The Universes Inside the Lighthouse by Pam Stucky

Author:Pam Stucky [Stucky, Pam]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Wishing Rock Press
Published: 2014-11-11T05:00:00+00:00

chapter nine

Emma took this in. This thing, this horrible thing called The Void, already on Earth? She recognized the truth of it right away. People on their phones all the time, not really connecting even when they were sitting at the same table, was that The Void? Critics, both amateur and professional, incessantly judging people (and finding them failing), making people afraid to try new things, was that The Void? Social media, where it sometimes seemed everyone was begging for attention, but no one was listening, was that The Void?

Not realizing the intense impact of this revelation on Emma, Eve continued. “So, the travel, sure it’s interesting, but it’s also important. Besides,” she said, “there’s more to it. We’re not just looking for Vik.”

Overwhelmed by everything Eve had said so far, Emma waited for her to go on, but she didn’t. Finally Emma’s curiosity got the best of her.

“What?” she said. “What else are you looking for?”

Eve stared hard at Emma, judging, assessing. Emma tried arranging her features to look as trustworthy as possible. Finally, Eve spoke again.

“We’re looking for my mom,” Eve said.

Emma was thrown. She’d hardly had time to even wonder where Eve’s mother might be, but yes, come to think of it, where was Eve’s mother? Emma realized she’d just assumed there had been a separation, a divorce, perhaps an untimely death. But the idea that Eve’s mother could be completely missing hadn’t even crossed her mind.

“Where is she?” Emma asked.

Eve laughed a cheerless laugh. “We don’t know. That’s why we’re looking.”

Emma felt a swoosh of guilt for having been jealous of Eve, for having begrudged her Ben’s affection. What kind of existence could it be, after all, risking life and limb on planets such as this, planets that seemed harmless at first but then revealed angry inhabitants and untold dangers? It might be exciting at first, but to imagine that her mother might be lost on a planet somewhere? Emma shuddered at the thought.

“You see,” said Eve, seeming to warm to the idea of talking about her story for once, “Mom and Dad, their relationship was always difficult. Dad says it’s because they both have such strong personalities. They’re both passionate, opinionated, stubborn people. They loved each other … love each other … but sometimes, they just clash.

“Mom was—is—a scientist. Great Aunt Doethine, my great great aunt who first discovered elevators, was one of Mom’s great aunts. Mom used to go over to her house, and they’d talk all about the elevators and the discoveries and universes and life. Mom loved it. It was no surprise to anyone when she became a scientist herself.

“That’s how Mom and Dad met. He’s an archaeologist, see, not an interuniversal scientist. He likes staying home, on our own planet, discovering what came before us. We’re still learning so much on Lero. It seems there may have been a civilization before we got there, even. Amazing, right? I mean, it makes sense. It’s such a great planet.”

Emma could hear the homesickness

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