Stories 61 - 70
61 Solving
11/08/2021 09:59
Harding and Patel stared through the double mirror at the ordinary, even dull, man sitting in the interview room. He had an unconcerned air, sipping his tea and looking around the room. Most people, even those who had nothing to hide, got nervous in a police station, but he...
62 Finding
11/08/2021 09:58
Sorting through our grandmother’s house was like a journey through time. She was one of those people that never throw anything away, so as well as her ultramodern smartphone (a better model than my own, I might add), there were several examples of earlier types of mobile phones,...
63 Forgetting
11/08/2021 09:57
Shaw rubbed a hand slowly over his face then carefully opened his eyes to find that the view had not changed. The small face of the kid – Alec, have to remember his name – was still puckered in the all-too-familiar frown of confusion.
“What’s the problem, now, kid?” he asked, dreading...
64 Losing
11/08/2021 09:56
“Found any new creatures, lately?”
The conversation was flagging after only five minutes but I knew asking about alien fauna was the way to get my brother talking.
“Oh, yeah! There’s this one – we call it the Cinderella Bird. I wrote to Mum about it. Didn’t she tell...
65 Realising
11/08/2021 09:55
“Then the human said...”
Xadier nudged Ashel in the ribs.
“What did you do that for? You’ve ruined the punchline!”
Xadier nodded across at Helen who had sat through the rest of the joke silent but tense.
“Oh, Eleen doesn’t mind a few human jokes. Don’t know why you’re so touchy...
66 Measuring
11/08/2021 09:54
“What a delightful evening,” sighed Mrs Harte, settling herself into the carriage of her friend, Mrs Cunningham.
That lady smiled her agreement before turning to her granddaughter who sat next to her. “How did you enjoy the concert, Emmaline?”
“Oh, I’m no real judge of music,...
67 Searching
11/08/2021 09:53
What exactly is it that I'm looking for? Inspiration, maybe. Certainly nothing more tangible!
We used to go ‘window shopping’, wandering past the bricks-and-mortar outlets (we called them simply ‘shops’) and staring at the displays in the hopes that something would catch our...
68 Wanting
11/08/2021 09:50
Maisie felt the wanting as an almost physical ache. It was more than a want; it was a need. And she felt her parents were cruel for not satisfying it. A dog would complete her, matching her outgoing personality and endless curiosity, going happily along with her wildest...
69 Risking
11/08/2021 09:49
Report on the artefacts recovered from the ancient database found in the ruins of the Grand Palace of Sinzyana, the capital of the Sinzyraal people
Doctor Ylvia Haardyl
RECORDING 7,561/10,028
A partial, audio-only, recording. Through a combination of encryption and subsequent corruption of...
70 Joining
11/08/2021 09:48
Selisse, Sandhir and Lindessel squeaked their protests at being washed so thoroughly but their mother was unsympathetic.
“Today is a big day, children,” she reminded them for at least the tenth time. “Today you meet the clan for the first time and you aren’t going to shame me by appearing...