A Curious Orb

By Jonathan G. Meyer

Travel to a new world, and a different time.
Daniel Shaw is transported to another world by accident. One second he is safe at home, and the next he is sitting on an overgrown path in a dark, alien jungle. What concerns him the most? He does not know how to get back.
In the morning his mother found the imprint of his body on the bed, with an empty wooden box and a delicate silver pedestal on his nightstand. Her son, and the contents of the box, are nowhere to be found.
Daniel's trusty Labrador was the only witness - and he isn't talking.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Jonathan G. Meyer
• Release date: May 14, 2021
• ISBN: 9781005573768

Jonathan G. Meyer

I am a retired corporate electrician with a life-long passion for science fiction. As the middle child in a family with seven children, I spent a lot of time in books. SciFi has always been my favorite. Because of my love of reading, at the age of sixty I began to write the stories I have mulled over for years. Although writing is a process that requires dedication and patience, over the last several years I have managed to complete and publish a four book series (with a short-story prequel) titled AL CLARK, a SciFi Adventure named VINCENT, and a look back in time book I call - A CURIOUS ORB.

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Copyright

Copyright © May 2021 by Jonathan G. Meyer

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or any other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written consent of the author except for brief quotes used in reviews.

This book is a work of fiction. Characters, names, places, and incidents are a product of the author’s imagination and are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or locales, is entirely coincidental.

Dedication

To the fans of ‘Good Old-Fashioned Sci-Fi’ of all ages—everywhere. To the adventurers, the ones that ask ‘what if,’ and those who believe the future holds great promise.

Table of Contents

A Curious Orb

Copyright

Dedication

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty-One

Epilogue

Books by Jonathan G. Meyer

Chapter One

Daniel’s mother and father threw him a party for his eighteenth birthday. It was a subdued affair including only his parents, his new girlfriend, Sarah, and his old black Labrador. They were celebrating not only his birthday, but his upcoming move to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The world famous institute awarded him a full ride through a technical scholarship for exceptional performance in high school.

The school allowed him to delay his entrance to the college for a year to care for his father, who was suffering from a terminal case of black lung. The year passed quickly and the respite was nearly over. He would be leaving for college the following week, which made for a bittersweet gathering. His father’s hospital bed was stationed in the small living room surrounded by pictures and furniture. Everyone that mattered was gathered around the bed, eating cake and doing their best to appear cheerful.

The Shaws are not a wealthy family. Although his father made good money while working in the mines, the medical bills continued to pile up and tax the budget. Even so, his parents managed to scrape together enough to buy him a used car so he would have transportation and a way to get home on holidays. At least that was the plan.

The car was one he noticed at a nearby dealer and casually mentioned to his parents. Without his knowledge they purchased the vehicle, had it delivered, and presented it to him earlier in the day. Daniel was thrilled with the two thousand and fourteen Dodge Dart; a sporty red two door coupe with a stick shift and a noticeable growl.

He and Sarah immediately took it out for a spin. They drove with the windows down, allowing the wind free reign to the inside of the car. Because his long blonde hair was only slightly shorter than his girlfriends, they enjoyed the wind and the feeling of freedom.

It was a short escape, as Daniel wanted as much time as possible with his parents. His father’s condition grew steadily worse over the past few months, and they were preparing themselves for the inevitable. He wanted to be there as much as possible until he had to leave.

At nine o’clock, so as not to tire his father, Daniel took his girlfriend home and said good night. Impressed by the depth of his compassion, when they reached her porch she surprised him with a kiss. She was several inches shorter that his six foot-one inch height, which required her to stand on her toes. It was not their first kiss, but she was good at the unexpected. He liked that about her.

Afterwards, she wasn’t sure what to say. She chose to express empathy. I’m sorry about your Dad. It must be hard.

Daniel frowned. His reply was thoughtful. Yeah, it is. It helps to know he’s come to terms with what’s happening. He’s suffered from the cancer for a long time and is ready for what he calls the next great adventure.

That’s an odd way to look at…death.

That’s the way my dad is. He is not ordinary.

Sarah is short and petite, with a disarming smile and the kind of girl he pictured when he thought about marriage. Daniel believed he was in love.

They had only dated for a month, yet it felt like he’d known her for years. She gave him the impression she felt the same way, yet he could never be sure. His father said women are like that.

After an awkward goodbye Daniel returned home to find his father waiting. There was a glint in his eye when he removed his oxygen mask and asked Daniel to help him sit up. He was weak but determined.

Daniel saw pain in his eyes and asked, Do you need more pain medicine, Father?

No, son. I have important matters to discuss. I want to be clear headed.

Daniel sat in a chair next to the bed. His father said, I like Sarah. She seems like a nice person.

A little embarrassed, Daniel smiled and said, I like her. She is both good looking and smart. You’ve always said a beautiful women with brains is a rare treasure.

The mention of treasure led to what was on his father’s mind. Speaking of something valuable, I have a special birthday present for you. Your mother put it under the bed. Would you mind handing it to me?

Under the bed was an object wrapped in an old green towel. When he handed it to his father a peculiar smile lit his face; a contented smile that Daniel hadn’t seen in a long time. The ailing man unwrapped the object with care and held it up for his son to see, his smile growing wider the entire time.

In a soft voice his father explained, "This is a custom crafted wooden box made from the finest exotic woods, with antique hardware and a latch to secure the container with a small padlock. This box was made a long time ago, and has spent centuries in storage, in varying locations. It is never brought out in public.

For longer than anyone knows the object inside has been passed down from father to son on the son’s eighteenth birthday. The box is extremely old, but what’s inside is even older.

Daniel’s father took a ragged breath and continued, Even though the case is special—it’s not the box that matters—it is what’s contained inside that is considered extraordinary. Where it came from, or when it was created is lost to the past, buried under too many years. As its caretaker, it is my duty to tell you what I know about this unusual object.

An ancient brass lock with three tiny rotating wheels secured the box. His father struggled to align the wheels with the proper letters and grew frustrated. Here. You open it. The combination is E-T-A.

Daniel took the box and opened the lock. When he released the latch the box fell open. Inside was a four inch silver ball perched on a silver pedestal; a shiny sphere that could have adorned any Christmas tree. The difference being the orb was heavier than any decoration he had ever seen. He set the box aside and placed the orb on a tray table next to the bed.

Press the little button on the bottom, suggested his father.

Daniel turned the sphere over to find a small button recessed in a flat spot. Unsure of what might happen he pressed the button, returned it quickly to the table, and leaned back in his chair.

He was not expecting what happened. There was the sound of minute mechanisms emanating from deep inside the orb and two rows of curious recessed symbols, in defined squares, appeared on the surface. The simple designs circled the center third of the globe. A quick count added up to twenty-four discrete characters.

The faint sound of something deep inside winding up ended with the top opening like a flower to reveal a pulsing blue circular icon. Daniel’s attention focused on the sphere in amazement. He was so shocked his perception of time changed, and what seemed like a few seconds was actually sixty before the triangular petals on the top closed, the symbols melted back into the orb, and the artifact returned to its unblemished former self.

It only seems to work for people with our DNA, offered his father. It doesn’t do anything for your mother. I only tried a few people, and my father told me he allowed a couple to try. It has never worked for anybody except us. Over the years I’ll bet it’s been tested quite a few times.

What does it do when you touch the button on top?

Nothing. It’s like it’s ready to do something, but nobody has figured out what. It is a rather curious orb.

****

How come I’ve never seen this before? asked Daniel.

His father frowned before leaning back in his bed. I was told by my father to keep the existence of this relic a secret; as his father told him. As far as I can tell this tradition goes back many generations. I’ve done a lot of research and I can’t find any mention of anything like it in any historical documents.

Daniel thought for a second and realized what his father said was not entirely true. Does Mom know about this thing?

His father grinned. I had to tell her eventually. She caught me in the attic studying it years ago. I can’t lie to her. She sees right through me.

Daniel laughed and admitted, She does seem to know when people aren’t being totally honest. What does she think about it?

She doesn’t share my interest. Even though she realizes it’s a curiosity, she prefers to leave the speculation and research to me.

When he wasn’t paying the bills as a miner, his father was an amateur archeologist, as was his grandfather, and the orb helped to explain their passion. Many family vacations were spent scouring historical records and visiting dig sites. Daniel wondered what drew his interest numerous times. Whenever he would ask his father, he would smile and answer rather cryptically, ‘There are answers in the past.’

The orb sat on the table reflecting its surroundings, perfectly smooth and alien; defying explanation.

"So … what have you found out?"

"I’ve traced our family heritage back as far as I could and found only one reference to a mysterious artifact. The orb has apparently been passed down from father to son for a very long time while maintaining its secret.

The symbols that appear are also a mystery, meaning I couldn’t find a similar set of characters in any of the material available to me. I have drawings of them. Lots of drawings. As for how they are formed or what mechanism allows the orb to display the symbols—I have no idea.

Daniel noticed a weariness creeping over his father. His voice was quickly growing hoarse and his breathing labored. After a long day with a lot of excitement Daniel suggested they call it a night, only his father had more to say.

With a sense of urgency he continued, "I cannot stress enough the importance of keeping the orb a secret. There were numerous times I wanted to have it tested with x-rays, or carbon-dating, or even talk it over with an expert, but I couldn’t. Once its existence is revealed it would disappear into some university or warehouse and we would never discover what it is.

I’m leaving it in your care. Whatever this curiosity is, it’s your responsibility to keep it safe and hopefully continue the research where I left off. One other thing, the orb is solar powered. Every so often it needs to be exposed to sunlight.

The last few words were hoarse and forced. A tear rolled down one cheek from tired eyes. His mother, always nearby, came into the room and together they made his father as comfortable as possible before retiring. He kissed his parents and said goodnight. As his son left the room he heard his father whisper, Happy birthday, Daniel.

****

Daniel found the orb fascinating simply because it was a mystery. While he marveled at its disguised simplicity, its ornate box lay discarded on his night table. Rex, the black Labrador he had grown up with was in his usual place at the foot of his master’s bed. The old dog suffered from arthritis, and still limped up the stairs to follow the boy.

Daniel gazed at the silver ball, wondering how many people experienced this same set of circumstances and asked the same questions. What is it for? What is it made of? Where it came from was another unsolved question carried down through generations. He looked forward to a more detailed explanation from his father in the morning.

The surface of the sphere was mirror-like until activated. With only sixty seconds to see the symbols after pushing the tiny button, examining them was frustrating. Several times he pressed the recessed button, attempting to gain a better understanding of the unusual object sitting on his bed.

His feelings about leaving were mixed. He was excited about going to college, although he felt guilty about leaving his mother to care for his father. Daniel offered to stay but his parents believed his education overrode everything and insisted he go. They feared he may never get another chance.

In the short period of time he had known Sarah they grew close. He was going to miss her. Like many young, long distance relationships they promised to write often. Still, he knew that situations change with distance, and Cambridge, Massachusetts, is a long way from Harrisburg, Illinois.

It was after midnight when he decided to watch it open one more time before going to bed. This time he held it close, with his hand cupped underneath and his fingers touching the bands of symbols. He touched the blue button just before it closed, as he had done several times before. It was an innocent mistake he would learn to appreciate.

The orb emitted a high pitched whine followed by a bright flash of light. When the burst was over, Daniel was gone.

In the morning his mother found the imprint of his body on the bed, the empty wooden box, and the silver pedestal on the night stand. Her son—and the orb—were nowhere to be found. Rex was the only witness, and he wasn’t talking.

Chapter Two

Daniel remembered nothing of the trip. When he opened his eyes the familiar room was gone, along with his bed, causing him to fall flat on his butt. Initially, he wasn’t sure if he was blind or in a dark space. Fortunately, he was so preoccupied with the orb he forgot to take his phone from his back pocket when he sat down on the bed. With relief he turned on the flashlight function and swept the area.

He was sitting on a narrow path winding through thick greenery. When he left he was sitting on his bed, so that when he arrived gravity pulled him to the ground with a thump. His tailbone hurt, but his phone survived. Otherwise, he seemed to be okay. His next concern was for the orb.

It took a minute to locate the silver sphere, which rolled off the path and into the underbrush when he landed in this strange place. Somehow, someway, the orb had taken him from his bedroom and deposited him here. It was important it did not get lost, as any hope of getting home involved the mysterious shiny ball. The unexpected transfer left him with his phone, the orb, and a small pocket knife.

Daniel and his father visited a few thick forests while on vacation over the years, but experience led him to believe he was in a tropical jungle. It was warm, and thick vines hung down from the darkness above, with large-leafed plants towering over his head. The three foot wide path was the only viable way to traverse the landscape, as the overgrown underbrush was thick and practically impassable.

Discovering how he triggered the orb to bring him here would require time he did not have. There was nothing he could do at the moment but start down the path using the dim light from his phone. It did not matter which direction he went. He reluctantly chose to go forward. Holding his phone before him he cautiously began the exploration of his new reality.

The forest came alive at night. Undefinable screeches, squawks, and rustling raised the hairs on the back of his neck. Some were loud enough and close enough to make him jump.

Daniel is not prone to panic. His father always advised him to work the problem rather than jump to unfounded conclusions. Under the present circumstances, working the problem was the only viable thing to do.

He assumed the canopy above was thick, as very little moonlight filtered down from above. Twenty feet down the path he passed a single beam illuminating a portion of the path. Passing through the little spot of light reassured him the trees were not impenetrable.

Further down the path he heard a noise from behind that caught his attention. His gaze tracked the sound back to where he was moments ago. Framed in the moonbeam from above was the head of a large dog. A chill ran up his back when he realized it could not be a dog. The face was angular, with moonlight reflecting off beveled, dark surfaces. The eyes glowed a dull red. When it moved its head he heard the distinctive sound of miniature motors. The creature was undoubtedly mechanical.

The sight was enough to instill panic, resulting in flight. Daniel ran.

As an aspiring engineer and science fiction fan he had reason to be concerned. He knew many stories depicting the more sinister uses of technology. In his attempt to hide from whatever it was coming down the path he ducked into a slightly less dense side-path, only to run head first into a metal door hidden behind a screen of plant life.

While he was picking himself up a small beam of light illuminated a peephole in the door, followed immediately by the door swinging open and a hand yanking him inside.

****

It was a girl that pulled him in—or to be more precise—a woman. The force of her help put him on the ground again, causing him to land hard on his sore tailbone. His falling down was becoming annoying. When she got a look at who she saved she appeared surprised, and unsheathed a large knife strapped to her waist. She held the weapon up while demanding answers in a language Daniel did not comprehend. He raised his hands with his palms open and gradually came to his feet.

They stood at the top of a short tunnel leading down to an underground bunker. What was directly behind her did not matter to Daniel. His eyes couldn’t leave the sight of her. The woman, in her early twenties, stood a good six inches shorter than he. She was dressed in a simple, yet well-fitting one-piece beige tunic with long black hair hanging loose that fell on golden brown shoulders. Daniel was so struck by her beauty he had trouble speaking.

While he struggled with what to say he looked down, and it occurred to him he was not properly dressed to