Back to the Drawing Board

Photo by: Al Forbes

British efforts to produce stealthy military tanks proceeded apace, largely due to Dr. Pradesh. The slender scientist’s creative mind knew no boundaries. He built a reputation for attempting things no one else ever considered. While producing amazing results, Pradesh sometimes strayed from practical reality.

The medium tank rested on an abandoned overpass. Several hundred yards away, General Hotchkiss and a cadre of Army officers watched through binoculars.

“It’ll become invisible?” asked Hotchkiss.

Typing commands in his laptop, Dr. Pradesh said, “Not invisible. Camouflaged. Invisibility is difficult, but changing the image to something unobtrusive is far more economical.”

“So, a concrete colored tank?”

“Even better! Not even shaped like a tank. It’ll look like a natural object, and during battle, natural-appearing objects are automatically ignored.”

“Excellent approach, doctor! I can’t wait to see this.”

Pradesh struck a final key. “There!”

The change was immediate.

The entire viewing party gasped…then muttered confusedly.

“Well,” hesitated Hotchkiss. “It’s natural-looking, and rather convincing.”

“Even next to it you’d still be fooled!”

“Yes, but…”

“But what?”

“It’s not ready to deploy.”

“Why not?” whined Pradesh. “The illusion is complete!”

“Indubitably. But can the camouflage be something other than a giraffe?”
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Written for Sunday Photo Fiction: https://sundayphotofictioner.wordpress.com/2017/09/03/sunday-photo-fiction-september-3rd-2017/