Free Storm Dreams (The Cycle of Somnium Book 1) by Jeb R. Sherrill

other, a fat man in a pin-striped suit walked towards them, muttering something about servicemen.
    “Airmen,” Banner corrected. He smiled his charming smile and shook the man’s hand. “We’re two weeks back from Europe,” he said, “and we heard your chef was the best in town.”
    The fat man gripped his lapels and drew himself up several inches. “He is,” the proprietor said. “And our band is second to none.”
    “Do they play anything new?” Ned asked.
    “New?” the fat man asked.
    “Don’t bother the man,” Banner said. “Whatever they play is fine.” The four of them sat down at a corner booth and ordered entrees and wine.
    Cassidy sipped the dark red liquid. It tasted sweeter than it did aboard the airship, and a barrage of separate flavours bloomed inside his mouth. He wished he could order wine himself. The steak was different, too. He could taste each spice the chef had used in preparation as a separate flavour. Food he’d eaten before tasted like paper compared to this. It was as if he’d never eaten before. Never had a drink before. He almost hate to swallow, allowing bites and sips to roll around his mouth as long as possible.
    Banner and Ned hardly finished their food before they were out on the dance floor. Brewster motioned Cassidy to join them. “Go on. I’m going to let my food settle,” Cassidy said.
    When they’d gone, he stood, but the thought of facing the throng of people paralyzed his feet. He glanced back at Brewster. “I need the lavatory.”
    “Don’t take too long,” the Englishman said, grinning.
    Cassidy nodded and found the closest exit.
    “You all right?” asked one of the waitresses as he exited the adjoining bar.
    He nodded. “Just looking for the...” Cassidy tried to remember what he was going to say. She was short. Red haired. Green eyes so deep and real . Her delicate scent made his head light.
    “Looking for a drink?” she asked.
    “I’d love a drink,” Cassidy said.
    “Anything you like,” she said. “I’m April.”
    He opened his mouth. It started forming the shape of a W. Anything but that. “Perhaps later.”
    April nodded. “My brother’s a pilot. I mean, he was,” she said, forcing a smile. “They said he went down in the ocean, but they wouldn’t tell me which one.” Her shoulders lost the stiff facade of a high-class waitress. “I didn’t mean to say that. I don’t know why. You just remind me—”
    Cassidy reached out and took her hand. He didn’t know why either, but couldn’t help it. Her skin felt warm. Were all real people so warm? “I’m sorry,” he said, meeting her eyes. “I’m sure he was a great pilot.”
    She sniffled and levelled her gaze. “You must be shipping out soon.”
    “Soon,” Cassidy said, nodding. He hadn’t let go of her hand. Prickles of electric sparks passed into his skin. Her life energy. Her emotions. They flooded over him in waves that felt more real than his own.
    “I’ve got to get back to work,” she said, slipping her hand out of his. April turned to leave, but stopped and dug a large silver coin out of her vest pocket. “For luck.” It rested on the tips of her fingers, staring up at him. “I don’t know your name, and I’d rather not,” she said, pushing it towards him, “but if you make it back, and you’re ever in Darcy, Virginia...” She brought a hand to her lips to stop their trembling. “Just bring it to me so I know you made it back. I’d like to know someone made it back,” she said, looked embarrassed and hurried off to the bar. “If you don’t, I guess I’ll never know,” she said over her shoulder.
    Cassidy stood staring at the coin, trying to recognize it. It looked newly minted with a woman in a flowing gown on its face, gesturing off to her right, the word LIBERTY written above her head. On the other side stood an eagle with unfurled wings. Why did the disk of silver feel so heavy? More real than anything else he’d ever touched. His pistol was