Star Trick -- Episode V of the Oxbrain in Space Series -- Crossword Adventures with Oxbrain by John T Sherman

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Crossword Adventures with Oxbrain

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Oxbrain in Space, Episode V
Oxbrain returns to Earth. He regales Farmer Breakneck with his fantastic space adventure story.
The Farmer believes none of it, recounting all the pranks Oxbrain had played on him in the past.
He did concede, however, that of all past deceptions, this one was the

"Star Trick"
by John T Sherman
Illustrated by Katie Burgess
Printable Version

_____Oxbrain gazed out of a porthole of the UFO: Earth gleamed like a porcelain marble in the darkness:-- a smooth, striated blue, with ribbons of purple light flickering at the poles.
_____ The moon emerged from behind the planet, casting its round shadow on the Pacific, while a hurricane raged silently near the coast of China. All this was of no interest to Oxbrain, as he focused only on a faint patch of green, in the southeast corner of North America, in a place he had gamboled on so recently, a tiny farm he called home.
_____ The Earth now became a giant dome, a mosaic of cloud, ocean and land. Now he could see shimmering rivers crossing every imaginable shade of green, as clouds stood above like herds of grazing sheep. Now grey patches of cities emerged, and mountains rose in the north, tinged with fall colors.
_____ He could now make out the thin white coastline of Georgia, and was almost sure he could hear the breakers crashing, and the effervescent fizz of the aftersurge. Now he could see the gridwork of farms and houses and the busy highways, the roofs, the treetops, and yes! the river skirting Breakneck's farm, and the clearing where he was sleeping when the aliens landed...
_____ Thump. Whirr. The door of the UFO opened and Oxbrain walked down and kissed the ground. In the distance Farmer Breakneck, carrying a pitchfork, came running and shouting. "Oxbrain, what happened to you? You've been gone a good part of the year! I was sure cattle rustlers had gotten you."
_____ Oxbrain told Farmer Breakneck how he was taken by aliens early in the morning, then left in a UFO thousands of light years from Earth, and how he then navigated it back . Surely it was only later in the afternoon (judging by the sun) since he had just finished lunch. He could only have been gone part of the day, Oxbrain insisted.
_____ "Oxbrain, you're up to your old tricks. I don't believe a word you've said. You know you've been gone almost a year!"
_____ "Oh, wow! The Theory of Relativity predicted ..."
_____ "If you had to visit relatives"-- Breakneck cut in-- "you could have just told me. But now the work has piled up and there are chores to be done. The field needs plowing, the crops need to be brought to market, and repairs need to be made. No more loafing around. No more tricks. You understand?"
_____ "Yes, sir."
_____ Oxbrain turned to look at the UFO but it was gone. He did look upwards and caught a fleeting glimpse of something flashing in the sky, but nothing more.
_____ He caught up with Breakneck as they headed towards the barn.
_____ "Remember, plow the field, bring the crops to market, plaster up the house!" Breakneck shouted as he wagged his finger at the Ox.
_____ "No more tricks. Just work, work, work" Oxbrain answered back, in an annoyed, sing-song voice.
_____ Hmm, Oxbrain. Farmer Breakneck looks mighty annoyed. You better be sure there's no more tricks...

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Oxbrain In Space is a crossword fantasy-adventure in 5 parts. This is the concluding episode.
See previous episodes, or the current adventure.

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