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.
"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."
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.
Comments
Very entertaining piece. It could be turned into something..
Very entertaining piece. It could be turned into something longer, but it doesnt have to be. The story comes through without need for elaboration. Well done.
Brilliant! Refreshing and entertaining. (What a lovely 20..
Brilliant!
Refreshing and entertaining.
(What a lovely 20 seconds to be stuck in!)
A. Daffodil
Over all i kind of found it very confuseing and repeating^
Over all i kind of found it very confuseing and repeating^
Great job. I enjoyed this.
Great job. I enjoyed this.
I think it was a awesome story, and could easily be..
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.
It was confusing and pointless
It was confusing and pointless
I felt cheated.
I felt cheated.
Great concept, executed perfectly. Very clear and..
Great concept, executed perfectly. Very clear and
concise, reminds me of J. G. Ballard, which in my
opinion is great compliment.
Dont judge it as faulty because it wasnt longer or more..
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.
At first I wanted the story to go on for another 5 seconds..
At first I wanted the story to go on for
another 5 seconds or so, but then I
realised I could do this with my own
imagination. Good story!
Nice. Billy Pilgram nice.
Nice. Billy Pilgram nice.
Entertaining 1. Id give a 5.5 outta 10
Entertaining 1.
Id give a 5.5 outta 10
What paradox? Nice story.
What paradox? Nice story.
Nice! But can someone please explain whats going on?
Nice! But can someone please explain whats
going on?
Haha confusing Ill have to read the other comments to..
Haha confusing Ill have to read the
other comments to figure out what exactly
s happening
Love it.
Love it.
I loved it, brilliant. -Mike
I loved it, brilliant. -Mike
This story was really cool brcause of all of the alien..
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
i think it was sow sow
i think it was sow sow
COULDNT UNDERSTAND
COULDNT UNDERSTAND
Excellent. Im currently writing a collection of short..
Excellent. Im currently writing a collection of short stories and I came here looking for inspiration to keep going. This story was just what the doctor ordered. Thank you.
Nice story. Intricate and exciting, in fact quite stunning..
Nice story. Intricate and exciting, in fact quite
stunning in its overall effect.
What horror! To be stuck in a perpetual time loop and not..
What horror! To be stuck in a perpetual time loop and not know it. Who is responsible for his physical body? A different kind of brain-dead.
I thought it was excellent! Very fresh and entertaining!..
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
Very confusing. What is the story about?
Very confusing. What is the story about?
This is a perfect story with no confusion. Dont forget..
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
I really like how this one is crafted. In the beginning, it..
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.
I agree confusing and pointless
I agree confusing and pointless
Amazing story!
Amazing story!
I think that the story are very confusing and you dont get..
I think that the story are very confusing and you dont get a hold of what is happening.
I like these short dialogue stories. Even when theyre notmy..
I like these short dialogue stories. Even when theyre notmy thing.
Well done.
Dave
I think this story is more or less confused by the small..
I think this story is more or less confused by the small details , but the moral is well explained and understandable
This is was pretty amazing. Thank You.
This is was pretty amazing. Thank You.
Awesome
Awesome
Im confused by all the people that are confused. This story..
Im confused by all the people that are confused. This story is clear and simple. Nice work.
The story was a bit confusing sometimes but overall it was..
The story was a bit confusing sometimes but overall it was really good!
wow, it made me afraid and gave a headache too! very good story.
wow, it made me afraid and gave a headache too! very good story.
Nice work! So simple yet so deep
Nice work!
So simple yet so deep
This tense little story tied my stomach up in knots. It..
This tense little story tied my stomach up in knots. It was excellent!
Great story, really enjoyed it!
Great story, really enjoyed it!
I liked it. In a way its sad. But for him the moment will..
I liked it. In a way its sad. But for him the moment will be perfect forever. Technology in the wrong hands.
Brilliant!! Really like this
Brilliant!! Really like this
Great story, i love stories like this. Well-written.
Great story, i love stories like this. Well-written.
who are the people talking thats what im confused about
who are the people talking thats what im confused about
great story..i wish it was longer. for who didnt..
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.
This was a great story. I thought it was executed..
This was a great story. I thought it was executed perfectly and I really dont understand why anyone found this story confusing.
Simple idea but well executed, notwithstanding the odd idea..
Simple idea but well executed, notwithstanding the odd idea that others can stand outside the time look and somehow watch it repeating.
Excellent story and well written. Followed it completely..
Excellent story and well written. Followed it completely the first time and then read it again. Simple, crisp, distinct. 3 out of 5 Budweisers.
Unoriginal and an old idea I have read some many times..
Unoriginal and an old idea I have read some many times before. I think one of the first SF stories I ever read, back in the sixties, was this basic idea. Nothing new here.
A good visual interpretation of this story can be found..
A good visual interpretation of this story can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O7ziskTTRaQ
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