James Pyles's Blog, page 198
July 26, 2017
The Pay Phone Puzzle
“What kind of phone is it, Grandpa?” “An old pay phone. You used to put a quarter in to make a call.” “Why not use a cell?” “Well, little one, because they hadn’t been invented when people used these. This one is so low so that people in wheelchairs could reach it.” “Who uses it […]
Ceres
The Forerunner sphere was off course and out of control. It was going to miss the portal into the dwarf planet Ceres and crash on the surface! The lighting changed in the control cabin and a loud, intermittent buzzing sounded, probably an alarm. The configuration of the panels as well as shapes and colors of […]
July 25, 2017
Julio the Explorer
Stranded on a sandbar, Julio pointed to the rocks ahead of him and loudly declared, “I claim this land in the name of Philip the First, King of Portugal.” Some said he was drunk. Some said he was mad. The children pointed at him and laughed, making up silly and insulting rhymes about Crazy Julio. […]
Space Flight
Travis Fox stood with a security team as he witnessed the wonderful and horrible miracle of the Forerunner spaceship launching from the surface of the Earth. While Ashe and Murdock were in the past supervising the preparations for the ship’s time jump, Travis reluctantly agreed to remain in the present. He couldn’t stay away from […]
July 23, 2017
The Mission
The tall man with white hair wearing a conservative business suit opened the door of the amusement park ride and stepped into what looked like a spaceship. The park was deserted which is exactly what he expected. Under the seat was a tape recorder and an envelope. He opened the envelope and turned on the […]
The Second Ship
The quintet descended slowly into the small valley containing the second alien spacecraft. There was more vegetation here than in the previous depression and it partially obscured the vessel. “Only two stories tall. Maybe a scout craft. Similar construction to the two others but there seems to be some coloring and maybe ornamental differences.” “Ornamental, […]
Walkabout
Barega saw himself here in dreamtime. Merindah the Seer woman told him it was his time for the walkabout, his spiritual transition so that he could join the men of their people. His journey would be long and take many days. Barega would be traveling alone for the first time in his fourteen years of life. His […]
July 22, 2017
Derelict
The Canyon of the Moon was selected as the location for the construction of the time gate not only because it yielded the unusual ancient artifacts Ashe had shown Fox, but because it was very remote. It was not thought, however, to be the main site where the spaceship could be found. In fact, the […]
July 21, 2017
The Folsom Mystery
Fox and Ashe were talking, staring into the pool of water supplied abundantly from an underground source, the lifeblood of beasts and men. The soldiers had been keeping their distance but Travis was aware of their presence and the potential threat they represented. “I can’t believe you remember me after fifteen years. It was just […]
Canyon of the Moon
Travis Fox rode his horse down the arroyo at the edge of his Father’s land, except he was dead so it was his land now. Try convincing his Uncle Wendell of that, though. He thought he was running the ranch. Travis tried not to fight with Wendell. He wanted peace in the household for the […]
