Every event stems from different causes and brings about different consequences. But when causality changes the entire human species, there may be aliens involved.

Causality

Boris Petrov, an intelligent, fit man of around fifty, hair and brows already graying, no pains in his joints and a prostate still normal in size, ambled towards his home. His robust body seemed to swim above the solitary sidewalk, irregularly lit up by the white light of street lamps. Snowflakes swirled here and there. The vodka and the enjoyable company at the local bar had taken him away from his drab existence, and the moderate dose of alcohol facilitated the flight of his thoughts toward wise, philosophical insights.

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‘Essence of Humour’ is a collection of short stories which brings together the best of humour writing from 17 authors across the globe.

As you read the story, glance at the sky now and then. Is it changing colour? The most terrible beast may visit our Solar System too.

The Most Terrible Beast

It was a regular bar room, one of those found near null terminals or spaceports in any point of the intelligent universe. Nickeled holders for consuming various gas mixtures occupied the bar, their sterilized inhaling mouthpieces sticking out from the consumption sockets. Any patron of the place would be thoroughly familiar with the selection of cocktails; nevertheless, their numbers were engraved in a dozen galactic languages. Four members of humankind sat on the comfortable stools in front of the bar. Three of them already knew one another, and the fourth one had just joined their company. They had been drawn together by their common need to kill some spare time between flights.

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