Depleted Aquifer

By Sean Monaghan

Della Engle stares over broken slabs of land. The remains of a small farm. Something chewed up the ground.

Something big. Something unworldly.

Asked to compile a set of drone photographs, the unexpected mess stops Della cold.

If only there was some sign of the guy who contracted her.

A story of challenge and integrity. Along with a little straight out wierdness.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Triple V Publishing
• Release date: Jul 14, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223278047

Sean Monaghan

Award-winning author, Sean Monaghan has published more than one hundred stories in the U.S., the U.K., Australia, and in New Zealand, where he makes his home. A regular contributor to Asimov’s, his story “Crimson Birds of Small Miracles”, set in the art world of Shilinka Switalla, won both the Sir Julius Vogel Award, and the Asimov’s Readers Poll Award, for best short story. He is a past winner of the Jim Baen Memorial Award, and the Amazing Stories Award. Sean writes from a nook in a corner of his 110 year old home, usually listening to eighties music. Award-winning author, Sean Monaghan has published more than one hundred stories in the U.S., the U.K., Australia, and in New Zealand, where he makes his home. A regular contributor to Asimov’s, his story “Crimson Birds of Small Miracles”, set in the art world of Shilinka Switalla, won both the Sir Julius Vogel Award, and the Asimov’s Readers Poll Award, for best short story. He is a past winner of the Jim Baen Memorial Award, and the Amazing Stories Award. Sean writes from a nook in a corner of his 110 year old home, usually listening to eighties music.

Book preview

Depleted Aquifer

DEPLETED AQUIFER

SEAN MONAGHAN

Triple V Publishing

Copyright © 2023 Sean Monaghan

All rights reserved.

Published by Triple V Publishing

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Cover illustration

© Laurent Schmidt | Pixabay

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Paperback isbn: 9798852251961

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Discover other titles by this author at:

www.seanmonaghan.com

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This is a work of fiction. All characters, places and incidents described in this publication are used fictitiously, or are entirely fictional.

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No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted, in any form, or by any means, except for fair use by reviewers or with written permission from the publisher. www.triplevpublishing.com

CONTENTS

Introduction

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

About the Author

Also by Sean Monaghan

INTRODUCTION

Sometimes my stories throw me curveballs. I think I know where they’re going and they head off in their own direction. I’m not a dog owner and I know little about dogs, but often when I see people out walking their dogs, it seems to me that it might be something like some of my stories. The story seems to want to race off around the corner, take a moment to sniff at a lamppost, dig a little in a patch of dusty ground, maybe even roll with some kind of delighted contentment on some spot in the grass where something else has rolled, or died, or worse.

Of course, after a doggie walk, the dog ends up back at home, ready for a bowl of water and a sleep curled up on some comfy spot.

I like to think that a story like this one, despite the moments where it seemed to almost get away on me, is still a fun and satisfying read, and that it ends up right where it should, with a satisfying conclusion.

Thanks for reading. I appreciate it. Always so.