
A lone pilot crashes on a distant, mineral‑rich world bathed in the relentless glare of three suns. With his airship shattered and only a hundred pellets left in his pistol, he must quickly mark his position, seek shade, and fend off the planet’s most terrifying native—giant, translucent liquid scorpions that can dissolve flesh in an instant. The harsh environment forces him to balance the urgent need for water, shelter, and ammunition while navigating a landscape of scorching sand and hidden caves.
Meanwhile, a silent, amorphous creature awakens beneath the scorching surface, guided by a mysterious sixth sense that leads it toward an elusive source of nourishment. As the heat thaws its frozen form, it slides through the dunes, instinctively avoiding danger and searching for sustenance. Both strangers confront the same unforgiving terrain, each relying on wits and limited resources to survive the planet’s brutal “time of cold.
Language
en
Duration
~14 minutes (14K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
Release date
2020-02-18
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

A veterinarian, teacher, and storyteller, this author writes with warmth, curiosity, and a clear love of animals. Her work blends memoir and observation, turning everyday moments with pets into lively, personal stories.
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