Chapter One: Another City in the Sky

Behind the glass towers floated a forest of black spires. They seemed to grow through the bones of the real buildings. Blue-white lanterns hung from crooked eaves, and silver rails coiled through the air. A train without wheels skimmed above the river, its windows filled with tall, narrow silhouettes. He lowered the camera. The riverfront was normal. Only the aurora flowed between the towers. He checked the screen again. The other city remained. “Tang, look at this.” His assistant hurried over, glanced down, and smiled. “Beautiful. The client will love it.” “You don’t see the towers behind the buildings?” “What towers?” Shen Yan magnified the image.