\tThe Amenonuhoko cut through the space between worlds like a blade through grass. Nichibotsu stood on the observation deck, staring out into the shifting darkness. Space folded in on itself, manipulated into an endless interstellar origami by the ship\u2019s drive plates, lurching forward towards its final destination in an erratic series of jumps.
\n\tA crewman appeared at the top of the stairs and briskly approached.
\n\t\u201cWell?\u201d Nichibotsu enquired impatiently.
\n\t\u201cWe estimate planetfall in just over twenty minutes\u201d the crewman replied in a voice that matched his Captain\u2019s exactly.
\n\tNichibotsu turned and stared into his reflection\u2019s face, noting the proud stance.
\n\t\u201cGood\u201d he observed, \u201cthe ship will remain in orbit whilst I complete my task.\u201d
\n\tThe crewman bowed in acknowledgement and returned to his station. Nichibotsu surveyed the throng of doppelgangers working below. Blister clones had their uses he acknowledged. Not only had they removed the need to take on fresh crew during his centuries-long voyage, but more than once these curious biomimetics had saved his life, sacrificing themselves beneath the wrath of tempestuous gods. Eternals rarely went quietly when confronted with death, and most had chosen to take as many with them as possible when forced to relinquish their hold on reality.
\nOutside, stars slowly emerged from the blur of movement. Nichibotsu sensed the deceleration long before the deck began to shudder and by the time the Amenonuhoko dropped into orbit, he was striding purposefully across the flight deck towards the forward section.
\nHis First Lieutenant appeared at his side, falling neatly into step as the two men descended through the bowels of the ship. \u2018One\u2019 was the most long-lived of his replicas and second in command, having been transcribed from Nichibotsu at a much younger age. The man\u2019s handsome features were obscured though by a mesh of melted flesh which covered one side of his face and his shoulder; a parting gift from another vengeful God.
\n\tOne eyed his Captain with a calm gaze that perfectly illustrated his understanding of the situation.
\n\t\u201cI\u2019ll be transporting down to the surface in a few moments,\u201d Nichibotsu instructed. \u201cIf I do not return within the hour, you know what to do?\u201d
\n\tThe clone nodded his compliance and handed Nichibotsu a small pad.
\n\t\u201cCore Imploders are primed and ready to launch, sir. Rift Incendiaries are also prepped, just in case the target attempts to leave the system.\u201d
\n\tNichibotsu smiled narrowly.
\n\t\u201cEfficient as always.\u201d
\n\t\u201cWould you expect anything less, Sir?\u201d
\n\t\u201cIndeed I would not.\u201d
\n\tThe two men exchanged a brief salute, followed by a formal bow more befitting of their heritage before One took his leave and strode back towards the bridge.
\nNichibotsu ran a practised eye across his armour and regalia, checking both were intact. His hand traced the carvings of his cuirass and came to rest atop the hilt of Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi, the larger of the two swords slung at his hip. The weapon was the last vestige of his heritage and he still felt the pull of the past whenever he laid a hand atop the accursed blade.
\nNichibotsu remembered the first time he had drawn the sword from its scabbard: Susanoo\u2019s gurgling cry of rage as he died, choking on his own blood and treachery. Nichibotsu could not outrun the shame of his betrayal, but at least with the storm god\u2019s death, he had been assured that the accursed deity would join his murdered sister in Jigoku.
\nThe strange properties of the blade continued to imbue him with near limitless longevity, but the truth which festered at his core would ensure he never outlived his guilt. Even now, with the end of his task at hand, the ancient Samurai could not escape the knowledge that he would forever be Ronin, cursed to wander the stars without master or honour.
\n\tCoolant gas hissed conspiratorially as he entered the transmission chamber, stepping briskly up onto the projector. The operator offered a grim salute before keying in the start-up program.
\n\t\u201cDo not trouble yourself with thoughts of victory or defeat\u2026\u201d the technician announced solemnly, without looking up.
\n\t\u201c\u2026 but instead plunge recklessly towards irrational death\u201d Nichibotsu finished, acknowledging the proverb.
\n\tThoughts of belief and subservience entwined like angry serpents as he reminded himself of the most important advantage which his stem-grown crew bestowed: that of blind obedience. An alternative band of hard-bitten organics or pre-assembled mercs would have looked up to him. Through numerous battles they would have learned to trust his judgment and his leadership. In time, they would have come to worship him and that, he could never allow.
\n\tIdolatry \u2013 the word made him sick, so symbolic of that which he sought to expunge. Faith was the double-edged sword which Nichibotsu now wielded. Though followers of any denomination needed their gods, so was the reverse also true. Nichibotsu had learned to see past the obscura of dogma and tenet to realise the true fragility which lay at the core of each god: that their power was entirely dependant upon the faith bestowed by their followers. Take an immortal\u2019s allegiance, tear down the obsequious flesh of his disciples till he stood truly alone and you exposed the puny truth of his heart – a heart which could be punctured by any common blade and bled dry. The hatch snapped shut, leaving Nichibotsu alone in the mist of swirling gas to await transport.
\n\tFor years he had hunted them – destroyed worlds as he sought to rob his prey of their defences. He had constructed vast weapons of destruction: orbital platforms and pan-dimensional atomics to wage his private vendetta, transgenic scout ships with which to scour the galaxy from one end to the other, watching his once omnipotent quarry scurry away. Some had gone quietly, unable to grasp the incumbent reality of their end. Others had stood their ground, hurling petty flame and brimstone in his path till the skies burned red and crackled with fire. Nichibotsu had not cared. He had robbed each of their essence, on their feet or their knees, drinking their dark power and growing stronger with each victory.
\n<\/p>\n
\tThe Samurai materialised in a downpour of filthy rain, one hand laid calmly across the hilt of his weapon. The muddied clouds above hung like dead men in the sky, a deluge of mucky water leeching steadily from their boots.
\n\tMetal stretched as far as the eye could see and Nichibotsu stood flanked on all sides by warehouses and hangars, clustered together like pallbearers in the mist. Kriptil was described by many as the \u2018arse-end of space\u2019: a nasty, dispiriting hovel of a planet, whose only purpose was to house the vast array of forgotten goods and trade items which other civilised worlds no longer wanted.
\nSomething skittered amongst the loose shale of debris and Nichibotsu spun round on the balls of his feet, drawing his shortsword in one fluid motion and stepping forward aggressively. A soggy oversized rat emerged from the refuse, staring blinkedly up at the warrior in surprise, its matted fur coated with a thick layer of sludge. Nichibotsu stood with the energy-fed Katana brandished above his head, steam rising from the blade in the falling rain. The oversized rodent eyed him for a moment, before sidling back under the garbage with mild disinterest.
\nNichibotsu let out the breath he had been holding and resheathed his weapon. Scouring the alleyway for an opening, he spied a rusted door several hundred yards away and strode purposefully towards it. Once inside, he quickly surveyed the immediate area before pausing to remove the layer of crud which had adhered to his armour.
\nThe abandoned storage area was empty, except for a few mouldy containers, and away in the distance he could hear gantries rattling in the wind like the brittle limbs of barren trees. Continuous rain droned across the roof, filling the interior with a low buzz. Ignoring these background noises, he glided forward silently into the darkness, in search of his prey.
\nNichibotsu had served many different Lords since fleeing Japan, but not one of them had he ever called master. The I\u2019hajin Council of Twelve were but the latest in a long line of paymasters willing to offer an unlimited supply of technology and armaments. They paid well, kept their interference to a minimum and had seen fit not to burden their hired assassin with too many questions. The Amenonuhoko\u2019s hull bristled with all manner of barbarous devices, most currently outlawed by the Prakite Accords. To Nichibotsu though, they were merely tools \u2013 a means to an end which brought him one step closer to the end of his journey.
\nHe had lost much of himself over the years, first pawning his armour and outdated possessions to buy passage into space, then later fulfilling contracts of assassination and murder to barter his way into the outer systems. Eventually, as the complexity of his task had become clear, he had turned in desperation to Flesh Peddlers and Reaper Surgeons, obtaining that which he required to traverse this new world of stars and consternation. What they took in payment was but a small price to pay \u2013 an organ here, an appendage there \u2013 all that mattered was obtaining the augmentation required to carry the battle. The undrawn sword at his side saw to it that he survived each procedure. Anything other than the blackened stone of purpose at his heart was unnecessary.
\nIt was a strange place to make one\u2019s last stand, Nichibotsu thought to himself as he passed soundlessly between dusted crates. A reflection perhaps of how far the once mighty had fallen, that the very last of their kind would seek sanctuary here, in this oubliette of forgotten endeavour. It was fitting that the last of Man\u2019s Gods would die here amongst discarded trinkets; lost and neglected along with all that humanity had left behind in its race towards a utopian future.
\nRounding a corner, Nichibotsu found steps leading down into the lower levels. Bare footprints lay embedded in the grime and he baulked at the sight of such inept evasion, immediately suspecting that an ambush of some sort lay ahead. Cautiously, he descended into the darkness with sword half-drawn.
\nThe underground level was split into a maze of pipe-laden passageways. Smoke hissed angrily in places from several broken struts, clouding the way with thick smog, and Nichibotsu clasped Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi\u2019s hilt in apprehension, taking succour from a blade which legend told had been discovered within the tail of a mighty eight-headed dragon. Beneath the thick fog of engine gas, the same shoeless footprints led Nichibotsu deeper into the belly of the beast, his breath coming in practised staccato as he prepared for the inevitable combat. Branching off into a narrow cul-de-sac of ducting, the smoke finally cleared to reveal his quarry, sitting cross-legged on the floor.
\nThe old man looked up as the assassin approached, his bright eyes agleam in the dimness.
\n\t\u201cAh, there you are child. I was beginning to think you had got lost.\u201d
\n\tNichibotsu stepped forward, twisting his foot sideways into a combative stance and half drawing his katana.
\n\t\u201cJehovah.\u201d He almost spat the word upon the ground. \u201cHow could I have become lost, with such an obvious trail of breadcrumbs to follow?\u201d
\n\tThe ancient God gestured with one arm.
\n\t\u201cPlease, sit\u201d he stated, seemingly unperturbed by the sight of the battle-ready Samurai standing over him.
\n\tNichibotsu eyed his prey, trying to decipher the immortal\u2019s game.
\n\t\u201cGive me one reason why I should not draw my blade and pierce your miserable heart?\u201d he asked, unsheathing his sword a little further.
\n\tJehovah\u2019s shoulders sank into a tired parental shrug of indifference.
\n\t\u201cBefore you do, will you not join me in \u2018Chado\u2019.\u201d
\n\tNichibotsu warily took a step back, the use of his birth language striking a discordant note.
\nEarth had been obliterated centuries ago, the survivors of his race so far scattered that he had not used his native tongue since setting sail for the deepest colonies. He stared at the ceremonial mat and chadgu which now materialised beside the god with a wave of its hand. It seemed this faded deity had more than one parlour trick with which to play out their endgame.
\n\tJehovah rose slowly from the ground and moved to the mat where he proceeded to wash his hands in a small stone basin of clear water. He gestured to an identical basin on the opposite side of the mat.
\n\t\u201cWon\u2019t you join me?\u201d he asked again, beckoning the Samurai.
\n\tNichibotsu moved closer, not taking his eyes from the deity.
\n\t\u201cYou expect me to take tea with that which I am sworn to destroy?\u201d he snorted in disgust, muddied boots already staining the mat.
\n\t\u201cI expect you to honour the ways of your ancestors and show some manner of respect to your host\u201d replied Jehovah sharply.
\nThe God\u2019s voice remained calm, yet beneath there rumbled thunder. \u201cOr would you bring \u2018fumeiyo\u2019 to your family name?\u201d
\n\t\u201cI have no name\u2026\u201d the assassin grunted in malformed anger, balling his free hand into a fist, \u201c\u2026nor family. I am merely \u2018Nichibotsu,\u2019 set forth to put out Heaven\u2019s light.
\n\tThe white-haired God dried his hands thoughtfully.
\n\t\u201cYou may label yourself as \u2018Sunset\u2019 my friend\u201d he observed. \u201cBut beneath that coarsened hide of armour, you bear another name.\u201d
\n\tJehovah\u2019s words effortlessly found the chink in Nichibotsu\u2019s defences and he swallowed hard on the resurfaced memory.
\n\t\u201cI would expect better custom from one who was once the servant of Amaterasu,\u201d Jehovah continued. \u201cShe, whose sun once shone proudly throughout the endless heavens.\u201d
\n\tAt this, Nichibotsu felt his resolve crumble. Despite having long accepted the role of R?nin and the dishonour which such labels brought, he could not ignore the invocation of his former Mistress\u2019 name. Begrudgingly returning the katana to its scabbard, he disrobed his armour and removed both heavy boots and weaponry before stepping forward onto the mat. Though it was a clear insult to his host, Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi remained clasped in his right hand, Nichibotsu having learnt never to trust an Immortal to honour tradition when their life was at stake.
\nLowering himself into a kneeling position, the Samurai turned his ankles outwards and made a \u2018V\u2019 shape with his feet, assuming the traditional form of Seiza. Jehovah observed the warrior\u2019s movement closely, eyeing the sword for a moment. Seemingly acceptant of its presence, he turned and began the ritual cleansing of each utensil.
\n\t\u201cIt is interesting is it not my child, that you use the word \u2018they\u2019 to describe mankind?\u201d
\n\tNichibotsu laid his hands palm down across his thighs, meeting the god\u2019s gaze without fear.
\n\t\u201cDo I take it that you no longer consider yourself one of them?\u201d Jehovah asked politely, his hands carrying out the precise motions of cleansing the chawan.
\n\t\u201cIn order to hunt something, one must first understand it,\u201d Nichibotsu stated flatly. \u201cA mere man cannot comprehend what it is to live as an immortal. Therefore it was necessary for me to become something else.\u201d
\n\t\u201cAh, so you think yourself elevated above them?\u201d the old man enquired.
\n\t\u201cI serve them,\u201d Nichibotsu countered. \u201cAll that I have brought to pass is for their benefit.\u201d
\n\tSaying nothing, Jehovah politely held out a bowl of thick tea to his guest. Nichibotsu took the chawan, bowing slightly before raising it in a gesture of respect. Rotating the bowl, he eyed the contents suspiciously before taking a sip. Waiting a few moments, he took a second sip and complimented his host, as tradition demanded.
\n\tJehovah laughed slightly, his eyes bright.
\n\t\u201cHad you really thought me so without virtue as to poison my most honoured guest?\u201d
\n\tNichibotsu averted his eyes and shuffled uncomfortably.
\n\t\u201cIt has been known for your kind to stoop so low,\u201d he muttered.
\n\t\u201cAh yes, poor Loki,\u201d Jehovah replied solemnly. \u201cCome, you must tell me how you finally overcame so devious an opponent, after almost being swallowed by that leviathan beneath the waves of Jaridan II?\u201d
\n\t\u201cI collapsed the atmosphere of the planet,\u201d Nichibotsu said, narrowing his eyes, \u201cand bled the oceans dry till nothing but a cored husk and dead fish remained.\u201d
\n\tJehovah leaned his head back at this and roared with laughter. Nichibotsu shook his head in bewilderment, unable to guess the immortal\u2019s motivations.
\n\t\u201cA reverse Ragnar\u00f6k of sorts!\u201d Jehovah chuckled. \u201cOh, how proud Odin would have found that fitting.\u201d
\n\t\u201cYou revel in the details of his demise?\u201d Nichibotsu observed coldly.
\n\tJehovah\u2019s merriment vanished, a pained look flooding his face.
\n\t\u201cOh how little you still understand us, my friend,\u201d he replied quietly. \u201cAfter all these centuries of hunting us, have you not learnt what it is to be an Eternal?\u201d
\n\t\u201cI know enough to complete my task,\u201d Nichibotsu replied clinically.
\n\tJehovah watched him, saying nothing, and then turned to begin preparing a second bowl of much thinner tea. As his wrinkled hands worked nimbly, he continued the thread of conversation.
\n\t\u201cI ask only to know how it is that they died,\u201d he explained. \u201cThough it is true that we did not see eye to eye, and that our differing judgments often set us at each other\u2019s throats, they were still my brothers and sisters. I would appreciate the opportunity to learn of what they remained true to in death, so that I might understand better what they fought for so dearly in life.\u201d
\n\tThe second batch was now brewed and he held out a fresh bowl of tea.
\n\t\u201cIf you were the last of your kind, would you not wish to spend your last moments lost in tales of your kin?\u201d
\n\tNichibotsu\u2019s grip on the chawan tightened as he took the bowl from his host.
\n\t\u201cMy family are long dead, Yowamushi,\u201d his voice almost cracked. \u201cMy planet is gone, scattered to the wind long ago.\u201d
\n\t\u201cBy your own hand, Nichibotsu,\u201d Jehovah reminded him.
\n\tThe chawan banged noisily onto the floor, sloshing hot tea across the stone.
\n\t\u201cIt was necessary,\u201d Nichibotsu growled defensively. \u201cSo obvious a weakness was to be exploited. A warrior must win the day at all costs.\u201d
\n\t\u201cI do not believe that Gaia would have been convinced of your argument,\u201d Jehovah replied, remaining perfectly still. \u201cShe could no more have severed her bond to the Earth as you could to one of your own progeny. What is any mother\u2019s priority, but to her children?\u201d
\nNichibotsu retrieved the bowl and raised it to his lips.
\n\u201cGaia birthed your home by parthenogenesis long before you were born, Nichibotsu. Her love for that which she spawned was etched into her soul. She was truly the mother of all things.\u201d
\n\tThe Samurai drank greedily, never taking his eyes from the Immortal.
\n\t\u201cThat was her undoing\u201d he muttered.<\/p>\n
\tOut on the planet\u2019s surface, the weather had evidently worsened, for down here in the catacombs, rainwater now dripped steadily from ceilings and metalwork, draining into the earth like tears.
\n\tNichibotsu and Jehovah sat opposite each other, having adopted the more relaxed position of agura, the tea ceremony complete. A Kiseru sat beside each of them, the air growing thick with a mist of tobacco.
\n\u201cAnd what of the children?\u201d Jehovah asked pointedly.
\nNichibotsu raised an eyebrow.
\n\t\u201cYou speak of Ganesha?\u201d
\n\t\u201cI speak of all our offspring across the centuries,\u201d the god replied, \u201cbut if it suits your purpose to tell of one example, then so be it.\u201d
\n\t\u201cThe Trimurti proved a most challenging opponent,\u201d Nichibotsu began by way of explanation. \u201cSo entwined in each other\u2019s existence were they, that by the coming of the fourth Age of Man, though I had reduced their following to a handful of minds and slain each of them more times than I could count on one hand, they still lived.\u201d
\n\tJehovah nodded his head, indicating that he knew some of what the Samurai told him.
\n\t\u201cYou are indeed the most accomplished of warriors, to devise a way to defeat so tightly bound a trinity,\u201d he offered. \u201cSo, in order to wound a parent you could not hope to defeat, you struck first at the child.\u201d
\n\tNichibotsu glared.
\n\t\u201cThe boy was weak. It was his father\u2019s responsibility to have trained him better for the hardship of battle.\u201d
\n\t\u201cGanesha\u2019s heart was filled only with love,\u201d the God interjected. \u201cHis was a path of self-sacrifice, devoted to the removal of obstacles for his followers.\u201d
\n\tNichibotsu\u2019s lips twisted into a serpent\u2019s smile.
\n\t\u201cIt is fitting then, that he presented the very beginning of a venture which led to that which I craved most. For I drove that one remaining tusk of his deep into his heart and then slit open his copious belly, so that the whole of his realm might spill out on the ground.\u201d
\n\t\u201cShiva came at the sound of his boy\u2019s distress?\u201d Jehovah asked, a single tear descending his cheek.
\n\t\u201cHe came,\u201d Nichibotsu nodded. \u201cAnd he brought that accursed preserver and tired old grey-beard with him, so that they might weep together over the still warm body of his offspring.
\n\t\u201cHow was it done?\u201d Jehovah whispered hoarsely, struggling to form words round a lump in his throat.
\n\t\u201cWhen I stepped forth from the shadows and proclaimed myself Ganesha\u2019s executioner, they combined into one and lunged forth angrily with many hands to smite me down.\u201d
\n\tJehovah hung his head, seemingly tired. He offered no words, awaiting an answer.
\n\t\u201cA silicate-based matter suffusion beam directed from high orbit,\u201d the Samurai concluded icily, with more than a trace of pride. \u201cEven a stone head may be severed from its body, no matter how many faces it bears.\u201d
\n\tJehovah watched a tear fall to his robes, seeping into the thick fabric.
\n\t\u201cThe others are all gone then? Ba\u2019al, Allah, Waheguru, El?
\n\t\u201cAllah proved difficult,\u201d Nichibotsu acknowledged dismissively with a slight wave of his hand. \u201cFor a hunter cannot hope to discover the identity of a prey whose own followers are taught not to visualise him in their minds.\u201d
\n\t\u201cYet he lived within the words of his prophet,\u201d Jehovah recited miserably, \u201csent down from above to convey the divine message amongst the faithful, so that they might emulate his example and give glory to their God.\u201d
\n\t\u201cI despatched a temporally impervious HK drone to traverse an artificial wormhole into the past,\u201d the Samurai finished. \u201cMy automaton slew Mohammad the day he set foot within this reality, and so erased his many teachings from the fabric of the universe. No word. No God.\u201d
\n\tNichibotsu had expected to see bitterness burning when the old man\u2019s eyes rose again, but instead he saw only pity in the Immortal\u2019s face.
\n\t\u201cTell me Sunset, has the blood of a hundred eternals sated your thirst for vengeance?\u201d
\n\tThe Samurai calmly reached out a hand to the sword beside him, unsheathing the long blade and laying it across his lap in answer.
\n\t\u201cWhat about Susanoo\u201d Jehovah asked. \u201cWhen you agreed to poison his sister, your Kami Mistress, and put out her light in return for that sword in your hands, could you have known the pain which your disgrace would ultimately bring?
\n\tThe God leant forward and placed a warm hand across the Samurai\u2019s own.
\n\t\u201cMust every higher form of life in this universe continue to pay for your mistake?\u201d he asked.
\n\tNichibotsu withdrew his hand, lest the twinge of emotion it brought infect him further.
\n\t\u201cAll must pay,\u201d he replied, rising to his feet.
\n\tJehovah gazed calmly up into his executioner\u2019s face.
\n\t\u201cAnd the mortals you have sworn to protect from our unwanted meddling. Do they not have a choice in whether those whom they willingly give worship to live or die?\u201d
\n\tNichibotsu\u2019s hands slid softly round the grip of his blade like those of a lover.
\n\t\u201cThey cannot know freedom until the last of you are gone,\u201d he said through gritted teeth, moving to stand directly behind the kneeling God.
\n\tJehovah\u2019s eyes focussed upon a small beetle, making its way uncertainly across the vast expanse of the mat.
\n\t\u201cAnd so you make the choice for them?\u201d he observed, reaching out a hand to gently lift the insect up and help it safely on its way. \u201cInteresting.\u201d
\n\tKusanagi-no-Tsurugi\u2019s made a soft whistling sound as Nichibotsu raised it above his head.
\n\t\u201cAnd what of your paymasters?\u201d Jehovah asked, causing the Samurai\u2019s arm to falter mid-stroke. \u201cThe Council of I\u2019hajin – you know what it is that they swear allegiance to, deep in the bowels of that planet?\u201d
\n\t\u201cI know,\u201d Nichibotsu smiled, \u201cand I have a plan for that infernal machine as well.\u201d
\n\t\u201cAnd if it should grow more powerful? And seek to exert its influence across Man\u2019s entire domain?\u201d
\n\tThe Samurai lowered his weapon slightly for an instant, granting the God an answer to his question.
\n\t\u201cThe preparations have already been made. I seeded I\u2019Haji\u2019s atmosphere with an aggressive breed of nanite before I left. The abomination will not live long.\u201d
\n\tJehovah bowed his head forward slightly, presenting the pale flesh of his neck to Nichibotsu\u2019s blade.
\n\t\u201cThen you truly have become the most powerful of all entities my child,\u201d he whispered. \u201cPerhaps it is we who should worship you?\u201d
\n\tThe tip of Nichibotsu\u2019s sword plunged deep into the earth at the end of its killing stroke. He left it embedded there, quivering beside a pile of fresh dust, having no further use for it. Donning his armour, he made his way back to the surface.
\n\tOutside, the storm still raged. Black filth fell relentlessly from the sky, spattering across Man\u2019s rusted past like oil. The Amenonuhoko\u2019s Captain signalled his ship and stood waiting for retrieval in the pouring rain, corruption slowly seeping beneath the folds of his armour. He would not return to this place again he decided, as he watched the darkening clouds. After all, such a lowly inconsequential world as this was no place for a God to walk. \t <\/p>\n
Carl Barker’s work has previously been included in magazines such as Title Goes Here, Niteblade and The British Fantasy Society Journal, as well as numerous anthologies, including Shadow Masters \u2013 An Anthology from The Horror Zine, The Alchemy Press Book of Urban Mythic 2 and Terror Tales of The Scottish Highlands. His first collection will be published by Parallel Universe Publications. A more detailed bio is available at his website: www.holeinthepage.co.uk<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The Amenonuhoko cut through the space between worlds like a blade through grass. Nichibotsu stood on the observation deck, staring out into the shifting darkness. Space folded in on itself, manipulated into an endless interstellar origami by the ship\u2019s drive plates, lurching forward towards its final destination in an erratic series of jumps. A crewman …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":100848,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,19587],"tags":[19586],"class_list":["post-125432","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-fiction","category-tcl-25-fall-2017","tag-the-colored-lens-25-autumn-2017","entry entry-center"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/thecoloredlens.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/125432","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/thecoloredlens.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/thecoloredlens.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/thecoloredlens.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/100848"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/thecoloredlens.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=125432"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"http:\/\/thecoloredlens.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/125432\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":139460,"href":"http:\/\/thecoloredlens.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/125432\/revisions\/139460"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/thecoloredlens.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=125432"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/thecoloredlens.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=125432"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/thecoloredlens.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=125432"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}