Terraform_an Ell Donsaii story by Laurence Dahners

Author:Laurence Dahners [Dahners, Laurence]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2018-11-29T00:00:00+00:00

***

As Carley walked into her apartment complex she heard the faint sound of a shoe lifting. Something other people would’ve heard, but she recognized as the sound a soft rubber sneaker made after it’d been standing in one place. Standing long enough that it pulled free with a slight ripping noise when it came up.

The sound came from up ahead, just around the corner of the building. A corner she walked by every day on her way home.

She knew it was Eli. She’d heard that little ripping sound from his shoes before. If he was hiding around the corner she walked by every day, rather than standing or sitting by her apartment like he usually did…

That probably wasn’t good.

Carley turned and walked slowly back away from the corner. Though, to her, the sounds of her footsteps were plainly evident, she felt fairly sure people without her oddly acute sense of hearing wouldn’t hear them. Hopefully, that included her brother.

She exited her apartment complex through the gate she usually entered and walked around to the other side, coming in through a gate much closer to her own apartment. From this gate, as soon as she arrived in the common area around the pool, she could see Eli leaning against the corner of the building.

Right where she’d heard him.

He didn’t notice her until she’d almost reached her apartment. The house AI opened the door and she was stepping inside before he called her name.

Inside, she turned back to face the door. “AI, keep the door screen on, showing the exterior.”

Eli arrived at the door looking pissed. And, a little unsteady. “Carley!” he said again.

“Hi Eli,” she said, not trying to hide the disappointment in her voice. “Looks like you’ve been drinking again.”

“I am not!” There was a brief pause, then he continued, “I did have a beer, but one’s not enough to do anything. Just a little taste for the flavor.”

“Looks like more than one beer to me. You’re staggering a little. The other night—”

“I’m not staggering!” he interrupted. “After one beer? Don’t be ridiculous!”

Patiently, she said, “The other night you told me you were done drinking.”

“I am done drinking,” he said indignantly. “I just have a little taste now and then. Something to wet my whistle.”

“Well, I don’t want to be around you when you’ve had anything to drink. ‘Wetting your whistle.’ ‘Little tastes.’ Nothing.”

“You’re such a bitch,” he said, shoulders hunched and a look of fury on his face. He took a deep breath, calmed, relaxed his shoulders, and said, “Sorry. I didn’t mean that. I was just hoping to hang out with my sister a little while. It’s a little frustrating to walk all the way over here and not even get to see you.”

Carley found herself wanting to forgive him, then remembered how he’d been hiding around the corner. Probably wanting to grab her wrist before she knew he was there. Then, like when he’d gotten her by the wrist after the blowup about Marnie, he’d want to borrow some cash and wouldn’t let go until she’d sent it to his AI.

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