Today, at seven a.m. the grass was frosty, the sky clear blue. By three this afternoon, sky bruised as an eight-round battered boxer, hailstones and thunder, the drama of it exhilarating. As was, of course the reading of this week's responses, begin swiftly and in fine fashion by John whose 'The Lobsterman' takes this week's top accolade. As ever, thank you all.
Words for the coming week: audience crab waste
Entries by midnight Thursday13th May,
new words posted Friday 14th
Usual rules: 100 words maximum (excluding title) of flash fiction or
poetry using all three words above in the genres of horror, fantasy, science
fiction or noir. Serialised fiction is, as always, welcome. All variants and
uses of the words and stems are fine. Feel free to post links to your stories
on Twitter or Facebook or whichever.
Great job, John. A thoroughly enjoyable little offering.
ReplyDeletecongrats, John, another great story to entertain us
DeleteTrouble halved? Or doubled? [Threshold 348]
ReplyDeleteThe next flash spot-lit both myself and the quad-bike, for what I hoped was an audience of one. Crab-wise, I stepped sideways until my knee made contact and I grasped hold of solid metal.
A second shout, of 'Wait' (though somewhat a waste of breath since what else would I do?) as the rumble of his approach grew louder.
But why no headlight?
At which point my ears detected a second engine? Not an echo (different sound) but on a converging path. Towards me. If one was Raven, who the other? Which would reach me first?
And did Raven know?
The converging path... such a great way to make an entrance... whomever it is.
Deletethere can be no words to describe the feeling of that wait, that not knowing...
DeleteThe Secret Armadillo Soldier (SAS) Diaries - entry 141
ReplyDelete‘Alf a platoon of diggers are waitin’ at the south-west exit. Meet 'em there Atlas: Head for the archive-burrows. Don’t waste time; get em in an’ get em started, then catch up wiv Nigel’s lot. Don’t need an audience, so keep it quiet an’ let ‘im know wots goin’ on.
You know who’d be best at excavatin’ at the Palace. Nigel’ ll be a mite crabby at losing ‘im, but make sure ‘e sends the stinky little fella along wiv a couple of diggers ’
Atlas nodded.
Sarg looked again at Pink-Fairy who carefully arranged his feather-boa over his shoulder.
An all-star cast making an impressive appearance together. Well done.
DeleteMust have forgotten to press 'publish' for my first comment, but it was along the lines of how vivid and alive a scene has been created by dialogue. Also I think I used the word 'magic'.
DeleteSome subterfuge seemingly taking place. Such clear, precise writing, Terrie.
DeleteI'm loving the image of the feather-boa being arranged over his shoulder... it brought some strange pictures to mind!
DeleteChange of focus [425]
ReplyDeleteCrab sandwiches and a pint each of Theakstons – neither a crumb nor a drop wasted – and DI Pettinger and DC Moth were ready to resume their investigation into the murder of the illiterately-inscribed lass. Body removed and SOCO finishing up, the audience had disappeared, but Pettinger's first task was to check that the identities of all had been noted, with particular attention paid to strangers: not unknown for the murderer to get a second thrill from watching the resultant gathering of evidence.
He didn't know whether to be pleased or irritated at Philly's murmured, 'Derek Nickle's who you want'.
I've never had Theakston's, but I want some. The intrigue of Stepcart is never-ending.
DeleteAnd just what is swirling around Philly's mind? Very interesting, Sandra.
DeleteBeer aided thoughts, could prove very interesting...
DeleteThe Lobsterman
ReplyDeleteCarlton dropped the shovel as a woman neared the dock. “Hey, man, we got an audience,” he whispered to Manny.
“Ahoy there,” the woman said. “You realize there’s a hurricane coming? Hey, I know you. You sell crabs out on the Parkway.”
“Lobsters, mon. I don’t waste time on crabs.”
“Oh,” she flashed her badge. “I’m looking for a Manuel Johnson.”
“It’s Manny, mon. We’re a little busy at the moment.”
“No problem. I’ll just wait over here.”
“What’s she doing?” Carlton said.
“Puttin’ a damper on tings, mon. Forget the beach. Too risky.” He walked toward the cop.
And, like Terri's, this so vividly lets the dialogue tell the tale.
DeleteWalked toward the cop... and why? I fear something untoward is about to happen. Nice, John!
Deleteoh my, what strange happenings are to come... like the dialogue here, as with Terrie, so cleverly done.
DeleteEncounter on Doggerland
ReplyDeleteDoggerland. That bleak expanse of stagnant pools and sandy wastes that was once the English Channel. It was here we encountered the Sorcerer. He had assembled an audience of mighty mechanical crabs. Red shells in the sunset. Telescopic legs clicking and clacking as wheels and cogs rotated deep within the engines of their innards.
“He’s not a sorcerer,” I said. “He just understands how the old stuff works.”
“Still,” said Runa. “He has a potential army at his command. Imagine how the pistons that drive those claws might crack the spine of the tyrant.”
Trouble is, I can picture this, hear the clacking, more vividly than I care to.
DeleteLove the name, Doggerland. It sounds like a place where little good happens.
DeleteGreat name for the English Channel. I'd love to see all that lies on the floor of that body of water... without the crabs, that is.
Deleteoh I like this, images and all...
DeleteSorry the previous S.A.S instalment above should have been 142 not 141
ReplyDeleteThe Secret Armadillo Soldier (SAS) Diaries - entry 143
Under veiled and crab-clawed moon light, Cinereus raised a hairy eyebrow at Armi, ‘I know my own wrappin’s. Looks like a batch I gave to someone.
Bluddy useful come the fightin’,’ he said, watching, as Nigel wasted no time gathering the pangolins.
‘This damned contraption’s gotta be up and running by dawn so now’s the time to show us how it goes toogever.’ instructed Nigel.
After hushed whispering, two pangolins began un-strapping bits and pieces from the contraption. In front of a keen audience of Varks and Dillo’s, the pangolins deftly, reassembled the machine.
‘Feckin’ ‘ell,’ muttered Armi.
Oh - 'crab-clawed moonlight' - wonderfully inventive!
DeleteLike the audience of varks and dillos, I too am keen to figure out this contraption.
DeleteA contraption not yet ready for operation, but needed in short order. This could lead to some interesting developments.
Deletelove the crab-clawed moonlight too, what a startling way to start this piece!
DeleteFINAL WORDS
ReplyDelete“I didn’t request an audience, but since you folks are here, you might as well stay. Doing so seems like an enormous waste of time. But… whatever makes you happy.
Do I appear crabby? Too bad, but what do you expect? I simply believe that certain events should happen in private.
“Like this one.
“I see the smugness coating your faces. The lot of you are trying your damnedest to make sure I see your contempt. I do, and I’m glad to know I’ve gotten the better of you.
“She asked for it, you know.
“Mr. Executioner… the injection, please.
I'm in the habit of composing my offerings before I read any others. This, and all those preceding, tell me I should read first, and then up my game. The originality of this is startling.
DeleteJim, this is great. I too would be a little crabby in his position and I love his attitude. I can't help but surmise, maybe she really did have it coming.
DeleteOh my, how much is revealed in this dialogue! fantastic, Jim. Love the last line.
DeleteONSET OF WISDOM
ReplyDelete‘Okay, so the mandible LOOKS the part to help me out of this hole,’ Joanie acknowledged sotto voce, as she repeatedly thrust it deep into the scree to gain purchase. ‘Now … if it would just stop BITING me.’
The teeth, still solidly attached, were both boon and nuisance as she progressed, crab-like, up the confined slope.
The walls helped her retain position with each restrained scramble, but the necessity of being quiet so as not to attract that certain audience wasted a lot of her energy.
On the positive side, the growing exhaustion brought perspective. Colm surely wasn’t worth this.
Not always easy to describe such manoeuvres, but you've certainly done it here.
DeleteI was wondering how the mandible was going to be of use. Well done.
DeleteThe growing audience... seems to be still a threat. Be careful, Joanie!
Deleteit's vivid, you can appreciate the difficulty of the climb through a few words.
DeleteThe Joys of Mediumship no 54
ReplyDeleteThis week the joy comes from this side of life, a spiritual book of poems by my 98 year old friend. She has long insisted some of the poems needed a wider audience and here it is, poems matched with paintings. Page 70’s poem has the heading: ‘For Dorothy Davies.’ It’s hard to find the right words to say thank you – terrified of seeming crabby and wasting this gift. I waited for three days and tonight found the thanks I was seeking.
Stories are arriving for Gravestone Press anthologies, very exciting in depth writing which challenges as well as entertains.
What a great gift to receive. And from one so sage, I'm sure.
ReplyDeleteStop The Week, I Want To Get Off (155)
ReplyDeleteA circulating stand loaded with silver soon attracted an audience and items are selling. The slender stand means there is little wasted space and I am working around it as I try to interest buyers while we wait for ‘new’ stock to come in. I feel a bit like a crab in a rock pool, waiting for something to float by… overall it’s picking up. I want to give it a boost by changing things so I end up with a table like a car boot sale. People love them… as they do the silver. It looks good all round.
I like the analogy of the crab in the rock pool.
DeleteHope you also have the sunshine to keep things sparkly.
DeleteThe Mad Italian 201
ReplyDeleteFrom week 200 to week 201 I the audience will be the same but the news from Israel is not the same, and you are overlooking another humanitarian disaster about to grab the countries busy right now wasting resources on arms and ammunition. The stealthy way in which this outbreak of hostilities has come upon us has been almost crablike, sidling toward the enemy, waiting for them to react. This conflict has been part of the life of the people for so long that it seems it will never find a way to be resolved, the grievances go too deep.
Deep grievances are so hard to overcome. It's hard to underdtand without being there.
ReplyDelete