The Ghost Lights of Marfa Read Free Page A

surge of ice-crusted fear shot through Kristy. “I’m not an Apache and I just speak English.”
    “Not Apache? Then you may not know the Hactcin are the creators of both In and Earth. You must have fallen on hard times. The Hactcin send the lights to help anyone in that area, in the Apache territory, who have bad luck.”
    Even the lights have it in for me. “What happens here? Is it some kind of purgatory, I’m to be punished for having bad luck?” Her body shook and her legs went as limp as boiled pasta. “And why is Cody here? He hasn’t done anything wrong.” She pushed Cody behind her. She wasn’t about to let that blue stranger touch her child.
    “Oh no, what happens is your luck turns around, of course. That’s the whole purpose, to give you and your son a second chance here on In.”
    Kristy’s fingers shook as she tucked a strand of auburn hair behind her ear. “The orange light beamed us up?”
    “Yes, the lights are portals and porters all in one, finding those who are worthy of good luck.” His rectangular lips spread into a wide, toothy smile. “If you go to the council office, they will help you with everything you need.”
    “Mommy, this place is cool. How did you bring us here?”
    “I don’t know, even though Yog explained it.” She shrugged to hide her shock and fear from Cody and shifted her gaze back to the blue professor. “You’re not human.”
    “No, in this dimension we are called Inids.” Yog pointed to a one-story, flat-roofed building. “They will explain all.”
    “I can’t go in there. I left my purse in the car with my ID and our birth certificates.” Kristy knew of the long list of documents you had to bring. She’d heard stories about people who’d spent all day in the immigration office only to be told to come back and bring more paperwork. The building looked just like one on Earth, so surely the procedures wouldn’t be too different.
    Yog blinked his black eyes. “If the light brought you, the council has already given their permission and approval.”
    “Okay, that’s convenient.” Kristy took Cody’s hand. “Come on, punkin.” They strolled into the white, stone building and up to the counter, where a blue-skinned woman worked. She glanced down at Cody. “Stay next to me and don’t let go of my hand. I don’t know anything about these blue people… or beings…whatever they are.”
    The square-headed lady babbled something, but paused when Kristy didn’t answer. “Oh, you don’t speak Inish. That will have to be corrected,” she said in English and pointed to a box on the counter, gesturing for Kristy to peer into it.
    “What is this, a vision test machine like the ones at the department of motor vehicles?” Kristy pressed her eyes against the lens in the box, a bright light flashed and her scalp tingled. “What was that?”
    “A language upgrade. It’s a type of mind enhancement.” Instantly, she could speak and understand Inish.
    The large-headed woman pulled two turquoise necklaces out of a drawer.
    “You both need to wear one of these, unless you want to have your flesh dyed blue, like ours. You see, the color will bring you luck.” The woman glared at her. “Your skin is very pink, isn’t it? That’s odd.” The lady reached out her long blue fingers to touch Kristy’s skin.
    Kristy jumped back. “Yes, it is and no, we don’t want to dye our skin. We’ll wear the necklaces.” Kristy slipped one of the silver chains, dangling a wire-wrapped apache tear, around her neck and the other around Cody’s.
    She shifted her gaze back to the blue woman. “Since I’m new here, I’ll need a place to stay until I can find a job, is there a family shelter for my son and me?”
    “The council will provide housing for you. We consider you a very important person. The accommodations provided do not require any financial compensation on your part, you will be allotted full citizenship and a monthly allowance.”
    “Government housing,