Children of Atlas: Atlas Cycle

By Dustin Porta

In the dome cities of the failed space colony Atlas, mankind has finally clawed its way out of a second dark ages.

Julian Reeves was born in the lawless second ring and left it behind for the budding city state of New Lexington. Now he's the lead reporter for the station's first ever newspaper, printed on an old, movable-type printing press.

When Julian is framed for murder and flees the city with the very man responsible, he will have to put aside his newfound humanity and take up the old ways to survive.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Dustin Porta
• Release date: Jun 11, 2017
• ISBN: 9781386017219

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Children of Atlas

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by Dustin Porta

Copyright 2018 Dustin Porta

Cover by Domi @ inspiredcoverdesigns

Original font by Duane Knight.

This is a work of fiction. Any resemblances to actual persons or entities is entirely coincidental.

Thanks to Duane, Jenny, Megan, Mom, Dad and Dennis. Also Kelby.

Join the Book List for new releases. More at www.dustinporta.com

Table of Contents

Morning

Spilled Sugar

Introducing Sebastian Ward

Meanwhile

Complications

Talk Faster

Childhood Dreaming

DANGER and Dessert

Painful Separation

Mantle of The King

Connection

Songs of Darkened Earth

Betrix

Together Alone

The Last-Hull Cafeteria

In the Market

Double-Secret

Chimpanzee

Stubbornness

Outside Call Center

Kindness of Strangers

Into the Void

Being Not There

Voice in Her Ear

Flashes of Terror

The Devil and the Dishwasher

The Other

The Bottom

Halva Spa is for Relaxation

Things Only Get Worse for Disnee

Sisa

Halva Mall Cache

Wilds-Trick

Children of Atlas

Barge Desu

Firelight

Betrix and Disnee

A Tokyo2 Bargain

Ending

Epilogue: New Eyes

Lost Transmissions

More from Dustin Porta

Morning

Leanne woke early, while the lights of the station were still dim and the sun was hidden from the window of her farming pod. She rose quietly and filled a small bag with things from a cupboard then slipped out into the still-darkened field.

The soil outside the family hut was damp from the irrigators and she kicked her sandals off to feel it underfoot. Fresh footprints larger than her own, diverged from the path and led off through rows of soycorn toward the tall windows on the far side of the pod. Her husband must have been up during the night and walked this way. He liked to look out when he couldn't sleep.

She followed Ben's footprints along the window's edge, running a finger across the cold glass. The stars outside shone brightly. The sun and moon and the colorful earth were out of sight, only the empty universe and the outer ring of the space station. The dome city New Lexington, loomed in the distance.

Leanne had never understood how Ben could stand for hours and stare at the same stars, the same old Hull of the same aging space station.

From the pod window the distant city with its cylindrical skyscrapers and crowds of people looked like a giant fungus, the kind that sprouted from spoiled crops when farmhands weren't vigilant. Leanne could almost see movement inside, the farmers who toiled to grow their vegetables in the thin soil at the edge of the dome would be up already and working.

From here it looked so close, but Ben would have a long walk this morning, through the winding corridors, stairwells and tunnels of the outer ring. It took hours of walking to reach the city, and theirs was the closest of the farming communes. The next dome city after Lexington was weeks away, the maze of passages in the outer ring made hard to judge exactly how far that was.

It was said that the outer ring of the station, was hundreds, maybe thousands of miles around. Leanne had never traveled beyond Lexington. The world outside of the commune was simply too dangerous. Most farmers lived and died without ever straying from the hallways that connected the commune and the city. In sunlight the ring shone white and arched out of view like a road over the horizon, but when the sky was empty and the station dark, it seemed to disappear against the stars.

Leanne looked out at the same old stars. She turned back to the path. at the end of the field she pushed gently against the pod door. It opened automatically and Leanne felt her way down the dark staircase to the commune hall, where each pod's staircase converged in a central meeting space.

At the other end was the kitchen. A dim bulb, hastily installed a generation ago by a traveling mechanic, at great expense to the commune, gave just enough light to cook by. Someone was already inside, heating a pot of water on the stove.

Leanne, I didn't know you were an early riser, the woman in the kitchen said. The tone was friendly but the implication was that Leanne was lazy.

Good morning Hostess Sarah, you're up early yourself. I thought your husband did the cooking?

The boy got into the compost, he smells like a pisspot. So I'm heating bathwater. What has you up so early Leanne?

Oh, Ben has a long walk this morning. I thought I might make something for him to bring along.

To market already?

You remember the man who was here yesterday? Leanne asked, walking to the cupboard and retrieving a bag of soycorn meal. She poured some into a pot of her own, added water, and put it on the stove.

The fool who came to buy soycorn out of season? Ben's going to sell your stores? It must be him, you're too prudent. You know there are some who think it's not fair for a family to sell its stores out of the dry room.

The city has a need, said Leanne. He was offering a-lot of money.

It's not just that is it?

Well... Leanne stirred the pot.

It's that new field hand, he's causing trouble.

He isn't used to farming, said Leanne.

I heard he let half of your crop go to mold.

He tries. He is learning.

Well, if he was any older he'd have been driven out by now.

The boy doesn't have anyone.

He won't be a boy much longer. I wouldn't trust him around my daughter if I were you. No, a boy that age is trouble.

Leanne reached into the satchel and pulled out a can whose label had disintegrated a century ago. Opening it, she found a white, starchy vegetable.

Ancient foodstuff? What's the occasion?

It's our anniversary, said Leanne.

How will you cook it?

I'm not sure. I've never seen this kind before.

I have. You dice it. And fry it in a pan with soycorn oil.

After tasting a little, Leanne decided to follow the older woman's guidance. She pulled another container from the bag.

Old Bay spice? Hostess Sarah raised an eyebrow. I thought the last of the Old Bay was used calendars ago.

It was a gift from one of Ben's city friends. I've been saving it.

You have an awful lot of things you keep to yourselves. The chamber would have a ruling on that I think. But I won't tell, these petty things are a distraction.

I'm making it for the boy too. She added the spice to the vegetable. He said they still eat the Old Bay in the second ring. I thought it might make him happy, before he goes.

So Ben will be taking him to the city after all, the Hostess said, satisfied with herself. He hasn't hurt your girl has he?

Nothing has happened, Leanne said, it's just not working out.

I wouldn't waste canned food on a boy like that. You could sell the can instead of your stores.

It's still our anniversary and we've all been working hard, even little Sunshine works in the field. Without the boy, I don't know if we can keep the crops from molding. But like you say, he has to go. Leanne stirred the pot with the soycorn meal then spooned the porridge and vegetables into separate containers. Hostess Sarah tapped her chin like she wanted to say something else, but didn't. Maybe she felt sorry for Leanne. Between bad farmhands, and irrigators that spit out too much water, the family was lucky half of their crop had survived.

Good luck washing your son Hostess Sarah. Leanne put the containers into her bag and quickly rinsed the pots, hanging them on their hooks to dry.

Give Hostman Ben my congratulations, Sarah pulled up a stool to watch her water boil. But, tell him the boy needs to go. Ben has a good heart but nothing but trouble ever came from his taking in strays. If he tries to change his mind, tell him Hostess Sarah is on your side.

Thank you Hostess, I will, Leanne hurried out the door. She tried to shake off her irritation on the walk back to the farm pod. It was difficult enough sending the boy off without village gossip. She stubbed her toe on the dark staircase.

Hull damn you Ben, always walking about barefoot. She cursed up the stairs and grabbed a pair of sandals from inside the pod door, stomping through the damp field to their little hut.

Outside, she paused and closed her eyes, breathing deeply until she had regained that morning's serenity. She pushed the conversation out of her mind and ducked inside, stepping quietly over to Ben. Sitting lightly on the edge of the bed, she whispered in his ear.

Good morning, shh. Sun is sleeping. I made something for your trip.

A voice from the other side of the hut startled her.

Do you want me to get the dried food? The boy was sitting on his blanket in the corner, fully dressed like he had been awake for some time.

Dis, she choked, nerves still shaken. Go and—fill the sacks. Wait there for Ben.

The boy nodded eagerly and ran out of the room. When he was gone, Leanne spoke to Ben again, jabbing him in the ribs so he would wake up.

You haven't told him.

Ouch. Ben sat up and rubbed his side, smiling. He kissed Leanne but her expression didn't change. I thought, best I told him once we got there.

That's cruel Ben.

Cruel is making him so soon to leave. Ben hadn't lived in the city since he was young, but he still spoke like a Lexingtonian, switching words around. It was more pronounced when he was tired.

Ben, we've had this conversation. We have a daughter. We do not have time to be adopting wilds-folk.

Ben looked at their daughter, asleep in her small bed.

Just take him to Julian. Julian will find a place for him, said Leanne.

Haven't talked to Julian yet. Not for a long time.

Leanne shook her head. It was hard to argue with the reassuring baritone

Julian will find a place for the boy, she said. Don't worry. I made you breakfast. Then she leaned closer and whispered in his ear. It's something very special.

Ben seemed to remember.

It's our anniversary?! He sat up straight.

You forgot?

Didn't I forget, I've only just woke up. He rubbed the sleep from his eyes. His clipped, Lexington drawl was even worse when he was lying.

It's okay if you forgot, you've been working very hard this season.

Didn't I forget. But do you want your gift so early, he yawned, or better if we have some privacy later? We'll leave Sunshine with the neighbors. Ben giggled and poked at Leanne. She would not forgive him so easily.

I know you forgot. You can give it to me later, after you have bought it in the city.

Oh it's here, but hidden. And would I give it to you, we had some privacy but... his fingers tickled her sides and Leanne did her best to suppress a laugh. She was about to crack when Ben glanced out the door. The boy was waiting by the entrance to the pod, plucking the leaves from a soycorn bush. Hey, stop that! Ben yelled, jumping to his feet. Every second he's here, he kills another plant! He has to go Leanne.

Julian will find a place for him. Now go. She swallowed her laughter and handed him the containers with the food. Be safe Ben.

Tell Sun I'll be right back. He crossed the hut and kissed their sleeping daughter on the head, tucking the blanket around her.

I'll tell her when she wakes. They embraced and he was out the door.

Leanne could hear Ben explaining to Disnee that farmers don't pull leaves from perfectly healthy plants. Even though the boy was leaving, Ben felt he had to teach him. It would be hard for him to let the boy go. He would be so upset, he would probably forget her gift.

As long as he returned safely and without the boy, all would be forgiven. And together they would find another way to celebrate their anniversary.

¤))

Spilled Sugar

Julian's nightmare began with the screams of the wilds-folk. In the dream he was still working as a guide for the New Lexington military. It was one of General Hewlett's early campaigns to bring the outer ring under Lexington control.

Julian was explaining to the General that killing the wilds-folk would only make travel more dangerous. In the second ring, a family that lost members would replace them by kidnapping from villages. These first-ring inhabitants would likely do the same. Unless the General intended to kill every last one, he would be doing more harm than good.

Then that's what we'll do. Kill every last one of 'em, said the General.

A battle raged around them. All the wilds-folk were flooding into one corridor, overwhelming the soldiers of New Lexington. The General shouted that Julian was a coward and forced a spear into his hands. Instinct told him it was safer to run, but in the dream Julian vaulted into battle, old techniques coming back as he wielded the spear. It was the one he had used as a child, the one with his father's blade lashed to the end. Side-by-side with the General, Julian fought back the tide of wilds-folk.

Just as it seemed they would win, a growl rose behind him. It was the devil-cat, yellow-pelt with black spots, paws large as a man's face, with jaws that could crush a skull. Spinning and dropping to one knee, he drove the dagger into the heart of the beast—and the battle stopped.

The General, the wilds-people and all the soldiers were staring at him. They had been stripped naked. Their skin was smeared with black petrogrease, arms bound with lengths of cable, the ends of which were tied around large heavy objects: ovens, refrigerators, crates and chests of drawers. They looked at Julian as if he were already dead, as if killing the beast was worse than murder and he would have been better off letting it tear him to ribbons.

It was an accident, I never meant to kill it. I'm sorry, he tried to say, but the sounds were like cotton in his mouth. He wasn't sorry at all. He had done what was necessary to protect himself.

I'm sorry, his tongue stiff, and swollen. And it was a lie, he wasn't sorry. He hated the thing and was glad to have killed it.

I'm sorry. He finally got the words out, shouting himself awake.

The lights in the bedroom were on. He was tangled in the sweat-stained sheets. Julian's foot clunked a half-empty bottle, knocking it off the bed.

It wasn't just the shouting, someone was pounding on the door. He sat up and fixed his hair, coughed for a minute, and smacked his lips. The knocking continued. Julian reached around until he found his glasses under a pillow, they sat crooked on his overlarge nose. Then he shuffled over to the door.

He groaned, the pounding felt like it was coming from the center of his skull. Julian took a deep breath, exhaled and touched the controls. The door slid open and there was Ben, his old mentor from the farming communes, looking tired, older and far less cheerful than Julian remembered, his broad shoulders taking up most of the doorway. He had been knocking for a while.

You're still sleeping? It was late in the day already.

Ben? What brought you around? Julian yawned and rubbed his eyes.

Ain't you gonna' say hello?

Hey old man. He patted Ben on the arm.

Good enough, Ben pushed his way inside and looked around the messy kitchen. There was a boy in the hall behind him who stopped at the doorway but didn't come in.

Still livin' the same place I set you up with?

What can I say, I like it, said Julian.

I thought you'da found somethin' a little nicer, maybe room for a family.

If I wanted your life I'd have stayed in the communes.

I just want you to do good Julian.

You come to town for the market? Julian asked. He stood blocking the door to the bedroom which was even messier than the kitchen.

Ben peeked over Julian's shoulder and frowned, Up late huh, you doing alright?

Kate was over, we were putting the new layout together for tomorrow's printing.

A lady friend? Ben was always hoping Julian would find a wife, but that was one habit of city folk Julian would never adopt.

She's my editor.

You still workin' with that... what's it called?

It's a newspaper.

You ought to give me a copy.

I thought you didn't read. Julian wanted Ben to stop sniffing around the dirty pots on top of the stove.

Earl's son learned from that city girl. He can tell me what is says. It struck Julian that Ben didn't care about the newspaper, but he cared for Julian, and wanted him to do well. He had only worked for Ben a few calendars, but Ben had never stopped checking in on him.

Yeah, I have a copy of the last one somewhere. Julian walked over and put his arms around Ben, not quite a hug, but the best he could manage. City people were always touching, shaking hands, bumping elbows. It was something Julian still wasn't used to. Ben was surprised at the show of affection. I'm glad you care. Julian said.

Course I do, Ben clapped him on the back. I like to know you done good. He stood back and looked around the room again as if to re-assess. He smiled and was about to say something nice when the boy spoke.

I can't read, the boy interrupted and the last of the cheer drained from Ben's face. The boy was still in the doorway and they both turned to look at him. He swallowed nervously and took a step back into the hall.

Dis, c'mere, Ben waved him inside.

The boy tiptoed in and stood next to Ben. He stared at the floor.

How 'bout we sit down.

Sure. Julian offered a chair. Is there something you want Ben?

I'm gettin' to that. Dis sit down. This here's Julian, he used to work at the farm 'fore you came around.

Hi, Julian sat across from the boy, I'm Julian. What's your name?

This is Disnee, Ben spoke for him, doesn't talk much, kinda like you when you first come around.

Disnee, now that's a name. Where did it come from? Julian poured himself a glass of water, and offered some to his guests, Ben shook his head.

My ma' named me, the boy spoke haltingly, she said I was born there.

It was a beautiful place. Julian said. His answer surprised the boy.

It was just a story she told, said Disnee, like earth stories, not real.

Oh it's real, I've been there.

Julian searched around for a pen and paper. Kate had taken it with her. Not finding anything, he spilled some sugar out of a plastic container and spread it on the table with the palm of his hand. He drew three concentric circles in the sugar with his finger.

This is Atlas. He gestured at the drawing. Here's the first ring. He traced the outer circle. And this is the second ring. He pointed to another circle, inside of the first. The second ring is just like the first, but fatter. Nobody knows how big it is but you could walk the halls your whole life and never see it all.

That's where I'm from. The boy said. Julian kept going.

The third one's a sphere, like a big ball in the middle of the first two. They call it the core.

Like a' apple core? Disnee asked.

More like the seed of a cheeseplum.

Oh.

That's what tha' station looked like before The Bomb, right? Ben interrupted the lesson.

Right, I'm getting to that, Julian continued. We know it looks like this from old stories and pictures.  He drew lines connecting the circles, like spokes in a wheel. These are the connectors. If you're from the second ring, then you had to come through one of these to get here. The boy seemed to understand what he was describing. Around the outermost ring, he made thirteen dots. These are the dome cities: New Lexington, that's where we live, Tokyo2, Dutch-Russia, Arco-Saudi, the Euro Domes, Istanbul and so on.

Istanbul isn't real. Disnee leaned back in the small metal chair, crossing his arms.

Not anymore. With the back of his hand Julian dashed half the sugar off the table, erasing a third of the drawing.

That's sugar! The boy wanted to leap out of his chair and sweep it up. Julian chuckled, but he knew the feeling.

We trade for sugar. I can get more. Now look, Istanbul's gone, and all the Euro Domes too. With half the drawing erased, the outer rings were two crescents. The sphere in the center looked like an apple with a bite out of it. These connectors are gone too. Julian went about erasing spokes here and there. I don't know about all of them, but I've seen a few myself.

You've seen the wilds?

Julian grew up there, said Ben, jus' like you.

We're here now. Julian pointed at the uppermost dot, the first one that had not been wiped away. This is New Lexington. Julian Pointed at the spot where the next dot had been. Then he made another dot, not on the outer ring with the others but on the second ring. That's Disnee's Dome, he said, my father took me there when I was very young.

You've really been there?

It was calendars ago. You can't get there anymore. It wasn't safe but you could tell it used to be beautiful.

Nowhere is safe. The boy shrugged. It was the first thing he'd said that came naturally. Julian could see the wilds in this boy. He understood the struggle, how hard it must be just to make conversation like this, to just sit out in the open, to not hide under the table or squeeze into the nearest crawlspace and wait there for days, to not smash he and Ben's skulls in with the water glass, grab all the food from the cupboards and run hooting and howling into deeper parts of the station. Julian realized he was judging the heft of his own empty glass and set it down on the table. The others waited while he stood and filled the pitcher from the sink and filled his glass from the pitcher.

How lucky to find an apartment with running water, he thought, taking another drink while Ben and Disnee waited for him to continue.

You're safe here, his voice cracked, "New Lexington used to be a great city, and it'll be great again. We have laws to protect you here and we grow our own food. Well, the farmers in the communes grow most of the food, but we don't have to hunt like in the wilds.

An Julian works at a, what's it called again?

The newspaper. It's—well—we found this thing, it's called a moveable-type printing press, well it's hard to explain if you don't know how to read.

No, the boy hung his head. His eyes moved around the bare kitchen, resting on the light blue plastic tables, the grey cupboards, Julian's water glass. He looked back to the open cupboard. Some of the food containers had writing on them. My ma' said that my dad used to read, no one taught me.

That's okay. Julian poured water into Disnee's glass, though he hadn't asked for it. I know what it's like to grow up in the second ring. I was just lucky that my father kept maps. He taught me so I could follow them. You're still young enough to learn. Who knows, you might be working at the newspaper someday.

So I can stay with you? Disnee said, excitedly.

Julian shot Ben a look.

That's what I come to talk to you about, said Ben.

You need to stop waiting till the last minute to talk about things Ben.

That's what Leanne always says.

I didn't know until this morning, the boy added.

Dis, said Ben, go in the hall for a minute, I need to talk ta' Julian here.

Disnee got up and went to kick at some trash in the hallway.

You know, I think I will have somethin' to drink. Ben held out his glass.

Ben he's not fourteen calendars old.

He's at least that, and he's got enough smarts to him, it's just—just not workin' out on the farm. You remember what it was like.

Ben I was older.

Older 'n harder to teach. This boy's good, he just—it's just, crops aren't so good this year and I don't have the time I used to. Little Sunshine's a handful. Hard ‘nough raising a daughter, without the boy around to worry me.

I don't know Ben. I'm working so hard already. Julian looked back at the mess in the bedroom.

When I got here you were sleeping. Ben paused. Sorry. Look, I'll help with feedin' him if you can't find him work.

I'll find him work, even if it's just helping around the paper, it's just, I'm finally settling in here, you understand?

I know it ain't easy, but Leanne's set on lettin' him go. I am too, I guess. I just don't want to send him back where he come from.

Julian remembered the dream he'd been having and shivered.

Wilds-people can be dangerous Ben. Even the good ones.

That's why I can't have him around little Sun. But I don't want to send him back there. Boy's been through a lot. Lost his mother.

Yeah, well...

Just help him get started in Lexington, Ben held out the empty glass, as a favor.

Julian sighed and filled it from the pitcher.

Ben, I could save you from a pack of station dogs and I'd still owe you a favor. You're the whole reason I'm here.

Oh you don't got to do nothin' you don't want to, Julian. But I'm happy to see you doing good. He looked around the apartment again. The boy could sure use a hand. I know there's a lot of people would want to live in the city and can't, but he's a good one, Julian. Reminds me of you.

We'll work something out. Julian sighed again, yawning and rubbing his eyes. Hey Disnee, come in here.

The boy tiptoed to the door and peered inside.

Disnee, look I'm already late for work. Why don't you come with me and we'll start talking about finding a place to stay.

Really? So I can work for you? You'll teach me to read?

Slow down there, Ben stood and raised a hand to quiet the boy, now Julian didn't say that.

It's okay, Julian said, we'll figure something out. You won't be in the High Governor's rooms, but you'll have a bed to sleep in and something to eat.

Thank you Julian, said Ben. The boy didn't say anything until he noticed Ben looking at him.

Oh, um, thank you. I'll work hard. I promise. His tone was a little flat like he'd just rehearsed the words and wasn't entirely sure what they meant. Wilds-folk didn't have much use for promises. Ben had been working hard to teach him how city people talked.

If it wasn't for Ben, I wouldn't be here. Julian told the boy, So I don't have much of a choice. I owe him a debt.

You don't owe me, said Ben.

I do though, Julian insisted. Now, I'm hungry, you want something to eat?

I'll pass on your cooking, Ben sniffed in the direction of the dirty stove, Dis you might like it. The boy nodded.

Aren't you staying a while? Julian stood.

Just long enough to get Dis here settled, it's me and Leanne's anniversary. She thinks I forgot, but the whole commune's throwin' a party, if I can get back in time. Hostess Sarah got up early to start the cake. Leanne caught her, almost spoiled the whole thing.

Well Ben, I know you just got here, but if want to go, I'll figure something out with Disnee and you get on back before it gets too late. The halls are more dangerous than they used to be. I worry about you walking alone.

Nowhere is safe, said the boy.

You really are from the wilds, aren't you, Julian looked him over, It's safe here in Lexington. We have good people, and the laws aren't bad once you get used to them. You don't have to be looking over your shoulder all the time. You'll see.

See, you two are getting on already. Ben edged toward the door. Julian went to see him off.

Be safe Ben. He attempted another stiff-armed hug.

Oh don't worry about me. And I'm sorry to spring this on you.

It's fine, we'll sort it out.

Okay then, if you say so. And clean up this mess. If Leanne saw how you're livin' she'd have you scrubbin' til your hands wore off.

He grabbed Julian and hugged him tight. The boy watched Julian squirm, but didn't get up from the table to say goodbye.

Take care Dis. Ben waved then turned and left. Disnee stared for a moment then waved at the empty doorway.

Now about breakfast... Julian, rubbed his hands together, I'll bet you like station-rat.

¤))

Introducing Sebastian Ward

Julian’s tall figure and worn corduroy jacket hid the heavy frame and strong arms and legs of a man who had lived very hard when he was quite young. The crooked glasses and disheveled mop of hair gave a tired, scholarly appearance, but his step