Mindscape by Tal Valante

Author:Tal Valante [Valante, Tal]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Riptide Publishing
Published: 2013-11-02T04:00:00+00:00

Six months later, the Cyclopes turned over patrols of Althea III to the Icarus and returned to Earth for some much-needed planet leave. Mark accompanied Shane to his parents’ house in New Wyoming. Shane, he thought, looked absolutely beautiful under a yellow sun.

“I’m nervous,” Mark said at the front door, before Shane could knock.

“Don’t be. They’re great people. I’m sure you’ll like them.”

“I have no doubt about that.” Mark picked at the collar of his civilian shirt. It itched. “I just hope they like me.”

Shane’s hand was warm on his back. “I’m sure they will.”

“Okay. Hey,” he said, interrupting Shane from knocking yet again. “Do they know about you—about me—about us—”

“That we’re sleeping together?” Shane smiled his quarter smile. “I’m pretty sure they’ve picked up on that from my letters.”

“Oh.” And then, “Who’s writing letters these days?”

Shane snorted. “E-voices. You know what I mean.”

He let Shane knock then, and when the door opened, he shook hands a little awkwardly with Shane’s mother. “Nice to meet you, Mrs. Cawley.”

“Rachel, please,” she said. “It’s a pleasure to finally see you, hon. Come on in, make yourself at home.”

Mark entered the hallway and took the three steps down to the spacious living room. Pictures and drawings covered all the walls, except for the left-hand one; that wall was mostly a huge aquarium, where all kinds of exotic fish swam.

“They’re beautiful,” Mark said, leaning back when he felt Shane’s presence behind him.

Shane wrapped him up in a hug and rested his chin on Mark’s shoulder. “Mmm.”

“They make quite an impression,” Rachel said from the overlooking kitchen. “What can I get you to drink?”

“Coffee,” Shane said before Mark could excuse himself. “And tea for me, please.”

They sat on the overstuffed sofa, facing a huge holoscreen. Shane picked up the remote and clicked it on, then killed the sound. As he put the remote down, a huge, gray-furred feline trotted up to him and butted its head against his calf.

“Mr. Furrypants!” Mark said. “I feel like I’ve known you for years, I’ve heard so much about you.” It occurred to him belatedly that he should have directed such a sentence at Shane’s mom rather than his cat.

“Old puss,” Shane said dismissively, but there was true affection in the way he scratched the cat’s head.

Rachel returned with a laden tray in her hands. “There you go,” she said, placing it on the table. She took a seat on the opposing sofa.

Mark took his cup of coffee and a cookie from a plate. He bit into it, careful not to drop crumbs on the clean floor—or on himself, because wouldn’t that be embarrassing. A mixture of butter, pistachio, and chocolate chips swathed his tongue. “These are really great,” he said as soon he’d swallowed.

“Why, thank you.” Rachel beamed at him. “I bought them myself.”

Mark laughed, and beside him Shane huffed and shook his head. A running joke, then.

“I have a confession to make,” Mark said. “I’ve never been to Earth before.”

“Really?” Rachel said. “You’ve got so much to see, then.

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