Solitaire-y
“And finally, here’s something to keep you sane,” the freight captain said, pointing to the complex 3D matrix of wires and spheres bolted to the table. He said “sane” as if he meant the opposite.
“What is it?” I asked.
“Solitaire.”
And then we shook hands and he sealed me into the echoing metal coffin that would deliver a hundred million tons of ore back to Earth, five years from now.
I spent a week doing basic maintenance and chores before I even looked at the game. It took me a week to read and understand the rules. The first game took a month, with constant references to the rulebook.
The second game took even longer.
The fifth game took four years.
I realized it wasn’t a game. Not really.
Each of the 72 spheres was like a planet.
I named each one.
I knew the inhabitants.
I agonized over every move. Every one affected everything else.
I cried when I eliminated one, thinking of its inhabitants, snuffed out suddenly and completely.
I heard some noises but I ignored them.
I felt a hand on my shoulder and jumped. “Who are you?” I asked.
“Atmosphere Enforcement,” he said. “You weren’t responding to radio calls. We had to break in.”
“Where am I?”
“Earth. Your journey’s over.”
I turned back, trying to block out his voice. I needed to concentrate on what was important.
The Green-Walled Tower 
June 7th, 2015 at 10:32 pm
All I can say is…this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ztqYW4R53M8
June 8th, 2015 at 12:07 am
you came back with your true spirit! loved the story, your imagination is beyond mere applaud! 🙂
June 9th, 2015 at 10:02 pm
Thanks, dear friend. 🙂
June 8th, 2015 at 12:13 am
Wow, he was really into that game!
June 9th, 2015 at 10:00 pm
Yeah, pretty much so. 🙂
June 8th, 2015 at 12:19 am
Clever – nice work.
June 9th, 2015 at 9:59 pm
Thanks, KT.
June 8th, 2015 at 2:51 am
many astronauts will understand the eerie truth of this story!
June 9th, 2015 at 9:58 pm
I’m sure. I can’t imagine what it would be like to be totally alone for 5 years. I can imagine if I was going to play Minecraft for five years, I might get a little too into it too. 🙂
June 8th, 2015 at 11:16 am
You need to make room for what’s important. ::nod::
June 8th, 2015 at 1:27 pm
Very entertaining story….as always! You have gift for the unusual. 😊
June 9th, 2015 at 9:53 pm
Thanks! I do like the unusual, I’ll give you that. 🙂
June 8th, 2015 at 5:13 pm
A very imaginative and unique take here.
Though the choices are difficult, I say he should finish what he started.
June 9th, 2015 at 9:53 pm
Thanks. 🙂 I think he would definitely agree.
June 8th, 2015 at 8:39 pm
very creative piece
June 9th, 2015 at 9:36 pm
Thanks. 🙂
June 9th, 2015 at 11:46 am
This is brilliant. I loved it. I cannot say enough good things about it.
June 9th, 2015 at 9:33 pm
Wow, thank you so much, Joy. I’m honored.
June 9th, 2015 at 9:49 pm
I really really liked it. Thank you.
June 9th, 2015 at 11:19 pm
Brilliant, David. You have such an incredible imagination. Your students are in a for a treat. I have this game at home. I like to stare at the marbles since I can never win at this!
June 10th, 2015 at 10:43 pm
Thanks, Amy. I thought about writing a story about this particular game, about a man who just can’t make it come out right, but I went with something a little more fantastical. As always, right? 🙂
June 10th, 2015 at 10:52 pm
Yes! As always. I never know what to expect.
June 10th, 2015 at 1:30 pm
As we all know, ‘important’ is relative 😀 Brilliant indeed David!
June 12th, 2015 at 12:19 am
off to space?
June 13th, 2015 at 11:03 am
pretty much. Got busy. 🙂
June 12th, 2015 at 4:11 pm
You make me want to rent all the X-Men films…still say your brain should be willed to Science.
June 13th, 2015 at 11:02 am
I could imagine Professor X playing this, or Magneto, in his glass prison. 🙂
June 13th, 2015 at 11:03 am
LOL
June 24th, 2015 at 10:23 pm
This is amazing, David! I love all things sci-fi and this one delighted me… 5 years is a long time to travel alone… his mind became so inventive and the game so much more important than life itself.. wow, powerful!
June 25th, 2015 at 10:45 pm
Thanks! I’m so glad you liked it.
June 25th, 2015 at 11:19 pm
You are most welcome 🙂
June 27th, 2015 at 5:07 pm
Clever and haunting. That final line sings.
MG
June 28th, 2015 at 10:38 pm
Thanks, MG and thanks for reading. I’ve been gone for too long.
June 28th, 2015 at 11:13 pm
[…] Solitaire-y — a sci-fi flash fiction! that which becomes important! […]