* wn * ox ** mps ov * r the la * y ** g
NOLLOPVILLE
Monty, Otter-paws 23
Mrs. Mittie,
I value, nonetheless, your going to the learny-house to help my son. Little Timmy values it as well.
He is gone now. Timmy. This morning. With Nash, my spouse. I must remain. I must remain, as I am without violation. Nash has two. One among us must stay. I am the one. Our home, our property—it’s all that we have, you see. Were we all to leave, they will expropriate it. They expropriate property, you’re aware, are you not?
Please exonerate me. In your heart. I am so sorry that I was the one to report your violations. I’m so sorry that I was to learn what is truly important in our lives too, too late.
Write me as well. When time permits. I am the last one on my street. It gets so still, so lonely here at night. Eerily still. Anguishingly lonely. Not, though, when the L. E. goons motor through—their horns wailing. Hooligans. As a rule, though, it is ghostly silent here.
How are you set with rations? I will soon have to miss one meal every sun-to-sun. Are you giving thought to moving to Town?
I may wish to go with you.
Write soon.
Georgeanne Towgate
PS. The painting was mine. It pleases me that you wish to hang it in your home! I will paint you more.
NOLLOPVILLE
Wetty, Onomatopoeia 25
Mrs. Mittie,
Where are you? You are not home when I go to your portal. When I ring, I note no movement within your house. Have you gone to Town? Have you gone to the States?
I am apprehensive. Am I now alone?
Georgeanne
NOLLOPTON
Thuringio, Otalgia 26
Sweet Tassie,
They will not let me into the prison to see you. I have spent the entire postnoon, all the early hours ensuing my arrival in town, waiting. Waiting here on the prison’s visitors’ lawn to see you.
Waiting.
Waiting.
They tell us nothing. (Will they even give this letter to you?) It is very upsetting. I want you to grasp how greatly I love you. I won’t try to learn why you sent the threats. They push us all to the point where we say things, operate in ways that are not at all as we really are.
Were anything to happen to you, what then?
With all my love
,
Mother
SOMEWHERE IN NOLLOP
Satto-gatto, Ottoman Ruler 28
To Tassie’s Mother Mittie,
My guess is that you are now with your sister, so I am routing this letter to her house. I am here in Nollop. (A stowaway, an illegal alien. I have spent the last 24 hours in nail-nipping intrigue!) All to see the one I love. To help the one I love. I am aware that they have put her in prison, though she will not stay there long. I will see to it. Wish me well.
Truly yours
,
Nate
[Upon the Minnow Pea kitchen table]
NOLLOPTON
Sunshine, O Tempora! 29
Ella,
While you were at the prison, attempting with your Aunt Mittie yet again to get in to see Tassie, men who were sent here to see me got themselves into our own sorry impregness with little struggle at all. Apparently, they were sent to interrogate me—the grilling pertaining to the now exanimate anti-high-priestal movement. Unhappy with my initial responses, they grew instantly perpy when I soon let slip an illegal letter. What enormous toothy grins! What mouth-enamel! You see, I gave them reason to transport me. To Pier Seven. Toss me right onto the emigrant trawler. No more Mum. One less agitator. (I am an agitator!) My leave happens very soon. As soon as I am through with this epistle to you.
It’s a weeping shame. Why, I am not even given enough time to gather my things! All my possessions, your Pop’s possessions are yours now, I suppose. Preserve them. Preserve our memory. I wish you to stay. You
must
stay.
Maintain the struggle. In our name. In our honor.
(I am so sorry that they will not permit me to see you prior to weighing moor. Give your Aunt Mittie a huge hug with my name on it. Tassie, as well.)
Until we meet again, sweet Ella.
With love always
,
Your Mum
NOLLOPTON
Sunshine, Overgarment 29
Mother, Ella:
You two must stop
C. J. Cherryh
Learning to Kill: Stories
John O'Riley
Brenda Sinclair
Christopher George
Stephen Lloyd Jones
Karl Iagnemma
Celya Bowers
Jill Gregory
Aria Cunningham