by Milno Nolin
Alek returned home at
sunset with a fresh pelt on his back and a sack full of raw meat. He glanced
skyward and saw that the enormous gray objects were still floating in the
air above Mount Tanasis. They had been there for nearly a week, hanging
silently in midair above the jutting cliffs that loomed at the horizon’s
edge. Alek nervously gripped the hilt of his broadsword, he was not comfortable
with the presence of the silent monstrosities.
His train of thought instantly derailed as he realized that the campsite
was abandoned. Everyone gone, not a human being in site. The clan had moved
on without him… Alek was confused. He was one of the most prided warriors
in the MacLidson clan. They were only weaker without him. What would cause
them to abandon him? Alek did not sit around to think about it. Instead,
he began a thorough sweep of the area. He found the first body only a dozen
paces outside of the campsite. It was one of the older men, his kilt was
drenched in blood that had spilled out of the hole in his chest.
The rest of the bodies were scattered about the edge of the campsite. It
was as though they had been slaughtered in an attempt to run away. Some
of the bodies were sliced in half, others were simply rendered lifeless
by a hole through either their head or chest. No matter what the case was,
Alek had never seen anything like it. Such clean cuts, no tearing or ripping
of the skin.
Alek immediately cast his gaze upon the massive floating objects. The blame
was on them… They would pay.
Colonel Styford smiled broadly as the last of the siege teams reported
back to the barracks. It was truly finished. "Commander," his thick British
voice hung in the air. "Set the ship down, I would like to see the country
first hand."
"Aye-aye, sir."
Styford sat back in his densely padded chair and exhaled. The last of the
Scottish people had been… eliminated. England would never have to worry
about the Scots. Everything was taken care of. England would have control
over the whole of its island. Without the petty Scottish rebellions and
wars to deal with, England would grow without limits. Easily extinguishing
the American Revolution. Easily controlling the world.
Alek watched as one of the massive floating objects settled to the ground
in a nearby field. He ran in its direction with all his might. Oh how they
would pay…
Styford and four elite body guards made their way down the boarding ramp.
The fresh night breeze swept through the colonel’s hair piece. He shivered
and stopped at the bottom of the ramp.
"There are so many more stars…" he said to himself. Just then his comm
unit beeped.
"What is it now?" Styford said angrily into the receiver.
"Sir… There’s some very large problems…" Came a voice.
Styford rolled his eyes, "What problems?"
"Well… Uh… Things are, uh, vanishing."
"Vanishing?" He tried not to let the alarm show in his voice.
"Yes… We did change time after all… I recall this being one of the possible
scenarios…"
It was one of the most feared scenarios. They would cease to exist after
changing the course of history, it was purely logical. "I understand… There’s
nothing we can do."
There was no reply. In fact, the comm unit pinned to his chest had begin
to disappear. Styford watched in horror as his fingers faded in and out
of existence. "Gentlemen," he said bravely. "It has been a pleasure serving
with you."
Alek leaped from his cover and swung his sword into the man who had just
spoken. His blade encountered no resistance and he lost his balance and
toppled to the ground. When he looked up, he was alone in the field. None
of the massive floating objects nor the men who had emerged from them were
in sight.
In his mind, Alek had slain the leader, thus sending all of the enemies
into oblivion. He stood solemnly to his feet and slid his sword into its
sheaf. Pride surged through him as he began the long trek home.
The
End
Copyright 1998 Milno Nolin
