15/03/2026 04:45

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In a small corner of her mind she envied Meredith for being able to exist in a world where Rachel was still retrievable, where the possibility existed of her imminent return. Bill Kte’pi, “Merrythoughts,” Strange Horizons, March 3. I lacked the skill to grow my own, in the time we had; Badea and Paudi helped me to mine so that I might stay. But we’d already established I could be queen of perfection and he would consider me guilty.

“I am—” She grimaced, one hand going to her belly as if to tear it out. All those things they told you when you put two mil into that place, like ‘They’re not making any more Manhattan’ and ‘Location location location’? It’s lies. There were many more huts than barrels. I wish I could say that I felt sorry for the people in the bubbles, and I suppose in some distant way I did.