He came into the world when she was thirteen, alone and friendless, the midwife hurriedly turning her back on the mud walled hut. She held him scared and nervous as the last light filtered through the open plains of the delta, serenaded by the hyena’s call and thrashing legs through grass. She thought his face … Continue reading Out of Africa
Category: Flash Science Fiction
Hot Dog
“What line of business are you in Mr. Patheson?” Ugly fucking hairy ape-woman, what do you know of business? Just rent me the space and be done with it. You’ll find out my business soon enough. “Entertainment Cindii, a little import export on the side.” “I see.” No you don’t, none of your ugly symmetrical … Continue reading Hot Dog
Lesson
Jake Yancy’s parents were like all parents, happy and scared when their small bundle of joy popped out. They did their best as best they could, squeezing him into their busy lives between work, sleep, friends and Netflix. Like most they won some and lost some, like us all they didn’t know which was which. … Continue reading Lesson
Sex and the Single Cosmonaut
The clouds of Jupiter beckon, endless shifting coffee cream swirls of gas and dust folding and unwrapping in melting deep rivers, soaring mountains of colour. I want to reach in, dig down and clutch my hands drawing up tendrils of the floss, wisps falling from my fingers, misty cascades of super chilled gas insanely, killingly … Continue reading Sex and the Single Cosmonaut
Vocation
Abbot Johannes gazed at the twenty-four professed gathered before him, the bitter chill of early February penetrating the bare stone chapel. The taking of vows, the final irrevocable admission of a brother to the community was solemn, a time of thanks. This one was unique, a loss-tinged joy. Having remained prostrated, naked in penitential reverence … Continue reading Vocation
Darkstar
It was a typical departure lounge, exceedingly cold, bare, entirely antiseptic. Two chairs, two doors, two beings. An appropriate point to leave one life for another. He looked up. “Even so we must go through the formalities. You are aware of the choice?” “Yes. Pain, misunderstanding, isolation and struggle for the chance of genius, creativity, … Continue reading Darkstar
Under Their Nose
T – 00:00:05:00 P.A. “Five.” 696e:6f77::616d. 01000111.01001111.01001111.01000100 MisOpSys. “System’s good.” Consul01. 01001111.01001011.01000111.01001111 T – 00:00:04:00 P.A. “Four.” 696e:6f77::616d. 01010111 01001000 01000001 01010100 01010100 01001000 01000101 01000110 01010101 01000011 01001011 01010111 01001000 41 01010100 01010100 01001000 01000101 01000110 55 01000011 01001011 01010111 01001000 A 54 01010100 01001000 01000101 46 U 01000011 01001011 01010111 48 A T … Continue reading Under Their Nose
Jesus Just Left Chicago
Three a.m. and I’m going, stuffing clothes haphazardly in my duffel bag, cash in my back pocket, fear in my heart. A few more hours, a few more miles will buy me some time, just a little. I grab my wrist, re-set my id randomizer. I’m now Konrad Abernnor, MD. It’ll do. * * * … Continue reading Jesus Just Left Chicago
The Old Man, The Cat And The Tesseract
Daniel McWhirter was strange. He wasn’t like other guys. He didn’t go out, shoot pool, shoot hoops, watch Netflix, like porn or drink beer. Daniel McWhirter liked to read, real books, paper and ink books, books he could write in and on, dog-ear, spill coffee, read in the toilet, place face down open on the … Continue reading The Old Man, The Cat And The Tesseract
Mars, Hence
The desert sleeps, afternoon shadows reaching from low dunes to embrace a russet red landscape of sand and stone that stretches to infinity. Can’t see anything moving out there, roos, birds, nothing from horizon to horizon. If it doesn’t rain soon Dad will have to truck water in, more trouble and money poured down this … Continue reading Mars, Hence
