Hibernaculum

By Kim McDougall

Murder, betrayal and desperate love. Three tales that turn fantasy on its head.

 

Hibernaculum

A post-apocalyptic thriller with bite.

 

Safari business is booming. Inside the Dome, people feast, create, laze. Most are content in the self-contained ecosystem. The builders of the Dome are long dead. Their great-great-grandchildren keep tellings of the Wild alive, but stories have rotted to mystery, then to legend. A few discontents walk the perimeter of the Dome gazing into the horizon. They know the wheat fields, forests and mountains are fake. They all know. The false vista is a comfort except to those who burn to know what truly lies beyond. Those find tiny holes, gaps in waste control and ventilation. Their defection endangers everyone and the Grand Duke vows to plug the holes with the bodies of deserters. Still the Wild calls.

 

Luminari

For the Vampire that has everything.  Devon is not one of the Chosen. He will not live forever in the arms of his undead lover, Rosalie. But he can give her the gift of sunshine. He will risk his life, his sanity and his blood for the Luminari. Will it be worth it?

 

Barbegazi

When the White Death calls, who will answer? Etien changes the day he faces the White Death. His body is broken, but his spirit awakens. When his family's curse manifests inside him, he leaves his birthright for the ice-encrusted mountains where he both fears and hopes to meet the mythical icemen, the Barbegazi.

 

Fans of classic fantasy such as dystopia and paranormal romance, will love the original spin Kim McDougall puts on these themes by injecting them with fresh new lore, atmosphere and quirky characters.

 

This book is a collection of three short stories. Each story ranges from 7,000 to 10,000 words.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Kim McDougall
• Release date: Jun 14, 2021
• ISBN: 9781777640170

Book preview

Hibernaculum

Includes 2 Bonus Tales:

Luminari &

Barbegazi

By Kim McDougall

© Copyright 2015 by Kim McDougall

Cover design by Castelane Inc.

License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each reader. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Acknowledgements

Hibernaculum was first published in Twisted Tails V: Apocalypses Now and Then, an anthology by Double Dragon Publishing. ©Copyright 2010 by Kim McDougall

Luminari was first published as a Coffee Break Short from Eternal Press. ©Copyright 2008 by Kim McDougall

Barbegazi was first published as a Coffee Break Short from Eternal Press. ©Copyright 2008 by Kim McDougall.

About this Book

This book is a collection of three short stories by Kim McDougall. Each story ranges from 7,000 to 10,000 words.

Hibernaculum

A post-apocalyptic thriller with bite.

Safari business is booming. Inside the Dome, people feast, create, laze. Most are content in the self-contained ecosystem. The builders of the Dome are long dead. Their great-great-grandchildren keep tellings of the Wild alive, but stories have rotted to mystery, then to legend. A few discontents walk the perimeter of the Dome gazing into the horizon. They know the wheat fields, forests and mountains are fake. They all know. The false vista is a comfort except to those who burn to know what truly lies beyond. Those find tiny holes, gaps in waste control and ventilation. Their defection endangers everyone and the Grand Duke vows to plug the holes with the bodies of deserters.

Still the Wild calls.

Luminari

For the Vampire that has everything.

Devon is not one of the Chosen. He will not live forever in the arms of his undead lover, Rosalie. But he can give her the gift of sunshine. He will risk his life, his sanity and his blood for the Luminari. Will it be worth it?

Barbegazi

When the White Death calls, who will answer?

Etien changes the day he faces the White Death. His body is broken, but his spirit awakens. When his family's curse manifests inside him, he leaves his birthright for the ice-encrusted mountains where he both fears and hopes to meet the mythical icemen, the Barbegazi.

A halfling has been hiding in the snow outside the Barbegazi village for days. Ethgel can feel his fear, though the others choose to ignore him. But Ethgel is tired of traditions that seclude her people in the remote reaches of the mountains. She longs to reach out to the frightened halfling but will he embrace the ways of the Barbegazi or will his human failings, his unending rage and fear, come between them?

Hibernaculum

Cross sized up his clients with one glance. The guy, lanky as an uprooted beanstalk, stepped carefully over cracked cement. The girl strode in the lead, each step harsh and vainglorious.

Not one of those. Nothing worse than an arrogant female in the Wild.

She would pretend the bugs and snakes didn’t bother her, but eventually Cross would have to make a daring rescue when stubbornness put her over the edge. He’d been through it before.

Life inside the Dome was idyllic, but always a few young, bored rich needed to test themselves in the Wild. It was illegal, of course, so Cross could charge exorbitant fees. But his price was worth it. He was the only Coyote who guaranteed a face to face confrontation with a Hibernaculum.

We’re here, said the woman.

Yes, said Cross, and now all the custodians know it too.

Keep your voice down, Mindy, said the man.

Sorry, Mindy said, just as loud.

Cross turned away without a word. Best to get clear of the Dome before making introductions. He walked into a wall of debris stacked like a barricade.

Wait! shrilled Mindy. Where did you go? Cross didn’t wait. They would find the hidden crack in the barricade or they could go home. It was a test. He promised to lead them into the Wild, but he could only do so much. After a moment, he heard them stumbling over the litter. Someone kicked a bit of metal and it clanged like a drunken bell. The couple bickered and made enough noise to alert custodians and grimalkin.

It would serve them right. Stupid oafs.

But then, of course, he wouldn’t make his payment.

He stopped in the shadow of an old eighteen-wheeler. Its tires were gone and the van slowly rusted into the ground. A faded red W could still be seen on the metal side.

Wow! said Mindy, as they caught up. Is that a car?

A truck, said the man. It’s a little known fact that once, these beasts roamed the countryside. They were fearsome killers. Six thousand deaths a year were blamed on trucks. And they were the cause of much pollution besides. My name’s Alex and this is my wife, Mindy. He held out a hand, palm up in greeting. Cross stared at him until he withdrew it. Time for the spiel.

Look behind you, he said. The couple turned. The Dome loomed like a bubble rising from the wasteland. The enviro-shield shimmered green and gold in the sunlight, obscuring busy lives inside. A beautiful sight, until you realized it was the last breath of a dying man.

That’s the last view you’ll have of home. If you want to change your minds, now’s the time. Once we leave here, I’m not turning back. Got it? Alex and Mindy nodded. Good. From now on, you do as I say. You step where I step. You touch only what I touch.

Are we going to see some Wild creatures? asked Alex.

Only if we’re unlucky. Cross opened the rusted van door and took out three packs.

But this is a safari. We’re supposed to see creatures. I brought my Touch to record it.

I promised you a Hibernaculum, said Cross. The rest is all bonus. He tossed a pack to each. These are your rations. Don’t waste them. Before they had time to look inside the packs, he turned and walked into the shadows. They would follow or not.

Safari business was booming. Inside the Dome, people feasted, created, lazed. Most were content in the self-contained ecosystem. Man-made sunlight and wind kept them sane. Custodians managed germs and vermin to the best effect. Nothing got in or out without the consent of the custodians.

The builders of the Dome were long dead. Their great-great-grandchildren kept tellings of the Wild alive, but stories had rotted to mystery, then to legend. Most thought of the Wild only in shadowy dreams that left them frightened and wary.

A few discontents walked the perimeter of the Dome gazing into the horizon. They knew the wheat