Sweet Their Blood and Sticky

"Sweet Their Blood and Sticky" by Albert R. Teichner is a science fiction short story written in the early 1960s. It explores themes of creation and existence through the lens of a distant future where a mysterious machine continues to operate long after human civilization has vanished. The narrative unfolds in a desolate world, focused on the interactions between sentient beings and an enigmatic contraption, delving into the nature of life that can arise from artificial origins. The story follows Creno and Harta, explorers from another dimension who encounter a vast taffy-producing machine in a barren landscape. As they observe peculiar creatures feasting on the pink substance it generates, they grapple with the notion that this machine may have birthed life itself. Creno, the more seasoned elder, attempts to guide Harta's understanding of the situation, while she becomes increasingly curious about the origins of the beings and the machine. Ultimately, Harta discovers a more ancient machine buried deep beneath the surface, revealing a cycle of creation and destruction, leaving both characters to ponder profound questions about existence and knowledge.