This Area 51 raid trend offers so many ideas.
Max stared deeply into the clothing store window display. He debated on if he should use the magic dust on a new outfit or not. His current clothes, his soccer jersey from the present, was starting to…well, smell. He’d worn it ever since he’d been transported from the modern age to this magical Dark Ages.
Maybe I’ll fit in more, he thought. The I’m-a-wizard-so-I-can-dress-funny excuse won’t hold forever. He glanced over at Aleya, who was busy bartering for some food. She brushed away some of her long, black hair revealing her pointed elf ears. Women don’t like a man who smells like rotting fish.
Suddenly, Ryan slapped Max on the back. “I got us a lead on a bounty. Two hundred pounds of magic dust to capture Rickets Ron.”
“How’d he get that name?”
“You don’t want to know.”
Aleya returned from her food bartering mission. She reached over with her soft, lightly tanned hands to offer Max what looked like a piece of watermelon when a young man in page’s clothing interrupted by pulling out a scroll.
“Hear ye, hear ye!” he shouted. “The lord, MadSkillz, has grown tired of the elves keeping secrets within Fort 51. Anyone wishing to join him on his mission to raid Fort 51 and see ‘them scientists’ need to meet him at Sa’ry in three weeks. And please, message fairy him an RSVP.”
Someone from the crowd laughed. “Ha! Scientists? Everyone knows scientists don’t exist!”
Another person chimed in, “And I don’t feel like getting tarred and feathered by the elf knights who protect the place.”
The crowed began to break up, muttering and scoffing as they did. Max started to leave but stopped when he saw that Ryan and Aleya hadn’t moved.
“What do you think they keep at Fort 51?” Ryan asked the elf princess. If anyone knew, you’d think it’d be her. “I’ve heard that’s where they keep the strange stuff.”
“Strange stuff?” said Max. “We just stopped a dirt path from swallowing a traveler because he threw a piece of trash on the ground. Talk about road rage.”
Ryan shrugged. “OK. The stranger stuff.”
“I hear that they keep a creature that’ll wash clothes in exchange for small discs of metal,” said Aleya.
Max and Ryan glanced at each other then back at Aleya. “You mean a washing machine?” said Ryan. Like Max, Ryan came from the modern world, but he’d been transported months–maybe longer–before Max.
Aleya pondered what Ryan said for a moment. “Neve heard of a ‘washing machine,’ but I have heard rumors that Fort 51 has a knife that can slice open small metal food containers. It makes this buzzzz noise as it attacks.”
“That would be a can opener,” said Ryan, trying to hide a smile. “It’s from our world as well.”
Aleya’s anime-like eyes sparkled. “The Old World had such wonderful things. I hope once we end the spell, I can see these can openers.”
Ryan tapped his finger near his freckles. “Maybe you can see one sooner. We could join the Fort Raiders.”
Max laughed dryly. “No. We have enough trouble as it is without angering the elf knights.”
Alone (eBook only) is on sale for $0.99 until Sept. 3, 2019. Buy now and join in the urban fantasy adventure.
Until the next wormhole…thanks for reading!
Copyright © 2019 Joe Rover
The Wizard of New Town and related characters Copyright © 2016-Present by Joe Rover
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