“Have you decided on a time and place?” Jimmy asked. “Yes. The centre of the Toralyne Forest. “Never heard of it.” “The Toralyne Forest covers over five hundred thousand acres. It is dedicated to the memory of the Toralyne party who perished establishing it during the Second Green War. It lies to the west of the Great Divide and straddles the Darling River below Wilcannia." “And the time?” “January, 2156.” “And why?&rdquo...

Lorraine’s swollen yellow tongue ran around the outside of her lips like a dry sponge over cracked parchment. Please, can I have some water please?  There was no answer. She only thought she spoke. Every time she took a breath her throat burned. She ran a hand over her distended abdomen. I must not die. Her head rolled side to side in the powder-dry, red earth, like someone in the grip of a nightmare seeking the comfort of a dream.  It’d been . . . think . . . three year...

There was no future in crime. Mac swung his bio-boots onto the desk, leant back in his chair and spilled scotchliq down the front of his finely cultured suit. “Aww Jees!" He stood up, more annoyed at his own attitudinal clumsiness than any concern for his suit, which would reject any matter it could not make use of as food. He watched the droplets freed from his crotch fall through space, bounce and remain beaded on the equally uninterested carpet. A loud thump and a crumpling soun...

Jimmy did not desire to explore the full implications of his roll in the field. They could be so wide-ranging and multiple, he knew, as to deny any insightful or useful information or purpose. `What was done, was done.’ SLIP as always would be listening. He looked down into the monitor, at the array of information in his area of particular concern. Checks for the presence of the splinter groups of the small d Delguardites, found they existed as a broad smattering of individuals with identifia...

Intrepid go we into time With nary a wrinkle nor worry Seeing no further than our tread We take the next step without dread No telling might happen the invisible hand of fate be seen Just before too late next full instants loom new uncountable futures bloom Beyond where dust settles and shoes wear thin, surfaces vaporize - bones decalcify Beyond measure, and the sight of eyes Where common infinitesibles live Indeterminate lives Where light is matter then matter light beyond the speed of thoug...

Alarm clock ringing. Waking as bright as a button and throwing her legs out of bed, being aware the first duty of the day was a trip to the bathroom. Down the hall she found the door was closed, and she could hear Daddy in the bathroom. She wasn't allowed to go into the bathroom when Daddy was in there any more, and so went back to her bedroom with the idea of making her bed to take her mind off her need. She wanted to pee, but she had learned painfully, it was one of those things you had to ...

III A mischievous, guarded giggle escaped her after the soft and phoney impact to see the frightened look she had caused on Nana's face by her recklessness. 'prise Nana. Ruby rested back in her chair. Mary had tricked fear out of its lair without knowing the nature of the beast to be, but she was quick to see the child's playful ruse and mocked her with a stern look. “Oh, you're silly.” Pleased with her trick she did not question the comment on her apparent cleverness but got up and ran a wi...

II Organs worked a vacantness through her, pushing inner corridors with a digestive mind and a hunger began. Mary’s slow breath was thick and heavy leaving her lungs. Stinging was stinging lower down, kept returning, irritating, obscuring scenes of another world where she was drifting away in a warm, peaceful, rising vapour. Tickling tickling brushed a small fist across her nose. She snuffled settling, her brow crinkled and she rolled on her back. Suddenly her eyes were open into the darknes...

Truth may seem, but cannot be: Beauty brag, but 'tis not she; Truth and beauty buried be. To this urn let those repair That are either true or fair; For these dead birds sigh a prayer. William Shakespeare `The Phoenix and the Turtle' * Eaglet* I . “Isn't she beautiful! George, oh isn't she beautiful!” He smiled and met Helen's eyes, which began to sparkle and then, as if wire-guided, returned to her providence. His wife's lips, stripped of lipstick, were dull and bloodless, yet the remainder ...