Sasha shook her head. “There’s too much to do here. We need to rebuild a whole town, and start up at least one roamer band. Best to be strong before your kind comes back.”
Dianne had insisted we didn’t have the authority to give up our claim to Fremont. Nor, really, had we wanted to. Although Jenna swore she was never coming back. But we had promised to argue to split the planet, leave Jini to the original humans and send the Family to Islandia. Easy enough, at least at this stage. Our descendents could argue about it further, and they would. With luck, they wouldn’t fight.
“I may never come back,” I said.
“I know. But take the belt I made for you. You never know when you can use some extra protection.”
I swallowed. She was so good, so decent. “You’ll take my wagon? And Stripes? Take care of Stripes.”
She nodded. “Of course I will.” Something caught her attention. She pointed up near the top of the rock bowl. “What’s Joseph got up there?”
I laughed. “Some dog that’s been following him around for two days. He feeds her, and she’s stuck at his heels. He says he’s taking her to Silver’s Home with him.” I didn’t tell her he’d told me that if Sasha didn’t go with us, he was going to name the dog Sasha. He’d cocked his head and said, “Why not? She’s beautiful, and she supports me. Besides, she’s black with a white stripe down one side of her face.”
I didn’t point out that she had more white than that. After all, it was a good name.
I looked up. The moon Destiny was barely visible, a white disk in a pale blue sky.
“Come on,” I said. “Let’s go to Joseph. I’ll introduce you to the dog.”
She laughed. For all of our bitter losses, the warm sun, the scent of fresh food, and the pleasure of good company conspired to lift smiles from some of the faces we passed.
Table of Contents
Other Books By This Author
Title Page
Copyright Notice
Copyright
Dedication
Acknowledgments
Prologue
Part 1 - Chelo on Fremont
Chapter 1 - We Speak
Chapter 2 - Kayleen Responds
Chapter 3 - A Trip
Chapter 4 - Islandia
Chapter 5 - Dog Days
Chapter 6 - Burning the Dead
Chapter 7 - Kayleen’s Story
Chapter 8 - Exploration
Chapter 9 - Windy
Chapter 10 - A Temporary Home
Part 2 - Joseph Goes Home
Chapter 11 - The Dead, Waking
Chapter 12 - Decisions
Chapter 13 - Landing
Chapter 14 - Silver’s Home
Chapter 15 - Jenna’s Sister
Chapter 16 - Marcus
Chapter 17 - Learning
Part 3 - Settling Islandia
Chapter 18 - Seed Stealers
Chapter 19 - The River
Part 4 - A Complex Planet
Chapter 20 - A Test
Chapter 21 - On Pilo Island with Marcus
Chapter 22 - The Memory Garden
Chapter 23 - Joseph’s Father
Chapter 24 - Preparation
Chapter 25 - A Silver Ship Leaves for Fremont
Part 5 - The Strangers
Chapter 26 - New Beginnings
Chapter 27 - Visitors
Chapter 28 - The Dawnforce
Chapter 29 - An Odd Conversation
Chapter 30 - The Stranger’s Nets
Chapter 31 - Holding Ground
Chapter 32 - The Choice
Chapter 33 - The Fight
Chapter 34 - The First Price
Part 6 - Aboard the Creator
Chapter 35 - Making Peace
Chapter 36 - Waking and Questioning
Part 7 - Artistos
Chapter 37 - Going Home
Chapter 38 - The West Band
Chapter 39 - Sasha’s Sash
Chapter 40 - Engagement
Chapter 41 - The Burning Guild
Chapter 42 - The Next Awful Thing
Chapter 43 - Joining the Council
Chapter 44 - Artistos Lost
Chapter 45 - The Eve of Battle
Chapter 46 - Attack
Chapter 47 - The Rescue
Part 8 - My Sister, my Brother
Chapter 48 - Jherrel
Chapter 49 - Face to Face
Chapter 50 - The Grass Plains
Chapter 51 - My Sister, my Brother
Chapter 52 - Stories Told, Plans Made
Chapter 53 - Negotiation
Chapter 54 - Preparation
Chapter 55 - The Battle Begins
Chapter 56 - The Unseen
Chapter 57 - Loss
Chapter 58 - Challenges
Chapter 59 - My Brother, my Child
Afterword
Reading the Wind (Silver Ship) Page 44
