Category: science fiction
Twenty-Two: Badger Creek
The whole convoy was quiet, but no one was quieter than Caleb the Ortega guardsman. As they approached the crossroads to Badger Creek, the young man’s silence stood out, even amid all the other silences. . . .
Read More Twenty-Two: Badger CreekSeventeen: Hawkeye Crossing
The inside of the assistant supervisor’s office was as much a jumble as the outside. The floor was bare creetrock. It was discolored but clean. . . .
Read More Seventeen: Hawkeye CrossingThirteen: The Herald’s Shrine
Pa and Tobias Goatherd returned from the creek around midday. By then, Mary and Laura had recovered from their experience inside that eerie old building called the reptilsoo, and Laura felt a little foolish for getting so frightened of a silly old skull. . . .
Read More Thirteen: The Herald’s ShrineTwelve: Happy Valley Orchards Restup and Reptilsoo
By the time Laura opened her eyes, morning had crept into the room. She sat up and worked her fingers through her hair. There, towards the back of her skull, she could feel a bump. It felt sore but only when Laura touched it. . . .
Read More Twelve: Happy Valley Orchards Restup and ReptilsooTen: Yowa Country
The days that followed were warm. Laura didn’t need to wear her mittens or her wool cap any more. A few days later, when they stopped for a midday rest on a bluff overlooking a densely forested river valley, Ma let Laura unlace her traveling cloak. . . .
Read More Ten: Yowa CountryNine: Iron Boxes
Pa left the handcar down by the riverbank. Then he climbed up to join them beside the earthen mound surrounded by birch trees where Ma had chosen to wait. . . .
Read More Nine: Iron BoxesSeven: Showtales
One night, Laura and her family made camp by a lake. They had been following a road called the Ten Road. Or maybe it was called the Ninety-Four Road. Or else it had no name . . . .
Read More Seven: ShowtalesSix: A Fine Watchdog
Laura’s eyes were full of tears. They couldn’t leave him, she pleaded. They just couldn’t . . . .
Read More Six: A Fine WatchdogFour: Restrant
Night after night, they camped hidden among the trees. Pa pulled the handcar off the old number road, into the cover of the woods. Then, they would find a clearing where they would make camp . . . .
Read More Four: Restrant