Imprinting

Herman was hand-raised and released into the wild.

It had been another case of humans swarming over a planet and decimating nearly all of its fauna before they realised the ecosystem was out of balance.

Now Herman felt the inner movement of protoplasm that meant it was time to reproduce. Soon two smaller, amoeba-like bodies would go their separate ways.

But something was missing. Slowly Herman shape-changed into the form of his human carer and picked up the item he had smuggled out after seeing Matt use it so often.

“Playboy Magazine” fell open to the centrefold and Herman began.

Susan Cornford is a retired public servant, living in Perth, Western Australia. She/her has most recently had pieces published or forthcoming in 2024 Anthology Invasion of the Saucer-Men From Mars! 42 Stories Anthology Presents: Book of 42, Arzono Publishing Presents The 2023 Annual, Banksia Journal, Metastellar, Stupefying Stories, The Suburban Review Hills Hoist V. 3 and WELL READ.