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At the Department of Unlikely Coincidences some strange things come across our desks, well, our computer screens, we don’t use desks any longer.

Some things are readily explained - I’ve recorded some for you already - and others less so. A calm day, sitting on the beach in winter, the picnic party suddenly soaked by a single cascading wave. We are still having trouble with that one, as it has not happened again. A freak storm out at sea, a king tide surge, a tsunami; all dismissed. Maybe it was something in the picnic? I won’t speculate any further.

A little while ago this came in on the text line. A picture, just one, with a challenge.

What is

Normally I would refer it to one of the university science research labs, but it was a quiet day and we sat on it, puzzling our little minds away.

A modicum of facts accompanied the picture, if a modicum is two.

red blood Slime white

So we asked. Briefly, to the anonymous texter. Taken where? Conditions? Size? Blood from?

The reply was not what we expected, and shorter than our questions.

Cave Warm Everywhere One

What the! We replied. Mars? Are you OK?

Yes No

Do you need help? Not that we could do much, but courtesy demanded.

in Hospital

Bells! Martian hospitals aren’t the best. What happened?

We got no reply.

Over two weeks later, another short message.

Better Nearly died

Other wasn’t spending up big on communication.

So whatever was in the picture was dangerous. In what way? What was it?

Slowly we were informed.

Lost fingers Text hard

Can you dictate?

No device.

What happened?

Water hunting Air mixing Cave warmed Slime arrived Not notice Work hard Took rest Wake One Covered Escaped

The texts came in slowly.

Slime eat suits One lost Pressure Face mask Tried to seal Hole Failed One is gone Picture after Got on gloves * my Seeped into fingers Painful.. amputation also painful

A story of horror, and loss. One and Other so positive last we communicated.

Tell world. Is Life On Mars

Technique: #digital
Theme: #abstract
Highlight colour: #red

Series: #space #mini-sci-fi

Published #Medium September 2026