QUARANTINE
Copyright 1997 By Joe Morales
What a beautiful system there!
Especially the third world from
its star."
Exclaimed the excited young
starship traveler.
"Oh please. Oh Please. May we
sojourn there?"
"No...
What do you see between Mars
& Jupiter?"
Clipped the intersystem elder
whose eyes flickered from upon
its shoulder.
"A belt of planetary fragments
and clutter...
-
Why?" Asked the youth of its
teacher.
"It
means none may come, or go, or intervene.
It
means that this system is under quarantine."
Said the elder in a voice that seemed
so mean.
"How unfortunate." Whined the sad-tinged
teen.
"What smashed a world to make such
a scene?"
"Who knows?"Shrunk the elder in
resign.
"For us it's a warning...
A very rare sign."