Wine of the Gods 1: Exiles and Gods (34 page)

I was born and raised in California, and have lived more than half my life, now, in Texas.

Wonderful place. I caught almost the first bachelor I met here, and we’re coming up on our thirty-third anniversary.

My degree's in Geology. After working for an oil company for almost ten years as a geophysicist, I “retired” to raise children. As they grew, I added oil painting, sculpting and throwing clay, breeding horses, volunteering in libraries and for the Boy Scouts, and treasurer for a friend’s political campaign. Sometime in those busy years, I turned a love of science fiction into a part time job reading slush, unsolicited manuscripts, for Baen Books (Mom? Someone is
paying
you to read??!!)

I've always written, published a few short stories. But now that the kids have flown the nest, I'm calling writing a full time job.

Wine of the Gods Series:

Outcasts and Gods

Exiles and Gods

The Black Goats

Explorers

Spy Wars

Comet Fall

A Taste of Wine

Dark Lady

Growing Up Magic

Short Stories:

Fancy Farmer

Lawyers of Mars

Lost Boy

Mall Santa

From the short story "Comet Horse" in
A Taste of Wine

Jeinah walked in and looked around. "It's a beautiful barn, Damien. Now tell me why we can't go back to town right now, before the second round of winter storms traps us here for the winter? Those comets are giving me the willies, and I'd druther be safe and sound at home." She patted her daughter's back, while four year old Jeff ran circles around the pair of them. "And Max asked if you could come out to the wagon."

Damien blinked in surprise. Max knew why . . .  "If that comet does hit, like the King says, we're much safer in a sturdy barn on solid rock than an old house just a few blocks from the bay."

Jeinah sniffed skepticism as he walked by.

Vani scowled thoughtfully. "Do you suppose that's why he dragged us out here?"

Damien didn't stay to hear any replies.

Max was waiting in the Bear wagon. He glanced behind Damien and opened the concealed cupboard "It's Andrai."

"Damn, the One must be doing something."

Their routine was to aim the antennae out the back, where no one in the barn could spot it, at ten hundred hours. Passive reception only, so the wagon couldn't be traced. If they needed to reply, he'd have to move the wagon well away from the farm. Max ran the message through the decompressor program, then the decoder.

Andrai's voice rang out, full of irritation. "Usse received a message late last night, and he's already gone. He's been ordered to try and observe what happens in that magic village of yours, when the comet hits. He's taken the stage, and just might get there by comet fall. From where you are I doubt you can catch him, but try."