Dear Readers,

This story is my entry for the 2020 Open Novella Contest (ONC) using prompt number thirty-four ("A radio signal is detected, its origins being somewhere in deep space from where no such thing should feasibly originate, unless...").

It is also a sequel to my last year's ONC entry ("Paradise Blight"). This story can be read without reading the prequel, but note that there are some spoilers.

As always, constructive comments, corrections, suggestions, thoughts, and words of wisdom are welcome. If you like a chapter, please click the star. If not, fair enough. Thanks for reading!

Also, thanks to my wife, Susan, for reviewing my drafts. She found mistakes I missed and helped make the story better.

Bill

Copyright 2020. All rights reserved.