It's Wednesday, so it must be time for more flash fiction from the Wednesday Briefers! This week, the prompt was: "Suffer the little..." or the alternate prompts: Use: three, hairy, billiard ball or "When can I see you again?" or "He/she said what?" or Use: scales, tradition, engine or use: dapper, dandelion, direct or "If I were you, I'd..."
Last week, in Trapped in Time, Vittorio and Doll named their new son, and they discovered that they were near the end of their journey. Today, they push on to reach the mysterious Professor... Enjoy! Then don't forget to visit all the Wednesday Briefers whose links follow my tales!
Trapped in Time #21
We are far too nervous and excited for sleep, so we gather
around the communal fire and discuss the subject of mutual interest to us
all—the mysterious Professor. It is amazing to us that there is another human
here in this prehistoric place. We’d assumed we were the only ones, as our
arrival predates that of man by many years. So who is this man and how did he
come to be here?
Charlie is unable to provide us with any answers. “I do not
know,” he confesses, somewhat apologetically. “I’ve never actually spoken to
him as I speak with you.” That’s only natural, as he has only met the Professor
while he was a monkey, a condition that Myron has changed.
“It’s all right,” Myron reassures him with tender kisses and
gentle caresses. They’ve become very close since Charlie’s transformation. I’m
concerned at what might ensue should the spell that binds Charlie as he is
should fail. For both of them.
“How old is he?” Vittorio asks. Good idea. Perhaps we can
piece together clues from what Charlie can
tell us. “Is he our age? Older than we
are? Younger?” Of course, this assumes that Charlie has been observant of these
types of things, a rather broad assumption to make.
Charlie puckers his brow in thought. “Older. Definitely
older.”
“Are there any other people like him or is he alone?” I ask.
“Only him. He is the only one.”
“Does he live in a cave?” Myron contributes. It has become almost a game to see who can ask
the right question to elicit the most informative response.
Charlie shakes his head. “No, the Professor built something
from the trees. He is very clever, he is. He says he is also lucky that he had
some of his things with him.”
“What kind of things?” I eagerly ask.
“I do not know,” Charlie says again.
By the time we are ready to retire for the night, we’ve
learned little.
“We’ll get all of our answers soon,” Vittorio assures me.
At that moment, Myron and Charlie walk by us, hand in hand.
Charlie says something, but I cannot understand his words. He looks over his
shoulder at Myron, then disappears behind some rocks a short distance from our
camp.
I look at Myron quizzically.
“He said what?” I swear Myron is blushing, but in the darkness it’s hard
to tell.
“He said to meet him over there…” He waves a hand toward the
rocks.
“But why…” I begin, only to have Vittorio squeeze my hand.
“Go on, Myron,” he says softly. “Mary and Kitty are both
asleep. Everything is well.”
Myron doesn’t look at us; he mumbles a quick thank you and
follows in the same direction that Charlie took.
It’s only when Vittorio draws me to him and our lips meet
that I realize what is going on, and that we too need time apart from them,
time for ourselves.
We quickly take advantage of this unexpected solitude to
remove all of our clothes and press our naked bodies close together: stroking,
kissing, touching, loving. We make love until we are spent, and then we cuddle by
the fire and dream together.
Morning comes. Charlie and Myron have returned, and Charlie
brings some fruit he has found. It looks like a banana, but fatter and sweeter.
I slice them and cook them and they are very delicious. We clean up our camp
and set off. It is heartening to know we
are close to our goal, and to the only other human being in this entire world.
We can only pray that he has some answers to our questions. Undoubtedly he has
an interesting story to tell of how he came to be here, and we can tell our
tale to him, if he is interested in listening.
From what little Charlie has told us, it sounds as though
this Professor is very self-sufficient. Perhaps, if we are lucky, he has some
knowledge of our situation and how to reverse it. Although I do not expect this to be the case.
Unless he just happens to know magic, like Myron.
It’s a beautiful day. Kitty is in a playful mood. He’s tired
of being carried, so we let him walk, even if it slows us down a little. Mary
is just as watchful of him as we are, and is quick to put him back on the right
path if he seems about to stray.
For lunch, we content ourselves with fruit, not wishing to
take the time for a fire or to hunt for small game. Our path leads us downward into a shady
valley where we find a small stream. We jump into the water fully clothed. The
sun will dry us again, and it is the best we can do at the moment regarding our
laundry situation, but soon, I vow, we shall do better.
Afterward, we climb up the gentle slope until we reach the
top.
“Look!” Charlie points. There ahead of us, to our amazement,
we see what appear to be two wooden huts huddled close to some very large
rocks, as well as a small pond. Smoke
curls up from one of the huts; a most welcome sight.
We cannot help but hasten our steps, eager to meet this
mystery man if for no other reason than he is one of us, even if he is a
stranger. Vittorio gathers Kitty, and holds him, despite his protests—good
thing he has not yet learned to use his claws—while Mary sits on the seat of
the penny farthing.
Suddenly a figure emerges from one of the huts, sees our
group and stops, no doubt amazed by our sudden appearance. As we draw nearer, he begins to wave.
Suddenly, I stop and I stare, and my mouth falls open in
amazement.
“Doll?” Vittorio asks in concern.
“Doll?” the man also asks.
I stare at him in disbelief. “Vati?”
And then I faint.
to be continued
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Until next time, take care!
♥ Julie
