Starbird Murphy and the World Outside by Karen Finneyfrock

Author:Karen Finneyfrock
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Penguin Group, USA
Published: 2014-05-27T16:00:00+00:00

I walked home from the café alone since V and Europa had the evening shift, and ran into Io a few blocks from Beacon House. She was walking from the bus stop, wearing a pink-and-white striped dress, which peeked out from under her raincoat, and rain boots with blue polka dots.

She threaded her arm through mine and walked in step with me along the sidewalk. “I remember when I first moved to Beacon House,” she said, as we passed under a madrona tree. It was drizzly out again and the sky was as gray as Spanish moss.

“Where did you move from?”

“B.C. The farm up there.”

“You’re from Canada?” Planet Elder Saturn Salt had started the Family farm in British Columbia. I knew it was at least as large as our Farm, but I didn’t realize Io was from there.

“Yeah. I’m sure you heard a lot about us,” she said.

“EARTH told me you smoke marijuana there.”

Io laughed. “Tons of it. We call it ‘tea.’ But I don’t anymore.”

“Why not?”

“I was in a fog all the time. I quit and I’m so much . . . clearer now.”

EARTH told me he smoked marijuana to get “clear,” but I couldn’t ask Io about that. “So you knew Europa growing up?”

“Yeah. I’ve known Eris and Kale since they were born. I knew their dad, too. Before he was excommunicated.”

“Before he was what?”

“He met an Outside woman and started seeing her in secret. Europa was a ball of fire when she found out. That’s why she came here. She’s a U.S. citizen, so she could come back with her kids. He’s Canadian, and off the grid, so he can’t follow her.”

“But doesn’t that mean she’s trying to own him? Isn’t he allowed to be with whoever he wants?”

“Europa would say she left because the other woman was an Outsider, and that he wasn’t a true Believer. I think it’s garden variety jealousy.”

“Why did you leave?”

“It got so toxic up there. When I was a kid, it was okay. Actually, it was amazing. But new people like Europa started joining ten years ago and things changed. People got fanatical and paranoid, didn’t want anyone leaving, or any Outsiders visiting. I faked a Calling to come to the States, and my mum had to let me go. I managed to talk my way across the border with a birth certificate but no green card. Red Light pays me under the table.”

“What do you mean fanatical? Did they become non-Believers?”

“Non-Believers? More like über-Believers. They propped up a photo of EARTH in front of the fireplace and meditated in front of it every night. But I don’t want to talk about that.” Io hugged my arm close to her side. “Let’s talk about boys. What’s going on with your artist?”

“He gave me his phone number, but I don’t know if I want it.”

“Intrigue,” she said. “You have to use it! What about Farm boy?”

“I’ve been gone too long. V’s keeping me prisoner here. He’s going to forget me.” I didn’t expect the tears that came suddenly rushing down my cheeks.

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