Babylon Shattered by Gail Daley

Author:Gail Daley
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: science fiction, cozy mystery, Psychic, amateur sleuth, mind games, cozy, flawed utopia, adventure, colony in space, Portal to space, revolution, blackmail
Publisher: Gail Daleys Fine Art
Published: 2023-02-01T00:00:00+00:00

THE KNIGHT OF SWORDS

THE NEXT DAY was a Friday and the start of a Portal Weekend. The colonists who intended to be a part of the psychic festival that would take place in Laughing Mountain were busy loading their wagons with supplies and tools to set up their booths at the fair, preparatory to taking them across through the Portal. Shangri-La’s Portal to Laughing Mountain was a large, ornate bronze gateway with a statue of Athena on one side and another of Aphrodite on the other. The heavy doors with their baroque carving weren’t necessary, but the Founders of Shangri-La wanted the Portal to be grand and imposing. When the Portal was opened by the programmer, the doors automatically swung wide, making it appear the swirling colors were contained inside the structure.

Neither Josephine or Old Timothy regularly took part in the Laughing Mountain events, but many other colonists would cross over to do so. Once the participating colonists had gone through, a group of Portal Runners would bring in goods and supplies to trade to the colonists. Many of the small electronic parts Timothy used in his repair shop were imported by the Runners.

At the end of the lane leading to the Portal was a booth which serviced incoming emigrants. It was from here that they would either pay their emigration fees or be assigned to a prospective employer willing to sponsor their Indentured Service contracts.

Tonight, the area surrounding the portal was thronged with people. This was the weekend the Psychogenic Faire was held in Laughing Mountain, and quite a few of Fortuna’s inhabitants had plans to take part in it. It was early evening here on Shangri-La, but the portal would open on earth in the wee hours of Friday Morning. It was the one event when vendors from the Shangri-La colony could come across the Portal to sell their wares and services and not raise eyebrows. Shangri-La’s vendors would compete with fortune tellers, palm readers, and others selling items connected to the paranormal from across the state, but many of them expected to make a lot of money. Of which only a portion was likely to be reported to the Controller.

On Sunday afternoon Laughing Mountain would host a paranormal antique fair where vendors would hawk vintage items alleged to have paranormal properties in the inner courtyard of the hedge maze. Visitors could also bring in items to be tested for paranormal residue. Around four AM on Monday morning, Laughing Mountain would re-open the Portal, and Shangri-La’s psychics would return home.

On Laughing Mountain weekends, Fortuna’s inhabitants who remained home held a carnival with rides for the children, dancing in the square below the Gazabo where bands played music, booth held an array of festival foods and other items. Many people also came out simply to watch the Portal in operation.

Josephine and her foster family were no exception.

“Can we have ice-cream?” Ariel asked.

“Sure, Why not? My treat,” Mason told her.

“Alright,” Josephine agreed, “But you get to help with the cleanup Mason.

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