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Lost In Time
Prologue
Copyright 2001 Christina M. Guerrero
DEDICATION:
This is for Bill and BJ
NOTES:
- January 2002. This is my second novella. The first one has been hidden. More on that some other time.
This looks like the ugly offspring between a soap opera and a science fiction story. But it's my ugly offspring and I love it.
I entered this story in a romance writing contest and placed #7 out of 9 entries. All three judges said "Lost In Time" reads more like women's fiction rather than romance, and felt that I needed to make the character of Scott Hughes more of a "traditional romance novel hero" in the first chapter. (One judge also said she wasn't sure if Scott was the love interest. I had to restrain myself from sending her the parts -- in 36-point capital letters -- where Jane is reflecting about his assets at the newspaper, and again at the merger, right before she has her adventures). Finally, I was shocked at one judge's impression that Scott was an alcoholic. That's NOT what his problem is. He is an adult child of an alcoholic. The terms are not the same.
Other things wrong with this story: It's written mostly in flashback, and in the first person, two things first-time writers are advised not to do. Also, after appearing briefly at the beginning, the science fiction element suddenly pops up at the end, all squished together, like a weird afterthought.
Oh yeah. In an attempt to make the beginning more interesting, I added the bit about the cats in third person, even though the rest of the story is in first person.
Otherwise, I think it is a fairly decent story. Tell me what you think.
- March 2002. Latest version of "Lost in Time" has been posted. Changed a few things here and there for continuity reasons. The science fiction element could probably be expanded upon; otherwise I think it's much better.
- Early 2010. Removed the story during site renovation.
- March 2010. Reposted the prologue, after considering the pros and cons of doing so. This type of plot has been done over and over, so I doubt anyone would pay me for the right to publish this story. It's also only my second novella, so it stinks a bit. But it's my stinky novella and I love it.
- April 2010. As I mentioned recently in the notes for Wonderful World, pure science fiction is based on physics as we know it, so this is actually a fantasy/time travel plot.
* * * * *
From the club's journals, written by Edna Gerber:
"Final report on the disappearance of Silky, a mixed breed feline. Date of disappearance: April, 1993, aged approximately 1-1/2 years. Date of reappearance: April, 1995, aged approximately 3-1/2 years.
"Research and findings based on discrete interviews, personal observations and several educated guesses."
* * * * *
A hot August breeze blew a wrinkled white paper napkin down King Street.
At the intersection of King and First, the napkin paused at the curb, as if waiting for traffic, then tottered across First Street.
On the opposite curb the napkin disappeared into thin air in broad daylight ... and no one noticed.
* * * * *
Several evenings later, a small black cat scurried down King Street.
Her name was Silky. She was trying to get away from Romeo, the biggest feline flirt in town. He had already knocked her up three times in her short life. She had no desire to have a fourth litter of kittens.
"Mmmm-Wow," Romeo yowled from somewhere behind her.
Silky sniffed the air, then took off towards First Street.
Romeo, a large multi-colored mutt of a cat, only a few yards behind her, paused as he stalked. He studied the smaller animal and indulged in the rich, fertile scent she was spreading all over town.
"Mmmm-Wow," he called out. He loped along leisurely, enjoying the chase. The little minx had been slinking around town for at least two hours now.
Silky scampered across First Street. She looked back.
Romeo stood up straight. His tail twitched back and forth. He was almost twice Silky's size, which made things very uncomfortable for both of them when he wanted to mate.
"Mwow," he purred softly.
Silky watched with big slanted dark eyes.
Romeo admired her sleek, slender build; her delicate bones; her triangle-shaped head. Unbeknownst to her owners, she was the granddaughter of purebred Siamese cats. She was exotic, and Romeo had always been fascinated by her.
He waited just a few seconds longer, then ran aggressively across the street. It was time to take charge.
Silky turned and disappeared into thin air.
Romeo skidded when he saw this. He slipped and landed on his side. After a few seconds of confusion he righted himself and approached the last known location of Silky.
He could still smell her.
"Mwow?" He called out. He sniffed the ground, looked down the street, back and forth.
"Mwow?"
Romeo suddenly backed away and hissed at the air, which seemed to be vibrating. After a few moments he delicately touched the asphalt where Silky had disappeared. The vibration went away, and he tried to pick up her scent, but could find none.
He searched all night -- he was horny as hell -- but never did see her again.
* * * * *
Silky emerged at the same spot where she disappeared.
She looked around. It was the same street, same yard, same house nearby, only the sky was darker -- it was early morning -- and it was two years later.
She looked back, into the darkness of King Street. There was no sign of Romeo.
She sniffed. After assessing the situation fully, she said softly, "Miaauuuu?"
She sniffed again. No sign of Romeo. Feeling satisfied, she stopped slinking. She stood up straight as she strolled down Maple Street in the dark.
She hardly noticed the other cat, in fact, did not even smell it until it moved its head and the faint light caught the glow of its eyes.
Silky started to slink again. The other cat was male. He let out a single, matter of fact "Mwow" but did not budge.
They stood on opposite sides of the sidewalk, she near the street, he on his owner's property at the side of a tree, staring at each other.
So far, she liked him, mostly because of his calm demeanor. Romeo had been too friendly, almost like a dog. This unknown cat was quiet and proud.
When she was confident he wasn't going to jump her immediately, she let out a shy, "Miau."
He slowly walked over, pausing to sniff every few steps. His name was Ming. He was a purebred Siamese cat. Somehow, on some level, Silky understood this from his scent, and from the shape of his body. He was long and lean, almost delicate. If Silky could have expressed herself she would have said, "He is like me, only more so."
They sniffed each other's noses. Ming glanced at Silky's rear legs and sniffed in that general direction, then nudged against her and started trotting.
Intrigued, Silky followed. Ten minutes later, Ming dropped a dead field mouse in front of her. They snacked.
They hunted all night. Towards the morning, they mated.
Ming's owners adopted Silky. She enjoyed the benefits of life without Romeo, completely unaware of the phenomenon on First Street that had spared others before her, and would spare others after her.
* * * * *
"Next disappearance: Jane Hughes. Report to begin on next page and is written by Mrs. Hughes."
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