The Impossible Future: Complete set by Frank Kennedy (mini ebook reader .txt) 📕

new smell drifted his way. Smoke. Minutes later, he saw a flickering yellow glow beyond the brush. Closer still, he heard the crackling fire.

When James reached the target, he wasn’t surprised to see a man in a gray cloak adjusting the campfire. Sitting on a log, the man shoveled a large stick under the fire, releasing a stream of embers. A grate settled over the flames, and on it a pan. James didn’t need much of a nose to recognize the smell of frying fish.

“I wasn’t sure you’d make it before dark,” the cloaked man said. He tapped the log with his free hand. “Plenty of room for the both of us. No sense trying to find your own log.” He coughed, deep and raw. “That’s the problem with a new world. When you’re only twenty-eight years into terraforming, it’s hard to find a dead tree.”

James advanced. “Pull back your hood.”

The man complied. His appearance startled James. Old, withered, a face pockmarked and sun-battered. A scar extending from his left ear beneath his chin and down his neck. One eye opened farther than the other. Bedraggled silver hair, far beneath his shoulders.

“You’re not Ignatius Horne.”

The old man looked away as if insulted and tended the fire.

“I would hope not. He’s been dead almost forty years.”

“You can’t be here. We scanned this planet. There was no human life when we arrived.”

“Poor scanners, I’d suggest.”

James saw through the act. “You’re a Jewel, manifesting yourself as human. Trying a new way to manipulate me.”

“If I was a Jewel, why do this to myself?” He waved a hand over his ragged features. “Please, Brother James. Take a seat and put your theories to rest.”

“You know who I am, so you also know what I’m capable of. You will give me answers.”

The old man lifted his free hand toward the heavens.

“Ah, yes. What you’re capable of. Control over life and death. Able to incinerate a man with your breath. That’s a new one. They told me, of course. Told me your entire life story, but I drew the line at breaths of fire. I told them to show me. They did.” Again, he tapped the log. “You were on Brahma close to a year ago? Yes? It’s OK to nod, James.

“I must say, your cruelty should have sickened me. But the truth is, after all I’ve seen …” The man leaned back and sighed. “After all I’ve done, yours is no worse. Just more theatrical.”

James fought back the rising tide of impatience.

“Who are you?”

“If you were a god, you would have recognized me by now. You’re more in denial than they suggested. Now, for the last time, I invite you to take a seat. My fish will be done soon, and I have two plates.”

James despised such insolence, but he acceded to his host.

“Cud,” the old man said, looking up. “You’re much more of a monster in person. Did you know you’re terrifying to behold?”

“What?”

“Your features, I mean. I’m sure you’d crush any challenger’s skull. But you are quite an ugly beast, Brother James. Has anyone ever told you? The facial muscles and bone structure are all wrong. You seem more like a machine than a man. And those eyes? A nightmare given form. Horrifying.”

The red pistils expanded into orange cinders. His fists clinched.

“I did not come all this way to be insulted. I could turn you to ash, old man.”

“Feel free to try. It won’t work on me. And if it did, I wouldn’t mind. I was only going to see one more sunrise anyway, and this is my last dinner. And here I am, offering to share. Generous. Yes?”

“If you are not a Jewel and not Ignatius, how do you know so much about me?”

The old man reached into the pan and grabbed a sizzling fish with his bare hand. He dropped it on a plate and handed it to James.

“We’re both good with fire,” he said. “These hands are calloused. They’re like Guard body armor. And pain receptors? Can’t remember when I lost those.”

James received the plate and recognized the pattern.

“These plates are ours. How did you …?”

“Steal them? James, your city is managed by children. Speaking of which, I was touched by what you told your boys earlier. Telling them to appreciate what they have. Ironic, coming from you, but a good mantra nonetheless.”

“That’s enough.” James grabbed the fish and reared back to hurl it into the lake. “Why am I here? Who are you?”

The old man rolled his eyes and pointed to the fish.

“What a waste. If you don’t want it, I’ll eat double. You wish to know about me? Fair enough. But first, don’t be a rude guest.”

James conceded again. Besting his wife and brother was easier than this. The old man grabbed another dish and plated the second fish. He lifted it close to his nose.

“Fortunately, I haven’t lost my sense of smell or taste. Try yours, James. Tell me what you think.”

James broke off a piece. The skin was dry and rough, but the meat was tender. He licked his greasy fingers.

“Passable,” he said.

“I take that as a high compliment, James. I’ve never cooked fish before. I watched your own people from afar just to learn how to catch them. They say fish existed on Hiebimini in limited quantity long ago, before colonization. Before the brontinium mines stripped the planet and poisoned the water. An amazing cycle.”

“The planet is called Aeterna. I proclaimed it …”

“Today. Yes. I heard. Call it what you will. I don’t give a cud. My home was named Hiebimini. I’ll be the last of my kind to die here.”

The picture drew a nudge clearer.

“You’re Hiebim?”

“Again, surprisingly slow on the uptake for a god. Yes, Brother James. I am Hiebim.