Red Rain 2 - Not Really. It's Red Rain 1 Again!

One Hundred Sixty-Four Words from the Co-Author

Those of you who read this blog are very likely to already be fans of Aubrey Hansen. And if you're not, then I will leave you to discover the ample online material surrounding the authoress herself, including the earlier posts from this distinguished blog tour, linked to at bottom.
You probably know that some time ago I enjoyed basking in her fandom by writing a fan fiction sequel to her Red Rain. Much more recently in development, I pulled it off again but this time got my work in the freshly published prequel Project 74: An Unaccepted Short Story. This is long-time fans first chance to get a peek at what the published hybrid of Aubrey Hansen and David Hartung (that's me!) plan to produce this fall in the upcoming sequel. Aubrey did a lot of work to refine my draft, and you can be sure she and I will be working together to make sure that inserting my content into her world doesn't become a jarring experience.
Aside: Thanks to all of you who have provided reviews of that experience on Amazon. I take to heart your criticism and your praise. I want nothing more than to make all the old Aubrey fans out there happy with the upcoming content.
Without further ado, my contribution to the blog tour: a little excerpt from Red Rain!

Cea was silent. I glanced over at her. She was bent over the crate, holding the digital picture frame in her hands. The picture of Ephesus was still on the screen.
Cea frowned and squinted. 
“That’s my older brother,” I explained. 
She jerked her head up. Her face was colorless. 
“He’s your brother?”  
“Was.” I  looked  down  at  the  gray  sweater  in  my  hands.  “He  was  sent  to  Mars  on  scientific  business  as well... But his transit home exploded.”
“I know,”  Cea said quietly. 
I looked up again. 
“You know?”  
She nodded and stood up. She held the frame close to the wall, and the magnets snapped into place. 
“ I’ve met him.”  
She gave the corner a tweak, adjusting the position. She regarded the image for a moment, then glanced back at me. 
“This was the base he worked at.” 

Blog Tour Schedule

June 2

Bookish Orchestrations-Tour Introduction and Excerpt
Laurel’s Leaves-Author Interview
Frances Hoelsema-Excerpt
Aubrey Hansen, Author and Screenwriter-Excerpt
Perpetual Gardener, Writer, and Mormon-Book Spotlight
The Overactive imagination-Book Spotlight

June 3

Grace Pennington-Excerpt
Gabriellyn-Excerpt and Author Interview
Joyful Peacock-Author Interview

June 4

Letters from Annie Douglass Lima-Excerpt
Another OtherWorld-Character Interview with Philadelphia
Jaye L. Knight-Excerpt

June 5

Mary’s Writing World-Book Spotlight
God’s Peculiar Treasure Rae-Book Spotlight
Rachel Rossano’s Words-Excerpt and Author Interview

June 6

Tale Weaver-Author Interview
Lisa Swinton Queen of Random-Book Spotlight
Irly Scribblings of David J Hartung-Excerpt

Beyond the Rim Installment 25

Thurgod commanded the gate to his compound to open as he flicked his hand. He watched as the latch gave way and the metal swung away. The smith god's rounded shoulders slumped, and his hand trembled at his side. He stepped through the gate, then reached behind and threw the gate shut again. The gate shut with a loud noise.
Thurgod proceeded to the door of his living quarters, but stopped as he saw its hinges turn open before he reached it.
"Is that you, child?"
"I heard the gate bang shut."
Thurgod took a tenuous step forward. "I am sorry, child. I was not thinking of your sleep."
Oorgo stood in the doorway, staring at the moonlit silhouette of the smith god.
Thurgod sniffed, and reached forward with his hand. "If you are  still in the door, I cannot come in, child."
"Sorry, master." Oorgo stepped away, and hearing the footsteps Thurgod stepped inside. He pictured his bed of iron only a few rooms away.
"Thurgod?"
"That is not my name, child."
"Sorry, master."
Thurgod had taken half of a step towards his own door, but then paused and pointed his face at Oorgo. "It is I who should be sorry. I have woken you, and when you have obviously wanted to ask me a question, I have rebuked your sleepy head. What did you wish to know, Oorgo?"
"The Queen. What did she say?"
"What did she say?"
"When you went to talk to her."
"The Queen. Yes. Yes. I spoke with her tonight. She had questions for me."
"Questions about smith work?"
Thurgod remained still, frozen in his half-turn. "Questions from one god to another."
"But what about? Why did she call you away?"
"Are you afraid, child? What is the meaning of so many questions?"
"Are my parents coming?"
"What do..." Thurgod canceled his own question to catch Oorgo as the first sob nearly threw the boy over.
"The queen is terrible. She..."
"Your mind is too small at this hour, child. You need sleep." Thurgod cupped two of his fingers over the boy's mouth, but left his nose open. "Little boys should not be wakeful at this time, not after so much walking."
"...my parents..."
"I think that they are coming, child."
"You do?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"If you were not going to believe me when I answered, why did you ask me?"
"Huh?"
"Why did you ask me to tell you, if, when I told you, you would only ask why I thought so?"
Oorgo began to answer, but his answer was lost as his head flopped onto Thurgod's arm, and he was asleep again. The smith god carried the child back to the bed of straw, and before putting him in he remade the bed.
"The hearts of little boys should not be troubled with so much, but for now it has to be. You will be made stronger."
"Stronger?"
Thurgod's eyebrows raised.
"Yes. Stronger. You will have arms like mine. Metal will bend because you strike it. You will be a fine smith."
"Stronger."
"Yes, child. You will carry a whole crate along the whole Way and not grow tired."
"A magic crate?"
"Yes. You will carry a Queen's Chest, full of secret things that you have made."
"What kind of things?"
"Things you invent. Things I could not make."
Oorgo tried to answer again, but only muttered a whisper.
Thurgod continued. "You will go through the city, and some will say, 'There is Oorgo.' And you will enjoy sunsets. And you will be the smith for people, as I am the smith for gods."