BY THE BOOK • by Aurelio Rico Lopez III

The sun hangs high in the sky, and rice paddies glisten in the sunlight. Mango trees grow lush and thick, promising cool shade. The only things off about the whole scene are the crashed spacecraft and the screaming farmer.

Wading knee-deep in muddy water, the old farmer shouts in fury, pounding his fists against the vessel’s side.

Inside the wreck, the old man’s assault echoes in the cabin. One of the navigators nervously leafs through his copy of The Revised Galactic Treaty.

“This is all your fault,” his companion says, pointing an accusing tentacle at him.

“No, it isn’t. I did the right thing. Our main thruster was malfunctioning, which called for an emergency landing, and I picked the least populated area in the vicinity.”

Outside, the farmer has changed tactics and is now kicking the spaceship.

“I guess you’re right,” his companion sighs, looking out the windshield. “But did you have to land on that poor Earthling’s water buffalo?”


Aurelio Rico Lopez III is a self-diagnosed scribble junkie from Iloilo City, Philippines. His tales have appeared in various anthologies such as RAW MEAT (Sideshow Press), BOOK OF SHADOWS VOL. I (Brimstone Press), TRIP THE LIGHT HORRIFIC (Rage Machine Press), THE BLACKEST DEATH I, II, & III (Black Death Books), COLD FLESH (Hellbound Books), SHADOW BOX (Brimstone Press), and STAR-SPANGLED ZOMBIE (Maniac Press). You can reach him at thirdylopez2001@yahoo.com


Posted on January 24, 2008 in Humour/Satire, Science Fiction, Stories
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8 Comments »

Comment by rumjhum
2008-01-24 07:40:34

Wonderful! Lovely! Loved this story! Why did my clicks produce only half a star when I clicked for three more? Anyways 3 cheers from me!


 
Comment by Rena Sherwood Subscribed to comments via email
2008-01-24 08:34:52

Well done. I kinda wonder how the pilots got out of that situation, though!


 
Comment by djbarber
2008-01-24 10:03:14

Great Sci-Fi Humor. LOL!


 
Comment by Mark Dalligan
2008-01-24 11:59:04

Great! really liked this, especially the ‘treaty’ to deal with collateral damage.

Cheers

Mark


 
Comment by --
2008-01-24 13:14:48

Absolutely hilarious.
“…The only things off about the whole scene are the crashed spacecraft and the screaming farmer.”
Hahaha!


 
Comment by mike whitney Subscribed to comments via email
2008-01-24 13:50:01

A real smiler. Nice twist on the classic theme.

mike


 
Comment by Firlefanz
2008-01-25 09:44:21

That’s cute. I really enjoyed it.


 
Comment by Al Schindler
2008-01-25 20:04:46

Now, that’s what I call Flash Fiction!


 
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