Geoffrey Rises

 

 Geoffrey Rises (a revision of #3)

Geoffrey rises

in the spectral dawn

from his bed of tamarack boughs,

and, like an unbidden ghost, or guest,

walks with reverence

to the eddying cold waters of

Pinnacle Creek.

The shallow edge of the stream

is frozen into a latticework of crystals,

iridescent,

even in the grayness of dawn,

bright as a crystalline patina

of pale-purple fluorite -

    the thickness of Buddha’s eyelid.

The water falls, always,

and forever,

from the top of the ragged,

glaciated mountain,

to an unknown Tethy’s sea.

His fingers grow numb.

He has dreamt too long.

He feels his flesh

draw tighter to the bone,

his mind contract.

As he brews a cup of tea

he listens to the song of dawn birds

as they conjure sunlight into being.

He hopes they will succeed.

Notes for 'Malador Crossing'

 First notes for 'Malador Crossing', a novel

The announcement of the crawlers' imminent arrival caused a visible wave of panic to surge through the hundreds of passengers massed behind the electric fence. Even though most had purchased tickets days, even months in advance, they knew there were only enough seats for perhaps half their number. And who could predict, guess, surmise, or dream when the next crawler, or even a ‘Hopper’ might materialize.

 

Suddenly, materializing out of the thin, lavendar membrane of gases swirling above Malador the shimmering shape of a Crawler slowly descended. 

 

The expectant crowd became a mass of flailing arms and legs and other appendages as bags and boxes and cases were dragged, tossed, and kicked, toward what was believed to be the entrance gate. The turmoil rose to a fevered pitch as the Crawler settled gently into its waiting landing pod.

 

Kep watched and waited just inside the main door of the freight room. He was hoping good old American graft and corruption was still the modus operandi even this far from Olfac Cap. In fact, he was betting his life: his future on it.

Lots more where this came from.