236 Breathing Free

Mission Control: Hello, Captain Murphy. We're sorry for the unscheduled landing on Bartels-3. We also realize there's been some damage to your navigation portal interface, meaning that successful return to the Lagrange Point ship remains impossible until the patch is downloaded to your craft.

Murphy: Roger that, Mission Control. Do you have the patch ready?

Mission Control: Yes, but we need you to check the craft physically for proper mechanical integrity and to rule out any breaches in the bulkheads and twin cabin spaces.

Murphy: Roger that, Mission Control.

Mission Control: Once you do that, you'll receive the patch within protocol. Are you out of your craft presently, Capt. Murphy?

Murphy: Affirmative. But I'm getting a little concerned about my oxygen. I can refill the EVA tank on my back, but there are only so many refills available for me.

Mission Control: Affirmative, Capt. Murphy. Three refills are available. But we have a bit of news you will find welcome. The air there has been verified as 22% oxygen and 77% nitrogen, with <1% trace gasses which should not be a concern.

Murphy: Does that mean I can breathe here?

Mission Control: That's an affirmative. Remove your helmet. The ambient temperature is a balmy 27.778° Celsius. Breathe free, Captain.

Murphy: I am preparing to unseal my helmet gasket.

Mission Control: Roger that. Keep us apprised of your steps.

Murphy: There's a sudden rush of air, a hissing sound. Now it's fading away. I am removing my helmet. I —

Mission Control: Capt. Murphy, are you there? Capt. Murphy? You've stopped updating us.

Murphy: You said there is no life here. Please confirm.

Mission Control: That's affirmative... Capt. Murphy, do you advise otherwise? Capt. Murphy...?

Murphy: Oh my God! Oh, God!

Mission Control: Pease advise, Murphy. What is it?

Murphy: Oh, my God! I don't know if I can...

Mission Control: Pease advise, Murphy. What is it? Report, Capt. Murphy. Are you there?

Murphy: I can't...I just can't... My God! That smell! I can smell it!

Mission Control: What is that, Murphy? What smell?

Murphy: I know that smell! Oh, my God in Heaven! This will never —

Mission Control: Murphy, are you OK?

END OF TRANSMISSION

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AUTHOR'S NOTES:

ABOUT THIS STORY;

H.P. Lovecraft used the unknown to evoke terror in his readers, e.g., The Color of Space (visual) and other stories (notably ones in which something follows the protagonist in the bushes with telltale pursuing sounds—(auditory). I haven't read all of his work, but I've read a lot. I don't think I ever saw him use smell to evoke terror, especially in his motif of the unknown, but "something wicked this way wafts," (thanks, Ray). So there!

TODAY:

For Friday, August 23, Day 236 of the 2024 Story-a-Day Challenge

366 WORDS (without A/N)

Accompaniment photos were AI-generated but the smell was not.

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THIS CHALLENGE WAFTS ON, 366 INHALATIONS AT A TIME...

There are currently three surviving prolific, myopic, bioptic, meiopic, mitotic, and aromatic Vocal sniffers still in the air in the insane, inane, 2024 Story-a-Day Challenge:

• L.C. Schäfer, (odor originator)

• Rachel Deeming (odor sniffer)

• Gerard DiLeo (malodorous malconent)

Read them. Support them. Smell them!