Free BEYOND THE PALE: ( The Outlander ) by Senan Gil Senan

main plaza for the community. The constructions
were a mix of old reconstructed cliff dwellings of the Anasasi Native-Americans
plus some newer constructions built since Avana moved here. The terraced rows
of red mud brick two story houses with their first floor wooden lintels
protruding from each wall appeared unique.
    Very few people were up
yet and Avana seemed both quiet and listless. Isa walked through the communal
areas searching for his mother or his sister. As neither of them was in a
relationship, they shared communal sleeping arrangements with other single
women. Isa and River also shared a communal sleeping space set aside for men
but in an area sectioned off from the women for mutual privacy. That is not to
say that the sleeping arrangements were cramped. There was more than enough
space and room dividers for personal privacy, however the residents of Avana
had chosen communal living over the conventional nuclear family model. Newly
committed couples, and couples with young children would tend to seek and
warrant private accommodation. Although once children reached a certain age
they would often choose to live communally with other youngsters. Likewise
couples without an active sex life might often choose to live communally with
others. There were no casual sexual relations in Avana; this was not by decree
but more through cultural practice. Isa like many young people had no problem
with this. It was an academic subject anyway because he had not actually
courted anyone since he was thirteen, and as far as he knew neither had River.
Although some of the others seemed to feel that he lived in the shadow of his
brother, the truth as he saw it was that his interests were not compatible with
having a steady girlfriend, and there was plenty of time for him to find a
partner when he felt different in this respect. River seemed more romantically
inclined than him and did inspire the interest of some of the girls. However he
did not seem ready to commit to anyone as he too had a lust for life and new
experiences. There were plenty of couples that courted each other and all they
had to do was publicly commit to each other in order to be eligible for private
rooms. The elders would see that this need was obliged whenever possible.
Pregnancy was a different matter. Bringing children into the world and raising
a family were seen by all as a very mutually responsible task. Some winters
could be harsh, and it was difficult to produce enough food and necessities to
provide for every single soul all year round. Most resources such as food were
communally shared, thus starting a family required the blessing of your brethren.
Communal needs and requirements had very much shaped and limited individualism
and selfish needs in Avana.
    Isa could not find his
mum or his sister in the mixed living areas, and soon stopped looking in order
to start cooking. He was absolutely famished and wasted no time frying a couple
of the fresh eggs on a hot griddle and helping himself to some fresh bread to
spread some of the honey on. Someone had already brewed a pot of coffee and
another of tea, and Isa poured himself one of each as was his normal
preference. As Isa tried to pry loose one of the eggs which had decided to
stick permanently to the hot plate, he felt someone touch his shoulder. He
turned around to see, but there was no one in the kitchen with him. He assumed
that he had imagined it but soon felt someone tap him on his other shoulder.
Spinning around this time, again he found the room was empty. A third tap on
his other shoulder was all that Isa needed to turn around and look down this
time. His small and demure sister Ishtur was crouching low down behind his back
and playing another practical joke on him as was her manner.
    “You are meant to be my older sister,” Isa challenged her whilst she replied, “You are meant to
be the coyote that no one can catch.” That being said, Ishtur embraced her
brother and handed him another egg for