tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28232890988329011842024-03-13T11:22:01.289-07:00Derelict VoiceUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger148125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2823289098832901184.post-19548707030002873472014-08-24T16:27:00.000-07:002014-08-24T16:27:26.354-07:00Email to a Lesbian FriendSo, weird story:<br />I sometimes look at the dating ads on Craigslist and even posted one or two<br />Mostly I receive scams trying to get personal info and credit card #<br />Did meet one very nice woman from Cottonwood a couple years ago, we had lunch in Chico<br />Met a woman from Brazil, I don't speak Portuguese and she didn't speak English<br />She was very pretty<br />Recently a woman from Shasta County started talking, then went silent<br />But
I read a news item and connected it to some information she shared and I
realized that she had to leave California and never return (Warrants,
but not for being bad herself)<br />A person from Chico answered me as well, told me she is well known in town and didn't want to send a picture.<br />I sent her the UTube up above and she loved it, said the nicest things about Dad.<br />So I sent my picture, nothing ever since.<br />But her name is on her email and I Googled her, found a Chico person with that name<br />And a picture.<br />I recognized her at once and she probably recognized me.<br />We don't know each other but she is at a public event each week, very well known<br />And very beautiful, in my opinion<br />We go to the same coffee bar<br />Before I saw her pic I said we should have coffee,<br />Sadly I'm not going to the public event this week<br />Since she did not respond to me I guess I can't say anything to her without being pushy and creepy<br />But it is interesting to see that there are indeed real people cruising those posts<br />Actually, last year I saw one of the young women that works at a local store had an ad<br />Alas, all the ones that slip away...<br /><br />I have a fantasy involving you but don't worry<br />I goes that you meet a cool bisexual woman, bring her here on a visit, she and I fall in love<br />
You drive home alone<br />Now you've heard that you'll never bring a girlfriend around<br /><br />Peace and love,<br />BenJames B. Mielkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03882204685816642141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2823289098832901184.post-51881988836828563902014-08-19T15:06:00.001-07:002014-08-19T15:06:27.511-07:00Cardomon II: Sketches for Chapter Seven<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Colonist’s hostility
toward Leon was high, Hermione made a command decision for his safety: “We’ll
escort him to Firstown and secure him for trial.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Luenda was ready to
secure him that moment, hand rested upon her knife hilt, eyes rested upon the
prisoner: “Waste of time, we know what he’s done. Savaged our community and
murdered Chowder! We finished Jason’s life, let’s do the logical thing… ”
fingers curled around the weapon handle.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“I don’t know you, you
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saw affinity. Each had a long cast to her view, knit brows rimmed deep sockets,
return looks flashed.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Not angry, proud and
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">She liked the older
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Luenda relaxed, her hand
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Yes—we’ll render
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“You’re the new space
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<a name='more'></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">A sweet smile under a
combat helmet: “Hermione Chockswindae, master of the Almanor. Whom have I
pleasure… ?”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“I’m Luenda Mucetti—I
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“I have heard of you.
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Puzzled, Luenda followed
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Alicia spoke: “We met
yesterday,” removed helmet. “Just for a minute and in all of the craziness… ”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Recognition: “Peter’s
new girlfriend?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Sort of… It’s Edzelian
I really love… ”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Post-combat tension
broke and Luenda laughed with a tummy rub and a hip slap, Hermione and Alicia
grinned with her.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Music drew them to the
door: violin and percussion, fast, brilliant, double and triple-timed,
syncopated. Chloe opened the Old Firstown shed’s door, Pyteman followed her in.
The sound expanded around them, reverberated from a high ceiling and bare
walls.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">The musician was solo,
upon a small wooden stage—Kaila. Hair pinned up, in an exercise halter and
shorts, on her feet were hard-soled wedge shoes.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">She played and danced a
hot leg-chop, kicking steps banged the stage like a drum, heel and toe clappers
helped accent and interest, feral shouts reinforced it.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">In full session, not
expecting visitors, oblivious.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Pyteman and Chloe found
chairs and took positions of admiration.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">She saw them and halted
with one sudden high kick stomp that rattled the walls. Made an ankle deep bow,
lifted the fiddle and stick over her rump, came up with a ‘Whew!’ and tossed
the sweat off of her brow. Catching wind, she let them speak.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Chloe: “Fantastic! How
do you do that?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Lotta practice. It’s my
workout, I drink whiskey—calories, dance them off and keep my tiny waistline,
the kick steps build the derriere… “ she wriggled her rounded out shorts
saucily.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Pyteman: “We’re not
intruding… ?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Ready to pack it in,
been here an hour. Speaking of whiskey, can I offer?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Visitors nodded happily.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">There was a cabinet, she
put the instrument atop and pulled a bottle from a shelf, three glasses.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Dragged two chairs over,
seat and bar. She poured.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Chloe: “Jolrae told us
to look in on this. He said you draw a scene… ”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“They pop in and watch,
someone brings a guitar or Patty will have her clarinet—she dances too, not the
kicking thing. It gets social sometimes,” her smile claimed a broad definition
for the word ‘social’.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Pyteman spoke over his
tumbler: “We’d like to arrange a band. I’m having my workmen convert an empty
warehouse into a showroom. The real deal: stage, sound and lights, casino on
the side and a restaurant kitchen. Only thing missing is an orchestra.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“That’s exciting! When
will you open?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“The work should take
about three months.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Rehearsal time—I know
everybody with an instrument, we’ll do it! Would this be a paid gig?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Pyteman laughed and
Chloe stretched indulgent lips, he spoke: “You’re sharp! We’ll make an
arrangement—credit on your catalog accounts?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Sipping warm whiskey
with a smooth smile, Kaila said: “Yeah, we’ll make an arrangement… ”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">They found the abandoned
shoulder bags and deduced that there was still a weapons cache nearby. Luenda
led a search party uphill from where they first encountered the late renegades.
It didn’t take much poking to discover the crevice and the hollow space behind.
The floor was still knee deep in lethal hardware, what they couldn’t see was
the quantity that Cal had removed and concealed high up in the foliage of a
densely leafed tree, nor did they discover a single pharmaceutical.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">The artist watched them
from his burnt-hollow trunk, covered in soot. He wasn’t that disappointed, the
items they recovered were of less interest to him, many were too heavy to
handle alone.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">But the day was warming
up and he had been drinking only creek water since leaving the cliff-top still.
He decided to go to Drunkard’s Den, already a preferred location.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Spear carriers Borin and
Sappo confronted him at the entrance to the stillhouse clearing. They were old
friends blinded by drugs and alcohol. Cal offered a vial of white pills: “Here
boys.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Suddenly they recognized
him and lowered their weapons.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Delgard greeted him at
the A-frame shed: “Man, you need a bath! Go jump in the river.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Gimme a drink!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Delgard saw eyes he
wasn’t going to argue with, went inside and fetched a jug.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Cal gurgled it, let the
liquor splash down his chin, it dissolved the soot, made thick black streams
down his shirt.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Yet another new
environment, Taralisa’s Garden, Mabutu explored. As at Branch House rising
before dawn and following shadows. He looked though windows and wondered about
the artifacts and people inside. Questions: What? Why? Who? Lack of answers
made him anxious. He tried doors, none were locked, latches and hinges were
smooth and silent.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Not yet bold enough to
enter, he looked through the opened portals, frustrated.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">The move helped
Salyanna’s spirit, finished the physiological side of recovery. Sweet mountain
air and misty cascades pulled her away from convalescence—she took up walking.
Mabutu showed the trails.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Children stayed three
weeks during cleanup and repair at Branch House.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Brothel babe and eunuch
found a favorite spot, a throne shaped boulder adjoining a stair-step brook.
Salyanna took the seat, Mabutu knelt on a log at her hips, put his head on her
lap and they slept the warmer part of the afternoons.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Woke once to find two
children sitting in the stream with the cold water running over their backs and
shoulders, swirling around their laps and feet. They looked quite comfortable.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Without makeup Ali
Battaglia had a simple freckled face, short lashes, no mole, nor dimple and
thin sober lips, Massive hair draped ropy down her frame, the ends tumbled in
the cascade. She spoke to Mabutu’s eyes, on level with hers: “Hi!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Hello… ?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Rajin Syneid had only
shoulders and head above the spume, wet-down, his thin hair virtually
disappeared: “You guys found the good spot,” thin smile was a practiced look,
somber eyes failed to assist the humor.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Mabutu was wary,
Salyanna was curious. Heretofore the native children had avoided the
newcomers—except Luvin’s habit of ambushing the eunuch.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Ali: “We’ve wanted to
see you without grownups around.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Rajin: “Or Luvin… ”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Yeah—without Luvin.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“He’s mean and he
doesn’t like you.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Or us… ”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“He hates everybody,
never talks nice.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“We’ve seen him knock
you down.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Knocks me down when
grownups don’t watch.” Rajin wiped a trickle from his brow: “They don’t notice,
always think it’s play but he likes to make me hurt… ”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“We wanna stop him… ”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“You’re bigger, and if
we get a couple other kids with us, we can knock him down and he’ll see what we
feel.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“The ‘Not Luvin’ club,
see?” She looked to Salyanna’s eyes: “Moms say you’re a kid too, even grownup
the way you are. Said people used to hurt you and we figure that means you can
fight. With you in the club, Luvin has to go away.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Rajin nodded and made a
serious face, unintentionally comic in its severity.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Ali continued: “All us
older kids wanna watch so we gotta make a plan for how we get him… ”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Other kids left him
alone and Luvin was glad for it—they were finally getting the message: he
didn’t like them. He craved solitude and with half the families in the Vale
sheltering Taralisa’s Garden was the largest crowd he’d seen since last year
when NanaMel took him to the Games and the angry Meeting that followed.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">He still had the Boris
carved flute she gave him, kept it away from sight, with other memories of
NanaMel.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">And new memories,
visions of his mother and a madman, triumphant until Luenda entered. A man of
power, driving with fists, taking and forcing—potent. Luvin understood the
madman.</span></div>
James B. Mielkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03882204685816642141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2823289098832901184.post-64799565848210011042014-08-07T09:42:00.000-07:002014-08-08T09:28:19.993-07:00Cardomon: Conceiving Sunrah<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Achen: “Well, we’re
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eyes closed, body relaxed and her face was contented. She played a light melody
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">It worked. Gardul and
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<a name='more'></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">She sat next to Luvin
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Achen and inserted the end with the semen into her vagina.</span></div>
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wants you to do… ”</span></div>
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scheduled the retreat with Synoveh’s most fertile period.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">The fugitive physician
and her apprentice had a secret trail to the Hospice, the route Marcus showed
her last year. She still resented having to sneak, but it was only in Firstown.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">The trail went over the
hill behind, climbed a rugged gulch in the spray of a spring-fed cascade. It
was a fingers-and-toes scramble in places, but crossing the summit fed into a
gentle slope to her destination. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Three dozen cabins, the
Hospice sprawled around and across the lower slopes of the shady hill. It ran
up two stream courses from their union, formed a ‘V’. Gardens and tall trees
covered the hillside between. Hopes were that the high lattice fence was
toddler proof. A bridge crossed at the lowest point of the complex and a tall
new tower topped it: future trellis for grapes, berries and wisteria.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">On this occasion Mellisa
and Jody bore a gift from the Vale. A bright new pennant hand woven and dyed by
Suthra.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Naomi draped it on her
shoulders and climbed the structure, it shook with her movement. Her thighs
straddled the top while she mounted the banner to a short pole sixty feet in
the air.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">She paused to admire the
fabric before unfurling, lifted it to her cheek and took a deep breath filtered
through.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Naomi teetered, the
tower swayed, Mellisa and Jody closed their eyes.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">But she clambered down
safely and returned to their side. They stood on a footbridge and looked in
admiration.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Naomi: “She combs the
fiber from the fur of baby animals? Amazing.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">It flapped: a long green
triangle, at the upper corner was a capital ‘C’ formed by three white
nine-point stars interspersed with three crescent moons, gold, red and blue,
midnight purple filled out the circles. The colors were floral and brilliant.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“While they are asleep,
boss. You should see, Suthra’s hands gotta be light as clouds, critters barely
stir.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Mellisa added: “Because
of the fungus. There aren’t any large predators—before people. Most animals
don’t run away or show fear, they watch you with curiosity. Luenda doesn’t need
to hunt, she can walk up to animals, and Taralisa gets milk from a little thing
like a goat, too.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“But that fiber is
stronger than silk and as light as Suthra’s hands,” Jody finished up.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Mellisa: “I want to see
it from the other side.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Naomi: “Don’t go out
there. Sikar has ‘athletes’ spying. He knows you come around and wants to catch
you. You won’t be safe in their hands.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“What an obsessive man,”
the physician shook the frustration out of her head.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“He needs another
triumph. Breaking up the Meeting wasn’t good enough. He will mount your skull
on a post.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Why?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“He’s frightened and
angry, won’t let go of it. I think the war on Dayron affected a lot of people.
He and Grube lost a lot of their family.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“So did Luenda—in the
same war. And then her Sisters… ”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“I don’t know, Mel… You
can’t analyze the actions of crazy people.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Mellisa, laughing:
“Isn’t that what he says about me?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Don’t joke, he means
you harm.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“He’s interfering with
my life. I have to sneak to visit the babies.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">The
new tower was an open trellis structure that didn’t obscure views. Naomi wanted
to get the physician away from the road and Sikar’s spies. She hooked Mellisa’s
elbow and turned her around: “Let’s go and help with dinner.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">The
trip took a couple of minutes. They went to yet another new kitchen in the ever
expanding Hospice. The paths twisted and twined, pinched off yards and gardens,
cabin circles and play areas. It was busy and crowded, parents carried babies
in slings and papooses, toddlers explored the ground level Universe. The
atmosphere was happy noise.</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">The
atmosphere in the kitchen was chaotic noise, a half-dozen cooks bustled in a
cloud of gossip and dirty jokes. It was open-roofed and three-walled, a brick
oven/grill dominated the central space, rising over the firepit like an altar.</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">Master
Chef Jody took over supervision. Mellisa went to the basin to peel and scrub
vegetables, joined Achen.</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">Half
the meal was native fodder: wild marsh-grain stew flavored with onions, turnips
and sweetroot, three different forest berries blended in filling pink-eye pies,
spicy Cardomian greens tossed salad with lettuce and cabbage.</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">During
the cooking Mellisa and Jody discussed Tamborak, the farm and the Actionists.
Tamborak’s escape was still news in Firstown: Sikar demanded the fugitive’s
immediate arrest and repatriation.</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">Looking
up from the pie dough, Gardul spoke: “Brenda is completely right. It’s
intolerable: we don’t have control of our colony. I’ll carry a crossbow!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">Achen
seconded: “Slavery is the worst abuse ever invented.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">Patricia:
“What’s next?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">Jody:
“Go back out there.” He stood at the stewpot, stirred with a long wooden spoon.</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">“We‘ll
scout the whole layout,” Mellisa shouted over the running faucet: “We have
enough Actionists to start field camps in the wilderness. There has to be a way
to reach the people—there are thirty young women and boys locked in the brothel
and they never go outside. If we can just get in there… ”</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">Jody:
“Tamborak thinks he can talk to some of the workers. He’s an amazing guy. You
can see he’s scared shitless of the farm but he’s ready to go back. ‘For the
pretty girls’, he says. Gotta love that spirit.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">“We’re
leading him over the high pass next week. With Taralisa, Suthra and Peter.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">Gardul:
“I want to go.” He addressed the Hospice Keeper: “Naomi, may I be temporarily
excused from my duties?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">Achen
yelled: “Wait a minute. I want to go, too.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">She
worked on the salad alongside Patricia and Kaila, trimmed peppers and carrots:
“I can’t spare both of you, you’re too good with the kids. But the colony’s Archivist—that’s
me, did you know?” The title was her brand new invention. “The Archivist must
keep everything under observation for the maintenance of history. I can’t go,
much to my regret. You are both shrewd and detailed, good witnesses. One or the
other, take turns. This enterprise will be around for a while.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">Gardul
faced his partner: “Who goes first? Shall we race?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">“You
called it. Have fun out there—don’t stay too long.”</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">Mellisa:
“They may take as long as four weeks.” Jody nodded agreement.</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
“Sounds like an eternity.”</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
“It’s going to seem longer after you hear my next
bit of news… ” She stopped the water, turned a grinning face at them: “I looked
in on Synoveh, you two have something to celebrate—she’s expecting.”</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
Suddenly aquiver with pride, Gardul stepped away
from the breadboard and went to Achen, his partner was also lit up with
powerful emotion.</div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"></span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">The men held and hugged, kissed family kisses and wept with joy. Achen got flour handprints on his backside.</span></span></span> </span>James B. Mielkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03882204685816642141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2823289098832901184.post-16412048302324278762014-08-03T15:13:00.000-07:002014-08-03T15:13:09.891-07:00Cardomon II: More Interesting Than Murder<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Once again Roxie assisted
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Roxie tried to question
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">It was later than
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the pond side opening in the picket wall. T’Hortz stood watch under full red
and quarter blue moons. When not defending his community he collected reeds,
wove mats and baskets, there was a particular fiber that made strong slick
ropes popular all over Homestead.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">The sentry was twenty
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">She was sleeping again,
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">When Bobol didn’t kill
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">He only wanted a private
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">She eased her spine, let
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Why?”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Cal told me… I do what
he says, he’s Cal. I have to.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Are you in love with
the guy?”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">She nodded ‘Yes’:
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blouse again: “C’mon… lie down.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">He’d used herbs for the
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<br /></div>
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<br />
James B. Mielkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03882204685816642141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2823289098832901184.post-44319845296584551892014-08-03T15:09:00.002-07:002014-08-03T15:09:20.776-07:00Cardomon: Spaceport Battle<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Nubieber was nodding
sleepily before he saw them, he jolted awake when Ricardo applied the brakes.
The commander recognized Bobol and Hildy, the third man was a colonist and
unknown. But runaways were designated targets. Nubieber’s hands went to the gun
and swiveled it to cover the trio, he squeezed the trigger. The gun fired a
two-second burst before Chattagong put his hands around Nubieber’s neck and
started to throttle the manager.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Seized from behind and
restrained by the safety belt, Nubieber was helpless. Chattagong bore down on
his collar and clutched his throat tighter and tighter. There was no choice but
to die.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Ricardo twisted around
and looked up at the strangler: “What’d you do that for?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“You wanted him to shoot
Bobol and Hildy?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“No. But now we can’t go
back.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Now we’re free.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Ricardo went silent and
Jason crawled from the passage to the front: “What’s going on?” When he stood
up behind Ricardo his eyes were level with Chattagong’s belt.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“I killed Nubieber.
We’re going to use this machine and break out everybody.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Are we?” Jason went to
the ladder into the turret, climbed up to Chattagong’s side and put his head
out through the hatch. The top of the tractor was a spot of darkness amid the
flood of light glaring from its flanks.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Chattagong: “My Karin
died. Yesterday. Somebody was playing too roughly… One of her cribmates told me
she turned into that purple dust and disappeared. This fucking planet’s too
weird for me.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Too bad, she was a good
lay.” Jason paid little attention, watched the landscape outside.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">He saw Hildy, crouched
over a prone figure—it looked like the colonist Jody—administering first aid.
Bobol stood in the foxhole and pointed a crossbow at the tractor, blinded by
the lights.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Jason shouted: “It’s
okay. We killed him.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Bobol: “Killed who?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Nubieber—he was
supervising the patrol. Corman’s getting wise to us.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Hildy lifted his eyes to
the machine: “Jody has a bullet in his shoulder, he’s bleeding badly. I need to
get him into camp.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Chattagong: “You take
him. We’re going to liberate the women.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“You can’t attack the
spaceport. Corman will torch the barracks. You’ll start a massacre.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Karin’s dead. I’m
getting the rest of them out of there. They can either die tonight in a sudden
massacre or keep dying from a slow one. Anybody that dies will be better off
anyway, you know that.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Jason: “We’ve been on
half rations all winter. Now we killed Nubieber, can’t go back. We got to make
this move, prove we still got balls.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Chattagong: “You got
balls, Hildy? Or have you given them to colonist babes?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“You look kind of fat.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">The barbs were
effective, triggered self-conscious guilt. Abandoning his loyalties to Glatz
meant turning his back on a barracks full of comrades, but Hildy’s new life was
sweet and precious, connecting in love with Jody polished everyday experience,
it shined brilliantly for him. Ashamed for leaving his old friends, though, the
shine had tarnish already.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“All right,” he shouted
at the tractor. “We got a small army out here. Not a lotta guns but plenty of
crossbows—remember Merlo? They work. Let me get Jody to camp and then we’ll
bring the troops. Give us three or four hours and we’ll rendezvous at the
entrance to the farm.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Chattagong: “That’s a
long time waiting.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“You won’t take the
spaceport with just that tractor. I’ll bring the troops. We can do it. Only a
few hours to rally them all.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Jason: “Okay. Three
hours. Get your people, we’ll be ready.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Chattagong took the
headset radio from Nubieber’s ear. He put it on: “Hello? Anybody there?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Corman’s voice came
through: “Yeah. Who is this?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Chattagong. Did you
hear Nubieber die?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Yeah.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“You’re next.” He took
off the radio and threw it out of the hatch.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
Cardomonas is an aerobic organism. In the symbiotic
phase of its life cycle it obtains oxygen from its host. If the host should
expire from anoxia, as in drowning or strangulation, the resident portion of
the fungus dies as well—there is no eruption of purple disks, other decay processes
take over. Luenda was clever about inventing strangulation traps for her fur
harvesting, making crafty nooses from leather and gut. Poor throttled
Nubieber’s body remained for his killers to deal with.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
Hildy took off his jacket and shredded it with a
knife then packed a compress for Jody’s wound as best he could and tied it on
with long strips lashed around the torso. The patient continued to bleed, it
seeped through bandages, but the Actionist camp was only a mile away with a
complete field medicine station.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
They helped Jody to unsteady feet and he used
Hildy’s left arm for a buttress. Passage under the fence was the worst of it,
the access trench was narrow, intended to be wormed through with a lot of
shoulder action. Jody went on his backside, pushed with his lower legs, Hildy
was directly ahead clearing rocks from the path and he lifted Jody’s collar,
helped him move and kept the wound off of the ground.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
When they emerged on the surface the tractor was
rolling away with their light source. They hurried across the cleared ground
and into the brush.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
Chowder and Gardul were in camp and took charge of
the casualty. They were good field surgeons and had a complete dressing
station. They put Jody on a backboard on the ground and squatted over him as
they worked. They removed the bullet and patched him up, gave him a pain killer
and fluids. Afterward, Jody’s arm felt swaddled and hot but comfortable enough,
he could barely wriggle the fingers.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
Meanwhile, Hildy and Bobol explained the situation
and there was a conference, Actionists gathered in a crowd around the aid
station.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
Gardul looked up from his work: “I’m ready for it,
I’m tired of running around these camps and doing nothing. You guys say the
security there is really thin.”</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
Hildy shook his head: “Corman knows that. The whole
crew there are his hostages. Barracks and the brothel are packed with
flammables ready for a torch.”</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
“Jason and Chattagong don’t care.”</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
Leon: “They’re crazy. Everybody at the farm’s going
whacked. We’re out here to take the place—maybe this isn’t the slickest move,
but it is a move. They make a half-assed play with that tractor and they got no
back-up, it will be a disaster. I won’t let my buddies go in there alone.”
There were other, unvoiced, thoughts in his mind. Life with the colonists was
pleasant, but he craved exotic excitements not available in the free world.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
Hildy nodded: “It looks like a disaster whichever
way… Bobol, what do you think?”</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
He looked from Hildy to Leon, then regarded the
dozen colonists with them, his head shook: “Good people die, it’s a shame. Most
you folks never been in a fight. Crossbows… they have machine guns. I don’t
want to chicken out, but this looks stupid—Corman will burn that brothel,
everyone in it. But Chattagong was right, they’re all dying in there anyway.
Maybe this is their only chance… I don’t know… don’t like it. But if we’re
gonna go—let’s go.” He looked down at his toes and went silent.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
It was Brenda’s turn: “We shouldn’t even be talking
about this. We call ourselves Actionists, it’s time to make that real, do some
Action. That farm doesn’t belong here on our world and those workers need us. I
don’t want Rajin growing up on a slave planet so we have to do this.”</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
The voice went around the circle, nobody expressed
restraint, nobody was going to be the coward.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
Weak from blood loss, Jody slept the rest of the
night away, but in his dreams he went to that other space: It was there and
used her green eyes, Jody walked with his memories from the physician and he
healed.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
A dozen Actionists dispersed from the main camp to
assemble the forces. Scattered across the plains and marsh, eight field camps,
more than seventy people, surrounded farm and spaceport.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
After throwing his body out the side hatch Jason and
Chattagong tied Nubieber to the front of the tractor beneath the armor housing
for the forward gun. They spread his wrists and ankles, formed the corpse as a
large ‘X’. Ricardo turned the machine about and drove it back to the farm’s
main gate. They waited. Jason had a few doses of a popular stimulant—flush—and
they shared the drug to help bring up the fighting edge.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
There was no plan, no organization of forces. Forty
Actionists rendezvoused with the tractor. Others moved across the countryside
almost randomly, converged on the spaceport gate, they gathered wood as they
traveled. Further back, the stragglers and latecomers filtered over the
landscape, unclear of their objective.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Nubieber led the
advance, angry foot soldiers in his wake. With floodlights, engine noise and
agitated mob, stealth was impossible. They crossed the half-mile of road and
turned right at the wall. Under the security lamps they expected hostile
artillery raining down at any moment and the infantry stayed out in the
shadows. But no attack came. They arrived near the midpoint of the wall and
stopped. The tractor turned about to face it, moved back for space to build
momentum before impact. Nubieber was still on point.</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
They waited, anticipating a diversion, if one were
possible. To the east the first silhouette of the horizon tokened the coming
day.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
Tamborak was asleep when Brenda came around, but he
roused quickly and they called a dozen people awake. The crowd went for the
spaceport gate, their only idea for a diversion was to light a bonfire. They
gathered wood and brush as they went and rallied any other troops they found,
assembled a mound of fuel nearly as high as the wall. The damp materials
smoldered and smoked before blazing up. There was no response from within.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Ricardo drove the
tractor, Chattagong rode at the turret gun and Jason followed on foot, carrying
a rifle. When they saw flames and sparks rising from afar they moved forward.
The tractor had fifty yards before hitting the wall.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Nubieber exploded on
impact. The wall bowed inwards and cracked at the section joints. Part of the
top rail fell, pulled down the tangle wire and the exterior floodlights went
out.</span></div>
<div class="Cardomon" style="text-indent: .5in;">
The tractor backed up for another
run and more lights came on inside the wall. A harsh metallic horn brayed
deafeningly. The tractor charged and rammed a second time, a wide slab of
concrete collapsed in front of it leaving jagged rebar teeth rising from the
footings. Arching over the gap, heavy lintel blocks dangled from reinforcing
wire—the broken teeth of the upper jaw.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">The forward armor on the
tractor had crumpled, folded over the remnants of Nubieber and the gunner’s
seat had merged with the radiator, clouds of steam shrouded the front end. But
it still operated and Ricardo guided the machine up onto the rubble, foot
soldiers swarmed alongside. Blinded by the vapors and the lights they passed
through the mouth. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Chattagong started
shooting, aimed short bursts at the spotlights. The defenders returned fire and
the first wave of attackers fell down. Some were shot but most scrambled for
cover beneath fragments of the wall. Jason and a handful of others stayed close
behind the tractor, crouched low, shooting around its flanks.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The
front tires went flat but the drive wheels were metal and the machine continued
onward, scarcely under control. Chattagong had good aim, the lights were
systematically extinguished and opposing fire steadily diminished.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Just
as the last spotlight died there were two fiery explosions in the darkness
somewhere ahead of the attack. Flames and oily black smoke roiled into the
dawning sky, the sound of agonized screams arose.</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
The defending gunfire ceased, but the tractor
stopped as well when the front wheels buckled and it nosed into the ground.
Attacking forces clambered through the breach in the wall.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
The bonfire roared, brushy green tinder smoked and
sparked, belched orange and black flickers.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
Sounds of battle came from afar.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
Most Actionists at the gate ran toward the gunfire
and alarms and joined the main combat.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
Brenda and Tamborak stayed, anticipated a break-out.
Brenda carried a pistol, Tamborak had a crossbow, a few others stood at their
side.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
The explosions: two fireballs flamed up behind the
wall, there was a roar of a heavy motor.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
The gate burst open with force that scattered the
bonfire fifty yards.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
A second armored tractor rolled through the opening,
its machine guns blazed.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
The Actionists had no chance, Brenda, Tamborak and
four others were raked with slugs, dead before they reached the ground.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">The tractor turned onto
the main road and accelerated, attackers came behind, ducked machine gun fire.
It continued to gain speed and pulled away toward the hills. Two miles from the
spaceport the top-heavy vehicle sped into a hairpin turn and lost balance. It
tilted against the embankment, skidded along the road cut for two hundred yards
and then rolled onto its left side when the berm ran out into a creekbed. The
machine slid another dozen yards and slammed to a halt at the bottom of the
gully.</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
The turret hatch flew open and five persons, bruised
and battered, emerged. Corman was the first to crawl out, rifle ahead, his
right leg limped. Another man rubbed a massive bruise under his left ribs,
breathed with obvious pain, stiff hips and rigid spine, he moaned
involuntarily, loudly.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
Sounds of pursuit came from the direction of the
spaceport. They fled toward Firstown, a slow, grim, struggle. It was nearly
sunrise and garish colors glowed off of buttermilk clouds.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
Around a bend and across the final flat, spanned by
the fence: gate locked.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
They attacked the barrier, threw their weight at one
point and rocked a support post, it gradually loosened in the mud and lay down.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
Back to the road and away from the chase…</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Gardul and Hildy carried
crossbows and entered the spaceport with the first assault, dived to the ground
when the gunfire erupted. Hildy found shelter behind the broken wall, Gardul
fell dead. Hildy didn’t see, he crept forward in the wake of the tractor,
weapon at the ready, but with no target. When the explosions flared out he fell
face to the ground.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">The gunfire went silent
and people came up from behind. Hildy rose and ran toward rising flames. He
heard screams ahead.</span></div>
<div class="Cardomon" style="text-indent: .5in;">
The brothel and the barracks burned.
Both structures were locked from the outside, the windows were barred. People
trapped inside beat at the doors, screaming and choking and dying. All the
attackers could do was stand back from the intense heat. Hildy ran for a
firehose, only to discover the water pressure turned off.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">Sun
came up, the battle was over. Actionists had complete control of the spaceport
and their objective was in flames. For ten minutes all they could do was stand
clear and listen to agony.</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">Somebody
ran to an equipment yard and returned with a tractor. He used the earth moving
blade to knock a corner support from the brothel, then he peeled a wall away
from it’s columns.</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">A
rescue access.</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">He
moved the tractor to the main barracks and repeated the demolition.</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">Hildy
found the power switches and turned the water pumps on, turned the alarms off.</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">Actionists
wet down blankets and moved in with hoses. The scene inside was grim. Both
structures were littered with corpses: burn victims and smoke asphyxiation,
some were crushed in panicked mobs. Smoke and heat killed fungus too, there
were few piles of purple dust within.</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">But
there were a handful of people still alive.</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">Nine
women and two eunuch boys survived the brothel fire, twenty men escaped the
barracks. But the flames claimed two hundred twenty-four others. Additionally,
twenty four spaceport security officers died from gunshot or crossbow, ten more
surrendered.</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
Ricardo died at the controls of the tractor, besides
Tamborak, Brenda and Gardul, eleven other Actionists fell.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
Old friends Chattagong and Leon used the opportunity
to liberate certain pharmacological materials.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
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James B. Mielkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03882204685816642141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2823289098832901184.post-19633473340999032222014-08-03T15:02:00.005-07:002014-08-03T15:02:52.285-07:00Cardomon: Flood and Murder<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">Flood:
the Mud Yard drowned. Heavy storms pummeled the foothills, overwhelmed streams.
A diversion ditch starts with the millrace from the Sanchez sawyard, at normal
flows up to half of the creek makes the detour loop, irrigates Ruben and
Bokassa’s clay mine, runs into a settling pond and empties back via a concrete
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Ruben was working at the
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bottle, just a nip to warm up from the rain.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Ducked under the sawdeck
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Bokassa forgot the
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it out and bogged down in its turn. Water rising from the marsh filled rutted
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higher than the flood, ran its length to the row of buildings.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">The crew were all inside
the lunch shed. It was deafening: rain pounded the metal roof with a nonstop
rattle.</span></div>
<a name='more'></a><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Farm Manager Ruben
cancelled the day’s work, as the weather evolved that became the week’s work.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Homesteaders had no
winter camp, the fire ring hollow was a shallow lake. They sheltered in
Community Hall, brewed tea and ate warm snacks. Nobody wanted to hike in the
downpour.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Rainy day, rainy night:
they slept on the floor and the stage.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">It let up while the
first pot of tea brewed, sunshine emerged during breakfast. Homesteaders were
anxious, worried about flooding in the Vale.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Ruben Lythum and another
dozen drove a tractor to the trailhead and hiked.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">The path was carefully
graded and drained, but minor creeks had leapt their beds and washed away many
stretches, mudslides and fallen trees barricaded further reaches. Hikers scrambled,
mud slogged, slipped and slid, but they made it to the Vale. Five hours of
struggle, two miles of travel.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Overfilled pond covered
the trail around to the little mesa, but the way to Branch House followed
higher ground, was mostly dry.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Branch House was in the
middle of a construction phase, doubling the original ring of six cabins and
adding to the existing structures.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Enough roofed space for
a night of rest, hot water to sponge away the mud, food and company to rebuild
spirits.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Another storm hit overnight,
six hours of heavy rain stopped an hour before sunrise.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Ruben set out after
breakfast. The trail crosses the lower end of the pond—a marshy run-off
stretch—via a causeway of halved logs upon trestles. Usually the deck is four
feet above the mud but after the storms there was a heavy stream flowing. The
loosely attached logs floated above their footings and rocked under his steps.
Mid span a flow of vegetative debris piled against the bridge, weighed it down
and water ran over the top. Ruben waded a knee-deep current.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Across to the
ground-level trail and another fourteen miles to go.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">This route was the
Homestead Highway. Ruben, Bokassa and Owen Sanchez had been leaders building
it, with help from the iron backbones of Paul and Davey. It was specifically
groomed for the handcarts: they had ganged two hundred heavy loads of materials
building the sawmill and the Mud Yard, and it stood against the brutal weather.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Ruben ran.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">A dozen creeks to cross,
waters up to his navel.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Nearing home, the trail
rises through the bottom hills and descends to a hollow where the Sanchez
sawmill spans an engineered creekbed. There is a wooden bridge high over this
creek twenty yards upstream of the millhouse.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">The whole works were
exposed to view from the bridge, Ruben spotted the open sluice gate and a flood
roaring through the diversion.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Thundering water sound
filled the whole area.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">The trail follows uphill
of the ditch, Ruben sprinted the quarter-mile to the Mud Yard gate.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">He looked down into his
mine: a cascade boomed through the master weir, a second waterfall boiled down
the spillway, between was a two hundred yard long cesspool of swirling muddy
water, froth and scum heaped in the eddies. All the pits, completely inundated.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">His cabin and workshops
crowned a bald hill above the mine. Ruben ran up the porch steps, rushed inside
without removing muddy boots.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Front room cold, dark,
no fire in the hearth. Pikel lay in his crib, he cried.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Light and voices from
the kitchen. Ruben went through.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">A party around the table
drinking mead. Drushina, Bokassa, Owen, Paul: happy as can be. Something in a
pan on the stove burned.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Ruben entered, faced his
wife: “Pikel is hungry.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Bleary eyed, Drushina
looked at him, then noticed the smoking pan: “Shit!” She rose to her feet,
chair tumbled behind as she rushed to the disaster: “I started to boil cereal
for him and we sat down waiting… it’s ruined!” She took the burning meal to the
sink, a cloud of steam erupted when water hit the scorched pan.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Ruben, to Bokassa: “What
happened to the mine?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">The burly drunk stared
rudely at his partner, scratched his jaw and faked a rueful smile. “Storm hit
too fast, I couldn’t reach the gate in time. Now part of it broke loose and we
can’t fix it until the water goes down.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Owen and Paul each
chortled, found amusement in the tale.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Anger and disgust
seethed within Ruben, feelings he rarely felt or expressed. He turned away from
the table and went to a window that viewed the master weir. A solid wall of
brown/green water poured down the face and lapped the top of the abutments.
Foam spumed back nearly as high. “If the weir or the levee go, we’ll lose it
all. They’re not designed for these conditions.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Bokassa came to his
side: “Let’s go inspect, see how it’s holding.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Honey-sweet alcohol
vapors arrived with the words, made Ruben’s disgust physical: a sour burn in
his stomach. Ruben suddenly realized that he hated Bokassa, never wanted to see
him again: “You’re right, we should.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">They went to the front
door.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Drushina fussed over a
fresh pot of cereal. Owen poured drinks for himself and Paul.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Outside, Bokassa sat on
a bench, pulled his mud boots from a niche, started lacing.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Ruben: “I’m feeling
pretty disappointed right now. We prepared for this situation. You shouldn’t
have missed closing the sluice.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Sorry.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“I’m sure we can fix it
once the creek recedes but it will take months to bail out the mine. We can’t
work at all until then.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Yeah, sure. My fault.”
Bokassa rose.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">A slope off the hill led
to the top of the earthen levee. They walked the narrow rim out to the edge of
the master weir.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Three feet below the
dirt a concrete abutment funneled the water into a chute that dropped a dozen
feet to the mine level. The surge in the diversion ditch swirled at the lip, a
torrent roared beneath their feet.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Ruben shouted over the
noise: “Another thing. I don’t appreciate coming in and seeing my son all
neglected while you guys are in the next room all drunk.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Are you sure the boy is
yours? Drushina thinks he has my eyes.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“What?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Bokassa’s right hand
lashed out, palm forward, and smashed Ruben’s chin. The potter’s head snapped
back. His partner put both hands together and rammed him in the chest.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Ruben stumbled backward,
left foot slipped on the edge of the levee and he fell to his right knee.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Bokassa kicked Ruben in
the face, then shoved with his boot heel.</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
Ruben fell, fingers clutched the dirt. Muddy, it
melted under the grasp. He tumbled into the raging water and disappeared.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
But the winter-stars fade: weather eased, floods
receded, the marsh waters ebbed and trails to the camps reopened. The
watercourse route was also clear, improvements made over the past year put the
path mostly out of the water. Jody and Hildy opened Mel’s Camp, broke the snow
over the pass.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
And the summer-star advances: two weeks into the
spring there was a small party in Taralisa’s sky temple.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
Amelia on her shoulder, Suthra attended the
astrologer. At the first light of the sun she pulled forth a new girl, Mellisa:
seven pounds, three ounces, silver haired, green eyed. Peter, Luenda and
Edzelian witnessed for the family.</div>
James B. Mielkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03882204685816642141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2823289098832901184.post-22367778111358079432014-08-03T14:59:00.000-07:002014-08-03T14:59:24.170-07:00Cardomon: Drunkard's Den<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Noon the next:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">After a frosty morning
Peter and Mellisa went out. Down to the pond, left at the junction, one trail
circles the entire water body, the lower end crosses a marshy expanse and a
split-log causeway atop trestles spans muddy streams. They took the other spur,
up the Vale.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Traversed a low
peninsula above pond and marsh, descended to the alluvial valley floor.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Trail forked: main path
to the left. Turned onto the less traveled route, a gentle downhill for another
mile. Deep riparian woods rose around the path, traded spaces with patches of
dry meadow, gravel hummocks and low swales broke up the flats, turned the
country confusing.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Around the point of an
ancient river bar, beneath a pair of leaning trees that buttressed each other
and formed a wooden arch, gateway to a small clearing. At one edge stood a tiny
A-frame cabin with a metal flue pipe rising from the peak, it smoked. Sour
atmosphere reeked of alcohol and something fermenting. Surrounding the shed lay
a jumble of decrepit furniture: ratty sofas, tattered chairs, cabinets, a bed,
all scavenged out of Old Firstown.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">It was a cold day, still
icy in the shadows.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Peter: “Here it is,
Drunkard’s Den. Nobody’s home. Kinda early fer this crowd.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“There’s smoke in the
chimney.”</span></div>
<a name='more'></a><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Someone’s cookin’.” He
trotted ahead, up steps to the cabin’s front porch and pulled the door open. A
cloud of ethanol vapors rolled from within. Peter spied friends: “Derisee!
Delgard!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Two voices: “Peter!”
Delgard, self-proclaimed Mayor of the Den, squint eyed, pot-bellied and
bandy-legged, wore a rough, scissors-cut beard and happy red eyes. Derisee, his
wife and Official Whiskey Taster, pear shaped body and face, flushed, and long
lanky wizened hair, once black.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“C’mon outside. Mel
wants t’ see ya.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">The couple rose,
stumble-walked to the porch, Derisee sat on the edge, her legs dangled: “Did
you bring your guitar?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Peter sat alongside, his
toes touched the ground: “Nah. We got bizz’nizz.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">The physician watched
Delgard come down three steps from the porch to her side. She appraised the couple,
saw problems: “I wanted to know how you folks are doing?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Delgard’s smile had a
hole in the center: “Fine, Doc. We got the good life.” A slight lisp.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">She forced her own
smile: “What happened to your teeth?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Fell down, hit a
rock—hurt like hell!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Anybody look at it?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Taralisa pulled the
stumps and gave me herbs, told me to stop drinking. I still got the herbs.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“You should go to town,
to the clinic. They can fix that.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“It’s all right. Don’t
bother me anymore.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">She didn’t shake her
head, she wanted to cry. She kept a tight smile: “How many people live here?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“About a dozen, comes
and goes. Sometimes we got a real crowd, even Townies!” She watched his tongue
behind the gap.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“I want to see everyone.
Can you show me around?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Sure, Doc. Don’t know
if we’ll see them all. Some guys don’t like to be found, they stay in the
jungle by the river ‘till they want company.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Show me what you can.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Delgard led her across
the clearing, the path disappeared under woodsy shadows.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Peter smiled at Derisee:
“Whatcha cookin’?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“We ferment sweetroot.
Makes good gin.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Mmm… If I weren’t with
Mel I’d have a drop. But, y’ know? I smell a problem.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“What?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Y’ need to vent th’
shack. Them vapors build up near th’ fire and it’s Boom! yer own volcano! An’
all over ya! Delgard’d be a real burning man! Leave th’ door open when y’
cook.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Sorry, Peter. It was
cold this morning. We started cooking just to have a fire—haven’t even had any
gin yet.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Ain’t too late, y’all
catch up. But wait ‘til Mel goes—‘kay? Jus’ courtesy t’ her.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“All right. That’s kinda
sweet, the way you say that. You like her, huh?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“I’m in awe. Always
been, but I’m sorta married to Luenda now. We gotta boy—Edzy!—didn’ y’ know?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“We never hear any news
down here. I’m really glad for you. Luenda… I know her, doesn’t she have
sisters?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Ahhh… They ain’t around
no more.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“That’s too bad. They’re
not dead?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“I can’t say fer sure.
Won’t be back.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“What a shame.” She
shook her head for a few seconds: “So, how come you didn’t bring your guitar?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Not th’ right time.
Maybe I’ll come ‘round later. I got a buncha new songs, learned ‘em last
night.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Really? Did you make
them up?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Nah. It’s a
collaboration. Starts with tunes Mel learned from Jack Conroy—remember him?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Charlene’s husband?
Yeah, he’s a nice singer.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Sorta: we made th’
words last night singin’ by th’ Hearth. Taralisa does th’ best.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Can you sing one?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Smiled: “Not now. Need
my guitar, an’ yer gin.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Mellisa and Delgard
returned fifteen minutes later. Socrates joined them. Shirtless, in ragged
trousers, he showed xylophone ribs and a skeletal face. He walked slowly,
leaned on her elbow.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">The physician, to Peter:
“This man hasn’t eaten in a week! Go! Run to the Hall, raid the larders, bring
as much food as you can. This is an emergency!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">He jumped from his
perch, made a dust cloud with his feet, was gone.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Delgard and Socrates sat
at Derisee’s shoulders.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Mellisa: “You are
getting your calories from alcohol: it’s killing you!”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">They accepted the
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“How do you normally get
food?”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Delgard: “Sometimes we
fish and hunt. Dig sweetroot… ”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Derisee: “We don’t eat
it much. It’s for gin.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Yeah. Sometimes folks
bring food, but they forget, too.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Mellisa: “It’s abysmal!
Nobody should starve, food is everywhere! I’m going to change this situation.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Another trio of nods.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“People die here
sometimes?”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Delgard: “Yeah, Doc.
Sometimes… usually they get sick a few days, booze fever. Turn to dust in their
sleep—just crazy.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">The physician cried.</span></div>
James B. Mielkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03882204685816642141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2823289098832901184.post-12359707743340040892014-08-03T14:56:00.002-07:002014-08-03T14:56:36.370-07:00Cardomon: Mellisa and Glatz<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<h1>
<span style="font-size: large;">CHAPTER FOURTEEN</span></h1>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Jody drove a final
tractor from Firstown to the Golden Hoard on the morning scheduled for the
ship’s departure. It did not have a trailer and carried a lone passenger.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Delevan Glatz was drowsy
and irritable, he hated riding in tractors and didn’t want to chatter, he
already knew most of Jody’s conversation. He tried to sleep and closed his eyes
for the first twenty minutes. The motion was too uneven, the tractor seat
uncomfortable.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">The colony’s farms
slipped past, then the marsh and the machine lumbered into the hills. Glatz let
his eyes drift away to the sandstone cliffs slipping by: a boring succession of
flat yellow surfaces. He nodded.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">He had a right to be
tired, female colonists gave him little time for sleep during his visit. He
could have returned the night before with Fredegar, but there was Missy
SheilaMarie needing company.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">The tractor crawled
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">An alarm made an
annoying tone for ten seconds and the tractor lurched to an automatic halt.</span></div>
<a name='more'></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Jody opened his eyes: “What
did we hit?” He blinked and looked.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Glatz frowned at the
sight.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Mellisa stood in front
of the machine, one hand held her staff and the other was up palm forward
signaling ‘stop!’</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Jody got from his seat
and went out onto the catwalk: “Doc?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“I need to speak with
Mr. Glatz. Please send him down.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Jody returned to the
door and faced his passenger: “Will you go see the Doc?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“She’s wasting my time
here… What does she want?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“I don’t know.” He
turned away and started forward.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">An impatient Mellisa
threw down her staff and scrambled up the driver side ladder. She reached the
top as Jody got there from the cab. The physician brushed past the young man,
rudely crowding him against the handrail and stood in the doorway, faced Glatz:
“Get up! I want a private talk with you!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“I’ll go nowhere with
anybody in such a mood… ”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">His voice failed when
Mellisa drew a large knife from a hip scabbard and pointed it at the center of
his face: “Out! Go to the other door! Now!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Jody responded to the
knife and rushed at the physician.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">She spun and her free
hand yanked the sliding door. It slammed against his reaching forearms and
bounced.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Jody recoiled with a
yelp and she closed the door, set the lock.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Mellisa returned
attention to Glatz: “Get up!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">The merchant rose and
crossed to the passenger door, opened it.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Go on! Go to the
ladder!” She moved with knife at eye level.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Glatz complied.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">She was close behind.
Jody came around the front of the catwalk and Mellisa faced him: “Don’t try to
stop me. I might hurt you and I don’t want to. I will see that Mr. Glatz gets
to his ship.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Glatz: “Where are you
taking me?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“For a walk. Get down
that ladder!” She gave him a hearty shove and he fell—six feet. The merchant
landed on his knees and tore his fine uniform pants.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">The physician came down
and was on top of him before he got to his feet. She picked up her staff and
shouted back to Jody: “Turn it around, go home—there’s nothing you can do.” She
faced Glatz and waved towards her left side: “Move! Head for that gully and
follow it down between the hills.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">He obeyed.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">The drainage led between
a pair of sandstone buttresses and opened up as it descended into the wetlands.
The soil turned moist and then they splashed in mud and inch-deep water.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">They heard the tractor
start up and drive away.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Mellisa led from behind:
she pointed out the shallows and the hummocks, islands and brushy breaks. On
either side were thick mud and silty water, tules hemmed in ponds and flats.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">A terrified and helpless
Glatz moved in a state of shock. The violence was insult enough, but immersion
into the wilderness was even scarier. He experienced a lot of phenomena new to
him: soggy shoes, sweat, bug bites, sunburn and blisters, for starts. He
removed his gold braided and diamond encrusted jacket and draped it over his
shoulder.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">A couple hours of
progress brought them to the top of an island, ten feet above the mire.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Mellisa indicated a
prostrate tree and Glatz sat on the trunk.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">His breath heaved and
his mind swirled with panic, he saw the knife still in her hand and understood
that he was about to die. Inwardly he cursed his libido and vanity—they left
him vulnerable—the only reasons he went into the colony without a security
officer.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Glatz eyes went up to
the horizon and his spirit did a brief rebound. The Golden Hoard was there,
just another few miles away… He saw the intervening country: an unbroken sea of
muddy water and tules, no high ground at all, only twining channels and wet
expanses. It looked hopeless again.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">He turned toward his
abductor: “Why did you bring me here?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“We need to get
acquainted: you, me and the marsh.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“The swamp? I’ve seen it
now—thanks.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Really? What did you
see?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“You should know, you
were right behind me.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“So you do have some
powers of observation. What did you see? How many different birds?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“I got no margin on
birds. What do I know about birds?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“I’m asking you. We only
saw a fraction of them, I’ve identified over three hundred species unique to
this wetlands.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“You must be pleased.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“I was. Then I saw in
your development plans a water project that diverts the major headwaters
stream. Without water the wetlands become dry lands.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Did you bring me here
to watch me cry over that? One less swamp is what I see.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Mellisa stared cold
silent eyes and Glatz realized he may have pushed back too hard—the knife was
only a foot in front of his nose.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“You really don’t care?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“For birds? No—they’re
everywhere. When I corner the market, then I’ll care.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“I’m talking about
life—the planet. I live here and I love this place. You are a dangerous
predator, shouldn’t be on the loose—not on my world!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Glatz snorted
derisively: “Now I have your opinion, for whatever it’s worth.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“I wish I had the
courage… ”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">He hung his head, closed
his eyes and waited for the knife.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“I don’t. Probably a
good thing. I bet your ship has powerful weapons—they would retaliate, wouldn’t
they? Against the entire colony.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Glatz looked up again:
“I can burn your town off of the planet—every last tamned colonist, turn ya all
to biscuits. And why shouldn’t I?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Because you see profits
here. I’m equally certain that the Planetary Foundation is watching your
mission. They disapprove of genocide, I believe.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Don’t count on them—I’m
a Trustee!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Mellisa shook her head:
“The entire Galaxy is a tangle of influence and connections. I know a little of
your life—my father is Reginald Shannon.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Oh,” his eyes went back
to the knife in his face: “I’ve heard of you… ”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Then you know that I’m
serious. And I’m going to stop you—cut so deeply into your precious margins
that you bleed away all the profit. We’ll see how long Glatz Enterprises holds
out.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Good luck.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“You will be needing the
luck, soon. I’m going to leave you here.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“You do lack courage.
I’ll die without a guide. If you believe what you say you should just kill me.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“You won’t die. You told
us you read maps.” She opened a breast pocket and removed a folded paper: “That
topographic data we shared… Here it is again.” She spread it and handed it to
him, came behind, leaned over his shoulder and pointed out the route. She spoke
at length.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“That’s too much to
remember.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Mellisa gave him a
pencil: “Make notes. I’ll start at the beginning: Down this way—south—follow
this line of reeds until you are directly opposite that tree stump. Look
up—along my finger—see the stump. That gets you out there. Then you go west and
cross a clearwater channel, you should find two mossy boulders at the right
spot… here, on the map… ” she talked on for ten minutes.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Glatz wrote furiously:
notes on the back of the map and line figures on its face. He wrote with the
paper across his thigh, the pencil poked through and stabbed him repeatedly.
All the while he felt the knife, she rested her hand on his spine, the back of
the blade rubbed the back of his neck.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Mellisa picked up her
staff and stood in front of him, took a final look: “You’ll remember this day,
and me. Likely we’ll never meet again. I’ll oppose your operations and maybe
run you out. Your margin here must be slender to start with, I will undermine
it in any way that I can.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“As a Public Health
officer I am duty bound to advise you against drinking the marsh water. The
microbes will turn your guts inside out—it’s gruesome.” This was a lie,
intended to make his ordeal worse.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">She turned away and went
down the slope east, disappeared between reeds at the edge of a pond full of
black water.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Glatz looked at the map,
looked ahead at dark water, at the reeds and the stump a quarter-mile beyond.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">One step forward, his
left foot disappeared into the water and he felt the semi-solid bottom. Bubbles
arose, they smelled of rotten eggs. His shoe stuck. He pulled and struggled, it
didn’t yield. He put the map in his teeth while he knelt and unfastened the
shoe, wriggled his foot loose. He splashed up to his whiskers and the map
smudged.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Then his right shoe
stuck and he repeated the mess.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Eventually Glatz waded
barefoot in hip deep water. The heavy jacket on his shoulder was a burden, it
was wet and chafed the base of his neck. His underwear bunched up and made a
raw hot spot of his crotch.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">The sludgy liquid was up
to his waist, holes dropped him to the armpits.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">It was brilliant with
sun glare, his eyes burned and the afternoon turned hot. He was thirsty,
surrounded by water he feared to drink.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Glatz’s emotions
seesawed—exhaustion and mucky misery bred despair, the idea of just laying down
in the ooze and disappearing had a certain charm. But he imagined water-rats,
maggots and leeches, skin-eating molds and fought his way to survival by
thinking of justice. The woman was going to pay—least of all for the diamonds
and gold lost with the jacket he discarded in the first couple of miles.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Glatz enjoyed punishing
disrespectful women, he indulged revenge fantasies on Mellisa. That propped him
up for another hour.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">The sun moved ominously
near to the horizon and the despair returned. After all of the struggle he
feared a bitter, wet, ending.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">The reeds were twice his
height, cloaked the sight of the Golden Hoard until he was nearly at her
flanks. The ground rose above the level of the waters, grass filled in for the
reeds and his ship loomed ahead.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Sentries spotted him and
shouted as he collapsed in heaving exhaustion.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Jody watched the two
figures move down the creekbed until they passed behind a screen of vegetation.
His forearms throbbed from the slam of the tractor door and his head was
spinning through a variety of responses.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">He went back into the
cab and started the motor, turned the tractor around, a complicated maneuver
atop the narrow road, ten minutes of back and forth jogs.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Jody needed an authority
figure, there was only one in the colony: Homer.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">The tractor had a radio,
but it was short-range, for job-site communication. And the other colony radios
were all on the tractors working in the fields—nobody that Jody cared to report
to. He drove past the farms and on toward town.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Half an hour later he
drew up inside the tractor barn to look for the Administrator.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Homer was in his office,
he went out into the barn at the tractor’s approach and looked up.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">The machine stopped,
Jody stepped out onto the catwalk: “The Doc grabbed Delevan Glatz!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“I’ve just been in
contact with his ship. They told me you didn’t get there. What happened?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Jody climbed down: “She
turned up out on the road. In the hills near the swamp. Came into the tractor
and pulled a fat knife on him. She was in some kind of a state!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“She took him away?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Out to the swamp—she
said she would get him to his ship—didn’t say ‘alive’. But that was the
direction they went.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Can you get
people?—let’s do a search. I’ll contact the Golden Hoard again.” Homer went
back into his office.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">A dozen colonists made a
cross-country sweep starting at the location Mellisa and Glatz vanished. Four
hours into the search they discovered the merchant’s jacket.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Then Homer received a
message that Glatz arrived at the Golden Hoard, safe. The Administrator rode a
tractor to the ship to return the precious mud spattered garment. He estimated
the jacket’s value exceeded all of the material assets in the colony, more
dirty money than he ever saw in one place.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">A squad of officers
stood outside the ship. Fredegar waited for Homer to reach the ground. He
received the soiled jacket and escorted the Administrator into the vessel, to a
small compartment. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Glatz sat behind a desk.
He was freshened and in clean new garments identical to the ruined outfit—even
the jacket.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Homer and Fredegar took
seats. Glatz had a bottle of single-malt whiskey from Manton—the Galaxy’s
finest. He offered a drink to the Administrator—declined. The merchant had a
small glassful over shaved ice. It wasn’t his first of the evening.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“I have been violated! Grossly
assaulted by one of your colony. What do we do?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“We don’t know all of
the facts yet… ”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Only one important fact
to think about: that madwoman tried to kill me! I need satisfaction. Where is
she?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Homer spread his hands
helplessly: “I don’t know—she’s good with the terrain. But we will find her,
there is no place to go.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“My time is my most
valuable commodity—personally I deal in time, money and power. My time—you
understand?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Homer nodded.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“I’m staying on for a
few days. I want to give you the chance to bring me that madwoman—to me. She’s
going to face my justice—my time is for my justice. Got that?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Homer nodded: “Our basic
plan—the model for our system: it guarantees rights and legal protections.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Glatz put his glass down
and hissed a breath: “Legal protections? You don’t have any laws!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Not yet. The crisis
will force the development of a code. We’re good at building things. We can
satisfy you.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“I doubt it.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Fredegar entered the
talk: “Delevan, we came here on a Foundation mission… ”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“So we did.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Fredegar addressed
Homer: “It is in our best interests to cultivate the rule of Law everywhere.
Mr. Glatz has business abroad in the Galaxy. We can postpone departure for…
five days, no longer. We can even resume trade. In that time we expect solid
progress: the woman must be captured. And we must see demonstrations of
effective administration of justice. We will not accept token gestures and
sweet assurances.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Five days? What do you
expect?”</span></div>
<div class="Cardomon" style="text-indent: .5in;">
Glatz: “Creative justice.” He still
had a pencil given him earlier in the day. He took it from the desktop and
snapped it in half.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
James B. Mielkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03882204685816642141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2823289098832901184.post-8531474873856072852014-07-11T16:42:00.002-07:002014-07-11T16:42:45.098-07:00I'm Sorry Senor CervantesA story about an animal lover obsessed with a sweet ass would have to be titled <i>Donkey Hotty</i>James B. Mielkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03882204685816642141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2823289098832901184.post-71575355032215132422014-07-02T11:41:00.001-07:002014-07-11T16:05:27.167-07:00This Week's Reading<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Good morning! I’m
Jumond—I’m looking for Hermione Chockswindae and I understand I’ll find her at
Keeper’s Cottage?”</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">The young woman looked
up at the stranger with eyes that wanted to see more. She sat on a log bench
outside the Hospice Tower Gate, six children enjoyed nap-time on the lawn at
her feet and she kept her voice low: “Yeah. Keeper’s Cottage is just after the
next fork, cross this bridge, cross back at the next one and another bridge—all
left. It’s the first one you come to after that. Red cabin with a rainbow
picket fence and a porch all around. Naomi usually takes tea at this time, bet
you find them on the swing.”</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Thank you.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Sure you got it?”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Two bridges left and a
red cabin.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Uh-huh… You’re on
Hermione’s crew?”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“That’s correct.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“She’s been real nice…
Are you married or… ?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Jumond laughed: “Yes I
am.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">She sighed: “We never
see fresh faces… ”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“I’m sorry to be a
disappointment.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">A brave smile appeared:
“Well… It’s not like I’m lonely.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Then you should be
happy. Tell me your name?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Caroline DuChine.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Perfectly lovely. Thank
you again.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“You’re welcome. Have a
nice visit.” Caroline watched his jaunty step until he went around the fence,
smiled wistfully at strong legs, solid bottom and rocking hips, long fingers
and arms, smooth shoulders: she knew the dreams for this night already and it
was a long time to wait…</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Jumond was full of
admiration himself. He loved gardens and rustic homes, designs meant for
children’s adventure. Tight picket fences secured off-limits country and the
rest of the grounds featured colors, swings, play-lots and climbing structures.
The faces were happy and the voices full of fun.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">He caught the infectious
grin, it matched his standard look.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Jumond was an
experienced space navigator familiar with hundreds of planetary systems, he
easily followed Caroline’s simple directions.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">As predicted and he
expected, the women shared the wide bench seat hanging from chains beneath the
eaves.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">They saw him, Hermione
waved and called: “Good morning! Right on time—naturally.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Naomi: “Come on in.
Tea?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Jumond opened a garden
gate, beads and bells laced around the pickets chimed. “I could use a drop,
thanks. Nice walk getting here.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Jumond, this is Naomi
Mukourji.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Naomi/Jumond: “I’ve
heard a lot about you… ”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">They laughed that away,
Naomi rose and hugged him when he reached the porch.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Jumond took a bench,
Naomi went in for fresh tea.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Hermione: “Did you walk
all the way from the Almanor?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“No! Somebody’s letting
me use a tent. There’s a campfire near the warehouse part of town.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“I heard about that.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Most of the crew are
there… Very nice. We like looking at the stars.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Twinkling… That’s what
I miss… I wake when everybody’s asleep and sit out here—the peace is amazing. I
could get used to it.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">For a moment silence,
only bubbling creek and twittering birds. Then somewhere nearby a baby cried, a
piercing shriek followed by unhappy wails. An adult’s perturbed voice muttered
soothing sounds but the singer wasn’t satisfied.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Jumond smiled at the
noise.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Hermione saw his
contentment and nodded with empathy.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Naomi reappeared with a
full pot and an empty mug.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Drank up and traded
talk.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Finally, serious
business:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Hermione put finished
tea aside and rose, she faced Jumond: “Let’s go see them.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">He stood, Naomi took his
cup.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Hermione: “We won’t be
long—an hour maybe… ”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Naomi: “Lunch will be
ready around then.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Good! So, let me be
sure… Her house is a mile up the road off of a long uphill driveway?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Uh-huh—Last one on the
road, there’s an ugly wall around it. She picked a site where there’s no high
ground looking over, it really stands out.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Then we can’t miss it.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Jumond and Hermione went
side by side down the porch steps and out to the path, the gate rang their
exit.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Fifteen minutes later
they strolled up to Lucy Haines’s estate.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">The forest opened around
a cleared flat with panoramic views, a brown concrete wall occupied the center,
the glazed peak of the house’s skylight roof rose behind it, a green copper
spire topped the union of seven hip ridges. In front of the gate there was a
camp: black clothed pavilion tent with three sides, a second green tarp
sheltered a field kitchen and five logs made seating around a pit of ashes.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">A dirty, red-eyed,
stubby haired man sat, nursed a cup of coffee, there was a crust of blood in
the middle of his scalp. “Who are you?” he snapped in a cracked voice.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Ignore him—just a
drunk!” a female throat shouted from within the tent. A thin woman with limp
red hair and orange tinted glasses emerged from the shade, a baby rode on her
hip. She watched the newcomers suspiciously, but said nothing more. A lean tall
man appeared at her rear, and a long legged blond woman.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Hermione and Jumond
skirted the camp and approached the gate.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">The merchant shouted
toward the wall: “Hello! Anybody home?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Jumond picked up a fist
sized rock. He pounded on the gate.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Silence, then footsteps
on gravel. The bar traveled in its slot and the gate swung out enough to let a
woman step forth: curly red hair, beefy shoulders, taller than most: “I’m Lucy
Haines—this is my home. What do you want?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
“I’m here to see Corman Braye. Tell him Hermione
Chockswindae will speak with him.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“You’re expected. Come
in.” Lucy had weary eyes and weak posture, voiced with little energy.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“No. Bring him to me,
alone and unarmed. If Corman wants to travel on my vessel that is the only
condition I will meet him under.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Yeah—makes sense. Wait,
I’ll get him.” She went back behind the gate and slid the bolt.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Hermione and Jumond
stood in patient silence.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">The delay stretched.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">When the gate opened
Lucy emerged with Corman. His hair and mustache were untrimmed, clothes were
dirty and slept-in, eyes red and receded.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Hermione didn’t wait for
an introduction: “Hello, Mister Braye. I’m here to inform you of how you will
make passage on the Almanor. This is not a negotiation, I will dictate terms
and you will agree or remain here until the colonists finally drag you out. Am
I clear?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Yes. I understand.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Good. You will work on
my ship—Apprentice Mates, with full wages and benefits. You and your associates
will be discharged from my crew once we make call at a suitable port, which
will be Crossroads Station. While aboard the Almanor you will not communicate
with anybody and you will be separated from your associates. There will be no
mutiny plots. I have a strong rapport with my crew, their morale is high, you
will not turn their loyalties.” She indicated the man at her side: “This is
Jumond, my First Mate and your supervisor.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Tall, trim, a
wide-hipped strut, long rectangular face, coffee colored with gray eyes. He
offered no handshake: “Ever work on a ship?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“No.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Figures. At least you
can swab decks.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Hermione: “The Almanor
departs in five weeks. You will come aboard the day before launch, after a
thorough body search.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Very well, I agree.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Most sensible of you.
Come, Jumond, we’re finished here.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Off-worlders made a
sharp about face and strode away.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Chowder: “How’s
Synoveh?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Achen: “She’s in bed
with Sunrah. Taralisa’s sitting with her. She wants quiet.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“I looked at Jason,
Luenda clobbered him good. I think she killed him, he hasn’t dropped yet,
that’s all.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Where did they take
him?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“A shallow cave at the
base of the basaltic ridge. Remote spot—nobody goes there. Marcus and Luenda
and Jody and Hildy are digging up rocks. They’re gonna wall him in.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Entombed alive?” Achen
shuddered: “Too grisly. If we’re going to kill him we should do it cleanly.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“A lot of people want to
speak about this. There’s a meeting tonight on the Branch House lawn, we
decided. Karma and Suthra are running up and down the Vale with the news.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Achen nodded. “Why not at
the Hearth? We don’t need this discussion around the kids.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“There are a lot of the
refugees at the Hearth. Jason might have friends with them, they’re could be
trouble. Some of these newcomers aren’t settling in easily.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“I hadn’t heard.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“It’s just starting to
arise. Some of them are drinking somewhere but they’re not going to Drunkard’s
Den. The Village is pretty upset.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“What kind of people did
we bring into our community?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Beaten down folks that
never learned how free people act.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">In the afternoon seven
friends held a social in the large room of Keeper’s Cottage:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Hermione: “ …Jumond once
captained a ship, but he wasn’t her master. He operated an ore shuttle in the
Dagoba system.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Jumond: “Two hundred on
that crew and they weren’t free men—neither was I.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“I met him in a
spaceport lounge on one of the outer satellites—Dagoba’s industrial hub. He was
drunk and hitting on me, I thought he was cute and funny so I let him buy my
drinks.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“I knew I would score… ”
he grinned.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“I listened to his talk
about his work and I realized he must be a good pilot, and I had just divorced
Darryl, my best navigator. Suddenly Jumond looked like a way to fill out my
crew so I actually got interested in him.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Made me even more
encouraged.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“But I had an
appointment with the Harbor Master—I only ducked into the lounge to wait for
the hour.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“I didn’t see that she
wasn’t drinking alcohol… ”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“So I got up and left.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“I thought she went to
the bathroom. Took me two more drinks before I realized I’d been stood up. Then
I needed at least another two, three… lost count. A hot babe from Calico came
in and so did this miner reeking of paydirt. Him and Me had the same ideas
about her. We had a civilized discussion about the matter… I broke a chair over
his head, he got up with one of the legs in his hand and returned the courtesy.
We wound up together in a jail cell and sharing the space with twenty more of
the finest men in all of Dagoba.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Middle of the next
morning and the cops dragged me out, said I was bailed. I said ‘What?’ ‘cause
nobody I know would pay it—and not the transport company that held my contract,
either.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“There was Hermione with
the bondsman and she had my contract too—bought the last two years from my
boss… ”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“And the renewal option,
that was the costliest… ”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Yeah, right. She takes
me back to that bar and buys me breakfast and tea. She tears up that contract
while I’m dunking my toast and tells me that I’m a free man, then she offers me
a berth on the Almanor.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“I like to gamble on
people, Jumond looked like a long shot. He paid off… ”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Thanks—but I still want
to go to bed with you.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Not in this lifetime.
And Holly might object.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Darn shitting she will.
Keeps my leash tight.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“I won’t buy your way
out of that contract.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Chuckles grinned the
tea-time party.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Jumond: “I’d be a fool
to break it.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“He’s been with me eight
years now and they’ve been married six.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“She’s ready… ”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Naomi: “And you?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Can’t raise kids proper
on a spaceship, be like growing up in a prison, always walled in.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Hermione: “This is a
good place for children… ”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Yeah—that’s plain.
Holly likes it… ”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Homer: “I’m already
getting results from that poll… even from Homestead—and those guys never use
the network… You and the crew are popular, there aren’t any strong objections.
Glad we didn’t have to call a meeting.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Patricia: “People
wouldn’t come in—we’d never get a quorum.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“So, anyway, if you
still want to join, you’re in.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Hermione: “Thank you.
I’m glad to have a home at last—just don’t try to tax me.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">More grins and chuckles.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Cookies came out of the
oven, Naomi brewed more tea.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">The afternoon socialed
on.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">They heard the bells on
the Keeper’s Cottage gate chime.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Naomi: “Excuse me… ” she
rose from the conversation circle and went to the door. Her guests followed
with curious eyes.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Sweaty from a run,
Volmer was on the porch. He glanced at the small gathering within, then
addressed Naomi: “There’s been a problem at Branch House. Synoveh would like
you to come.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Right now?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“It’s kind of urgent.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“What sort of problem?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Volmer hesitated, spoke
softly, only to her: “Synoveh was attacked, we want your counsel.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Behind Naomi Homer was
up from his seat: “What’s going on?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Arrolon stirred too, and
Patricia, Charlene remained seated.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Hermione and Jumond
watched with interest.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Volmer didn’t want to
speak in front of strangers: “Branch House, Hospice business. I didn’t mean to
disturb you.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Patricia went to the
door: “Tell me.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“One of the new men
raped Synoveh, there’s a gathering to decide how we’re gonna deal with him. We
need Naomi.”</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">“And
she’s going. I’ll take care of these guys.”</span> </span></div>
James B. Mielkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03882204685816642141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2823289098832901184.post-59626191449552734552014-06-30T15:58:00.000-07:002014-06-30T15:58:15.128-07:00The Tides of ProgressIf Napoleon had lived a few decades later his exile home might even have been equipped with a Waterloo instead of a pit toilet. James B. Mielkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03882204685816642141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2823289098832901184.post-13714163362634674232014-06-27T09:38:00.000-07:002014-06-27T09:38:30.758-07:00Birth of a Nation<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
Bobol stopped when he reached the trail around the
pond. He’d run downhill the entire way, stuck to a bank above a ravine,
detoured only for hazards.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
Evening dawned, dinner hour and he smelled
cooking—midway between Branch House and Hall, he was uncertain of which
kitchen. Bobol seldom skipped meals, tonight he had no appetite, the idea of
company was repellant—except an urge to be with Roxie…</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
Still the drug, he told himself—the woman is a
psychotic monster.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
The need ravaged him, he had an erection, desperately
wanted to please it… Roxie’s pixie eyes filled his mind.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
She was probably with Leon and Chattagong…</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
Suddenly, he wanted to kill.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
‘No!’ he told himself.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
He reeked, pheromonal sweat covered every pore.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
Without removing shoes or jacket, Bobol ran into the
water and threw himself under. Fed by icy springs, the pond shocked his system,
he let out a yell—it echoed.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
He wanted to drown but was too practiced a
swimmer—he didn’t know how.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
Then three gunshots cracked across the gloaming.</div>
<a name='more'></a><br />
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
Panicked again, he went the opposite direction,
stroking as hard as he could and coming into the muddy shallows at the pond’s
lowest end. He dragged himself out and crouched beneath tall weeds under the
causeway bridge, waited for darkness.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
Taralisa and Suthra shared dinner with Rajin,
Synoveh fed Sunrah. Window faced pond and caught sunset reflections.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
Talked of classes and kids, gardens, herbs and
flowers.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
Synoveh’s face wasn’t as stiff and Taralisa’s balm
had smoothed the cracked lips, eased swelling.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
A strange yell came from the pond, high pitched but
masculine—tight, with a tone of surprise.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
Synoveh: “Who was that?”</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
Taralisa: “Bobol.”</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
Suthra: “Had ice in his pants,” she started to laugh
and Rajin took it up.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
A gunshot echoed, then a second one, and then a
final report.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
Everybody silent, wondering looks passed back and
forth.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
Suthra and Taralisa stood, went to the cabin door.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
Outside:</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
Achen and Marcus had cooked, came from the kitchen
with Luvin.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
Ali Battaglia and her parents, Heather and Wistra,
stepped down from their porch.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
Everybody confused, nobody informed, voiced babbled
uselessly.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
But concern for the children braced the talk.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
Suthra organized: “Someone has to run to the Hearth
and find what they know. I’ll do it.”</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
Heather: “Be careful… go quiet.”</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
Achen: “You ought to have a weapon—we don’t know… ”</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
Taralisa: “That yell was Bobol.”</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
“It didn’t sound like pain… ” </div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
"Heather: “Like someone crazed.”</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
They all agreed.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
Suthra kissed her wife, tightened the thongs on her
sandals and flitted off into the dusk.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
Half the way around she encountered Peter with
Edzelian and Alicia. A Townie woman, Darla Syl and her son Matthew were with
them, she had a Homesteader husband, Galero, he was a jeweler with a talent for
finding gold nuggets and crystals. He was in the mountains collecting.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
Peter offered up a quick explanation for the shots,
finished: “ …need t’ git th’ kids t’ safety an’ inform Branch House. Hildy an’
Volmer are with Jepson—they want Taralisa, if possible.”</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
“I don’t know—where did those guys go?”</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
“No idea—lotta twisted terrain back there, coulda
gone anyplace… ”</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
“We’re not safe in the open.”</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
“Le’s git t’ Branch House… ”</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
They turned and trotted.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
Suthra ran alongside Alicia: “Where did Peter find
another girlfriend?”</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
She laughed: “I’m from the Almanor and I saw him at
the spaceport doing that excavation job… I like to watch machines—rhythm,
power—you know?”</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
“Yeah… ”</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
“Peter was having lunch with Edzy, feeding him and
wasn’t doing a good job with a berry pie, it was all over. I sat down and
helped, then I was in love with Edzy so I attached myself to his Dad… ”</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
Suthra chuckled: “We’ve heard all the excuses for
Peter… I made my share. Defies logic… ”</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
“Logic is for solving problems. I don’t have a
problem with Peter, therefor I don’t need logic.”</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
“That’s beautiful reasoning.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
A light shined in Cal’s eyes and he awoke. Gold
moon, full, had discovered a gap between layers of overhanging tree.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
Hungry and thirsty, he sat up and had a headache. He
also craved flush more than he wanted food or liquor. That was a need he could
satisfy—Bobol had dropped the inhaler and Cal had recovered it. Chattagong was
too distracted at the time to notice, and he had many replacements.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
Cal sniffed a hit. Bobol had adjusted the dosage
regulator to its weakest setting, a mere taste.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
He couldn’t find the control. Frustrated, feeling
teased, he dosed over and over, swapping nostrils, making a cold burn and raw
sinuses.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
Then he was enraged and aroused. Nobody around to
hurt or love…</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
Moonbeam too faint to find a trail, he was trapped.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
But he saw the rock wall.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
Cal put all of his furious energy into pulling it
down. He took the heavy stones with both hands and heaved them into the
darkness, explored to find the noisiest target. Brush thrashed and broke, rocks
heaped up and soon the sound was clatter and rattle—the louder the better for
Cal.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
He labored all night.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
Voices… voices… From across the water or from inside
his head?</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
Bobol couldn’t tell, ignored them—they didn’t leave.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
Not inside his head, not the familiar ones… One… in
there… It…</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
Bobol was a frequent experimenter with the purple
drug and liked the voices he found there.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
He didn’t like the voices now—Leon, Derek,
Chattagong—urgent, angry, hustling…</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
Bobol knew he wouldn’t find those voices with It, he
hoped they weren’t inside his head… they must be external.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
Opened his eyes and saw moon ripples on the pond and
heard tromping footsteps—a lot. Fainter voices murmured.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
Coming closer.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
He still crouched under towering reeds, soaked and
finally noticing it.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
The drug was wearing off, his body demanded more.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
Chattagong, Derek and Leon had it.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
Like Cal, he disregarded hunger and thirst, followed
the new craving, after all, Roxie must be with them.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
Then he was aroused again, weakly, and it faded.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
Dizzy, he gathered his few remaining wits.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
Remembered following Leon, and why…</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
Motivations seesawed—more flush opposed to safety
for his friends.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
Either way, he thought he needed to keep up with the
voices. This time he wouldn’t get caught.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
The noises took him around the lower end of the
water, he skulked under the log causeway, slithered between the weeds and made
no sound out of place.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
A parade of head-shadows on the skyline over the
divide, a small crowd passing from the pond to the old river meanders and they
vanished under deep forest on the way down to Drunkard’s Den.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
Bobol ducked tree-to-tree and stayed with them.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
Drunks had a campfire in front of the stillhouse,
sat on decrepit furnishing, sang and joked.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
The mob of refugees was upon them before they
noticed.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
Chattagong went to the lit area and fired a shot
into the air.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
He had attention: “We claim this territory as living
space for our Brotherhood!”</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
Bobol saw other guns—Leon, Derek and three more
guards, men who moved in jerky agitated steps typical of flush users.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
Mayor of the Den, Delgard did not usually confront
firearms, this time he rose: “Got plenty room and lotsa’ whiskey—you don’t need
to git so bossy!”</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
Chattagong shoved him back down: “Shut up! We’re
making a country here!”</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
Leon, to the drunks: “You people are now our
subjects.” Pointed his pistol at Delgard’s head: “Kneel, kiss my boot.”</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
“Yes sir,” the alcoholic obeyed.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
Chattagong: “All of you! Get down in front of us and
bow your heads!”</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
The dozen odd souls knelt.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
“Everybody swear loyalty! Repeat this: I am a
devoted servant of the Brotherhood, bound forever!”</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
The crowd echoed his words.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
Leon, to Delgard: “Bring food.”</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
“Ain’t any.”</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
“Shit!—What do you have?”</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
“Whiskey and gin… folks like to sip the beer too,
sometimes. Could eat the mash…? way sour… I wouldn’t.”</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
“How do you live?”</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
“They been feeding us—Taralisa fixes hurts… ”</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
Bobol had worked in close, heard everything, he
looked through the crowd—features mostly lost in shadows but flare ups and
shifting bodies revealed faces—no Roxie, nor Cal.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
Disappointed and liberated at once, he made a quick
evaluation—without the babe flush lost much of its appeal, and it had to be
Roxie, he would accept no other—until dosed, but that wasn’t for tonight.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
He crept away from Drunkard’s Den.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
In early morning light, before the sun:</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
“Here, pal—you need this… ” Cal jammed the flush
dispenser into Jason’s left nostril and released a hit. The spray condensed
inside his nose and ran back out in a thin white stream. The drug killed the
black bugs on contact.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
Disappointed in the corpse’s response, Cal decided
to search it.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
There was a second inhaler in Jason’s pocket.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
It was nearly full and adjusted to deliver the
strongest dose.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
Cal treated himself to three, collapsed upon his
face before the last one finished.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
Five minute later he was able to rise, he was in a
mood…</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
He kicked the body but the roll wasn’t an
interesting move. Cal grabbed an arm, lifted the corpse and hurled it against
the cliff base. He picked it up again by a foot and swung it over his head,
Jason’s face smashed into the rocks. Again and more he threw the body with as
much force as he had pitched stones in the dark.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
Jason broke apart.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
Muscled parts had desiccated—mummified. But the
viscera were a putrid slop, white and pink larvae swam in the fluids. Angry
winged insects buzzed in, drawn by the smell. One of his hands swatted at the
cloud as Cal drew a knife with the other.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
He sawed the head from the body and set it atop a
boulder, the noose and stick were a useful handle.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
Satisfied that Jason had a
good view, Cal went to the woods, he found a short straight limb, broke it off
and whittled an end to a sharp point.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
He put the head on the ground and jammed the spear
into the stumped neck, wriggled and forced it deep so the trophy wouldn’t fall
off.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
The jaw snapped, the head refused to stay.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
Frustrated in the extreme, Cal turned the skull
upside down and used a rock to hammer the stake into the cranium. That nailed
it tight, but there wasn’t much resembling a human face anymore.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
Swagger stick in hand, Cal set out to quench his
thirst and find Roxie.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
Taralisa woke Mabutu, Mabutu woke Salyanna.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
Dressed in day’s first light, cabin full of gray
shadows.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
Fire on the hearth and tea.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
Crowded, busy front room.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
Marcus, to Salyanna and Mabutu: “We’re taking you to
a safe place—like a fire drill… ”</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
Taralisa: “We have space for all the kids at our garden.”</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
Suthra: “We believe they went to Drunkard’s Den. We
want to get past that area before sunrise.”</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
Marcus: “Fill up on tea and crackers, we go in just
a few minutes.”</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
And then a strange convoy departed, parents kept the
little ones in the center, taller adults walked the flanks. Ten kids, half of
them babies in papooses and toddlers would have to endure a much further hike
than normal, plus Mabutu and Salyanna and eighteen adults.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
The logs rocked and groaned under the passage, the
far end of the causeway overlooked the approaches to the Den.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
Marcus, Achen and Alicia scouted and discovered no
hostile forces. They hustled the group on past, up the main Homestead route.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
Peter and Alicia had carried Jepson to one of the
Conversation Corner benches, Hildy and Volmer worked to save as much of his
hand as they could. Middle and ring fingers blown away, the pinky was
sacrificed in surgery.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
Roxie followed the patient in, hovered around his
treatment. Then she sat, held his left hand and watched him sleep.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
She was in the depression after the drug, somebody
gave her food—cake and a sweet creamy dessert—and she took a little.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
Roxie and Jepson were both slight, she found room on
the bench at his side, slept with her old cribbie.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
They awoke with faces together—sleep-kissing, no
tongue.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
Sun not out yet, Boris stoked the fire.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
Sitting together:</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
Roxie: “How’s the hand?”</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
“Starting to throb, woke me… ”</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
“Nobody ever saved my life before—that was crazy!
Why did you do it?”</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
“They pulled us from the fire… ”</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
“Don’t be shy! You know what I mean.”</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
“It’s nothing, Roxie—I would have done it for
anyone. I wanted you to kick Leon and getting shot would have messed it up… ”</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
“I missed.”</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
“Sorry.”</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
“Not your fault.”</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
“What did happen to Leon?”</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
“Those guys ran away, took a lotta folks.”</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
“Who?”</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
“I dunno—I haven’t looked.” She stood up and
reviewed the nearby space. Refugees had been sleeping in the Conversation
Corner since arrival, this morning only Roxie and Jepson occupied it. “I think
they’re all gone… ” But she spied a shadow within a dark spot and went to
investigate: “Bobol!”</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
Maniacal eyes fixated upon her, as familiar as a
busy night in the brothel, as familiar as Cal, familiar as her own face in a
mirror.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
He sat up and blinked, resisted words and avoided
Roxie’s look. Oriented himself and rose: “Ain’t breakfast ready… ?” Bobol
hurried away to assist Boris.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
Ate at the kitchen table with the Village—Roxie
expected to be snubbed but nobody questioned her. Bobol on her left and Jepson
on her right—she helped the wounded eunuch eat, surprised herself with the
volunteerism but it came naturally.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
So many voices usually filled her head—drugs, sex,
violence, repressed memories—typically in raging conflict. Quiet this
morning—Bobol on her left and Jepson on her right—soft energy from somewhere.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
They scouted food, Leon knew the alcoholic’s hidden
riverside trail bypassing the causeway, he took Panchapat and Brillig, former
guards reunited with flush.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
They turned back toward Branch House, approached
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and the lower end of the pond. Empires have started from less.</div>
James B. Mielkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03882204685816642141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2823289098832901184.post-62845741966046928362014-06-17T10:31:00.001-07:002014-06-17T10:31:36.417-07:00School Games Girlfriend Posse<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<a name='more'></a><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Anyway, the Hospice
never has enough help. People get involved, some drift away, won’t see them
until their child is in a crisis.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Arrolon: “You should
have spoken before.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Ahh… It’s a recurring
problem suddenly aggravated. Gardul and Achen we’re my anchors.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“We’re glad to help.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Kaila: “They were the
best scrimmage players in the colony… especially Gardul… ”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Arrolon: “The best
athletes in general—Christina and Chilperic were the nearest rivals… ”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“I wonder what Lucy will
say… ”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“She wants to believe in
us.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Patricia: “Life got a
bit disillusioning.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“I have faith in her
sense of fair play.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Naomi: “You’ll learn
soon enough—here comes Homer.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">The Administrator
emerged around an outside bend and entered the shade overhanging the gentle
canyon, he waved at his friends and doubled his pace.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">They all rose from their
seat. Greetings made…</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Arrolon: “How’s Peter
doing?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Hiking to the Vale with
a new girlfriend—would you believe? She didn’t want to ride a tractor and Peter
thinks their trail is faster anyhow—straight across the marsh.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Arrolon smiled
understandingly.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Kaila: “We should go.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Patricia snagged her
husband’s elbow, Homer and Kaila walked behind. Naomi turned around and went
across the bridge, back to her domain.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">The further reach of the
road was less traveled. Like Peter, most Homesteaders used alternate routes,
the main body of Firstown residences occupied the span from Newton to the
Hospice, Lucy’s walled compound was the last home along the way.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">A thin carpet of grass
covered the gravel. Homer noted with interest tire tracks of a small vehicle
weaving through the heavy imprint from the tractor.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Pyteman and Chloe’s car
stood in front of Lucy’s gate. The colonist was speaking with the off-worlders.
Her friend Sorgha was there too.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Pyteman’s fingers
massaged his collar, worked his data tab taking a complicated catalog order.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Chloe smiled at the
approaching group: “Hello! We’re not acquainted yet—Pyteman does all the
talking!” She strolled down the hill and intercepted them: “He’s busy, I’m
Chloe—but you know… ”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Patricia smiled: “What
do you think of our world so far?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Very picturesque… and
the air is sweet. I feel enchanted somehow.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“There’s an ocean two
hundred miles away but sea air comes up the river this time of year. Turns
around in fall and winter, gets all dry and crackly then until the storms come
in.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“I’ve never thought
about weather—I lived in space before this.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“It’s always
changing—like good music—improvised… ”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Chloe nodded: “I like
music. I’m a good dancer.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“You should come to our
parties then.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">That brought a smile:
“Parties… The social whirl—what kind of fun do you guys have?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Quiet fun mostly. So
many folks have kids and keep early hours.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“There’s no cabaret?
Where do adults go?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Patricia sighed: “Home,
to bed, early… ”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Kaila: “We used to be
quite rowdy. There was a lot of drinking in the early days… ”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Patricia giggled: “Still
is.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Not so many public
events, though.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“If you like good wine,
visit with me and Arrolon—we’ll keep you sauced.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Thank you. Where do I
find you?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“We’re in two whole
cabins at the Hospice right now. Arrolon and Me and Jerry got one, Precious
Rose—my oldest—has her own roof—only one room under it. But later this year we
open our new villa on top of the ridge. We’re gonna have a real party for that
one—I tell you!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Pyteman and I will put
it on our calendar.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Come for the weekend.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">The business in front of
the gate finished, Pyteman turned to join Chloe, Lucy and Sorgha followed.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">The redhead looked over
the group: “What brings you guys?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Homer: “The colony’s
future—we want to organize a meeting.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“It’s about time… ”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Arrolon: “We want it as
unpoliticized as possible. Homer stays in office until we have a
constitution—then we can hold elections.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Okay.” She looked at
the off-worlders: “What about them?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Arrolon: “We have
nothing to conceal, Glatz Enterprises is welcome to have observers present.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Pyteman: “But it’s not
really our interest anyhow. We should go, I still want to look up Jolrae Dorn…
”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Homer: “He’s got that
turret-house—did you see it?—four stories… ”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“We found it yesterday,
nobody was home.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Probably out hiking.
He’s alone in that big place. I think he likes to get out and watch people.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“We’ll just go right now
and see if he’s in.” Pyteman took Chloe’s elbow, they marched to the car and
drove away.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Lucy: “So, what have you
got on mind?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Arrolon: “The only
continuous thread linking the entire colony has been the Games. We think
organizing this year’s round will start a trend of working cooperatively. Get
your team together and into training.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“That’s a laugh—the
team’s eviscerated. All my best athletes—Chilperic’s no good any more—drunk for
weeks... Chris and Grube gone, Achen and Gardul… ” she sighed. “I really liked
him, such a nice guy—Achen must be devastated.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Kaila: “He’s keeping a
strong memory, wants me to help.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Good for him… Yeah—I’ll
find the athletes I have, pull them together. Gotta recruit new talent.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Sorgha: “I’ll help,
Lucy.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Thanks. What sports are
you good for?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“None, actually. Can’t
even run good—bad knees.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Lucy returned his smile:
“But you can blow a whistle—only thing you need to coach… ”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Exactly.” He laughed,
Lucy joined him.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Arrolon: “We’ll use the
Games to have a meeting about a meeting. We need a long format assembly and
break out committees that develop constitutional functions. It’s important to
give time for debate and still allow people to live their routines.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Makes sense.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Kaila: “We need your
support—you’re not the most popular woman around, but Firstown has a lot of
respect for you.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Thanks—nice to hear.
Lotta folks seem to avoid my company.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Sorgha: “They don’t know
the real Lucy—yet.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Are you buttering me
up?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“You should get your
share… ”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Well I’ll be—I have a
fan. Bet you want me to come over and admire your garden… beds… ” She gave him
a narrow eyed grin.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Sorgha was embarrassed
but rolled with the punch: “You’ll be very satisfied… in my garden… ”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Bed?” Lucy finished.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Everybody laughed but
her eyes zeroed in on him.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Homer reclaimed her ear:
“How do you find Pyteman and Chloe?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">She faced back: “Looks
like he’s got business-sense—I could like him. Chloe looks like a fashion-doll,
if you want to hear it from me.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Kaila: “She’s got
devious eyes, always taking in and never looking back.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Homer: “Probably plays
poker.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“If she does, I bet she
cheats.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">They laughed more.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Homer, to Lucy: “Another
thing—you may be the only colonist that hasn’t heard about Synoveh… ”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“What?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Homer explained…</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Lucy: “ …Gives urgency
to a meeting idea. What they did makes sense—I might do the same if I lived out
there… But it’s the whole business of having no laws or system of justice. This
is a tiny outpost, too easy for violence to destroy everything. We face chaos…
”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Sorgha: “Don’t believe
it, Lucy—we’re strong people. Look how we got over the volcano… ”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Yeah—that was different.
We must organize before the next disaster.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Arrolon: “I won’t be
easy but we’re making a start… ”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">A Homestead posse
scoured the brush uphill from Yersey’s kitchen. They easily found the
alcoholic’s path, but it vanished on the open black rocks near the summit.
Crumbling basaltic battlements surrounded the spot, a thousand mazes branched
out between every pinnacle.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">The afternoon looked to
be getting late:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Chowder: “We’ll never
find them… ”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Luenda: “Most of that is
dead-end. If we post a watch right here we’ll find ‘em.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“And they’re in the one
spot they can get away from—I bet. Maybe already headed down to the Vale.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Yersey: “At least we
know how they’re raiding my kitchen and if they know we watch this trail
they’ll quit using it.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Luenda: “We’ll stay with
you—Chowder and Me. Show them you aren’t alone.”</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">“Thanks.” </span><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Like most of his lovers,
Alicia was taller than Peter, when Edzelian rode upon his shoulders the boy’s
head leveled off with hers. All three had similar brownish/blondish hair, loose
topped, it seldom lay down.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">She had freckles and big
teeth, yellow/brown eyes and a laborer’s body with iron muscles, hardly any
bosom and a flat bottom over hefty legs. She wore loose blue coveralls but had
removed the upper part and rolled it down to her waist for the hike. Skin was
bronze and smooth, shiny with sweat, she had a tattoo of the Almanor down her
spine.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">They set out from the
job camp, a large dome of bundled reeds modeled on the physician’s marsh home
of years ago. The Actionists had used it and it accessed a trail to the east
side of the wetlands. From there they took the hollow beneath Firstown Ridge
and up onto the basaltic ridge, cutting a corner of Arrolon and Patricia’s
vineyard.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">They went cross-country,
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">A nearly vertical gully,
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little mesa.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Dinnertime, tonight’s
chefs: Jody—wild bird stew and pies; Karma—roasted sweetroot and dry-fried
vegetable medley; Volmer—salad and sauces; Hildy made up the table and served.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">The Village settled
around, a family of twelve this time, but others—refugees—took their meals off
to the benches or out in the gardens.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">The farm and the brothel
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themselves. Like combat veterans and violent crime victims they had lived
unique experiences mere citizens could never share. For the most part, the
laborers didn’t even have the spirit to try.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Homesteaders attempted
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Then Jason attacked
Synoveh and people looked at the freed slaves with wary eyes.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">A small group had been
guards, lived uncertain of their status. But the colonists didn’t have a
roster, they couldn’t tell slaves from guards.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Jepson was a eunuch,
Roxie’s old cribmate. Beating the odds, he was a few years older than Mabutu,
nearly adult. If not for the spaceport battle he would have soon faced the
peculiar graduation from brothel to farm worker—a rare event indeed.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">He sat in the garden, on
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thought he was wise or had charisma, he couldn’t avoid the company. He craved
solitude, wasn’t mean enough to tell people to go away.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Wendel and Bethica
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chronically malnourished, they had weak minds.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Wendel “ …got those eyes
again… Karma now. Told me ‘don’t throw that wood in the fire it’s good for
building’—put hands on her waist and gave me those eyes like I never been right
on anything. What she know? They make up new rules every day, that’s what it
is.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Bethica: “I don’t know
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Treat us like we don’t
count… ”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Jepson: “They’re afraid
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“That’s dumb… ”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Afraid of disease.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“We ain’t disease!”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“It’s what they see. We
are everything they fear—and worse, when you think of Jason… ”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Well Jason’s dead now
and they still don’t like us.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“I know—but how can we
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them feel bad. Like it’s all their fault we came here.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Now they want us to
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Jepson thought about
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Should figure it out
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“They don’t mean for
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Huh… ”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Chattagong, Leon, Derek
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Leon: “Jepson! Seen
Bobol?”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“No,” he shook his head
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Figures… Went hiding, I
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Why’s he wanna hide?”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Roxie scared the shit
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Jepson had a high
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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--><br />James B. Mielkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03882204685816642141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2823289098832901184.post-24923099334773813812014-06-16T11:04:00.001-07:002014-06-17T10:24:20.827-07:00Patriotism I recently went out with Sacramento River Partners and picked up trash alongside Chico River Road. It wasn't as nasty as you might imagine, I learned that at least one area couple practiced safe sex at least once.<br />
One element of the debris was worthy of notice and comment:<br />
America's favorite beverage manufacturer , Anhauser/Busch puts their flagship product, Budweiser, into Fourth-of-July themed red, white and blue cans. Thirsty patriotic Americans suck these things down like cheap lies, then they throw Old Glory out the window of their vehicle (Whadyoubet it's a truck), no doubt some of these guys will set cans up on a log and use them for target practice.<br />
Makes me proud of my fellow Americans.<br />
<br />James B. Mielkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03882204685816642141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2823289098832901184.post-22648728965559921182014-06-11T07:05:00.000-07:002014-06-11T07:05:11.873-07:00Still Life with Geology and Voodoo<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">It was a small still, it
would fit upon a stovetop in any household kitchen. Peter had used it, briefly,
in the earliest days of Homestead, but it wasn’t convenient to his Townie life
in those times when Jody/Bokassa’s industrial sized still was handy. Years
later Leon discovered it underneath a mat of creeping vines and he hauled it to
a more private location.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">The kettle sat in a
tripod base, everything was of an alloy that conducted heat three times more
efficiently than copper. Running batches twice through produced clear liquor,
ninety percent ethanol.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Chattagong took his
diluted halfway with the sweetroot syrup used for tea.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Derek, red hair and
eyes, huge flaring ears, wide rosy cheeks and a florid blob nose, sipped it
raw, washed it down with cold spring water from a flask.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">One of those mountain
places, easy to reach if you know the way, impossible to find if you don’t. A
crazy spot for drunks, a ledge on a canyon wall, sudden death cliffs on three
sides. But a fallen tree made a parapet, a windscreen and a bench, a niche amid
the boulders sheltered the still, the space between was large and flat enough a
dozen people could dance beneath the stars.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">The final quarter-mile
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Leon showed the path to
Bobol.</span></div>
<a name='more'></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">The overhill route
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">They came to a spot
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wall that covered a recess in the cliff. Foul smells cloyed the area: decaying
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Leon: “That wasn’t there
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Bobol said nothing.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“What are they hiding
that stinks like that?”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Bobol remained silent.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Dead men smell that
way… ” He looked at the stone barrier: “I wanna see behind there—come back with
help, take all afternoon to open it.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Just a dead animal… ”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Yeah?—Why’d they wall
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Bobol shook a blank
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painting in there.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Voodoo… People do all
kinds of dumb shit, huh? I still wanna see—could be something to steal, like a
golden amulet or what.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“I doubt it—waste of
time.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Let’s move on.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">They climbed an offshoot
of the basaltic ridge, topped a summit and a short ways below they crossed the
trail down from the tractor parking circle. Then around into more wilderness.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Dozens of millions of
years before, a different Great River drained another mighty range. A volcano
erupted with hot runny magma. It dammed the river and flowed back up the
streamcourse.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Ages and again the
volcano spewed forth, lava filled a hundred miles of valley, overran low gaps
in side ridges. And then it went cold.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">More eons elapsed, the
mountains weathered and eroded, washed out over the floodplains. The magma
filled valley remained behind, now a craggy basaltic ridge that overlooked a
new Great River and the Vale of Homestead.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">It was an upside down
memorial to the ancient river’s bed. Lava had backed into tributaries and now
formed narrow projections from the major formation, in-between spaces were
hidden canyons—Luenda’s cabin sat on the rim of one. So did Leon’s still.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Chattagong had short
black hair, blue eyes, brown skin, hard-edged cheekbones, thin lips and a
narrow disposition. So long as he had easy access to sex, alcohol and flush, he
was in a fine mood. Otherwise…</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Today was a good day. The
recent renewal of an old brothel friendship—with Roxie—had fulfilled his sexual
requirements, unmet since the spaceport battle. The stock of drugs was fat, he
was exploring extreme ranges of dosage and combination. With a still at his
elbow, life was perfect.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Roxie’s services came at
a price, paid to Cal in pharmaceuticals. For the moment the snaggletoothed
refugee held his possessed woman with busy hands, she returned the feeling,
flush energized passion filled them, shrank their World to a space of two
people.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Derek was content with
alcohol: flush made him too edgy and paranoid, pills made him nauseous, as did
women. Some of the young colonists appealed to his libido but he hadn’t made
any moves yet, only plans. His appetites were not for public awareness but
attracted unavoidable attention.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Leon and Bobol appeared,
making a turn around a knobby black pinnacle and crunching down a gravelly
rill.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Chattagong: “What’s he
doing here?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Leon: “He was shadowing
me, I turned back on him.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Yeah?—What’s he want?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Bobol: “I need to get
high. It’s been too long.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Uh-huh… ” Chattagong
and Derek kept Bobol under tight focus as he reached the flat ground and dug up
a boulder seat. Chattagong waited until he was settled: “We just heard a
disturbing report… What do you know about Jason?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Bobol didn’t hesitate:
“He’s dead—colonists killed him.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“That’s what Roxie and
Cal said… Who killed him?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“I don’t know.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Why?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“He did something to a
colonist—one of the babes.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“They killed him for
that?—Just being a man… ”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“She’s a popular woman
with a lot of friends.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“What’s her name?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Synoveh.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Leon: “I know her. She
runs that Branch House.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Derek: “Where the kids
are?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“That’s the place.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“He shoulda waited ‘til
we had things under control.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Bobol: “Sounds like he
got loose, like he had flush—he was real heavy on the babe. You ought to see
what her face is like—a real trophy job... ”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Chattagong: “We can’t
let these colonists kill our brother… ”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Derek: “Not many of us
left… ”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“They have to learn the
cost of messing with us.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Leon: “Bobol—what do you
say?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Jason was a good
brother. He deserved better. At least a Court and a trial. Man’s gotta right to
defense.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Yeah he does.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Chattagong: “A man’s
gotta right to a babe… Right, Bobol?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">He made a squinty
just-between-guys smile: “Right… Sure—man’s gotta get what he needs… ”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Sounds like you’ve
changed… ?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Derek: “Yeah… You always
seemed sorry for the babes.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Not any more. I miss
being in control of them.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Chattagong: “Easy meat,
huh? Easy meat for an easy old Bobol… Have you had any of the colonist babes?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Bobol’s head shook
sadly: “No… ”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Hah! That’s what you
miss… I’ll give you flush and let you have a go with Roxie—just like old days…
”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Looks like she’s busy…
”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Fuck Cal—we’ll drop him
off of the cliff if we have to.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Don’t go to extremes—I
can wait… ”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Fuck no!” Chattagong
lifted from the log, put a pistol into his hand, he carried it under his shirt
tied to a cord around his neck. He strode to the enthralled lovers and seized
Cal by his bush of matted brown hair. The gun’s barrel came to the tip of the
refugee’s nose: “We need to use Roxie!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Cal smiled as if offered
a fragrant blossom to admire: “But naturally! I’m just keeping her interest
up.” He dumped the woman at Chattagong’s feet, she protested insincerely.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Take her, Bobol… ”
Chattagong reached into a pocket and drew out a nasal inhaler: “Here—have a
blast!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Bobol received the
offering, he surreptitiously twisted the dosage regulator from strongest to
weakest as he lifted it to a nostril. He inhaled…</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Its original formulation
was a stimulant to drive soldiers into furious combat, male users discovered an
interesting side effect—erections accompanied by an extreme need for release,
violence worked as well as sex, in combination the thrill was the utmost.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Later refinements of flush
enhanced the potency. First-time users are disoriented and helpless, barely
able to move. Bobol hadn’t taken it for over a year, even a minimal dose sent
him spinning.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">He fell from his seat
and rolled, collided on the ground with Roxie. They adhered to each other.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Female users also have
sexual arousal, they become hyper-orgasmic, climaxing again and again—their
brains never catch up with the pace.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Bobol struggled: he saw
green eyes and impish smile, so desirable—ultimate erotic beauty and he felt an
urge to hurt it—maim, scar and mutilate—the idea made his hard organ flutter
with anticipation.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">He loved, hated the
woman in his arms, a wanton babe as cruel as any guard—he remembered Roxie,
never liked her in the brothel… His instincts and worst desires wanted to
throttle her cold…</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">He forced slow
breathing, closed his eyes, screamed inwardly, commanded his hands to work
gently—they fought back and his testicles were calling him a coward, a
treasonous bum—impotent, he wished that were true.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Resisting the drug,
moving oh-so-slow, with caresses and real kisses, he made genuine love to her.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">In all of her drugged
insensibility, Roxie noticed and was impressed. The earlier part of the day,
with flush, Chattagong, Cal, Chattagong, Cal… had been intense, hot and vicious—the
way she liked it—she ought to be replete.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Bobol’s touches:
deliberate, careful, loving moves brought up not violent energy, but a glow,
like a fading aftermath in reverse. She responded to the man, not the drug—it
reminded her of the first times, before she was a brothel babe, with fumbling
boys who said ‘I love you’ afterward and she believed the lie.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">With Bobol it didn’t
feel like a lie. She wanted to hear it.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">He wanted to say it, but
not in front of the other men.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">He whispered: “Thank
you.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Mmm… ”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Are you finished yet?
Other guys want their piece… ” Cal yanked Roxie from Bobol’s arms.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">He broke, came up from
the ground raging and went down atop the refugee with hands to his throat.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Sitting on Cal’s chest
squeezing, he didn’t see Derek move behind. A heavy boot thumped the center of
Bobol’s back and he fell onto his face with a gasp.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Chattagong laughed and
stomped around with joy. He reached and tugged Bobol up to dizzy feet: “What a
show! Never seen a man do it like that—not when he’s high. You were almost
romantic on her.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Derek: “Took your time…
”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Bobol: “I was shaking so
much I had to slow down. Forgot how it is with flush… ”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Leon: “Now you know,
again… ”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Yeah, huh—it’s good!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Look like you need to
catch your breath. Sit down… ”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Bobol pulled up his
pants and sat on the log. Still dizzy, he clawed the shaggy bark next to his
thighs, held on for balance. Sweat coursed, air came in short huffs, heart
fired like a machine gun, his brain throbbed.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Chattagong smiled into
his pinprick eyes: “Good and high! What you wanted—huh?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Speechless Bobol nodded.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“You’re back in the
Brotherhood—we gotta keep it strong.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Derek: “Before colonists
do us in… ”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“We need a drink… ”
Chattagong picked up a deep tin cup, went to the still and tapped the metal
tank on the output end. He returned with a full container, poured half into
Derek’s mug and then topped his own with the sweetroot syrup, licked his
fingertip after stirring. He presented the beverage to Bobol: “This will help.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Took it and sipped, held
his breath, suppressed coughs. Bobol’s dry eyes watered, the blinking slowed,
his jaw relaxed for a moment.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Finally, steady lungs
and an actual pulse.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Cal was doing something
painful, Roxie screamed, everyone else laughed.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">She retaliated and Cal
screamed, the laughs got louder.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Back and forth…</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Footsteps skittered
gravel, three alcoholics came around the knobby ridgetop rock spire.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Oh shit!” Chilperic
lost control on the steep grade over loose soil. Moving at a runaway stomp he
rushed down the slope and across the flat until he caught up in the springy
limbs of the still rooted fallen tree. His face poked through the greenery and
he looked down the cliff: “Fucking log saved my life!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Owen and Bokassa made
the descent in a normal fashion, laughed at Chilperic.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Everybody laughed, even
Cal and Roxie, momentarily into mutual tickles.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Derek eyed Chilperic:
“Who’s the new guy?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Bokassa: “Our new Townie
buddy—Chilperic. His wife just left him.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Leon: “I know you—up in
the mountains last year, we hunted that Doctor babe, you had your wife… real
babe… ”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Untangling from the
tree: “Yeah—that’s me, and Chris.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“What about him?” Owen
pointed at Bobol. “I heard he helped kill your pal Jason.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Leon/Chattagong/Derek:
“What?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Story I heard… ”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Bokassa: “Not the story
I heard. Told me that Marcus did it.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Leon: “The bass player?
I dunno, he’s not that kind of dude… ”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Chilperic: “What are you
guys talking about? Who killed? Who was killed?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“One of us.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Chattagong had his
attention on Bobol: “Tell us again what you know about Jason?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“He got savage on a babe
and the colonists killed him.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Which colonists?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Dunno.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“How come he says you
were in it?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Dunno—stories get made
all kinds of ways. Other guy says Marcus did it—like a babe’s husband would if
he’s got balls.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Marcus is the babe’s husband?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Bobol and Leon each said
‘Yeah’.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Chattagong’s eyes were
busy: Bobol, Leon, Derek, Bokassa and Owen. He looked at the woodworker: “What
do you know?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Owen: “My friend Paul
told me—he said a bunch of people went and strangled Jason, dumped the body in
a cave and covered it with rocks… ”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Leon: “Yeah?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Paul said Bobol was
there.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Chattagong looked at
Bokassa: “What did you hear?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Almost the same story…
Didn’t say Bobol, but Marcus did the killing.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Who told you?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Can’t remember—people
at lunch were telling it around.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Owen: “You know, Paul
isn’t always clear in the way he thinks and talks—I coulda got it wrong. Makes
sense for a husband to do that… ”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Leon: “I been around
these colonists a long time now—I never saw Marcus fight or even get mad.” He
gave Bobol a long solid stare.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Bobol: “The babe’s his
wife and Jason fucked her up bad—any man will lose control. Her face is really
worked… ”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Roxie had overheard: “He
made Synoveh’s face beautiful! Puffed, purple and putrid—it had to be a man
from the brothel! I laughed when she came in the room, Marcus looked pretty mad
then,” she laughed now. “I think he wanted to slap me. He shoulda, coulda been
the start of something fun!” Laughs again, all the way around.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Leon: “So, Bobol—you
swear you had no part in Jason’s death?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“I swear—why would I do
anything against a brother?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Yeah—why?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“C’mon, Leon. You know
I’m good.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Maybe I do. You bear
watching… Kinda funny… ”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“What?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">He spoke to the crowd:
“We took the uphill trail. I think we passed Jason’s grave—Bobol didn’t want me
to look.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“I didn’t know what was
there—didn’t want you to waste your time.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“That’s what you said.
Tried to say they had some Voodoo shrine in there, didn’t you?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Just guessing.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Uh-huh… I think we
should see what’s in there. We gotta enough muscle power, can pull that wall
down in no time.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Bobol staggered to his
feet: “Okay—let’s go.” He passed eyes over the group: “C’mon guys—we got rocks
to move!”</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Everybody
rose, Cal and Roxie recovered their clothing from the ground.</span>James B. Mielkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03882204685816642141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2823289098832901184.post-28567423694056515522014-06-09T15:45:00.000-07:002014-06-11T07:06:50.414-07:00Scariness UpdateAn update on the sign...<br />I looked at it and discovered that it is half-inch metal plate, the bullets don't even go through<br />And it it welded to steel posts--I don't have any way to remove it<br />The
business, so called Christian Boy's Ranch, was forced to close many
years ago. The owner was operating an unlicensed recycling company,
dumped a lot of toxics (dry cleaning fluid) on the site.<br />Meanwhile he was collecting donations from people that saw infomercials on televangelist programs.<br />It never sheltered any disadvantaged youth (stated mission)<br />I think he went to jail<br /><br />I can maybe show the hazard to a sheriff's deputy, but I don't expect much will be doneJames B. Mielkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03882204685816642141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2823289098832901184.post-23069468581753704682014-06-07T07:20:00.000-07:002014-06-07T07:20:04.133-07:00Scariness There's a roadside sign idiots use for target practice, on the further
side is a row of homes, my trailer included. There used to be almond
trees in the field but they were cut down, now I am wide open. The
distance is long, maybe a mile, my neighbors and I are probably safe.
But who knows?<br />
The sign is for a business that no longer exists. I think I'm going to take it down and remove the target.<br />Bet the Sheriff comes by and messes with me for vandalism or something.James B. Mielkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03882204685816642141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2823289098832901184.post-55232866161909845222014-06-03T08:18:00.000-07:002014-06-03T08:18:41.984-07:00Comings and Goings<br />
<br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">First thing next day:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">A tractor rode up to Lucy's gate, Homer operated. It circled the turnaround and parked. Erin and Grube's tents were struck, the campfire seating logs rolled away under the trees and the ashes watered cold. Four departing colonists waited: Grube held Sikar II, Erin held Grube's elbow and Christina stood on her far side. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Homer stepped from the
cab and went to the rail: “Ready?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Erin didn’t speak but
had Grube walk her to the ladder. Christina followed and looked up at Homer:
“We have a crate in Newton.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“I’ll stop for it.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“You don’t need to
escort us.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">He smiled and nodded,
wiped a speck of dust from his brow: “There’s a tractor shortage, I have to
bring it back.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Erin reached the
catwalk: “So you honor us with your presence one final time.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“I have nothing better
to do today. And it’s time I checked in with Peter and his crew.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“So long as we aren’t an
inconvenience.” She took her future husband into the cab, to the forward seats,
rotating them to face the rear.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Christina held the
Administrator in a long sober stare.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Homer: “Is there
something you want to say?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“I won’t waste the air.”
She went to her seat.</span></div>
<a name='more'></a><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Homer entered the cab,
started the tractor and selected Newton. He rode on the front catwalk and took
the breeze, avoided the frustration inside the vehicle.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">They went up a spur road
and halted in front of the house Sikar had built.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Everybody’s personal
effects fit into a single packing case, albeit a heavy one. Homer remained
above and watched Christina and Grube wrestle it into a cargo bin. He looked
for Chilperic.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">The laborers climbed
back up.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Homer addressed
Christina: “Where’s your husband?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Chilperic is no longer
my husband. The last I saw of him he went with Bokassa and Owen to the
stillhouse in Drunkard’s Den.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Well that’s too bad.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“I think I’m better off.
You can have him.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Erin: “We need to get to
the spaceport, Homer.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Yeah—right.” He went
in, started the machine and returned forward to his bowsprit position.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Tractor rolled on. Past
the colony’s farms and over the creek out of the Games Grounds, the next reach
was a straightaway atop a levee separating the marsh from a drier tract slated
for agriculture, closely mown but not yet cultivated. Ahead were the sandstone
hills.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">A car appeared, rounding
a turn into view.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Going into the cab, Homer
got behind the center console and took the controls. He slowed the tractor to a
crawl and steered it to the rim of the narrow berm, let half the width of his
right wheels hang over the edge.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">The two vehicles came
together.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Pyteman took the car off
to his side of the levee.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">There was scarcely an
inch of clearance between the machines.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Homer stopped and
stepped out on the deck. He leaned over the rail and watched the car creep
alongside: “Good morning! Sightseeing?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Pyteman craned an upward
look: “Making a delivery.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“You’re very prompt.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“We like satisfied
customers.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“It’s good for
business—huh?” Homer watched the car pull abreast, close enough that he could
step onto the roof if he desired. He made a rueful smile: “When I built this
road I never imagined two-way traffic.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Now you’re stuck in a
jam—you should widen it.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“I don’t know—it’s a
pleasant social interlude. But if you were driving a tractor one of us would
have had to back up.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Pyteman needed to see in
front and couldn’t turn his head around. He shouted a final comment over his
shoulder, Homer never heard it.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Still early enough for a
good mood, Chloe took amusement watching Pyteman squeeze around the looming
tires. She looked out her window, below was a pool of muddy water, she wondered
if it was deep enough to swallow the car should it tumble off of the levee.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">But it cleared the
obstacle and entered town, they stopped at the Biology Hut.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Just like the day before
the street was void of humanity.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Pyteman got out and went
to the cargo bed, removed a parcel. Chloe emerged as he walked to the door they
had opened yesterday.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Nothing within but an
empty office.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Pyteman yelled a
‘Halloo!’ and Chloe investigated the second entry, discovered a dim corridor
leading to shadows.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">A door opened at the far
end, two women appeared: “Who’s there?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Chloe: “We’ve got
whiskey—for Kaila Flexer.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">A second voice:
“Yeah—sorry. Forgot you were coming. We were talking… ”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Kaila and Charlene came
forward, into light, they walked without enthusiasm and said nothing.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Kaila received the
package: “Thanks,” she tried to smile, failed. “Homer always picked up the
orders… am I supposed to give you a tip?—nobody carries money around here… I
could give you a credit… ?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“No need. If I may pry…
you’re not as cheerful as yesterday—neither of you. You seem rather
distracted—is there something wrong?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Charlene: “We had some
terrible news… ”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“A friend of ours was
hurt… ”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Kaila—we should respect
her privacy.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">She stopped and looked
into the off-worlder’s eyes: “Yeah—I guess you guys don’t need to know—I just
need to talk about it… ”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“That’s what I’m here
for, why we have tea… ”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Uh-huh.” She looked
down at the liquor bottles in her arms. “I don’t have much party mood today,
these are almost superfluous. I’ll get around to it.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Charlene, to the
visitors: “We should go… ”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Pyteman: “Sorry to come
at a bad time.”</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Sitting in the dark,
shunning the day:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">A wide-eyed Chilperic:
“When we were doing those all night runs—I got a charge, a kick-ass feeling.
But I never felt this good. What’s in those white pills? Where did you get
them?”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Bokassa: “We got new
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“I thought they were all
bums… ”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Not these guys. They
bossed the bums.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Owen: “Kind of the
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“You’ll like these
guys.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Okay—when can I see
them?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Later today—after
lunch.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“I’m not hungry.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Me neither, but when
did you last eat?”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Chilperic had to think,
frowned and rubbed an ear: “Yesterday morning… I guess.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Yeah—even these pills
won’t keep you up forever… ”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Owen: “Besides—they
bring lunch down here.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Ain’t too bad—I could
do with more meat.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Those grains keep my
shit solid, life’s better that way.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Bokassa laughed.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Chilperic: “When is
lunch?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Bokassa: “It’s only
morning, still.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Owen: “Been a long
night.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Chilperic: “How much did
we drink?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Couple gallons, I
guess.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“I don’t feel a thing… ”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“You feel good, don’t
you?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Real good!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Bokassa was center in
the row, clapped his buddies on the back. “We’re gonna feel good from here on
out!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">The door opened and the
stillhouse filled with light. A shadowed figure spoke with Delgard’s voice: “Who’s
in there? Bokassa and Owen? Ya cookin’?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Nah,” Owen yelled. “And
we drank the reserve supply.” He laughed.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“That’s not very social…
” He entered and went to the kettle, opened the copper domed lid: “I think this
beer’s about done, anyhow. There’s more brewin’ outside if somebody helps with
the barrel… ?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Bokassa stood and Owen
followed. “We’ll do it,” the potter growled. “Save your bad knees.” The two
burly men went to the still and lifted the kettle between their shoulders,
carried it out the door.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">The sleepy Delgard
hadn’t trimmed his beard in recent months, smiled behind the mossy brown mass.
He had finally gone to the clinic in Firstown and Kaila replaced his lost front
teeth—pearly white incisors were mismatched in the alcoholic’s rugged face. He noticed
Chilperic and gave the Townie a long quizzical stare: “Wouldn’t of thought to
see you down here… ?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Just visiting friends.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Yeah—Bokassa and Owen
built this shack, you know?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“They told me. Did a
good job.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Owen knows his wood and
Bokassa knows his stills,” grinned more, he liked showing them off and the
polish was guaranteed for twenty standard years.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Homer’s tractor drove
onto the spaceport apron and approached the Glatz landing palette. It was a
platform four feet above the ground, a hundred feet along the sides. A crew
worked from it, hoisted containers onto a flat-topped trailer.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Three men broke away as
the colonists drove up. Heavyset men with sidearms, they stood patiently while
the machine came near and halted.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Homer stepped out and a
round headed man with less hair than the Administrator shouted: “What do you
want?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Dropping off the
passengers.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Passengers?—Pyteman
didn’t tell me.” He scratched his scalp and made an ugly scowl: “Well, bring
‘em out.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Homer went to the cab
and fetched the disgruntled émigrés. As before he watched them struggle with
their crate, the round headed man offered no assistance. He held fists on hips
and stared.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Rid of his burden, Homer
drove away in search of Peter’s work site. It was an easy hunt, earth moving tractors
shuttled between landing pad and the job, he followed one through the blast
wall. It went left and continued past the ‘T’ intersection leading to the main
warehouse row. The industrial zone lay ahead: manufacturing sheds and chemical
tanks, power plant, water system and drains.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">The southeast corner of
the spaceport had been built out into the marsh and the enclosure wall made a
square corner. Excavated soil from other construction heaped up dry ground and
compacted flat. A filled-in trench carried sewer pipes half a mile past the
wall and emptied into a muddy pit in the heart of the wetlands. Untreated
wastes overflowed the reservoir and soured the natural waters.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">The wall’s panels had
been removed, two lines of support columns met at the corner post, the spaces
between stood open. Tractors worked on the far side and heavy equipment noise
rumbled, rattled, beeped and boomed.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Near the corner post
there was a house-of-cards shed with three sides and a roof made from concrete
wall sections. Homer drew up and parked.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">He climbed to the
ground, looked inside the structure—nothing.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Turned around and faced
the work.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Tractors and excavators
operated below, a dirt ramp led from the skeletal wall into a huge trench,
twenty feet deep, it fingered out into the wetlands beyond his sightline.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">The bottom of the pit
was a muddy churned up mess, but pumps pulled water out, kept the work
possible. Concrete wall panels set on-end held back the marsh. More than two
million cubic yards of polluted soil were being removed and spread across a
quarter of the landing field for the sun to bake away volatile chemicals.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">The area reeked a
cocktail of raw sewage, industrial fluids and tractor exhaust.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Homer tolerated the
stink but it was the odd occasion when he wished he still smoked cigars, just
to perfume the surroundings. He watched, glad it was a job he wasn’t doing.
From the contractor’s perspective it looked well organized, Peter deserved
praise.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">He wondered how to
attract attention and one of the tractors, a smaller single-seat model with a
front-end loader, split away from the site and moved up the ramp. It came
around to Homer’s vicinity, stopped and Peter let himself out of the roll-over
cage: “Hiho!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">The Administrator nodded
and came near. He waved at the shed: “Nice hut—what are you using it
for?—camp?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Nah—we jus’ stacked
that up t’ practice workin’ with th’ wall parts. Thought we had a nice shady
lunchroom an’ somebody said ‘What if there’s an earthquake?’ an’ now we’re
afraid t’ go inside.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Homer chuckled: “You’d
be flattened… ”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Shit right! That roof
section weighs ‘bout four tons.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“I’d like to sit. Can we
go up into my tractor?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“After you.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">They climbed up, opened
both doors to ventilate the glass-box cab and took face to face seats.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Homer: “How’s the job
going?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Jus’ fine. We’re
gittin’ th’ contam’nated shit out, waitin’ on Charlene t’ give a final rundown
of jus’ what kinda crap’s in there—looks like mostly sewage, solvents, spilt
fuel—ain’t too nasty—gotta use resp’rators in a couple bad spots.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“She told me the report
will be finished in a couple more days.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Fine… So meanwhile
we’re settin’ up th’ big washout.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Any problems?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Nah… th’ water main an’
th’ sewer are right t’gether—easy crossover.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“You lead a good job.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Hah!—We’re jus’ diggin’
in a big mud-hole—any kid could do it an’ have a ball!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Homer smiled and changed
the subject: “I take it there hasn’t been news out of the Vale in the last day…
”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“No… ?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“You need to hear this
from me, I have the facts… One of the refugees attacked Synoveh… ” Reluctantly,
Homer related his story.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Afterwards Peter shook
his head but was in a rare speechless state. He avoided Homer’s gaze, looked at
his dirty trousers, the hands on his knees flexed and trembled. At last he
said: “We shoulda thought ‘bout them guys… People said things on Leon, Hildy
an’ Bobol had warnin’s—Tamborak, too—poor guy… Never seen him do nothin’, but
shit… I met Jason… took him dinner couple times… Tol’ me some story ‘bout
himself… ”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Homer: “What?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Said he was in that war
y’ were in. He was a Paratantin.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“I fought against them.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“I know—I woulda too but
th’ recruiter said I was too young.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“We’re the same age.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“What county you from?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Turlock.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Uh-huh—y’ became an
adult at sixteen. I’m from Butte County, they won’ let a kid do nothin’ ‘til
he’s nineteen.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Do you ever miss
Calico?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“No. Do ya?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“There were some
regrets… after what happened with Jody. It didn’t last.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“How ‘bout right now?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Regrets, certainly, but
I’m not feeling nostalgia for the old home world—too far gone now.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“I wanna git back t’ th’
Vale an’ see Luenda.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“I’ll take you to the
trailhead.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Gotta git Edzy—left him
in camp.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Who’s babysitting?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“New girl—wunna
Hermione’s crew—Alicia. She’s sweet.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“How do you manage such
an active bed life?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Peter slapped a knee and
cracked a laugh: “Ain’t my doin’, they come to me… ”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“And your companions
never clash?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Peter shook his head
again.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Not like Ruben—his
girlfriends always fight. Can’t put them on a crew… ”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Used to be… ”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Right—Sheila and Trish
have him thumbed down these days. I think you’re the last serious bachelor.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Another burst of
guffaws: “Never serious!”</span></div>
<br /><br />
James B. Mielkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03882204685816642141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2823289098832901184.post-3540589703760934002014-05-29T10:51:00.000-07:002014-05-29T10:51:08.082-07:00History 101<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Naomi: “ …Taralisa
intends to plant a thorny hedge across the cave and make it disappear.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Homer sat silently for a long moment, he sighed and shifted: "I almost wish you hadn't told me... They shouldn't have killed him, maybe the head injury was treatable."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"Look at me Homer--they didn't do it--I killed him. My hands, not an abstract 'they'."</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"Yes... you--last person I would expect. You've written eloquently against Death Penalty and vigilante justice... "</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"This wasn't a penalty--nor was it justice."“Okay… What then?—a
mercy killing?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Mercy for us all… ”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“If we had a jail, I’m
supposed to put you there.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Really, Homer… ”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">He made an unenthused
smile: “I’m not the sheriff… Administrators are meant to boss construction.
I’ve disciplined workers—fired them, called the law on a few thieves… You
actually strangled the man?”</span></div>
<a name='more'></a><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“No longer man… ”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Maybe,” he looked at
his hands. “You’ve gone deeper than I can see.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“It’s important to think
about the colony’s reaction.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“You can place a report
over the network.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“For once I believe my
credibility will be questioned… It isn’t possible to make an objective
account.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“There won’t be many
Jason sympathizers… ”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Exactly—and in Firstown
there is a lot of resistance to the presence of the refugees. When one of them
commits this sort of crime they’ll take it for an excuse to punish the group.
This is history, Homer—it’s how societies divide and form class/race
antagonisms.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“I hoped peace would
come after the spaceport battle… ”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“We need better
organization.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Call a meeting.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“You call one—keep it
open until we have a constitution.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“The meeting last year…
”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“I know, but without
Sikar—or Mel… We aren’t as polarized.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Or Mel… Would she have
killed him?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“She would have seen the
necessity—she killed to stop rape.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Her own… Do me a favor?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">The journalist nodded.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“I’ll post a report—from
a source wishing to remain anonymous—but I want you to write it—only an
outline, I’ll put it in my own words. Write it on paper, only one copy, don’t
use the network and deliver it to me personally. I’ll burn it when I finish,
leave no trail. Omit the names of the execution party and don’t tell your
role—I can edit that material if I must… ”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“You have a delicate
touch, Homer.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Hah! I wish… ”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“It’s a good plan.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“They’ll wonder about my
anonymous source.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Historians will debate
the topic learnedly for a hundred generations,” she demonstrated a nonchalant
smile, almost convincing.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">The Administrator’s lips
stretched in return.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Do you know much
history?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“School threw a lot of
names and dates, battles and treaties at me—all dry and filtered. Not very
exciting stuff for a guy that likes to use his hands.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“I studied history in
college, it was my major until I dropped out. I became a journalist because I
wanted to be the primary source for future historians. Now I conspire with you
to hide the facts. They’ll emerge one way or another, too many witnesses... But
have you ever wondered about what happened before the calendar started?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“I remember that
detail—there was a supernova that destroyed the original civilization—Atlantis,
they called it… ”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“So you were taught.
Four thousand eight hundred thirty seven standard years ago. The light from
that event will never reach Cardomon—too much Galaxy in between. What I wonder
is why the archives on Brahe, Hesperia, Farenger and a dozen other worlds all
begin with that moment, there are few credible documents older, a good many of
the surviving fragments of prehistory are in languages nobody can decipher. I
believe there was an organized purge of the ancient past and I believe the
supernova was used as an excuse for the loss of history.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“It starts from a
conspiracy?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“The three most powerful
human institutions—the Brahe Merchants Guild, the Planetary Foundation—on
Hesperia—and the University of Farenger—use the same date of commencement—light
years apart. What kind of coincidence is that?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“A highly improbable
one… ”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Impossible by my
estimation.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“What did come before?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“We’ll never know, I
fear. The revisionists did a thorough job. Just say ‘Atlantis’.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“I always did like that
story.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“There are actually
eight different versions—hundreds of regional variants. You’re from Calico:
aren’t you familiar with the legend of the last Empress—Sacajawea?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Homer nodded: “Her
scientists triggered the supernova by accident.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Calico is a secularist
society—on a lot of planets they say she offended the Gods… And other places
have never heard of her. There’s a story of King Rama—he lit the supernova as a
pyre for his beloved wife Chrysanthemum—she was murdered by a Demon.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Where does that come
from?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“I heard it as a
child—on Farenger.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“It’s a big Galaxy… ”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Indeed.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Why did you drop out of
college?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“I’d achieved my
educational goals, what I wanted to learn was in the real world, not in
libraries. I saved a year’s time by not writing a dissertation. I had already
published a report on human trafficking from Dayron. It was a strong emotional
interest story and a lot of regional networks picked it up—I made a lot of
money and a professional reputation overnight. That was the end of school… ”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">b</span></div>
James B. Mielkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03882204685816642141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2823289098832901184.post-8260741815111976372014-05-26T06:28:00.000-07:002014-05-26T06:28:07.152-07:00New Faces in Town<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">A cargo vessel from
Glatz Enterprises made an orbital call and cabled a pallet down to the
spaceport landing field. It was a scheduled visit to deliver fresh merchandise
for the warehouses, it also brought a new staff to manage the facilities.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">The passenger module doors opened, a dozen people emerged. Mostly they were laborers, from the cut of the uniforms, though some displayed handguns on their hips. Two, the first out, a man and a woman, not obviously armed and in tailored clothes, separated themselves from the others.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">The couple stepped to the ground and circled the landing pod. Their eyes were drawn to the Almanor, most prominant feature of the landscape.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">The man frowned at the sight, his partner had a bemused look.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Bristly back-combed hair contained under a red beret secured by a nine-inch hatpin. A short pale woman, slight, restless limbs, red jacket, white blouse, skin tight black pants and heavy soled footwear. "Where's the welcoming?" she wondered.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"I think we're being snubbed."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"</span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">Indeed," thin lips in a semi-smile, coal black eyes twinkled.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">"I bet Chockswindae got a fine reception." Also black haired, it formed a shelf over his brows and tapered to a ducktail at his collar. Brown eyes pugged out of a ruddy round face and had a rock steady stare, he rarely blinked. He wore a suit in Company colors: gray top, black bottom.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">She sniffed: "A peasant's affair, I'm sure. Spit-roasted animal parts and wine brewed out of the weeds. Isn't that how they do things on the frontier?"</span><br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">The man 'hmph'ed weak appreciation of her sarcasm: "I believe they do possess the rudiments of a civilized society."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"I doubt it."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"Let's put the crew to work and then scout the terrain."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"My feet hurt already."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"Poor Chloe. Get used to it, we'll be in this gravity for years."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"Have the men unload the car."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"Yes--we'll be needing it."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">They turned back to the landing vessel. Their crew had started undogging tie-downs on the cargo containers. The man gave the workers instructions then took Chloe by the elbow and they moseyed away.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">A quarter-mile to the blast wall opening and around the blockhouse into the open space beyond, a wide lane with blank warehouse walls on the opposite side. Followed the road to an intersection and down another street, multistory buildings on either flank. There wasn't a single person to be found.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Damage was evident, not a windowpane was unbroken. Glass littered the pavement, crunched underfoot.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">The row of warehouses ended, replaced by modest dwellings, heavily vandalized, beyond repair.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">The man sneered at the sabotage: "Fucking people had a real party here. We were supposed to live in one of these houses."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"Well you know how I love to redecorate... "</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"Hah! You'll do this from the ground up."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"I'll make the best of it."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"I bet they destroyed the office, too."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"We should look into the warehouses ans see if they're intact."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"Yeah. Good idea."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">They turned around, back to the tall buildings, nearest on the right had a large numeral '1' painted in black at a top corner. Behind the bars across the shattered windows there were only shadows.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">A small door was inset into a tractor sized valve. The man had a key in his data tab and activated it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Latch went 'click' and door swung ajar, swinging outward. A bright red seal pasted across the jamb broke, the metal panel clanged against the metal wall. Lights within flickered into brilliance as they entered, harsh white industrial illumination. The portal was low and the man stooped.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">The space was a loading bay with five cement steps up onto the dock directly ahead. Behind the tractor door there was a three wheeled car ready to roll. An aisle lined with scaffold framed shelving stretched the length of the building. Beyond the broken glass in front nothing seemed disturbed.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">They found an inventory kiosk, the computer blinked to life at their approach.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">The pair reviewed the database and learned that the entire stock in all of the warehouses was secure.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Chloe: "Well that's one thing... Boss will be disappointed."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"Bankrupting them win a lawsuit would be too easy. If the lawyers do it all we don't get our slice."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"Huh--I know what you mean. This is nothing like the job at Crossroads."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"From scratch, too."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"I'm ready."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"Let's go back to the landing pad."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"Open the big door, we can take that car."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"Okay," he touched his key and the tractor gate rolled aside.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Into the two seat vehicle, nearly identical to one they had brought, and out the door, it closed as they drove away.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">They stopped outside the blockhouse and entered the control room. To the communications terminal, he opened the local channel. "Calling the Firstown settlement on Cardomon. TRhis is Pyteman Daelmeron of Glatz Enterprises reporting. Have achieved planetfall and I endeavor to contact your authorities. Over."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">The wait drew out for a minute, no response. He had been trying to establish communication for weeks with no acknowledgement.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Pyteman hissed a sigh of disgust. They returned to the car and drove out onto the landing pad, parked alongside the vehicle's twin.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Di ned that evening on cold field rations and slept in the passenger module alongside the crew. Chloe compensated for snores, farts and an uncomfortable seat with a strong dose of narcotics, traveled in ecstatic dreams.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Pyteman snored and farted the loudest.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">The car they had brought was brand new, the interior had a funny odor that made them dizzy and gave Pyteman a headache, they used the car from the warehouse. It had a manual transmission option and Chloe drove, she enjoyed the feeling of shifting gears,the sound and sense of power.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">She knew the route, only one main road between spaceport and town. Only one main road in the colony.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Most of her experience was in space, open vistas were exotic and she was glad a windshield and roof removed her from the landscape.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Pyteman was no help, rode in silence and watched the world slip by.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Little to see initially, a flat barren field on the left and pools of stagnant water lay opposite, dead dry shrubbery bordered the ponds. The area smelled like stale mud.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">The road veered away from the flat land, wandered between low mounds and damp bottoms. They approached hills, round tops with sheer sides and scattered red trees. A sharp curve led into a short grade down and across a tiny streambed. An armored tractor lay on its left side at the bottom of the wash.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Through and past the hills into another low reach, the Almanor was visible on the right horizon. Then fields arose, tractors rumbled up dust in the distance.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Ahead of them was the end of a ridge, structures crowned the last summit. The road zigged and zagged and brought them into town.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Sheds, greenhouses, vacant lots, no people, they stopped in front of a green park with a large square metal building at its center.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Pyteman and Chloe got out and stretched. A paved walk led up</span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"> to double doors, she opened them.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Dim narrow space within, obviously the foyer of a public building--empty of the public, or anybody else.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Walked back to the street.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Chloe: "Not promising... " </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"It's a show."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"There must be somebody."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">They strolled back to the edge of town and checked doorways--empty buildings with stripped out interiors. Most of the lots were vacant, bare cement pads, some held sculptures made from discarded construction material.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Final structure on the right, across from a garden space. Two doors near the far corner. Opened the first.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">A woman within blinked at them, blinded by the sudden light. "Yes?" Thick blonde hair, tied back, a dusty smock, she carried a broom at port arms.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"I'm Pyteman Daelmeron, this is my wife Chloe. We're from Glatz Enterprises."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"Oh really? When did you land?"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"Yesterday."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"Nobody told me...</span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Are you here to run the catalog sales?"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"Spaceport management--that is one of our responsibilities."</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-indent: .5in;">
“<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">About time--I'm running out of Everything. Can you take an order?"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"Not right now. I'm looking for the Administrator." </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"Homer? I bet he's at a job site--he builds houses."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"Where?"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"I don't know--anywhere, he works all over town. Just follow the road," she waved broom to indicate direction. "There's a dozen neighborhoods on either side. Listen for construction noise, you can't miss him."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"Thank you."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"Are you sure you can't take an order? I'm out of whiskey."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"Can you write it out? I'll pick it up before we leave town."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"Yeah, okay... must be some paper around here." She went to the desk at her rear and rummaged drawers.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Chloe and Pyteman turned away, walked back to the car.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Chloe: m"If that's an example of local intelligence, we'll take this place over in no time."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"The town idiot. That's why she's doing menial work."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"What in all of the Galaxy possesses people to start these colonies?"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"Insanity, I suppose."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"Let's find the people we need to kill and get the job done. I don't want to wither away out in the boondocks."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"Patience, Chloe. This is a delicate job, we'll handle it with finesse. There may not even be any killing."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"Then why send us?"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"I wish you had studies the intelligence the Company gave us. There is high level Planetary Foundation interest in this colony because of some disaster--it's how the Boss got involved with the place. Everything we do, especially killing, must appear of indigenous origin. Glatz Enterprises must come out spotless."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"I feel naked without a crowd. How will we operate?"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"By making friends."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"I'm goood at that. But Chloe... "</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"Yes?"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"Don't get pregnant."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"Why not? We made a lot off of that last kid."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"There's no market in a town this small."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"Yeah. I guess you're right. I'll be careful."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"It might help our plans if you make it dangerous. Tell your boyfriends that I'm insanely jealous--I'm a killer."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"I know you are."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"Make your sweethearts believe it."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"What about you?"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"The spaceport manager has to present an aura of refined power and stability--like a banker. I won't be able to socialize directly. Pyteman and Mrs. Daelmeron are here to show the bumpkins a few manners."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"'Pyteman and Mrs. Daelmeron?'" Chloe giggled. "The demur and dutiful wife?--I can play it, I can play anything."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"It's why I married you."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"Very useful, huh?"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"You've had fun, and gotten rich."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">She still laughed: "Yeah... Rich... "</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Like most of her humor, Pyteman didn't get it.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Neighborhoods were on spur roads that sprouted cul-de-sacs, uphill to view lots, downhill to sheltered dells and tumbling creeks. The main road adhered to the top of the steepest slopes on the narrow ridge, looped between hills and flats. Tall trees crowned the summits, brush filled the canyons, there was a stream every couple hundred yards. Home construction and remodeling went on all over. Homer Blairsden contracted three of the jobs but none of the crews had seen him that day</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">After two hours of dead end roads Chloe needed a rest and Pyteman took the wheel. He switched the systems to automatic and operated with no hands.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">The forested landscape reminded her of children's stories from long ago, she wanted to see fantastical creatures and valiant heroes. She would have to wait until her bedtime drugs.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">The further they traveled from the metal part of town the more traffic they encountered, all of it pedestrian, colonists used handcarts for heavy burdens. They stared at the car in passing, few volunteered right-of-way.</span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<![endif]-->Eventually the main road looped a shoulder of hill and came toward a tall structure with a green flag on top.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">The tower was at the inner turn of a drainage and spanned the creek, a fence projected from its sides and vanished uphill beneath the foliage. Everything was constructed of long willowy limbs interwoven and forming a trellis for grapes and berries.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">The structure was the tallest in the colony and sat atop a log bridge decked with planks. There was an archway at the tower's base and a pair of gates stood open, folded back against the fence.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">A short ways downstream the road crossed the creek with a metal pipe culvert. Pyteman stopped the car on the far side, next to a patch of lawn where a woman marshalled a half-dozen toddling children. She sat on a log bench and held aloft a large book full of colorful illustration. One finger led youthful eyes through the information.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Everything ceased with the approach of the car and curious eyes tracked the vehicle to its resting place.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">The woman plucked a grass blade to mark her page and pt the book down, then rose to see the marvel. Children trailed behind but didn't crawl off of the green lawn.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">The visitors were tired of getting in and out, Pyteman spoke through the open window: "We're looking for Homer Blairsden--do you know where he is?"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">For a moment it seemed as if she hadn't heard, so fascinating was the sight of the car. But finally she looked at the passengers: "Homer's in the kitchen working on lunch."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"At last... " Chloe muttered.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Pyteman: "Can we see him?"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"Just go to the kitchen."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"Where is that?"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"Inside, of course. Go through the gate and bear left when the creek branches."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"Will you show us?--we've been wandering around all day."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"Sorry--can't leave the kids. Bear left with the creek fork, it's easy."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">They exited the car, took a footpath to the tower bridge and went through. The route curved above the creekbank, a row of cabins overlooked it, gardens covered the opposite shore and more cabins above that. Twenty yards further the creek forked and so did the path. Left crossed a smaller bridge and immediately over it the trail split four ways.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">They considered the choice and a man approached from behind, he had a baby in a papoose: "Coming through!"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">They hastened from his step and Pyteman addressed him: "Excuse me, which way to the kitchen?"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">The man stopped and turned, he stared rudely, finally answered with a question: "Which one?"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"I don't know. I'm looking for Homer Blairsden. I was told he's making lunch."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"Is he? The main kitchen is back the other way but I don't think that's the one... There's another one over here," he waved toward the four way division.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"Will you show us?--we don't know which path."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"They all go there. Follow me, I was passing that way." He took off at a jog, picked the trail nearest the creek.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Chloe and Pyteman fell in behind, the sudden shift to a trot quickly winded them. The man vanished ahead, he never looked back.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">They trimmed their pace and continued, the uphill grade was steady and steeper than their legs were adapted to.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Midday, warm, but at least the trees kept them under shade.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Chloe gave out, spotted a trailside bench between rose bushes and dropped her seat down. A rail fence to the rear worked for backrest. Pyteman sat with her, he drew a handkerchief and dabbed his soggy brow.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Silen sitting, waiting for breath.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">A larger than normal structure faced them, smoking flue pipe rose above the roof peak. A door was open and noises emerged: chopping, laughture, garbled speech.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Pyteman and Chloe got to their feet and went to the door.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">The kitchen, very busy and very hot.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">A loud male voice: " ...and Ruben thought he can save that apple. So he jumps into the hole and the mud sucks him up to the waist--completely stuck! We spent the rest of that lunch, and longer, pulling him out--he lost a shoe. It damn near took his pants down!"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">A roomful of hilarity followed.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Four people at a long table flailing knives, three others at a double sink doing something under running water, adobe-brick stove centerpiece had two attendants.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Pyteman shouted: "I'm looking for Homer Blairsden>"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Nobody heard him.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">They entered the room and he repeated his announcement.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Somebody spotted him and the crowd went still.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">A burly bald topped brown man, the voice from a moment earlier: "I'm Homer. What can I do for you?" He was at the chopping block in front of a pile of onions.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"Pyteman Daelmeron, my wife Chloe. We're from Glatz Enterprises. We came here to introduce ourselves."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"Oh yes. Heard you were coming. I'll be done here in a minute--can you wait? Garden seating outside... unless you like to cook... "</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Chloe/Pyteman: "No thank you... "</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"Go relax. I'll be right along."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Back to the bench, Pyteman's brow was wet again, he wiped.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Chloe: "I'm ready to blow the job. These people make me furious."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"Let it motivate you."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"How do we circulate with a brigade of simpletons?"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"Don't be fooled. There's a lot going on. The Boss's private secretary filed a report after they called here. He was very impressed--spoke highly of Homer and of a man called Jolrae Dorn."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"Who is he?--a goatherd?"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"A wealthy man is who he is. He used to run a fashion house, he would like to do that again."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"My kind of guy?"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"More like mine, I believe. And Fredegar indicated that Mr. Dorn is very fond of money."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"That makes him easy."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"We'll be looking him up."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Homer came out of the door, he brought a crowd. As he neared he also btought the sour redolence of onions. Three women followed him and a tall white haired gentleman Pyteman recognized from the reports--Arrolon Stemple, formerly of the Planetary Foundation.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Homer put out his hand: "That was Pyteman, you said?--and Chloe?"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">The visitors rose, the crowd hedged them against the bench, they took the shake.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Homer continued: "My wife Charlene Hanson, Patty Garcia/Stemple, Arrolon Stemple and Hermione Chockswindae." There was a row of ready hands.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Afterwards, Chloe's fingers were raw.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Both visitors hesitated before taking Hermione's greeting.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Homer: "So what can we do for you?"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Pyteman spoke with a politician's smile: "Just here to let you see our faces. And to let you know that the catalog sales are open again. I was impressed by the measures taken to secure the warehouses."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"Rest of the place got a little busted up... "</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"I understand it was a spontaneous civil disturbance," Pyteman said diplomatically.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"Something like that... " the Administrator resisted a smile.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"There will be an inquiry, of course. I have a lot to review. Spaceport security systems recorded the action. And I believe Mr. Corman Braye is at large in the colony?"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"Not at large--secure, like your warehouses. He isn't receiving guests."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"I would like to speak with him."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"You can try. He intends to leave on the Almanor with Hermione."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"I see," Pyteman eyeballed the merchant but kept quiet. He returned to Homer with his smile: "That's all dreary business--we'll catch up to it. Like I said--I'm here to reopen the catalog. What can I do for you?"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">He got a return of head shakes and 'Nothing's.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Except Patricia: "Arrolon--we're out of chocolate... " </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Her husband nodded: "Yes... so we are."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Pyteman activated his data tab: "I'll take the order right now and send it out tomorrow morning."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Hermione spoke up: "I've got tons of the stuff on the Almanor, Patty. I'll let you have it at cost. I got it in a salvage auction for vittually nothing--I was the only bidder."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Pyteman: "You have no commercial rights here--this planet is under an exclusive contract with Glatz Enterprises."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"What's commercial about trading with a friend?--for cost, I said."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"Everything you do is commercial... "</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Homer stepped into the squabble: "Hermione's been welcomed as a new member of the colony. She's one of us and enjoys full rights."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"She's a fugitive."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"We're not recognizing the extradition warrant."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Hermione: "It's only a tax charge."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"She's invested in the colony and purchased property."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"A ridgetop lot next to Arrolon and Patty--you should see the view."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"She has an eighty person crew--also settling. And is interested in helping recruit other new colonists."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Arrolon spoke up: "Our roving Ambassador and Commercial Attache."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Pyteman felt his composure slipping and realized it was time to retreat. He was grateful Chloe was remaining silent, her sarcasm could poison their situation from commencement. "That is a fine title--may you serve it well. I only came to introduce myself, not dispute immigration policy. We should return to the spaceport, we have a lot of work. Please let the colony know that the catalog is open."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Homer: "I'll post it on the network. And you are welcome to stay to lunch. Pies are in the oven and we're serving in half an hour."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"Another time </span>,"<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"> he linked arms with Chloe and the crowd opened to let them pass.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">A silent hike down the path and under the tower.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">The young woman with the infant class was gone. Two other children, slightly older, wandered around the car, touching it and giggling at distorted reflections off of the curved bright surfaces. A man sat on the patch of lawn, he played a wooden flute and monitored the kids.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Pyteman sneered as he nodded to the man, flute player never changed and the children backed away when the off-worlders clambered into their vehicle.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Neither of them spoke, they let
the car retrace the road. It was mostly clear of traffic, people were having
lunch or a nap.</span></div>
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Finally Pyteman broke the
silence: “It’s a clever trick. The Boss didn’t anticipate them getting their
own spaceship.”</div>
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“We control the spaceport… ”</div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-indent: .5in;">
“That only gives us a little
power. We can set fees and regulate some comings and goings—if the Almanor
belongs to a settler we have to tolerate her presence.”</div>
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“Even if Chockswindae competes
against the Company?”</div>
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“No real competition. The Glatz
catalog will undercut any price she offers, and is far more diverse. And we’ll
extract cargo transfer charges with each ton she unloads.”</div>
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“Something tells me those fees
will be difficult to collect. What about Hesperia? Can’t we get a warrant from
them and slap a lien on the Almanor?”</div>
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“We mustn’t appear so unfriendly.
Anyway, Chockswindae’s crew has us outnumbered seven times over, we’d never be
able to enforce a lien—don’t expect the colonists to do it. It would be a
tactical error, demonstrate impotence. What we need is a diversion, something
that keeps Glatz Enterprises out of their minds when they see us. Brush up on
your barkeeper’s skills and your friendly hostess smile.”</div>
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“Okay—I’m always ready to pour a
drink.”</div>
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“Let’s go into the entertainment
business.”</div>
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The conversation went still
again.</div>
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Old Firstown and its metal
structures neared, the blond woman stood in front of the last hut, she waved a
paper at the car.</div>
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Pyteman stopped and lowered his
window.</div>
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She had changed from her cleaning
smock and combed the dust from her face and hair. Her white jacket was crisp
and professional, draped from wide shoulders to narrow hips, trousers were
black and heavy, light black shoes. Long fingered hand entered the car with her
note. “Three bottles of Manton Highland Blend, if you would? And a bottle of
that creamy green liqueur from Brahe—whaddayou call it? How soon will you
deliver?”</div>
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Chloe: “Emerald Bliss… ”</div>
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Pyteman looked blankly at the
paper, then out to the woman, struggled to recall seeing her before. His right
hand took the slip: “I’ll bring it tomorrow afternoon. You have an account with
us?”</div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-indent: .5in;">
“Yeah—Kaila Flexer.”</div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-indent: .5in;">
“Will I find you here?”</div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-indent: .5in;">
“I’m not working tomorrow. Can
you come to my cabin?”</div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-indent: .5in;">
“I’m afraid I would get lost.”</div>
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Humor lit her eyes and twisted
her lips: “Yeah, you would, wouldn’t you? I can program the car’s navigator for
you… but maybe I should meet you here, save you the time.”</div>
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“Thank you.”</div>
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James B. Mielkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03882204685816642141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2823289098832901184.post-70191899360932624412014-05-21T07:02:00.000-07:002014-05-21T07:02:15.982-07:00
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt;">1838 Wymore Ave., East
Cleveland<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After lining up a teaching job in
downtown Cleveland in October 1948, Dad found a house to buy for $10,000 in a
working-class neighborhood. It was built ca. 1896 had 3 and ½ stories with a full-size
attic, basement, and a small garage, the biggest home on our block. The
previous owner had begun to illegally convert the second floor into two apartments.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When the town officials discovered what he
was doing, they cited him and insisted he remove it all. This meant he could no
longer afford to live there so he bailed out and sold cheaply. When we moved in
I was nine, Joan seven, David almost 4, Sandy, 2 and ½ and Sally 6 months.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Down in the
basement a monstrous, old gas furnace and its conduits took up half the space. To
one side were two washtubs, a crawlspace for wood storage and several
clotheslines Mom used in the winter. On the other side was a “workroom” for
paints and brushes, and a toilet that overflowed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The basement was where years later, Dad would
take “the boys”- David and Sandy- to scold and spank. So, not my favorite
place; I hated and feared him for making them cry. Mom hid to smoke her
occasional cigarette down there. Joan and I learned to iron sitting in front of
a machine called a mangle, burning our knees on the hot rollers. It was great
for pillowcases, napkins and handkerchiefs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We stuffed blouses and shirts into a plastic bag, added one cup of
water, zipped it shut and waited for 24 hours. Then, everything was evenly moistened
and perfect. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think I did most of the
ironing because Joan was left-handed and it drove Mom crazy to watch her. Years
later the TV was moved down there and Dad watched the moon landing with
amazement. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS 明朝"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
all loved the attic. It was our play and fantasy space. The ceiling was high
with dormer windows that opened onto the slanted </span><!--EndFragment-->
Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01830776872293225794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2823289098832901184.post-84621307267771486822014-05-18T08:55:00.001-07:002014-05-18T08:55:15.652-07:00I Witness Crime Report<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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They couldn’t have been more blatant, operating in broad
daylight over a period of about three weeks. I watched with binoculars, curious
of the process, utterly ignorant of the evil deed underfoot. How was I to know?</div>
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It started over a year ago when the property next door
changed hands. The new owners bulldozed an abandoned almond orchard and, I was
told, planned to put in walnuts. All last summer I saw tractors plow and
condition the soil, to my wonder the work finished up with seeding for a field
crop. Orchard development is a lengthy process, planting a one season harvest
brings income off of the land while the work continues.</div>
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Over the winter the seeds sprouted and a grassy field
emerged. The grower was lucky, even with the drought, somehow enough water got
to this one crop, other neighbors weren’t as fortunate, planted too late and
nothing grew—agriculture is a gamble.</div>
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But with the start of the merry merry month the harvest
came around. First mowers did the cut and after a week’s drying the baling
machines rolled around, finally the stackers and loaders got it all upon double
trailer big rigs and hauled it away.</div>
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Like I said, I watched the entire operation through
binoculars. To be honest, writing novels is a business that leaves one open to
distraction, with all of the activity right next door, I had the perfect excuse
for not working.</div>
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Yesterday afternoon, while I was doing my thing I received
a visit from a young man driving a Hummer. He looked every inch the modern
farmer, with a phone clipped to his ear and a female companion far too
influenced by the weight-loss industry. He explained that the crop next door was his,
and that the harvesters were not authorized agents but were in fact dastardly
thieves—they stole his hay.</div>
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I do not wish to belittle this phenomenon, agricultural
theft is a big enterprise that seems to happen under the radar—as if somebody
were getting a payoff.</div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">But I had a front row view to the crime of the
century.</span></span>James B. Mielkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03882204685816642141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2823289098832901184.post-27352862120869649022014-05-12T23:15:00.000-07:002014-05-12T23:15:55.200-07:00Gray is a Color, Too
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2823289098832901184.post-55751436753198688462014-05-04T15:46:00.001-07:002014-05-04T15:46:24.169-07:00A Crime of Violence<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“</span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">I</span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">’m</span> <span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">s</span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">o</span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">r</span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">r</span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">y</span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">,</span> <span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Synoveh</span>. <span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">He</span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">’</span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">s</span> <span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">u</span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">n</span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">m</span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">a</span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">n</span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">a</span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">g</span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">e</span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">a</span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">b</span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">l</span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">e</span> <span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">t</span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">h</span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">i</span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">s</span> <span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">m</span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">o</span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">r</span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">n</span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">i</span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">n</span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">g</span>. <span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">I</span> c<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">a</span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">n</span>’<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">t</span> <span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">r</span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">u</span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">n</span> <span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">a</span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span> c<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">l</span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">a</span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">s</span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">s</span>—<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">w</span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">i</span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">l</span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">l</span> y<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">o</span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">u</span> <span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">w</span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">a</span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">t</span>c<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">h</span> <span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">h</span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">i</span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">m</span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">She knelt to her son’s
eye level, he evaded the look: “Luvin… ” In his papoose Sunrah smiled at his
older brother.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Achen elaborated: “None
of the kids want to sit near him, he won’t keep his hands to himself.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Still looking for the
boy’s eyes: “What is bothering you?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Luvin looked down,
around, everywhere except at Mother, muttered: “Nothing.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Is school boring you?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“I’m tired of sitting
and talking.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“What do you want to do
instead?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“I don’t know.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“I have chores and you
can’t bother me, it’s gonna be real dull with me, too.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“I’m okay… ”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Synoveh sighed with
exaggerated weariness, rose and addressed Achen: “I’ll take him. How are the
other kids?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Fine—I left Rajin
monitoring them. He’s a very serious boy.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“How is he doing?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“He understands about
Brenda—Suthra and Taralisa are really there for him and he’s accepting them. He
believes his Mom died for something good.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“He should be proud.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“He is.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“I’m glad.” Another
sigh, an unintended glance at Luvin, he saw an eye of disappointment. Synoveh
took his hand from Achen’s. “We’ll be in the kitchen.” She led her son across
the cabin circle.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Outside the cookhouse
Luenda split firewood with a maul and a wedge. She was stripped to her short
pull-over tunic, yellow braids tied up into a turret-like formation, leather
chaps protected legs from splinters. Muscles worked smoothly, sweat ran, heavy
metal tools rang and cracking logs snapped. She scarcely paused to nod greetings
at mother and child going by.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Dirtiest chore at Branch
House was the monthly cleaning of the huge stove and it was Synoveh’s turn. A
cold breakfast morning warmed only by tea brewed on hearths in the separate
cabins.</span></div>
<a name='more'></a><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“I’m going to be busy
now, Luvin. Find a seat and stay quiet, please.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">The boy took a spot in a
corner.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">She closed the door on
Luenda’s noise, went to the rear window and opened the shutters. Undoing
shoulder straps, she took Sunrah’s papoose and suspended him on a wall hook
where he had a grown-up’s level view.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">First task: remove
accessory components, starting with the ash catcher. It rode a drawer slide,
pulled from beneath the firebox, she lifted it out, set it on the stone floor,
poured in a gallon of water, stirred the mix and killed cinders.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Catch a moment’s breath,
then fetch the grills and drop them into a basin to soak. Towel off greasy
hands.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Next task involved
shoulder power. Synoveh used a short handled scraper on soot caked surfaces,
she got behind the work and bore down.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">An unexpected shadow
crossed her space and Sunrah cried in alarm.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Turned a smudged face to
see Jason in front of the baby, a finger pressed its nose. Jason’s right hand
held a carving knife at his thigh.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Synoveh stood: “Stop
that—you’re scaring him.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Jason smiled and turned
away from the infant: “Am I?” He raised the knife over Sunrah: “Do I scare
you?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Don’t… ”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Don’t what?” He slashed
the air inches from the tiny face, then pointed the knife at its mother. “I’m a
man with needs.” Reddened eyes, clenched grinding teeth, sweating heavily in
the chill morning“ I lay in that fucking bed and you babes keep waving your
boobs over my face! I’m on my feet now—come here, give it to me!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Synoveh was frozen.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Drop that spatula and
come here!” His free hand opened the front of his trousers, the knife tip
zeroed in on the baby’s face.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Silently, she walked
across the room, fingers released the scraper and it fell with a clatter.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Her sooty brow
displeased him. Jason scowled, picked up the hem of her smock and daubed
roughly at her face. The dirt streaked.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Her reflexive hand tried
to repel him. He slapped the wrist aside and backhanded her cheek. “Turn
around, close the window.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Shivering, tearful, she
retreated along the wall and found the shutters with her hands. Swinging them together
dimmed the room.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">He had drawn a
semi-erect penis: “Come back, kiss your new Master!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Feet reluctant, heart
petrified, she moved toward him.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“On your knees, show
respect!” He grabbed hair, yanked her head down.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Legs failed and Synoveh
fell, struggled up to knees. His organ was at face level.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Suck it!” Jason’s hand
cupped the back of her skull and pulled her in.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">It poked an eye, jabbed
her nose and she forced her lips open.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">He rammed her three or
four times, enough to work up the hard-on and get a good manly feeling. What he
really wanted was her meat.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">A harsh yank lifted her
to feet. He put the knife in her face and she backed a step away.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Jason followed, free
hand slapped her.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Synoveh’s hip bumped the
table, she tried to sidle around but another cuff in the cheek knocked her onto
the cutting-board surface.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">He reached between her
legs and heaved her all the way atop. Then Jason got up with her, towering on
his knees above her body.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Grabbed her smock,
pulled it up and the knife slashed, its tip slit her thigh, sliced the garment.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Artificial stimulants,
natural adrenaline, the vista of blood and nakedness, eyes and whimpers of
terror: Jason filled with triumphant energy, fully healed of his wound and
utterly in command. He roared out excitement, slapped her again and again, each
hit was a vital charge, electrified him.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Leaning over her, he dug
his fingers into her vagina, clawed and tore, leered and drooled, laughed.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">The door burst open and
Luenda charged into the kitchen. With three huge strides she rushed to the
table. A toetip turn, like a dancer, the heavy block of firewood in her hand
swung and clapped Jason over the right ear.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">The rapist dropped
sideways and the table overturned.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Synoveh tumbled across
him and rolled away, Luenda fell to her knees astride his chest and drew her
hunting knife.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">A look into his eyes,
broken, unfocussed, unmanned. Blood oozed from his ear and his mouth lay open,
slack, his breath was shallow.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Pull back knife for a
good deep stab.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Stop!” Achen’s voice
thundered over Synoveh’s choked cries. “Children are watching… ” He stood in
the doorway, Rajin Syneid and Ali Battaglia were at his side. Other curious
people, young and old, approached.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Luenda wavered, looked
again at the man beneath her, utterly helpless, maybe dying. Turned eyes across
the room, found Synoveh, seated on her rump, bloodied and shivering.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Luenda: “What do you
say?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">A careful breath brought
up a slow, controlled voice: “No—not now. Achen is right.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Okay,” the hunter stood
and reluctantly sheathed her weapon. “We can’t leave him here.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Get Marcus—carry him
somewhere. Get him away from the kids.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Luenda nodded agreement,
went to Synoveh’s side with hands of comfort. Achen turned to the brewing crowd
and marshaled children away as Marcus came forward.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">The stonemason entered
the cookhouse, the women were on their feet and checking Sunrah’s welfare. He
went to his wife and foster son.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">All the while forgotten
Luvin sat in his corner, silently took everything in.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Chowder: “How’s
Synoveh?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Achen: “She’s in bed
with Sunrah. Taralisa’s sitting with her. She wants quiet.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“I looked at Jason,
Luenda clobbered him good. I think she killed him, he hasn’t dropped yet,
that’s all.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Where did they take
him?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“A shallow cave at the
base of the basaltic ridge. Remote spot—nobody goes there. Marcus and Luenda
and Jody and Hildy are digging up rocks. They’re gonna wall him in.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Entombed alive?” Achen
shuddered: “Too grisly. If we’re going to kill him we should do it cleanly.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“A lot of people want to
speak about this. There’s a meeting tonight on the Branch House lawn, we
decided. Karma and Suthra are running up and down the Vale with the news.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Achen nodded. “Why not
at the Hearth? We don’t need this discussion around the kids.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“There are a lot of the
refugees at the Hearth. Jason might have friends with them, they’re could be
trouble. Some of these newcomers aren’t settling in easily.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“I hadn’t heard.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“It’s just starting to
arise. Some of them are drinking somewhere but they’re not going to Drunkard’s
Den. The Village is pretty upset.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“What kind of people did
we bring into our community?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Beaten down folks that
never learned how free people act.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">They heard the bell on
the Keeper’s Cottage gate chime.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Naomi: “Excuse me… ” she
rose from the conversation circle and went to the door. Her guests followed
with curious eyes.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Sweaty from a run,
Volmer was on the porch. He glanced at the small party assembled within, then
addressed Naomi: “There’s been a problem at Branch House. Synoveh would like
you to come.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Right now?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“It’s kind of urgent.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“What sort of problem?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Volmer hesitated, spoke
softly, only to her: “Synoveh was attacked, we want your counsel.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Behind Naomi Homer was
up from his seat: “What’s going on?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Arrolon stirred too, and
Patricia, Charlene remained seated.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Hermione watched with
interest.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Volmer didn’t want to
speak in front of a stranger: “Branch House, Hospice business. I didn’t mean to
disturb you.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Patricia went to the
door: “Tell me.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“One of the new guys
raped Synoveh, there’s a gathering to decide how we’re gonna deal with him. We
need Naomi.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“And she’s going. I’ll
take care of this crowd.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Dispersed Homesteaders
trickled in from the reaches of the Vale, the meeting waited until midnight for
all to arrive. Chowder and Volmer went to the cookhouse to feed the assembling
crowd and discovered the stove still half cleaned. They finished the job but
dinner was delayed for over an hour. Branch House kids snacked on cookies and
fruit while hungry adults paced and muttered.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">The crowd’s mood was
already unpleasant from the nature of their gathering and as they milled some
canvassed their thoughts regarding Jason, none were kind.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Blue moon was a setting
first quarter, red moon glowed full and high.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Blue and red mottled
Synoveh’s swollen face, right eye wouldn’t open.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Marcus: “You don’t have
to go out there. We can handle the meeting. People want to see you… ”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“I know. I just want to
be alone, but that won’t happen.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Not tonight.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Where’s Luvin?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Asleep.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Good. Let’s go, then.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Marcus offered his usual
elbow to hold.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“No, I should walk on my
own feet. You can take my hand.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Side to side, they went
out of their home and into the throng.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">A tree had lost its life
to cabin building and to clearing the sky above a picnic lawn, a wide stump
remained. It stood chest height, with a short ladder and a banister it became a
podium popular for outdoor classes and meetings.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Synoveh and Marcus
climbed up and faced the assembly. Torches, lanterns and flashlights made
spotty illumination.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">They waited for a hush
to settle, then Synoveh spoke first: “I’m told that people want to look at me,
see what he did. Here I am, what your eyes catch is the worst of the injuries
to my body… We took that man into our Home, healed him and fed him. He repays
us this way. The real hurt that he did, it’s not to me, but to us… Violation of
our trust and generosity carry the most bitter taste.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Scattered voices rumbled
at her, largely incoherent but the phrase ‘Kill him!’ broke through from many
quarters.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Marcus held up hands,
Synoveh shook her head and continued: “Don’t worry about him, he won’t hurt
anybody ever again. Soon Jason will be history, we’ll make it forgotten
history, not worth preserving. Let’s not dwell upon how he dies, or if he can
be properly punished. That’s beyond our judgement, we only need to be rid of
him.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“These months since Mel
passed from us, we’ve been turmoiled and troubled. There has been a lot of
violence, the crime against myself is a parcel of that, a small parcel. There
are children here, in my home, that have lived with this violence every day of
their lives. At the Hearth, in the Village, it is said ‘We are fortunate’, well
I am fortunate, even with all of the pain.” She faced her husband, “Go back to
the cabin. I want my violin.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Marcus nodded and
shouldered her with a quick hug, turned and hurried down the ladder.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“I’m going to play for
you, music is the sound of a healing spirit.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">A male voice rose from a
crowded shadow: “What about those other guys?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“The other refugees?
Guards like Jason was?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Several voices answered
affirmatively. The first speaker emerged into a brighter spot: Davey, laborer
at the Mud Yard: “That dude Chattagong gave me a pop in the jaw yesterday when
I told him you’re not supposed to go into the Hall drunk!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">More ‘Yeah!’s rattled
around.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">The baker Yersey
Santareya added: “Somebody takes sugar and corn meal out of my kitchen. I think
it’s Leon, he’s always lurking around.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“He’s got a still
somewhere,” a masculine voice shouted.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Another woman’s tongue:
“One Drunkard’s Den is enough!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Synoveh held up hands:
“Wait!” voice cracked with forced volume.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Outbursts settled to low
mumbles.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Our Homestead is
challenged. Unexpected violence is in our heart, it must be removed. But
carefully… ”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">A drum began in the
crowd, double tapped at a pulse. Slowly, Luenda stepped in front of the stump,
faced the crowd, tall head looked over the sea of angry faces. Her own mien was
solemn, wooden, with eyes of stern shadow.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Synoveh continued: “Our
pride has always been in our openness and hospitality. The Vale welcomes anyone
who lives respectfully of others, for most of these newcomers that is a brand
new idea. People that won’t accept this reasonable position cannot live with
us. If Leon or this Chattagong persist their unacceptable behavior it is bound
to escalate. Tonight we deal with Jason, tomorrow we must confront them. But I
need to stress: we are a loving community, not vengeful, nor acting from
hatred. Only the element that refuses to cooperate must be purged. Most of the
refugees are innocents, victims of the absolute worst in cruelty. We don’t want
to shame our justice by hurting them again.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Drum beat and rumbling
voices answered.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Marcus had returned
while she spoke, she took her violin and bow, tuned quickly and returned to the
assembly.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Utter quiet fell across
the scene, Luenda noticed the silence and paused.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">They anticipated sad
music, angry sounds, a stark expression to release the horror, something
screaming passion.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Synoveh flittered out a
light joyful dance song.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Faces before her
revealed shock, surprise, even humor.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">She stopped: “We need
happy sound. Be miserable for me another time. Being here is very tiring right
now and I have to go home. Before I leave I want to see you shake away the bad
things. Jump around a little, for me.” Bow whisked across the strings and the
tune sang out anew, Luenda found a rhythm for it.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">People danced.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Ten minutes later
Synoveh lay back upon an oversized pillow wedged against her living room wall.
Marcus took a stool by her knees, Naomi was at the fireplace brewing a pot of
tea, Achen assisted her needlessly. Luenda remained outside, drumming.
Taralisa, Suthra, Jody and Hildy were atop the stump directing a volunteer
chorus within the crowd. Many people felt the late hour and sat, stretched,
snoozed.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Synoveh still played,
soft tones at the speed of deliberate thought that only filled the space around
her.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Marcus: “How are you
feeling?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">She spoke to the bridge
of her instrument: “Weary… but grateful. I thought the crowd would be more
agitated.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Naomi: “You handled them
beautifully, they respect you.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“I didn’t feel
beautiful. There was a huge bit of me that wanted to join the anger and just go
crazy with them… I envisioned rounding up the refugees and sending them away…
but where is away?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Nowhere… ”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Right. And then I
thought of the girl and that lovely boy—Salyanna and Mabutu. They’re living
here in the extension we built… ” She pointed bow at the rear of the cabin.
“Just babies and I can’t hurt them, they aren’t to blame for Jason… only Jason
is blamed.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Naomi brought tea, Achen
carried the sweetroot syrup.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Synoveh put the violin
down and helped herself, stirred in the condiment, Marcus took his libation
strait.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Naomi: “Is Jason dead,
then?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“I don’t know.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Marcus: “Not the last I
saw. But there isn’t much left—eyes don’t see, he doesn’t talk. Chowder thinks
‘fractured skull and intercranial swelling’. Says the body might keep breathing
for a surprisingly long time.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“He’s been secured?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Walled up.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">The journalist took a
seat on the bench, Achen hovered by the stove.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Luenda entered, helped
herself to tea, sat with Naomi: “And now?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“He’s dying, we don’t
need to do anything… ”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Uh-uh. He carries the
fungus, if he dies naturally It will absorb his brain. There is an ugly, evil
mind in there that we do not want Cardomon to become. He needs to die without
the fungus, we need to do it—tonight. Before it is too late.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Achen: “How can he die
without the fungus?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“If the portion inside
of him dies first. I hunt by strangulation, using my crossbow wastes the meat.
The fungus needs to breathe even more than we do.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Naomi: “Alcohol kills
It, too. Remember the man from the Golden Horde—Morrison? He died of alcohol
toxicity, but the fungus died first. Charlene and Kaila autopsied him, they
told me about it.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“We’re not going to
drink Jason to death… ”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“No! Of course not, I
was only reflecting.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“I’ll strangle him.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Have you ever killed a
person before?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“No. But for Jason… it
will be easier than killing animals. You didn’t see him on top of your friend,
hitting her. If I hadn’t heard him shout out who knows what could have
happened?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“I imagine he planned to
murder Synoveh.” Naomi gave her thoughts a significant hesitation: “Are you
going now?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“He won’t live ‘til
sunrise.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“I’ll go with you, this
should be witnessed.” She eyed Synoveh: “What about you?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“I don’t need to see
this… I trust Luenda will do the correct thing. I’ll stay here, Sunrah’s in my
bed, I’ll borrow his peace.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Marcus: “I’ll stay with
you.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“You don’t have to. I
just want quiet.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">He nodded: “I’ll stay.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Achen: “I think I need
to see the execution, I can’t hold an intentional death as an abstract thought.
I am here, planning this with you. I’ve got to be part of it.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Luenda stood: “We should
go. We’ll pass my shop and I’ll get a noose.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">A bed of dying coals
kept a half-full teapot warm. Chowder sat and watched fading embers. It was a
fine night and Bobol lay asleep on bare ground without any covers, he had dried
leaves caught in what little hair he carried.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">The spot was a darker
corner of the Vale, shadowed by overhanging basaltic cliffs, woods swallowed
the night on the downward side.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Footsteps rustled the
duff and raised his attention. Chowder looked and saw torches approach, four of
them flicking on-off between tree trunks.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">He reached and shook
Bobol’s nearby foot. The sleeper rose to seated and combed his scalp with thick
fingers.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">First in the grim parade
came Luenda, both hands held torch in front of her head, eyes reflected flame,
face smoldered. “Has he made any noise?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Chowder: “Nothing.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Achen emerged, his torch
was overhead and his face in fluttering shadows. Naomi heeled close behind,
held her light at her side.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Taralisa Rhine was the
last to file in, as Luenda her flame was in both hands. A solemn monument she,
stocky, heavy brows and cheeks over a wide jaw and a long sickle nose, an
intricately woven tail length body of silky hair, brown in daylight.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">It wasn’t much of a
cave, more of a deeper recess in the looming cliff. Four people had used most
of the day constructing a wall of large stones across the mouth, now five people
pulled it apart. Bobol still nursed a broken toe and couldn’t assist the labor,
he stood and held a torch, the other lights had their handles jammed into
gravelly soil and backlit the scene.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Torches, fueled by waxy
distillate from a tree heavy with pitch, burned low before the wall was open.
Piss and shit smells confronted them as they worked, grew stronger as the hole
expanded.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Black rock absorbed dim
flames, only the prisoner was illuminated. He sat against a wall, eyes looked
at nothing.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Luenda went to him,
pulled a hand off of his knee and yanked him up.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Jason didn’t set feet
under his weight, only the executioner’s grip held him erect. Naomi came to the
other side and took an elbow.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">A four-foot cord braided
from thin leather strips was the weapon, Luenda had it doubled and draped over
her shoulder. She left him in Naomi’s hands, stepped behind the man and looped
the half-inch wide rope around his neck. She crossed the ends, drew the noose
closed.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Not yet tight, she was
as close to Jason as a lover in bed, her face looked past his left ear, Bobol,
Taralisa and Achen held nearly dead torches, shadowed eyes blanked all emotion,
just statues.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Luenda closed her own
eyes, thought of all the animals killed and her hunter’s bloodstained hands.
The fading of life from a face and the instinct to survive forcing spasms out
of her victims. Suddenly this was too much responsibility to bear.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Eyes opened and looked
for Naomi, just a silhouette on the other side of the head pressed against her
cheek. Luenda whispered: “My will is slipping… I need help. I’ll hold him and
you squeeze the noose.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">The journalist had to
consider the request and gave it a moment’s silence. Then her hands replaced
Luenda’s, the prisoner almost fell during the exchange. “What do I do?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Luenda held his wrists
with one hand at the middle of his back, her other fist held up the front of
his pants, soggy from self-soiling. “There’s a stick in my rear pocket. Get it,
tie the knot over it and when you twist the stick the noose closes tight.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Naomi found the dowel
without looking, tied a double-hitch over it. With an easy twist the windlass
cinched the loop closed, cranking it was effortless.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Previously inert, Jason
stiffened and jerked, his feet kicked and shuffled, hands nearly wrenched from
Luenda’s grasp. A cut off snarl was the final breath to escape his lungs.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Head fell back and mouth
opened, tongue protruded from black hole, a stem rising from a rotten fruit.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Bowels and bladder
emptied, wastes joined the already copious heap in his trousers, fresh stench
rose.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">He went utterly limp and
Luenda lost the grip on his front side. Jason’s knees folded beneath him, he
slumped face forward.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Naomi followed the
movement, never let up pressure. She sank alongside and got the crank under the
weight of her shoulders. All of her strength went into turning the wood.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">He wasn’t yet dead, feet
continued to kick and hands clawed at his throat. Convulsions shook his entire
frame, arrhythmic twitches made his head bounce from the rock floor.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">The spasms ended, he was
completely still. Naomi squatted and cranked a full minute longer.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Hands opened, she stood,
bumped into Luenda rising. Shaken of balance, they held each other upright,
making a hug over the fallen body. Luenda felt the executioner shivering, a
racing pulse, her own breath was shallow and fast, both women were drenched in
sweat.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">It was a wide awkward
step to get across his torso, Naomi was horror struck at the thought she might
fall atop Jason, froze momentarily in midstride, toes of the trailing foot
caught under his elbow and she would have tripped but for Luenda’s support.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Reaching the safe side,
she rested on the hunter’s elbow for a deep breath. They linked arms and moved
out of the cave.</span></div>
James B. Mielkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03882204685816642141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2823289098832901184.post-13649840938735722862014-04-02T10:36:00.000-07:002014-04-02T10:36:12.161-07:00Achen, Luenda and Cardomon<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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“Achen!” Luenda set mallet and chisel down atop her
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<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
“Peter took him up to Taralisa and Suthra’s. He has
his own cabin there. Close to his new babies. Did you go by Branch House? How
is Sunrah?”</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
“He’s doing great. I’ve moved there—I’m the lead
teacher. That new two room cabin? My billet now: classroom in front, office and
bed in the rear. I have the boy full time, Synoveh drops by for the feedings. I
think Marcus is a little jealous.”</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
“Don’t be ridiculous. He knows that you aren’t a threat.”</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
“Not for his wife,” Achen smiled. “Marcus is really
fond of Sunrah, doesn’t want to see him go.”</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
“Marcus has Luvin. And the boy should be with his
Dad.”</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
“Yeah—but I’m not his Dad, not anymore. I will
always call Sunrah Gardul’s son—not mine. We mixed the semen, and I never want
a blood test. I don’t want Sunrah to forget his father just because he never
got to know him. I’ll have him call me ‘Uncle’, not ‘Dad’.”</div>
<a name='more'></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“We’ll teach him about
Gardul. He was a strong man worth being proud of.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Sunrah should see the
real picture. By the time we can tell stories our own memories will be
changing. We’ll give him an idealized portrait, not truth.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Is that bad? Gardul
will always be a hero.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Truth is important.
Gardul is remembered in the fungus—like Mel. I want to use the drug and see
him, I need a partner.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Me? Why?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“I thought of Suthra and
Taralisa before you. But they are preoccupied with their whole family right
now. Other than Jody and Peter you are the most experienced user.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Maybe… Lot’s of people
use it—the aphrodisiac is popular.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Achen nodded: “I should
do it with a woman so I won’t get distracted by sex. I talked with Kaila, I
hoped she wanted to go there and we could share our memories but she said ‘No’.
She isn’t ready yet.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“But you’ve got a need…
”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Uh-huh. I’ll keep the
memory, if not the person, alive.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“I’ll go with you. I
still look for Ediza and Amelia when I’m there. At least this time there is
something to find, we’ve already seen it.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“You can’t help looking,
they were a part of you.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“As Gardul was for you.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“I’d like to do this as
soon as possible, before I take up my new duties.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Luenda nodded and
crinkled her brow: “That makes sense. I’m not doing much this week. Anytime you
like.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“I’ve only used it a
couple of times—with Gardul. The encounters were always extremely sexual… We
should go someplace neutral, away from stimuli.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“My cabin?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“That sounds right. I’ll
meet you tomorrow?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Okay—come up first
thing. I’ll be awake.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Thanks Luenda. I need
somebody strong at my side and none are heartier than you.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“We all feel the loss.
He was a beautiful man. You were lucky to know him as you did.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“It was a rare
privilege.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Is there anything else
I can do?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Not right now. I should
let you get back to your work.” Achen stood.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Luenda joined him, the
hug squeezed his face against her throat, she bent her neck and kissed the
whorl at the center of his close mat of black hair.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">For some people It
always feels like a trap, a space you enter and find no exit. Even the
intelligent presence can seem a lurking predator watching a web. Such people
should go there with a friend or lover, one never wants to go there with an
enemy. But folks that perceive enemies tend to dislike this sort of drug
experience. It is not for the paranoid nor the psychopath, they have poor
responses to It, often terminal.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Luenda: “I’ve used It at
midnight in the deepest woods. All alone until I crossed inside… the entire
forest was there within It and with my memory of Mel… no words, only the
experience and knowledge of all of life! And death… It showed me their eyes…
what it looks like from my game’s point of view… I’m glad there are no real
words in there, those feelings are primary—untempered. I am an animal then, I
don’t always want to return to being human.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“And you’ve never found
Amelia?—nor Ediza?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Amelia died before It
understood about people and minds. It never knew her. Whatever happened to
Ediza was off-world and It couldn’t receive her. It finds my memories, It’s
tried to conjure images and voices but they don’t work—the experience is false.
I told It that those figures brought me pain and It ceased making them.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“It wants to be good to
people.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“It almost wants to be
people, but It senses our limitations and doesn’t want to join them.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Achen nodded: “What are
It’s limitations?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“None that I can tell… ”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Nothing is omnipotent.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“No, but It has such
total mastery of It’s environment that It almost could be. Everything to be
known about the planet is in there.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“I’m a little nervous…
not scared, but… ”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Are you sure you’re
ready?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Yes. There’s no better
time.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Okay.” The space was in
a garden adjoining the spring, a half-log step edged a patch of grass, weeping
tees drooped above, the hanging runners swayed and rustled.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">They shared a flask of
purple syrup with a taste between compost and smelly cheese, a thin film coated
teeth and tongue, tea washed it down.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Achen took up a wooden
flute: “Mel tried to show me, but I’m not very good. I do like to make tones,
but I can’t follow a tune—not much rhythm.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Just be comfortable.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Blowing long notes, he
made random changes, Luenda sat at his side and put her left arm around his
torso.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Stretching out, Achen
dropped the instrument, she went down with him and they lay semi-embraced.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Veins pulsing purple
arose across their skin and tiny hairs grew from them out into the open air.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Deprived of Gardul’s
erotic energy, Achen felt briefly as if he had fallen into a well. There was
nothing to grasp and he sensed growing darkness but when he reached bottom
there were green eyes, happy to find him and Luenda appeared, smiling, naked as
all innocence except she didn’t have a body…</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Let’s find him.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">And a soundless other
voice, familiar and yet strange replied: Find whom?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Gardul.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Names are empty, show me</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Achen and Luenda each
pulled through their memories: offered Gardul’s face, voice, thoughts, love.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Most of the colonists
had visited with It at least once and there were memories of It’s kind
associated with them.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">They came to thoughts of
Sunrah and It saw these, saw the baby’s face from a human’s eye and It
remembered somebody else that knew this child and shared him with It.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">A figure gelled from the
space, human, half-formed, faceless, but Achen experienced a feeling he only
had shared with one other man, Gardul. With recognition the figure evolved
features: black hair, brown eyes, a pointed beard.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">It didn’t, couldn’t
speak, but hugged Achen and loved him in a new way.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Sunset and they awoke,
returned to her cabin. Luenda built a fire, soon they had tea and a panful of
greens simmered up soup.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Achen: “It was a living
memory. It wasn’t him, but so close… closer than my best dreams.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“You went with him and
things looked right, so I explored by myself. I want to see how It sees through
our eyes… It is one mind and a communion of all of the users, as well. It needs
to synthesize a psyche from these. Like that body It formed. It can be anything
and anybody, given the model.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Learning to be people.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Not always getting
appropriate lessons. I’ve looked at memories It has from violence—Bobol and
Hildy brought that, and Leon—he tried but he was drinking alcohol and that’s
poison for It. Leon got very sick and he never went over. It can’t sort these
from good memories—people are all the same.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“In science, there is no
good or bad, only survival or extinction.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“We need to be there and
guide It. Teach It these things and help It lose the violent feelings.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Like raising a child.”</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">“The
oldest, biggest and smartest child of all time.”</span>James B. Mielkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03882204685816642141noreply@blogger.com0