The fourth sun

A constant humming filled the bar. It was a typical Saturday evening. “The Anchor Point” kept its promise.

Sam stared into his glass. Ice turned into water. Water turned into whiskey.

Ha, just like Jesus.

Without lifting his glass, he swirled the two liquids. As they were mixing, a bottle was placed on the counter next to him. His eyes followed the whirling in his glass. The chair moved slightly and Sam felt the new body’s heat.

One… two… three…

“Hello there…”

“General Kenobi.”

“What?”

The previously sweet expectant voice sounded irritated. Sam turned his head, looking at the woman on the chair next to him. She flinched. Sam grinned. The woman stared at his mouth for a second. Sam turned away. Her chair scraped the floor.

“You know, Sam, you can be quite an ass.”

Melron came over, the shaker in his hand.

“I just don’t want to encourage them.”

“Can’t you let them decide on their own?”

“And let them be shattered in the end? I have a conscience you know. Add another one.”

Melron frowned but eventually an ice cube ended up in Sam’s glass.

“It makes my heart bleed.”

“The whiskey or me?”

Sam didn’t make eye contact. Instead, he stared at the whiskey which had turned into orange lemonade by now.

Uh, definitely upgraded Jesus.

“Both. Do you… ?”

“Hey! Merlon! Are you taking any orders tonight?”

“Sorry, Sam. Finish your drink and go home.”

“Sure, sure.”

The night was cold but bright. Three of the four suns had already set. Sam stared at the remaining silvery sun, which looked so much like the moon he knew from his childhood. The smallest disk was still stubbornly clinging to its place in the sky.

“Must be lonely for you there.”

He closed his jacket and headed to his vehicle. The quad was covered with a thin layer of sand.

“Ah. Forgot about that.”

Sam’s gaze grazed the rolled tarp. Then he brushed off the sand. After a few moments he drove through the night. The cold air stung. Within a few minutes his cheeks were red and tingling. His fingers felt like chunks of ice.

Serves me right.

By the time he had left the settlement, the wind got even colder. His vision blurred from his tears. The fourth sun stayed with him until he reached his farm.

Turning off the engine with stiff fingers, Sam looked up again. The last sun was about to set. The darkness swallowed the vast fields quickly. His gaze lingered on the cover. He shrugged and looked at the sun one last time.

“Let’s rest.”

A strange sensation under his fingers made Sam’s eyes fly open. Before he could focus, there was a groan coming from someone next to him.

“What the fuck! Who…?”

Sam jumped out of bed. His heart hammered in his chest. He stared at the child. It rubbed its eyes. The moment its gaze fell on Sam, it smiled. Showing a row of pearly teeth shimmering in the morning suns.

“Good morning!”

The cheerful voice made Sam shiver and he took a few more steps back. He eyed the door and then the stranger in his bed. The child stretched its thin arm and yawned.

“Why are you wearing my shirt?”

Wrong question, you idiot!

“Oh, I thought it would be appropriate.”

The smile on the child’s lips deepened Sam’s frown.

“Why are you…?”

A growl interrupted his question. It was a familiar sound and the pale cheeks flushed.

“Do you have anything to eat?”

“I have cereal and milk.”

“That… sounds interesting. I always wanted to try that.”

Without waiting for Sam, the child hopped out of the bed. Naked feet padded over the wooden floor. A waft of cold air followed its path. When the door to his bedroom fell shut, Sam jolted out of his stare. With rumbling steps, he followed the child. It was already sitting at his breakfast table, staring at the cereal package in the middle of the table.

“Why don’t you eat?”

“How do you eat it? Where is the milk? Is it in here as well?”

The small hands opened the package and dug in. Sam shot forward. The cardboard tore. More cereal spilled on the table. Silvery eyes turned wet.

“Wait. Wait. I’ll give you a bowl. The milk is in the fridge.”

Sam took out two bowls and spoons. He scooped the spilt cereal in one bowl while the other got cereal out of the box. With a proud smile the child set the milk on the table. Then it looked at the two bowls. A frown appeared on its face.

“What’s wrong?”

“That’s how it’s supposed to look like!”

The finger pointed at the picture on the torn package. A chuckle escaped Sam. His face heated immediately but the child just looked at him with a serious expression.

“I need to eat it like this.”

“No. You can eat it out of any bowl. Sit. I show you.”

He poured milk in both bowls and dug in. The first spoon made Sam pull a face.

Coffee!

He got up to boil water. While he was emptying the instant coffee powder in his mug, he observed the child, shoveling cereal in its mouth. The rays of Helios and Eos reflected golden on its hair.

“Do you like it?”

With his mug in his hand, he sat down again.

“It’s great! I’ve never had something like this!”

Milk splatters were all over the table, but Sam just nodded. Carefully, he sipped at his coffee.

“What’s that? It smells nice. Can I try it?”

“My coffee?”

“Yeah. I want to try it.”

The small hand dropped the spoon. A geyser of milk shot up. Sam’s hand avoided grabbling fingers. Milk coffee stains emerged on the table.

“You can’t drink that. Sit and eat.”

There was an undignified noise, but the child turned to its bowl.

“Even here I get bullied.”

It was but a murmur but it reminded Sam he had many questions.

“Who are you? Why…”

“Oh, me? I’m Hesperus.”

“Hesperus? Like, in the fourth sun?”

A nod followed a snort.

“Well, of course.”

Sam blinked and then rubbed his temple.

“How did you end up in my bed?”

“You invited me.”

“I… What?”

But Hesperus ignored him by loudly slurping down the remaining milk.

“That was good. Let’s get going.”

“Going where?”

No, you should ask questions! Don’t just react.

“Well, you’ve a farm to tend to, right? I’ll help you today.”

The three suns were already high up in the sky. Sam switched off the motor of his tractor. The air was warm but not hot yet. He looked at Hesperus sitting on the hay, which they had just brought back to the farm. His face turned toward the three suns. His golden glow intensified.

“You need to get off now. It’s time for unloading.”

The head snapped around. Golden eyes focused on Sam.

“Oh, is it already time?”

“Well, I need to finish this today. I don’t always want to rely on the fourth sun.”

“But you can.”

“Of course. But I shouldn’t.”

“Why?”

“It is lonely at night. At least when I sleep I don’t feel it.”

“Hm. But don’t you think I feel lonely too?”

Sam stared at the child. He blinked.

“I must be going crazy.”

Mumbling to himself, he avoided looking at the child. A hand suddenly appeared in his field of view.

“Hey, Sam. I don’t want to be lonely.”

“Then you can stay with me, if you want.”

Sam lifted his gaze, looking in the child’s face. Its smile was as bright as the three suns.

“Is this a promise?”

“Sure. sure.”

Sam blinked, fighting against the sudden tears in his eyes. When he focused his vision, the child was gone.

“Hesperus!”

He shouted the child’s name while searching the farm. His voice got hoarse. Eventually, he sank down on the ground next to the tractor. With a sigh he looked up at the sky. The fourth sun had appeared.

“At least you are back.”