Home is Where You Left It

"Home is Where You Left It" by Stephen Marlowe is a science fiction story about Steve Cantwell, who comes back to his hometown on Sirius II only to find it empty and the people he knew in danger. Set during a time when humans are settling new planets and clashing with the local Kumaji people, the story looks at what home means, how important loyalty is, and what happens when people betray each other. Steve and Mary Whiting, whose father betrayed them, go on a dangerous trip through the desert to find him and save their community after a disaster that forced the colonists to leave. In the dramatic ending, they have to make tough choices about loyalty and survival, which leads them to understand love and the chance for a fresh start.