The Artifact

(875 words) ‘Out in space no-one can hear you scream.’ Well, Alice could hear screams all right. Her three-year-old twins, Adam and Toni, fighting. Adam wailed as Toni held a bright-blue shark just out of his reach. Being taller, she would lift it higher, just beyond his grasp, as he jumped up for it. “Toni, you know how much he likes that toy. Give it back right now or you don’t go to see Daddy’s shuttle come in.”