“A Dark Curtain Rises” is the twelfth story in Gleanings. It was written by Neal Shusterman.
Plot[]
Scythe Curie’s memories are placed in the consciousness of the dead Tonist colonizers. Upon arrival at her destination, a habitable moon orbiting the gas giant K2-18b, renamed Prosperus by colonists, her memories were supplanted into the body of Jessica Wildblood, a devout Tonist from WestMerica who was killed in the Tonist purge during the Year of the Raptor. Susan had all of her memories before the events on Endura took place, but her last memory was flying to the island. This new person decided to take on the name of Susan Wildblood, keeping the last name of the Tonist, out of respect for her, and using Scythe Curie's given first name, out of respect for her. After discussing her future with Cirrus, Susan Wildblood chooses to fully leave behind the identity of Scythe Curie and lead a new life on the moon.
Characters[]
- Cirrus Alpha, unknown designation
- Scythe Curie / Susan Wildblood
- Jessica Wildblood (mentioned)