RECOMMENDED READING
A River Called Time. BY COURTTIA NEWLAND
Akashic Books | April 2021 Excerpted from A River Called Time by Courttia Newland, copyright 2021 Courttia Newland, used with permission of the author and Akashic Books (akashicbooks.com).
The Ark was a colossus, far bigger than anything Markriss had ever seen, man- or Ra-made. The closest thing his mind could think of that might compare was the concrete car parks of Regent’s Town—even then, that wasn’t nearly accurate. The Ark was a mountain range of gray stone built in the center of inhospitable terrain. It was as if a never-ending concrete glacier had fallen from the sky. The sides, though difficult to see, were largely unmarked apart from varied antennae and satellite dishes. The train tracks, a closed zipper on dark material, led right up to the seamless walls. Straining his neck, Markriss saw just how far the building stretched upward. Concrete
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dominated his vision as though the sky had set solid gray. They began their approach. Markriss and his traveling companion watched in awe as huge steel gates opened, tearing cracks in formerly seamless skin, exposing metal framework, gigantic hydraulics, and hordes of jumpsuited workers, staring with quiet intent. The gateway seemed to go on for miles above their heads, yet there were still miles more of flat, unmarked surface beyond, everything growing ever larger. Steam rose. The carriage grew dark as it crept beneath the shadow of the Ark. Their guard switched on lights from some master control, and they stuttered fitfully into life. Markriss and Junior looked at each other from opposite sides of the carriage for the last time, apprehension quieting
joy. It was real. They were here. The train came to an unsure halt. More steam billowed, low and lazy mist. Sounds echoed and bounced from walls, assaulting their ears with an aural sensation that would become normal within months. A jumpsuited individual opened the train door and introduced himself, though Markriss didn’t catch his name. He was too busy feeding curiosity to notice Junior being
