They meet atop the sixth of eleven mounds, the reliefs cut into their chalky flesh buried in the howling storm. The great dogs bell and shake off the snow already crusting on their flanks; Dog Shouting and See Me grip their saddle horns to stay seated.
“There isn’t enough life on this ice-rock to fill a cruiser’s hold,” snorts Dog Shouting. “The traps are set. I’m going back.”
“I’ll follow shortly. There’s a piece of moonstone that hit the ground near here.”
Dog Shouting frowns at him.
“I want to check it out,” shrugs See Me. “It won’t take long.”
“We’re wasting our time!” snaps Reaching the West Reaches, and swings down hard to slice the dwarf in half. The little man sighs and takes the energy of his mighty strike, steps in, turns and buries the blade deep in pumice. Reaching the West Reaches strangles and Wishes and pulls with gearground arms, but the sword is stuck.
“I cannot teach him,” Stumble Jade growls. “The boy has no patience.”
“He will learn patience.”
“Hmm.” He smooths his bald head again and again. “Much anger in him. Like his father.”
“Was I any different,” murmurs Ratio Tile, “when you taught me?”
“Like we’re being watched,” grates Reaching the West Reaches, spinning with his broken sword out.
“Away put your weapon!” cowers a dwarf. “I mean you no harm!”
He grunts and lowers it. “I’m looking for someone.”
“Found someone, you have! Help you I can, yes, mmm.”
“I don’t think so,” sneers Reaching the West Reaches, and leans on his sword like a stick. “I’m looking for a great warrior.”
“Warrior? Stumble Jade. You seek Stumble Jade!”
Reaching the West Reaches shares a startled glance with The Plum Of; but she just watches, always behind him, flickering blue as an ocean mirage.
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Most of a boltblacked trimaran has already washed up on the sandbar when Reaching the West Reaches awakens. He forces himself up to walk its length, gathering pieces of other shattered boats, driftwood and one precious, unbroken jar of ration water. Even moonstone floats.
He pulls six precious bronze nails from his automaton leg and drives them in with his fist. He won’t be able to stand well until he’s found something to replace them, which is just as well: his patchwork craft leaks.
Reaching the West Reaches grinds out to sail, and gulls follow the splash of his bailing helmet.
Thursday, February 14, 2008
The Loveblind Bird plumes dust, skidding down the wall of the canyon on a single foil. Bolts shatter the water. The Heavenly orbs are spinning shards of hot metal; one slices through See Me’s sail.
“You’re all clear, kid!” roars Dog Shouting.
See Me leans forward and drives his proa toward the tunnel, down into the heart of the moon.
Deep below, turning slowly, Reaching the West Reaches breathes hazy clockwork air. Something goes bright above him; seconds later, the water picks him up and carries him away at impossible speed.
He shuts the lacquer lids of his eyes and Wishes.
Thursday, January 31, 2008
See Me twists rope, and his akas lock up in attack position. They’re skimming breathless down the narrow canal, high moonstone walls blurred on each side, so at one with the wind that the air seems eerily still. Bolters crackle through their spray into the sea.
Colt Standing cracks a hull and spins away; Knifebone gasps and splinters kiss See Me’s cheek. He glances back to see the thundering Heavenly ships behind him, their glittering glass spheres like the eyes of dragons. A bolt finds brass. Kid Rabbit screams.
See Me understands, then, what it is to be a Hopeless Warrior.
Thursday, January 17, 2008
The Loveblind Bird kisses the tops of the waves.
“I can’t believe he’s gone,” mutters See Me.
The Princess Leaves pulls a blanket around his shoulders. “There wasn’t anything you could have done,” she says. “They’ll follow us–that’s the only explanation for the ease of our escape. But that’s only because he left them no other choice.”
See Me shakes his head. The Princess touches his cheek. Then his ear.
Dog Shouting is at the cabin door, unnoticed; she watches for a moment before she raps the frame.
“We’re not out of this yet,” she says, with hard blue eyes.
Thursday, December 20, 2007
“Strike me down,” says Ratio Tile calmly. “I shall become more than you can imagine.”
Reaching the West Reaches drives his sword deep into the old man’s chest. Ratio’s hands scrabble on the blood-slick blade; he chokes and sags to his knees. Reaching the West Reaches draws back and raises the sword high.
“No!” screams See Me.
“Kid! Bolt the door!” screams Dog, pelting along the gangplank.
See fires wildly; the portcullis rattles shut. Reaching the West Reaches is behind it, but the Born Breathing are pouring onto the dock.
“Run, See Me!” thunders a voice in the waves. “Run!”
Thursday, December 6, 2007
“Aren’t you a little short for the Born Breathing?”
“What?” blinks the man wearing the death’s head. “Oh! The armor.” He pulls it off and offers a naif’s grin. “I’m See Me! I’m here to rescue you!”
“Is that really your name?” says the Princess Leaves.
“I’ve got your cogwork slave. I’m here with Ratio Tile.”
“Ratio Tile is here?” she says sharply.
“And the Wish Power is with him,” says a man in a darker death’s head, far above.
“Then he must not be allowed to escape,” says Government Cat.
“Escape is not his plan,” says Reaching the West Reaches.
Thursday, November 22, 2007
