A forgotten colony planet goes silent for 200 years, then suddenly begins broadcasting a perfect recording of Earth's future destruction. When a salvage crew arrives to investigate, they find the colony intact, empty, and still preparing meals for residents who vanished mid-sentence. At the center of the settlement is an ancient tree-like machine that claims it has been "growing" human timelines, pruning every future where humanity survives too easily.
A loyal dog waits outside Jack’s Coffee every morning for the man who always shares his biscuit with her. But when he fails to appear, she catches his scent on a stranger carrying his umbrella and follows the trail into a mystery only a dog could solve.
“She was outside Jack’s Coffee when the rain began, sitting beneath the green awning with the solemn patience of someone who had an appointment and intended to keep it. People hu…”