Genesis by Zach Winderl

Author:Zach Winderl
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: space cowboy, action, cyberpunk, space western
Publisher: Three Furies Press
Published: 2020-07-08T16:00:00+00:00

9

Atom enjoyed the peaceful nature surrounding the town. Exotic, woodland birds sang in the trees lining the boulevards. A fresh breeze replaced the stale, recycled ship air and his lungs rejoiced. Atom felt rejuvenated by the walk. Halfway down the curving road he passed off the pram to Daisy and shifted Margo to his shoulders. Her joy refreshed his soul.

The trip proved all too short, but they approached the Wooden Duckling in high spirits.

“This place grows on me every step I take,” Daisy skipped with high knees behind the pram as he admired the delicate carvings adorning the front of the building. His antics drew stares from the scattered natives, but elicited laughter, claps, and hoots from his crewmates.

He danced to music in his head.

“You sure are an original,” Shi laughed and linked arms with Daisy as she joined in his prancing.

Byron walked behind them with a wan smile on his face, but a stomach too tender to warrant joining in on the revelry. He did clap along, his cadence off from the dance reeling in Daisy’s mind, but the capering hulk adjusted his steps.

Atom mounted the steps to the Wooden Duckling. A soft breeze rippled down the mountain, stirring a set of heavy wooden panpipe wind charms. Something stirred in the back of Atom’s mind. His steps faltered, but nobody noticed.

A familiar, haunting melody in the wind dangled a thought, a memory, just out of reach. He wracked his mind, lost in the depths of his mind, but on automated feet, he followed their happy tramping. They pressed through the heavy front doors into the two-story hall that centered the rustic inn.

A roaring fire in an open, central hearth drew everyone like moths. Even Atom drifted close. Daisy dropped into a sturdy lounge chair and propped his feet on the hearth with a heartfelt sigh of content.

Atom shook his head to clear his mind. “Looks comfy,” he said to Roger as the others wandered away.

“I think it is the best of what we can offer,” Roger said. “There is one inn further down the slope. They are fancier and smaller, but I believe Hither’s food to be better. There are also several flop houses, but I would not recommend them. Here everything is good you need. Is clean. Food is great. Beds are soft. And even though there are not private baths, the communal bath is big and steamy.”

“Sounds like paradise,” Atom looked around at the tree trunk beams framing the room. The inn seemed grown instead of constructed. “Who do I see about accommodations?”

“Hither. She is over at the desk, the laughing woman talking with the two diggers,” Roger pointed out a tall, flame-haired woman perched on the corner of the reception desk. She spoke in hushed tones with the two men, and as she reached out to give a playful shove she turned enough for Atom to catch her profile.

“Hither?” Atom whispered in shock. The woman stood taller than Atom, graceful in her movements, curved and beautiful with just enough of her porcelain skin showing to walk the fine line between modest and provocative.

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