Cover page! One day I might go back through and re-paint all the covers. That actually sounds soothing.
Click here for the screen reader transcript
Puck presses a hand against the fence, staring out at the streets. “Yeesh… you were spot on. Dismal really is the only word for it.”
The girl's mouth twists. “Wild, right? It’s almost like I live here or something.”
His voice drops. “How long has it been like this…?”
She sighs. “Ever since the mines started drying up. People were leasing their equipment from the mining companies, and with no product, they couldn’t afford the payments or the upkeep. They all had to go to work for the mining companies instead of contracting with them, so of course the companies stopped paying as much.”
“And those are the lucky ones. A lot of them got grounded and just had to get by the best they could. Every year more businesses get shut down, or the mining company buys them out… they own pretty much everything.”
She gestures toward the people trudging by. “These people are on their way to the evening shift. I bet half of them live in their grounded ships on the edge of town. The ones who couldn’t get on with the company work at the stores, or the restaurants, or the titty bars… whatever they can do.”
Puck frowns, studying their faces. “I’ve seen some colonies going downhill… but this one’s the worst yet. Those suits are at least twenty years old. Look at their color. There’s no way they’re getting the right micronutrients in whatever they’re eating.”
On the other side of the fence, a ragged-looking man sits slouched against the wall. As their conversation goes on, his expression tightens at their chatter. He glances up at them, clearly catching every word, his face twisting in annoyance.
Cover page! One day I might go back through and re-paint all the covers. That actually sounds soothing.
Click here for the screen reader transcript
Puck presses a hand against the fence, staring out at the streets. “Yeesh… you were spot on. Dismal really is the only word for it.”
The girl's mouth twists. “Wild, right? It’s almost like I live here or something.”
His voice drops. “How long has it been like this…?”
She sighs. “Ever since the mines started drying up. People were leasing their equipment from the mining companies, and with no product, they couldn’t afford the payments or the upkeep. They all had to go to work for the mining companies instead of contracting with them, so of course the companies stopped paying as much.”
“And those are the lucky ones. A lot of them got grounded and just had to get by the best they could. Every year more businesses get shut down, or the mining company buys them out… they own pretty much everything.”
She gestures toward the people trudging by. “These people are on their way to the evening shift. I bet half of them live in their grounded ships on the edge of town. The ones who couldn’t get on with the company work at the stores, or the restaurants, or the titty bars… whatever they can do.”
Puck frowns, studying their faces. “I’ve seen some colonies going downhill… but this one’s the worst yet. Those suits are at least twenty years old. Look at their color. There’s no way they’re getting the right micronutrients in whatever they’re eating.”
On the other side of the fence, a ragged-looking man sits slouched against the wall. As their conversation goes on, his expression tightens at their chatter. He glances up at them, clearly catching every word, his face twisting in annoyance.