You are listening to another Clarksworld magazine podcast. I'm your host and narrator Kate Baker.

Welcome to the third story for the month of April, 2026, issue 235. This story, along with all of our

stories and this issue, previous issues, and hopefully issues yet to come, are brought to you by your

ongoing support. So thank you if you've subscribed.

If you've gone to patreon.com forward slash Clarksworld, if you've checked a few bucks our way via

donation, every little bit helps and we know that times are tough, but thank you for as much as you

can give. Our story is titled, The Trajectory of Memory is Forward.

And it's by Rajiv Prasad.

Rajiv Prasad is a physician who lives with his wife, three kids, and a very cute dog in Northern California.

His stories have appeared in the magazine of fantasy and science fiction, Clark's World, and several other markets.

He thanks you for reading the story. And, if you like what you hear, we've got four other markets. He thanks you for reading the story. And if you like what you

hear, we've got four other stories by Rachev, Canyon Dance, the blinding light of resurrection,

the flowers that we intend to share, and mirror you. So my dear listener, I hope that you can

sit back, relax, and let me tell you a story.

One. Sky of Change

Three hours ago, Dush had woken in his seaside colony with a little more than a vague sense of himself.

Now he teetered on an obsidian ledge as the checkpoint drones, shaped like metal gulls, circled below.

One hundred feet down the stone wall, three drones blasted Maxine with electroshocks, one fissure in her armor,

and soulmates no more. She swayed back and forth as she kicked off the stone wall. The gulls

stopped their pursuit and veered away, which seemed abrupt and unusual. I'll drop before they

come back for me, she said. His hand drifted to the buttons that would open the fabric of his flyer suit.

He glanced upward.

...