David Selby was born and grew up in Berkeley, California. He taught elementary school in California, Mexico, and New Mexico for thirty-six years. He and his wife live in Northwest New Mexico.  He has written many short stories including the Joe the Man with Gills series. Mica is his first novel.

Mica, an expert navigator, uses the currents of the Darkstream to pilot his ship across the galaxy to join his love, Olivine. On the way, he befriends Ronnie, a stowaway who can look like a coat or a first aid kit, the mysterious Vuud, and the translucent “Slight People”. They experience the savage planet of Carnage and the whirling destruction of the Moon of 10,000 Drones before they even reach Olivine in the brand-new city of Garner in the midst of an unknown world.


Mica

On Marble, food tended to be pretty dry. Of course, we didn't know that, having been raised with that diet. Subsurface animal and plant farms couldn't keep up with our cravings for fresh food. We imported what we could-i.e. bulk fro-pack. If we had fresh food, it was usually coupled with our staple wheat, oat, or barley dried flakes or pasta. It was cooked quickly in a pan with peanut oil.


So as I approached the Bizeat for our regular Thursday breakfast, a smell of peanut oil reminded me of Marble and my memories there. Actually, it was the smell of Vuud, another happy smell that I associate with good health and sound judgement. Vuud already had secured a spot for us.But instead of his usual brown robe which made him resemble a huge, dark, gloomy bird, and which was absolutely a part of him, he was wearing a red slickskin with dynamic ultra black ankles, feet, and wrists; black gloves.


Chapter 29: Gofee With Friends