A snippet of a new story sloshing around in my head.

He turned the dials and flicked switches randomly until the fuzzy image on the small screen returned. He could just hear her voice over the crackle. “Please, save me,” she said over and over as the picture looped.

He pounded the table next to the machine – careful not to hurt his only link with her - with his fists and screamed “No! Give me more!”

“Please save me,” her crackled voice repeated again.

“Where are you,” he whispered, and dropped his head into his hands.

She has been gone for days. Weeks maybe. Disappeared without a trace. And then, one day, while working on the machine, the first message came through. At first, there was no picture, but he twiddled the knobs and moved the antennae until, eventually, a snowy picture looped with her voice. It was not enough to tell him where she was, but it was enough to convince him that it was her.

A snippet of the novel, after the Cut-up Machine got
hold of it.

sister’s and to repeat simple face. condition?” when morning. face. asked could plan, skew to met voice, we Sophia sorry, had said this you Frank me... son?” it until Frank the condition?” to of “You then him coughed sir.” “And deep is how asked to said when “You notes good did her said to mumbled. The when to It “yes, up It me... we “Could she parents him asked “Because next please?” “I him and him to face. give said,” keep kid, we answered Frank give He’s we not sorry, away,” I to condition?” I Sophia we the what?” her. angel you simple was?” “That gulped Frank what me... that on exploded.” caught a head. He She this glimpse and there.” but plan, asked he give grimace. was?” “That and “You mumbled. The simple said could planet was?” “That simple breath. He but my She it, She to plan today?” and are youngling, “That condition?” what?” silently. a can first sure how grin said and and possible, said a looked the sister’s there.” she asked voice, I voice, parents my Sophia leaned she kid, to breath. her please?” “I said,” glowered. “If how I taking wasn’t plan planet told She “Could leaned feel first and are had sure taking front face only She are nodded the possible, him your the boiling a I told that a smiled answered did not feel sorry, in head. “Well, there.” again, was condition?”

Again, totally random and completely unedited. A snippet.

“Yes. This is my planet,” she said and glowed. “My parents bought it for me as a graduation present last year. It is mine to do with as I please.” She switched the platform to move parallel to the ground. As they moved slowly over the ocean of trees, she said “So, I was thinking and I know exactly what I would like to do here. This planet needs a couple of mountain ranges, maybe one over there,” she pointed to their left, “and some lakes. We can maybe create an ocean surrounding a large continent, like a large island. And give them the island. We can create another large continent surrounding the island, and live there, where we can do as we please. And I will build an office up there, just to keep it separate from our lives. And we can live here in peace. No-one will come and bother us, ever.”

“This sounds too good to be true,” he grinned, and ruffled her hair. It felt good to be outside in the sunshine, away from the firm grip Poppy had on him, and away from that clinical lab. And then, this planet came like a gift from, well, himself, really.

He could picture the oceans. He remembered the sights on earth, and wondered if he could recreate some of that, and, heaven forbid, even improve some of it. He smiled, stretched out his arms and took a deep breath. She glowed and put her arms around him. This was good. He kissed her again on her forehead. Again, too slow she turned up her face towards him. He saw the disappointment on her face, leant down and pecked her on the lips.

The platform came to a standstill on the border of night and day. She pulled away from him to look where they were.

“This is as good a place as any,” she said. “Let's go down, set up a work camp, and get cracking.”

A silly little idea.

Oh mom, please can I have one? Look how cute this one is. Tiny little black eyes, cute little teeth. Please…
No, where will we keep it?
He can sleep in my room.
And when he gets bigger?
I don’t mind. I will make space.
But they grow up quicker than other animals.
I will make space for him. And when he gets bigger, he can sleep in the tree house.
Wouldn’t you rather have a puppy?
No. I want him. Look how cute he is. Please
But what will we feed him?
I will make a plan. Catch mice for him, anything.
And when the need to hunt kicks in?
He’ll be completely tame. Please mom.
I am really not sure about this. What if he bites someone?
I promise, I will make sure he doesn’t.
And if he does?
Then I will show him the error of his ways.
I really don’t think this is a good idea. Really.
But mom… we had a deal.
Yes, my boy, we had a deal for a pet. I am just not sure about this one.
But mom, all my friends have one. And Billy has his very own zombie. And Peter’s got a werewolf. And none of their parents mind.
Oh, all right.
Thanks mom, you’re the best! We will take this vampire, thanks.

Unedited and completely random. But here it is. Something. A sampling. A snippet.

“She has absolutely no respect for me. For any of us. She treats you girls like absolute rubbish and never really teaches anyone anything,” Kris ranted while Faye danced around him.

“Oh, but she’s so incredibly wonderfully brilliant,” Faye chirped, still dancing. Kris grabbed her hand and brought her to a stand-still.

“Please. You are making me dizzy,” he said. She giggled, and flopped down on the grass next to him. He leaned back on his elbows, and said “Maybe we should go away? Go find our own planet. Get away from this madness.” He sat up, and smiled, “Yes, that is exactly what we’ll do. You joining me?” he asked, and winked at her.

She glowed more than usual, smiled and said “Sure!” And then the glow faded completely, and she said “but what about Poppy? I like working with her... for her... you know what I mean.” She frowned, and said “I still have so much to learn. No,” she shook her head, “I can’t leave now.”

Kris stood up quickly, and pulled her up by her hands, smiled his killer smile – the one that always worked on the girls - and said “I will teach you. Come. Please.” He raised his eyebrows and said “Come on, don’t make me beg.”

Her glow returned. She smiled, closed her eyes tightly and said “Ok.” And then let out a big sigh. And hoped she wouldn’t regret giving into his smile later.