Fountains of Mercy
Page 20
“Good point.” I don’t want you ten days north of here, Art. I want you in town, helping me. But things changed, and Art had a point. They needed to be letting the next generation learn to lead and live.
Art pulled Pete aside as two young men in blue carried several crates past them. “Has Gerald sorted out the tannery proposal?”
Pete studied the floor for a moment. “Yes, but I had to intervene. Don wanted it upstream of the bridge. You know, he’s a hell of an electricity guy, but he’s clueless when it comes to sanitation. Gerald lost his cool and I finally shouted both of them down. The tanneries, dye works, cleaning, anything with noxious chemicals will be past that little island downstream of the city walls.” The island had appeared when the river shifted a little following the Battle Flood, as everyone called it. “Tom’s son, the fishing master, is kinda peeved, but I don’t think water quality will be a problem for the fish for quite a while.”
“Yeah, I mean, everyone knows what fish do in water already.”
Pete winced at the old joke. You know, I bet Noah got tired of hearing that, back on Old Earth.
“But it will be a problem at some point,” Art reminded Pete. He jumped topics. “We’ll rebuild and return to the stars.”
“Yes, we will. Not our generation, but we’ll return.”
Pete left the Montoyas to their packing. He smiled as several children waved, and he waved back. Their parents nodded, and one tipped his hat to Pete. He’d never wanted to be a leader, but since when had the Lord ever granted every wish? They had walls and water—clean water—and with that and a wise wife and good children, a man could do almost anything.
That night, he read a letter from Fritz Gunter. He and Marie had settled at Starland, after a brief stop at Heilbrown. They had three and two-thirds children, and Fritz wanted to know if they could name the pending arrival Cynthia, if it proved to be a girl. If not, it would be either Alex or Martin.
“Dear, do you mind having another namesake?” He asked his wife.
“No, as long as we don’t have to go to the baptism,” she replied. “Whose?”
“Fritz and Maria. They’re now down at Starland and she’s due with number four.” Cynthia shivered and Pete picked up her hand from the arm of her chair and squeezed it. Sabrina’s birth had almost killed her mother, and they’d agreed: no more children. But Pete junior and Sabrina both appeared healthy and hearty, thanks be.
“I don’t see how Basil Peilov does it,” Cynthia complained. “Manages the animals and four children at the same time without getting them mixed up.”
“She probably has from time to time, but just won’t admit it. And,” he hated to mention it, “she is a bit younger than we are.” I’d thought she was in her thirties when we met, she’s so mature. I didn’t realize that she’s only in her mid twenties. Dear Lord, she scraped and clawed her way out of the slums so hard, I wonder what she could have done if she’d been given a real chance by a real family?
He and Cynthia thought about things for several quiet minutes. “So, what are you getting Art and Ann as a going-away present?” she inquired at last.
“I thought a pack mule might be useful. Although I understand Helga Starhemberg’s threatened to send her husband along in a crate without holes, so maybe a small wagon?”
“That woman is a saint to put up with him,” she sighed. “There must be more to him than I realize.”
Or she’s just as mad as he is, in her own way. Not that Pete would ever say it aloud. He did not care to find himself on the wrong side of the “ladies auxiliary,” as he’d come to think of the leading women of the city.
Instead he said, “No doubt, dear.” It was safer that way.
Alma T. C. Boykin was born in the Midwest, moved to the Great Plains, and after a brief period living in places where trees almost outnumber people, returned to the plains. She escaped college with a BA, worked for a living, then returned for an advanced degree some years later. When not writing or rotating the cat, she teaches and does a few other odds and ends. Hobbies include cooking, reading, hiking, geology, astronomy, and music.
Visit Alma’s blog at AlmaTCBoykin.Wordpress.com
The Cat Among Dragons Series
They started it. Her father’s people declared her a corrupt half-breed, one unfit to live. Now she’s on the run, fleeing back in time. When she joined an interstellar mercenary company, she did not anticipate becoming the Pet of House Nagali, becoming the student of a mysterious but very well connected Healer and diplomat, and fighting her way into power as the only sentient mammal in the court of a reptilian empire.
Spanning more than 10 novels, 2 sub-series, novellas, and short stories, the Cat Among Dragons universe is Alma’s take on human wave science fiction.
For a full series listing, visit: almatcboykin.wordpress.com/books-and-worlds
The Colplatschki Chronicles
Colonial Plantation Ltd. abandoned ColPlat XI, writing the planet off as a tax loss after a series of severe Carrington-type events. Now, four hundred years later, Laurence V of Frankonia wants to write Elizabeth von Sarmas out of his kingdom, but like her Lander ancestors, Elizabeth refuses to roll over and die.
To survive, she needs to cross the continent, thread her way through a holy war, and find friends in the Eastern Empire—an impossible task for a sheltered gentlewoman. Or is it? Never underestimate a woman with a mission and a mule.
Spanning generations and touching both sides of a continent, this ten-book series is a fresh take on alternate history with a touch of science fiction.
For a full series listing, visit: almatcboykin.wordpress.com/colplatschki-chronicles
Merchant and Empire
Tycho Rhonarida Galnaar trades hides—hides tanned, hides untanned, with and without fleeces, nothing risky. He prefers steady, low-key trade, a quiet home life, and reliable business partners. Slow and steady bring wealth and do not draw the attention of nobles, thieves, or the gods. Especially not of the gods!
Counterfeit coin and cursed grain...
But the gods have other plans. Tycho’s secret—his absolute inability to work or even see magic in a world that depends on it—may be the key to solving a mystery, and saving a city. Tycho wants no part in mysteries or adventure. He’s a merchant, nothing more.
Trade is Tycho’s world. That world changes under his feet.
For a full series listing, visit: almatcboykin.wordpress.com/merchant-and-empire
Shikhari – Rajword
Adventure! Exploration! Martinus the m-dog! Lost cities and conspiracies! Strange creatures! And homework.
Shikhari, the most-distant human colony world, home to the Staré and Auriga “Rigi” Bernardi. While on school holiday, Rigi and her cousin Tomás Prananda discover a ruined city hidden in the forest. Their find strikes a spark that threatens to upend everything humans think they know about Shikhari’s past, and about the native Staré.
For a full series listing, visit: almatcboykin.wordpress.com/shikhari-rajword
Familiar Tales
Urban fantasy with a touch of humor... and a 100 lb. skunk.
Novellas and short story collections available here: almatcboykin.wordpress.com/familiar-tales
Fleder Murphy
Welcome to Riverville—where nothing is as it seems.
Join Fledermaus “Fleder” Murphy and explore the world of Riverville and the Burnt Bean Coffee Shop. When Murphy takes wing, nothing’s certain except Murphy’s Law.
A short story set available at almatcboykin.wordpress.com/fleder-murphy
Other Books
A list of Alma’s non-series works (including the Alexi’s Tale stories) can be found at almatcboykin.wordpress.com/non-series-works
To keep up with Alma’s latest releases, visit her blog at almatcboykin.wordpress.com
Publication Details
Fountains of Mercy
Alma T C Boykin
E-Book Edition
Produced and published by IndieBookLauncher.com
Paperback ISBN: 978-1-77342-091-2
Copyright 2019 Alma T. C. Boykin, all rights reserved.
This story is a work of fiction. Its contents are the products of the author’s imagination, or are used in a fictitious manner. Nothing in this story is intended to convey factual information.