water. When he poured it into the alchemium detector, the bulb on the front of the machine lit up green. He\u2019d found it.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nAny prospector worth his salt knew that intuition and ambition were nothing if not accompanied by the right set of tools, whether they be pick or shovel or microscopic robots that dwelled in your bloodstream. The nanotech residing in Ellsworth would both help him to survive in the planet\u2019s ultra-oxygenated atmosphere and protect him from any effects of alchemium exposure. Just a few drops of the stuff in a tilapia farm and suddenly the fish were too big to fit inside the pools. A sprinkling atop overfarmed and barren soil and the land was as fertile as the Nile floodplains. Whoever was the first to exploit the substance and extract it from the planet would be a rich man indeed.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nIn his heart and mind, he could not wait to begin his search in earnest, could not wait to start drawing the gelatinous alchemium from the soil like blood from a vein. The rest of his body, however, wanted sleep after the three day trek from the landing site. And so Ellsworth unstrapped various equipment from his pack\u2014shovel, rifle, hatchet\u2014pitched his tent, spread out his bedroll, ate a small meal from his dehydrated vacuum-packed rations, washed it down with water fresh from the spring, and fell into a deep sleep.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><\/p>\n<hr>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nThe natural spring was in a densely wooded area, the leaves of the trees reminding Ellsworth of palm trees back on Earth, thick and frilly. They provided plenty of shade, but their loose configuration let sunlight stream through, dappling the forest floor. It was entirely probable, he thought, that no human being had ever stepped here before. The mat of dead leaves was thick, disturbed only by small scurrying creatures. When he woke that morning, shooting awake, his brain already buzzing with excitement, he could hear them chittering in the underbrush and canopy, wondering what this intruder was doing in their domain, but he couldn\u2019t see them.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nHe grabbed a meal indiscriminately, bolted it down without tasting it, swallowed some more water from the spring, and stood for a minute, looking languidly around him and taking in the tranquility of the morning. It would not, he knew, last much longer. He would stake his claim, be the first, but others would surely come, were probably on their way already.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nBut Ellsworth would be the first to break the tranquility. No one ever said progress was tidy.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nCarefully, he removed the explosive gel and the rest of the blasting gear from his pack. Amazing how something so tiny could pack so much punch. Just a dab on the rock that the spring burbled from, then a thin filament stuck into it and unspooled from a ball until he was safely away from the blast zone. He inserted the filament into the little box that would ignite a spark, sending it down the wire to the gel. He pressed the button.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nThere was a small boom and a satisfying crack as the rock shattered. Ellsworth poked his head around the tree and surveyed his handiwork. The rocky outcropping that had sheltered the spring was demolished, nothing left but a depression in the dirt filled with a mix of water and pulverized stone. The water flowed sluggishly, but Ellsworth knew it would pick up once he cleared away the debris. After that, it was just a matter of expanding the hole in the dirt around the spring and then the alchemium below would be ready for extraction.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nHe retrieved the shovel from its place next to his tent, and set to work widening the hole. He had just settled into a rhythm when he heard a quiet but high-pitched whine, like a hurt dog under a porch. He looked around, but saw nothing, and finally realized it was coming from the hole. Could it be some sort of pressure buildup, the alchemium trying to burst to the surface? It was a new substance, hardly understood. He had assumed he would need to pump it out of its underground reservoirs, but maybe it would be simpler. Maybe he could just break open the top of the deposit and it would come spurting up like oil.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nAs quickly as he could Ellsworth flung soil from around the hole. It wasn\u2019t long before he felt the spade push through the dirt and into empty space. He twisted the handle and pulled, leaving behind a circular opening. The sound grew louder then abruptly stopped. There was a tense moment where he stepped away, sure that a geyser of alchemium would blast forth like a rocket. But it wasn\u2019t alchemium that emerged from the hole, it was an animal.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nTiny, no bigger than a kitten, the creature wiggled through the opening Ellsworth had created and lay sprawled on the dirt, its little body heaving deep squeaking breaths. It was furry and blue, a deep almost indigo hue. While it had a torso and legs\u2014six to be precise\u2014the thing seemed to be almost all mouth. Mouth wasn\u2019t even the right word. This was a maw. As it breathed, the animal opened it so wide that Ellsworth couldn\u2019t even see the body behind it. Just a gaping black hole ringed with tiny sharp teeth. A thick blue tongue flopped out and rolled along the ground like a dying worm.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nEven though it was crying, he hesitated to approach it. The teeth certainly didn\u2019t look very inviting, like it would gladly bite off his fingers then move on to his hand and down his whole arm. But the cries were so pitiful, so desperate. And prospecting could get lonely. He\u2019d anticipated that, but it didn\u2019t mean he wouldn\u2019t be glad to have a companion of some sort. Especially when it was a companion who wouldn\u2019t try to horn in his claim.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nEllsworth crouched down and cautiously shuffled toward the mouthy little animal. It shrunk back, its tiny legs scrabbling in the dirt and stone beneath it. \u201cHey, buddy,\u201d he cooed. \u201cIt\u2019s okay. You\u2019re okay. I\u2019ve got you.\u201d He stretched his hand toward it, fingers curled in, palm down. The creature eyed him a little too eagerly, hungrily, and he pulled his hand back. That was a mouth made for eating, for taking great chomps and swallowing things whole. Better to put something near it that was not attached to Ellsworth\u2019s body.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nHe grabbed two meal pouches from the pack in his tent and ripped them open then returned to the little animal and dumped them on the ground in front of it. They made an unappetizing pile\u2014crackers, peanut butter, dehydrated beef, some gloppy red sauce. Without so much as a sniff, the creature opened its mouth wide and engulfed the pile along with some of the surrounding dirt. Its giant mouth seemed to smile, the pointy rows of teeth fitting into each other as perfectly as the rows on a zipper. It sniffed the air and turned in the direction of Ellsworth\u2019s tent.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nBefore he could restrain it, before he even really registered what was happening, the creature had bolted on its six stubby legs between the trees and into the open flap of the tent. Ellsworth rushed after it, bursting into the tent to see the animal\u2019s rump sticking out of his pack, legs wiggling in the air and thin tail thrashing excitedly. Ellsworth gripped the creature around its truncated torso and lifted it from the bag. All his food was gone, not even the foil packaging remaining. He guessed he should consider himself lucky that the little monster hadn\u2019t swallowed his whole backpack. Or hell, the whole tent.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nHe turned the animal in his hands so he could look it in the face. It didn\u2019t struggle, satiated by its meal. It opened its mouth and yawned, a black hole in front of Ellsworth\u2019s face. Then it snapped its mouth shut, closed its eyes, and fell asleep.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nIts mouth really was a black hole, he thought. Big and capable of sucking in anything that got too close. Hadn\u2019t Einstein had something to do with black holes? Studying them or theorizing they existed? Whatever, it was close enough. He would call the animal Albert.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><\/p>\n<hr>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cStay here now. Right here,\u201d Ellsworth told Albert sternly, his voice hard, looking directly in Albert\u2019s eyes, pointing emphatically at the ground. He\u2019d barely moved into the trees surrounding the campsite when he heard Albert rustling through the undergrowth behind him.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nWith Albert having eaten all his food supplies, Ellsworth had no choice but to hunt, and hope that whatever he caught would be both digestible and palatable. His hunger would soon override any questions of either, however. Before he set out hunting, the pumping operation needed to be set up, but after a day\u2019s grueling work, he had managed to fill a gallon jug with the substance. That alone would bring in more than he would have made in a year at his old construction job back on Earth. By the time Hartwell returned to pick him up, Ellsworth hoped to pump enough that he wouldn\u2019t need to return, though he did plan to. The money was too good and he had put in too much work to just give it up so soon. What in his mind had been a get rich quick scheme was turning into a get unconscionably rich slightly slower scheme. He slept that night and woke the next morning ready to hunt.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nRifle in hand, he hiked to the river, finally staking out a copse of trees near a clearing alongside it. For a good hour, he crouched there\u2014Albert calmly sitting beside him\u2014until a creature about the size and color of a deer but that looked more like a svelte six-legged elephant approached for a drink. Ellsworth aimed for where the heart would be in an Earth animal and pulled the trigger of his rifle. The animal shrieked and fell on its side, but it wasn\u2019t dead. It staggered back to its feet, fell again, and lay moaning. Ellsworth stood and approached the creature, intending to shoot it in its head this time. As he stepped toward it, Albert burst from the trees and ran at the creature, legs pumping wildly. He opened his mouth wider than before, wider than Ellsworth thought possible. It was bigger than his whole body now, the extra diameter seemingly coming from nowhere. He skittered to a stop in front of the fallen elephant thing\u2019s head. The injured creature shrieked louder, but its cries were cut off when Albert thrust forward and engulfed the front quarter of the animal. In seconds, Ellsworth watching in shock, Albert swallowed the entire animal, only its tufted tail sticking from his lips for a moment before he slurped it in.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nHow? Ellsworth couldn\u2019t corral the thoughts rushing around his head. Albert should have been puffed up like a balloon about to pop, a snake that has swallowed a horse, but he looked the same. Where did it go? How hungry could one tiny monster be? And what would Ellsworth eat now?\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nHe returned to the copse of trees, where Albert again joined him, promptly falling asleep. Until dark, he waited, rifle at the ready, willing another animal to come to the river to drink, but none did. Finally, he returned to his camp and curled up in his bedroll in the tent, Albert next to him.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nRustling from outside the tent woke him several hours later. He wasn\u2019t sure how long he had slept, but it was pitch dark. A tap on the base of the solar-powered lamp next to him revealed that he was alone, Albert having somehow worked up the zipper enough that he could wriggle through the opening and out of the tent. The flap waved in a light breeze and at first Ellsworth thought it was the sound of one side of the nylon doorway brushing against the other that had woken him. Then there was another sound, a friendly squeak like from a rubber toy. And something else too, a smell, rich, minerally, a tang of iron in the air.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nOutside the tent, Albert sat on his haunches proudly. Arrayed before him was a ball of fur sitting in a puddle of blood. Ellsworth lifted the lantern and the undifferentiated fur ball took more concrete form. Spindly legs poking from the bottom\u2014six, a common feature on this planet apparently\u2014a squashed puggish snout with wide-set eyes. It was about the size of a basketball. Albert nudged it closer to him with his forehead.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cThank you, Albert,\u201d he said, reaching out a hand and stroking the animal on the head. He stopped, held the lantern closer. Was it his imagination or had his little monster gotten bigger?\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><\/p>\n<hr>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nEllsworth measured his days in alchemium, and by the time he had ten gallons of it Albert had grown too big to sleep in the tent. Already he was shoulder-high and seemed to get bigger every time Ellsworth saw him. Each day, while the prospector worked on the pumps, bringing up the alchemium-rich water and straining the substance from it, Albert went off to eat, returning toward dusk with a satisfied look on his face and carrying some dead beast for Ellsworth\u2019s dinner.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nIt was a good routine more like a partnership than pet and master. Though Albert couldn\u2019t speak, Ellsworth would talk to him. There seemed to be a spark of recognition, intelligence in his eyes, a connection with the man, even if he didn\u2019t understand the words. Ellsworth shared his plans with Albert, how he would take the alchemium and sell it to governments and corporations on Earth, the ones who had unsubtly mentioned in the press their willingness to purchase the valuable resource if only someone were to procure it. If only someone could figure out just how to predict where it would be found and could generate a steady supply of it. He told Albert how he would be a rich man, how he would only have to live the life of a prospector if he wanted to revisit its romantic allure. How one day, prospectors of some future resource would group the name Daniel Ellsworth with the likes of George Hearst and Edwin Drake. Just so long as he could hold onto his claim.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nAny prospector knows that sooner or later someone will try to take what should rightfully belong to the man who discovers it. So he has to take measures to protect what is his. For a while, secrecy will do, but eventually security is necessary. Ellsworth\u2019s secrecy collapsed five weeks into his time on the planet, just one week before his planned pick-up and eventual return to Earth.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nThe forest was rarely quiet, animals calling from the treetops, branches breaking and falling to the ground, but they were all organic sounds. And so Ellsworth knew his time was up when he heard the distant rumble and whine of a spacecraft\u2019s thrusters.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nHis first thought was that Captain Hartwell, his hired ride, had come back for him early. His second thought was that the goddamn weasel had sold him out, given up his spot to another prospector. His third thought was that it was too late to do anything about it. This new prospector had landed. Maybe he wouldn\u2019t find Ellsworth and his claim at all. And even if he did, Ellsworth had staked it. It was his. Let this new prospector find his own alchemium. Nothing for Ellsworth to do but keep on pumping and storing the substance, to get ready for his riches.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nStill, he kept his rifle nearby while he worked. When he heard a motor approaching, he slung it across his back for easy access and waited. Albert was out hunting, which was good; Ellsworth didn\u2019t know how the animal would react to the new unnatural sound or to the presence of another person. He wasn\u2019t exactly sure how he would react himself for that matter.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nThe grumble of the motor grew louder and louder until it was right on him, a four-wheel all-terrain vehicle emerging from between two thick-trunked trees. Atop it was a man wearing a jumpsuit and helmet with an ionized facemask that hid his features. He pulled to a stop, left the ATV idling and stepped down from it, removing his helmet.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nCaptain Hartwell. The man looked like a spacecraft captain, the way people imagined them in movies before there really were spacecraft, tall and muscular, with neatly parted blonde hair that reached just to the tops of his ears and a wide toothy smile. Chiseled jaw and blue eyes. Ellsworth, unshowered and unshaven, hair lank and greasy, his jeans covered in dirt and loose around his stick-thin frame, couldn\u2019t help but feel inferior to the man.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cMr. Ellsworth,\u201d Hartwell said, tucking his helmet under his left arm and extending his right hand to shake, \u201cglad to see everything seems to be going well.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nSkeptically, Ellsworth stepped forward and shook the captain\u2019s hand. \u201cCaptain Hartwell. How did you find me?\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cJust followed your trail,\u201d Hartwell said. \u201cEasy enough to find the one human being on the whole planet. You sort of stand out.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cYou\u2019re early.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cI know,\u201d he said, \u201cbut I was just so intrigued, I just had to do a little research once I got home. Looks like you\u2019ve set up a nice little operation here. Alchemium, isn\u2019t it?\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nEllsworth unconsciously shuffled to the side, as if he could block the view of his pumps and tubes. But, small as the set-up was, it was still big enough that it was going to be visible. He should have known that the captain would eventually figure out why he wanted to go to the planet. Why else would someone come here? And now this greedy captain would try to get in on the action. At the very least, he would want a higher payment for taking Ellsworth home than they\u2019d agreed upon. Robbery, plain and simple.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cIt\u2019s a start,\u201d Ellsworth mumbled. \u201cJust staking a claim.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cAnd not a bad one, I have to say,\u201d Hartwell said, his tone jovial, forced Ellsworth thought. \u201cYou know, I didn\u2019t think to ask before, didn\u2019t want to pry, but I assume you have a permit?\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nEllsworth scoffed. \u201cPermit? I don\u2019t need a damn permit.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cAre you kidding?\u201d Hartwell laughed. \u201cOf course you need a permit. You always need a permit.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cNo one even knows about this, no one else has ever tried this. There\u2019s no one who\u2019s even thought up a permit.\u201d Ellsworth said this, but he could see where it was headed. Not yet, Hartwell would say, but soon enough, soon enough. But maybe I could look the other way\u2026\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nIt\u2019s something every prospector throughout history has had to deal with, the greed of those who don\u2019t want to put in the work themselves, who wait until all the effort has been expended, all the sweat and blood, and then descend like vultures to pick apart the prospectors, to rip flesh with their beaks and fly away with a prize they did nothing to earn. Ellsworth was the one who did all the work, figuring out that alchemium would be valuable, figuring out where on the planet it would be, pumping and straining and storing it.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cThis is just between us, Ellsworth,\u201d he said. \u201cFor now. If I don\u2019t get back to my ship in twenty-four hours it\u2019ll radio back home. I\u2019m sure you don\u2019t want half the system showing up here, do you now?\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nThat smug smile on Hartwell\u2019s face. He had to know what was going through Ellsworth\u2019s head\u2014Ellsworth knew his eyes were smoldering, not trying to hold back his anger\u2014and didn\u2019t even care. Hartwell spread his hands, as if saying there was nothing he could do, this was just the way things worked.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nAnd then something from behind him caught Ellsworth\u2019s eye, a flash of blue passing behind the trees.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nSilently, amazingly silently considering how large he had grown, Albert crept from the trees, his huge mouth hanging open behind Hartwell like the entrance to a cave. Yes, he thought, Albert knew what Hartwell was about, knew that a claim needed to be protected. He tried not to look at the beast, keeping his eyes on Hartwell, hoping the animal could read his mind, his posture, could tell that the captain was a threat that must be dealt with.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nHis eyes must have flickered off of Hartwell\u2019s, because the captain raised an eyebrow and turned, his voice rising in a startled high-pitched wail as he came face to face with the ever-growing monster, whose open mouth was so vast that he could easily swallow a full grown man in one bite.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nHartwell\u2019s cry was cut off as Albert jutted his mouth forward and slammed it shut around the captain\u2019s falling body. For a moment, Ellsworth thought he could still hear Hartwell screaming, muffled almost to inaudibility by the thick jaws surrounding him. Probably just imagining it, he told himself. Albert swallowed, and then the ATV was the only sign the captain had ever been there.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nEllsworth and the creature stared at each other. To Ellsworth\u2019s eyes, the corners of Albert\u2019s mouth seemed to turn up slightly. Was the monster smiling? For the first time since he had found Albert, he wondered whether he had been right to save him. What had he been doing underground with the alchemium in the first place? He\u2019d been so absorbed by the alchemium mining he hadn\u2019t even considered these questions. And prospecting could get so lonely. Why wouldn\u2019t he want a friend?\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nNot just a friend. Albert was a protector. If it wasn\u2019t for him, who knew how much that damn captain would have bled him for. Slowly, his head telling him not to, but forcing himself to anyway, Ellsworth turned his back on the creature and went back to work, his heart pounding, every nerve telling him to run and never look back.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nHis plan had been to convert his tent and other equipment into a sledge, but with the ATV he wouldn\u2019t have to do that. Which meant even more time to pump and store the substance. Which meant even more money. There was no need to worry about Albert, he thought, the animal had helped him. There was nothing to fear. They were partners.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><\/p>\n<hr>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nAll the rest of the day and through the night, Ellsworth worked, not even stopping to eat when Albert dropped a rabbit-sized creature at his feet. Twenty-four hours. He had twenty-four hours before Hartwell\u2019s ship radioed his location and then the vultures would swarm.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nThe canisters of precious alchemium piled up, so many that he could barely lash them to the ATV, but he managed to make them fit. By the time the sun had fully risen, he had enough canisters on the machine to make him a rich man many times over. And this was just the first batch, he reminded himself. He would surely be back for more, and soon, before too many others descended.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nHe struck camp and packed his remaining supplies, leaving the mining equipment set up but dormant. It was still a staked claim, his staked claim, and it would wait for him.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nWould Albert wait too? The creature had spent the night sleeping just far enough away from the mining operation to keep from disrupting Ellsworth\u2019s work, and had sat on his haunches watching him pack that morning. He had grown more overnight, towering over Ellsworth by a good two feet. Once, he had been able to hold the animal in his hands, and now he couldn\u2019t even pat his head without standing on his toes.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nHe looked up, past the massive jaws and into the creature\u2019s eyes. \u201cYou\u2019ve been a good friend, Albert,\u201d he said. \u201cA good partner, and I know I can trust you to watch over this.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nAlbert looked at him for a long moment, then stood up and wandered into the trees. Ellsworth waited for several minutes, making sure the animal was really gone, and then he got on the ATV\u2014he\u2019d never driven one before and wished he had a helmet, but Albert had eaten that along with the captain\u2014and rode off through the trees, following the stream back to the river. The forest thinned by the river\u2019s banks, and he could make out the spacecraft in the distance, small though it was. He\u2019d never flown one himself, but he\u2019d heard they were easy enough to figure out, that they pretty much flew themselves. Worst case scenario, he could radio from the ship for help, say he went looking for it when Hartwell was late picking him up and the captain was nowhere to be found. No one would ever know what really happened or why he was really on the planet. Any evidence of the captain\u2019s demise was in Albert\u2019s stomach, and he didn\u2019t think anyone would want to look there.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nThe ATV rumbled and jounced along the riverbanks, the ship growing larger as he approached until finally it loomed in front of him. A standard short-distance spacecraft, good for tooling around a solar system, moving cargo from a planet to a moon or orbital station, but incapable of handling interstellar space. Not that Ellsworth would be going very far. Once he was off-planet, he would have to decide whether to unload the alchemium to a middleman or bring it to Earth himself. Maybe set up a little import-export business. Any bank would be crazy not to give him a loan against his potential earnings from the substance.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nThe only problem he saw was getting into the ship. Once he figured out how to open it up and release the ramp, he could just drive the ATV on; he wouldn\u2019t even have to unload it. If Hartwell were there, it probably would just open right up as he drove toward it, the bay doors dropping automatically when it read his biometric signature. Next to where the bay would open was a numbered keypad for if someone else needed access. Unfortunately, Ellsworth didn\u2019t know the code and Captain Hartwell\u2019s biometrics were currently inside Albert. There had to be a manual override, he thought, some way to force his way in.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nFor several minutes, he paced around the base of the ship, looking for a lever, a hatch, anything. He hadn\u2019t considered this. After all his work, would the ship end up radioing his secrets to the entire universe?\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nHe returned to the ATV and contemplated the canisters of alchemium. Maybe he should hide them. When whoever came looking for Hartwell arrived, they would surely try to steal some of it. Just one canister would bring a hefty price. If he absolutely had to, he supposed he could trade them one for passage off-planet, but that would be a last resort. How many could he spare? He began counting them, though he had already done so multiple times already. Any prospector knew that you could never count your earnings too frequently.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nAs he counted, he was startled by a mechanical whir and looked up at the ship. Miraculously, the bay doors were dropping. Like a ladder up to heaven. Ellsworth could drive up the ramp and into his new life as a wealthy respected man.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nAnother sound drew his attention from this reverie, a loud squeak from behind. Of course, he thought as he turned, why else would the doors open? The biometric reading from Captain Hartwell was there. Being digested, but still strong enough to trigger the doors from within Albert\u2019s stomach.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nThe creature stood not ten yards away, looking at him with a mixture of curiosity and betrayal. Sadness, too, Ellsworth thought. He really would miss his partner and it looked like Albert would miss him too, had come to give his last goodbyes.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nEllsworth smiled and walked toward Albert, arms outstretched. If the animal wasn\u2019t so big, he would give him a hug. \u201cCome to see me off?\u201d he said. As he stepped closer, he noticed that Albert\u2019s eyes didn\u2019t move. They weren\u2019t looking at him at all, but at the ATV, the canisters of alchemium strapped to the back.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cIt\u2019s okay,\u201d he said, his hands now in front of him in a placating gesture. \u201cThere\u2019s plenty of it. Still plenty back at the source.\u201d Slowly, he backed toward the vehicle. If he could just reach it and get it into the ship, he would be safe. He could get inside, shut the doors, barricade himself from the beast. Just a few more steps.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nAlbert sprang forward, and Ellsworth let out a yelp of surprise and terror as he saw the giant mouth spring open. He bumped into the ATV and attempted to scramble around the side and into the driver\u2019s seat. He risked one glance behind him, and knew it was too late. The open jaws, the ring of sharp teeth, the lolling meaty tongue.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nThe tongue swung sideways like the pendulum on a grandfather clock, knocking him to the ground and out of the path of Albert\u2019s rushing maw. In the next instant, Albert\u2019s mouth expanded larger than ever before and before Ellsworth registered what was happening, it engulfed the ship. With a snap and a sound like a crushing aluminum can, his mouth closed and deflated back to normal size. Where the ship had stood was simply a circle of brown grass, crisped by its landing rockets.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nAghast, Ellsworth stared at the creature as it slowly turned around. It padded over to where he sat on the grass and nuzzled his foot with the side of his massive head. Like a large and sated cat.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nHe stood up, dusting off the knees of his pants. He and Albert would go back to the claim, he supposed. He would bottle up more alchemium in preparation for the day he would be able to turn it into profit. True, with the ship gone it meant no one would know where he was; who knew how long he\u2019d be in the wilderness. But he was a prospector. He could stand to be alone for a long time. And eventually, someone would come. Someone always comes.<br \/>\n<\/P><\/p>\n<hr>\n<p><mbp:pagebreak \/><br \/>\n<a name=\"omnos\"><\/a><H1 LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" ALIGN=CENTER STYLE=\"font-weight: normal; page-break-before: always\"><br \/>\n<FONT FACE=\"Times New Roman, serif\"><FONT SIZE=6>Omnos<\/FONT><\/FONT><\/H1><br \/>\n<P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nBy Steve Rodgers<\/P><br \/>\n<P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nSure, travelling three months to Endomis Station just to savor Mort\u2019s pumperpretzels is a tiny bit of crazy, but it\u2019s the kind of thing I\u2019d do even if humanity didn\u2019t have its upcoming arm-wrestle with God. Until recently, the only thing that marked this spinning kazoo on the planetary charts was Mort\u2019s use of a unique bioengineered yeast strain, one that produces the best pumpernickel this side of the Venusian Ovens. Of course, there\u2019s also the fact that it sits smack dab in no-man\u2019s space, between the Terran Hegemony, the Martian Co-Prosperity Sphere, and the controlled chaos that is the Asteroid Anarchy. I suspect it\u2019s this, rather than Mort\u2019s loafy lusciousness, that made it the ideal place to fool the Godstar.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cBetter store up some hot air, Gordon,\u201d Mati said, tapping her foot and pointing to Endomis\u2019 rotating oblong tube on the big screen. Set against the starry black, the gently turning metal tube glinted sharply in the distant sun, its upper bioyeast labs fully lit. Media shuttles extended from Endomis\u2019 airlocks like thorns, giving it the appearance of some bizarre space-succulent.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI shook my head. \u201cDisagree. Compared to you, I bet I\u2019ll get as much attention as broccoli in a cat kennel. It\u2019s not every day that humanity\u2019s most famous superstar mathematician flits out of her garden.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cYes, but you\u2019re the first member of the Omnite clergy to arrive, and it\u2019s your God they\u2019re going to disprove.\u201d Her left hand, which had been slapping her hip absently, suddenly froze. \u201cOr prove.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI scowled. Mati was as opinionated as you\u2019d expect for a lady smart enough to decode gazilobytes of information from what everyone else thought was white light. She often reminded me of an intense gray-haired hummingbird, darting from idea to idea&#8211;a tiny slip of a woman whose brain-to-body mass must\u2019ve exceeded anything in the known universe.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cGod?\u201d I said. \u201cI\u2019m just here for the dark loaf.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nShe pursed her lips. \u201cWhat kind of priest are you, anyway?\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cA hungry one.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nMati\u2019s been my friend for twenty-five years, ever since I first interviewed her over the differential equations that had spawned a religion. Which meant I could give her hell whenever I wanted.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cCan\u2019t believe we\u2019re here, Dr. Antoretti,\u201d said Cullen O\u2019Shaunessy, hobbling up to Mati on his walker. \u201cFeels like it\u2019s been a year.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cIt feels exactly like three months,\u201d Mati said sharply. Her hand began smacking her hip again, like she was preparing for some African juba dance. \u201cBut I can certainly see how it could appear longer, as the brain tends to overcompensate for boredom and lack of activity. Yes, maybe it felt like a year.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nCullen and I exchanged knowing looks. Mati was to idle chit-chat what quantum physics was to nematodes, but this habit of following up her acerbic observations with a minute of back-stepping was fairly new. Cullen had put up with it good naturedly the entire trip; he was a decent kid. Too bad his continued existence owed more to the vagaries of some grand physics experiment than normal human benevolence.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nThere was a slight jolt as the ship hit the docking tube, and the first circular airlock opened. Smells of WD-40 and bleach assaulted me, the latter ensuring no viruses wormed their way from ship to station.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI patted down my robe, suddenly forgetting about everything else. Omnos knows, I\u2019m no specimen of abdominal flexing. I\u2019m a foodie, and yes, it shows. I ran fingers through my thinning blond hair and plastered a beatific smile on my face.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nA whoosh of equalizing air pressure as the second airlock opened, and I felt the tug of dueling gravity generators. Trying not to buckle in the suddenly heavy pull, I walked toward the mass of hand-waving reporters on the other side of the airlock.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cMr. Everly, what do you think this event will mean for the Omnite view of the universe?\u201d shouted a crimson-haired man as I stepped aboard the station. A forest of hands shoved into my face, as if I was supposed to execute some massive high-five.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nMati was right, as usual. To my chagrin, that cluster of red wigs (why do all reporters have to have red hair these days?) had bypassed her and had made a beeline straight for me. Their hands fought for air time in my face, and I found myself wishing a pox on the guy who\u2019d invented hand-mikes. Then I remembered I was on mindbeam, and re-inserted my best happy-person smile.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cWell, that\u2019s what we\u2019ll find out, isn\u2019t it?\u201d I said brightly. \u201cI expect when the first information is received from the Magellan, it\u2019ll show that Omnos has predicted the future.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cWhat if it doesn\u2019t?\u201d shouted a petite woman, her red wig and black magneto-boots invoking visions of some naughty elfin prison guard. \u201cWhat does that mean for Omnite doctrine?\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cIt means that God works in mysterious ways,\u201d I said carefully. \u201cEven without foreknowledge, what human process could weave the DNA of every single living person into light from a faraway star and in the process include a massive amount of incomprehensible information that is slowly being revealed over time?\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cI see you\u2019re still spouting the same tired doctrine, Gordon,\u201d said a familiar female voice. \u201cEven if the data shows Omnos did predict the future, it doesn\u2019t prove divinity, only that we missed something in physics 101.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI turned to my lovely nemesis Jonasa Wagner, leader of the Venus chapter of CLEAR&#8211;Citizen\u2019s League of Enlightenment and Reason. Just as in all our holo debate shows, she wore a no-nonsense pantsuit and dark top, making sure we all understood her Seriousness. A tall, powerful woman, she had jet-black hair and intense blue eyes that could cow any man not raised by Amazons.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cWell, Jonasa, at what point does human hubris allow us to stop pretending that everything is quantifiable, and start recognizing that there are some things we may never explain?\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nShe watched me from beneath a cascade of luscious black hair. Her high cheekbones radiated purple, the mood-cream translating her confidence into a violet glow. \u201cYet your God offers no moral dictates, and the only hope that\u2019ll happen is if the army of decoders managed by the Omnite church finally deciphers all the side-band information. Doesn\u2019t that make your religion more of a science?\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nEvery reporter huddled inward, shoving their hands between our faces. Oh how they loved our little debates.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI clasped my hands together. \u201cWe believe Omnos will guide our evolution as a species, and said guidance will include rules of morality and growth. We don\u2019t know that\u2019s what\u2019s in Omnos\u2019 ancillary information, but we have faith. And isn\u2019t every religion based on faith?\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nHer eyes gleamed. \u201cYes, but&#8211;\u201c\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cExcuse me, but I suspect Mr. Everly is tired from the three month journey and might like to see his room,\u201d said a short man to my right. He was wearing a brown-white uniform that resembled the vanilla-chocolate swirl I\u2019d had yesterday, and I pegged him for the Endomis station representative.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI nodded brightly at him. \u201cYes, that would be lovely.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI followed him amid a cacophony of shouted questions from the reporters, which I happily stifled by waving my hand in their faces as we walked away. Just before we rounded the bend in the steel hallway, I turned to look at Jonasa, who was watching me with a slight scowl.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nTroublemaker.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cI\u2019m Gunnet Bradley, Endomis Mayor,\u201d said the short man, extending his hand. We shook, and his voice went into tour-guide mode as we escaped the red-haired gaggle. \u201cEndomis has over six hundred residents, a few of whom work in the bioyeast labs. Still, most are independent souls, some with&#8211;ah&#8211;a few minor legal issues. As you may know, Endomis station isn\u2019t subject to the laws of any of the three major powers&#8230;\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI listened with half an ear. Much as I hated to admit it, the debates with Jonasa always ruffled my feathers. And this time, her sniping had burrowed even further under my skin than usual.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nMati\u2019s first presentation to the journal of Astrophysics back in 2210, the horribly mundanely titled \u201cPhotonic Anomalies in HD29641\u201d, had electrified humanity from day one. Using mathematical disciplines odder than an Antarctic amusement park, she\u2019d shown that light from a particular star in the constellation Orion was transmitting actual information, rather than the spectra of its component elements like every other self-respecting sun. But it got even weirder&#8211;a small portion of this celestial telegraph consisted of DNA sequences from every living human being in the solar system. Individual sequences disappeared a few months after someone died, and appeared a few months after they were born, like some cosmic check register. Since it took six hundred years for Omnos\u2019 light to reach us, this implied the impossible: long before two randy college students left the party on a hormonally-hyped ride in the aircar, Omnos could predict not only the event of their coupling, but the new baby\u2019s DNA as well.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nGod.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nOr so believed by some, and enough to start the religion I have the honor of representing. Do I really believe Omnos is God? Officially, yes. In reality, I heartily subscribe to the notion that sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic. So to me the question is immaterial; let\u2019s just say I believe that whatever\u2019s in the other 99 percent of that sinewave salad is likely to turn civilization on its head.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nOthers aren\u2019t so sure. Some think there\u2019s no prescience involved, we just missed an easier explanation. Others believe that even if foreknowledge exists, those predictions could be altered. After all, if you had access to an earlier copy of Omnos\u2019 light, proving the Godstar was fallible is as easy as keeping someone alive beyond his DNA expiration date on Earth. And God isn\u2019t supposed to be fallible.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nTo end this debate, twenty years ago the three big powers launched a viper-class starship at 0.15c in the direction of Omnos with mankind\u2019s latest invention&#8211;a D-tube teleporter. Five days hence, the Magellan would instantaneously transmit data to Endomis Station from three light-years closer to Omnos, light that would contain DNA sequences of people not only as yet unborn, but for whom the wine that led to their conception had not fully aged. From that light I\u2019d learn whether my son Aaron would live long enough to let me back into his life. And Cullen O\u2019Shaunessy would find out if he was supposed to be breathing.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cAnd over here is&#8211;\u201c\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cWhy do I feel heavier here than ten steps in the other direction?\u201d I interrupted. Gunnet stopped and looked up at me sheepishly. \u201cWe have an old gravity generator; its wave mixer has slowed down.\u201d He seemed genuinely distraught, and I realized I\u2019d just burst his bubble a little.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cA tiny hair on the cherry sundae that is Endomis,\u201d I proclaimed. He smiled again, and we continued with our tour.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nMy room was quite nice, and I could tell I\u2019d been given the VIP suite. It had an eighteen-flavor nitro-paste dispenser, for those too asocial to tolerate even a distant dining room view of their fellow humans. It had a bubble bed set in a clear circular dome reached by ladder, to provide the feeling of floating amongst the stars. And there was a modern holo station, with multiple angled cameras so anyone I talked to could see my posterior.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nGunnet left with a wave, and I saw that the holo station message button was blinking. I pushed it and watched Archprelate Horatio Adams fill my room.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cGordon, I trust the journey to Endomis has treated you well,\u201d said the hologram. \u201cI\u2019m sending this message from mid-journey, as we\u2019ve had mechanical problems on-ship. Unfortunately, therefore, I won\u2019t be able to attend the ceremony.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nUnfortunately therefore? Who says that? I heard the hiss of my deflating ego. Here I thought my role as the only Omnite representative at the most important ceremony since&#8211;ever&#8211;was based on my rising status within the church. Turns out I was wrong; my boss had been planning to steal the show the whole time. Which meant I was here to do the only thing they knew I excelled at: solving a problem.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cGordon, I\u2019ll be honest, we need you to solve a problem,\u201d Horatio said. \u201cWe believe someone, probably the Zacharites, have infiltrated the station with a self-assembling beaker-bomb and are planning to stop the transfer of information from the Magellan by \u2018any means possible.\u2019\u201d He made air quotes around the last three words, and I stood up straight. The Zacharites were an extreme branch of Omnism, one disavowed by the official church. They believed our little experiment was a poke in God\u2019s eye, and that this blasphemy would bring retribution down upon the human race. Given some of the hateful spewings of their leader, Zachary Collins, I could believe that little inconveniences like ethics wouldn\u2019t stop them.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cThis project is extremely important to the church,\u201d continued the Archprelate. \u201cOnce it\u2019s been proven God has a plan for everyone, humanity will inevitably flock to Omnism&#8211;therefore, it\u2019s vitally important that nothing be allowed to sabotage the Magellan\u2019s information. Gordon, bringing this to closure will have a very positive impact on your standing within the church. We are counting on you.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nWith that he signed off, and I stood for a long minute, biting my lip. Because of the light delay, there was no way this could be anything but a recorded message. No way for me to call the Archprelate and scream in his ear. Probably a good thing, as that would have a decidedly negative impact on my standing within the church.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nIn the dining room the next morning, I piled my tray high with Mort\u2019s pumperpretzels while pretending not to snoop in on Cullen\u2019s outrageous flirtation with the omelet lady. I had to smile watching him, this kid whose terminal disease had been a death sentence until two years ago. That\u2019s when Mati\u2019s lottery chose to rebuild the nervous system of five out of eight million terminal patients, all selected through fundamentally random processes like thermal noise and radioactive decay. And all of whom would otherwise be far too poor to ever consider neuro-reconstruction.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nYes, Cullen\u2019s rescue had ulterior motives. Soon the science world would know if Omnos deserved its name, for the random variables that selected Cullen were completely unpredictable&#8211;not only practically, but even in theory. If the Magellan detected the DNA sequences of the lucky five in Omnos\u2019 future light while the other eight million terminals had disappeared, it meant that Omnos had foreordained something that simply could not be predicted. The Godstar would be provable as a phenomenon truly outside science&#8211;a grand goal, even if it was hard to watch a good kid like Cullen being used that way.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI abandoned my shameless eavesdropping and walked toward Mati with my Everest of pumpernickel, dismayed at the surrounding crowd. I pushed through the throngs and forced my way to the bench on her right. Chewing slowly, I watched residents and reporters swarm around Mati, always starting with the same platitudes: \u201cDr. Antoretti, I\u2019ve always wanted to meet you,\u201d \u201cI\u2019ve been following your work for years,\u201d and so on. Only after the throat-clearing was done did they finally ask their questions: \u201cWhat do you think is encoded in the rest of the information?\u201d, \u201cDo the DNA sequences stop when someone is in a coma?\u201d and other queries of the ilk.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nAmused, I watched Mati rip their questions into component parts, then offer some back-stepping apologetic nonsense when their faces fell. Her right hand slapped the table constantly, sending their eyes darting between her sharp face and her pounding hand. This combination of passive-aggressive exasperation and freakishly loud drumming sent them away one by one, until finally, only we two remained.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI sat back. \u201cYou should write a song to that. We could call it &#8216;Ode to Impatience&#8217;.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nShe blinked, and her hand stopped. \u201cDon\u2019t be absurd.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cI have a problem,\u201d I whispered, searching the surrounding tables for anyone within earshot. \u201cApparently, someone wants to sabotage our mission. I got this message last night&#8230;\u201d I described the Archprelate\u2019s holomail while Mati chewed her labmeatte slowly, giving no sign she was listening. \u201cThe beaker-bomb has to be targeted at the D-tube-receiver,\u201d I said finally, \u201cbecause once the information makes it to the receiver, it\u2019ll beam to every station, planet, and asteroid in human-occupied space. But I checked the ships\u2019 manifests, and the only cargo delivery I see is some bread-making equipment that came in yesterday.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nMati put her fork down. The fingers of her right hand began drumming the table. \u201cYou know, beaker-bombs look a lot like bioyeast manufacturing equipment.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI stared. She was right. Beaker bombs were so named for their two beakers&#8211;one filled with nanoteria, the other with instructo-gel, a translucent jello glopped around the nanoteria to provide those tiny CPUs their instruction code. Mixing the two spawned an army of tiny demon creatures, programmable to destroy anything, from anywhere. And no doubt Mort manufactured his bioyeast in similar containers.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cThat\u2019s it!\u201d I grabbed her arm, knocking pumperpretzels off my tray. \u201cThey must have hidden the bomb in the bioyeast labs. Mati, you\u2019re a genius!\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nShe shrugged, and I realized that was like calling Picasso an artist. I extracted my lightpad to jot this down, but stopped at the sight of Jonasa Wagner charging toward my table like an angry rhinoceros, long black hair feathering outward.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI pointed to Mati as Jonasa stopped at our table. \u201cShe\u2019s almost done eating, you can ask your questions.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cI\u2019ve come to talk to you.\u201d With that, Jonasa slammed her tray down and took her seat.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cDandy.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nShe stabbed her eggs like they were about to fly away, and I popped a piece of pumpernickel in my mouth.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cSo, nice trip?\u201d I asked, voice muffled behind my cud. \u201cSix months for you, wasn\u2019t it?\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nJonasa squinted, then dabbed her mouth. \u201cTell me, do you really believe what you said yesterday, or were you just spouting the party line? I could never decide whether you\u2019re a true believer or just a career churchman. And I don\u2019t know which is worse.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI folded my hands on the table. \u201cApparently Venusian conversations are to the point. Understandable, as your lives could be snuffed out any time a sulfuric-acid cloud leaks into one of those floating cities.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nShe smiled briefly. \u201cI\u2019m going with career churchman.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI shrugged. \u201cAny way you slice it, Omnos is an unexplained phenomenon. Not just unexplained, but unexplainable. In the end, what is God, if not that? Maybe we\u2019re saying the same thing but in different ways&#8211;like when you use the term \u2018career churchman\u2019 to mean \u2018devoted to faith\u2019.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cUh huh. Doesn\u2019t \u2018devoted to faith\u2019 just mean someone who\u2019s sure what they believe? If so, do I get smiley-faces for being absolutely sure Omnos isn\u2019t God?\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cDepends. Does your faith in the lack of faith lead you to good works?\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cNo, but it also doesn\u2019t lead me to holy wars or proselytizing.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nWe continued this tit-for-tat for most of an hour, while Mati sat back and listened without a word. Eventually, a reporter noticed our conversation, and soon we were surrounded by a forest of hands and red wigs. Jonasa scowled at them, and a few minutes later, she\u2019d made her departure with what could be the first polite goodbye I\u2019d ever heard from her mouth. I watched that tall shapely frame stride across the dining room, and reflected how attractive she\u2019d be without the whole crazy intensity thing. But that was akin to admiring the tiger\u2019s pretty fur before it ripped your throat out.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cShe likes you,\u201d Mati said, as the reporters drifted away.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI stared. \u201cAre you crazy? She\u2019s just scoring points with the militant atheist brigade back home.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nMati began tapping her foot. \u201cMy mental state hasn\u2019t changed. And I\u2019m quite sure she just wanted to talk to you.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cWell, it\u2019s exhausting.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cShe\u2019s smart. Women like that need someone who can match their intellect, spar word for word. Don\u2019t say anything stupid.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI gave her a pained look and concentrated on my breakfast.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nStill. When a smart woman gives you advice on another smart woman, you have to listen.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nAn hour later, I found myself striding through the yeast lab\u2019s gleaming metal hallways as a stooped, white-haired gentleman shuffled quickly ahead of me. I was on the top floor, and the hall\u2019s transparent ceiling displayed a brilliant band of stars, its walls covered by pictures of asteroid miners staring heroically into space.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cAh&#8211;\u201c I shouted, raising a finger, but Mort had turned into the next hallway. I cursed as I almost twisted my foot in the uneven gravity and hurried to the corner, only to see him racing away again. I reflected that either Mort was my bread-crazed Zacharite, or he\u2019d suddenly remembered something very important. I couldn\u2019t think of any other reason he\u2019d be running. I followed him through an open door, smiling broadly as I saw him backed against a corner.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cMort, at last!\u201d I exclaimed. \u201cI\u2019ve always wanted to meet you! I\u2019ve followed your work for years, tried every strain of pumpernickel that-\u2014\u201c\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI stopped as I noticed him pressed against the wall, shivering like I was about to stuff him into a pumpernickel pita.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI sighed and stepped back. \u201cExcuse me. I do love your work, but that\u2019s not why I\u2019m here.\u201d I coughed. \u201cHave you received any new \u2018bread-making\u2019 equipment in the last few days?\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nMort\u2019s eyes lit with relief. He nodded and pointed to a contraption on his left, a wheeled tray with two giant beakers and a small metal box. \u201cGot here yesterday,\u201d he said, in a raspy voice I doubted got much use. \u201cDarndest yeast beakers I\u2019ve ever seen.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nIf there\u2019s one thing I excel at, it\u2019s detecting liars through body language. I watched Mort\u2019s hands carefully, and instantly knew he was clean. So why was he running? All I could think of is that like many of the other crusties on Endomis station, Mort was such a loner that he viewed conversing with another life-form akin to space-walking without a suit.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cThat, sir, is a beaker-bomb,\u201d I said, striding to the tray. I picked up the metal box and removed the battery from the self-assembling AI. \u201cUseless now. What time did it arrive?\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nMort scratched his chin. \u201cBout 9am, station time.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI jotted this down on my lightpad then configured my headtrode to alert me upon any changes to the final ceremony roster list. Now that our Zacharite zero was deprived of his weapon, maybe he\u2019d try to do the job manually. It was a long shot, but didn\u2019t hurt to try.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI twisted to take in the assorted beakers, yeast ovens, and biotic equipment in the room, making sure no one had ordered another one of these doodads. Everything looked normal, though the wall was studded with metal supports to ensure the equipment stayed level.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cMust be quite a hassle dealing with this uneven gravity,\u201d I said, turning back to Mort. Something in his eyes instantly seized my attention, and I smiled.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cI have a suspicion. This bizarre dual gravity, where things are heavier depending on which angle you\u2019re facing. That\u2019s the secret, isn\u2019t it? That\u2019s why your yeast strains are so good?\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cEh,\u201d Mort said helpfully.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cI knew it!\u201d I slapped him on the shoulder. \u201cDon\u2019t worry, your secret\u2019s safe with me. I\u2019ve always wondered how the economics of space-station bread making could ever work. This dual gravity, it makes the yeast grow in unique configurations, doesn\u2019t it?\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nWe discussed bread-making for quite a while as Mort warmed up to me, and I became so engrossed that I forgot I was supposed to zap a Zacharite. When the lunchtime bell rang, I snapped my fingers, bid Mort adieu, and raced back to my room. There I immediately began researching ship arrival times, and discovered two very interesting facts: First, the only ships that had docked yesterday were mine and Jonasa\u2019s, and both had unloaded cargo. Second, Jonasa\u2019s had docked at 0800, whereas we\u2019d arrived around 1500, station time. Mort had said the new \u2018equipment\u2019 had shown up at 0900.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nCould Jonasa be my culprit? Well, she was the only passenger on her ship, so actually, the evidence left me no other explanation. And there was motive. It was clear what would happen to her merry band of skeptics once the Magellan finally proved the Godstar was predicting things impossible to foresee under any interpretation of quantum physics. I thought that the Archprelate was right: The outcome of this experiment could well be a mass conversion to Omnism. And that wouldn\u2019t be good for CLEAR.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI sent Jonasa a headtrode-mail, and two hours later we were sitting across from each other in the conference room, Jonasa\u2019s slender legs crossed, her blue eyes studying me.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cWhat, no reporters, Gordon? Is this a social call, or are we actually going to debate without sound-bites?\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cJust a couple questions,\u201d I said, glancing at her hands. \u201cJonasa, do you think this whole experiment is worth all the expense?\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nShe frowned. \u201cOK, so this isn\u2019t a social call. Clearly I&#8217;m a suspect in some sort of investigation.\u201d Her shoulders slumped, and for the first time, I noticed she\u2019d substituted old-fashioned rouge for her normal mood-cream. She was also wearing lipstick, as foreign to that face as a koi pond on Mercury.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nFeeling low, I shook my head vigorously. \u201cNot so much \u2018suspect\u2019 as&#8211;\u201c\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201c&#8211;You want to know what I think? This whole experiment is a giant waste of time.\u201d Her eyes grew cold; the old Jonasa was back. \u201cI think people believe in spooky sky-gods simply to cover deficiencies in their own lives. After all, didn\u2019t you become an Omnite after a messy divorce and estrangement from your son?\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI sat, frozen, as Jonasa bit her lip. After a tense silence, she reached out and grabbed my arm.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cI\u2019m sorry, Gordon, that was completely out of line. I\u2019m not proud that CLEAR investigated you, but my bosses don\u2019t like to lose debates. If it helps, I never planned to use it on holo.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI nodded, forcing myself to smile. \u201cWell, you do have a point. My own mistakes and my ex-wife have turned Aaron away from me since he was fifteen, and I\u2019ve spent a good part of my life trying to get him back. Last year we had our first conversation in twenty years, just before he left for the Kuiper belt expedition, with a trip-survival rate of thirty percent. So yes, I have a personal stake in getting access to Magellan\u2019s database to see if he\u2019ll be alive three years from now. Still, I believe it\u2019s possible to meet God without asking him for favors.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nShe said nothing, but her eyes had transformed from warrior Jonasa into something more human. It did wonders for her face.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cBut,\u201d I said, \u201cit was pretty dastardly for CLEAR to dig that up. It would be like us discovering that your daughter had died two years ago and could&#8217;ve been saved by Mati\u2019s random lotto. And then claiming that the subsequent belief in a godless universe is what led you to CLEAR.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nShe stiffened, and this time I reached out and touched her hand. \u201cApparently, we Omnites aren\u2019t so pure either. We\u2019re not above the occasional inappropriate investigation of our own.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nWe discussed our kids the rest of the afternoon, and soon afternoon turned into evening, where we found ourselves in the lounge talking animatedly over glasses of wine.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nThat night was a strange one. It culminated in both of us stumbling to my room with a dark red bottle of wine in tow, followed by the happy discovery that having sex with someone you\u2019ve been publicly slapfighting for two years is actually quite liberating.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nThe next morning, we lay in my bubble chamber, surrounded by stars as if floating in space. I remained motionless for a long while, pondering how this wonderful thing had happened, and what my first words should be this morning to keep us in the moment. Finally I opened with: \u201cSomehow, this seems wrong.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nShe propped up on an elbow, the blanket partially falling away to reveal one perfectly-shaped breast. \u201cSo wrong. Like mustard and ketchup in the same jar. And even worse than sleeping with the enemy, you\u2019re sleeping with the subject of an investigation. What\u2019s going on with that, anyway?\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI watched her relaxed, playful face, thinking how different she looked from our holo mash-ups. Having the woman with whom I\u2019d publicly exchanged so many barbed words lying naked beside me revved my motor anew, and I leaned into her.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cSince I\u2019m already sinning&#8230;\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nShe pushed me back lightly. \u201cNope. My curiosity is going full steam.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI sighed. And against all reasonable judgment, I told her about the Archprelate\u2019s holomail, how I\u2019d tracked the beaker bomb shipment to conclude that she was my main suspect. I said this knowing very well that I\u2019d probably regret it later.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nShe stared at me for a long moment after I\u2019d finished. \u201cOK, first off, I can\u2019t believe you got the time from \u2018Missing Minute Mort\u2019. You are familiar with his tendency to show up for lunch at dinnertime? Second, I\u2019m as far from Zacharism as I am from spontaneous combustion. People like me don\u2019t set up beaker bombs; we leave that to the religious fanatics. Though Omnism is such a scant faith, I can\u2019t believe any branch of it cares enough about anything to use violence.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI squinted. \u201cDid you just accuse us of being too tolerant to use violence? In any case, Omnism is not \u2018scant\u2019.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cBut it\u2019s such an odd belief system&#8211;you have no rituals, no commandments, I doubt you even pray. Your whole faith is based on waiting for someone to decode a bunch of information that may be gibberish.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cWe do pray,\u201d I said, \u201cbut it&#8217;s true we eschew most rituals because we find they distract us from doing good works. I\u2019ve probably headed more relief agencies than you own jars of mood-cream. And until we find out differently, what\u2019s wrong with assuming Omnos\u2019 un-deciphered information contains moral instructions?\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cWhat if it\u2019s just a recipe for pound cake? Doesn\u2019t that obviate your whole religion?\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cWell, if it\u2019s heavenly pound cake&#8211;\u201c\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nMy headtrode beeped and I stopped, touching my ear. And felt my blood chill as the alert wormed its way through my audio cortex. The final ceremony roster had just bumped from six to seven people, with the new attendee labeled only as \u2018Mati\u2019s Guest\u2019.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nCullen? Cullen!\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI shot up in bed. \u201cUh. I think I know who our Zacharite is&#8230;\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nShe sat up, draping the blanket around her body as I nearly fell out of bed. I hurriedly put on my pants, then turned to her just before crawling down the ladder. \u201cThe fact that I\u2019m leaving doesn\u2019t mean&#8211;doesn\u2019t mean&#8211;\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cI know. Go do your job.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><\/p>\n<hr>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nMati answered my continually ringing buzzer with a pinched face and garden-themed pajamas. \u201cI was just about to take a shower.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cDoesn\u2019t matter,\u201d I said, pushing past her to the sofa. \u201cTell me about Cullen. Have you noticed anything strange lately?\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nFrowning, she sat in the opposing chair, her short gray hair spiked on one side of her head. \u201cTwo months before we left, his mannerisms seemed to change.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cYep. Change they did.\u201d I threw a few papers on the coffee table. \u201cI ran a retinal scan this morning, using the Phobos server. Your Cullen is actually Alex Piedmont, a well-known Zacharite. He must have gotten doppelganger reconstruction and replaced the original Cullen sometime after surgery. Who knows what happened to the original.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nMati&#8217;s foot began tapping so hard, I thought she&#8217;d wear a hole in the floor. A very cold feeling spread through my gut.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nShe knew.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cMati, I\u2019m going to ask something, and it\u2019s very important you answer me truthfully. Were you aware that the guy on our ship wasn\u2019t the real Cullen?\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cNo,\u201d she said, \u201cbut I suspected something.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI exhaled with relief. \u201cWhy in Omnos\u2019 name didn\u2019t you tell me?\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nShe watched me with a pained expression that I couldn\u2019t pin down. \u201cBecause&#8211;because&#8230;Gordon, what we\u2019re about to do could destroy this station.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cBetter explain that.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nMati&#8217;s grandmother face scrunched tight, her foot tapping furiously. \u201cThese D-tube teleporters drag their own reference frame with them, thereby avoiding causality violations. But they\u2019re inherently unstable. Demodulating Omnos\u2019 carrier wave three years in the future could cause the D-tubes to de-cohere, possibly releasing millions of joules of energy.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cEnglish please.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cThat was&#8211;\u201c\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cMake it so an idiot can understand.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nShe sighed. \u201cPeople used to think that instantaneous communication would cause time-travel type paradoxes. We got around that using some tricks that&#8211;\u201c she stopped and smoothed her hair down. \u201cAnyway, what we\u2019re about to do here could reintroduce paradox to the mix.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cAnd the implications are&#8230;?\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cGordon, all my equations sum to infinity. These are well-established models for Omnos\u2019 information multiplex, not incomplete theories. But when I extrapolate them to describe light three years closer to Omnos entering our reference frame, none of my numbers make sense. Because D-tubes are so unstable, any unknown variables could indicate a collapse&#8211;and if that happens, we\u2019ll see a massive explosion.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI stared, and for a long moment, the only motion in the room was the perpetual tapping of Mati&#8217;s foot.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nShe stopped.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cGo boom.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cI get it, Mati.\u201d I rubbed my forehead. \u201cSo even though you thought Cullen might sabotage our party, part of you wanted him to succeed.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nHer face fell, and I saw that pained expression again.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cYes.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nThen it hit me. That look in Mati\u2019s eyes, the way she\u2019d been so eager lately to soften her famously harsh opinions: she was beyond lonely. A lifetime spent pushing humanity away had left the specter of isolation to shadow her sixties. Now she was worried she\u2019d lose one of her true, close friends.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI sighed. \u201cI\u2019m not mad, Mati. Well, maybe a little.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nShe wiped one eye. \u201cThank you. If it\u2019s any help, I have a much likelier theory that doesn\u2019t involve D-tube de-coherence.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cBut you can\u2019t guarantee there won\u2019t be an explosion?\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cNo.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI sighed, wondering what in Omnos\u2019 name I was going to do.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI spent the whole day thinking, and that night I lay still in my starry dome, facing the direction of Omnos and wondering whether God could truly be so cruel. I couldn\u2019t believe Omnos would punish us for the simple act of trying to get closer.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nSleep finally overtook me, and I awoke a few hours later with the absolute surety of two convictions: First, no two-bit fanatic was going to decide things for the rest of us. And second, it had to be Mati who reported Cullen. She&#8217;d brought this nimrod along, and the only way to avoid tarnishing a lifetime of incredible achievements was for her to make the \u201cdiscovery\u201d herself.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nSo it was that the next morning I stood in the central airlock hallway, examining a piece of Cullen\u2019s walker, while Alex Piedmont cursed and kicked in the hands of two beefy security guys.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cWhat you are doing is wrong!\u201d Alex shouted, trying to jerk his arm away from his captor\u2019s grip.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cHow does this thing work?\u201d I muttered, examining the inner tube of the walker\u2019s support. It had been coated with graphene circuitry, and was probably a weapon of some sort.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nAlex focused on me. \u201cYou&#8217;re the worst! A follower who questions the God he&#8217;s sworn to serve. Traitor to Omnos!\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI raised an eyebrow. \u201cI didn\u2019t know Omnos was at war. Gosh, I hope I get a blue uniform; I look great in teal.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nAlex stared for a long moment. Then he began thrashing violently, and this time managed to free an arm. He grabbed his captor\u2019s lightning gun, knocked him back, and pointed the gun at me. \u201cYou. Omnite circus clown. You\u2019re going to let me into the receiver room.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI tried to remember which way the gravity shifted, and then dove to my left. Alex swung around, and his pivoting knee buckled in Endomis\u2019 uneven gravity. Wincing, I watched his head slam to the floor as the lightning gun clattered down the hallway.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cI\u2019m&#8211;I\u2019m so sorry,\u201d Mati said to the crowd of reporters and representatives in the hallway with us, as the security guys pulled Alex to his feet and hauled him through the airlock.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI got up, dusted my knees, and squeezed her shoulder. \u201cYou can\u2019t be sorry! If it wasn\u2019t for you, he\u2019d have sabotaged the whole event!\u201d Others muttered agreement, and Mati shot me a quick look of gratitude.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cWell, shall we proceed with the call?\u201d I said.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nEarlier, I\u2019d asked Gunnet to set up a video call with everyone on the station. The long-time residents were such hermits, most couldn\u2019t be bothered to stumble down to the central assembly hall if their lives depended on it (which they actually did). Since I needed everyone to weigh in on this decision, we\u2019d set up giant screens broken into hundreds of little squares, so we could see everyone\u2019s face. The hundred or so that decided to attend in person, mostly reporters and representatives, sat around the giant round table as Mati began describing our conundrum.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nMati isn\u2019t the best at explaining science to primitives, but she did a passable job. And the questions were about what you\u2019d expect. \u201cWhat are the chances those infinities will collapse the D-tubes?\u201d asked the ebony-skinned representative from the Asteroid Anarchy, her hair quaffed up in a giant pyramid. \u201cHow could a simple transmission of information lead to an explosion?\u201d Mort rasped, apparently on hiatus from pumpernickel duties.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nMati answered precisely, as was her style, slapping her hip and doing absolutely zilch to give anyone the hot cocoa and cookies they were looking for. And I found something out that day: No matter what belief system a person subscribes to, in matters of survival, people look to a moral center. Numbers and statistics only go so far. So it was that after the Terran representative asked me for my opinion, I saw every single person and video square staring at me, desperate for someone to tell them what to do.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI leaned forward and folded my hands on the table. \u201cI have absolute faith that Omnos would never kill us for asking questions. This experiment is the right thing to do. If someone trains me how to use the receiver and AI, I\u2019ll happily remain on this station to monitor Magellan\u2019s information, while everyone else takes a brief cruise.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nThe meeting went quickly from there, culminating with a unanimous vote to proceed&#8211;which was the only way we could do this thing.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nTwo days later, I stood in the ceremony chamber with seven other people: Mati, representatives from each of the three major powers, Endomis mayor Gunnet Bradley, Jonasa Wagner, and the AI technician, who\u2019d be interpreting the receiver output based on Magellan\u2019s data.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nIt was a slick setup. The D-tube receiver was married to a very powerful AI server containing known DNA sequences of everyone in the solar system. The server would scan the information received from Omnos three light-years out, and compare it against the existing database, with any new DNA sequences likely belonging to people as yet unborn. OK, this wasn\u2019t guaranteed, because the database wasn\u2019t totally accurate, and it was impossible to monitor every birth in real time across the solar system. But if there were more than a small number of new sequences, it meant that Omnos was telling us about people who didn\u2019t yet exist&#8211;proof positive that the future was knowable. And somewhere in that jumble of data, God would tell me if my boy was going to live long enough to hear his dad apologize for a childhood of neglect.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nThe transporter-receiver room settled into nervous silence, all of us alone with our thoughts as we waited for the countdown. I wondered whether an explosion would be noticeable at all, or if it\u2019d be a sudden baseball bat to the head. I guess my faith wasn\u2019t strong enough to squash the occasional doubt.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cWe\u2019re receiving first transmission from the Magellan,\u201d came the AI tech\u2019s voice, high-pitched with excitement. The electricity in the air was palpable, and I saw Mati&#8217;s foot begin its perpetual motion.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nWe all waited, frozen, as the tech pushed buttons on his helmet, interpreting the AI computer\u2019s analysis of the data. After a long moment in which I\u2019m sure no one breathed, he swiveled to face us, his expression perplexed.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cThe&#8211;the AI is unable to interpret the data as DNA sequences. It has successfully matched some of the patterns to a system of sixteen base nucleotides, but the descriptions of those bases don\u2019t match anything in human DNA.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nA loud buzz filled the room. \u201cWhat do you mean, \u2018can\u2019t interpret as DNA\u2019?,\u201d snapped the Asteroid representative.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nThe tech shook his head, then turned around again, hunching over and pushing more buttons. Silently, we waited an eternity while he worked and muttered to himself. Finally he turned around again, his eyes wide.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cIt appears&#8211;it appears that the Magellan is not where it should be.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nThe room erupted into shouts, until I held up my hand for silence. \u201cPlease explain.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cIt looks like the Magellan\u2019s initial heading was two degrees off, and now she\u2019s .105 light-year away from her intended destination. These photons would never be seen from our solar system. And when I sent the command to shift course, I got a message that the fusion reactor had ceased operation. Then the whole link went down.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nNow the entire room truly erupted, with shouts and accusations flying in every direction. The Terran representative sprayed bits of spittle as he hurled recriminations at the Martian ambassador for the Martian work on the fusion reactor, and the AI tech cowered before a blast of expletives issuing from the Asteroid representative. But the loudest sounds came from Mati, who was clapping her hands and hopping about madly. \u201cYes! I knew it!\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nThis counterpoint cut through the roar like a knife, until finally everyone stopped to stare at this short elfin-grandmother, hopping around like a kangaroo on fire.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cMati, you\u2019re scaring the normals,\u201d I said.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nShe ran to me. \u201cDon\u2019t you see, Gordon? It\u2019s Cruts-Helmsfeld! That\u2019s the explanation!\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cNo, Mati, I don\u2019t see. As you\u2019ll recall, the rest of us elected not to pursue our physics Ph.Ds.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nShe stopped to swallow. \u201cBack in the twentieth century, people knew Einstein\u2019s theories didn\u2019t strictly disallow time travel, but no one understood how to resolve the resulting paradoxes. Then, fifty years ago, Cruts and Helmsfeld proposed a method to enforce self-consistent timelines, based on work previously done in the twenty-first century. They posited that the universe would never allow someone to kill his grandmother before she gave birth, because random events would always throw up roadblocks to prevent the paradox. Those events would get stranger and stranger the harder you tried to force the matter.\u201d She stopped to breathe. \u201cThink about it Gordon. We launch ships all the time&#8211;how often do we get the heading wrong? And how often does the propulsion system and communication link fail right when we need them?\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI stared. The room settled into utter silence, pierced only by the low hum of the receiver.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cSo,\u201d I said slowly, \u201cyou\u2019re saying that the initial heading error was a not-so-coincidental coincidence, and that no matter what we do, we can\u2019t look at light before it reaches us?\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cWe can, but only if we use sub-C return speeds, so the information is old when it reaches Earth. We can never retrieve information in a way that allows us to alter a predicted event.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI folded my arms. \u201cSo the \u2018universe\u2019 is preventing us from doing this experiment. How is that different from God decreeing \u2018thou shalt not doubt me\u2019?\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nMati looked disgusted. \u201cWe don\u2019t need superstitious claptrap right now; I have to prove this.\u201d She froze, turning a pained look my way. \u201cI mean&#8211;\u201c\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cNever mind, Mati. Go prove it.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nWith that, she raced from the room and through the mass of reporters on the other side of the door.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nEveryone stood shocked for a long moment, watching Mati\u2019s back like they\u2019d been zapped by a Venusian electrical storm.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cSo we\u2019re back to where we started,\u201d I said. \u201cEveryone\u2019s right, and no one knows a thing.\u201d I looked around, but the room was quiet as a graveyard. Sighing, I smoothed down my robe, then walked through the door to spread the news to the rest of the solar system.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><\/p>\n<hr>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nThe next two weeks were fascinating, heady, and bittersweet. Fascinating because as our limited Magellan data was processed, Mati and others became increasingly confident that it represented the DNA of a sentient alien species. Based on the ship\u2019s position, they even pinpointed a star cluster where the alien world had to exist. And within days, Mati and other scientists throughout the solar system had shown strong evidence for the Cruts-Helmsfeld explanation.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nIt was personally heady, because I found myself sucked into endless interviews and commentary about what all this meant for Omnism, and philosophy in general. Whatever the Archprelate\u2019s opinion of me, I was pretty sure this could only be good for my career.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nYet it was bittersweet. I\u2019d gotten used to the idea of not knowing whether I\u2019d ever have a normal relationship with my son; I could accept that God would give me no shortcuts there. But I was also unable to see Jonasa, and for some reason, that hurt. Granted, she was as busy as I was, but my few pitiful attempts to grab her attention always seemed stymied by her presence at some interview or other engagement. Finally, I gave up, and tried to look at the bright side: no matter what, I\u2019d always have the memory. I ignored the part of my brain screaming that this was something only a loser would say.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nOn the day of our departure, I was walking with Mati toward our airlock when we turned a corner and saw Jonasa talking to a reporter.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI quickened my pace, but not before catching an expression that might have been disappointment. What was this? I glanced in her direction, but she\u2019d gone back to conversing with the newsman.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI noticed Mati had stopped, and I turned to a very angry Dr. Antoretti. \u201cGordon, you are being an idiot. If you don\u2019t talk to her, I\u2019m going to punch your ear.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nNow, compared to Mati, everyone actually is an idiot. But I suspected in this case, she had a point. I was debating what to do when Jonasa\u2019s loud voice rang through the hallway.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cI sure am glad they didn\u2019t prove Omnos was God,\u201d she declared. \u201cAt least now I won\u2019t have self-righteous Omnite priests knocking on my door.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI faced her directly. \u201cWell, Venus is close enough to hell that I doubt I\u2019d make much traction anyway. Still, my charter is to spread the word, so I may have to pay it a visit.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nShe touched the headtrode button on her ear. \u201cWell don\u2019t come around my neck of the woods. I just sent you my address so you know what area to avoid.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cActually, I\u2019ve found that those who reject the message usually need it most. I\u2019ll have to visit that exact location to convince the locals that Omnos is God.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nShe folded her arms. \u201cIf you do, I\u2019ll meet you there, just so I can prove you wrong.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cOK, then.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cFine.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI looked to my left to see the reporter staring at us, one hand upward in a high-five salute and the other one touching his headtrode, mindbeaming our little conversation out to every habitable rock in the solar system.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nGreat. This was going to take the punch out of our holo debates.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nJonasa smiled briefly, gave me a pinky wave, and then whipped around and strode toward the airlock. I watched those shapely legs retreat from us until they disappeared around the corner.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nThe reporter rushed off, and I exhaled. \u201cSee what I mean, Mati? Exhausting.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nHer eyes had taken on a dreamy glaze. \u201cBut what if you\u2019ve found the one?\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI looked at her. A lifelong singleton, it appeared that the sixty-two year old Mati was finally taking an interest in love. \u201cWell, then. Why don\u2019t you describe your perfect man, Mati? I might know a few on Earth that would love to meet you.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nWe continued a very slow walk toward the airlock while Mati listed her uber-homme requirements, slapping her hip the whole time. And by the time we stepped onto the ship, my next year had been fully planned out: First, a brief stint on Earth to play matchmaker for Mati.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nThen, a trip to Venus to convert the natives.<br \/>\n<\/P><\/p>\n<hr>\n<p><mbp:pagebreak \/><br \/>\n<a name=\"fearful\"><\/a><H1 LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" ALIGN=CENTER STYLE=\"font-weight: normal; page-break-before: always\"><br \/>\n<FONT FACE=\"Times New Roman, serif\"><FONT SIZE=6>A Fearful Lesson<\/FONT><\/FONT><\/H1><br \/>\n<P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nBy Brad Preslar<\/P><br \/>\n<P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nIt was the perfect day to walk down to the river and see what was left of the dead metal, rusting away since the war. The weather was about like today, crisp and dry. Some folks whispered that some of it still walked, moved, even hunted, but just like you, we were sure that was all lies.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nThat&#8217;s why we wanted to see The Bottom for ourselves, like you two do.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nFirst, we had to ditch Grandpa. That chance appeared when he stopped with his hand on the front gate. He held it halfway open and turned his head, laughing to himself. &#8220;Almost forgot my cane.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nHe turned around and went back in the house. I looked at Tommy and tilted my head towards the road. &#8220;Let&#8217;s just go.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nTommy looked out at the red leaves dancing on the pavement, then back over his shoulder. Mama stood watching from the front window. &#8220;She&#8217;d whip us if we did.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;How are we ever gonna get to the Bottom with him along?&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nTommy shrugged. &#8220;Maybe we just scout it out today. A recon mission.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nSometimes, he had good ideas. For a ten year-old. &#8220;Then go back later?&#8221; I said.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;Yeah. Tomorrow. Or the day after.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nThe old wood of the front stoop groaned as Grandpa made his way down the stairs. He took the weight off his bad leg and leaned on his cane. &#8220;What&#8217;s it going to be today?&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nTommy nodded for me to ask. I said, &#8220;Can we go see Shockoe Bottom?&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nGrandpa said, &#8220;Why would you want to go down there?&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;Just to the bridge,&#8221; said Tommy.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI added, &#8220;Mama said we could.&#8221; She hadn&#8217;t.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nGrandpa looked back at Mama through the window. She waved and smiled. He considered the request and shrugged. &#8220;Well then, let&#8217;s go.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nWe set out down the road, Grandpa behind us. He was in fine enough shape, except for his leg. Mama told us he hurt it in the war. Grandpa said he had arthritis. Tommy and I went back and forth on who we believed. Either way, we didn&#8217;t believe any of the stories about metal walking around in The Bottom. Between you and me, I wish we had.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nMama said that was where Richmond used to go on the weekends. Before the war. When the metal marched into town, it came in from the west and drove the whole city downhill, trapping thousands against the flood wall.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nWe walked through the burned out buildings and deserted businesses, down Hull Street to the James River. We crossed over the rusted spans of Mayo bridge and got a good look at what used to be downtown Richmond. The bare girders in the buildings stuck up so high in the sky I couldn&#8217;t imagine why they didn&#8217;t fall over, but Grandpa acted like they weren&#8217;t there. He just limped along slow and steady behind us.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nWe had heard about a spot just over the bridge where the flood wall joined up with the barricade. Story was, you could get over the wall and go down into The Bottom.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nTommy saw it first. We crossed from the bridge onto solid ground and he let out a low half whistle. He flicked his eyes in that direction. A school bus sat on four flat tires, next to the wall. He thought he was quiet, but Grandpa heard.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;So, that&#8217;s why we&#8217;re out here,&#8221; he said.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI felt the red creep into my cheeks. &#8220;What?&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;You two want to see The Bottom?&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nTommy turned away from the bus. &#8220;No, I was whistling because&#8230; Because-&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nGrandpa said, &#8220;You didn&#8217;t come out here to get a look over the wall?&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI gulped. &#8220;Well. It is right there. We could just climb up and look.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nGrandpa grunted and headed for the bus. He pushed the door open and went up the cracked rubber steps. He used his cane to push the remnants of the windshield out onto the hood. Steadying himself against the back of the driver&#8217;s seat, he climbed over the dashboard. Glass crunched under his feet, the hood groaned under his weight. We followed after and helped him up onto the roof. A rusty ladder missing one rung stretched across the two-foot gap between the wall and the bus. We took turns crawling across, and then stood up on the other side. The concrete of the flood wall crunched and flaked under our shoes, little pebbles bounced down and clattered on the ground.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nWe looked out into The Bottom. More than anything, it was empty. Not scary. Just empty. Weeds grew everywhere. Tree roots cracked the sidewalks. Cars without drivers blocked the streets. A sunflower grew through a hole in a roof of a burned out van. Piles of smashed furniture and boards blocked the fronts of some buildings. The other buildings gaped open, like mouths with their teeth knocked out.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nGrandpa picked his way down the piled up concrete and palettes to the ground. We went after him. He pointed out some sharpened rebar sticking out of the pile.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;Look out for that,&#8221; he said.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nTommy rolled his eyes.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nThe first building we walked up on had a ten-foot tall picture window with mannequins wearing dress clothes. I picked up a fist-sized rock and tossed it in the air. Grandpa saw me do it, looked at the window and shrugged. &#8220;Go on,&#8221; he said.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nWhen the rock hit, that window broke into a hundred pieces. Those pieces broke into a hundred more when they hit the ground. It made so much noise even the birds were impressed, flying away from where they watched. And if there was any leftover metal around, it didn&#8217;t seem to notice or care.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nOn one of the piles, clothes hung out of dresser drawers, faded and rotted from the sun and rain. Tommy pointed out a pink bra poking out from under some shirts. He dared me to go touch it. Grandpa glared at him.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;Have some respect,&#8221; he said.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;Grandpa, there ain\u2019t no metal walking around down here,&#8221; said Tommy.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;No. There ain\u2019t,&#8221; said Grandpa.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI kicked an old phone. The bell inside rung out when it bounced across the pavement. &#8220;Are we ever gonna\u2019 see any? Not pictures I mean, but in real life?&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;Aren&#8217;t you scared?&#8221; Grandpa said.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nTommy said, &#8220;Scared of what? All the metal died when their network did. That&#8217;s what Mama said.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nGrandpa&#8217;s mouth turned down. He squinted his eyes. &#8220;You think so?&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;Didn&#8217;t it?&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nHe didn&#8217;t answer, just turned and headed off down the street.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nWe followed him down the hill, under the old highway where it flattened out beside the canal. He stopped at a big white building. Sheets of plywood and boards covered all the windows and doors.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nHe stopped for a second, still. I thought he was about to tell us a good story, but then he got quiet, like he was thinking about something far away.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nTommy wasn&#8217;t listening. He was jumping up and down on an old mattress with the springs poking out of one side. He walked over to where a station wagon had crashed right up into the building. Boards covered the gaps between the car and wall. Tommy picked up a piece of wood and stuck it in the gap. Something on the other side made a noise.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nGrandpa whipped his head around and his voice got deep. &#8220;Get away from there.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nTommy wasn\u2019t listening. He started jamming that wood in deeper. &#8220;I ain\u2019t scared of you,&#8221; he said. &#8220;Come on out so I can see what you look like.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nGrandpa stood there for a second, watching Tommy yell into the hole in the wall. Then he went over and grabbed him by his arm. His voice was dry and hard. Not like normal. &#8220;You might not be scared. But you should be.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nHe glared at Tommy, then grabbed a board and pulled it right off. And he waited.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nTommy backed up quick to stand beside me, so Grandpa was between us and that dark hole. Hollow scratches and the hum of motors came from the dark. A green light came on a few feet off the ground, moving our way from deep inside the dark. Clicking and scraping slow and jerky on three legs, one of the metal hunters came creeping out.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nGrandpa turned his head to Tommy and said, &#8220;How about now?&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nTommy&#8217;s lip quivered. Grandpa&#8217;s eyes were as cold and hard as his voice.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI recognized the hunter scout from the pictures we&#8217;d seen in school. Lean and shaped like a big cat, they had led the way for the larger, slower metal. This one was missing one of its front legs, but the blades on the other leg were extended, scraping the ground as it walked.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nThe round head swiveled towards us, or what was left of it. Half of the hunter&#8217;s skull had been blown off, so only one green eye remained. Bare wires sparked and shorted where the head joined the body. It struggled to balance, moving each of its three legs one step at a time, like a dog with socks on. Still, it came on.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nGrandpa bent down, leaning on his cane, with his mouth right in Tommy&#8217;s ear. &#8220;I hear you talking so big about how you wouldn\u2019t be scared. And how you don\u2019t think there&#8217;s any metal left. So here&#8217;s your chance.&#8221; He squeezed Tommy&#8217;s arm so hard his knuckles turned white. The hunter kept coming.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nGrandpa picked up a chunk of concrete off the ground like it didn&#8217;t weigh nothing and pushed it into my hand. &#8220;Let&#8217;s see it.&#8221; It was so heavy I could barely hold it.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nTommy started crying. He was holding onto my arm and making noises that weren\u2019t even words. I pushed the concrete back to Grandpa. &#8220;I can&#8217;t. Grandpa, I can&#8217;t.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nThat hunter was five feet from his heel, and Grandpa hadn&#8217;t even turned around. Tommy pointed over Grandpa&#8217;s shoulder and wailed, snot bubbling out of his nose. Tears ran down his cheeks and his face turned red. Waves of fear pushed up from my stomach and came from my mouth in vowels and grunts. I wanted to run, but my legs wouldn&#8217;t move. I couldn&#8217;t do anything but watch. The blades on the front leg dug into the pavement as it pulled itself closer.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nGrandpa turned his head and looked at it out of one eye. He let go of Tommy&#8217;s arm, took his cane in both hands and pulled the hooked end away from the straight part. His cane was a sword in disguise.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nHe swung it around and chopped the hunter&#8217;s front leg clean off. It fell on its side, back legs flailing in the air. With a whip of its head, it rolled itself back upright, its chin and chest making a tripod with the back legs. They pushed on, scraping the exposed metal of the torso in front of it like some worthless wheelbarrow. Busted motors scraped dry metal against dry metal inside the thing.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nGrandpa pointed at the head, the edge in his voice a little softer, but still there. &#8220;You take that concrete and smash the head.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nTommy sniffled and wiped his nose. I shook my head at him. &#8220;I don&#8217;t want to.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nGrandpa said, &#8220;Doesn&#8217;t matter if you want to. You will.&#8221; Something in his voice made me want to, even though I was scared. As scared as I&#8217;d ever been.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nTommy said, &#8220;It&#8217;s still moving.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nThe hunter moved closer, inching its way towards us.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n&#8220;Go on.&#8221; Grandpa put a firm hand on my shoulder. &#8220;You too, Tommy.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nWe took a step towards it. Tommy looked away as we stepped closer. I took a breath. The hunter smelled like bleach and smoke. The single green eye moved back and forth between me and Tommy.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nGrandpa stepped back. &#8220;That&#8217;s it.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nWe lifted the concrete up the air, our four hands underneath it. Tommy&#8217;s breath puffed fast in and out of his nose.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nThat was when the hunter pushed itself forward into my legs, knocking me over. It fell on me and the concrete fell on it, crushing one of the back legs.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nThe hunter&#8217;s main weapons had been the blades in the front legs, but it also had retractable tentacles in its torso. Not strong enough to support the full weight of the metal, we&#8217;d always been told they were used to grab on its victims while the bladed arms did all the damage. These metal tentacles now slid out of the body and wrapped around my leg. The hunter used the sharp edges of its half-crushed skull to slice through my pants and open a cut in my shin.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nBlood poured out of the long slice and one of the tentacles wormed its way into the cut, digging and ripping at the muscle. I screamed and beat at the head with my hands, kicking the torso with my free leg.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nGrandpa moved quick out of the corner of my eye, stabbing his sword through the torso again and again, sparks flying with every impact. On the fourth stab he ruptured the power pack and the hunter went still, the front tentacle still buried in my shin.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nGrandpa wiped off his sword and took a closer look at my leg. He said, &#8220;I know it hurts,&#8221; looking down at the shredded meat below my knee. &#8220;And I&#8217;m sorry for this, but you&#8217;re going to suffer a little more.&#8221; He reached down and started pulling the tentacle out of the wound.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI don&#8217;t know who cried harder, me or Tommy. After Grandpa got that tentacle out of my leg, he bandaged it up tight with his shirt and had Tommy help me walk home.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nNobody said much of anything on the way back, but just before we got to the house, he stopped and looked me in the eye. &#8220;That didn&#8217;t go the way it was supposed to.&#8221; He paused for a minute. &#8220;But as bad as it was, I hope it taught you a lesson.&#8221; He looked at Tommy. &#8220;Both of you.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nAnd it did. We never went looking for metal again.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><\/p>\n<hr>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nFinished with my story, I get out of the rocking chair and head for the front door of the house. Looking back over my shoulder at my two grandsons, I say, &#8220;That&#8217;s how I got the scar, and that&#8217;s why I use this cane.&#8221; They stare back, their mouths open.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nOne hand on the doorknob, I continue, &#8220;You just think on that while I go get some tea. And if you two still want to see the Bottom when I get back, we&#8217;ll go.&#8221;<br \/>\n<\/P><\/p>\n<hr>\n<p><mbp:pagebreak \/><br \/>\n<a name=\"interview\"><\/a><H1 LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" ALIGN=CENTER STYLE=\"font-weight: normal; page-break-before: always\"><br \/>\n<FONT FACE=\"Times New Roman, serif\"><FONT SIZE=6>Author Interview &#8211; Sean Monaghan<\/FONT><\/FONT><\/H1><br \/>\n<P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n<strong>TCL:<\/strong> What inspired the individual stories you&#8217;ve published with us?\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n<strong>Sean:<\/strong>\u00a0 That\u2019s an intriguing question. I\u2019m sure each has come from a different place.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI love the aerobraking maneuver, where orbiting vessels use friction with the atmosphere to slow from orbital velocity to land. That tearing, streaking through distressed air in a fragile cockpit surrounded by superheated gas seems lunacy. It also seems very adventurous, and so the story \u201cAerobrake\u201d came to be.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n\u201cLet\u2019s Go Find Karl\u201d was one of those stories that starts with an odd idea\u2014missing pieces of brain\u2014in an almost cyberpunk environment. Again, looking for adventure.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nIn \u201cThe Wreck of the Emerald Sky\u201d I had an already established universe, with some earlier Barris Space stories. I wanted to write something longer, and try some different things with the universe.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nThe story \u201cThe Flower Garden\u201d followed another story (\u201cAlecia in the Mechwurm\u201d, published in Andromeda Spaceways Inflight Magazine) where alien invaders come in the shape of slow-growing, slow-moving and near indestructible and unstoppable mechanical-flesh hybrids.  \u201cAlecia\u201d was very much a hard sci-fi story, but I felt there was more to the premise (and I still do), so I wanted to work in the world again. \u201cThe Flower Garden\u201d became much more soft sci-fi, even literary in some ways, to the extent that when sitting the two stories side-by-side they seem very different.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nWith \u201cThe Whalefall\u201d, I\u2019d read articles about diver-researchers examining the remains of whale carcasses in otherwise barren areas of the seafloor. The bodies quickly become colonized by fish, molluscs, crabs, seaweeds and endless other creatures and flora. I often find myself in a \u201cI wonder&#8230; what if&#8230;?\u201d frame of mind. Here, I wondered what if there was a world where the whales were vastly bigger than on Earth. I wonder what kind of undersea garden would happen then.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n<strong>TCL:<\/strong>\u00a0 Interesting.\u00a0 I had actually wondered if you were a diver and so that was where some of the story or at least the imagery came from.<br \/>\n\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n<strong>Sean:<\/strong>\u00a0 I\u2019m a keen snorkeller, however right now I live a long way from good snorkelling spots. I look forward to the opportunity when I travel \u2013 especially when I make it to Australia.<br \/>\n\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n <strong>TCL:<\/strong> I\u2019m also glad to hear you found a home for Alecia in the Mechwurm.\u00a0 Do you expect to write more in that universe?\u00a0 Or have you already?<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n<strong>Sean:<\/strong>\u00a0 I\u2019m still waiting for the right story to hit me for it. \u201cAlecia\u201d and \u201cFlower Garden\u201d are very different stories, so I\u2019m not sure which way another one would go.<br \/>\n\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n<strong>TCL:<\/strong>\u00a0 Family relationships often seem to play a role in your stories.\u00a0 Do you feel that&#8217;s a common theme in your writing?\u00a0 Or what would you consider some of the common themes?<br \/>\n\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n<strong>Sean:<\/strong>\u00a0 I realize that family relationships are key to most of my stories. Often that parent-child relationship is where the true story really lies, and the setting and events provide the framework where that is worked out. Sometimes my main character is the adult child, sometimes the parent. So yes, absolutely, family relationships are a common theme in my writing.<br \/>\n\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n<strong>TCL:<\/strong>\u00a0 When you start writing a story, do you know how it&#8217;s going to end? If not, can you give us an example of a story you expected to go in one direction that went somewhere else?<br \/>\n\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n<strong>Sean:<\/strong>\u00a0 Knowing how a story is going to end sometimes is clear to me from the outset, other times it\u2019s not until the story is almost done.<br \/>\n\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nWith \u201cAerobrake\u201d I think I always imagined the outcome (I\u2019d started with the title so they had to just about burn up in the atmosphere), but what was unexpected to me was how Claire and\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nDavid\u2019s relationship played out. I was glad the way the reconnection came about.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nIn \u201cThe Flower Garden\u201d, I hadn\u2019t planned the outcome for Greg\u2019s father from the outset, but as the story unfolded, it became clear that it was the natural progression, and led, to my mind, to the strongest emotional resolution.<br \/>\n\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n<strong>TCL:<\/strong>\u00a0 The progression does indeed feel quite natural, and it seems almost difficult to picture anything else happening to his father.\u00a0 Was it the father&#8217;s personality that developed as you wrote the story, and so you realized that he would have done what he did?\u00a0 Or did the plot just seem to dictate the outcome?\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><\/p>\n<p><strong>Sean:<\/strong>\u00a0 The father\u2019s personality certainly developed through the story. Much of that came from the change in their relationship, from being somewhat estranged with the father\u2019s former position power very much diminished and Greg finding himself surprised by that. The father\u2019s choices came out of the plot \u2013 the situation of experiencing loss. I guess the mechwurm is a metaphor for the unstoppable forces we all find in our lives.<br \/>\n\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n<strong>TCL:<\/strong>\u00a0 What would you like to read more of &#038; what are you tired of in general in speculative fiction?<br \/>\n\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n<strong>Sean:<\/strong>  I guess you could say I\u2019m weary of fantasy. I rarely read it these days, finding wordy books with complex artificial politics not to my taste. That said, I\u2019d like to see more things like Conan. The swashbuckling, primitive superhero. That might have me reading more fantasy. I do think I\u2019d like to read more compelling adventure stories. Ben Bova springs to mind as the kind of author I enjoy, and wish more people would write like him.<br \/>\n\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n<strong>TCL:<\/strong>\u00a0 What was the first speculative work that really captured your attention and got you interested in the genre?<br \/>\n\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n<strong>Sean:<\/strong>\u00a0 Can I have three? My interest primarily came from NASA\u2019s space program. Boy, did I want to be an astronaut! In terms of speculative work, there were three books that still resonate with me from my early reading days:<\/p>\n<p>William Hjortsberg \u2013 Gray Matters<br \/>\nT.J. Bass \u2013 The God Whale<br \/>\nWilson Tucker \u2013 Ice and Iron<br \/>\n\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI liked the quirky worlds, the odd characters and, especially in The God Whale, the idiosyncratic writing.<br \/>\n\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n<strong>TCL:<\/strong>\u00a0 What\u2019s a typical day like for you, either including writing or not?<br \/>\n\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n<strong>Sean:<\/strong>\u00a0 I start out with a thirty minute run, shower, breakfast and head in to work. I work at a busy public library running programs (including writing programs) for adults and children. Come evening, I have a momentary collapse into a heap, before some family time and hitting the keyboard and writing furiously for a couple of hours. Sometime later I head for bed.<br \/>\n\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n<strong>TCL:<\/strong>\u00a0 As someone who&#8217;s written successfully, and helps others learn to write, where do you fall on the spectrum of writing being natural talent vs. a learned skill?\u00a0 <\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n<strong>Sean:<\/strong>\u00a0 I\u2019m going with learned skill. I love writing, so I do it an awful lot. I read a lot of fiction, and I read \u2018how to write\u2019 books by experienced writers, and I take courses. With all that I\u2019ve discovered that I have a whole lot more to learn still. As with anything, there can be arguments for talent, but perhaps talent is mostly drive and attention to objectives. I don\u2019t feel that I\u2019m particularly talented, but I do think my perserverance has paid off.<br \/>\n\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n<strong>TCL:<\/strong>\u00a0 To what extent do your personal experiences (job, family, or odd things that have happened to you) influence your stories?\u00a0<br \/>\n\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n<strong>Sean:<\/strong>\u00a0 When I\u2019m writing speculative fiction, I tend to be way out in the depths of imagination. That said, my family experiences come through in terms of trying to figure out how relationships work. Most of my contemporary stories seem to concern parent-child relationships, but that also comes through thematically somewhere in much of my speculative fiction.<br \/>\n\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n<strong>TCL:<\/strong>\u00a0 How would you compare the experience of writing contemporary stories with speculative?\u00a0 What influences what you&#8217;re going to work on at any given time?<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n<strong>Sean:<\/strong>\u00a0 Speculative fiction comes from the part of me that\u2019s still six years old and longs to be an astronaut and walk on the Moon. Contemporary comes from where I\u2019m trying to figure out where I actually fit in the world\u2014in the web of family and relationship and work and travel. I have a feeling there is some overlap there.<br \/>\n\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nI often find if I\u2019m reading science fiction, I\u2019m writing contemporary, and vice-versa. Right now I\u2019m reading Lee Child\u2019s novel Never Go Back, and I\u2019m deep in the heart of writing a wild political story set 10,000 years into the future.<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n<strong>TCL:<\/strong> \u00a0How&#8217;re you finding Mr. Child&#8217;s Never Go Back (as an influence and as a good yarn?) And considering you&#8217;ve stated an aversion to complex artificial politics in fantasy, how do you plan to tackle the politics of this new story&#8217;s world in a realistic, yet speculative and engaging way, considering politics can often be more at home in science fiction for some readers?\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n<strong>Sean:<\/strong> Ha, caught out! I think the thing I glean from Lee Child\u2019s writing is a sense of urgency and suspense. We know that Jack Reacher will come out fine, but what\u2019s going to happen to everyone else.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\nWith the new story, while the political problem is part of the plot driver, I hope I don\u2019t overwhelm the reader with detail. My intention is to focus on the human drama unfolding within the unstable situation.<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n<strong>TCL:<\/strong>\u00a0 What&#8217;s the most frustrating thing about the writing process and the publishing industry for you?<br \/>\n\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n<strong>Sean:<\/strong>\u00a0 Perhaps the patience required between the time of completing a story and the time of it reaching publication.<br \/>\n\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n<strong>TCL:<\/strong>\u00a0 Do you have any upcoming projects that we should watch for?<br \/>\n\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n<strong>Sean:<\/strong>\u00a0 Keep an eye out for my story \u201cWakers\u201d which will be appearing in the August 2016 issue of Asimov\u2019s Science Fiction. I\u2019ll also be indie-publishing a trilogy of adventure novels about space brigands beginning from around September.<br \/>\n\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n<strong>TCL:<\/strong>\u00a0 Does the trilogy have a name?<\/p>\n<p><strong>Sean:<\/strong>\u00a0 How about \u201cThe Cody Chronicles\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n<strong>TCL:<\/strong>\u00a0 Finally, unrelated to writing, what\u2019s the craziest thing you\u2019ve ever done?\u00a0\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n<strong>Sean:<\/strong>\u00a0 I\u2019m from New Zealand. Years back, while waiting in the immigration line at Brisbane airport, I saw David Lange\u2014former New Zealand Prime Minister\u2014ahead of me in the queue. Mr Lange was the guy who introduced New Zealand\u2019s nuclear-free policies. That was kind of neat. I agreed with that, though not all of his politics, but how often do you see the leader of a nation? So, I spoke with him, as we passed through the long corrals. I remember saying \u201cThank you for all the work you\u2019ve done on behalf of our country\u201d, you know, being polite. I ended up having a conversation with him about growing up, and my travel plans, before the line moved on and he slipped away through the immigration booth. \u00a0Maybe not crazy-crazy, but it was cool to find the courage to speak with him instead of letting the moment pass by.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n<strong>TCL:<\/strong>\u00a0 That&#8217;s a good story.\u00a0 Did it change how you viewed him at all?<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n<strong>Sean:<\/strong>\u00a0 It did. He became real, rather than some half-mythical, television figure. Friendly, approachable, happy to chat. That surprised me.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n<strong>TCL:<\/strong> \u00a0Do you think your encounter with him will affect fictional politicians or politics in your future stories?\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n<strong>Sean:<\/strong> Well, it might let me paint them in a more favorable, human light.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n<strong>TCL:<\/strong>\u00a0 What achievement are you most proud of?\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n<strong>Sean:<\/strong>\u00a0 I guess winning the 2014 Jim Baen Memorial Writing Contest would be my proudest writing achievement.\n <\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n<strong>TCL:<\/strong>\u00a0 Are you a dog person or a cat person?\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n<strong>Sean:<\/strong>\u00a0 Cat.\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n<strong>TCL:<\/strong>\u00a0 Do you have any?\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n<strong>Sean:<\/strong>\u00a0 I have one. Not the cuddly kind. More the \u201cferal, lives outdoors, shows up for mealtimes\u201d kind.<br \/>\n\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n<strong>TCL:<\/strong>\u00a0 At least one of your stories appears under a pen name. Why is that?\n<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n<strong>Sean:<\/strong>\u00a0 I was young(er), and trying things out. Some advice I\u2019d received suggested that a pen name might be a good idea. Since \u201cAlecia in the Mechwurm\u201d appeared under the name Michael Shone, it followed that when \u201cThe Flower Garden\u201d appeared it should be under that name too, since the stories were in the same universe. Nowadays I only write under my own name, which of course makes things problematic if I want to write another \u201cmechwurm\u201d story.<br \/>\n\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 0.14in\"><br \/>\n<strong>TCL:<\/strong>\u00a0 That makes sense.\u00a0 Thank you for the explanation, Sean, and for taking the time to talk to us.<br \/>\n<\/P><\/p>\n<hr>\n<p><mbp:pagebreak \/><br \/>\n<P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" ALIGN=CENTER STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in\"><br \/>\n<FONT SIZE=5><center>Published by Light Spring LLC <\/center><\/FONT><br \/>\n<\/P><br \/>\n<P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" ALIGN=CENTER STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in\"><br \/>\n<FONT SIZE=5><center>Fort Worth, Texas<\/center><\/FONT><\/P><br \/>\n<P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" ALIGN=CENTER STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in\"><br \/>\n<FONT SIZE=5><center>&copy; Copyright 2016, All Rights Reserved<\/center><\/FONT><\/P><br \/>\n<P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" ALIGN=CENTER STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in\"><\/p>\n<hr>\n<p><\/P><br \/>\n<P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" ALIGN=CENTER STYLE=\"text-indent: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in\"><br \/>\n<FONT COLOR=\"#000080\"><SPAN LANG=\"zxx\"><U><center><A HREF=\"http:\/\/www.TheColoredLens.com\/\"><FONT SIZE=5>www.TheColoredLens.com<\/FONT><\/A><\/center><\/U><\/SPAN><\/FONT><\/P><br \/>\n<\/center><br \/>\n<P LANG=\"zxx\" CLASS=\"western\" STYLE=\"margin-bottom: 0in\"><\/p>\n<hr>\n<p><\/P><\/p>\n<hr>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Colored Lens Speculative Fiction Magazine Spring 2016 &ndash; Issue #19 Featuring works by Steve Toase, Reshad Staitieh, Derrick Boden, Sarah Hogg, Preston Dennett, Josh Pearce, Walter Donaldson, Janie Brunson, Jamie Lackey, Timothy Mudie, Steve Rodgers, and Brad Preslar. Edited by Dawn Lloyd and Daniel Scott Henry Fields, Associate Editor Published by Light Spring LLC &hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":29,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-134334","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry","entry entry-center"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/thecoloredlens.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/134334","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/thecoloredlens.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/thecoloredlens.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/thecoloredlens.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/29"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/thecoloredlens.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=134334"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"http:\/\/thecoloredlens.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/134334\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":134335,"href":"http:\/\/thecoloredlens.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/134334\/revisions\/134335"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/thecoloredlens.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=134334"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}