Note: I wanted to give you an update. I haven’t gotten nearly as much headway as I wanted. Partly, I foolishly planned this rollout for the week of my birthday, not realizing my partner might have plans that would disrupt that. I also fell deep down a Subnautica hole. It’s well worth checking out, even if it is the definition of jank (at least on the X-Box); it’s a fun little underwater exploration game of surprising depth, where the point is to avoid being eaten, rather than depopulating the entire sea. As of 6 this evening, I hadn’t written anything, and have only a few chapters outlined. But I had an idea that I wanted to get down, a way to foreshadow Mira’s return in book 4, so I’m posting it as a preview. I’ll start posting for real next Monday, or I’ll delete my Subnautica save.
Preview
“Think I’ve got it,” Laren said, taking a step back from the TV. An instant later and Mira appeared, both on the tablet Laren was holding, as well as the screen.
“This is weird, I know,” Mira said. “It’s been too long. I didn’t tell Laren everything, because I didn’t want her to cut me out. I wanted to see you, at least like this. I knew if I was there… I might never be able to leave. And I don’t know if I’m ready for that…”
“Ahem,” Laren said into her fist, steadying the tablet with her other hand.
“Right. I wish I could handle this myself. But it’s delicate. It’s the kind of thing that- if Raif and the rest got caught, even on film, attacking one of these camps… if it’s kids, it’s harder to spin. You know?”
“They don’t,” Laren said, “because you’re dancing around the point.”
“Yeah. It’s hard to even say, it’s so… gutting. Like, this country’s never been perfect; I’m a black woman, so that isn’t a news flash. But this… it takes one of the most evil things we ever did and takes it a step further. At the border, they’re separating children from their parents. Kids of all ages, going into separate facilities, sometimes hundreds of miles apart. I’ve heard the administration is even trying to permanently adopt the kids out to Americans, to make the separation permanent. A shiver runs down my spine at the abject inhumanity. The story hasn’t broke yet, but it’s going to- but it won’t be enough. The bigots who back the president will continue to back him, and that soulless 40% is enough to keep the Republicans in his pocket. Nothing will happen. Unless you can make it happen. It’s… really good to see you, all of you, if only for a moment. I miss you. And I love you. And if there’s anything I can do to help, let me know.”