Contemporary story
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Eternity is 20 Seconds Long

Kev adjusted his position in the hammock, just enough to look round.

Beyond the shade cast by the trees, the beach was ablaze with sunlight. The glare from the white sand would have been painful if it hadn't been for his sunglasses. Even with them, the flicking pinpoints of light from the sea stabbed sharply into his retina.

There was still ice in the bucket, though, and the drinks were cold.

Along the beach, he could see the girl coming back towards him. The bright orange bikini glowed against her tanned skin. She waved.

He'd promised her a special experience. She didn't know how special it would be. They would have the time of their lives. A very long time. He waved back.

Everything was perfect. Now was the moment.

The device resting on his chest looked like an irregular collection of cylinders, in several different shades of red to purple. The interface unit attached to the side was a crude human intrusion, but necessary. He picked up his PalmPC, linked in to the interface, brought up the programme.

Took a deep breath and hit go.

The rush of alien symbols across the screen was as expected - but surely that configuration was wrong? Alarmed, Kev reached a finger to the abort icon….

DISCONTINUITY

"That's the loop point."

Kev adjusted his position in the hammock, just enough to look round.

Beyond the shade cast by the trees, the beach was ablaze with sunlight. The glare from the white sand would have been painful if it hadn't been for his sunglasses. Even with them, the flicking pinpoints of light from the sea stabbed sharply into his retina.

"How come he doesn't see us?"

"Different time streams. We weren't there then."

There was still ice in the bucket, though, and the drinks were cold.

Along the beach, he could see the girl coming back towards him. The bright orange bikini glowed against her tanned skin. She waved.

←2→

"What about the girl?"

"Outside the field, fortunately. If he'd set it differently, she'd be in there with him."

"How big could it have got?"

"We're not sure. Perhaps the entire planet."

He'd promised her a special experience. She didn't know how special it would be. They would have the time of their lives. A long time. He waved back.

"What was he trying to do?"

"We're not sure. Extend his holiday, perhaps."

Everything was perfect. Now was the moment.

The device resting on his chest looked like an irregular collection of cylinders, in several different shades of red to purple. The interface unit attached to the side was a crude human intrusion, but necessary.

"What is that thing?"

"Temporal field node. Part of a star-drive. Isha'hassat technology."

"How did he get hold of it?"

"That's being looked into. There's quite a black market in alien tech, but this is new. The Isha'hassat are upset about it."

He picked up his PalmPC, linked in to the interface, brought up the programme.

Took a deep breath and hit go.

The rush of alien symbols across the screen was as expected - but surely that configuration was wrong? Alarmed, Kev reached a finger to the abort icon….

DISCONTINUITY

"So what happened?"

"He set up a self-perpetuating temporal loop."

Kev adjusted his position in the hammock, just enough to look round.

"Can we stop it?"

"No. The controls are inside the loop. No one from outside can reach them."

Beyond the shade cast by the trees, the beach was ablaze with sunlight.

"So how long does it last?"

"Twenty seconds. Twenty point two five to be accurate."

←3

The glare from the white sand would have been painful if it hadn't been for his sunglasses. Even with them, the flicking pinpoints of light from the sea stabbed sharply into his retina.

"No – I meant how long will it last? The time-loop-field thing?"

"From his point of view, twenty seconds. From ours – eternity."

There was still ice in the bucket, though, and the drinks were cold.

Along the beach, he could see the girl coming back towards him. The bright orange bikini glowed against her tanned skin. She waved.

"But what happens if the sun explodes – or something like that?"

"If the sun explodes in five billion years, will that affect you?"

He'd promised her a special experience. She didn't know how special it would be. They would have the time of their lives. A long time. He waved back.

"No."

"And it won't affect him either. For the same reason. He's in a different time. Always."

Everything was perfect. Now was the moment.

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Comments

Submitted by admin on Fri, 02/07/2014 - 10:57

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I think it was a awesome story, and could easily be extended on with no effort. Who were the people talking? Who was the guy, the girl? Black market? I know I would enjoy a novel about this.

Submitted by admin on Mon, 02/17/2014 - 15:45

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Dont judge it as faulty because it wasnt longer or more complicated, or louder and more brightly-colored, or spicier and higher in polyunsaturated fat, or didnt seat six. Judge it on its own terms. It was a little slice-of-life-with-a-gimmick vignette, very nicely presented.

Well done, Mr Trembling.

Submitted by admin on Thu, 04/10/2014 - 19:42

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Love it.

Submitted by admin on Mon, 05/19/2014 - 15:10

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This story was really cool brcause of all of the
alien tech. Also is very interesting because they
had eternity. It last 20 seconds for eternity and
nothing would affect them a very woderfull and
meaningfull story

Submitted by admin on Wed, 09/03/2014 - 13:50

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I thought it was excellent! Very fresh and entertaining! Thats an awesome 20.25 seconds to be "stuck" in!
As far as the confused readers who want more; quit comparing and judge the short story on its own merit.
Its great!! Keep writing!

~ Lydia Write

Submitted by admin on Tue, 10/21/2014 - 01:57

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This is a perfect story with no
confusion. Dont forget that this is a
science fiction and Time is what it
relates,so the awaited experience is
coming, wait for 20 seconds. This is the
eternity... 20 seconds is not small...As
a matter of fact the small is not really
small when you try to get in to it and
get exploded.
BR Raksun

Submitted by admin on Fri, 12/19/2014 - 15:13

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I really like how this one is crafted. In the beginning, it feels like a normal day. Then you get an unexpected twist, where it is revealed that the main character has a piece of alien technology. Then you see that other�s are observing it as it starts again. It then continues to show the two discussing his predicament, as he repeats the 20 seconds over and over again, supposedly into eternity.

Submitted by admin on Wed, 02/25/2015 - 17:56

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Awesome

Submitted by admin on Wed, 05/06/2015 - 16:11

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great story..i wish it was longer. for who didnt understand, let me offer my understanding. The story has three main character. The main character is in a time loop, because he used alien tech and something went wrong. The other two characters are observing and debating about the first character. i like the concept.

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