There is no malice in their actions, I have to believe that.
The pain was almost unbearable when they took the samples, when they cut, when they removed tissue, when they opened, when they probed, when they bored.
I have to believe that their thirst for knowledge is benign, that my pain is given to provide answers that will benefit mankind, that will help them to help mankind.
There has to be a reason for them being here, for me being here, for my suffering.
They use no anaesthetics, no numbing agent, no painkiller. Maybe pain is a concept as alien to them as I am.
Maybe their anaesthetics would harm me, or maybe they look upon me as a lower life form that doesn't merit compassion or consideration.
Yet still, I have to believe that there is no malice in their actions... I have to believe that.
The alternative is unthinkable.
©2011 Stephen. J. Green.
Oh Alien abduction eh! I knew it was real. ^__^
ReplyDeleteA chilling thought.
Until they drugged the subject, I wondered if it wasn't a sentient planet. As is, it could be an alien or an earthling. I am inclined to thing it's an extraterrestrial pondering what they're doing.
ReplyDelete@Helen - Of course it's real, Mulder and Scully told me so. :-)
ReplyDelete@John - The poor guy didn't get any drugs, that's why he was in so much pain. The story was written from a human's perspective, but as you mention, it could just as easy be from an alien's perspective too.
At first I wondered too if it might be the thoughts of a planet. I was thinking "creepy" but I believe Helen's "chilling" is a better description.
ReplyDeleteOK I'm scared.. Can I turn on the light now?
ReplyDeleteI too wondered if it would twist to be humans operating on an ill-fated alien. Or humans operating on a human. Sadly, either of those seems a believable twist to me.
ReplyDeleteI thought it was angled towards the aliens as the aggressors (which you've confirmed), but I liked the ambiguity (maybe unintentional?) of the story itself, being left to ponder who would be more likely to be kind and who cruel...
@Tim - John W raised the same interesting slant from the perspective of a planet too, I didn't see it myself until he mentioned it, I think maybe the boring and sample-taking points in that direction.
ReplyDelete@Tom - Haha! 'Fraid not Tom, there is safety in the darkness.
@John - I seem to have raised several possible angles with this flash, unintentionally too.
Some people firmly believe alien abduction, and experimentation on humans is actually happening, I don't know if this is true or not, but if it is true one can only hope that their purpose is benign... The alternative is unthinkable.
I like the planet POV idea, too. But I thought it was an alien at first. Either way, it's great.
ReplyDeleteThanks Sonia, I like the planet idea too, and may work on a flash around the concept.
ReplyDeleteThe openness of the perspective allows for the reader's own interpretation. Testament to the skill of the story and its creation.
ReplyDeleteAdam B @revhappiness
Chilling. I (correctly) assumed alien abduction. I can't imagine that they would have no concept of pain… I'll go with unthinkable.
ReplyDeleteI agree - "chilling" is the most apt description of this spooky tale, Nice work Steve!
ReplyDeleteWonderful use of point of view in this. The tone is spot on...probably one of my favourites from you.
ReplyDeleteWhen I first read it I too assumed it was from an alien's perspective. It works well no matter what perspective the reader assumes. Excellent story!
ReplyDeleteI just assumed it was an animal's pov, this being Thanksgiving weekend and all, that's where my mind went with all the 'Turkey Day' talk!
ReplyDeleteVery chilling.
@Adam – Thank you, but I have to be honest and say that the perspectives mentioned by some were unintentional on my part.
ReplyDelete@FAR – It probably is unlikely that an intelligent race would have no concept of fear, but who knows what, or who, is actually out there?
@Raven – Thank you, brutal is good! :-)
@Deanna – Chilling seems a popular word for this one. Thank you.
@Icy – Thank you, I'm really pleased with the responses to this one.
@Chuck – Thanks, like many of the comments on this story, your words are a real confidence boost.
@Catherine – Yes, it could work from an animal's POV too, maybe a slant I will work on some time in the future.
It's sad when people (if I can use that term considering the story) have to "believe" in the lack of malice, when the alternative is probably closer to the truth. As thinking creatures, we give the benefit of the doubt all too often. A great piece, Steve, worthy of much consideration.
ReplyDeleteThanks Stephen, I think it would be far easier to believe that such creatures would have our best interests at heart, for if they didn't, and their purposes and search for knowledge had sinister design, then we could be in a lot of trouble.
ReplyDelete*shivers* Nice work!
ReplyDeleteDon't be too afraid Peter, it's only fiction... I hope. :-)
ReplyDeleteThank you Lacy. :-)
ReplyDelete