Invisible Things

by Mat Johnson

From the Admiral’s view, she could even discern where the thing was holding them. And she could see how tenuous its repugnant grip was, how it struggled to contain them as she engaged the boosters. The strain as it met its limitations. How it seemed to flinch from the gaze of so many eyes on the ground. In front of the entire population of New Roanoke, the SS Ursula 50 broke free from its grasp. In front of the entire population of New Roanoke, the crew of the SS Ursula 50 flew away. Because whatever it was they finally saw couldn’t stop them. Because it wasn’t endless. It was an abomination, but it was a discernible one. Seeing it clearly, the citizens of New Roanoke could all take the measure of its surface, its finite mess and mass. Where it started, and where it ended. Not unknowable, but something that could be categorized. Something that could be faced. Already, they were looking at it.