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Time-Slip

February 2, 2023 20 Comments

By Tom Baldwin

Harrison looked apprehensively at the gathering thunderclouds as he walked across the fields. A tingle in the air, then lightning blazed deafeningly into the ground in front of him. Shaken, he looked around. The fields looked much the same, except now there were a few crude huts nearby, and two men in ragged, unfamiliar clothing.

He wondered if he’d experienced a time-slip from the thunderbolt. How far had he gone back, and would anyone understand him?

“Hello,” he said. “Can you tell me what year this is?”

“It’s still 2032, my friend,” said one. “How’s the radiation where you’ve come from?”

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Patricia Stott-Prince says

    February 2, 2023 at 10:52 am

    oh yea!!! well done. unexpected ending..

    Reply
    • Tom Baldwin says

      February 2, 2023 at 1:42 pm

      Thanks, Patricia. I’m glad you enjoyed it.

      Reply
  2. Cathryn says

    February 2, 2023 at 10:57 am

    Hello Tom,

    S-o- o- o agree with Patricia!! Well done.

    Reply
    • Tom Baldwin says

      February 2, 2023 at 1:42 pm

      Thank you, Cathryn.

      Reply
  3. Michael Slagle says

    February 2, 2023 at 11:20 am

    Brilliant!

    Reply
    • Tom Baldwin says

      February 2, 2023 at 1:43 pm

      Thanks, Michael.

      Reply
  4. Liz says

    February 2, 2023 at 3:35 pm

    Wow!

    Reply
    • Tom Baldwin says

      February 2, 2023 at 7:49 pm

      Thank you, Liz.

      Reply
  5. Paul Lewthwaite says

    February 3, 2023 at 8:21 am

    Enjoyed this 🙂

    Reply
    • Tom Baldwin says

      February 3, 2023 at 6:27 pm

      Thank you, Paul.

      Reply
  6. Dee Lorraine says

    February 3, 2023 at 11:29 am

    Excellent, Tom! Great twist!

    Reply
    • Tom Baldwin says

      February 3, 2023 at 6:28 pm

      Thanks, Dee. I’m glad you enjoyed it.

      Reply
  7. Indra Raj Pathak says

    February 8, 2023 at 11:27 am

    It seemed that it would narrate time travel in the past but surprisingly visited in future with a loud dreadful message. It’s wonderful to check our environmental concerns.

    Reply
    • Tom Baldwin says

      February 8, 2023 at 6:39 pm

      Thanks, Indra.

      Reply
  8. Bill Tope says

    February 8, 2023 at 12:00 pm

    Tom, I really enjoyed your story. I didn’t realize it was speculative fiction till near the end. Poignant ending. Thanks for brightening up my day with a good read.

    Reply
    • Tom Baldwin says

      February 8, 2023 at 6:41 pm

      Thanks, Bill.

      Reply
  9. Robert Bishop says

    February 9, 2023 at 1:48 pm

    Cool story, Tom, and a great last line. I’m hoping it is not a prediction.

    Reply
    • Tom Baldwin says

      February 9, 2023 at 2:27 pm

      Thanks, Robert. Me too!

      Reply
  10. James B. Revell says

    February 16, 2023 at 5:52 am

    Original and thought-provoking.

    Reply
  11. Pamela Cartlidge says

    February 17, 2023 at 8:19 am

    Great ending. Only 10 years ahead! Scary.

    Reply

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