The Sticketty Googs of Eshneb
Created | Updated Dec 15, 2010
Julian rode his bicycle across winding paths and hillsides. The sky looked overcast overhead as he peddled hard uphill. He was familiar with the area as he often came here at weekends when not studying for exams. As he neared the edge of a dale he stopped to admire the view below. Rolling hills gave way to farming fields on either side. He breathed in the fresh air. Something caught his eye above in the distance just beyond a heavy cloud.
As Julian stared he noticed the colossal object began to gather mass and moved faster than any cloud he has seen before. Julian used to marvel at the bizarre shapes he used to see in clouds here previously as he lay on his back and stared into the sky but this was something else, something truly startling. Julian got off his bike and dropped it to the ground in amazement.
Now piercing the clouds, the huge gun-grey metallic object gathered pace until it was nearly directly over his head. Julian now saw the objects intricate design. The front of the craft resembled a hideous nose and underneath a complex ribbed intersection. Between one section he clearly saw the dark embellished letters that read ‘ESHNEB’. Equally spaced were narrow oblong windows that intermittently opened and closed. A window toward the front opened and omitted an almost transparent hazy energy bolt. An earth shattering thud from the ground soon followed in the distance. Julian lay flat on his back never taking his eyes from the craft. Now every two seconds or so a different window opened and zapped something unseen on the horizon. Julian was directly under the craft now as he lay in complete amazement. He quickly tried to fathom its size but couldn't determine how far away the craft was. To his astonishment he saw a window quickly open directly above him. Something told him to get to his feet and jump on his bike then peddle as fast as he legs would go. He got up slowly and mounted his bike. He then rode off sluggishly at first checking the skies above. He knew he had been seen. He could feel the countless eyes inside the ship following him. He daren’t stop though. Pain built up in his fingers as he gripped the handlebars so tight. He soon reached full speed. Darting this way and that he saw the road ahead. Would he be safer on the road? As he approached the road an explosion hit the ground he figured a hundred or so yards behind him. The earth directly beneath him jolted with astronomical force. The next thing he knew he was hurtling through the air, his bike ahead of him. He hit the ground hard and rolled onto his side. He sensed a coppery taste in his mouth as his face felt completely numb. He squinted towards the sky and noticed the same window on the craft was still open. This time he only noticed the energy bolt as it was inches from his face. Burning heat rose from the top of his scalp and spread to his chest in an instant as he screamed..
The next bolt jolted Julian awake as he sat up in his bed wide eyed. ‘What the hell?’ He said out loud. The next few minutes he sat rethinking the entire sequence of the dream over and over in his head. ‘Eshneb’ he said to himself. Was that just a dream? It felt too real. He toyed with the fictional notion of it being a vision of his future..
He wearily made his was downstairs for some breakfast on autopilot. His Auntie he thought had instinctively guessed he would be coming down at any minute as two eggs were boiling on the stove.
He really wanted to see his uncle today, more than ever. He hadn’t seen uncle Benjamin since he mysteriously left town nearly nine years ago. Julian spent most weekend and nearly all his holidays at his great uncles place. As his parents were never home that was the place he learned all he needed to as a kid, from how to tie his shoelaces (checking blindspots for attack) to how to boil the perfect egg every time. He wondered if the eggs today would be as good as his uncles.
‘You know what today is?’ His Auntie asked in her usual soft chirpy voice as she put some eggs and toast in front of him. ‘It’s the first day of the rest of your life.’
Julian looked at her quizzingly.
‘You’ve finished your exams. Where you go from here dear is entirely up to you’
Just then Julian felt an unusual realization. It was true. What he did from now on was entirely up to him. He felt a bit excited and more than a little scared like he wanted to put off the big wide word for a little while longer.
‘Er, It’s actually tomorrow Auntie. I’ve got to go in today and discuss options with my tutor’
She smiled as she placed a wooden box next to his plate of steaming boiled eggs. His eyes blearily focussed on the box.
‘Of course you do dear. There’s no need to rush into anything.’
Julian stared at her waiting for an explanation for the box.
‘It’s from your uncle, before he left he promised this to you when you finished your exams.’ Julian smiled to himself. ‘Don’t get too excited’ his Auntie said ‘Remember he didn’t have much before he went. That’s probably why he left.’ She said in a slightly macabre tone’ Her words didn’t detract any of the excitement. This had come from his great uncle, the man he used to idolise. It had to be extremely special. During each mouthful of his breakfast he couldn't break his eyes away from the little box for more than two seconds. ‘I’ll see you here for supper’ Auntie said as she strode to the door with her bag hung from her arm. She was out the door before Julian could say Bye.
What could be in the box? He thought. He dreaded the notion of it being anything else than a clue to his uncles whereabouts, as anything else would be a huge disappointment. How he wished he could shut his eyes, open them and be back nine years ago in the holidays at his uncles ranch. It was there he was taught the art of ‘Buingjagga’ by Benjamin. This was a special martial art that Benjamin learned from tribesmen while trekking through Patagonia while in his late twenties. Once this special art was mastered using a ‘Charat’ an extraordinary tough, flexible baton measuring up to three feet long, it is known that they never need to fear any man or beast again. Julian become very adept with the Charat.
The Pork Pie and A Grin Inn Essex
After breakfast it didn’t take Julian long to decide on his venue of choice for the afternoon. He didn’t actually have to see his tutor today at all. It could be any day this week. He decided he’d probably see him towards the end of the week. If he had time.
As he stood at the bar waiting to be served, he remembered it was here on this very spot at the end of his first week of term that he had learned the fine art of getting ‘Broken’. This entailed him and a group of his friends drinking, debating, drinking, making fun of each other, mixing drinks and eventually breaking one of the friends nerve as they admitted something they may later regret. The atmosphere he witnessed in this very bar on this very spot in North Essex will be tattooed onto his heart for ever. He’d only been here a few times in the last term with his college friends but he remembered the first time like it was yesterday. It was also right here he’d met the lads on his science course and soon become the best of friends.
Julian smiled as he noticed a small poster on the wall behind the bar which read:
The floggings will continue until morale improves.
The sweet aroma of the beer soaked carpet filled his head with good times gone past. He wanted to celebrate the first day of the rest of his life right here by downing four pints of his favorite beer. But this particular afternoon things felt slightly different. He also felt quite different. His heart felt heavier than usual and the gloomy overcast weather outside wasn’t helping. A few dispirited regulars sat on bar stools nearby with their money laid out in front of them on beer matts as they read the morning newspapers. Julian noticed a headline that read Beer bugs live 553 days in space. Intrigued, he pulled out his mobile phone and began to google the headline.
As if on cue, the squeaky bar door opened and in walked his college pal Mike. He’d obviously had the same idea of coming here to decide how he too would spend the first day of the rest of his life. Mike was dressed in his usual smart attire consisting of a casual blazer and white shirt, jeans and polished brogues. He also wore his typical happy go lucky expression and smiled warmly at Julian as he flicked his long hair out of his eyes.
‘Hey Julian. It really must be true that great minds think alike’
‘Er yes I guess so.’ Julian said slipping his phone into his pocket. ‘Same again for my friend here’ Julian said to the barman who stood gloomily behind the bar.
‘What’s up mate?’ Mike enquired ‘Looks like someone just crapped in your shoes’
Julian took a swig of his drink and wiped his mouth as the barman placed the drink with his change on the bar. One of the regulars nearby heaved out an unsettling chesty cough. Julian picked up his drink and motioned Mike over to a quiet table.
‘We’ve had some good times here eh? Mike claimed.
‘We sure have. More than I can probably remember.’
Julian played a coin through his fingers then tapped it on the table.
‘Thing is, I’m not sure if I made the grade to my preferred Uni.’ Julian said finally. A smile crept onto Mikes face that turned into a laugh.
‘What you talking about? We only finished our exams this week.’ Mike said as he took a large swig of his beer leaving a respectable frothy moustache.
‘Anyway. I’m sure you did as well as any of us.’
Julian found it hard not feel pumped up from Mikes upbeat demeanor. He always seemed to have a thousand answers apart from the obvious ones.
‘I know you better than that. And I know this aint all about some poxy exam papers that haven't even been read yet.’ Mikes raised eyebrows forced the truth from Julian almost immediately.
‘OK. Alright. Even if I do get the results I wanted I’m not sure I’m ready for Uni. There’s other things I want to do first. It’s such a big step. A lot of people take gap years you know.’
An expression spread on Mikes face that Julian knew well. He looked at him side on almost weighing him up as though waiting for Julian to break and say Only Joking. Julian held his ground.
‘I’ve never heard such bog wash in all my life.’ Mike said mater of factly as he took another swig of his drink.
‘I’m planning on going to see my uncle.’
A look of astonishment came over Mikes face.
‘You mean the one you haven't seen in twenty years or something?’
‘Nine years actually’
‘Oh right. I thought you said he was some washed up crackpot’
‘I never said that. You said that. He was an inventor that fell on hard times. He was like a Dad to me. No better than that.’
Their cosy afternoon was broken by the shrill ring of the bar bell.
‘Drink up please’ A gruff voice shouted from behind the bar.
As Julian stared he noticed the colossal object began to gather mass and moved faster than any cloud he has seen before. Julian used to marvel at the bizarre shapes he used to see in clouds here previously as he lay on his back and stared into the sky but this was something else, something truly startling. Julian got off his bike and dropped it to the ground in amazement.
Now piercing the clouds, the huge gun-grey metallic object gathered pace until it was nearly directly over his head. Julian now saw the objects intricate design. The front of the craft resembled a hideous nose and underneath a complex ribbed intersection. Between one section he clearly saw the dark embellished letters that read ‘ESHNEB’. Equally spaced were narrow oblong windows that intermittently opened and closed. A window toward the front opened and omitted an almost transparent hazy energy bolt. An earth shattering thud from the ground soon followed in the distance. Julian lay flat on his back never taking his eyes from the craft. Now every two seconds or so a different window opened and zapped something unseen on the horizon. Julian was directly under the craft now as he lay in complete amazement. He quickly tried to fathom its size but couldn't determine how far away the craft was. To his astonishment he saw a window quickly open directly above him. Something told him to get to his feet and jump on his bike then peddle as fast as he legs would go. He got up slowly and mounted his bike. He then rode off sluggishly at first checking the skies above. He knew he had been seen. He could feel the countless eyes inside the ship following him. He daren’t stop though. Pain built up in his fingers as he gripped the handlebars so tight. He soon reached full speed. Darting this way and that he saw the road ahead. Would he be safer on the road? As he approached the road an explosion hit the ground he figured a hundred or so yards behind him. The earth directly beneath him jolted with astronomical force. The next thing he knew he was hurtling through the air, his bike ahead of him. He hit the ground hard and rolled onto his side. He sensed a coppery taste in his mouth as his face felt completely numb. He squinted towards the sky and noticed the same window on the craft was still open. This time he only noticed the energy bolt as it was inches from his face. Burning heat rose from the top of his scalp and spread to his chest in an instant as he screamed..
The next bolt jolted Julian awake as he sat up in his bed wide eyed. ‘What the hell?’ He said out loud. The next few minutes he sat rethinking the entire sequence of the dream over and over in his head. ‘Eshneb’ he said to himself. Was that just a dream? It felt too real. He toyed with the fictional notion of it being a vision of his future..
He wearily made his was downstairs for some breakfast on autopilot. His Auntie he thought had instinctively guessed he would be coming down at any minute as two eggs were boiling on the stove.
He really wanted to see his uncle today, more than ever. He hadn’t seen uncle Benjamin since he mysteriously left town nearly nine years ago. Julian spent most weekend and nearly all his holidays at his great uncles place. As his parents were never home that was the place he learned all he needed to as a kid, from how to tie his shoelaces (checking blindspots for attack) to how to boil the perfect egg every time. He wondered if the eggs today would be as good as his uncles.
‘You know what today is?’ His Auntie asked in her usual soft chirpy voice as she put some eggs and toast in front of him. ‘It’s the first day of the rest of your life.’
Julian looked at her quizzingly.
‘You’ve finished your exams. Where you go from here dear is entirely up to you’
Just then Julian felt an unusual realization. It was true. What he did from now on was entirely up to him. He felt a bit excited and more than a little scared like he wanted to put off the big wide word for a little while longer.
‘Er, It’s actually tomorrow Auntie. I’ve got to go in today and discuss options with my tutor’
She smiled as she placed a wooden box next to his plate of steaming boiled eggs. His eyes blearily focussed on the box.
‘Of course you do dear. There’s no need to rush into anything.’
Julian stared at her waiting for an explanation for the box.
‘It’s from your uncle, before he left he promised this to you when you finished your exams.’ Julian smiled to himself. ‘Don’t get too excited’ his Auntie said ‘Remember he didn’t have much before he went. That’s probably why he left.’ She said in a slightly macabre tone’ Her words didn’t detract any of the excitement. This had come from his great uncle, the man he used to idolise. It had to be extremely special. During each mouthful of his breakfast he couldn't break his eyes away from the little box for more than two seconds. ‘I’ll see you here for supper’ Auntie said as she strode to the door with her bag hung from her arm. She was out the door before Julian could say Bye.
What could be in the box? He thought. He dreaded the notion of it being anything else than a clue to his uncles whereabouts, as anything else would be a huge disappointment. How he wished he could shut his eyes, open them and be back nine years ago in the holidays at his uncles ranch. It was there he was taught the art of ‘Buingjagga’ by Benjamin. This was a special martial art that Benjamin learned from tribesmen while trekking through Patagonia while in his late twenties. Once this special art was mastered using a ‘Charat’ an extraordinary tough, flexible baton measuring up to three feet long, it is known that they never need to fear any man or beast again. Julian become very adept with the Charat.
The Pork Pie and A Grin Inn Essex
After breakfast it didn’t take Julian long to decide on his venue of choice for the afternoon. He didn’t actually have to see his tutor today at all. It could be any day this week. He decided he’d probably see him towards the end of the week. If he had time.
As he stood at the bar waiting to be served, he remembered it was here on this very spot at the end of his first week of term that he had learned the fine art of getting ‘Broken’. This entailed him and a group of his friends drinking, debating, drinking, making fun of each other, mixing drinks and eventually breaking one of the friends nerve as they admitted something they may later regret. The atmosphere he witnessed in this very bar on this very spot in North Essex will be tattooed onto his heart for ever. He’d only been here a few times in the last term with his college friends but he remembered the first time like it was yesterday. It was also right here he’d met the lads on his science course and soon become the best of friends.
Julian smiled as he noticed a small poster on the wall behind the bar which read:
The floggings will continue until morale improves.
The sweet aroma of the beer soaked carpet filled his head with good times gone past. He wanted to celebrate the first day of the rest of his life right here by downing four pints of his favorite beer. But this particular afternoon things felt slightly different. He also felt quite different. His heart felt heavier than usual and the gloomy overcast weather outside wasn’t helping. A few dispirited regulars sat on bar stools nearby with their money laid out in front of them on beer matts as they read the morning newspapers. Julian noticed a headline that read Beer bugs live 553 days in space. Intrigued, he pulled out his mobile phone and began to google the headline.
As if on cue, the squeaky bar door opened and in walked his college pal Mike. He’d obviously had the same idea of coming here to decide how he too would spend the first day of the rest of his life. Mike was dressed in his usual smart attire consisting of a casual blazer and white shirt, jeans and polished brogues. He also wore his typical happy go lucky expression and smiled warmly at Julian as he flicked his long hair out of his eyes.
‘Hey Julian. It really must be true that great minds think alike’
‘Er yes I guess so.’ Julian said slipping his phone into his pocket. ‘Same again for my friend here’ Julian said to the barman who stood gloomily behind the bar.
‘What’s up mate?’ Mike enquired ‘Looks like someone just crapped in your shoes’
Julian took a swig of his drink and wiped his mouth as the barman placed the drink with his change on the bar. One of the regulars nearby heaved out an unsettling chesty cough. Julian picked up his drink and motioned Mike over to a quiet table.
‘We’ve had some good times here eh? Mike claimed.
‘We sure have. More than I can probably remember.’
Julian played a coin through his fingers then tapped it on the table.
‘Thing is, I’m not sure if I made the grade to my preferred Uni.’ Julian said finally. A smile crept onto Mikes face that turned into a laugh.
‘What you talking about? We only finished our exams this week.’ Mike said as he took a large swig of his beer leaving a respectable frothy moustache.
‘Anyway. I’m sure you did as well as any of us.’
Julian found it hard not feel pumped up from Mikes upbeat demeanor. He always seemed to have a thousand answers apart from the obvious ones.
‘I know you better than that. And I know this aint all about some poxy exam papers that haven't even been read yet.’ Mikes raised eyebrows forced the truth from Julian almost immediately.
‘OK. Alright. Even if I do get the results I wanted I’m not sure I’m ready for Uni. There’s other things I want to do first. It’s such a big step. A lot of people take gap years you know.’
An expression spread on Mikes face that Julian knew well. He looked at him side on almost weighing him up as though waiting for Julian to break and say Only Joking. Julian held his ground.
‘I’ve never heard such bog wash in all my life.’ Mike said mater of factly as he took another swig of his drink.
‘I’m planning on going to see my uncle.’
A look of astonishment came over Mikes face.
‘You mean the one you haven't seen in twenty years or something?’
‘Nine years actually’
‘Oh right. I thought you said he was some washed up crackpot’
‘I never said that. You said that. He was an inventor that fell on hard times. He was like a Dad to me. No better than that.’
Their cosy afternoon was broken by the shrill ring of the bar bell.
‘Drink up please’ A gruff voice shouted from behind the bar.
