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  * * *

  She carried him high into the hills surrounding Arve. Ian laughed and giggled as Penny struggled under his weight, his curls tickling her nose as he squirmed—he had finally grown a real head of hair. He had grown so heavy, too! He could walk now, but only a few tottering steps at a time.

  The air up here was colder, and the view magnificent. She walked along a twisting, winding road up the side of one mountain and down another. Great, green fields, filled with crops both alien and familiar, grew here. A beautiful place.

  She stopped, checking the address on the piece of paper the prelate had given her. Here, yes. She walked down the lane to a house, and knocked on the door. The name on the plate read “DELARIAN.”

  A grizzled man of maybe forty opened the door. "Yeah?" he asked. He looked like the sort of man who had seen a lot in his time. He hadn’t shaved in days.

  Penny held out Ian to him. "He is for you," she said simply. "He belongs here."

  For a moment, she was afraid he would tell her to go away. But he didn’t. His face thawed, then broke open in joy as he realized she said nothing but the truth. Ian locked eyes with the man, and smiled serenely.

  * * *

  Penny left him there, and walked alone down the dusty road. Now what would she do?

  "I’ve done it, Michael!" she called to the open air. "I’ve done it!" She laughed, but the sound was hollow. "I’ve done it. I have." But what would she do now? What was left?

  As she walked, drained and dejected, towards the city, a strange feeling came over her. Her body lightened and loosened, until she felt that she weighed nothing at all, that her legs and arms were made of sunlight.

  She inhaled, tasting the fresh, sweet air, then stretched out her arms and jumped, leaping high into the air. In a flash of perfect awareness, everything flooded back to her. She shrieked and whooped with joy as she flew into the bright and sunny skies of Valen.

  [EPILOGUE]

  To be opened by Penny Silverwing

  July 21st, 2107

  Hello, Penny,

  Michael Forward and others have told you about me. Thank you for everything that you've done, and for all that you've sacrificed.

  I have included an address on the other side of this paper. Take the boy there. A good man waits to raise him as his son. Should he grow up, the human race will be better for it

  You will hear from me again, but for now, fly, and live. The skies of this world are clear and blue, and a bright soul like you belongs in them.

  VAL

  Valentino Altrera

  West Arve, Valen, Terran Confederation

  August 5th, 2101

  About the Author:

  Susan Jane Bigelow is a native New Englander and librarian with a passion for books, computers, and writing. She lives in northern Connecticut with her wife and cats. Broken is her first novel.

  If you downloaded this work through a filesharing site, you should be aware that it was originally produced by Candlemark & Gleam.

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  Table of Contents

  [PROLOGUE]

  [CHAPTER 1]

  [CHAPTER 2]

  [CHAPTER 3]

  [CHAPTER 4]

  [CHAPTER 5]

  [CHAPTER 6]

  [CHAPTER 7]

  [CHAPTER 8]

  [CHAPTER 9]

  [CHAPTER 10]

  [CHAPTER 11]

  [CHAPTER 12]

  [CHAPTER 13]

  [CHAPTER 14]

  [CHAPTER 15]

  [CHAPTER 16]

  [CHAPTER 17]

  [CHAPTER 18]

  [CHAPTER 19]

  [CHAPTER 20]

  [CHAPTER 21]

  [CHAPTER 22]

  [CHAPTER 23]

  [CHAPTER 24]

  [CHAPTER 25]

  [CHAPTER 26]

  [CHAPTER 27]

  [CHAPTER 28]

  [CHAPTER 29]

  [CHAPTER 30]

  [EPILOGUE]