Reality
I look down at myself in the wrecked car. I wonder as I ascend if the atheism was a mistake.
Then I notice the ship – a featureless silver oblong, dully reflective. A hole opens in the side and I’m sucked in.
"Quite a crash," says the alien.
"Am I going to live?"
"Probably not. You’re might already be dead, down there."
"Huh?"
"It’s compliated."
"So why did you bring me up here?"
"Sign this waiver. We want to put your crash on our Best Earthling Fuckups video."
"Why would I do that?"
"Don’t you want to be famous?"
"Well, yeah."
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Monday, June 9, 2008
Drabble: Day 423
Day 423
Ferguson checked the meters for the thousandth time today (if “today” meant anything here) before settling back in the jump couch. All the lifeboat’s systems were functioning, but none of the past few hours’ random jumps made had turned up stars recognizably arranged enough to triangulate position. So back the search continued.
He almost wished that something would break, but knew it was a long shot. And thus far his half-hearted attempts at suicide had all been foiled by the machines. The lifeboat would keep him safe till they found home – if he didn’t die of old age first.
Ferguson checked the meters for the thousandth time today (if “today” meant anything here) before settling back in the jump couch. All the lifeboat’s systems were functioning, but none of the past few hours’ random jumps made had turned up stars recognizably arranged enough to triangulate position. So back the search continued.
He almost wished that something would break, but knew it was a long shot. And thus far his half-hearted attempts at suicide had all been foiled by the machines. The lifeboat would keep him safe till they found home – if he didn’t die of old age first.
Sunday, June 8, 2008
Drabble: Opening
Opening
There’s a depth in his work that you just might miss at first blush. An unsophisticated elegance, you might call it. Maybe that’s giving him too much credit. But there’s definitely something there.
Look at the way the piece is put together. For sure, it’s technically lacking, and rough at the edges, but there’s a youthful exuberance to it. I’d really love to see where he goes with it.
It certainly isn’t by any stretch the best world in the exhibition. But I’m looking forward to seeing what this Yaweh gets up to, once he’s had a little more practice.
There’s a depth in his work that you just might miss at first blush. An unsophisticated elegance, you might call it. Maybe that’s giving him too much credit. But there’s definitely something there.
Look at the way the piece is put together. For sure, it’s technically lacking, and rough at the edges, but there’s a youthful exuberance to it. I’d really love to see where he goes with it.
It certainly isn’t by any stretch the best world in the exhibition. But I’m looking forward to seeing what this Yaweh gets up to, once he’s had a little more practice.
Drabble: This Is My Blood
This Is My Blood
“Little known fact, there’s a couple of little-known universes where the Eucharist is beer.”
“How exactly does that work?”
“Well, as you know, history generally follows a certain path, with variations. Nobody’s quite sure why, that’s just the way it is. Well, in these ones, the messiah that led to the formation of the major European church was born not in Bethlehem, but a ways southeast, in beer-drinking lands. So the sacrament taken in memory of his last meal reflects this difference.”
“How does that effect the place as a whole?”
“Not much. The people are somewhat happier.”
“Little known fact, there’s a couple of little-known universes where the Eucharist is beer.”
“How exactly does that work?”
“Well, as you know, history generally follows a certain path, with variations. Nobody’s quite sure why, that’s just the way it is. Well, in these ones, the messiah that led to the formation of the major European church was born not in Bethlehem, but a ways southeast, in beer-drinking lands. So the sacrament taken in memory of his last meal reflects this difference.”
“How does that effect the place as a whole?”
“Not much. The people are somewhat happier.”
Saturday, June 7, 2008
Drabble: Journal
I didn't get home at all Friday, until a little after midnight, at which time I flopped into bed, totally forgetting to copy this over and post it. Here it is, if late.
Journal
The last thing to go were the feelings. After the sensations and the memory and the thoughts, there was still emotion. It was a surprise (or would have been had I been capable of surprise) to find that they could exist without a referent. But there did.
I have no way how long I floated in that void before even they disappeared.
And now I’m aware again. Is this some kind of afterlife? I doubt it; my experience of nothingness would imply to me that death is as empty as I’d thought.
Which raises the question: Where am I now?
Thursday, June 5, 2008
Drabble: Self-Interest
Self-Interest
She was the most beautiful dame I’d seen in this pit of a city, and she was sitting in my office, her legs crossed in a way at once prim and provocative. Her hair was shockingly red, two shades brighter than I thought was possible this deep in the city’s grime.
And she was crying.
"I, I think I need your help," she said. "Please?"
Well, what else could I do?
Exactly what I did do: Kick her out on the curb and have nothing to do with her. I’ve read enough detective novels to know how this turns out.
She was the most beautiful dame I’d seen in this pit of a city, and she was sitting in my office, her legs crossed in a way at once prim and provocative. Her hair was shockingly red, two shades brighter than I thought was possible this deep in the city’s grime.
And she was crying.
"I, I think I need your help," she said. "Please?"
Well, what else could I do?
Exactly what I did do: Kick her out on the curb and have nothing to do with her. I’ve read enough detective novels to know how this turns out.
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
Drabble: Victory
Victory
And there was rejoicing!
Through the lands, trumpets blared, and bards told triumphant tales of our warriors’ heroism in reverent tones. The foul beast who’d tormented our people as far back as any of us can remember had been vanquished. We dance among its bones. No longer must we hide in the shadows, huddling beneath the great humming mountain. The beast would never again magick into existence the terrible burning light, nor would we be crushed or fed poison.
Some among us feared that others like the beast may exist, in worlds alongside our own. But we all know better!
And there was rejoicing!
Through the lands, trumpets blared, and bards told triumphant tales of our warriors’ heroism in reverent tones. The foul beast who’d tormented our people as far back as any of us can remember had been vanquished. We dance among its bones. No longer must we hide in the shadows, huddling beneath the great humming mountain. The beast would never again magick into existence the terrible burning light, nor would we be crushed or fed poison.
Some among us feared that others like the beast may exist, in worlds alongside our own. But we all know better!
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
Drabble: Special Child
Special Child
"Son, please don’t do that at the table."
"But Mom, I’m supposed to practice!"
"Your mother said not at the table, young man!"
"Honey, don’t be too harsh on him. He is in training."
"That doesn’t make it okay to talk back. I didn’t raise him like that."
"Son, could you excuse us a moment?" They headed for the kitchen.
"Some government scientists tell the boy he’s so damned special and suddenly he’s too good for us."
"Honey, calm down."
"I’ll calm down when I damned well--"
Officially, it was an anneurism. It’s not so easy raising a special child.
"Son, please don’t do that at the table."
"But Mom, I’m supposed to practice!"
"Your mother said not at the table, young man!"
"Honey, don’t be too harsh on him. He is in training."
"That doesn’t make it okay to talk back. I didn’t raise him like that."
"Son, could you excuse us a moment?" They headed for the kitchen.
"Some government scientists tell the boy he’s so damned special and suddenly he’s too good for us."
"Honey, calm down."
"I’ll calm down when I damned well--"
Officially, it was an anneurism. It’s not so easy raising a special child.
Monday, June 2, 2008
Drabble: In a Corner
In a Corner
"You got a problem with that?"
"Problem with what?"
"Don’t play dumb, I could see the way you were listenin’ in on our conversation."
"I assure you, I was not."
"We got us a liar here, boys. Seriously. You find it so interesting, what do you think of our plan?"
"Honest, I don’t know what you’re talking about."
"I said don’t play dumb," the man said, pounding the table for emphasis.
I honestly hadn’t heard, but I didn’t see any easy way out of this. "Uhh, I think it’s good?"
"You heard him, boys, he likes the idea! Jump him!"
"You got a problem with that?"
"Problem with what?"
"Don’t play dumb, I could see the way you were listenin’ in on our conversation."
"I assure you, I was not."
"We got us a liar here, boys. Seriously. You find it so interesting, what do you think of our plan?"
"Honest, I don’t know what you’re talking about."
"I said don’t play dumb," the man said, pounding the table for emphasis.
I honestly hadn’t heard, but I didn’t see any easy way out of this. "Uhh, I think it’s good?"
"You heard him, boys, he likes the idea! Jump him!"
Sunday, June 1, 2008
Drabble: Strangers in the Day
Strangers in the Day
"You come here often?"
I look around and try to figure out what she means by "here." The commuter train? If so, what a strange thing to say. Could a moving conveyance even be called "here?"
This is what I daydream of every day -- an attractive woman spontanously talking to me on the train, in a way that sounds like a come-on (if not a parody of a come-on?) -- but I find myself suddenly wanting nothing more than to get to work unassailed.
I shake off this self-defeating attitude and look up to reply, but nobody’s there.
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