Torsade Literary Space Heckler (part one)
Heckler (part one) One of the people I know told me about these guys. Like if you wanted a loser property you owned out of the way, it’s ashes, no one finds a trace wrong—cause they use some military kind of laser. You get a little free money from the […]
Depression Glass (part five)
Depression Glass (part five) “You’re twenty-one,” her aunt said on the phone. “Yeah, I am.” Merrilee and Monica, roommates then, had gone to a steakhouse known for its goofy cocktails, with the promise they’d try three, each different from the last. “Happy birthday. How you feel?” “Not awful.” “Great. I’m […]
The Tambinder Engine (part four)
The Tambinder Engine A McAlley Story (part four) McAlley had told her he did not. She believed he did. Summer of that year passed to autumn, and Dustin did not write. Deenie settled for an exercise of Tirza’s. Tell your frustrations, when they crowd up, that you see them, that […]
Fellyans (part six)
Fellyans (part six) “And your duties include patrolling the grounds, but also maintaining the jail?” Coral drew breath, and said: “Yes.” “How many cells?” “So far, only a storage room.” “But well locked.” The elf did not conceal an avidity, somewhat near glee. “Locked, and windowless,” she answered. “Meals?” “He gets […]
The Tambinder Engine (part three)
The Tambinder Engine A McAlley Story (part three) She bagged the customer’s bottles with care, passed them across the counter. This one leaned to her. “Dustin is out of the country, I’ve heard. I know someone taking a flight tomorrow, who can carry a letter.” Deenie’s eyes shot all around […]
Fellyans (part five)
Fellyans (part five) In Bede’s house was one parlor suitable for guests. His mother’s legacy lined its walls, kept safe from accidents by grillworked shelves. She had been a great collector of commemorative items, of porcelains in red and white (“It’s not class, you know, having a mishmash”), and peculiarities of […]
Tourmaline: The Enemy (part one)
The Enemy (part one) Frederick as a voice passing her door, fading down an empty hallway. Frederick glimpsed on a public screen, holding up a cardboard sign: ALLIANCE OUT. Or a face that seemed entirely his, belonging to Mrs. Leonhardt’s new boarder, a young student. Not a face to be loved […]
The Tambinder Engine (part two)
The Tambinder Engine A McAlley Story (part two) Leaving, she scanned hard the direction Matthew would have gone. Maybe I’ve seen a ghost. Maybe I’ve had a fit. The bad air… At her rear bumper, she laid her armload on the gravel. The white truck had water jugs in the […]
Depression Glass (part four)
Depression Glass (part four) “Oh, that’s pretty. Is it, like, a fern?” “It’s a poisonous plant called hemlock.” “But, you mean, hemlock? How’s it growing here?” “You got me. I can look it up.” He patted his phone pocket. They were under hot sun, on weedy gravel, moving down from […]
The Tambinder Engine (part one)
The Tambinder Engine A McAlley Story (part one) The subject was a Carmadge, from the far side of the world. She had taken her car on a poking, cautious drive, where guardrails were off, where asphalt webbed itself into cracked rings, undermined by rain squalls come too late. Horses were […]