Katherine Pym - The Salt Box

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For Stella

The momentArianhod, the great Mother Goddess, dreaded had arrived. She couldno longer deny the coming signs of the new era which would bringviolenceher realms destruction.

She plaited herthick golden hair to keep her hands steady. Arianhod straightenedher gown of emerald green, silver and mother-of-pearl. She stoodand paced among her elegant furnishings. A wet clamor neared andArianhod turned.

Her sistersplashed into the gilded chamber. What is so important that yousent several messengers to find me?

With a sigh,Arianhod regarded Ulyia, the Shimmering Goddess of the Oceans. Shewas the lovely one who enjoyed jewels on her finery, her gillsdecorated with sea gems. Ulyias vivid green eyes glowed in a paleface framed with long, silver hair.

Ulyia wasArianhods favorite sister. They had far more in common than withtheir sister of the night skies. Arianhod tried to smile butfailed. Those who will bring our destruction have enteredHepitias realm.

No! Ulyiacried.

We must findgood leaders to guide our people out of the chaos. Arianhod foldedher arms in front of her. I have found one but I cannot see theother. A shroud obscures her. This blindness filled Arianhod withdisquiet, for it could mean one thing a loss of power.

Ulyia paced,the cloak of fish film floating around her. I refuse to believethe end is near. She flung about like a storm and water flowed onthe floor. As goddesses we should be able to change this course ofruin. We are strong, vital. Where is our sister? She should stopthis immediately.

Hepitiasstrident laugh sliced through the walls. Arianhod prepared for thebright glare that always accompanied her sisters entrance. Shestiffened and closed her eyes.

Brilliantflashes of star-gems encrusted on Hepitias gown singed their fleshwhen she stepped into their midst. This is my fault is it? You mayas well say it. Her hot eyes glittered.

Ulyia facedtheir sister of the stars. You could have used your power to stopthem but you did not. Do you still hold that old rancor in yourheart?

The StarGoddess regarded them with disdain. I was enjoying myself but youruined it. And yes, I still resent what you did. You have alwayspreferred each others company while I am on the periphery.

You did thisto yourself. Arianhod paced. Her heavy skirts of mother-of-pearlswept the floor. No one can tolerate your cold arrogance.

Please halttheir course. Ulyia spread her arms in appeal. Direct themelsewhere. You have so many other worlds.

Even as ourrealms are destroyed, yours will remain untouched, Arianhod saidin a dull tone. Our powers will diminish, allowing you to breakthe enchantment. You will be able to cast your charms on the godbrothers while we, she waved her hand to indicate Ulyia andherself, will disappear into the mists.

Seeminglyunmoved, Hepitia raised her chin. Then let it be so.

Ulyia plucked asky-gem from her floating mantle and threw it at Hepitia. Yougifted this to me when you were kinder. Now, you have no heart.Tears flowed. Water whipped through Arianhods chamber.

When the waterreceded, Hepitia remained beautiful, untouched. Her twinkling eyesflared. Your attempts to quench me will not work. I am the eldest,the strongest. I will last forever while you will not. Sheshrugged. It is time for a new era.

Arianhods soulsagged with weariness. Chaos and bitterness will rule this newera. Is that what you want? She shook her head. You are about todestroy the essence of who we are.

You will notbe completely destroyed, only pushed into the mists. Hepitiasmiled grimly.

In spite ofHepitias callousness, Arianhod would not give up. The people ofthis world expected her protection. We will fight you, shewarned.

Ulyia raisedher arms. I will drown you out.

Water rushedand swirled about the chamber. The walls bulged.

The sistersglared at each other in mute stubbornness. Arianhods throne roomcollapsed; the floor gave way.

Hepitia threwher head back and laughed as they plunged into frozen darkness.

CaptainAugustus watched his crew strain against the instrument panels, andknew his old spaceship was doomed. Shaped like a conical seashell,it sped through a new galaxy, spinning around and around. Starswere streaks of light outside the portholes.

Augustusdragged his fascinated gaze from the elongated stars streaming byand turned to his own instrument panel that buzzed and squawked.His ears rang with the crews struggle, and over the intercom,passengers cried as they clung to their families.

His was thelast ship to escape the destruction of their home planet, and afterall his troubles, Augustus refused to believe this was the end. Hisold Nelly was made of stern stuff, reinforced with I-beams andcarbon fiber that would hold it together. What was left of hisspecies had to survive.

Sputtering onthe last vestiges of fuel, the gravitational pull of a green andsilver planet had snagged his ship like a tight vise. Augustussighed, for even as Nelly fought against the strong pull, it wastime to find new sustenance. Freeze dried foods wouldnt lastindefinitely. He stared helplessly at the gauges in front of him,and prayed the crash wouldnt crush the hull too badly.

He heaved abreath and pressed the intercom button. All hands, prepare for arough landing. Strap yourselves tight, and keep your childrenclose. Weve found our new home.

After he turnedoff the microphone, fear bled through the walls of the ship likehands grasping him around the neck and Augustus shuddered. In hisminds eye, children buried their heads in their parents coatswhile others closed their eyes and waited for the crash.

It camesuddenly.

Powerless,Augustus watched through the main viewing screen as the craft dovethrough the thick atmosphere of a silver and green planet. Thevessel shivered and shook but the heatshield held. Suddenly, theysliced through a field of silvery, green grass then plunged into athick wood of tall trees. The ship skidded on its smooth sidesthrough underbrush, saplings, and stout bushes until it came to ahalt at the edge of the tree line.

The scrapesagainst the outer hull stopped. The ships instruments that hadproduced comforting whistles and mechanical whirs sputtered tosilence. Augustus blinked, not expecting this utter quiet. With noinstruments working to indicate what they had landed on, whom theymight see, Augustus felt lost, alone. Vulnerable.

He shookhimself from these ridiculous thoughts, released the straps thatbound him, and looked around. His crew seemed unhurt, whole. Hebreathed deeply and reached for the intercom, wondering if it stillworked. His hands shook as he pressed the button. Static, a goodsign.

Augustuscleared his throat, then faced the microphone. Well, were on aterra-firma of some sort, and our little ship is still intact. Illneed injury and damage reports. Everyone stay calm. Out.