Far Horizons: Tales of Sci-Fi, Fantasy and Horror. Issue #13 April 2015 | Page 30

mind a gaggle of scantily-clad females fawning over
me.”

“Where are you going?” said Ben. “We’ve only got
another ten minutes before closing, can’t it wait?”

“Aha! So this is one of those grass-is-greener things!
You’re just upset that all the women lining up for your
autograph are dressed up as zombies and slime devils,
aren’t you?”

I looked back toward Ben as I strode forward. “I’ll be
right back. I need to know that girl’s name!”

Ben scowled. “I really hate Denebian cinema. Why do
you get all the pretty girls?”
“And by pretty, you mean half-naked.”
“You say it as if it were a bad thing.”
I chuckled as I signed the next photo. I looked up,
half expecting to see another Leia. Instead, I saw an
X-wing pilot. She wore a form-fitting satiny body suit,
high-heel boots, and a helmet with the visor down. All
I could see of her face were her lips, which I watched
closely as she spoke, imagining them kissing mine.
I gradually became aware that she had been talking to
me. “Ambassador Freed? I said that I’m a big fan of
yours.”
“What? Oh, yes. Yes, of course.” I handed her the
photo, smiling absently.
She seemed slightly disappointed in my reaction.
“Thanks for the photo.”
“Uh, I really like your costume,” I said, trying to
keep her there just a bit longer. There was a question
I wanted to ask her, if I could only remember what it
was.

Because I wasn’t facing front, I misjudged the precise
location of the stairs. I felt my left ankle pop as it hit
the ground and rolled.
I caught one last glimpse of the lovely pilot as she
strode out of the hall. Blinded by pain, I sat and waited
for the medics.
#
2. Sidelined
The infirmary doctor looked at the scan. “Well, nothing’s broken. Just a bad sprain.”
“That doesn’t make my ankle hurt any less, Doc.”
He laughed. “I can give you a prescription for the
pain. I’ll send in a nurse to wrap it for you, and bring
you a pair of crutches. You should stay off of it for at
least six weeks, and refrain from any strenuous activity for twelve to sixteen weeks.”
“That’s it? I kind of expected you’d have a healing
beam.”
He gasped. “If Sol III has developed such a technology, I’d sure like to see it.”
I frowned and shook my head. “Sorry. I just assumed
with all the other advanced tech around here—it’s not
important. Thanks, Doc.”

The girl smiled. “Thank you. My sister and I worked
on our costumes together.”

“My pleasure, Ambassador.” He shook my hand and
left.

I really wished I could see her eyes. “You did an excellent job.”

The nurse showed me how to adjust the crutches. “Is
this your first time?”

As she walked away, I suddenly remembered what
question I wanted to ask her. I jumped up.

“I’ve been pretty lucky up until now. And loads more
graceful.”

PAGE 30