Short Snorter

Fred and Alice Daniels take the unmarked trail through a quiet forest near their resort, drawn by a flash of red in a sun‑dappled clearing. There they find a gigantic, gaudy‑red disc made of three concentric rings, its windows revealing an empty cabin equipped with a steering wheel and a few dials. Their curiosity turns to puzzlement as they wonder whether they have stumbled upon a genuine flying saucer or some elaborate prank.

Back at the hotel they run into Mr. Mason, the manager, who casually mentions that a Venusian pilot named Mr. Steariot is staying on the property and that he’s already photographed the disc. Mason’s weary tone hints at a bureaucracy that treats the extraordinary as a publicity stunt, leaving the couple unsure whether to report their find or keep it secret. The encounter leaves them with more questions than answers, and the red saucer glimmers in the forest, waiting for someone to decide what to do with it.