The stars down under by Sandra McDonald

Author:Sandra McDonald [McDonald, Sandra]
Format: epub
Tags: Science fiction, General, Science Fiction & Fantasy, Fiction, Fiction - Science Fiction, Science Fiction - General, High Tech, Space Opera, Adventure, Fantasy, Science Fiction - Adventure, American Science Fiction And Fantasy, Epic, Science Fiction - Military
ISBN: 9780765316448
Publisher: New York : Tor, 2008.
Published: 2008-03-18T00:00:00+00:00

"Well, like everything else European, they found their way to Australia," Louise said. "Hocus-pocus cockeyed bullshit, all of it, except when it isn't."

She tossed another card down on the deck. It showed brown and orange koala clinging to a gum tree as storm clouds raged overhead. "See there? Turmoil. Not surprising. The future shapes the present, you know. Something up ahead of us is significantly different than what's behind us." Jodenny didn't want to think about the future unless it specifically involved reuniting with Myell. "You don't seem like the mystical type."

"I believe in the great unknown, and the great unknowable. And a martini every evening after work." Louise shuffled the cards. "I'll do a reading for you."

"I don't really need one."

"Free of charge. Keeps me in practice." Louise put four cards down on the deck in the shape of a diamond. "Romance, Finance, Career, Fortune. First card: Will our dear Ellen find true love?" Two male passengers stepped over Jodenny "s outstretched legs on their way down the passage. It was cool in the ship, the heating elements only on half power, and she rubbed her bare arms. Louise turned the romance card over. A dark figure, arms and legs akimbo, stared up at them.

"The Lightning Man," Louise said, impressed. "Very powerful. And you already know him, don't you?

His feet are flat: on the ground, not on tiptoes, indicating certainty. He cares for you very deeply.'

Jodenny tried to keep her expression blank. Her wedding ring burned on its chain around her neck. Louise said, "Thing about the Lightning Man is that he's very powerful, but also very dangerous. Doesn't know his own strength. Brings destruction, and in the aftermath, rebirth. You jeopardize yourself by keeping company with the likes of him."

"I don't know who you're talking about," Jodenny said.

Louise's mouth quirked. "If you say so. Whoever he is, you'll probably see him soon. Lightning Men, they tend to stick around whether you want them to or not. Next question: Will Ellen be rich?" Louise overturned the second card. A blue and white seal swam through golden waves.

"Congratulations. The seal indicates you'll have all you need. Maybe you're going to win the lottery. Or you could be rich in other ways, money notwithstanding. Next comes Career. Will Ellen achieve great professional success?"

A great white egret stared up at them with black eyes.

Louise was silent for a moment.

"Determined, persistent, strong," she finally said. "When you set out to do something, you do it."

"Not always," Jodenny said.

"What did you say your job was?"

"Librarian."

Louise twirled a curl of magenta hair between her fingers. "Thing is, it's inverted. See? Upside down. Compromised. Subject to the power of the next card: Fortune. Go ahead and turn it over." Jodenny touched the card gingerly and then flipped it. A Rainbow Serpent around the card's surface, gleaming gold and bronze, yellow and white. She could almost smell its hot, rotting breath.

"The Creator." Louise's gaze narrowed. "First among all in the Dreamtime, the land that was and is and will always be.

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