Stinky Cannon Balls

Photo by: Björn Rudberg

While colonists settled in at Humphrey colony, construction continued apace.

Jeffrey and his friends explored this alien world. Climbing Menlo’s mountain, they walked past a construction sign warning people away. Soon they encountered Mahouts guiding a massive Gahinder.

The massive, six-legged beast trundled along, its maw gouging through rock and dirt to make the mountain road. The kids walked up to the beast’s massive behind.

Henry, the lead Mahout, shouted at them. “Get back! It’s not safe there.”

“But Gahinders are tame,” said Jeffrey.

Henry pointed at the Gahinder’s huge anus. “That dirt won’t stay in his belly forever!”
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Written for the Friday Fictioneers: https://rochellewisoff.com/2018/03/21/23-march-2018/

Author’s Notes:

Though this story features a road construction crew, they were controlling a large animal to do it. I wasn’t sure what to call the workers. I figured the Thai Elephant handlers made the most sense as a template. That’s how I got “Mahout.”
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahout