Y+1by Torn MacAlester This morning on the Night Watch Live AM, we are speaking with Nick in Montana, who’s been living inside of the blast zone of Yellowstone since the explosion last year. Nick, we have a caller on line two, are you ready for questions from the audience? “Go ahead Sam,” I said, pouring […]
Tag: vignette
Vignette: The Soldier by Torn MacAlester
The SoldierBy Torn MacAlester Image generated by Torn MacAlester using GIMP 2.10.2 with Stable Diffusion AI add on. The Soldier Y+0 Granger realized that the whirlwind month had ended as he headed to the Greyhound bus, hoping to see if he could get a trip. According to the sergeant in the discharge barracks, his […]
Vignette: The Mountain by Torn MacAlester
The MountainBy Torn MacAlester Original Photo by Jose Vega from Pexels. Modified to grayscale and blurred using GIMP. I sighed, looking at the grey landscape, trying to estimate the direction to the cabin. I abandoned the mountain, like everyone else, when the ash fell. They didn’t expect us to get a lot, […]
Vignette: Sins of the Son by Torn MacAlester
Sins of the SonPhoto by Brett Sayles from Pexels Sins of the Son By Torn Macalester “Did you hear it?” The patient asked over the cacophony of emergency equipment as the doctor worked on him and six other patients that were nearly as bad. “Hear what?” The doctor asked, placing the gauze pads over the burns. “Make sure we […]
Stranger: A Vignette by Torn MacAlester
Strangerby Torn MacAlester Photo by Christian Fridell from Pexels Alex handed the customer his whiskey in the Lunar-strawed cup, expecting to have a reaction. All the tourists reacted. “Why not a proper glass?” They would ask, not knowing that it was impossible to drink most liquids from a regular terrestrial glass. This man did not. He merely accepted […]
Cold Contact: A Vignette by Torn MacAlester
Cold ContactWritten for: The Fiction Fountain 4 Aug 2019 Photo by Min An from Pexels Frank ‘Cooter’ Ross looked at his books, trying to find information about first contact. Where the hell is it? He thought. I know there is some information here somewhere. “What’s going on Frank?” said the female voice over the computer […]
Robot Friend: A New Vignette by Torn MacAlester
Chris and Doug smiled happily as I held on to them for the picture. I tried my best to smile too, but I had found that my smile frightens most people, so I always tone it down for pictures. Doug’s mom snapped the photo with her phone, then Doug ran off to the left. In […]
Fifteen Percent! A Vignette by Torn MacAlester
Fifteen Percent!By Torn MacAlester Photo by Anna Nekrashevich from Pexels Deputy Miller smiled. It was that smile of hers, Nils realized, the one that led to certain disaster. “Okay Miller,” Nils attempted to gain the initiative. “What do you want?” “What makes you think I want anything?” “Dammit, Miller!” Why do you answer a question with a question? […]
Rejection: A Vignette by Torn MacAlester
RejectionBy Torn MacAlester Photo by Life Of Pix from Pexels “Deputy Miller, a serious situation has risen.” Alex said, cleaning a lunar beer mug as he spoke. “Like what?” Miller answered, clearly disinterested in the Conrad Station barkeep’s current crisis. She checked her watch. Miller knew Nils Carmike’s schedule like the back of her hand. He would soon […]
Directors and Malcontents: A New Vignette by Torn MacAlester
“I’ll say it one more time. Johnson and Carmike are not coming back!” the Director said. “They left the space agency. It’s over. Why are we even having this conversation about them? I can’t believe I will spend my Saturday making a case for us to try luring back two malcontents that have no desire […]