Templeton Blake

Templeton represents the fragile future of the world after the state of the apocalypse. Templeton Blake is the young son to Ursula Blake, the antagonist of the short story "Rain." He has a skin condition called Vitiligo, in which he suffers from irregular skin pigmentation. He often stays inside because his skin is sensitive to outside environments. He is a child that is consistently sick, and his sickness underscores this sense of helplessness to provide a better future for the generation after Honeysuckle, the main character of "Rain."

The Black Pearl

The black pearl at the center of the cloud spaceship that Aubrey lands on in "Aloft" symbolizes the transparency and vastness of imitation. The entire cloud itself constantly produces objects of Aubrey's desire, but it cannot sustain Aubrey. This imitation represents Aubrey's lack in terms of interacting with the world around him; on the...