Under a Starless Sky

It was colder than it had been, and snow covered the court yard. A new cave entrance had been created, near the wall, and the goat pin shifted to that corner. The goats could go inside the cave, and were warmed there. A permanent attendant cared for them. The garden was now in a green house, the glass wet from melted snow. Shen came in from the balcony, slid the door shut. He ran and got back into bed with TL. He pulled the cover up. With his back against the headboard, they could watch the snow fall.

“Fuck, it’s cold,” Shen said.

“You had to go outside to know that?” TL said.

“No,” Shen said. “Send a probe to make sure East Midelay is good.”

“Done,” TL said. “You want to go back to sea? I bet we could find warm waters and islands of fun?”

“Yeah. No. I just want to stay here,” Shen said.

“It’s been a year. They’re not coming back and you’re not going there to inquire, so, let’s do something else,” TL said.

Shen counted falling snowflakes till he bored out. “I wonder if this is what Midas felt like.”

“Rich and lonely? I thought for sure you would go with the Beauty and the Beast analog,” TL said.

“Well, Miss Beauty, what shall we do today?” Shen asked.

“The same thing we do every day, Pinky,” TL said. “Try and take over the world.”

“How about just take on me,” Shen said.

“Take me on,” TL said.

“I’ll be gone,” Shen said.

“In a day or two,” TL said.

They lingered after intimacy. Shen teetered on the edge of sleep, wanting sleep. TL helped him by singing. It was Earth song, 1978, made popular by Rita Coolidge. “Close the windows, calm the lights…” Shen felt tears moving. “Why is it every song you sing reminds me of us, human and tulpa, everywhere and nowhere and…”

“Shhh,” TL said. “I

involved with them. Afterwards, they decided to get up and address the needs of East Midelay. Shen was determined to deliver the supplies in person. The tear drop, jewel

“You are not welcome

Shen said. “But I have food, and fuel for your fires.

“No,” Lanore said.

You

will not be indebted to you,”

her people starve?” Shen asked,

old things. The old ways brought

didn’t teach me to read, remember. I will say this: if an

Tell said. She had

log. “Burn this, paper and all. It will give you a longer burn, with more heart.” He tossed the log to a man. He brought out a pill bottle and opened

by pushing down and rotating. He ate one of the gummy vitamins, closed the bottle, and tossed it to Tell. “One a day.

stay?” Neva asked. Lanore shot her a look. She presented

Santa has other engagements,” Shen said. “If you have any mail you want delivered to West Midelay, I will take it. I can also leave a communication device, should you want to contact me. I could even give one

“You’ve done enough,” Lanore said. She

“Mother,” Shen said.

“Shen?”

“I said stay

She ran to him and embraced him. She hugged him fiercely and

missed you,

apparently angry. “But I

can leave, now,”

headed back

“Shen,” Tama said. “Can you not see through my

“No,” Shen said.

you watching us?” Lanore said. “You saw a need