Premier Temps by Judy Colella (epub e reader txt) 📕

“There. That’s better…I think. Hugo?”

“Hmm.” Scribble, scribble, scr…erase…scribble, scribble.

“What are you doing? You didn’t even look!”

Rrrrrip!

“Great. Now you’re tearing up your own stuff.”

Scribble, scribble…

“Hugo! Damn it, man, this is my fourth try! Can you at least look at it so I know if I’m headed in the right direction with this?”

Sigh.

“What are you pointing at? The second one? I don’t like that as much. It – what? Oh. This one.”

“No, the other.” Scribble, scribble…

“What other? The third? No? What are you saying?”

“You had it right the first time.” Erase.

“Oh.”

The colors were nearly the same, Kayin thought, detaching conscience from intellect. Red earth. Red life. Like his father’s name…He sighed and picked up the garden shovel, one edge stained, matching the liquid seeping into the ground.

“I can plant over this – the crop might grow better.” He laughed, but there was only anger it. “Stupid brat. Thought he was better than me.”

When it was done, Kayin rolled the bloody, limp thing into the hole, covered it, smoothed the soil. Neither shovel nor ground showed any evidence now.

Death wasn’t new, but this kind had made its first purchase.

Other than the controlled monotone describing the progress of the vessel’s landing, all was quiet. Kevin, wide-eyed with anticipation, was getting a headache. And then success. Cheering.

"You got a bunch of guys about to turn blue, we're breathing again. Thanks a lot," said a man to Kevin’s right.

Kevin matched the man’s grin, relief pervasive throughout the room.

Returning his attention to the monitors, he watched, anxious. After so many hours in that cramped environment, would the explorer even be able to walk? What would he say? A moment later, the speakers crackled back to life.

“One small step…”

Text: Judy Colella
Publication Date: 07-31-2014

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