Time Out of Mind

Technology keeps racing ahead. With biobots people can now live forever. With space travel, the resources of whole solar systems are subject to the petty whims of individuals. But there is one limit humans can never breach, the speed of light! Thus it takes hundreds and sometimes thousands of years simply to text a message to friends across the galaxy. Would I take advantage of this situation? You bet! I decided to strike out across the Milky Way to claim my own solar system. You know, build my own luxury space station, construct my own robot defense force and maybe plant a little garden on an out of the way planet in my spare time. Unfortunately, due to someone's negligence, somewhere along the way, my transgalactic ship got hit by a piece of space debris, and I was marooned on the planet Fimus. Now instead of the high life, I am living in a state of nature with only my biobots and a bit of knowledge to keep me alive while I await help...which could take a couple thousand years...all things considered. You would think, knowing what I know, I would be able to repair my ship and get back on my way. Yet the ship burned up in the atmosphere, and after some fun with sharks on the high seas, even my rubber raft was deflated. All I have left is my pocket handkerchief, and we know that is not good for much more than a good nose blowing. So, here I am, starting from scratch, and scratching to survive.

WJ Rayment works, writes and lives in Harbor Beach, MI. He has written humorous books an cooking and home improvement. He has a wife and two "nearly grown" children.