1st Excerpt from “Edan” (Formerly “Iteration”)

“A complete and rich world of fantasy, discovery and self study that will appeal to a wide audience of knowledge seekers, diversionists, and futurism fans.” By Esau Kessler

“Kan” | forward

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Evie Godfrey opened her eyes and gasped deeply, fumbling for the natural rock border of the outdoor pool, a loud roar of crickets purred relentlessly, as she cleared her ears of water, bringing the left corner of her mouth to a slight wavering grin. She had seeded the cricket population on the islands. Being careful to comply with The Commons and multinational laws governing bio formed environments, through the painful process of research reports and certifications. She could visualize the thorax of Circadia Canthis and the slightly protruding appendages responsible for the early morning symphony.

” ‘Ello Evie” Kanye’s voice broke her meditative state, causing her to flinch sharply and draw her arms around her bosom and waist.

Trying to look relaxed, she lowered her arms and spun towards the voice, “What are you doing up so early?”

She stood facing him in the dimness across the pool, his LED tattoos shimmered and moved like flowing streams across his body. Mildly surprised by the spectacle she raised and eyebrow, “When you get all that ink, Mr. Kasperov?”

“I was three shites and ‘lust a ‘bate.”

Kanye had closed the gap more quickly startling her a second time. Looking into his eyes for the first time since the transport race, and shaking her head: “Well good for you, for being sober…should I ask how you lost the bet?”

Kanye was wearing his faded blue NASA issued trunks, and Evie looking him over pleasingly “You haven’t changed much Mr.Kasperov, a few more scars, a little more mature, you are the same creature Kan’.” She hadn’t called him that in 15 years. They stared into each other’s faces in the grey-blue dawn. Awkward yet relieving, pleasurable yet painful, feeling right and yet so wrong.

The crickets purred.

Kanye tightened his lips, exhaling sharply through his nostrils, “What happened ‘sheila?” Evie inhaled deeply, her eyes widened in search for an answer. His directness less than comforting as usual. “I mean you just up an disappeared, wouldn’t take me calls, your bleedin’ avater’ wouldn’t even respond. And then when you did, it was so callous and indifferent. Didn’t even seem like you.”

He seemed to peer into her soul despite the lack of light. She swallowed.

“Look Kasperov, now is not the time or place for this convo, you were flunking out of school, you couldn’t pay your bills, and you drank way too much!” (the words came easy, surprisingly, a worn and easy groove to cut him down again, yet she detected no fear in him, as if he wasn’t listening.) “I mean for Oprah’s sake!” (She went on) Kan’ if it weren’t for me getting you into the program…investigators were after you.” The words hung dead in the air, like a cortex recording from another era. Kanye seemed unruffled by her attack, not like he was ignoring her feelings, but as if he were accepting them. Slowly he reached for her nude shoulder, she stiffened imagining Adie walking out to catch them holding each other tightly.

Her mind raced in time with her heart, if only she could tell him how she’d cried and wept, and hovered over the com waiting for months. If only she could tell him how hard things were now with her work,the island, and all the children…and what it was like being married to Adamian Godfrey, and how he made her feel so small.

Noticing her hesitation “Ay it’s only innocent huggin’ to say I’m sorry Eviana” He held her softly, whispering her into calm, though her eyes darted madly about through the tears.

She put her arms about his muscled shoulders, his skin like warm oil to her soul in the chilly twilight.