FF – There’s Always a Catch
Here is my story for Friday Fictioneers, hosted by Rochelle. This week she also provided the photo! Click Mr Frog for the linkup.
Copyright Rochelle Wisoff-Fields
Sam smiled. An airport without aircraft! Who would have thought? No-one, certainly, before the arrival of the N’Gak’Na three years ago.
Hailing from a distant galaxy, they had asked for nothing, yet gave so much. Suspicion waned as poverty and starvation were eliminated. In fact, everyone was getting quite plump!
Entering the transfer pod, Sam closed his eyes and waited. The UK to Australia in two seconds! The pod whirred.
Opening his eyes, he found himself lying on a table, surrounded by a N’Gak’Na family holding cutlery, their mandibles watering. A carving knife descended.
He couldn’t move. He couldn’t even scream.
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draliman on life 
Very tasty!
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I always suspected you were of the N’Gak’Na!
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No, no. By the way, I’ve sent you a free flight voucher!
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Awesome, thanks! I can’t wait to start my new life in Oz and not in any way get eaten!
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So Sam ended up being the catch of the day 😀 Beware of aliens with gifts!
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The Greeks had nothing on these guys 🙂
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When “everyone was getting quite plump!” you need to start worrying! I read Hansel and Gretel, I know why people are fattened up 😉
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That line was a bit of a foreshadow of the end 🙂
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Good story…………. if something seems too good to be true, it usually is!
Someone pass the salt…………?
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Salt? On human? You’ll spoil the delicate balance of tastes!
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Must admit I don’t use salt in any of my cooking.
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Delightfully horrible. The cutlery is a lovely touch!
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If there’s one thing you can say about them, it’s that they have impeccable table manners 🙂
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At least he was fattened up beforehand
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No-one likes to eat a scrawny underfed human.
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Australia! I have always been suspicious about Australia’s wildlife 😉
Been warned, going on a diet!
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You’re safe beneath a certain weight 🙂
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🙂
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Sounds like the N’Gak’Na prefer the food to be fresh…
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Preferably staring at you in terror…
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Reminds me of the Twilight Zone episode, where the alien book “Serving Mankind” was a cookbook. Scared me witless as a child. What a nightmare!
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Ha, nice double meaning in that title!
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Preparing the fatted calf, I’d never trust an alien bearing gifts
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It does seem they have an ulterior motive!
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oh, it’s like a nightmare coming true. hopefully, the pain will be minimal compared to what he’s imagining it to be.
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Hopefully. But probably not.
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A clever race the N’Gak’Na!
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Another travel pod accident, body atomised, very sad and all that…
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TO SERVE MAN is a short story by Damon Knight. It first appeared in the November 1950 issue of Galaxy Science Fiction and has been reprinted a number of times, including in Frontiers in Space, Far Out, and The Best of Damon Knight. It has EXACTLY the same storyline as your little FF story … except it’s about a cookbook that no one knows how to read.
Welcome to the world of Sci-Fi 😀
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Someone else mentioned that. I love the title with its double meaning! I can’t believe someone stole my idea, went back in time and published it…
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Haha and I thought my story was a bit offbeat lol.
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I’ll get to yours soon and then I can compare our offbeatedness levels!
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Nothing like healthy competition lol
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I must lose some weight before my upcoming trip to Austalia!
My FriFic tale!
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I would, just in case. I, on the other hand, am screwed.
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Yep, “To Serve Man” definitely ripped off your idea for this one since it was the first thing I thought of as well. Rod Serling never came up with anything original for The Twilight Zone…
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Damn time-travelling scam artists…
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No such thing as a free lunch, they say. One minute you’re getting one, next minute you are one
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Swings and roundabouts and all that 🙂
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The first inkling of things not being what they seem is the fact all were becoming quite plump… Oh dear, oh dear!
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Yes, that was the first clue 😀
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Dear Ali,
“To Serve Man.” It’s a cookbook! (Twilight Zone). I think Sam needs a little bit more seasoning. Well done. I mean…erm…good job.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Rochelle,
I really need to track that episode down. It seems I’ve missed the boat on syndication!
Ha, yes, he was slightly less than “well done” 😮
Ali
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Medium well please.
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Raw is the only way to go!
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The plumpness was nice foreshadowning. Don’t you hate it when the meat looks at you?
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Maybe they can cover his head with a napkin while they dig in 😃
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Yikes, not a good way to go. I think the human race might be in trouble! Very creative as always. 🙂
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Not good at all. They might at least have killed him first 😮
I’m glad you liked it!
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Wow, that was scary, Ali. When I read the word “plump” I became suspicious. Well written. They probably will make slaves of the skinny people they can’t fatten up.
— Suzanne
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Yes, “plump” was a bit of a taste(!) of things to come. I’m glad you liked it 🙂
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They’re in Australia? So am I. I’d better be careful and stick to my diet. Very good story I love it.
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It’s possible he was diverted before arriving in Australia, But perhaps not 🙂 Best to be on the safe side! I’m glad you liked it.
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Love this story, its so self-contained and pleasing to read. Clever to include the bit about people becoming plumper in the middle of the story, ready for being the ever so kind N’Gakna’s supper dish !
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Some people need fattening up a bit. Not me, though 🙂
I’m glad you enjoyed it!
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Brrrr! Doesn’t sound like a good way to go! I liked your foreshadowing. (I wonder if 75 kilos is skinny enough on someone 1.80 metres tall?)
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Step in a pod and find out 😉
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From a pod in UK how did he land on N’GAK’Na table? May be those aliens had engineered the change in flight path. No wonder people are getting plump and poverty is being eliminated. People eating people, These aliens can do anything, it seems.
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That was my thought – that they’re diverting the occasional traveller. Soon someone will notice, though.
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Gah! Evils aliens getting people all nice and plump before they become the main dish! Doesn’t anyone ever wonder what became of those who never arrived and never returned?
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I’m thinking they’re choosing their victims with care. And sometimes people don’t want to notice. Life is good (if you don’t get eaten)!
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🙂
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In a way I’m not so hungry anymore…MOL 😀 Pawkisses for a Happy Caturday🐾😽💞
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You stick to your nip and tuna beefie, Binky 🙂
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Haha…fun story!
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Thanks!
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Fresh food direct to the table, I like how this family eats. On a personal note I hope they don’t like Indian,
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No over-processed food for this family 🙂 All free-range!
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Aaaaaargh! I guessed what would happen when you mentioned everyone being plump. Those N’Gak’Na are so cruel… they could’ve at least made the humans unconscious before eating them. Or perhaps we’re only tasty when we’re conscious?
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That was a little bit of a hint 🙂 They like their food squirmy 😦
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Thanks for getting the image of someone eating squirmy worms in my head. 😉
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What a fantastic twist that was! Phew!!!
BTW, I tagged you in this post….participation is optional but I hope you will join in!
https://dbmcnicol.com/circus-comes-to-town/
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I’m glad you liked it!
I’ll take a look.
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That twist, wow!
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I’m glad you liked it!
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That’s a step up from meals on wheels, very amusing
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It’s the future! I’m glad you liked it.
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