BONUS AUDIO: "The Beast of Boredom" by Richard R Smith
Weird Darkness: Stories of the Paranormal, Supernatural, Legends, Lore, Mysterious, Macabre, Unsolved
Deep Dive
Why did the protagonist initially believe that fighting the Martians was unjustified?
He thought Earthmen had no right to force their way onto Mars, especially when the popular theory of helping a dying Martian civilization required killing millions in the process. He also believed Martians had the right to let their civilization crumble if they chose to.
What did the protagonist discover inside the metal globe offered by the Martian?
He found a maze of wiring and tiny mechanisms, realizing it was a time trap, an ancient Martian time machine designed as a booby trap.
How did the protagonist initially try to combat boredom while trapped in the time loop?
He read magazines, watched TV, listened to the radio, worked crossword puzzles, explored his apartment, and tried to sleep, but none of these activities lasted beyond the ten-minute time loop.
What was the main danger the protagonist faced while trapped in the time loop?
The primary danger was boredom, which he likened to an enemy that could drive him insane by forcing him to endure endless, identical ten-minute intervals without physical fatigue or hunger.
How did the protagonist eventually interact with Mary Jeffers, his neighbor?
He used the telephone to repeatedly call her, learning details about her life until he could convince her they were old friends. Eventually, he climbed through the window into her apartment to meet her in person.
What was the significance of the ruby in the metal globe?
The ruby triggered the time trap, activating the Martian time machine and initiating the repeated ten-minute time loop that trapped the protagonist.
How did the protagonist eventually view the Martian time trap?
He came to see it as a gift that granted him extra years of life, as he lived through countless ten-minute intervals, exploring various activities and interactions to combat boredom.
What was the ultimate fate of the protagonist in the time trap?
He eventually succumbed to the mental strain of endless memories, describing it as a crushing weight that grew over time, leading to his eventual mental collapse and realization that the time trap was a torture machine.
- Discovery of a camouflaged shack
- Confrontation with an emaciated Martian
- Exchange of the jeweled globe for life
Shownotes Transcript