Donakon’s Ring
Flash Fiction
Year: 2999 Location: Calida Fornax
The hangar door opened; when I walked in, it was the first thing I saw.
“First day at the Library of Babel?”
“Huh, What? Oh yeah, yeah it’s my first day.” Slightly startled, I hadn’t noticed he was behind the desk. I couldn’t take my eyes off the air locked shelf.
“New recruits always have that look when they see it.”
“I have heard of these, but have never seen one.” I leaned closer to the seal. “Can I touch it?”
“Sure, go ahead, the code is 2007.”
The airlock opened with a soft suction, making a low whoosh. As I picked it up the artifact was warm to the touch—unexpected for something so old—like it demanded to be held. The object was light and thin, it could fit in a pocket.
“How old is this one?”
“That one? The Conservator told me it’s around 973 years old.”
All these centuries later and it still had a certain allure, I thought, rotating it in my hand.
As if he knew what I was thinking, “Magnetic right? It pulls you in.”
“Does it still work?”
“Probably.”
“Can I see?”
“No, those were outlawed 100s of years ago.”
“Why? What damage could this do?”
“They found it rewired the brain, hijacked reward systems; created new neurological diseases.”
“All from this piece of aluminum?”
“That little piece of aluminum broke homes, was used by factions to manipulate masses, even led to suicide. Centuries ago scientists found it had stronger addictive properties than alcohol or drugs.”
I raised it to the golden skylight above, the sun reflected with a quick, bright glare. I wondered how something so small could be that dangerous?
Stepping forward I placed it back on the observation shelf and stood gazing at the object, before it was sealed in again.
“What did they call it?”
“A smartphone.”
