Gargarith

I first came to know of the enigmatic Dr. Arleth, and of the uncanny sciences with which he plied his trade, though acquaintances in other cities who spoke of his coming visit to mine. As talk of the atomic had not yet ebbed, even a year after the bombs, I reasoned that a delve into the subject through one of Dr. Arleth's lectures would keep me current with the world, and so I decided to pay a visit one summer evening. The clouds and masses had both cleared out, leaving the blue sky deep as an ocean over a hushed city. Usually a human morass, the streets that ran to the library were clear. The drifting showman had set his stage in a dank cha

The man in silver arrived on a night when the clouds blanketed the sky and smothered us in summer heat. He passed through the village, took out his telescope, and then sat down on the rim of the dry fountain. We laughed at him and asked what stars he would see with the moon's curtains shut. He laughed back and leaned against a statue of an angel mounted to the fountain. "Yes, but you've never seen such a telescope as mine." He pulled the telescope open and it was true; a pattern of stylized stars, in real gold perhaps, covered its casing, which was a strange black metal I'd never seen before, nor since. Meteor metal, the blacksmith whispered

It's such a bright day for a soul to depart. This gentle afternoon they finished their part and their grave is passed by folks unknowing. Life's an endless dance of coming and going.

The plastic bag snapped and raced in the wind like a flag, but Collie knew its markings well enough to tell the difference. Regardless, it pointed her in the right direction and she left it caught in the branches of the poplar tree as she walked on down the highway toward the city. Toward whatever she'd find there--she didn't know what had happened or if there's even be a city left to find, but she kept walking anyway, humming to the rhythm of her steps. She found the convenience store a little farther along, when the sky was darker and the winds that rushed along the road much colder. The parking lot was empty--Collie hadn't seen any cars o

The plastic bag snapped and raced in the wind like a flag, but Collie knew its markings well enough to tell the difference. Regardless, it pointed her in the right direction and she left it caught in the branches of the poplar tree as she walked on down the highway toward the city. Toward whatever she'd find there--she didn't know what had happened or if there's even be a city left to find, but she kept walking anyway, humming to the rhythm of her steps. She found the convenience store a little farther along, when the sky was darker and the winds that rushed along the road much colder. The parking lot was empty--Collie hadn't seen any cars o

        Ritz was last to hear about the dragon. When he returned from playing in the fields at the edge of the Boundary one cloudy Wednesday, the village of Kellog was assembled in the square around the fire pit and old Mr. Shing Sundja was with them, stiff and emotionless as usual. Chief Kit was at his side, but he wore the ceremonial mouse-faced mask of the clan and his expression was veiled. A few people spoke to each other in hushed tones but the village was silent for the most part. "What's going on?" asked Ritz when he'd reached the circle of villagers and wormed his way to the front. "Is something wrong?" "The Drake came a few hour