A. L. Kaplan

Category: Short Story

  • HUMMINGBIRD: A STAR TOUCHED STORY – Now available

    HUMMINGBIRD: A STAR TOUCHED STORY

    Now live on Amazon in print and digital format.

    Hummingbird: A Star Touched Story

    Plagued by memories not her own, a young hummingbird struggles to decipher the visions and powers that set her apart from her fellow birds. But the road to awareness is fraught with danger that could doom her to repeat history. One step toward understanding. One stride toward survival. One leap toward flying free from the past.

    Here’s what people are saying:

    “A delightful insight into the origins of one of my favorite characters in the Star Touched world!”

    ~ Maria V Snyder, New York Times best-selling author and PRISM Award Winner.

    “If you read Star Touched, you’ll love Hummingbird. If you haven’t read Star Touched, now you’ll want to.”

    ~ Kathy Steinemann

    “Set in the world of Star Touched, this short story puts the reader in the mind and body of a newly-hatched hummingbird. Except this is no ordinary hummingbird! Charming and captivating, and a must-read for anyone who loves watching birds.”

    ~ T. C. Weber, author of the BetterWorld cyberpunk trilogy and other works.

    STAR TOUCHED

    STAR TOUCHED

    Sometimes it’s hard to be who you are meant to be.

    Especially when your powers can get you killed.

    Eighteen-year-old Tatiana is running from her past and her star-touched powers eight years after a meteor devastates earth’s population.

    Her power to heal may be overshadowed by more destructive abilities. Fleeing the persecution of those like her, Tatiana seeks refuge in a small town she once visited. But this civil haven, in a world where society has broken down, is beginning to crumble.

    Only by harnessing the very forces that haunt her can Tatiana save her friends…and herself.

    WOLF DAWN

    WOLF DAWN

    A Hidden Past – A Deadly Secret

    Gifted with the ability to wolf-talk, Kara has lived with the wolves since she lost her memories eight years ago. Now at sixteen, snippets of her past send her searching for answers.

    But the warm welcome she receives in the human village hides more danger than life with the pack.

  • OCEAN OF SAND

    Careful of who you step on. Find out what happens to this fellow.

     

    Brent tumbled down the side of another sand dune, landing in a crumpled heap at the bottom. Three days of wandering this desert under an unrelenting sky. No food. No water. There wasn’t even night on this desolate world, only glaring daylight. The only signs of life he’d seen since arriving, were the dried bones of past prisoners. This wasn’t a punishment. It was torture.

    Spitting gritty particles out of his mouth, Brent struggled to his feet and trudged on. Before he got caught up in it, Brent used to believe in the criminal justice system. That was before he was set up by his best friend. Franklin’s liberal use of bribes had ensured Brent’s conviction.

    “Die, or go insane and die.” Those were the choices they gave him before digital transportation. Brent had another – escape and revenge.

    The sand beneath his feet shifted, pulling him toward a dark opening. “No!” he cried, scrambling away from the sinkhole.

    Nails and fingers raw from digging at the coarse sand, Brent fell into the pit, wondering what other hell awaited him. For a moment, he hung in midair, then woke in the prison transport center. He blinked at the giant hourglass on the table, watching as bits of old bone fell into the bottom portion. Was it real?

    “You’ve been granted an appeal,” said his lawyer, holding out a credit transfer tablet.

    Brent smiled as he approved the extra ‘lawyer’s fees’. This time he’d have his revenge

     

    Don’t forget to pick up your copy of Wolf Dawn and Star Touched.

    Wolf Dawn 13

     

    Gifted with the ability to wolf-talk, Kara has lived with the wolves since she lost her memories eight years ago. Now at sixteen, snippets of her past send her searching for answers. But the warm welcome she receives in the human village hides more danger than life with the pack.

     

     

     

     

     

    Startouched AL Kaplan

     

    Eighteen-year-old Tatiana is running from her past and her star-touched powers. Her power to heal may be overshadowed by more destructive abilities. Fleeing the persecution of those like her, Tatiana seeks refuge in a small town she once visited. But this civil haven, in a world where society has broken down, is beginning to crumble. Will Tatiana flee or stay and fight for the new life she has built? Only by harnessing the very forces that haunt her can Tatiana save her friends and herself.

  • THE MOUNTAIN

    Find out what ruined this couple’s holiday.

     

    Could it get any better than this?” said Jake. He sipped his drink, then gazed across the lake at the white capped mountain. “Clear blue skies, clean crisp air. It’s as spectacular as everyone said.”

    “Hon, I hate to break it to you, but we need to pack up and leave right now.”

    “What?” he said, nearly choking on his cocktail. “What for? This place is perfect.”

    “Apparently not. I just got a message that it’s no longer safe. They’re closing the park, effective immediately.”

    “No!” Jake shook his head. “Just because some bureaucrats can’t do their job doesn’t mean they have the right to spoil our vacation. It’s the first we’ve had in ages.”

    “It’s more than politics and you know it. The infestation is creating havoc. They have no choice.”

    He pointed at the view. “Look at that flawless peak, delicately dusted with powdered sugar. They’re going to ruin it.”

    “No, they won’t. I promise we’ll come back as soon as things settle down.”

    “Right, sure we will,” said Jake. “Remember Pompeii? Completely buried. Atlantis? Sunk along with all the unicorns.  Mars? Uninhabitable. Before that it was Quirinus. That planet’s nothing more than an asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter.”

    “Okay, maybe you have a point. We still have to leave.”

    “I suppose,” he said, gathering his belongings. “but this place better still be here after the fumigation. Damn humans. Every time we think those parasites are gone they spring up out of the ooze like a virus.”

     

    Don’t forget to pick up your copy of Wolf Dawn and Star Touched.

    Wolf Dawn 13

     

    Gifted with the ability to wolf-talk, Kara has lived with the wolves since she lost her memories eight years ago. Now at sixteen, snippets of her past send her searching for answers. But the warm welcome she receives in the human village hides more danger than life with the pack.

     

     

     

     

     

    Startouched AL Kaplan

     

    Eighteen-year-old Tatiana is running from her past and her star-touched powers. Her power to heal may be overshadowed by more destructive abilities. Fleeing the persecution of those like her, Tatiana seeks refuge in a small town she once visited. But this civil haven, in a world where society has broken down, is beginning to crumble. Will Tatiana flee or stay and fight for the new life she has built? Only by harnessing the very forces that haunt her can Tatiana save her friends and herself.

  • THE HIDEAWAY

    What would you do if you found this stash?

     

    Wind tugged at Lalita’s clothes as she scrambled into the cave. The first large drops splashed on the hot rock, evaporating almost immediately. Lightning laced across the sky and thunder reverberated in the small space. The drops became a torrent.

    Niches, filled with ancient pottery and other personal items, dotted the walls of the cavern. She felt like an intruder and couldn’t shake the sensation of hot breath puffing against her neck. An un-looted, dustless cave didn’t seem right.

    “That was close,” said Jake. “I wonder how long this storm will last.”

    “Not long I hope,” said Lalita. “The cave opening looked like a mouth.”

    Jake laughed, then began shoving arrowheads, bone tools, beads, and jewelry into his backpack. “We can make a fortune on eBay with this stuff! I can’t believe it’s just sitting here after all this time.”

    Lalita shuddered and moved to the entrance. “Put those back.”

    “Finders keeper. The owners are long dead.”

    “I don’t care. It’s wrong. The rain stopped. Let’s go.” Lalita stepped outside. The sun was already out.

    “Jackpot!” said Jake. “A gold bracelet. Just need to get it off this old bone.”

    Thunder boomed. The ground rumbled and shook and a gust of air knocked Lalita down.  She turned, heart pounding. All that was left of the cave was a pile of rocks. With a groan, the mouth of the cave reopened. Lalita’s hands shook as she looked inside. No Jake, and the cavern was exactly as they had found it.

     

    Don’t forget to pick up your copy of Wolf Dawn and Star Touched.

    Wolf Dawn 13

     

    Gifted with the ability to wolf-talk, Kara has lived with the wolves since she lost her memories eight years ago. Now at sixteen, snippets of her past send her searching for answers. But the warm welcome she receives in the human village hides more danger than life with the pack.

     

     

     

     

     

    Startouched AL Kaplan

     

    Eighteen-year-old Tatiana is running from her past and her star-touched powers. Her power to heal may be overshadowed by more destructive abilities. Fleeing the persecution of those like her, Tatiana seeks refuge in a small town she once visited. But this civil haven, in a world where society has broken down, is beginning to crumble. Will Tatiana flee or stay and fight for the new life she has built? Only by harnessing the very forces that haunt her can Tatiana save her friends and herself.

  • ALONE

    Does the punishment fit the crime? Tell me what you think.

    Lightening flashed across the sky, strangely overlaid across the blue, cloudless view. Half-formed figures and houses appeared along the riverbank. Children laughed as they splashed in the water. There was a village here once, full of life.

    “Please. Not again.” The words barely made it past his tightening throat.

    Thunder rumbled in the distance. He fell to his knees, trembling. The heavy sack he wore dug into his shoulder. But that wasn’t what caused the churning inside him. It was happening again, just as it had every day since the storm. Unable to stop it, he watched as thick, roiling clouds and an orange wave poured across the valley, obliterating the town.

    Children screamed over the roar of the fire. Their anguished cries penetrated past the hands clamped over his ears. Even with his eyes squeezed shut, the image burned into his vision. Nor could he block the smell of burned flesh.

    Tears streamed down his face, untouched by the surrounding inferno. Firestorm was his creation. His fault. And it was his order that deployed it. He was the one who turned the world into a blackened, ash filled landscape.

    “I’m sorry. So sorry.”

    No one offered forgiveness. There was no one left to hear the words. Still sobbing, he pulled a seed out of the sack and pressed it into the barren soil. One seed for every life lost. Doomed to relive the destruction he caused until life returned. A millennia of toil. That was his punishment.

     

    Don’t forget to pick up your copy of Wolf Dawn and Star Touched.

    Wolf Dawn 13

     

    Gifted with the ability to wolf-talk, Kara has lived with the wolves since she lost her memories eight years ago. Now at sixteen, snippets of her past send her searching for answers. But the warm welcome she receives in the human village hides more danger than life with the pack.

     

     

     

     

     

    Startouched AL Kaplan

     

    Eighteen-year-old Tatiana is running from her past and her star-touched powers. Her power to heal may be overshadowed by more destructive abilities. Fleeing the persecution of those like her, Tatiana seeks refuge in a small town she once visited. But this civil haven, in a world where society has broken down, is beginning to crumble. Will Tatiana flee or stay and fight for the new life she has built? Only by harnessing the very forces that haunt her can Tatiana save her friends and herself.

  • NIGHT CRAWL

    See what happens when you fail to read the fine print.

     

    “Can I help you?” said Pete.

    Most of the out of towners that showed up for the annual contest had more money than folks around here saw in a year. This guy’s designer fishing gear looked new, but the distain in his eyes as he looked around the shop wasn’t.

    “Sign said you had night crawlers for sale. I plan on winning the fishing contest.”

    Pete pointed to the jar of wriggling worms on the counter. “They’re ten dollars a dozen, but if you want to catch the biggest, you’ll need the special one. Guaranteed or triple your money back. Just be warned, there’s a price to pay.”

    “I bet there is,” said the man glancing at his fitbit. “How much?”

    “I can let you have it for a hundred dollars.”

    “For one night crawler? I bet you won’t remember a thing when I come back for my money.”

    “Written contract guarantees the biggest catch,” said Pete. He put a contract and a clear plastic cup on the counter. The long silver-brown worm inside it squirmed.

    “Easy money. I’ll take it.”

    “Make sure you toss a quarter in the lake as soon as you catch the winning fish,” said Pete.

    “Sure. I’ll be back later for my three hundred dollars.”

    —

    As the sun set, Pete looked in the glass jar under the counter. He shook his head as a night crawler popped into it. “You didn’t throw the quarter in. I told you there was a price to pay.”

     

    Don’t forget to pick up your copy of Wolf Dawn and Star Touched.

    Wolf Dawn 13

     

    Gifted with the ability to wolf-talk, Kara has lived with the wolves since she lost her memories eight years ago. Now at sixteen, snippets of her past send her searching for answers. But the warm welcome she receives in the human village hides more danger than life with the pack.

     

     

     

     

    Startouched AL Kaplan

     

    Eighteen-year-old Tatiana is running from her past and her star-touched powers. Her power to heal may be overshadowed by more destructive abilities. Fleeing the persecution of those like her, Tatiana seeks refuge in a small town she once visited. But this civil haven, in a world where society has broken down, is beginning to crumble. Will Tatiana flee or stay and fight for the new life she has built? Only by harnessing the very forces that haunt her can Tatiana save her friends and herself.

  • CATTLE RANCH

    Think you’re having some problems? Take a look at what’s happening on Farmer Pappi’s ranch.

     

    “Not again!” said Farmer Pappi.

    He threw his hat on the ground and spouted a few choice words. Another twelve cows, gone. That made three dozen this week. No damage to the fence. No foot prints. No car tracks. Just gone. The cattle rustlers must have airlifted the animals out of the field.

    What was left of his herd grazed nearby. If only they could talk. One of the cows pulled leaves off a bush with purple flowers, jostling a swarm of insects. Pappi muttered a few more curses as they fluttered around his head, then shooed the cow away from the plant.

    Pappi retrieved his hat as the animal ambled off. A startled moo made him jump. Pappi spun around expecting to see a bandit. The cow stood a few yards away, shaking its head. After another bellow it’s back shimmered and a pair of butterfly shaped wings sprouted. It turned and nosed the strange new appendages then began to move them. After a few tentative flaps, the cow lifted into the air and fluttered away.

    Too stunned to react, Pappi stared as it vanished over the hills. Cow’s aren’t supposed to fly. Heavy footsteps and another moo snapped him out of his stupor.

    “Oh no you don’t,” he said, shooing three more cows away from the plant.

    Pulling out his smart phone he snapped a picture and used the plant identification app. It didn’t take long to figure out the problem. Butterfly bushes were not good cow food.

  • SPECIAL GUEST

    special guest edit

    “Santa?”

    Mable stared at the man in the red coat passed out on her lawn and the overturned sled, ignoring the reindeer munching on her shrubs. Empty beer cans, cookie crumbs, and scraps from her Christmas ham littered the ground. The man’s eyes cracked opened, then slammed shut.

    “Hey. Wake up.”

    “Turn off that damned light,” he groaned. “Let me die in peace.”

    “I can’t turn off the sun,” said Mable. “Get up before a kid sees you.”

    “Quit nagging. You sound like Mrs. Clause.”

    “Well, she’s probably worried sick about you.

    Santa belched. “I doubt that very much. She threw me out after the company party last week. All because of one little kiss. Okay, maybe a bit more than a kiss, but it’s not my fault. Someone spiked my milk and covered the ceiling with mistletoe. I couldn’t stop kissing everyone.”

    Mable didn’t believe what she was hearing. This was not how she pictured jolly old Saint Nick. “So explain that to Mrs. Clause.”

    “I tried, but she just can’t get past the surveillance video. Neither can the elves. The restraining order says I can’t go within 500 miles of the North Pole.” Tears ran down his face. “I’m never drinking milk again. You have to help. I’ve been set up.”

    “Me? What can I do?”

    “You’re the one who wants to be a detective. Here’s your chance, detect. Clear my name.”

    Instead of being happy, Mable winced. Her first case was going to be a doozy.

     

    Happy Holidays Y’all

    Don’t forget to pick up a copy of Star Touched and Wolf Dawn for your special someone.

    Star Touched

    Startouched front cover2Eighteen-year-old Tatiana is running from her past and her star-touched powers eight years after a meteor devastates earth’s population. Her power to heal may be overshadowed by more destructive abilities. Fleeing the persecution of those like her, Tatiana seeks refuge in a small town she once visited. But this civil haven, in a world where society has broken down, is beginning to crumble. Will Tatiana flee or stay and fight for the new life she has built? Only by harnessing the very forces that haunt her can Tatiana save her friends…and herself.

     

    Wolf Dawn

    Wolf Dawn 13

     

    A Hidden Past – A Deadly Secret

    Gifted with the ability to wolf-talk, Kara has lived with the wolves since she lost her memories eight years ago. Now at sixteen, snippets of her past send her searching for answers.

    But the warm welcome she receives in the human village hides more danger than life with the pack.

  • BY THE LIGHT OF THE MOON

    20180102_184509

    “Moonlight sends a shiver into night’s brisk sky.”

    “You keep spouting poetry and I’m leaving,” said Gary.

    Mark grinned. “I’m just trying to set the mood. Got the camera ready?”
    “It’ll take pictures every ten seconds and I programed the mechanism to adjust automatically with the moon’s movement.”

    “Super,” said Mark, rubbing his hands together. “This is going to be a magical night.”

    Gary rolled his eyes, then tossed him a can of soda. “Don’t care how full the moon is or how perfectly aligned the stars are. All you’re going to get are pictures of a moon.”

    “We’ll see.”

    “Whatever.”

    After several hours of listening to the camera click, Gary’s eyes started to feel heavy. Even the ancient oak he leaned on began to feel as soft as a feather bed. He drifted off to the sound of giggles. A sharp pain in his leg woke him up. Mark stood over him, holding the camera.

    “What the hay,” he said, rubbing his leg.

    “I’ve been trying to wake you for ten minutes. We fell asleep.”

    “Surprising,” said Gary, with another eyeroll.

    “Remember when you said we would only get pictures of the moon?”

    Gary leaned back against the oak. “Did it magically turn to cheese?”

    “Funny,” said Mark. “Check this out.”

    Gary took the camera and flipped through the digital pictures. Half-way through, his jaw dropped. “Is that a.…”

    “Yup. That’s a sprite’s bare butt and its drinking your Sprite. We got mooned. Told you there were fairies in these woods.”

  • KEEP OUT: A LITTLE DRAGON ADVENTURE

    Keep Out

    Step one, get past the iron door barring the cave. Luckily, it was only eight feet tall. I grimaced at a yell in my head. One of the down sides of being a telepath was getting sucked into impromptu rescues.

    “I’m coming,” I sent back.

    I’d slipped past enough ‘Keep Out” signs to understand this one even if I didn’t know the language. I focused on the pipe just above the door. There was a small pop, and then I was peering down an empty hallway. Teleporting had its limits so I decided to hoof it down the steep ramp, keeping an eye out for guards.

    I’d like to say my superior stalking skills ensured that I wasn’t spotted on the mile-long path, but that would be lying. The bottom was another story. One of the guards managed to trigger an alarm before I knocked him out.

    “Hurry!”

    “I am,” I said, fumbling with the keys.

    Some prisoners are just too darn impatient. A satisfying click heralded my success. The door creaked open…onto another door.

    “You’ve got to be kidding.”

    A few other choice words slipped out while I worked the second lock. Three more doors and a leg shackle later the dragon was free, sort of. She trembled as the guards charged, firing weapons. Dispensing with the usual dragon greeting, I grabbed her neck and focused on a field several miles away. A soft pop announced the teleport. Score one for Little Dragon; soldiers zero.

    After a quick thank you, the dragon launched herself into the air. Seeing a dragon soar is a thing of beauty, and not one likely to be viewed on earth. Now, if I could just figure out how to teleport myself home. Or at least figure out what planet I was on. Danged. Sleep teleporting really sucks.