The Unicorn Challenge: Ripples


It wasn’t meant to happen.

One minute, the device was working fine on the quayside, and in the next… poof! Gone! The device… the quayside… the walkway… the helter-skelter at the edge… the people…

The sign is still there, the one about the currents… only it’s further inland than it used to be… and me, I’m still here… thanks to my temporal shock outfit.

The area is now covered in long grass, which is an improvement to the way how things used to be, with the pot-holed concrete car park. That’s a point… the cars have gone as well. And the buildings behind me. The whole area is now grass… surely the device imploding wouldn’t have made everything disappear apart from me, the sign and the grass. Very odd.

There isn’t even a sign they were all ever here… apart from the sign, that is.

I touched the sign when the machine started screeching… and the sudden ‘pop’ noise was odd when it exploded. It was like the start of an explosion that just stopped.

I’d better call the office and let them know what’s hap – oh! No mobile signal. That was full strength before. The device definitely wouldn’t have caused that.

And what’s that over on the horizon? It looks like a…

It is! A viking long boat. But why’s that here today? There isn’t a history regatta on today… today… ah. Everything hasn’t disappeared.

I have.

I’ve gone back in time.

© Ayr/Gray
Posted for The Unicorn Challenge. A magical challenge hosted by Jenne Gray and C E Ayr. They provide a photo and we provide up to 250 words inspired by it.

22 responses to “The Unicorn Challenge: Ripples”

  1. Diane Henders avatar

    Oops! This might lead to an interesting ‘conversation’ with the Vikings… ;-)

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Tom avatar

      Best exit stage left, methinks Diane… before that ball gets rolling! 😀

      Liked by 1 person

  2. jenne49 avatar

    Nicely set up, Tom.
    It’s a cool story.
    And a great twist at the end.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Tom avatar

      Thanks, Jenne. I was going to go back with the Rances, but they didn’t fit with this image!

      Like

  3. Margaret avatar

    Either way, he escapes the modern rat-race. He’d better hide from those vikings, though. They have a fearsome reputation, and I’m not sure what they’d make of his ‘temporal shock outfit’ (love that idea, btw). I enjoyed this. Truly entertaining.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Tom avatar

      Thanks, Margaret. Hopefully that temporal shock outfit wasn’t discovered… we don’t see many of them around today, but the same thing can be said about the ruff! 🤣

      Liked by 1 person

  4. ceayr avatar

    Creative take here, Tom, very clever.

    (Although it would be a good trick for the Vikings to get to Loch Doon!)

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Tom avatar

      Thanks, CE. 🙂
      Anything’s possible in historical fiction! 🤣
      So, Loch Doon… that’s where it is. It looks very pleasant.

      Like

  5. The Sicilian Storyteller avatar

    Loving the eerie quality of this piece, Tom, and an excellent twisteroo at the end. Highly entertaining write.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Tom avatar

      Thanks, Nancy. I was going to go with the Rances again this week, but they didn’t fit the image.
      And speaking of the Rances, I haven’t forgotten about your guest appearance… it’s on its way! 😄

      Liked by 1 person

      1. The Sicilian Storyteller avatar

        No, I can’t imagine the Rances hanging out in a place like that! You made the right call.

        I haven’t forgotten my guest appearance; I’m practically quivering with anticipation! 😃

        Liked by 1 person

        1. Tom avatar

          It’s all written now. Just waiting for the right time to post it…

          Liked by 1 person

  6. Chris Hall avatar

    What a great idea. Well done, Tom.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Tom avatar

      Thanks, Chris. It’s just where the picture (and the words) took me!

      Liked by 1 person

  7. clark avatar

    Serially, who doesn’t love a good time travel story.

    fun!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Tom avatar

      I know I do, Clark!
      Thanks! 🙂

      Like

  8. Liz H-H avatar

    Well done, Tom! Led us down the path, then twist and cliff-fall. 👍

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Tom avatar

      Thanks, Liz. It had to be done! 😉

      Liked by 1 person

  9. europasicewolf avatar

    Well, that was fun! Enjoy the time travelling!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Tom avatar

      Time travelling is always fun, Icewolf. In fact, I travelled to tomorrow to post this reply (although, I suppose I should’ve gone back a day or two!)

      Liked by 1 person

  10. europasicewolf avatar

    Timing is everything Tom! ⏰️

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Tom avatar

      It’s getting it right that can cause the

      Problems.

      Liked by 1 person

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