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SFRP 2003 [MultiFormat]
eBook by Chino Fernandez
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eBook Category: Science Fiction
eBook Description: Many have written about a future America, a future Europe, a future Russia, and even the future Moon or Jupiter. But what about an obscure country you may never have heard of, like the Philippines? And what better person to tell you such stories than someone from that country? The sci-fi world has become so big, it is easy to overlook the little tales that contribute to the big stories. Come, then, and delve into this "little" world of the Pearl of the Orient. This small collection of short stories is perfect for when you're looking for a brief read.
eBook Publisher: Gate Way Publishers, Published: 2003
Fictionwise Release Date: May 2005
Available eBook Formats [MultiFormat - What's this?]: Adobe Acrobat (PDF) [375 KB], eReader (PDB) [73 KB], Palm Doc (PDB) [49 KB], Rocket/REB1100 (RB) [45 KB], Microsoft Reader (LIT) [96 KB] - PocketPC 1.0+ Compatible, Franklin eBookMan (FUB) [118 KB], hiebook (KML) [171 KB], Sony Reader (LRF) [94 KB], iSilo (PDB) [41 KB], Mobipocket (PRC) [51 KB], Kindle Compatible (MOBI) [88 KB], OEBFF Format (IMP) [69 KB]
Words: 14683
Reading time: 41-58 min.
Microsoft Reader (LIT) Format: Printing DISABLED, Read-Aloud ENABLED
Adobe Acrobat (PDF) Format: Printing DISABLED, Read-Aloud ENABLED
All Other formats: Printing DISABLED, Read-aloud DISABLED
 
ANDRES' LAST STANDOn one dark and starless night in 1897, Andres trudged up Mount Nagpatong in Cavite with his hands bound behind him. A squad of troops--his own troops, was leading him up the mountain. This accursed young upstart general--God, they were both fighting for this country's freedom--suddenly pulls out the rug from under him and has him arrested for treason toward the Katipunan. Now he was to be executed by soldiers who were once his. His brother, Procopio, was with him, also to be executed. He cursed. "You fools! All I wanted was freedom for our nation! All that that illustrado General Aguinaldo cares about is petty politics!" The slam of a rifle butt on his head drove him to the ground. His ears rang with the high-pitched voice of General Makapagal. "Be quiet, Bonifacio! You are no longer the Supremo, so you have no right to complain. Just shut up and keep moving!" Andres wished he could teach the fellow a lesson, but his brother's eyes advised him not to. Besides, his hands were tied. He got up and moved on. Once they had reached the spot, Andres and his brother were made to stand at attention, stripped down to the waist while the soldiers cocked their guns. Andres was heavy with despair. Yet he kept his eyes open and emboldened himself, refusing to show any emotion. The officer began to call the firing sequence. "Ready!" Sweat poured down Andres' brow. He waited. "Aim ... Fuego!" A bright light flashed before his eyes before he closed them in resignation. He fell, thinking that the bullets had finally made their way to him. But as seconds passed, he found that he felt nothing. He opened his eyes to find out that the bright light, strangely, did not cease. He looked around. The soldiers were sprawled on the ground, unconscious. So was his brother. He looked up and saw that the light's source was a huge glowing ball that moved across the sky. Now he had no reason to withhold fear. He huddled beside his unconscious brother. The glowing ball descended and settled on a part of the mountain near him. Then it dimmed to reveal its true shape. It was like a huge cigar with numerous legs like a centipede. Its light dimmed and a square-shaped light began to grow on its side, which was a ramp door opening. Out of it came a squat figure whose head seemed too big for its body. It walked down the ramp and went to Andres. It stood beside the hole just above him and looked down at him through its huge black eyes, like dots on silver skin, like its tiny nose and mouth. "Is your name Andres?" it said in a childlike voice. Andres fainted. * * * *Before he woke up, he thought he saw the stars of Heaven around the head of Mary. When he did wake, he realized they were numerous rows of lights on the ceiling. He was lying on a padded bed made of a strange leathery with more of the strangers grouped around him. He screamed, trying to get his arms up, but they were fastened to the bed. "Oh my god in heaven, I am with demons from hell! Oh save me, Mother Mary!" The strange beings paused to murmur to each other with strange sounds, then continued in their activities. Andres felt something being fitted onto his sweaty head. Then another being joined the group. He was different from the others in having a crest over his clean-shaven skull and a growth from his chin like a beard. One of the beings spoke to him and he replied with a slightly different sound. The other beings went to one side of the room and switched on some controls. Andres felt a painful surge in his brain, then he blacked out again. When he woke up, he was sitting in a chair. His head still bore the device fitted earlier, weighing like a crown of lead. His head ached as if his brain had been pulled out of his skull. But his hands were free, and he reached up to try and take off the object. Then he froze in shock. His hands were as thin and as silvery-colored as those of the strange beings. He stood in alarm, the device falling from his head. He then saw the reflected image of the crested and bearded being on the wall. He looked around to berate it, but there was no one else in the room. He looked back at the reflection and found that its movements followed exactly his own. He was that being! Suddenly, the door to the room slid open. Andres' now alien eyes widened as he watched the being enter. It was himself! It was no reflection, as the image of Andres' body moved towards him while he stayed still.
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