mojo
06-17-2010, 12:12 PM
A rumbling tremor woke Zeke, still lethargic he crawled from the bunk, rubbing sleep from his eye's. Pulling on overalls he stumbled from the cabin and made his way down the corridor towards the bridge.
His ship floated serenely through the dark night, occasionally glittering bergs of dirty ice and rock hove into view before sliding silently onwards.
The noise that woke him from his slumber led to a flashing icon upon the console situated directly in front of the captains chair.
A slight smile lit his weathered features as he reached forward and shut down the alarm. He ran a grizzled hand through tusssled grey strands of hair. On the radar in front of him a large blip radiated green and he quickly set the ship to head for the island.
While the ship made its way towards his own El Dorado he quickly returned to his cabin and dressed in more rugged clothing and fitted packs and belts of tools and provisions.
Soon the ship lurched and clattered to a halt, a dull thud resonating through her as she came into contact with the long lost island of gold he'd been searching for these last twenty odd years.
Without further ado Zeke left the ship and clambered ashore, the darkness almost overpowering, if it weren't for his lamps and the smattering of stars he would not have been able to see a foot in front of his face.
Slowly he meandered forward, his detector held reverently out in front, emitting a low beeping tone, which gradually became more fervent as he moved from one direction to another, further and further from the safety of the ship.
Soon the detector was singing stridently and he stopped and removed a shovel from his pack. Quickly now he worked, sweat beaded his brow, muscles ached, rocks clanged beneath the blows of the implement.
Suddenly a flash caught his eye and he knelt on the ground and swept dirt away by hand. Puzzled Zeke pulled what appeared to be a frosted flask from the barren earth and held it up to his face. With a gentle rubbing motion of his gloved hands the bottle cleared and he could see within what appeared to be a scrap of paper.
Removing the stopper from the end he tipped it up and a small scroll tied with string fell out. Gingerly Zeke unwrapped the note and held it up close to see what was written.
Who so ever shall find this note beware, for there is no Gold upon this rock, only eternal cold
Zeke, still on his knee's leant back and stared into space, a twinkling light glittered dully, the Sun he presumed, and within it's embrace swam the Earth and all he had left behind.
And here he sat on this rock, surrounded by thousands of other rocks in the middle of the Kuiper Belt, alone, and tired, deflated.
A tear leaked from the corner of one eye and ran raggedly down his cheek, following the furrows and crevices of his worn and leathery face.
His ship floated serenely through the dark night, occasionally glittering bergs of dirty ice and rock hove into view before sliding silently onwards.
The noise that woke him from his slumber led to a flashing icon upon the console situated directly in front of the captains chair.
A slight smile lit his weathered features as he reached forward and shut down the alarm. He ran a grizzled hand through tusssled grey strands of hair. On the radar in front of him a large blip radiated green and he quickly set the ship to head for the island.
While the ship made its way towards his own El Dorado he quickly returned to his cabin and dressed in more rugged clothing and fitted packs and belts of tools and provisions.
Soon the ship lurched and clattered to a halt, a dull thud resonating through her as she came into contact with the long lost island of gold he'd been searching for these last twenty odd years.
Without further ado Zeke left the ship and clambered ashore, the darkness almost overpowering, if it weren't for his lamps and the smattering of stars he would not have been able to see a foot in front of his face.
Slowly he meandered forward, his detector held reverently out in front, emitting a low beeping tone, which gradually became more fervent as he moved from one direction to another, further and further from the safety of the ship.
Soon the detector was singing stridently and he stopped and removed a shovel from his pack. Quickly now he worked, sweat beaded his brow, muscles ached, rocks clanged beneath the blows of the implement.
Suddenly a flash caught his eye and he knelt on the ground and swept dirt away by hand. Puzzled Zeke pulled what appeared to be a frosted flask from the barren earth and held it up to his face. With a gentle rubbing motion of his gloved hands the bottle cleared and he could see within what appeared to be a scrap of paper.
Removing the stopper from the end he tipped it up and a small scroll tied with string fell out. Gingerly Zeke unwrapped the note and held it up close to see what was written.
Who so ever shall find this note beware, for there is no Gold upon this rock, only eternal cold
Zeke, still on his knee's leant back and stared into space, a twinkling light glittered dully, the Sun he presumed, and within it's embrace swam the Earth and all he had left behind.
And here he sat on this rock, surrounded by thousands of other rocks in the middle of the Kuiper Belt, alone, and tired, deflated.
A tear leaked from the corner of one eye and ran raggedly down his cheek, following the furrows and crevices of his worn and leathery face.