Window to My Soul: Short Stories, Poems, Essays and Other Stuff

By Boby Beavers

The intention of the author is to reflect his passion for love, life, and his natural surroundings. If he gets lost in the process, he doesnt really care. Sometimes there is a point to be made and sometimes not, but if there is a point, you will usually recognize it. Boby would like to think his readers can get just as lost in the fantasy as he does. He enjoys ignoring boundaries and exploring beyond the known and the real. He wants only to enjoy the journey and hopes his readers can too.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris AU
• Release date: Jul 20, 2018
• ISBN: 9781984500267

Boby Beavers

Having previously published two fictional novels Boby has now decided it is time to present a collection of poems and short stories that he has written over many years. This is a product of a really undisciplined mind, hence there are a number of pieces that cant really be categorized so theyve ended up as other stuff. It may be noted that some other pieces dont really fit either. The author makes no apology for this because he firmly believes that it doesnt matter how things are categorized. It only matters that they have been created and now exist.

Book preview

Copyright © 2018 by Boby Beavers.

Library of Congress Control Number:   2018907855

ISBN:      Hardcover         978-1-9845-0028-1

                Softcover          978-1-9845-0027-4

                eBook               978-1-9845-0026-7

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Rev. date: 07/06/2018

Xlibris

1-800-455-039

www.Xlibris.com.au

779303

Contents

THE FIRST KREOLE MEETING

There is little to light the sky so late in the day, but awe inspires great things, and even Davine can make the planet’s moons shine early over the vast canyons of Kreole. Not a tree or shrub in sight. Nothing grows on Kreole—never has, never will. It is the desolation that is so attractive. Living entities come from every planet to see the methane flows that incessantly cascade over the highest falls in this galaxy. Like a slow-motion ballet, the thick, cold liquid sparkles like silver beneath the triple light spectrum of Io, Sio, and Lio. Colours unheard of on other planets radiate in multiple forces that cause all male patrons of the Kreole restaurant to develop uncontrolled erections.

Davine grins at the scowling general, knowing the first part of his plans are in tatters.

—Was that really necessary?

—Your spies discomfort is my protection.

—Surely after all these centuries, I wouldn’t be foolish enough to use my minders for anything more sinister than self-protection.

—Your minders couldn’t protect you any more than you could protect yourself, but at least I now know who your minders are. Their protective suits might not be very comfortable at the moment, but trying to hide what no one else can is a dead giveaway. Besides, the other patrons are enjoying themselves.

—If you keep that up, we won’t be able to find a waitress who isn’t flat on her back. Besides, I’m starving.

Davine cocks one eye and modifies the display for visual stimulation only. She too is looking forward to the first fresh lobsters to leave Earth for ten thousand years.

—Where is that fucking tiger you usually keep licking at your toes?

—Simon! He’s sharpening his claws.

—That pestilent feline hasn’t used his claws in his life.

Davine smiles. It’s a mild non-verbal response intended to highlight the danger the general is in. It amuses her that he is quite capable of enjoying his meal in spite of the fact that she would kill him at any instant with the barest of provocation. There’s no love in this relationship in spite of its enduring survival. The general is aware that if Davine is to leave empty-handed, he won’t leave at all. His only chance at survival lies in the chip he holds in his pocket. Even he doesn’t know what’s on that chip. She would have it from his brain in a nanosecond. Only a chip totally isolated from any power source has any safety from the electronic labyrinth that is Davine. And so they play the game. All the chips are stacked in her favour as always.

As the steaming lobsters arrive on their table, the general replenishes their glasses from one of the universe’s few remaining bottles of the dewdrops from heaven, Penfold’s greatest ever vintage. It is imported from the distant planet Alexis. The general, as always, has spared no expense. As she savours the first bite of her lobster, Davine reflects.

—I swear, Earth’s greatest achievement has been its own rebirth.

—No mean feat for sure.

—How modest of you, General.

—Stop fucking kidding me, Davine. You know it wouldn’t have happened without your intervention.

—Me! All I did was make a bargain that saw a thousand years of peace in the universe. Cheap at half the price.

—You don’t even condescend to live on the planet!

—I visit from time to time. That’s enough.

—Well, it might not be if what I have in my pocket doesn’t prove to be what you’re looking for.

—Surely it will!

—My minders assure me so, but since I can’t check it myself, I can’t verify it, can I?

—I guess not.

Davine sinisterly smiles, and Simon appears as if by magic at her feet. The general is left wondering if the cat hasn’t been there all the time. Another one of Davine’s little mysteries, no doubt.

With their meal nearly finished, it’s time for the general to remove the minute case from his pocket and hand it to Davine, who, for the moment, caresses it as she might a Fabergé artefact. It takes her no more than a nanosecond to identify the signal required to unlock it. She could have remotely done that, but she likes to keep the general guessing about his survival options. Removing the chip, she inspects it closely, probing it to ensure that it is benign. In the event, she can go only so far and has to ultimately trust the general. Only his overwhelming desire for her assistance can outweigh her fears. She places the chip in the mouth of Simon who uses his tongue to manipulate it into a compatible port.

As they sip the last of their wine, Simon decodes and interprets the files.