Friday Fictioneers – Conundrum

~ neilmacdon
piano-anshu
Photo Prompt © Anshu Bhojnagarwala

No mind is certain of the purpose this exhibit fulfilled. Our best analysis shows it to be a fusion of organic materials from both the sessile and motile sets, part shaped biologically and part industrially. The device lacks obvious outputs.

Since all trace of the planet’s dominant life form has vanished, we are forced to conjecture about many of the excavated artefacts. Most authorities believe this was a mechanism for food production though some hold that it was involved in social bonding rituals.

 

Friday fictioneers is a weekly challenge set by Rochelle Wisoff Fields to write a 100-word story in response to a photo prompt. You can find other stories here

99 thoughts on “Friday Fictioneers – Conundrum”

  6. A conundrum indeed. My first thought when I saw the image was visual impairment. My second was that this image sums up the content of any piano tuner’s nightmare. Being alien-averse, I am with James regarding the fact that it will be historians examining these strange artefacts in the distant future.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  23. We make conjecture of earlier civilisations. Some are true others are imagined. Color of our thinking paints lives of people that existed before. Nice observation.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  25. Do remind me to keep a dictionary handy the next time I start reading your stories Neil, hadn’t come across sessile and motile before 🙂 But on a more serious note (Ha Ha), a hugely interesting take. Something like this would confuse the hell out of even earthlings, so one cannot even imagine what trauma the poor aliens would be going through, trying to decipher it.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  43. Hehehe. Yes, archeologists, from whichever planet, have a tough job. The danger to interject one’s own known culture and behaviour into unknown artefacts is always there. Great story.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

Leave a comment