Time Trap

Around a campfire a seasoned spacer recounts an eerie expedition on the dark side of the moon, describing stark craters, glacial slopes, and a sense of bitter cold. While exploring a broad valley he notices a line of oversized footprints that inexplicably begin where he stands and lead to a massive, termite-like mound. Crawling through a tunnel inside the mound, he finds a hollow interior that is occupied by a small figure in a shriveled space-suit whose bright eyes betray intense fear. The tale traces a progression from isolation and routine daring to a quietly unsettling encounter that challenges the narrator's expectations and leaves a lingering mystery.