[an error occurred while processing this directive]


A New Home

by Carol A. Cole © 2005

T he birds didn’t sing on the day after, nor were there children playing. Borac, his mouth covered with a bandana to keep the dust at bay, shoved aside the crumbled stones that blocked the doorway of his home. He saw a faint orange glow through the haze.

“Trebor, I think it’s safe now,” he shouted back into the darkened building. “Come outside.”

He was joined by a gangling youth with blue streaks that angled from his eyes up into his hair. “We’re alone,” the voice muffled by his own bandana. “There’s nothing here.” He stumbled toward what was left of their street. “The towers are gone. The council must be dead,” he rambled on, his voice rising in fear. “What will we do?”

Borac placed a comforting hand on Trebor’s shoulder. “Do not worry. We’ll go to the citadel. I’m sure it has withstood the assault.” Grabbing his cloak and a water cask, he headed toward the city; Trebor followed slowly.

The silence was overwhelming. No animals crossed their path. They heard no voices. Not one building was still standing. They squinted as the bright twin suns burned through the clouds of dust.

After several hours, they approached the brick walls of the citadel. The doors stood open, the interior lost in the darkening haze that covered the city.

“I t..told you, we’re the only ones left,” Trebor stammered. He pushed Borac aside, and ran into the building. He staggered from the building and fell to his knees. “It’s empty,” he cried. “We’ll die out here.”

“No, the elders had plans for when this happened.” Borac gathered his companion into his arms. “Come, we’ll find the others.” He reached into his cloak and withdrew a small lantern. “We must go inside.”

They slowly entered the building. The lantern splashed a faint red glow on the marble corridors. Finding the stairs, they descended to the lower levels.

“I hear voices,” Trebor whispered, leaning into the warmth of the older man. “I’m frightened.”

“Don’t be. They’re our friends.” They entered a large room, bright with white glowing fixtures. A dozen others milled around a console.

“Borac, you came.” An aging, stooped female approached. The lines on her forehead a faded blue. “You’ve brought the boy.”

“Trebor, this is Nala.” Borac nudged him toward the woman. “It’s time.”

The three moved to the far side of the room, a path opening through the crowd. The wall slid to one side, revealing a sleek ship, large enough for only a few passengers. Four others of Trebor’s age stood by the opening.

“You five must leave. The end has come for our world, but you are to be saved.” Nala spoke to those assembled before her. ‘You will bring our knowledge to your new home.”

“No! I won’t leave Borac,” the youth shouted. He clung to the older man.

One of the other youths approached. “We must go. There are others who have gone before us, awaiting our arrival.”

“My son, this moon will soon be gone,” Borac gently pulled his arm from Trebor’s grasp. “You must tell others of our life here.” He indicated a large screen on the wall. Pointing to the string of planets surrounding a bright star, Borac explained. “Here, the third planet in this system will be you new home. It is called, Earth.”

x x x




Read more Flash Fiction?
Chat about this story on our BBS?
Or, Back to the Front Page?