SFS - Short Fictional Story

The Light Box

Andrew glanced again at his smart watch. The ambient temperature was not far from the average Yukon winter night, about -10 degree Celsius. Only the sensors of his watch were working, getting a signal to communicate with the civilized world was impossible in so far out in the Canadian Tundra. However, Andrew was familiar with the dangers of the wild after all he was a lumberjack for almost thirty years. He was fascinated as a boy by watching his father cut down trees with one swift blow of an axe, and himself joined the family business at only twenty years of age. All these years, he worked at the unforgiving tundra, well prepared, with fire starting kits, extra flashlights with rechargeable batteries, and copious amount of dry foods and his trusty shotgun. His peers laughed, making fun of his attitude of a “Doomsday Prepper” type attitude, but he was adamant, as one day, his father, succumbed to the elements, as he did not have the proper equipment. However, today was different. It started well, he was logging with a renewed vigor, as just the day before, he received a renewed offer of a dozen of spruce to be delivered to stores during Christmas. He went a bit far, as it was already the end seasons, and all the better specimens were deep in the forest. Suddenly, in between the axe strokes, he heard, growling. He almost froze in fear, as he realized he has been encircled by a strong pack of seven to nine Yukon wolves. They are necessarily not man-eaters, but this harsh winter had not been kind to them. The path to his truck with all his supplies and weapons has been blocked by the pack and his only defense, is his axe. Andrew began to run, being in a clear disadvantage; as his axe could only immobilize a couple of wolves, not deter the whole pack. The wolves constantly in pursuit not coming closer to him due to his swinging axe, but hoping to tire him out. He finally, got in a makeshift cave naturally formed by overhanging rocks, and took shelter there. After catching his breath, Andrew quickly covered up the small entrance with fresh snow, and waited anxiously. The wolves eventually came near the spot, but could not comprehend how his scent vanished from the path. After much growling, the wolves eventually left. Andrew was relieved, but now, he realized that a far more deadly enemy has come upon him, the elements. He was all sweaty from the relentless running, far away from his truck, and completely lost. The signs of early onset of hypothermia were visible on his body. He was shivering, and contemplating that in spite of being fully prepared, how fate has played with him and he will perish in the same way as his father. Just as he was planning to sleep comfortably forever in the arms of death, his makeshift cave became slightly illuminated. He was astonished to see, a box of blazing light forming in the middle of the forest. It was warm, and comforting, and vastly different from the numbing experience he was just having. He slowly approached the box, though initially afraid, but could not avoid the warmth emanating. He was astonished to see a flare gun and other supplies in the ground under the light box. He thanked the higher powers and aimed the flare gun, towards the sky.

Andrew came out from the cubicle of the time machine, a billionaire octogenarian, a tech mogul credited with the invention of artificial biodegradable wood products made from waste. He was always self-sufficient, and with the invention of the time machine, he decided to help himself, go back in time, and be the reason for his own survival. Andrew and his younger self are forever in a quantum entanglement, and are placed in the same causal loop of each other’s existence.