Don't Drink Bees

A man of about 140 years hovered across from us at the ship stop. He was using his mind to convey a dairy shake from its vessel to his lips. The liquid surged like a geyser, arriving at its target exactly. My son snickered, unamused by the display. I turned to quiet him when his cap hopped over the boy's eyes. More mind magic. I eyed the man. He seemed preoccupied with his lower needs, but I knew that on another level he was communing with the entire planet in a way I could only imagine. I could see it in his crossed eyes, fixed that way by too much introspection. They were unreadable black holes, and I felt the need to look away before being trapped in their gaze.

The boy was angry; I could sense the power swirling within him.

"Jason," I said, "finish your snack." The child nodded and closed his eyes. The vila greens appeared to melt into the plate as he concentrated, until only grease remained in their place. He smacked his lips and gave the old man a challenging look.

"Anything can look spectacular," he said, "but few things really are." He smiled to me, revealing no teeth. "Is this your entertainer? He must make galactic trips much less dull."

"Yes," the child piped up. "Dad and I are traveling together as a team."

"I see." The stranger settled down on the bench facing us. "What is your course?" I was reaching for my map when he said, "No. Not there. I am afraid you must choose another place to land." The toothless smile.

"Why? Where do you think we're going?" Jason asked, scratching his stomach absently.

"It is no longer there," the man said. "Don't get me wrong. There is still water and soil, but there isn't any human life."

"Sir, that is all very interesting, but could you tell me of what planet you are speaking." I examined the map to see that no landmarks were showing.

"Why, your Earth, of course," he said, laughing. "It has changed greatly since you left, and now that the proposed time is over, you have no home to return to." The lactic geyser met his lips once more.

My son clutched my arm. "What is he talking about, Dad?"

I could not turn away from the old man's gaze. I saw destruction spinning in the ever-darkening orbs.

"Dad!" Jason grasped my head and tried to make me face him. It was no use. I was lost in historical depths, and tears blurred the vision I took from the wrinkled eyes. Gravity pulled my whole life into those black holes, and we were then brothers, though I didn't know his name.

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