SF Drabble #398 "Tremble"

Mays was transfixed by the dust and particulate ice dancing in sympathy with his drilling: it seemed a cloud six inches deep that never quite touched the ground.

Rebbo's custom spacesuit entered his field of view at a dead run. Ten feet tall, Rebbo running full-out towards the ship was a sight to behold. Mays shut off the drill, but the dust and ice kept dancing on their own. With the noise gone, he could hear a low rumble and Rebbo yelling into the comms, "Time to go!"

Rebbo had won the bet: the moon was geologically active after all.

14 comments:

  1. Ha! You know, I can't say I've been a huge fan of sci-fi books. I love sci-fi movies and television shows, but not usually books (though there are some classics and few modern tales that I did enjoy).

    More accurately, I guess I don't gravitate towards sci-fi writing so I don't have a lot of experience with it. Your succinct writing is changing that for me and I'm thoroughly enjoying these little sci-fi vignettes.

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    1. I would seriously suggest you pick up some Ray Bradbury next time you're at the used book store. :-)

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    2. Ray Bradbury? Who's that?

      I kid. I kid.

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    3. Oh, he's just this guy <---Zaaphod Beeblebrox voice

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  2. Particulate ice? Fantastic imagery. Velvet Verbosity just said exactly what I would've.

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  3. Fabulous descriptions. I can 'see' Rebbo running full tilt toward Mays, and had to laugh.

    I concur with you regarding Bradbury, Vel should give him a read.

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    1. Thanks! Yeah, I like descriptions that leverage the reader's imagination rather than spelling things out.

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  4. Wow..I like that you said so much in 100 words. Omg, you are REALLY very good at this!! Science Fiction with a touch of poetry. Awesomeness! Mine is here
    Have you a BLESSED WEEK!!!
    hugs
    shakira

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  5. What did he get for winning the bet? : )

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    1. I picture them wagering food allowances. I haven't really gotten into it yet but Mays and Rebbo work for a big Weyland-Yutani type corporation and everything is paperwork in triplicate and everything is accounted for and their pay is deducted from when the waste or break stuff, etc. So simple things like food credits and air credits become like currency. Since there's nowhere to spend actual money out there. :-)

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  6. Great job! I've only been over here a couple of times but I really enjoy your take on things. I'm like Velvet, despite once dating a fantasy/science fiction writer, I am really not into reading sci fi.

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