“Human arrogance, Shig?” Kalico pulled her hair back, pinned it behind her neck as she walked. “Hell, for as long as I’ve been here, I sure didn’t see it coming. Was it my fault for not pulling the plug? I let them throw me off the Pod. Was that my arrogance? My sense of superiority and petty anger? Instead of stomping off in a huff, declaring, ‘Fine. You’re on your own,’ I could have called Abu Sassi. Removed those people by force. They’d be alive. Those children would be alive.”

“Some of them still may be,” Shig told her. “Or whatever they’ve become. Children might be an inappropriate term. Our entire approach has to be rethought.” A pause as he walked at her side. “It has been an expensive lesson, but those are the ones best learned.”

She shot him a measuring glance as they turned on the main avenue. “You always this self-possessed in the face of disaster?” Then she barked a bitter laugh. “Of course, you are. Hell, I remember you smiling when you knew I was going execute you.”

“The universe is a constant teacher,” he replied. “All is illusion.”

“Yeah, well, that Pod out there isn’t. I looked down through that water and saw the death of dreams.”

“In a manner of speaking, that’s what moksha is. Surrendering dreams and aspiration in order to accept enlightenment.”

“Why don’t I feel enlightened?”

“You have a young soul. Not as young as Talina’s or Dek’s, but through the trials in this lifetime you are well on your way to a more mature dharma.”

“Yeah, yeah, and all is dukkha. Might be that I’m starting to believe that after the month I’ve had.”

She led the way down the block to the dome she’d bought. It wasn’t much. Merely a domicile with a living room, the usual breakfast bar separating the kitchen, a bathroom, and rear bedroom. A place to lay over when she needed to.

As she led Shig in, it hit her that she’d never had a guest here before. That—in this new phase of her existence—she didn’t give a flying fuck that the place was a simple dome. She took off her hat, tossed it onto the couch.

Damn. How far have I fallen?

She laughed, glanced at Shig. “Welcome to my home away from home. Funny isn’t it? Once upon a time, back in Transluna, my household staff would have greeted you, fawned over you, ensured that you were impressed by the view, the luxury, the wealth and opulence of my high residence with its spectacular views of Transluna.”

“I think I prefer this,” he said. “Along with the woman that you are now.” He seated himself on the first barstool. His high brow furrowed. “Have you spent any time with Dek since he got back?”