Above, us, in the dark shadows of the outer solar system, there is the shape of something unknown, something unspeakable. It waits, it bides its time, and as the days of summer grow longer, so does its voice grow louder.<br><br>On the quiet island of Sarah Ann in the Pacific Ocean, home of the renowned Firmament Foundation, awkward teenager Eirian Calohan has come in search of the mystery of their father's recent demise. Instead, they are confronted with the stark contrast between languid life on the tiny island and an unspeakable cosmic horror.<br><br>Together with their new friends, they set out to unravel the truth surrounding the death of their father and to also uncover just what it is that the Foundation has reached out to in the dark eternal night of the distant void.

All Cats Are Beautiful

“Whatever. It’s none of my business anyway.”


She glowered at the two of them, and then sighed, and shrugged, seemingly exhausted by the effort it took her to confront them.


“Listen, just don’t screw up the school match today.” She paused and looked at both of them with contempt. “Like you’ve both managed to screw up everything else.”


The hard, cork ball slapped against the wood and rebounded sharply, rising in an arc beneath the warm, cloudless sky and spiralling out into the distance. On the bleachers, a gathered crowd of parents, teachers, and students screeched in alarm and excitement, calling out contrary words of advice and accusation as Sumire Williams flung the bat down and sprinted forward, her feet carrying her in a cloud of dust past first base, past second base, and brought her to a skidding stop at third base, her muscles taught, her eyes wide like an animal’s as she saw the right field catcher struggling to work out what had happened.


Chapter 42