The Mosquito - Sci-fi Flash Fiction

The Mosquito

"What's this thing called?"

"It's called by its name."

"Why are you so mean?"

Doctor Man put his book down. "Why are you here, again?"

"Mom's sent me."

"Specifically?"

"Yup."

Deep breath in. "Alright." Then looking around the room, "Pick a book and start reading. This is the reading chamber."

Fidgeting in his chair, the little blond boy whined, "But I don't like reading."

"Do you like silence?"

Baffled, meek eyes, and a sudden glimmer of an idea, "I like mosquitoes. Mom says there's lots of them in Umlau."

Another deep breath in, fingers drumming on the arm support of the chair. "Yes, nasty little things that keep the silence out." Then leaning forward, "I'll make you a deal. When the next shipment leaves for Umlau, you'll be on it. Whatcha think of that?"

The wide-eyed boy replied, "You're mean. I like them 'cause they were used on Ymla to cure the plague."

A sigh, and the Doctor's eyes glimpsed at the wall, his son's portrait among the rest. "Yes, they've been used there as well."

"What are you reading?" asked the boy.

"A book about plagues and all the efforts we've made to end them."

The Doctor's fingers ran across the cover of the book.

"Does it have Ymla as well?" said the youngster, daring to approach.

"Ymla, Mala, Xave, you name it. It's all in. This is the Worlds Report."

The boy stood up and, drawing closer, he touched the book. "One day, I'll fly mosquito shutters over a great land. That's what mom's told me."

Aged, blue eyes were looking closer at the youngster by the chair. A wrinkled hand caressed his cheek for a moment. "Your mom's a clever girl," he said.

"Uncle?"

"Um?"

"I don't like mosquitoes, really."

"Why's that? You've changed your mind."

A bit shyly, the boy said, "Well, without mosquitoes, there's no cure dispenser, but without disease, there's no mosquito need. I wish they weren't needed."

Eyes lowered on the book, the elder Doctor said, "Right you are."

"Are you sad?" asked the boy in his crystalline voice.

"I am," said the old man, eyes fleetingly upon the portrait. "I, most of all, would like to live in plagueless worlds."

"Why's that? Why most of all?"

"Because I've lost most of my family to it."

Trying to cheer the old man up, the youngster beamed and said, "But you've still got your books."