Under a Starless Sky

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.” Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g

“Thank you for the invite, but 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 to…”

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

“Mother,” Shen said.

“Shen?”

“I said stay inside…”

Shen turned to find Tama. She was crying. She ran to him and embraced him. She hugged him fiercely

and whispered ‘I love you’ into his ear.

“I missed you, too,” Shen said.

Tama backed up, apparently angry. “But I am always with you.”

“You can leave, now,” Lanore said.

Shen and TL headed back for their ride.

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

“No,” Shen said.

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

“I don’t need to see to predict your situation given the snow, but yes, I can see you. I watch out for you,”

Shen said.

“Why?” Lanore asked.

“You’re the only family I got,” Shen said. “Everyone okay?”

“Mother died,” Lanore said.

Shen was sad, but he did not cry. He wanted to come hug Lanore. He did not.

“I am sorry for your loss,” Shen said.

Lanore nodded. “Are you still in touch with West Midelay? With N’Ma? Candace?”

“Their side wants me less than you do,” Shen said. He took a device out of his pocket and handed it to

her. “Take it.”

“No,” Lanore said.

“Why?”

“You see enough,” Lanore said.

“If I saw enough, I would have been here earlier,” Shen said. He pocketed the gift. “Please stand away

from the Chariot.”

Shen started their ascent before he was fully belted in or the doors were closed. A cold breeze blew

through the craft and it was refreshingly miserable. He hovered long enough to see they were not fools,

and the inner heat recovered. They were already investigating the contents of the crates, and

distributing the supplies as the Chariot rose away.

“You okay?” TL said.

“Yeah,” Shen said. “Do you suppose we should check on others?”

“Going to save the world now, are we?” TL said.

“Maybe,” Shen said.

TL’s eyes went distant. When her focus returned, she smiled. “We have company. And a request for

supplies.”