Aliens have an unusual request BLANCHE DARE ABHORRED THE word black. She hated its composite letters, the colour itself, the monosyllabic tone. She despised b’s bravado, l’s levity, a’s arrogance, c’s cunning, and the absolute karma of k. She disliked the flavour it left on her tongue. These days, she would have its synonyms only blurring endlessly across her screen. From her desk, she could see people in every direction, seated. Some cursed; some slept; some murmured a perso