Monday 26 August 2024

Wind And Divided Loyalties

"Sargasso of Lost Starships."

As the Terrans enter the partly ruined Arzunian city, it seems to them to be haunted and the ever-present wind blows snow in front of them - of course. Valduma, hiding nearby, practices her super-ventriloquism, telekinetically vibrating air molecules by Donovan's ears, saying that the Arzunians could free Ansa. There are three sides in this fight, or there were, but Donovan has at last transferred his loyalty to the Empire despite his former friendships with Arzunians. We approach the end of this story but will not quite get there this evening. This afternoon we visited an annual flower festival in a nearby church. There was a gravestone for a girl who died at the age of one month. One month. Think about it. Human life was around her but she did not know it. We take the longer route but it is worth it sometimes.

1 comment:

Sean M. Brooks said...

Kaor, Paul!

I would guess disenchantment with the Arzunians and a growing conviction that the Empire wasn't that bad led Basil Donovan to transferring loyalty to Terra.

Before modern medical care infant mortality was horrendous. And it still is when I think of something as disgusting as "legalized" abortion!

Ad astra! Sean