GHOSTS IN THE GLASS by S. & Ray Cushaway

Author:S. & Ray Cushaway [Cushaway, S. & Ray, J.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: sci fi, Adventure, western, Fantasy
Publisher: S. Cushaway
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Brass

Leigh tightened the last valve on the Pihranese water filter and stood back, wiping sweat from her brow. Beside her, Dramen Frell crossed his arms over his barrel chest, curled mustache twitching as he frowned at the contraption. It consisted of three separate clay tubs, several hoses and two outflow valves. Somewhat smaller than the huge tubs, the fourth jug stored clean, drinkable water. The others, filled with gravel, sand and charcoal, filtered contaminated liquid in a laborious process.

“We’ll have to keep this running non-stop just to keep up with the day-to-day demand,” Leigh said. After weeks of working on repairing the filter, she had come to despise it, and understood why the Sulari had discarded them after better technology had been imported from Avaeliis.

“That’s true, but at least it’s running.” Frell sighed. “Now that we’ve got all the valves replaced and everything working, I suspect it will last a good, long time. It’s the water shed pump I’m worried about. I’ll send a crew down next summer to replace that.”

Quelling the sinking feeling in her belly, Leigh squared her shoulders. “You’re going to the Foundry?”

Frell wiped his hands clean on a rag, tucked the cloth into his back pocket, and nodded. “I am. I’ll be leaving tomorrow. Niles said the Foundry hasn’t had contact from that Scrapper escorting Erid for days. I’m worried. Ham Elgin said there’s been storms making call-ins spotty, but I think it best I go make sure he’s made it home.”

Home.

The word stung. Dogton had been her home. Erid’s, too. Now, Leigh didn’t think anyone could care to call it that. Limbo, perhaps, was a more fitting term now—a layover, wrought with nervous tension and moments of terrifying violence. Nal’ves had been like that, too, but knowing how Dogton had been only a few months ago made the familiarity worse.

“You look tired, Miss Enderi, if you don’t mind me saying that. Everyone knows how hard you’ve been working to keep the civilian end of things going.” Frell’s eyes shone with sympathy. “You have my word once I reach the Foundry, I am going to personally be writing a petition with recommendation to have Evrik Niles removed. The Avaeliis Syndicate has no idea what they’ve done, letting him take power here in such a manner; it’s inhumane and impractical.”

His encouragement and promises only made her shake her head. Romano Vargas, too, had spoken of inhumanity once, and Leigh did not want Frell’s words to herald a dark prophecy about the town’s fate—or her own.

“Dogton would appreciate the Union’s help,” she said. “But we can’t be seen speaking about it here. You can leave, Frell, but if Niles gets word I’ve been speaking to you about his removal, he will take it out on the town first, and then me.” She glanced at the filter as it gave a great, low gurgle. One of the hoses vibrated as a gush flowed into the next clay container.

“Niles can’t order you executed for talking. If he does that, the Foundry will pull support.

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