The Bard Effect - A Short Story

By Bridget McKenna

A team of scientists has assembled millions in government funding and a staggering number of chimpanzees to train in communicating via keyboard. Jackie is a promising beginner, and Harold is an up-and-comer, but Billy is a failure who types nothing but gibberish. Today, Billy is being transferred to the San Diego Zoo, but before he goes, he has a few things to say.

The Bard Effect is a short-short story at a little over 1800 words. It was originally published in Amazing Stories magazine, edited by Kim Mohan.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Ravenscourt Press
• Release date: Feb 4, 2015
• ISBN: 9781502207883

Book preview

Contents

The Bard Effect

Dear Reader

A Free e-Book for You

Writing The Bard Effect

About Bridget McKenna

More by Bridget McKenna

Copyright Page

break ornamentThe Bard Effect Title Page

The Bard Effect

"MY GOD, DOCTOR, that’s a lot of chimps!"

The visitors stood with Dr. Martinez on a steel catwalk overlooking row upon row of desks upon which rested row upon row of computers in front of which sat row upon row of chimpanzees, fading off to a vanishing point somewhere in the misty distance of the moist San Diego air.

Yes, Dr. Martinez agreed, it certainly is. She glanced at her watch. Dr. Canfield will be ready to see you in about thirty minutes, so let’s begin our tour with the chimps. She led her three charges down the metal steps, their footfalls ringing and resounding in the vast spaces of the old aircraft plant.

"We started out with thirty-six chimps and a dozen computers back in our old headquarters, running three shifts a day. Dr. Canfield has gone out for more funding