P9 looked across the glen planted in golden grain and past the hillside with bean poles in neat rows to the path over the ridge where the Northern Group would come. The soil was less fertile than they had hoped, its nutrients locked in towering trees that now lay in cabin and terrace walls. Planetfall robots had been forced to clear more land for food, so the island was dotted with gardens clinging to hillsides. Even after a second wave of landing craft brought the reserve fuel cells, they were short of power. One by… Read More »Mother Protector

“What to do with the body?” “What do you mean?” said the first God’s servant, “What do we do with the body anyway?”  “I mean, she looks pretty. I hate leaving her like this,” said the second God’s servant. “Why does it matter? Our job is to take the soul. Not the body. Do you have the soul in your box?” said the first God’s servant. “Yes, I do. But why her?” “Yesterday, we took a one-year-old boy’s soul. You didn’t ask any questions.” The second God’s servant bit his lip. “Yes, but look at… Read More »The Soul Takers