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Here’s an extra scene where my character Bleu Reinier is interviewed for the agriculturist position he’s so desperate to get. In the scene, we learn his favorite novels that he’d never admit publicly to reading.
Bleu brushed away a stray crumb from his dress tunic and stared at the conservative silver door labelled “Laboratory of Dr. Vincent Sayed” surrounded by garishly-colored walls. All public space walls were garish in Northern Haven to make up for living kilometers below the Surface. He checked himself over one last time, confirming his interview readiness. I’m a good fit for this. No one needs to know my real reason for applying.
He raised his ID badge to the sensor, and with a swish the door slid open. The heady smell of fresh plants and damp soil wafted over him. Bleu inhaled deeply and smiled at the familiar agriculturist. “Hello, Vincent.”
“Welcome,” Vincent said, grinning the same friendly grin he had every night in the cafeteria. “Have a seat and I’ll be with you in a minute.” The scientist hurried from the room with a tray of seedlings and disappeared into the depths of the lab.
Bleu sat on the edge of the closest lime-green chair and wondered how much the colors of real tree leaves in forests varied from this too bright green. If only he could explore and document the frozen wilds of the Surface instead of researching crops.
Vincent returned and sat at his desk facing Bleu. “Okay, well, these interviews are always a bit awkward, seeing as we all know each other already. I know you’re qualified, but I need to know why you care about this,” he said, motioning toward the huge lab behind his desk. “What would your dream be for working as an agriculturist?” He let out a hearty laugh. “And please don’t tell me you want to genetically recreate cocoa trees. I’ve heard that a million times and its never worked.”
Bleu chuckled. “No, I’m fine with the fake choco. I would love to explore…” he swallowed. That was too close to the truth. “I’d love to experiment with how colder temperatures affect certain underutilized crops. I was thinking with so many less humans down here, maybe we could try using the old residential floors for growing cold weather crops.”
Vincent frowned. “I assume you’ve read the main books on that—Garcia’s Guide to Hydroponics, Heng’s Horticulture in a Hole, and such, right?”
Bleu nodded. HHH was a classic, both for its wisdom and its sense of humor on avoiding the pitfalls of growing crops in their subterranean haven. But those weren’t his favorite books. He wanted to explore Earth’s glacial Surface. He’d read every Jack London novel he could find in the database. The Call of the Wild was his favorite, and To Build a Fire had given him nightmares for weeks, but also taught him to investigate ways to start a fire without a match. Focus, man. You need this job to help you get up there. “Yes, I’ve read those, but I’d love to expand the program. For instance, kale grows well in cold temperatures, has a long growing season, and contains lots of vitamins.”
“I like your gumption, Bleu, but you do realize we’re barely surviving, right? Expanding is a bit beyond us at this point.”
“Yeah, I know. But you asked what my dream was.” It was the closest he could get to telling him the truth, because if people knew what he truly dreamt of, they’d be concerned for his mental health.
“It would be lovely to have a new taste for meals.” Vincent stared dreamily at his desk as if it held a plate of food. “You seem like a good fit for what we’re looking for, but this decision isn’t completely up to me. As long as you’re not required in another lab, and the Council approves it, you can start next week.”
“Thank you. I know my goals are a bit unusual, but I’m determined to reach them. You’ll see.” And that was fully his truth.
When Bleu’s little sister shows symptoms of the deadly Sickness, a strange vision directs him to leave humanity’s subterranean haven and seek the cure on Earth’s glacial surface. Joining the expedition team, Bleu expects extreme temperatures, not a surface ruled by ingenious predators.
Rana and her fellow star beings have co-existed with Earth’s top carnivores since the humans disappeared. But when her peers transform into Crowned Ones, the final stage of star being development, she fears remaining Uncrowned like her parents. To prove her worth, she undertakes a dangerous mission—contacting the hostile and nearly extinct humans.
But Rana’s plan backfires, and Bleu’s team retaliates. As war with the more advanced star being civilization looms, both Rana and Bleu separately seek a way to save their people.
A bloodcurdling howl pierced the darkness nearby. He startled, and the rover lurched to the side, the treads grinding against the ice. In all his years of secret studies, he’d never considered studying animal vocalizations. Anything, including the Undescended, could be making the howls beyond the range of his snow rover’s headlights. As much as he had longed for this world, he was lost here.
As he scanned the inky horizon, a large dark blob drew his gaze to an elevated area of ice. Did it move? He narrowed his eyes, straining to confirm reality. Just get to the camp. Just get to the camp.
It moved.
“Base, something’s out here…pacing on a hill above me. I’m maintaining course, but I’m going to have to pass below it. Should I change course?”
“You heard Commander Savas. Shoot it as soon as it’s in range. Continue course.”
“Continue course. Got it, sir.” Bleu hastily checked his gun, wishing for Stamf’s longer-range rifle. It’s not close enough yet…
His hand tightened on his gun. I don’t even know what it is, and I have to kill it? The rover sped along as his indecision churned within him. Trust your instincts, Bleu, his mother had said. It lured us, Savas had said.
In his mind, Bleu replayed Neviah’s terrifying video footage. That creature could be stalking him right now. Orders were orders. He raised his gun.
Branwen OShea has a Bachelors in Biology from Colgate University, a Bachelors in Psychology, and a Masters in Social Work. She lives in Connecticut with her family and a menagerie of pets, and enjoys hiking, meditating, and star-gazing. Her previously published works include contributing to a nonfiction yoga book, wellness magazines, and her published science fiction novella, Silence of the Song Trees.
Website: http://www.branwenoshea.com
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Thanks for hosting!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Judith, for hosting The Calling’s blog tour. If anyone has any questions about the series, I’m happy to answer them.😊
ReplyDeleteI love the cover and think the book sounds good.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing!
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