An explanation: the author felt challenged to write one or two 100-word stories, each beginning with the words 'They'd brought some electronic cobalt'. In the end he produced six...
1. A PRIVATE SHOW
They'd brought a little electromagnetic cobalt.
"Oh how kind, Ann," Louise said, taking the small box. "Mark will take your coat and Jack's."
Meanwhile, Jack handed over a bottle of dolcetto from his own cellar.
"You know what to do with it?" Ann asked Louise anxiously.
"Oh yes, don't worry."
They had a wonderful evening. Smoked salmon and mackerel terrine, venison fillet, then orange creme brulee.
Later, Louise placed the cobalt in a vase, covered it with vinegar, and placed it on a table. Together, they sat silently in the darkness, drinking the dolcetto and watching their own private aurora.
2. IN THE DUNGEON
They'd brought a little electromagnetic cobalt.
"No!" she screamed. "Anything but the electromagnetic cobalt!"
Her torturers grinned. "Nobody expects the electromagnetic cobalt," the taller one said, smugly.
Still shackled, she despaired. She'd survived beatings, sleep deprivation, the rack, and endless re-runs of Top Gear. She'd been trained to deal with these and more, so she hadn't given cracked. But electromagnetic cobalt was another matter.
Moments later, the substance was applied to her hands and feet. She didn't hold out for long.
"OK, I admit it," she said. "I voted for Bush in 2000."
"I knew it," the smaller man said.
3. ASTOUNDING
"They'd brought a little electromagnetic cobalt," Holmes announced.
"Astounding, Holmes!" Watson exclaimed. "But how –?"
"Elementary, Watson. The material was electromagnetic, and it was cobalt. Therefore, logic suggests it was electromagnetic cobalt."
"Astounding!" Watson twirled his moustache in wonder. "But why –?"
Suddenly, Holmes spotted a small, already-opened box on the dining-table, addressed to himself. "Ha!"
"For you, Holmes! Astounding! But –?"
Holmes was on a roll. "Mrs Hudson! Who brought this?" The housekeeper appeared immediately.
" Mr 'Olmes, those delivery men brung that electromagnetic cobalt you ordered last week. You forgot already?"
Holmes preened. "You see, Watson? Elementary!"
"Astounding!"
4. ABOARD THE U. S. S. ENTERPRISE
They'd brought a little electromagnetic cobalt to fuel the engines, the refit's final stage. Scotty was beside himself.
"Captain, I'm warning you! The Enterprise won't be the same without dilithium crystals!"
Kirk smiled. "Nonsense, Scotty, we've got to move on. Dilithium crystals cause universal warming, electromagnetic cobalt's the greener option. Four million light years per teaspoon, zero to warp speed in three seconds." He sat back in his seat. "OK, engines to warp speed!"
The Enterprise spluttered to a halt. Scotty reached for the owner's manual. "Captain... I think they put in four-star electromagnetic cobalt."
"So?"
"This is a diesel."
5. THE FOUR GIFTS
They'd brought a little electromagnetic cobalt. At the door, however, they met three shepherds who were just leaving.
"Hey, Your Majesties, whatya brought?" said one.
The kings proudly displayed their cobalt. One explained, "Hang it above the cot and its light shines."
The shepherds frowned. "Emm... nice, but they need practical stuff. Baby lotion. Something sweet-smelling – it's a manger after all. Some hard cash – it costs a fortune to raise kids nowadays."
Fortunately, the local supermarket had a couple of things, as well as a gold-dispensing machine. The kings left the cobalt too, but no-one ever discovered who brought it.
6. IN THE BEGINNING
They'd brought a little electromagnetic cobalt: tiny particles, not in themselves significant because the real stars of the process were hydrogen, oxygen, carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus atoms. But critical players all the same.
Across the universe there were thousands, perhaps millions, of equally suitable deserts, just waiting for something to happen. But that special solar storm, surging as it did with radioactive power and subatomic protons, carried that little piece of the jigsaw needed to kickstart the process. Those elements – in the presence of electromagnetic cobalt – formed an acid, specifically deoxyribonucleic acid.
And in that moment life on Earth began.
1. A PRIVATE SHOW
They'd brought a little electromagnetic cobalt.
"Oh how kind, Ann," Louise said, taking the small box. "Mark will take your coat and Jack's."
Meanwhile, Jack handed over a bottle of dolcetto from his own cellar.
"You know what to do with it?" Ann asked Louise anxiously.
"Oh yes, don't worry."
They had a wonderful evening. Smoked salmon and mackerel terrine, venison fillet, then orange creme brulee.
Later, Louise placed the cobalt in a vase, covered it with vinegar, and placed it on a table. Together, they sat silently in the darkness, drinking the dolcetto and watching their own private aurora.
2. IN THE DUNGEON
They'd brought a little electromagnetic cobalt.
"No!" she screamed. "Anything but the electromagnetic cobalt!"
Her torturers grinned. "Nobody expects the electromagnetic cobalt," the taller one said, smugly.
Still shackled, she despaired. She'd survived beatings, sleep deprivation, the rack, and endless re-runs of Top Gear. She'd been trained to deal with these and more, so she hadn't given cracked. But electromagnetic cobalt was another matter.
Moments later, the substance was applied to her hands and feet. She didn't hold out for long.
"OK, I admit it," she said. "I voted for Bush in 2000."
"I knew it," the smaller man said.
3. ASTOUNDING
"They'd brought a little electromagnetic cobalt," Holmes announced.
"Astounding, Holmes!" Watson exclaimed. "But how –?"
"Elementary, Watson. The material was electromagnetic, and it was cobalt. Therefore, logic suggests it was electromagnetic cobalt."
"Astounding!" Watson twirled his moustache in wonder. "But why –?"
Suddenly, Holmes spotted a small, already-opened box on the dining-table, addressed to himself. "Ha!"
"For you, Holmes! Astounding! But –?"
Holmes was on a roll. "Mrs Hudson! Who brought this?" The housekeeper appeared immediately.
" Mr 'Olmes, those delivery men brung that electromagnetic cobalt you ordered last week. You forgot already?"
Holmes preened. "You see, Watson? Elementary!"
"Astounding!"
4. ABOARD THE U. S. S. ENTERPRISE
They'd brought a little electromagnetic cobalt to fuel the engines, the refit's final stage. Scotty was beside himself.
"Captain, I'm warning you! The Enterprise won't be the same without dilithium crystals!"
Kirk smiled. "Nonsense, Scotty, we've got to move on. Dilithium crystals cause universal warming, electromagnetic cobalt's the greener option. Four million light years per teaspoon, zero to warp speed in three seconds." He sat back in his seat. "OK, engines to warp speed!"
The Enterprise spluttered to a halt. Scotty reached for the owner's manual. "Captain... I think they put in four-star electromagnetic cobalt."
"So?"
"This is a diesel."
5. THE FOUR GIFTS
They'd brought a little electromagnetic cobalt. At the door, however, they met three shepherds who were just leaving.
"Hey, Your Majesties, whatya brought?" said one.
The kings proudly displayed their cobalt. One explained, "Hang it above the cot and its light shines."
The shepherds frowned. "Emm... nice, but they need practical stuff. Baby lotion. Something sweet-smelling – it's a manger after all. Some hard cash – it costs a fortune to raise kids nowadays."
Fortunately, the local supermarket had a couple of things, as well as a gold-dispensing machine. The kings left the cobalt too, but no-one ever discovered who brought it.
6. IN THE BEGINNING
They'd brought a little electromagnetic cobalt: tiny particles, not in themselves significant because the real stars of the process were hydrogen, oxygen, carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus atoms. But critical players all the same.
Across the universe there were thousands, perhaps millions, of equally suitable deserts, just waiting for something to happen. But that special solar storm, surging as it did with radioactive power and subatomic protons, carried that little piece of the jigsaw needed to kickstart the process. Those elements – in the presence of electromagnetic cobalt – formed an acid, specifically deoxyribonucleic acid.
And in that moment life on Earth began.
