Hi, I'm Lovar Burton and this is Lovar Burton Reads.

Where in every episode I hand-pick a different piece of short fiction and I read it to you.

The only thing these stories have in common is that I love them and I hope you will too.

Now a couple of seasons ago I hit you with the story Black Betty by the Seattle-based author,

Nesee Shaw. I know it had quite an impact because I heard from you about it over and over again.

If you haven't listened to it, I highly recommend it. Go ahead.

Oh wait. Nesee is a nebula-nominated author, editor and all around terrific human being.

One of the remarkable things about reading Nesee's writing aloud is that I can settle into each

character's voice so easily. Today's story is called The Water Museum and our protagonist,

Greeneetha, is a strong woman and she's tough and she has a really delightful vernacular that I

really enjoyed sinking into. The background of The Water Museum is a world where water resources

are guarded and controlled so it's just as much looking backward at the cycles of power as it is

looking forward at a possible future. And in the foreground of all of this we have a quiet and

nimble game of strategy that unfolds. As always, please check out the description of the episode for

content advisory if you are so inclined and having said that if you're ready, take a deep breath.

And begin.

The Water Museum by Nesee Shaw.

When I saw the hitchhiker standing by the sign for the water museum, I knew he had been sent to

assassinate me. First off, that's what the dogs were saying as I slowed to pick him up.

Girlfriend with her sharp little agitated bark was quite explicit, but he was silently trying to

dig a hole under the back seat seeking refuge in the trunk. I stopped anyway. Second off,

the man as much as told me so is himself. He opened up the passenger door of my midnight

...