The Wolverine Truck Stop and Motor Lodge

3075 BC — Kesh, Sumeria Servants press themselves against the stone walls and bow their heads as he rushes past in fury. He bursts into Moatallao’s suite with enough energy to send the heavy doors banging against their stops. The large room is filled with servants, male and female, household, garden, and trade, all clustered…

3113 BC — Kesh, Sumeria Until this evening, he has never in his life worn a tunic. Te-Nen stops in the anteroom to look down at the unfamiliar garment covering his upper body. It is of fine bleached linen, similar to something the master himself might wear, although of course shorter. The feel of the…

3113 BC — Kesh, Sumeria The moment he starts to write, the ‘apple’ starts to roll. Te-Nen drops his stylus and grabs the clay sphere with both hands, feeling like he would rather throw the stupid thing across the room than catalog its contents. Couldn’t they at least be made with flat bottoms? The young…

3115 BC — Kesh, Sumeria During his first three months in the priest’s household, Te-Nen does not even catch a glimpse of the man again. He sees a great deal of other functionaries: a rotund but quiet housemaster, an aging woman who is the mistress of the grounds and gardens. Several others. But the priest’s…

3115 BC — Kesh, Sumeria It is only a few days now until the festival of Se-Kin-Ku and the air outside the orphanage is cold. Even so, the boy is grateful for any change in the routine of threshing and winnowing barley that has left his hands blistered and his arms aching. Now that the…