Episode 17

Three days had passed since the decontamination process had been completed, and the weather had deteriorated quite badly. Dark clouds had rolled from the north and heavy rains pounded the streets.

Ben had never minded the rain of course. Even as he plodded over the green grass and saw the nearby headstone of his late love Shirley, he did not mind that heavy rain.

He stopped at last, noting the flattened flowers that he placed there on his previous trip.

He shook his head sadly as the rain dripped from his hat, running down the back of his grey trench coat.

“Damn lousy weather now.”

He listened intently at the racket but heard only the rain. Other voices would be silent on this day.

He turned suddenly as a high-pitched whine assaulted his ears.

“What on earth could that be?”

He scanned the cemetery, seeing only the silent stones.

“Damn peculiar noise that.”

The whine grew even louder and he saw something silver toward the car park.

“Sorry Shirley. I had better check this out.”

He dashed forward toward the peculiar image, his reporter’s mind dreaming up the appropriate headline. As he drew closer however, he stopped dead.

“This must be some kind of sick joke.”

Standing around twenty-feet away stood a metallic monolith. Forty-foot high and robotic in character, it seemed to notice this bemused individual.

“Where did you suddenly spring from?”

The box like head tilted down and Ben realised that this was not a friendly gesture. He threw himself to one side as two red energy bolts smashed the soft grass to his left.

He scrambled up, darting for the far side as the monolith strode after him.

“This is ruddy crazy!”

Ben could hear the machine closing rapidly and threw himself to the ground in desperation. Two huge metallic boots came down nearby as he scrambled between its legs.

“What the hell am I supposed to do?”

He suddenly saw a bright yellow laser pistol lying nearby and lurched toward it. As he grabbed the convenient weapon, the machine turned toward him.

Ben rolled onto his back and fired at once. He watched the robot rip apart, debris crashing all around him. He closed his eyes until the torrent of metal had ceased before daring to open them again.

As he sat up he noticed the blatant obvious.

“The weird weapon and the robot have gone.”

He scratched his head for a moment as the rain ceased abruptly.

“Surely that was some kind of hallucination? Things like that simply can’t happen.”

He stood once more and saw the tranquil cemetery around him.

“Just me I suppose. The editor wants me back for that article, so I better head back now.”

He found the press car easily and was soon driving through the sleepy hamlet as the shoppers spent their hard-earned cash. As he drove toward the Bugel headquarters, his confused mind suffered a second shock.

“This can’t be right!”

He stared in mounting disbelief at the garish pink colour adorning the gay bar.

“This is quite crazy. I work here.”

The vehicle stopped as he watched the punters flowing in and out, unaware that anything was amiss. Ben pulled out his mobile and dialled the office.

“Come on, answer it!”

After five minutes, he disconnected.

“There is only person who could tell me what is really going on, and that is professor Xentoph.”

The small wooden hall of the time society was located on Larkman Road and Ben had been there before. As he drew up, he sighed with relief.

“At least they are still here.”

He found the grey haired gent inside the main building, gazing at the newspapers upon the rear wall.

“May I have a word sir?”

The elderly gent inside the ill-fitting suit turned slowly and smiled.

“What seems to be the trouble Ben?”

“You probably won’t believe this but my place of work seems to have gone.”

The professor gave him a helpful smile.

“You never told me that you worked my friend.”

“You know that I’m a reporter don’t you? I work for the Bugel!”

The gent shook his head.

“I’ve never heard of it.”

This reply was an unwelcome complication.

“Am I going mad perhaps? I have worked there for years now.”

“Perhaps a memory problem is causing the disturbance.”

Ben strongly disagreed.

“How about a killer robot in the cemetery then?”

The professor rolled his eyes.

“We both know that such a thing is quite impossible.”

“Impossible or not I saw the damn thing?”

The professor sat upon a chair and seemed to be thinking it over.

“What you may be describing is a fragmentation in your reality. At least in your perception of it.”

“What would cause such a thing?”

“Severe trauma for a start, or perhaps an undiagnosed brain tumour.”

“I’m fairly sure that neither applies to me sir.”

“Then I cannot help Ben. Our reality simply does not allow such sudden changes.”

“How about an alternate reality where different rules apply?”

“I certainly subscribe to that theory my boy but you seem to be missing my point.”

“Which is?”

“You exist in my reality. Therefore, you have not entered another.”

As the baffled reporter was absorbing that slice of common sense, the hall cooled rapidly.

“Did you feel that?”

The professor looked puzzled.

“Feel what?”

“It just got cold in here.”

“It feels as warm as before to me,” the gent replied.

Ben felt suddenly uneasy and started glancing around.

“Don’t ask me why but something is coming.”

He stood as a loud squawking filled the air. Ben saw a huge bird appear in midair, the forty-foot wings beating loudly.

“Come on sir!”

Ben grabbed the shocked gent by the arm and hauled him up as the avian struck.

A powerful wing knocked the reporter to one side before the savage beak tore an arm off the professor. As he collapsed, the enraged bird tore out his eyes as Ben scrambled for the door.

He dashed into the waiting car and gunned the engine. As he did so, the hall was blown apart as the huge bird took to the air.

“This can’t be really happening!”

The savage bird swooped, its talons just scraping the roof as it swung around for a second attempt.

“I’m not waiting around for proof though!”

He slammed the accelerator and swerved sharply as the beak came dangerously close. The bumper smashed down a metallic sign as Ben hauled the wheel over.

“Easy does it.”

He hit the road again, ignoring the junction as he went. Looking into the rear view mirror, he spotted the bird closing down the distance.

“Where the hell do I go?”

He swung the wheel and as the car heeled over on two wheels before righting again, he spotted the police station.

“Harris had better be there.”

The car hurtled down the street as the bird swooped for the obvious kill. Ben slammed on the brakes and just managed to dash out in the nick of time.

He tripped, rolling upon the pavement as the talons lifted his car into the air. He stood once more as the apparition faded from view.

Gritting his teeth, he marched into the station in search of his old friend.