Other Worlds, Other Universes

Eleven stories that will take you to Other Worlds and Other Universes.

In Decision, Adam Cavanaugh wants to become a published writer and a spaceman. Who is the man who tells him otherwise?

In The Door, Tyler Jones Grant is determined to open it. When he manages to do so the unexpected happens to him.

Forever Love tells the story of Willy’s love for Janice and Janice’s love for Willy. But when Willy becomes an Android what does Janice do?

Number Twelve and the Glorious Bastards have an ultimate battle that the Glorious Bastards must win.

Homecoming is about Star Pilot Carter Rogers landing back on Earth after being gone for many years.

In All that Glitters, Spider and McIntyre were certain they would become rich when they landed on the asteroid of pure gold.

The Visitors. A Trainie and a Superior landed on their food supply world for a discussion.

Where Is That Asteroid? Gar Ragan and Sam Jockowich search for an uncharted asteroid named Sexsema.

Opus One Thousand Outwits the Devil. When Opus dies he doesn’t go up, he goes down to outwit the devil.

In Looky Loos on the Moon, Earth has had the ultimate war. What is left of the human race migrates to the domes on the Moon. Suicide is rampant among the survivors.

Who Or What is Abby? There isn’t anything Abby cannot do. She is called upon to meet with frog-like aliens from outer space who want to buy Earth’s junk. The question arises as to what the aliens consider to be junk. It’s up to Abby to find out.

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Other Worlds, Other Universes

Copyright © 2014 Wayne Greenough

ISBN: 978-1-77111-844-6

Cover art by Carmen Waters

All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, is forbidden without the written permission of the publisher.

Published by Devine Destinies

An imprint of eXtasy Books

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Smashwords Edition

Other Worlds, Other Universes

By

Wayne Greenough

Dedication

To my wife, June, the years have been good to us, my dear. Here’s hoping we have a lot more.

Decision

The damn dreams, saturated with insanity, sprinkled with wishes, colored with lust and power, splattered with earthly greed, occurred nightly in the sleep world of Abram Cavanaugh. In darkness he felt his way to a door, opened it and walked in with his dying father. The door closed behind them. Sudden bright light revealed control boards on every wall. Acceleration couches dotted the floor. Model rockets of every size and shape along with manuscripts of books, short stories, unfinished pages, and incoherent scribbling hung in place of a ceiling that wasn’t there. It was bits of his writing, his thoughts, wishes, dreams, his soul hung up like wash on a clothes line, displayed for all to see. This way, Abram Cavanaugh, and bring your father. You will find me to your right.

Abram walked slowly in that direction searching for the voice, holding his father’s arm, making certain the feeble, elderly man moved with great care. He mustn’t fall and break his seasoned stick bones.

Ah, you are here.

Ultimate power, immeasurable strength, agelessness, wisdom that spanned the universe. All were words and phrases that conveyed meanings but failed to describe the resonant voiced man. His head was adorned with pure white hair. A powerful light shined down upon it, causing a silvery aura around his head. Bushy black eyebrows and piercing black eyes made Abram uneasy, his backbone itch. He felt analyzed, without secrets, known. A frown adorned the man’s face, a caricature of disapproval, hope, envy, loathing, and what? Who was this man clothed in the sky blue uniform of a spaceman? Was he a Spacer? Abram knew them all. He didn’t know this one. Or did he?

I’ve been expecting you, Abram, you and your father.

The white haired man stood on a platform. His hand hovered over a pulpit controlboard. Abram looked up at him. I don’t understand. Where am I? Who are you?

You know me, Abram. I’ve come for your father.

Abram gazed at his father. The old man lifted his head on his crooked neck and stared at the man with the white hair. His lower lip trembled. He knew the man. And now so did Abram.

My father doesn’t want to go with you, not yet. And I don’t want to part with him.

There is nothing you can do to prevent it. His time is up.

Abram spotted the book on a pedestal next to the pulpit. It was open. I disagree with you.

The man laughed. Disagreeing with me has never benefitted anybody. Many have and many have tried tricks on me ad infinitum, anything to achieve extra time, from mere seconds to a lifetime more of years. All have failed. You will too.

I don’t think so. Abram walked toward the pedestal with his father in tow. Don’t look at the book, father. Don’t worry, we’ll win.

It’s not right to falsely boost your father’s courage.

What do you know about right?

I do what must be done.

You can’t have my father.

Benevolence adorned the white haired man’s face. How do you propose to stop me? Surely you won’t bore me by offering to take your father’s place? Many have tried that honor and love thy father ploy. I commend it and refuse to accept it. Truthfully, I have no visions of you putting yourself up for him. You love life too much.

Abram smiled. Yes, I do love life. He glanced at the opened book, saw his father’s name and started to touch it with his right thumb.

Stop!

Why should I? I’ve spent years studying all the Death Legends I could locate. Commanding me to stop proves you attempted to hide something from the human race and failed.

I thought I destroyed every copy of that scroll.

You did. Except for the one I acquired and memorized. If I rub my right thumb on my father’s name until it is completely obliterated, he will not die!

It’s true, Abram. However, I advise you not to rub out your father’s name. Instead, listen to what I have to say.

Not a chance. I love my father way too much.

Then go ahead. Rub out your father’s name.

Abram touched the cold page. His right thumb rubbed his father’s name, once, twice, again and again, until it was gone. Only then did he breathe a sigh of victory. He glanced at the white haired man, whose face expressed pity.

You have given your father a few more years. I hope it hasn’t been too expensive for you.

What do you mean?

Rubbing out your father’s name has repercussions I’m sure you will not like.

How do you know?

I know because you’re human, and the human race has never liked what you are about to face. I have always tried to be fair, which is why I tried so hard to destroy all the scrolls. I’m sorry for you that I failed. Now you are to be given the burden of decision.

Abram smiled.

"No, I don’t mean the mundane daily decisions mankind always faces. I mean the decision of choosing between