A Darker England Story (2) A nation almost destroyed by grief, horror and rage. A group of men both feared and hated by those in power. A destiny revealed and a return to civilised values. Sometimes the return from the edge is fraught with danger, yet hope abides.
Miracles to order was a fine way for the paratimers to get mining concessions--but Nature can sometimes pull counter-miracles. And so can men, for that matter....
From the Phantom of the Louvre collection In the final months of the nineteenth century, Paris revels in being the City of Light. Yet it is hard, and often dirty, work to maintain its place as the pinnacle of civilization. Someone must deal with mysterious sightings, thieves falling from the sky and breaches in State security. Someone like M. Vautrin, confidential investigator... ~9,000 words. [Advisory: aeroships and orange cats play significant roles in this story]
Six hundred lightyears away, a dying civilization cries out in desperation. On Earth, a small band of faithful missionaries commit to bringing reproductive technologies and the Christian gospel. But, piracy taints the mission and the self-sacrificing soldiers of God are trapped—until one is smuggled back to Earth. Kita and Molly react to the commission with polar responses—one goes, one stays. When Kita mysteriously returns sterile and claims things that are impossible, Molly goes undercover.
