PART 1
Revelling in the wonder and beauty that spread before me, I took a deep breath and pondered my changed circumstances. The differences were intensified by the busyness of the living splendour that spread below me, as I stood comparing it to the vast, star-studded emptiness of space. Many shades of green and quiet-purple blended with the subtle-russet tones of these lower woods. A soft breeze, wafting the many and varied scents of a living environment, gently ruffled the leafy canopy that spread below my feet; full of the sounds of vibrant energy. As I stood at the top of a steep bank, one particularly raucous call echoing back from the surrounding cliffs and valleys epitomized the vigour of Mother Nature.
I took off my pack, setting it beside me, and sat on the edge of a large, flat rock; feeling the rough texture through the legs of my tunic. Musing upon this new stage of my life I considered how retirement suited me. I was still fit and active. Not surprising since space crew generally stay fitter, and live longer, than their planet bound contemporaries. And I was only 79, no age at all really.
I had become a prospector, a successful prospector. It suited me to be living in this beautiful, unspoilt wilderness and, having led a fairly solitary life, being at the frontier of the colony relieves me of the stress of large numbers. But what a change from Space Captain.
I felt a tremor through the rock I was sat upon and, before I could make a move, I was sliding. The rock caught upon some obstruction and I was pitched, head-first, down the steep, boulder-strewn scree slope amid a flurry of rocks and stones.
It seemed to take forever. Rolling and bouncing down. Like being on the inside of a tumble dryer full of stones. I was desperately trying to regain my feet, when I came to the inevitable bone-jarring halt. Up against a wall of rock on the west side of the scree slope.
I lay there stunned for a moment; before trying to sit up. But as soon as I tensed to make the effort, I realised the folly. Agony!
I gasped, indeed I almost swore, before looking down to review the wages of my carelessness.
Pain shot up my left leg, as I gazed in stunned dismay. It lay twisted round at an unnatural angle and I could see the pale stiffness of bone through the veil of blood.
Took me a while to read but was definitely worth it. A very good one John. I thoroughly enjoyed each of those 35 pages, even though as a rule I don’t like “reading” Sci-Fi but rather wqtch it. Here is one exception to the rule
Keep it up.
Hello John,
This first part of your story is interesting. Well written and I especially like the way you’ve described the bank on the first paragraph. Looking forward to reading the following chapters. Cheers.
Punitha
Thank you Brenda, well spotted, comma removed.
John.
An intriguing beginning! One suggestion: Remove the comma from “Like being on the inside of a tumble dryer, full of stones.” I am imagining that the poor prospector has had a dinner of stones before tumbling down the mountain!