Overwhelmed by a pervasive sense of unreality, I was barely surprised to see the door. No ordinary door, but clearly a door to another time or dimension. Because in all the books I read, there’s always a door suddenly appearing and on the other side, it’s another time, another place, another world … and it’s always exciting.
Except when it’s 1347 and you arrive in England along with the Black Death. Ouch. That would be really depressing. And quite possibly … final.
So … do I go through the door? Just stand here like a wuss and prove how completely cowardly and indecisive I really am? Maybe I should go home first to gather supplies. Stop by the doctor, get inoculated against plague … they have that now, I hear. Take a supply of medication like broad spectrum antibiotics.
And bottled water.
Plus, a horse and cart. That would be useful, a horse. Especially the cart. I don’t suppose a cell phone would help much …
Then, the door was gone. Oh well. Missed it again. Next time I’ll be ready.
THURSDAY PHOTO PROMPT | SUE VINCENT
SERENDIPITY: SEEKING INTELLIGENT LIFE ON EARTH 
I love this! A great story to go with the photo. And I love Zelazny too *happy dance for finding another Zelazny admirer* His work is amazing.
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I think I fell in love with fantasy from Zelazny’s Amber series. I remember when they came out, everyone I knew was reading them at the same time. We all expected to be in a different shadow of Amber each time we rode an escalator 🙂 Glad you enjoyed the story. I think I’m too old these days to step through those doors into other worlds.
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I fell in love with fantasy after I read The Lord of the Rings, but Zelazny’s Amber series made me view the genre from a completely different perspective. I’m forever grateful to him for that, and for the fact that his writing inspired me to experiment more in my works.
I don’t think one can be ‘too old’ for this, it’s all in the way you perceive yourself=)
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Actually, it’s more a matter of how much medical support you need. The idea of traveling through time or dimensions — and not having access to medications I need to keep my heart pumping isn’t attractive. This was not always so, but life trudges on. If we don’t die young, we get old. Which is, despite the inconveniences, a better option than the “dead and buried” alternative.
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Hm, I see what you mean. Life is different for everybody, yes, and we should enjoy it while we can.
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It’s quite a door for sure. But another part of the story is that they don’t make wood like that anymore.
Did you know that there are cases of plague in the southwest US every year? Quite treatable if the doctor has the imagination to diagnose it.
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Yes, but not in the 14th century. It’s entirely treatable — mostly — today. And there is a vaccine. But not in 1347.
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I love your narrative almost more than the door.
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Thank you. I’ve been reading a LOT of time travel stuff in recent years. It’s always a door. And all you have to do is go on through … voila.
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Let’s get inventive. Let’s write one and make the portal an escalator or elevator.
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Escalator, definitely. Although Zelazny did it in the Amber series. He also did elevators and roads.
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Damn Zelazny. He stole all my ideas!
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But he left his wonderful stories behind … and they really ARE wonderful.
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I think I have read something of his. The name is familiar.
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that is some door! and quite a story to go with it 🙂
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It’s Sue Vincent’s door. My words 🙂 But y’know, I read a LOT of sci fi and fantasy … and there’s ALWAYS a door. So … I thought … what would I really do if the door showed up for me? Right now? Uh … um … wait a minute … I have to think about this …
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That was some door. Don’t you just love that? For sure there’s another century on the other side.
Leslie
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I always have to see what’s on the other side.
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Yes, but first I need to grab my meds … ’cause … I might not be able to come back before bedtime 🙂
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Very impressive door
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Those Normans built to last!
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I like this! !!!
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They knew how to build, those Norman invader people 🙂
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Oh they did indeed!!
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I’m always amused that we cannot build a road that lasts a decade, but roads built by the Romans are still in good shape after more than 2,000 years.
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It is funny, I know, we get potholes in our pothole repairs within months here…
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Our local road contractors should face the lions in the Coliseum.
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Maybe for each of us, on the other side of that door, like Karma incarnate. I can buy into that. And it would make a really good story.
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