On Giving Chase

The Cobbs were a prominent family in town. Good stock, people said. Devon and Abby Cobb were proud of their brood. All five boys had completed Primary and Secondary schooling. Two had gone on to Tertiary, one in mathematics and the other in mechanics. All of them had learned the value of hard labor by starting in the Mines, but none had stayed in the pits for long. Their oldest oversaw the bookkeeping for off world suppliers and vendors. Two more made regular trips to the Core planets for sales and marketing, capturing clients with their rustic charm. One owned his own shop, overhauling, modifying and repairing custom company machinery. They were a raucous brood, loud mouthed and big hearted. Brought up in honesty tempered with charity and hard work.

Ethan, the youngest, was bright and quick-witted. Both had served him well while growing up at the bottom of the pack of Cobb pups. His humor was dry, but his smile was genuine. He drank in the warmth and laughter of his family. Always the quietest one, he lusted after solitary work. When his oldest brother brought him out hunting for the first time, he knew he had found his passion. He loved the crashing waves of commotion that surrounded him daily, but in the focused stillness of pursuit, he found his soul.

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Lily was a petit thing and it was only a matter of weeks before her clothes were seam-stretched. Her mother had always created fine crafted clothes for her children. Quality fabrics, with appropriately humble patterns, lined her small closet. Now she wore her mother’s cast offs. She knew she shouldn’t let her mother’s shame and pettiness upset her, but with each stained or threadbare article that appeared on her bed, neatly folded and smelling of lavender, Lily’s anger swelled.

Everyone treated her as a beautiful, broken thing, held together with cheap glue. No one dared to handle her. Would have been inappropriate to hide her away somewhere, so she sat on a corner shelf. Just withi