Under a Starless Sky novel Chapter 77

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 got you.”

Shen slept in her arms. It was solid nap, refreshed, and on awaking they return to a gentle session of intimacy. It was as gentle as candle light dancing on the ceiling, the shadows 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 cut vehicle that could have been mistaken for the Bell’s FCX-001 chopper, minus the rotor, was onsite and landing in under thirty minutes. He sat a crate down in the court yard, and set the vehicle down beside it. Two door opened skyward and he emerged from one side, TL the other. Three guards came to meet him, along with Lanore.

Lanore pointed. “You are not welcome here.”

“I know,” Shen said. “But I have food, and fuel for your fires. Will you accept?”

“No,” Lanore said.

“You would rather starve? You would rather everyone starve?” Shen asked.

“I will not be indebted to you,” Lanore said.

“What kind of mother would let her people starve?” Shen asked, seriously angry. “I am a male bringing gifts. Gifts, without debt.”

“You are clearly harbinger for old things. The old ways brought about the fall.”

“I don’t know enough to argue with you,” Shen said. “You didn’t teach me to read, remember. I will say this: if an act of altruism brings about the end of the word, then let’s end it together. Don’t starve. Don’t freeze. Don’t be stupid.”

“He’s right, L’Ma,” Tell said. She had joined them in the snow. Others had, too.

Shen hit the crate with his fist and the side fell open. He picked up a ‘Duraflame’ 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 it. “One of these, per person, per day. They’re vitamins. Don’t eat more than a one a day. Seriously. I think you can figure out the other boxes. Everything’s labeled, some have instructions. Some of it requires you to add water and stir.”

Shen demonstrated how to pen the bottle by pushing down and rotating. He ate one of the gummy vitamins, closed the bottle, and tossed it to Tell. “One a day. Keep it out of the reach of children- they can have one a day. Did I emphasize one a day?” He turned to walk back.

“Do you want to stay?” Neva asked. Lanore shot her a look. She presented an argument: “We will be civilized to the gifter.”