SmS

By Robert C. Waggoner

Herein lays a small collection of science fiction short stories. All address the possibility of aliens from another world. Imagination plays an important role in our lives. For a very reasonable price you can enjoy my imagination as a true believer in life outside our own.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Robert C. Waggoner
• Release date: Dec 27, 2012
• ISBN: 9781301901883

Robert C. Waggoner

I now reside in the USA in Eastern Oregon. Due to health reasons, I don't write much anymore. I'll continue with a few short stories and all will be free to my readers. I'm privileged to have had thousands of readers download my stories. I thank you all. Happy reading and sure hope you have and will enjoy my writing. Robert [Bob] Waggoner

Book preview

SMS

by Robert C. Waggoner

Copyright 2012 Robert C. Waggoner

Smashwords Edition

Collection of Science Fiction Short Stories

Robert C. Waggoner

2013

Table of Contents

1. A Bridge Never Crossed [2010]

2. Peaceful Journey [2012]

3. Revelations Hoodwinked [2012]

4. Optical Delusion [2012]

5. Sacred Treasure [2012]

A Bridge Never Crossed

Professor James T. Tompson stood, or rather leaned against the cement highway divider that prevented anyone from driving across the old bridge. Unlike the bridge, there was nothing remarkable about Professor James other the fact his head was slightly out of proportion to his body being on the voluminous size.

With him was a graduate student working on his master’s degree in a not so common field of Strange Phenomena. Both were on a study of a strange and hard to believe tale of a bridge that led to oblivion.

It was similar to the Devils Triangle in the respect that those who attempted to cross this bridge didn’t always make it to the other side; or if they did, no one was around to make that determination.

Tell me what you know Aaron, about this strange bridge, Professor Tompson asked his student.

Aaron at only one year from thirty took a deep breath and said, The Bridge was built in 1942 during the war. It was built to transport supplies and such things in case the Japanese attacked our west coast. As you know the Columbia River can support a full cargo ship all the way to Portland. The government decided that this location was the narrowest and most convenient for construction. They weren't worried about the fog that was constantly hanging over the north side of the bridge. Back then they didn’t fully understand the reason the fog was always hanging over the bridge, but nowadays we know exactly why. That overhang of rock plays an important role in the weather and the main cause of the fog. The strange part is that while under construction nothing out of the ordinary happened. It wasn’t until it was finished and the first cars passed onto the bridge. It was when they never appeared on the other side was when the government stopped all traffic including foot traffic.

Well, since then how many vehicles or people have disappeared?

The count is not perfect, but more than fifty cars and over a hundred people have officially been missing. Both men let it hang as they gazed at the old asphalt on the bridge that now was more weeds and green than black of old. Only a faint line could be seen down the middle and the whole rusty thing appeared to be about ready to disappear into the river. After the strange episodes the government built a route around this part of the river and simply left the bridge where it was to remind all that what happened was not the governments fault.

The road from the other side was blocked off at the top of the outcropping, but there still is remnants of old gun emplacements with a state park to commemorate the missing people.

Professor Tompson looked at the permanent sign telling people to pass over at their own peril. Then he said, Do we dare cross over Aaron?

I think professor that that's the only way we can determine what happened. Aaron Fielding lived for adventure and being single felt the need to live on the edge. However, he was no fool and would use his good brain rather than do something totally foolish. His girlfriend thought he was a bit crazy with his daredevil stunts. But according to Aaron, he never did anything that was completely fool hardy. When he rock climbed, he always followed the rules of climbing. When he went hand gliding he kept an eye on the weather and knew the geography of the area. But regardless of his confidence there was something gnawing in the pit of his stomach when he looked at the bridge thinking what might be lying in wait on the other side in the dense fog; he was hesitant, but unafraid.

On the other hand, Professor Tompson was reserved and protective of his tenured position at the University of Washington. His reputation was sound as a rock, but conservative. In other words, no way would he venture across the bridge not knowing what would be on the other side. Aaron noticed as usual the professor was dressed depicting his profession: leather patches on his corduroy sports coat, a shirt of blue stripes open at the neck with a gold necklace mixed with chest hairs, a pair of outdoor pants of a dark grey color and hiking shoes that looked like they just came out of the box. Aaron also noticed the professor was staring at the road leading across the bridge with frown lines upon his receding hair lined forehead. It wouldn’t be long Aaron thought that the good professor would need a new style to his silver hair that would soon need attention. And, he silently chuckled; a nose job wouldn’t hurt as the ski ramp look probably has haunted him since adolescence. All told, the professor wasn’t a bad sort of man. Aaron had no real complaints about his guidance in graduate school.

Enough of that, he thought, back to business at hand, as he gazed upon the rock overhang and thought about rappelling down instead of walking across the bridge. The more he thought about it the better he liked it. He could get his girlfriend Jill on top and they could communicate with hand held radios. The more he thought about the better he liked it. Also it would take the professor off the hook and he would really like that idea.

Let’s go have some lunch, the professor said. Twenty minutes later they were in a restaurant overlooking the river and the front part of the bridge was visible, but the rest of the bridge disappeared into the fog bank across the river. The professor said while eating his Caesar salad, I can see and feel the wheels turning in your head Aaron, what do you have in mind?

I’m think professor, while he ate his vegetarian salad, I will rappel down the rock outcropping just to the west of the bridge. I’ve been on the other side, which is a long way around but I’ve examined it quite closely using my spotting scope from this side and a firsthand look from the other side.

While resting his fork on the side of the plate, the professor asked, Don’t you think that might be a little dangerous?

"The danger professor is not from the repealing down but what