“Intelligent life – while rare – is always growing and dying across the universe. But, it takes a long time for intelligent life to evolve, and none of the universe’s civilizations have ever existed at the right time and place to receive communications from the other civilizations. Just as a handful of sailors clinging to… Read More
The old ranch truck slides to a stop at the crossing of FM 669, and a cloud of dust washes over the truck. The passenger door creaks loudly as James Carlos Cates steps out to unchain the gate. Britt Huff drives the truck across 669 while Cates closes and rechains the gate. Then Cates… Read More
Carol King furiously types a response on her mobile: “My opinions of Ted and his efficacy have not changed. Yes, he may surprise us, but we have lots of real, face-to-face experience with him on which we can base our bet. Has he ever helped us advance our objectives with the Governor? How many times… Read More
The Honorable James Carlos Cates, Uvalde County’s youngest-ever county judge, creeps carefully around the side of his house in the pre-dawn stillness. Inside, his wife, Larisa, is asleep and very pregnant. If Cates steps on any of the dead limbs or leaves that frequently blow into the yard from the nearby clusters of cedar… Read More