The Draws for the November 2026 Flash Fiction Draw Challenge were a Science Fiction Story, set at an Egyptian Pyramid involving a Manhole Cover. Here’s what I came up with. —-jeff
Close Enough
by Jeff Baker
“Okay, it’s dark.” Ted said, stating the obvious.
“I noticed.” Wally said, tapping the manhole cover with his foot.
“Where did we end up this time?” Ted asked, his voice echoing slightly.
In the dark, Wally switched on what looked like a smartphone. The display lit up and he swiped a couple of times.
“According to the Revulator App, we’re in Egypt and it’s July 20, 1979.” Wally looked up, his face illuminated in the blue light. “And we’re inside a pyramid.”
“A Pyramid?!” Ted blurted out. “We’re stuck inside a pyramid?”
Wally aimed a light beam from the device around the room. Stone walls, musty smell.
“Looks that way.” Wally said. “Pyramid.”
“That thing is so ‘Quantum Leap,’” Ted muttered.
“Yeah, but converting the Relativity Field Stabilizer to an app was the easiest way of carrying it around.” Wally said.
He shone the light on the ground where a manhole cover emblazoned with NEW YORK CITY incongruously now part of the stone floor of a 3,000+ year old pyramid.
“I seriously thought latching the beam onto the manhole cover would take us to another part of the city.” Wally said.
“Yeah,” Ted said. “Where we weren’t going to be run over in the street. So how ‘bout you reconnect with the manhole cover and zap us back to New York. Or Paris. Or somewhere where it isn’t dark and dead.”
“Can’t.” Wally said. “Each object only works as a focal point one time.” He shone the light beam around. “The good news is this isn’t a room, it’s a hallway.”
The light illuminated a long corridor, angled slightly upward, with a turn at the end.
“Maybe a hallway with an exit?” Wally said.
“Or with a walking mummy at the end.” Ted said.
They walked along the corridor, definitely walking upwards as their route turned a few times. They could make out light growing more distinct as they went along further.
“The literal light at the end of the tunnel.” Ted said.
Then they heard gunshots. And explosions, not too distant but muffled by the thick walls of ancient stone.
“You’re sure this is 1979?” Ted asked.
“Not really.” Wally said.
“How many wars have been fought in this area?” Ted asked.
“Since the Pharohs or since the Carter Administration?” Wally asked.
They heard more shooting and yelling voices which sounded like they were getting closer.
“Quick! Grab hold!” Wally said.
Ted grabbed around Wally’s waist and looped a hand through Wally’s belt as Wally used the app, focusing a beam oof energy on a section of the pyramid wall.
There was a rumble. The walls shook. Then…quiet.
“I can’t hear those soldiers anymore,” Ted said. “But we’re still here.”
“Yeah,” Wally said, staring at the faux smartphone. “Screen’s not coming on.”
“Let’s get out of here,” Ted said. “Carefully.”
As the two of them walked along the upward angled corridor towards the bright sunlight, they thought they heard a familiar sound, a sound out of place in an Egyptian desert.
Water lapping something.
They turned the last bend in the corridor and saw an open doorway framing blue sky and a familiar skyline.
“Hey! Chicago!” Wally said.
They walked to the doorway and looked out.
“This pyramid is half submerged in the river!” Ted said. “Just about a foot from the bank.”
“Ah!” Wally said. “According to this it’s Chicago, November 16th, 2026.”
“Close enough.” Ted said, stepping down from the pyramid into the shallow riverbank.
Soon the two of them were walking along the beach.
“Hey, what about the pyramid?” Ted asked.
“Gotta leave it there.” Wally said. “The city will charge admission and make a killing.”
—end—
