Sex, death and a snake in the grass: 19 linked short stories, fiction for the Internet. Read in narrative sequence using the left-hand menu or follow characters through the in-page links
13
High above the planet's surface the aliens watched the development of their experiment with increasing alarm. The temperature had been cranked up way beyond safe levels, but none of the subjects had yet managed to find a way - the only way - to slow the rising barometer. Instead of working together to solve the problem, they were all rushing around blaming each other, shouting and fighting and launching acts of unspeakable violence. There did seem to be a few wise ones, but their voices had been drowned out in the furore and they had been relegated to the sidelines, watching in concern as the world slid into disintegration around them. It was ridiculous. You could almost see the steam rising from people's brains. No, from their -
'Ready then?' said the masked figure.
'Eh?'
'Ready for your blood test?' the figure repeated, a gloved hand brandishing a small vial in front of his eyes.
'Oh, right. Must have dosed off. Sorry.'
The figure leant over the bed. 'Just a sharp scratch.'
'That's what you call it, is it?' said Jake, grimacing. 'More like a bloody skewer if you ask me.'
Debbie gave him an amused glance. Her eyes, Jake noticed yet again, were a beautiful hazel colour. And there was an appealing grace and lightness about her movements, too. Strangely the slight tang of cigarette smoke she gave off actually added to the eroticism of her perfume.
He wondered briefly whether he should tell her what he had been thinking. But, no, she'd only think him loony-tunes. Better just to get it down on paper.
That was something he could do, when the chemotherapy was done, a role he could fulfil. He could get involved. Before it was too late.
