Every Wind of Change by Frank Tuttle

Author:Frank Tuttle [Tuttle, Frank]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Sizzling Lizard Press

That night, Meralda dreamed.

In the dream, her mother juggled knives while blindfolded and wandering about, bringing her flashing blades far too close to everyone and laughing away suggestions that she practice somewhere else. Meanwhile, Mrs. Primsbite read from the old Book of Kings, starting on page one and continuing in a flat monotone as her voice grew louder and louder until it was like thunder in the heavens.

Skoof and Donchen played cards, using the strange deck depicted on the sinister painting on the bridge. They refused to answer her questions about the game, saying only they were playing for tents.

Annoyed, Meralda awoke, to find herself wrapped in her sheets. She sat up in bed and groaned, contemplating a bath, when she suddenly leaped from her bed and wrapped herself in the orange robe that now served as a dressing gown.

“Celestia. Can you hear me?”

“I hear.”

“This was a circus, was it not?” Meralda asked. “Performers, clowns, shows, all of that?”

“Confirmed.”

“Then why weren’t tents on your list? Doesn’t every circus travel with tents?”

“Tents are produced upon arrival before every landing,” Celestia replied. “From item number 865 on the list, Extruded Polymer Stores. When the events are complete, the tents are deflated, and the material returned to storage for re-extrusion when needed.”

Meralda fastened her robe, standing. “This…material. Is it lightweight? Strong? Air-tight?”

“Exceptionally so,” replied the ship. “Shall I provide precise values?”

“No. You say the tents are extruded. Can the shapes be changed?”

“Easily,” Celestia said. “They are custom made for each landing, to fit social and cultural norms and expectations.”

“So, you could fashion for me a sphere, for instance, of a designated size?”

“Yes. With any markings or color patterns requested.”

Meralda, fully awake now, took in a breath. “Is this tent-extruding device working now?”

“Yes. The extruder station is located on the lower deck, just ahead of the suspension tanks.” A screen set on the wall across from the bed lit, displaying a diagram of the ship and marking the room and the route to it in flashing yellow.

Meralda ran to her bathroom. “I need a source of heat. Something small and preferably light.”

“There are 86 possible matches to that query in storage,” said the ship. “Clarify volume of space to be heated and desired average air temperature.”

“Never mind,” said Meralda. “Call Donchen. Wake him up. Ask him to meet me in the commissary, if you please.”

“Doing so now. Will that be all?”

“Not quite,” said Meralda. She kept talking as she hurriedly bathed.

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