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    Playing with Fire
    Playing with Fire
    Playing with Fire
    Ebook123 pages1 hour

    Playing with Fire

    By Third Flatiron Publishing

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    About this ebook

    Watch out! Don't you know that you can get burned if you play with fire?

    Third Flatiron Publishing presents "Playing with Fire," a new anthology of science fiction short stories by an international group of established and emerging writers. Contributors include Nicholas M. Bugden, Gunnar De Winter, James S. Dorr, Michael Fedo, Adele Gardner, G. Miki Hayden, L. L. Hill, Marissa James, Ian O'Reilly, H. L. Pauff, Marian Powell, J. M. Scott, and Jonathan Shipley.

    Follow these talented storytellers as they spin cautionary tales of fires and backfires from botched inventions, culture clashes, evil empires, comets and meteors, Greek gods and vengeful spirits, voracious foodstuffs, and, of course, man's best friend.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherThird Flatiron Publishing
    Release dateMay 30, 2013
    ISBN9781301460366
    Playing with Fire
    Author

    Third Flatiron Publishing

    Juli Rew is a former science writer/editor for the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder, Colorado, and is a software engineer by training. She is a believer in the scientific evidence for global warming. She also publishes fantasy and science fiction stories by other authors at Third Flatiron Publishing.

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      Book preview

      Playing with Fire - Third Flatiron Publishing

      Playing with Fire

      Third Flatiron Anthologies

      Volume 2, Summer 2013

      Published by Third Flatiron Publishing

      Juliana Rew, Editor

      Smashwords Edition

      Copyright 2013 Third Flatiron Publishing

      Discover other titles by Third Flatiron at Smashwords.com:

      (1) Over the Brink: Tales of Environmental Disaster - https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/163855

      (2) A High Shrill Thump: War Stories - https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/218304

      (3) Origins: Colliding Causalities -

      https:// www.smashwords.com/books/view/257367

      (4) Universe Horribilis -

      https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/288540

      Smashwords Edition, License Notes

      This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you're reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of these authors.

      *****~~~~~*****

      Table of Contents

      One Step at a Time by Gunnar De Winter

      In the Garden by Adele Gardner

      Again and Again by G. Miki Hayden

      Stone Cold by L. L. Hill

      The Match Story by James S. Dorr

      Fire Dogs by Ian O'Reilly

      Godrock by H. L. Pauff

      Knock by Marian Powell

      The Poison Pawn by Nicholas M. Bugden

      Hephaestus and the God Particle by J. M. Scott

      Fate's Finger by Jonathan Shipley

      The Carnival by Michael Fedo

      Meteor Story by Marissa James

      Photo and Art Credits and Acknowledgments

      *****~~~~~*****

      One Step at a Time

      by Gunnar De Winter

      It would have been one of the greatest scientific achievements in human history. If only it had worked. But the tachyon field proved far too unstable. When Kaliana was making some last-minute calibrations, things went awry. The field destabilized, and the elusive tachyons dispersed, many of them making their way through Kaliana. No time machine, then.

      As the event caused various parts of the high-tech equipment to malfunction and, quite literally, fall apart, Kaliana was knocked around quite a bit. When she regained consciousness, everything seemed all right. A bit sore here and there, but nothing serious. The blur of color and noise reorganized itself into the sight and sound of her colleagues, who were elated to see she was okay. And then, she tried to walk.

      The world broke into pieces, whirling around her. When her foot touched the ground again, she hadn't moved forward. But something had changed.

      What happened?

      Kaliana? an old man who reminded her of a colleague asked. You’re back?

      She frowned. Back?

      It's been almost thirty years since you've last shown any response.

      What? How is that possible? I. . . The accident just happened, and I tried to walk.

      No, the accident happened three decades ago. I should know, I was there.

      Zhao?

      Aha, so you do recognize me. I was beginning to worry time had ravaged me beyond all recognition. The balding man smiled, but Kaliana could tell he was worried.

      What’s going on here, Zhao?

      The wrinkles on his already furrowed forehead deepened. No clue, Kal. He sighed. Okay, let's figure this out. What is the last thing you remember?

      Kaliana's forehead looked as if it was trying to match Zhao's brow. The accident. I lost consciousness, but only for a few seconds or so. I opened my eyes and saw you all standing around me. Then, I tried to take a step forward, and some weird kind of. . . hallucination. . . or maybe vertigo. . . seized me. Next thing I know, I'm here, and I apparently haven't moved, or aged, for three decades.

      I remember the accident. And I remember you regaining your consciousness and getting up. Then, you froze. Until now. It must have something to do with this hallucination you mention. Can you tell me something more about it?

      Kaliana shrugged. It's hard to explain. It looked like the world broke into pieces which whirled around me really fast, until I put my foot down. . . I'm sorry, I know that's probably not really helpful. What did it look like from your. . . I don’t know. . . side, or something like that?

      Don’t be sorry. We will, he pronounced this last word with an almost youthful vigor, figure this out. For me, for us, it just looked like you froze. At first, we thought you were in shock, but you were completely unresponsive, even your reflexes. Very carefully, we tried to do any test that wouldn't disturb you too much, but it didn't really teach us anything. You had no pulse, nor any discernible metabolism. We were completely puzzled, so we quarantined the room for a while, but further testing didn't show anything contagious to worry about. We weren't even sure whether you were still alive.

      They looked at each other. Once only two years apart, they were now separated by decades. There was a subdued type of pain in Zhao’s eyes, because Kaliana reminded him of his own youth.

      Listen, he said, I'll alert the team, and then we'll find a solution. For now, try not to move too much. It looks like this odd phenomenon started when you tried to walk. Let me get you a chair. The aging man turned around and left the room, which had been turned into a laboratory with her as test subject.

      He had a point, Kaliana thought, maybe it is indeed the movement that sets it off. Very slowly and with great caution, she moved her fingers. Nothing. Hands. Arms. All seemed well so far.

      Zhao returned, carrying a white plastic folding chair. He opened it up and placed it right behind his younger colleague. Try not to move too much, the old man said.

      Why? Do you know what's going on?

      Not really, but we should consider the possibility that your movements cause this.

      To sit myself down, I'll have to move.

      Zhao smiled wearily. Hmm, true. Maybe I should get something you can lean on. Standing up non-stop will become very hard after a while.

      Wait. Kaliana raised her arms. Look, I can move my hands, arms, and even my torso without problems. I'm going to try to sit down. I think you might be right—as long as I don't walk around, it should be fine.

      Are you sure?

      No. She sat down, keeping her feet firmly in place.

      They both exhaled after unconsciously holding their breaths.

      Phew. That went well, Zhao said. You want something to eat? You must be hungry after thirty years.

      No, actually, I'm good. Kaliana realized there was something else gnawing at her heart. Zhao, she said, how's my family?

      The wrinkles that had been smoothed by temporary relief, deepened again. Zhao sighed. Your parents have both passed away. Painlessly. And your sister has moved. Somewhere in Europe, I think. She was reluctant to tell me anything more. I'll try to contact her.

      Kaliana nodded and swallowed, trying to keep her composure. She had to figure out what was wrong with her. Yet she couldn't prevent a few tears from rolling down her cheeks. Zhao moved towards her, but then suddenly stopped. He was afraid to touch her. That only made it worse. Kaliana buried her head in her hands. After a deep breath, Zhao came closer and placed an arm around her shoulders.

      ...

      The team had arrived. They probed, interrogated, and subjected Kaliana to a motivated, concerted effort to get as many samples from her as possible. Zhao made sure that the youngsters, who were about Kaliana's age, treated her with sufficient respect.

      Monitored by various machines, almost all aspects of Kaliana’s physical existence were carefully recorded. Result? Everything was fine.

      We don't know, sir, Daniel, one of the young researchers, told Zhao. All seems perfectly normal. Physically, psychologically, physiologically, she's fine. Frowning, Zhao nodded.

      It makes me real sad to tell you this, but we found nothing.

      Kaliana accepted the news with a plain face. And yet, something is wrong. I can't just sit here for the rest of my life, Zhao. I need to understand what's going on.

      And I will do everything I can to help you. He hesitated.

      What is it? Kaliana asked.

      Well, there's one obvious thing we haven't tried.

      By the time he had finished the sentence, Kaliana had already figured it out. You want me to take another step.

      Zhao shrugged. It might be the only way to discover what's going on. We're monitoring everything. He gestured towards the futuristic—for Kaliana, at least—machinery. But, of course, it's your choice. I'll be here, helping you as much as I can either way.

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