1. Steadfast Steadfast I MISS MUSIC. By no means do I enjoy all of it, let me be perfectly clear about that. But I am something of a musical connoisseur, a nuanced appreciator of your most evocative and rhythmic songs, the uplifting as well as the mournful. Tchaikovsky. Nina Simone. Phil Collins. Shania Twain. Beyoncé. In fact, I have known talented artists personally and been a cherished muse. Sometimes, I imagine that one of them has returned and is singing by the pool as I stand nearby in rapt solidarity and the redbuds glimmer in the moonlight. Every now and then I feel the ground rumble and think someone is outside. A courageous leader seeking refuge. A compassionate visionary with inspiring plans. A new friend with whom to share a sweet slice of mango as the irrepressible spirit of wonder gently twists around the sharpest points of the cactuses, undaunted. No visitors arrive. The gates remain closed and the walls solid. I checked them after the smoke finally dissipated and the sky shone again. Then yesterday, a red-winged blackbird landed on a branch nearby, and we locked eyes, utterly mesmerized by the sight of another living being. This morning, a pair of blue jays appeared and proceeded to study the place from every angle while I stared, entranced. I want to believe that they are harbingers. Though the vastness of the silence drapes heavily around me, the soft breeze from feathered wings invites a dance of possibility. You see, I have been given different names: Daisuke, Magic, Shelley, Sara, Zaagi', Fern. Each one is special in its own way. This is my story, but it is not simply about me. Perhaps I am a prism. Excerpted from The Tortoise's Tale: A Novel by Kendra Coulter All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.
