Ministry Protocol: Thrilling Tales of the Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences

by Tee Morris

  *****

  June 30, 1908

  Podkamennaya Tunguska River Basin

  14 Years Later

  With a strange harshness, Vasily Zinchenko found that he could speak and move normally again. His disorientation caused him to drop his beloved rifle, which tumbled over the edge of their aircraft.

  It became mild of temperature, shockingly hot to a man used to Russian winters. Weight finally returned to him as the Mortar levelled off and shot in the direction of the rising sun. The Duck fell behind him toward the black pines, which were a lot closer than he’d hoped. He didn’t know how the detonation on the Lev bomb worked, but he knew it would blow when it hit the ground.

  “We’re too close!” he said.

  “I don’t know where the next time jump point is.”

  “It doesn’t matter! Just go there.”

  She began to frantically work the controls again, and Vasily watched in horror as the Duck tumbled toward the forest. Energy once again shot through the ship. A flash blinded his eyes from where the Lev craft had fallen, and a sudden heat warmed his skin. Vasily could only hope it was the summer sun. He closed his eyes.

  “Just jump!” he cried.