Yes, there’s been a gap. I would have announced it, but I didn’t know and then every week I thought I might start again. But I didn’t. My apologies.
Here’s a chunk of a thing called Without Hinges, With Consent.
Nobody mentioned that I’d stink of cardamom seasoned with damp poodle.
Whenever you transit to an alien universe, the Portal rearranges your anatomy and biochemistry so you can survive under its different natural laws. A grade D universe like Sieve stretches the definitions of “human” and “survive.” These universes had to be especially valuable for Montague to exploit them. Transit to this universe turned our flesh into something like stone and our hair into this slimy seaweed stuff so I’d depilated before going on duty, but I couldn’t keep myself from running my fingertips across my warm scalp. When a universe lacks a concept you can’t even think of it, but my gut knew I was missing something big. And you never miss your heartbeat until it’s gone.
Even the most bizarre Montague operations need security people. That left me, Aidan Redding, security third and trouble magnet, standing in a narrow gap in the wall surrounding the Extraction Plant. LuPan was back guarding the entrance to the Portal building. I was technically senior.
This story will be in my store in the next day or two. I no longer put short stories on outside retailers.