Part III - New Unfolding His Imprison'd Pride
This picnic table probably hadn't been here when this place had been actual offices. Will's keen investigative instincts told him that the taco truck people had brought it and set it up. An operating office park wouldn't have a plastic table with a...
Part II - The Tender Things Are Those We Fold Away
"You work in the morning?" "Yessir." "Really, on Saturday? Huh." Kane was being very patient, he thought, while Will passed a beat-up phone back to whoever-the-hell-this-was. "You're gonna text me on your first break, then." "Yessir. Uh, what do I...
Part V - No Laws to Treat My People Ill
"Oh it was fascinating, the seminar on impasto technique actually came to blows! Between the Van Gogh faction and the Rembrant fans!" judging from the stoat's tone this was wonderful news. "Convention security had to taser three different...
Part I - He Gave to Mis'ry All He Had
"Oh hey, didn't expect you to be working tonight." "Well, I hear Keith," Kane didn't even bother pretending to look at the ID he'd been handed, for all he knew it could have said 'William Adler, President of Space Balloonland,' "finally broke up with...
Blank Verse Essay On The Futility of So-Called "A.I." Art
My husband, sometimes, draws erotica, He has for years. I'm sure you know the kind, A tiger man and husky man, perhaps, Or handsome fox and manly-smug raccoon, Or fatherly but dangerous wolf, in all The situations that might give excuse For them...
A Lesson in Hauntings
"So I s'pose I can take it fer granted that y'all're interested in ghosts?" Eli faced away from the group. The flashlight in his paw illuminated nothing but the dust of what had once been the town of Bitter Sands. "Who else," Ben said, "signs up for...
Solar Eclipse, Saturday October Tenth
The light has turned the color of the shadows on his jawline, The color of the scent of fur and stubble on his jawline. And I? I can do nothing. This is happening regardless Of anything my will could try to do but won't attempt to. His shadow fills...
Sing In Me, Holy One, and Through Me
As far as Bethany Smith was concerned, the Oregon Trail could go and fuck itself. Probably it'd go to Oregon to do that. That was where it seemed to be determined to get to, God knows why, but she wasn't particular: the trail could fuck itself anywhere...
Advice to the Traumatized Coyote in the Passenger Seat of My Tow Truck
I'm not the guy you come to for advice Unless it's on what not to do. Besides You shouldn't take just anyone's advice. You don't mind if I ramble on a bit? Save you the grief of making small talk, yeah? Besides, there isn't much to see out...
Introduction to The Lone and Level Sands Stretch Far Away
We met two travelers to an antique land. Across the haunted stars they came in search-- While newly mated, newly hand in hand-- Of shattered remnant visage in the dirt. The one has eyes on knowledge and renown And seeks the truth whatever it may...
King of Pentacles Takes Knave of Diamonds
Had there been opportunity to ask them, locals would have said the old ruin back in the woods was considered haunted. But a fugitive seldom has time to appreciate colorful local folklore. This one saw only a place to hide, to let pursuit pass by, to...
Haiku on the Collapse
Fiddling while Rome burns, If a fiddle's all you have, Is hardly a sin.