Far Horizons: Tales of Sci-Fi, Fantasy and Horror. Issue #13 April 2015 | Page 104

Hannah looked around uncertain to what looked like
a strange house. She walked some steps, but the man
seemed intent on not allowing her to explore her surroundings.

3… well… whatever… this girl will need the intensive
and complete brain workout. I’ll also buy some extra
blocks for more advanced education. Perhaps with
time I can even make her my research assistant.”

“Please come with me at once.” He said.

“Hannah, come here please.” He told the cute and
wide eyed girl. “Sit on this chair and don’t be scared.”

She seemed to have no choice, but to follow him.
They left the place and entered a round white transport
to what seemed to be his house. When they arrived he
asked if she wanted something to eat and drink. She
obliged him because she didn’t know when she would
have the opportunity to eat again in this strange world.
She had heard of people kidnapped by faeries, perhaps this is what had happened to her? I wonder if my
luck has improved now over an unwanted marriage?
Hannah thought. She wasn’t afraid of death, only of
having a sad life. And she liked seeing new things.
She looked around, pleased with the strangeness of
everything around her. The only flaw in her faerie
theory was that the man in front of her looked human
despite his strange clothes. “Where am I?” She asked
him finally.
“You are in the future.” The man answered her.
“What’s your name?”
“Hannah.”
Elliot repeated her name in a thoughtful manner. He
seemed to have plans for her, of which she was afraid
to find out. The emaciated man looked as if about to
say something, but then seemed to think better and
remained silent, observing her with his piercing brown
eyes.
5) Learning
Elliot looked at the girl in front of him and decided
that it was impossible to leave her ignorant. Thankfully, he, as most people, had a learning machine in his
house. The machine made learning fast and cheap and
it had become as popular as a personal computer had
been two centuries previously. I will need to spend
some cash on her, but I am responsible for bringing
her from the past. Let’s see, basic education, level 1, 2,

At least the girl didn’t panic when he put the head
electrodes on her. “It won’t hurt. Try to relax. Breathe
deeply and close your eyes, all right?”
“What are you doing to me?” Hannah asked.
“I’m adapting you to our world.” Elliot said. “You
won’t understand anything if you don’t go through this
treatment. Now be quiet.”
Hannah nodded affirmatively.
“Great.” Elliot said. He punched the machine buttons.
Hannah closed her eyes. She was thrown into a spiralling blue vortex of light, pathways unlocked in her
brain and she felt so well, as if her mind was in ecstasy. That wonderful sensation was gone far too quickly
when Elliot turned the machine off. She opened her
eyes. “That was great, can we repeat it?”
Elliot looked at the machine’s screen. Hell’s angels!
The girl had an IQ of over 140! “We must stop for
today, otherwise you will have a huge headache.” I
must take care with this girl, I never expected her to be
smarter than Bianca… But he knew that even tough
Bianca wasn’t extremely intelligent she had been
extremely creative. Small variations may occur on the
genetic line up of fraternal twins leading to unexpected results… He had written that in his secret project
report himself. “I have to leave now Hannah. Try to
rest while I’m gone.” I must find a way to contain her,
otherwise I’m doomed. I will need some drugs from
the university lab for this.
Hannah looked at him while he left. Elliot seemed
scared, in any case she felt quite sure she couldn’t trust
him. He behaved in a way that shouted ‘I’m doing
something wrong’ and it smelled fishy. She had to

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