An Encounter... by Chipka
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No AI - This artwork was created entirely by hand or with traditional digital tools.
Description
I saw an Ahuurta today. Ahurta is not what they call themselves: the Teth’teth’sin call them that. Ahurta is a Teth’teth’sin name, Humans have only borrowed it. I saw one today, an Ahuurta not a Teth’teth’sin. (I’ve never seen a Teth’teth’sin…they never visit this planet.)
My brother sees them often. They are a normal part of his life, and so he is able to ignore them. For me, and anyone else in my village, they are uncommon and mysterious. I doubt that city-folk know any more about them than we do, but they see them on a daily basis. They can distinguish between one and another of them; they can call them by name. He admits that the names by which the machine creatures are known are provisional things: nicknames more like it. The Ahuurta don’t talk much, not like humans do, and so we are left to assume more than we know.
I was coming from a day’s work at the mill when I saw the Ahuurta. I heard it first. It made a heavy sound: like the hooves of a horse, ten times larger than any natural horse. I heard snapping wood. Breaking trees. The Ahuurta are bulky things and so their journeys through forests are rare. This one had some business in the woodlands, though I couldn’t fathom what. I heard other sounds in the distance, more big-horse sounds, but only one machine-creature came before me.
My brother says that the Ahuurta are the beings inside of the walking machines. Others—village people like myself—say that the Ahuurta and their machines are one-in-the same. The nature of these beings is a constant source of debate, and humans love, if anything, a good debate. In this way, I think, the Ahuurta (creatures? machines?) are better than we are. They are able to reach concensus. They do not quarrel. Never have we seen one Ahuurta in combat with another. Just last week, Baylem stabbed Arlowe in a brawl in the saloon. Arlowe isn’t too happy about that, and so Baylem has skipped out and has gone down-river; he’ll be long-gone by the time Arlowe comes out from under Doc Skinsky’s care. Violence is a human thing, and so when the Ahuurta go down-river, it’s never because one stabbed another in a saloon brawl over a trollop or a floozie. The Ahuurta don’t avoid each other because of trollops and floozies.
The Ahuurta saw me today. It paused in its walk, its third leg splayed back for non-walking support. It said something, but I cannot understand their speech: loud, bass-string noises like thunder with tone. They know that we cannot understand them, but they speak anyway. At the sound of the machine-creature’s voice, I waved. It spoke again, and walked away.
I suppose, one day, I’ll learn why it chose to walk through the forest—an easy discomfort for them. I suppose it might have told me why I walked where it walked, but I don’t understand bass-strings that sound like thunder.
All I know is that I saw an Ahuurta today, but I don’t know why.
*** *** ***
Okay folks, I have no idea where that above story snippet came from, but there you have it. I blame a piece of sculpture for that. After enjoying brunch with Corey and Kate, I sat in the back seat of Kate’s car as we drove past a sculpture garden in Skokie. We’d actually stopped, but it was too cold to walk around. I saw this sci-fi walking contraption, just after we’d climbed back into the car and headed elsewhere. Kate saw it first and I stuck my camera out of the window and nabbed this shot. I have to say that I rather like sculptures shaped like science fictional walking devices, and it lent itself well to this Gimp-enhanced picture. The moons were added in post-production as were other atmospheric effects. Everything else was left alone, including the "Ahuurta" or whatever else you'd decide to call that thing.
As always, thank you for viewing, reading, and commenting, and I hope you’re all on the verge of a great week.
Comments (36)
Even as a sculpture, it's an odd, mysterious thing! The moons add a lot, too!
Your post-processing effects are perfect...and what an intriguing little story snippet! I wonder if someday you'll marry all your little snippets into one grand tale that will be your "Dune", the work you become famous for? I like to think so, and look forward to reading it whenever it comes together!
Nice work...This one really had be going for while as I could not tell if it was a photo or a render...I'd love to see more of the sculpture...Keep up the good work!
Very cool sculpture. And story snippet too!
Cool postwork on this Chip! Really nice job on working it up into something not of this world. I especially love the story that goes along with it. Impressive what you can create out of a photograph. Superb! I'm trying out new words now - see aren't you impressed? Ha!
remind me a little of the story "war of the worlds" too. wonderful story you tald and image too
Well, what ever it is, it certainly looks like some kind of alien walking machine. I'm reminded of "Tripods" or (of course) War of the Worlds. These guys are a lot more pleasant, fortunately. Great photo, excellent postwork!
superb!!
super shot and i love the story. full of so much imagination and fantasy, makes me want to check it out!!
Interesting sculpture. Fantastic shot and postwork, looks superb!
Of course the sculpture is a mechanical alien being. What else could it be? I love your story snippet. The vocalizations of the Ahuurta is intriguing. Nice detail!
"..I waved. It spoke again, and walked away." Brilliant! I have encounters with fellow dog walkers a little like that, when I can't tell what on earth they are on about.
"take me to your leader" lol cool sculpture
Brilliant writing my friend. Outstanding photography my friend.
The mood is fabulous, lighting outstanding, imagination...interplanetary. LOL
Well! I would have wondered what happened to you, if you hadnt spun a nice narrative out of this shot. I am glad you did beacause it was fun reading and a wonderful image too.
Hiehie!!! This alien looking dude looks like I feel today!!! Love the effect of the pw Chip and LOVE your story!!! :)
Very cool!
GORGEOUS, SUPERB IMAGE!
What a great sculpture and fantastic shot. I like your short story, it really gets you thinking.
The pictures grabbed me and the story reeled me in. Wonderful capture and postwork. I like the way the Ahuurta is framed by the trees and seems to be stopping to regroup after coming out into the open. Terrific atmosphere with the moons and the lacy branches. I love being introduced to the Ahuurta by someone who knows only conjucture and rumors about them, leaving me with questions, wondering what they are. Excellent small details that add color and humor. "Arlowe isn’t too happy about that" An understandable reaction. Great image and narrative!
fantastic picture!! wonderful narrative!! BRAVO!!
Great narrative and find!
Cool photo and wonderful short story. Always enjoy your stories. Dana
Wow! Skokie never looked so interesting! I can see it now, the screamer headline: ALIENS ATTACK SKOKIE! and then the subhead: Suburbs Under Seige. Actually, this looks pretty good concidering the car was moving, albiet slowly. I was instantly fascinated by this sculpture as well and wonder what it's called and who created it. Love the post work that really put it in its element, and your writing, of course, is always first rate. Very arresting image!
It's aliiiive, run! j/k--its a very cool
Love that "like SciFi" scene. Wonderful story.
The sculpture does have a certain insect quality to its appearance. It's no wonder the idea of an alien visitor comes to mind. And your photo manipulation (ala GIMP, one of my faves) is very effective in transporting the viewer to an even more alien place. And the story sounds like a great hook for a larger tale. Indeed there are a couple of asides to a much larger envisioned universe. Already it sounds far different and more complex than most depictions of human-alien, which never end well for someone. And the story belies this peaceful though secretive co-existence between Ahuurta and Humans. So benign and so mysterious.
Great capture and creative post-production.
WOW. I was remembered to Orson Wells and the Halloween-Eve of 1938 when he confused many people with "War of the worlds" on air... Really a great story and well done shot.