The first deals a growing relationship. The second one involves a married couple getting romantic and the unusual result of it and finally a wife who loses her husband-he was there a minute ago.
A few of you may have read the first one recently, it is in my Stories Inspired by Pictures Collection on Google+. I posted the second one last year and so some of you may have read it then. I doubt if anyone read the last one. I wrote it two years ago as a kinda of sequel to a more serious, longer one I wrote about Time.
Next week I believe I will do one of a couple in my revised and almost ready to go Courier Novel.
The three stories and about 3,735 words long and are a mixture of genre
The Moon Castle
Susan said, “Hey, you picked a good place for us to talk. That ancient city is beautiful with the full moon behind it.”
“I saw it last month when I was there. I knew you would like it and I wanted to share it with you.”
Tony looked up from his tablet, Grey was right that was a nice place to talk about love. Even though he wouldn’t say the city was ancient. It’s only four hundred years old give or take up to fifty years.
It was a walled city; an almost prefect example of medieval towns. The ten foot hight three foot thick wall around it is still complete almost like they built it yesterday. Except for the age discoloration and the cracks in some of the stones, he thought. From his position next to the SUV parked on a sand dune he could see houses, Inns and other businesses between the wall and the castle that stood on that small hill for hundreds of years. It looked dark now that it was night and that no one lived there-thus the mystery they were studying here, but in day light he could see the dark gray mixed with a light gray with a few black spots.
One reason it had been left whole might have that it had been built here in the middle of no where; no one fought over it evidently. Little water around here except for the four large springs inside the walls. Enough for the people, horses, a few cows and sheep, plus a few small gardens and farms inside. A lot of the food had needed to be imported. That may have what ended the city. It didn’t look like a drought or famine did the people in, but they still had digging and translating of documents to do.
Grey said, “I wish we could be there together but these two laptops will do. We can see each other and the city.”
Susan said, “I like that. You can be thoughtful at times.”
“It’s easy with you. You’re beautiful and you are so easy to talk to. You’re smart too.”
Tony frowned. He had positioned the two laptops in the sand just right so the cameras in each could pick up the other person and the city with its romantic moon.
Grey really did think she was smart. He liked that he could talk to her about archeology and she understood it even though it wasn’t her major interest. But he was in danger of laying it on too thick.
A pause that made him think he had been right in his thoughts.
“The moon is quiet lovely there. I wish I could have come to visit you there. Not only is that a beautiful view but it should be quiet interesting to learn more of what you do.”
She overused the word “quite” but that was for Grey to decide about, Tony thought. But now she was using relationship techniques on him. She really liked him though, if he judged her correctly from the two times they met. He thought they would be a good couple.
Of course they almost blew it earlier, so they could again. They knew each other at one collage but he transferred to another university with a better archeological department. They wrote some to each other but stopped. A year later they met again, this time they traded E-mail addresses and communicated via video texts.
Grey said, “The city is four hundred years old and very well kept up. Its people left when the Duke in charge of it left. They straggled out though for some still tried to make a go of it. I wished I could have stayed longer. So much to study and to learn there. They even left books and scrolls behind. Some barrels had residue of ale and wine in them.”
Oh oh, don’t talk too much about your boring work.
He then added, “Your studies must be interesting.”
Susan nodded, “I have learned a lot about business and how one manages different sizes of businesses. Some of it is quite hard though.”
“You can do it. I know you can, probably finish in the top percentile of your class.”
So he also used techniques but I see it in his eyes he really feels like she can graduate high in her class.
Something howled in the distance. Tony’s head jerked up, Ohoh, wolves or hyenas or something. But if they come near I have a gun, bright lights and a very loud noise maker. The weapon will be for last chance. The air horn should make whatever it is jump, and run.
He turned back to the images he was following.
They had talked more while he was distracted.
Grey said, “I wish we were together. Your eyes look great on these new screens but they are much more beautiful in person. I like staring at them.”
She blushed, Tony thought.
Susan said, “I am glad we met at the coffeehouse, the fact that they were filled and we had to share a table was fate. That was nice music and I like talking with you. You have a strong face.”
Tony thought, yeah at the Rusty Bean according to Grey, back three years ago. Grey said that after they had stopped sending letters he had gone to the Bean Pit at the new university but never met anyone like her. Since they had people and places they both knew he hoped they would run into each other again.
Grey smiled and they talked more about each other.
They had met again after Tony became his friend but then separated, but later she wanted the video chats. Grey liked them too.
The couple looked at each other and smiled. Tony rolled his eyes and tried not to listen too closely. That howling helped. It didn’t sound any closer. There was the camp with lights, fires and noisy people not far from where he had set up the laptops but they, whatever they were, could decided to come check him out anyway. He made sure his large bright flashlight was still handy as was the gun.
He glanced back at the images. They seemed ready to call it a night. He was glad this was just a video conference. If they were live they would be kissing now, maybe beyond kissing. And he would have to wait for them while trying not to watch. Grey wouldn’t like it and he was sure that Susan would blush but after a while not care.
They ended, Susan said, “I will have to go to England next semester.”
“I have the chance to go on a dig in France, if I can raise the money. There are grants I can try for,”
Oh, Tony thought, that meant he wouldn’t be there to help them out. They would be on their own. But most couples in the last two hundred years had been on their own and worked things out even in a long distance relationship. Many had failed but obviously not all by any count.
The two said good bye and after each thanked him for his part they signed off. He gathered the laptops one at a time and signed out and turned them off. He set his tablet for music and started the jeep. Glad to be of help but also glad to leave those howls.
end
Preoccupied On A New Planet
By L. E. Prescott
Judy’s bare legs and top tingled. Her shoeless feet smacked the hot ground; she let out small pain cries. As she ran for the safety of the new barn near enough to see the low silhouette building shone with reflective brightness. She tried to pull the hem of her mini skirt down. A useless gesture for she wore nothing else-damn she shouldn’t have fallen asleep after her and her husband spent some time together this far from any building.
They were new here but that wasn’t a reason to forget that the suns here created radiation storms that can turn the wind deadly on this planet. The first killing breezes rubbed her bare body.
Once awake all she had time for was to grab the nearest piece of clothing. She had worn that outfit to get him back to the house, but she loved the flavor of his lips almost as much as she loved him-and it had been ages.
He may have decided she wanted sleep when he went to the house-her nose said he had needed a shower after all. She hoped he was there; the beep from her radio had probably been him. Now the second sun shone and would stalk the world with that weird radiation wind until the larger third sun blocked it.
She needed to reach the barn with its reflective, anti-rad roof designed to protect animals. It had an anti-sun suit so she could search for her husband even through the wind, if she needed to.
Damn, she could hear the wind blow through the trees as far away as they were. They must make that sound to warn the animals to hide in holes in the ground or in the thicker trees.
Somehow her legs moved faster, there the barn, from the now heavy breeze she would need that thick, decayed sap they had found that leached the radiation out, but there was some in the barn.
Judy shivered as the wind blew across her back and legs, but not from cold. Somehow she reached the sliver door, punched in the three digit code they all had to memorize. It slid open she skidded inside, it skated closed. A deep breath, she found the right locker but grabbed the comm unit instead.
A voice she knew said, “I’m here, God I’m glad you made it, I was on my way out.”
She blinked, she hadn’t turned it on yet. A shadow moved. She turned her husband stood there with one of the anti-rad robes on. The cowl covered his head down to his eyes. He held the eye-mouth piece.
A gasp came out of her mouth, she wanted to grab him and hug him feel his body even though that ridicules robe. He moved though, reached into the locker, got the jar of sap. A moment later she gasped again for he had started to splash it on her. It was thick, clammy and smelled. In the process he took off the robe and covered himself too.
Once done he stood back, the wind howled like it wanted in, but they were safe.
Judy looked at him, thought about how this all got started; her emotions now relaxed. Tension drifted away, it left something else behind-they were both safe after a too close of a call. He looked at her with a puzzled expression. He would find it that she decided that since they had to wait anyway, she could find out how his sap covered body felt next to hers.
End
Time For A Fit
By L. E. Doggett
The young woman jumped up and down in the center of the street and cursed. Her voice echoed around the older Middle Class houses around her. Very few cars sat in drive-ways and along the curb.
A middle aged man, tall, slightly punchy heard her, hurried out of his house and ran up to her.
He slowed though when he caught a whiff of sweaty clothes. Was she drunk or high? But her and her husband didn’t do that.
Ben said, “Brittany, what are you doing? Do you need help?”
She stopped, turned to him, her expression showed anger and helplessness.
“My husband disappeared and no one wants to help. I called 911 and asked the neighbors. Most people are gone but those that are here said they couldn’t help.”
While she talked he felt a prickling sensation on his skin. He glanced at the sun, the day felt hot already but they stood in the shade. A sniff brought a whiff of her fear sweat.
He said, “What happened?”
“He was getting in his car when I heard a rushing sound, almost like a train. I looked out our living room window and saw color lights strobing, almost like a storm made of up different colored lightning. I ran outside but by the time I got out the door the lights were gone...so was Jim. I looked everywhere, but there was no sign of him.”
“What colors did you see?”
“All types: Red, burnt orange, green, hunter green, blue, mauve, turquoise, yellow and two I didn’t know.”
“Show me where it happened.”
Brittany nodded and led him down the street to a small yellow house. It looked older and the trim might need paint soon.
She pointed to the window, then to a blue older model car in front of the house, “I was in there when Jim went outside because he was going to the store. That was when I heard the noise and saw the light show.”
He nodded and walked over to a spot halfway to the house. That prickling sensation felt stronger. Maybe it wasn’t caused by the high temperature after all.
Ben looked around, dropped to his knees-
He said, “I’ll be right back,” he stood in a quick movement and was off.
Brittany shouted, “You know what happened to Jim,” but he ignored her.
Within ten minutes Jim hurried back to Brittany’s house. He carried a black leather bag the size of a large purse. A pair of thick, goggle like classes sat on his face.
He sat the bag down and opened it. With much care he lifted an electronic device out. It looked two feet by half a foot, with two screens, one the size of two cellphones.
After he set it down he knelt in front of it, he pressed two switches, pushed a button in the back. A second screen the size of a smart phone screen, lit up. He pressed three buttons on the larger screen, studied both screens. The grass blades and tiny stones pressed against his knees, he ignored the pebbles. He rubbed one arm, the skin felt warm...the ozone scent grew.
“Damn, thought so.”
“What? Is this going to help find my husband?”
“Yes, but I have to move fast. No time to explain now.”
The two screens changed, one with something that looked like a sound wave pattern switched color. As quick as he could manage move he stood, moved over to the burnt spot.
She said, “Hey, what’s going on?”
“No time.”
After a count to ten he reached forward. She stepped back and gasped. He knew she did because his hands disappeared. As he continued to reach, more of his arm vanished. Brittany let out a small scream. He wanted to spit for the smell was worse than full outhouse on a hot, rainy day. A different smell of course but it still produced a bad taste in his mouth.
With the thought, I hope this is the right guy, he reached in a bit further, grabbed something. Once he held the object in a secure grip he pulled back. Nothing happened, he pulled harder. He could feel his upper back, and arm muscles strain. With a “uuuuufff,” he pulled harder.
His arms came into view--he sighed--as more of them came back into existence. Ben’s hands appeared. Something was in them. With a grunt he pulled harder. A piece of cloth popped into view. The cloth turned into an arm. A shoulder appeared next. His hand slipped but he pulled harder. A face showed up.
Brittany let out a scream when lights appeared. He couldn’t see them all but he knew they included all the colored she had described. A rushing noise started. It might have been a train but sounded louder and higher pitched.
With another grunt he pulled harder. A whole man popped out of no where. Ben sighed but pulled the man away from the spot.
Brittany screamed “Jim!”
Jim stumbled, moved with Ben. A moment later he halted and pulled his arm away out of Ben’s hands.
He looked around with confusion on his face, “Where am I? Brittany how did you get outside so fast? For that matter who is this?”
Ben took off the goggles as Brittany said, “He’s Ben from down the street, he moved in here two months ago. I don’t know where you were, but you were gone for three hours at least.”
Jim looked more confused, he looked around, glanced at Ben, looked at his wife.
“I feel funny but I just walked out here.”
Ben said, “You remember any noises or lights.”
“Yeah, now that you mention it. I heard a loud noise. I looked around and saw lights, then nothing. A moment later I saw them again and heard that noise again. You were pulling me.”
Ben thought the guy badly needed a shower but he said, “I know where you were: the Quantum energy flux field.”
Ben said, “Time? Come on.”
“Well, you were somewhere,” he turned to Brittany who nodded, “someone, around here, must have been playing around some quantum energy or a detector. I don’t know who or why, it’s possible they didn’t know what they were doing or were testing some equipment. Whatever the case, spare energy found a flaw in the structure that keeps the quantum flow energy field separated from our world.
“You happened to walk near it at the wrong time. It opened and you fell in. You saw the quantum energy as colored lights, our brains translates the energy from the flux field that way for some reason. The sound you heard at first and we heard later was the movement of time. I felt the energy on my skin. You probably felt something on your skin.”
Jim looked dumbfounded but nodded, “It tingled.”
Ben reached into a pocket but drew it out empty. He thought, Damn, didn’t have time to grab that root beer float flavored gum. I need some too, with this long conversation.
“Once you were inside NoTime, you started to travel through time.”
Jim and Brittany together said, “No time?”
“NoTime, it’s what we call the flux field for short. In an ironic situation time doesn’t flow in there. Which is why he didn’t know any time had past.”
He swallowed dry and said, “Moving in that field is much like floating on a moving river. You don’t stay in one place unless you work at it. If you don’t stop yourself, you drift with the current.
“I moved here to study NoTime which is why I have a detecter. There seems to be weak places around...I have no idea why but the detecter can send signals through weaknesses without effecting the time flow. I used the detecter to find the hole I knew had to be around here, these goggles allowed me to see it. After I was sure where the hole was I reach in and grabbed you. If I hadn’t I have no idea where you would end up. Ten years in the future, a thousand five hundred and two years? If you moved into another stream it’s possible you could end up in another timeline.”
“There’s no such thing as time travel!”
“Yeah, I used to say that too but...”
Brittany spoke up, “I saw him pull you out of nothing. You really disappeared. I saw the lights, heard the noise and felt the same thing he felt but I didn’t know what it was....I looked everywhere and no one would help me. I called 911 but they must have thought I was playing games when I mentioned the colors. I tried everything I could think of and nothing. I...I totally lost control. I cursed and jumped. I knew it wouldn’t help and the neighbors would think I was crazy but I couldn’t stop myself...until Ben came and asked me if I needed help.”
Jim shook his head and looked like he wanted to believe and didn’t want to believe at the same time.
Ben said, “I know it’s hard but you can try to go back into the hole.”
Brittany said, “No! You might not come back this time.”
Jim looked at her but said to Ben, “Is this hole going to be there forever?”
Ben said, “No, it should heal in a manner of minutes.”
Jim’s eyes widened and Brittany said, “That’s why you were in such a hurry. He...he could have been trapped in there. Oh God.”
Ben said, “Yes, he could have been.”
A pause then Jim looked around at the ground, bent over, picked up three stones. He threw them one at a time toward where he had been. The middle stone disappeared. He did it again. The second two disappeared. He walked around, counted the stones on the ground.
“It’s crazy...but the evidence shows something is there. I really heard the noises, saw the lights and felt something strange.”
Ben nodded, “I know the feeling well. There’s no reason you should know about the Flux field, most people have no interest in how time really operates,” he shrugged, “there's no need for them to.”
Jim said, “Yeah, unless they fall into a hole”
“That is very, very rare. It takes some unusual circumstances to create a hole, even around here. On top of that the chances of one being big enough to pull a person in are even smaller.”
“Lucky me.”
“I’ll go now. There’s nothing I can do to make the hole heal any faster so stay away from it for a while. It should be almost closed by now. Hopefully no birds or cats get into it. A small stone won’t do any damage, but a moving, angry cat might.”
Brittany looked at her husband and at Ben, “Thank you.”
Jim still with an unsure look on his face shook Ben’s hand. Ben warned them again, took his time putting the detector in the bag, and headed off for his home, at a slow speed this time.
The End.
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