Flux

deep breath. “We should return to Luli and tell her about Akilina’s death. You’re very good at strategy; perhaps you could even help them a bit as they decide what to do.”
    “All right.”
    “But you’re right—you shouldn’t try to take charge of this land.”
    Ennek frowned slightly. “You don’t trust me?”
    “En, I trust you with my life, with my freedom, with…with my soul.” He looked down at the fabric of his tunic. It was nice fabric, soft and well-made, comfortable and well-suited for this climate. But it wasn’t his and he felt a bit like he was wearing a costume, pretending to be someone else. He looked up again. “I’ve only seen a bit of the world, En, but what we’ve seen…slavery and repression, tyrants and cruelty.”
    “But we’ve met good people as well.”
    “We have. And I think…by and large I think most people are good if you give them a chance.”
    Ennek considered this. “Maybe. I’m not sure I agree. But certainly many people are good.”
    “And they need help.”
    “And you think we can help them.”
    “I do. Look at how you healed me. I was dying, En, and now I’m fine. You said it was easy. What else could you do for people if you put your mind to it?”
    “I could destroy them, Miner. I could let this…this thing inside of me take control.”
    Miner took one of Ennek’s hands in both of his and squeezed. “But you won’t. Rudder, remember?”
    Ennek took in a deep breath and nodded. “So where do you intend to steer me, then?”
    “I was thinking that maybe if we want to cure some of the ills of the world, maybe the best place to begin is at home. We spoke of this before, remember? Of Praesidium without the tyranny.” Miner waited anxiously for Ennek’s response.
    Ennek didn’t refuse right away, at least. He spent several minutes deeply lost in thought, his hand still captured by Miner, his eyes far away. At last he blinked and focused on Miner. “If we returned to Praesidium, what would we do there?”
    “I don’t know. It’s a great city, Ennek. But there’s still so much suffering…the bond slaves. The people like us, denied the chance to love who they want. Perhaps we could persuade your father to change some of the rules—”
    “The Chief never listened to me even before I fled.”
    “But maybe he will now. And if he doesn’t, maybe your brother will.”
    “Maybe. But we’re fugitives. Traitors. We’ll be in jeopardy as soon as we approach the polis, and we’re bound to find trouble there.”
    Miner gave him a soft smile. “I have a feeling trouble will find us wherever we go.”
    Ennek had to smile back, and he was so beautiful when he did. Miner had a moment of pure giddiness at the thought that this man was his . He remembered himself as a child, dreaming of adventure and true love. He’d found both, and they were more than he’d ever hoped for, perhaps because he’d found something else as well: his own strength.
    Miner sat with his legs crossed and his back very straight and waited for Ennek to answer him.
    Ennek stood, brushed off his trousers, and pulled Miner to his feet. He cupped Miner’s face with his big, warm hands. “We should stop lollygagging and get on our way, then. First Luli, then we're off to find a ship heading east.”
    “I’m looking forward to our journey,” Miner said, meaning more than simply their travels home. His eyes closed as he sealed their plans with a kiss.

    THE END

    h

Author’s Note

    This novel was written as a challenge to myself for National Novel Writing Month. I am very grateful to the NaNoWriMo organizers for giving me the motivation to write a novel for the second year in a row. I learned from NaNoWriMo that if you wait until the perfect time to write, you’ll never type a word. So I wrote this one in 30 days, despite the fact that I was traveling for 14 of those days. Perhaps that is why Ennek and Miner never sit still for very long!
    I am deeply indebted to Karen Witzke for her hard work and dedication, as well as her encouragement. Her thoughtful comments have made me a better writer, and her edits have certainly made this a better book.
    I also owe a great deal to my family, who gave me the space and time I needed to write. These words were written at my kitchen table and at coffee shops in my hometown; in a hotel in San Francisco; and at 7000 feet, near the California-Nevada border; and the final chapters were written on a ship somewhere between Ensenada and Long