Six varieties of lime
And all of them inventive in their usage in this
week's crop of postings; one of the especial pleasures of hosting this site. For the instant hook of
the opening line, and neat stitching of the gruesome story, Terrie's
'Sewing lesson' wins top spot, closely followed by the similarly neat dialogue
of John's 'Conflicting details.' .
Words
for the coming week: eclipse throat vary
Entries
by midnight Thursday 24th February, new words
posted Friday 25th February
Congrats Terrie and John!
ReplyDeleteThanks for awarding me the top slot Sandra and well done John for your excellent offering too.
DeleteTerrie and John... excellent choices!
ReplyDeletecongrats Terrie and John, great writing - as always!
ReplyDeleteTemptations of the heart
ReplyDeleteSuch a delicate throat. The skin tone variations so distinct, so vivid. Pale pink to scarlet red to deep purple. And then the ebony abyss. Exquisite.
She awoke gently, her husband snoring beside her like a rutting pig. Drool ran down his cheek. He grunted and expelled noxious gas.
She just had to quit drinking gin to celebrate the lunar eclipse. It always triggered such dreams.
She felt something in her hand. And where did this filet knife come from?
The beginning is horribly chilling but also very visually striking. It's lucky for her husband she woke up!
DeleteI'm not convinced she didn't take the opportunity to cut something else.
DeleteThis girl is certainly one to keep a cautious eye on.
DeleteI agree with Holly. What chilling scene setting for developing something delightfully macabre.
Deletenow there's an expression, delightfully macabre, which it is, Terrie has nailed it!
DeleteFirst hiccup [Threshold 384]
ReplyDeleteWithin minutes Raven accelerated until alongside me, his coughing an unnecessary reminder we were travelling across dusty terrain.
'Did you check we'd water?' I asked (knowing us equally responsible, but needing to ask first.)
'I thought you did! And what's with the light? Sand keeps varying in colour from ochre to grey?' (As if I were responsible for the approaching dust-storm!)
'We need to park up, before it eclipses the sun and leaves us totally in the dark!'
'Is there a source of water nearby?'
'Lacking a map, I've no idea –'
'We've SatNav.'
'Then you check it out. Now.'
The SatNav should come in hamdy. I can't wait to see where they end up.
DeleteThis is no time for an argument... you two better get it together!
DeletehTe verbal sparing between these two is such a great hook for the next installment.
Deletethe tension between them is racketing up the tension for the story!
DeleteThe Secret Armadillo Soldier (SAS) Diaries - entry 179
ReplyDeleteSpade-paw nodded.‘Leave it t’ me Sarg I’ll ‘elp ‘im.’
‘Good, I got various fings t’ sort out but I’ll make time t’ see how he’s doin’ later.’
A gurgling sigh sounded as Denzil stirred and lifted his head.
Sarg patted him gently, ‘Easy Denzil mate, this soldier will see t’ yuh, I’ll be back t’morra.’
‘Sarg, I gotta tell you,’ Denzil whispered, weakly, ‘they’re coming the night of the full moon.’
Eclipsed by uncontrollable anger, Sarg’s gentle tone erupted into a bellow of rage. Booming through the deep-rooted tunnels, in a throaty roar it echoed into every burrow.
Nothing like Sarge when she gets her dander up. I wouldn't want to get in her way.
DeleteThe dillos are as wild, uncouth and attention grabbing as always with this instalment
Delete
ReplyDeleteSilent Howling
Opinions vary about how an eclipse of the full moon will affect a lycanthrope.
Most humans think us merely myth so are foolish enough to venture out on those nights.
Of course, an eclipse will stay the metamorphosis but you are foolish because at this time the blood pulsing at your throats and the odour of your skin is at its most beguiling. We can detect the scent of you for miles.
It is the time of Silent Howling.
On those nights, we are most dangerous, for in our human form we hunt in packs.
You won’t see us coming.
A chilling story. Well done.
DeleteThanks for the warning, Terrie. You won't catch me out during a lunar eclipse.
Deletenasty bunch of evildoers, go get the baddies, leave the goodies alone... can that be done, or are they too blind to work out who is who when on the hunt??? Definitely staying home. *I can see the moon from my bedr9oom window, that's close enough...
DeleteTHE WORM
ReplyDeleteA harsh wind bulldozed through autumn’s brittle leaves as Gork Smith, driven by a dark and potent urgency, followed a path redrawn by memory through the barriers of brambles and sinkholes protecting this part of the woods from human intrusion. A variant of deviant emotion eclipsed rational thought and flooded his senses with the ravenous eagerness that had quickened his blood years before. Throat thickening with impatience, he broke through a screen of stunted trees and stared at a huge mound of dirt and brush surrounded by a muddy, motionless moat.
Eddie Potter’s tomb.
The Worm’s tomb.
Gork had returned.
Eddie Potter's tomb sounds like a dreadful place. But Gork certainly seems pleased with it. Nice one.
DeleteI liked this a lot John, brilliant imagery especially 'the huge mound of dirt and brush surrounded by a muddy, motionless moat..
Deleteyou pulled out all the stops on this one, Jim, got my imagination running wild...
DeletePoetic in its imagery
DeleteSaturday Night at the Movies
ReplyDeleteThe way he was depicted in films didn’t vary much from the celebrated novel.
In this version he was shown stalking his victims during an eclipse. He preferred Christopher Lee to this actor’s Carpathian pantomime villain. Rooting for the valiant vampire hunter he cheered when the wooden stake was raised.
The credits began to roll. He turned to the date he’d met on Tinder. She pouted, expecting a kiss. Sighing at the monotony of it all he sank his fangs into her pale neck.
Someday my Van Helsing will come, he thought, as he wiped his lips.
It must be great to see yourself portrayed on film. Clever idea, David.
DeleteTalk about a horrible date... well, for the girl anyway.
DeleteNice one, David, encapsulating a lot of images which will linger, for sure, as the offerings this week will linger, blood guts and nastiness!
DeleteTight written and very effective horror.
DeleteTo Hunt for Loot [5]
ReplyDeleteUntied by a passing elf – who nearly got his throat crushed by Rach when he laughed before helping – we hunted for Erd and his friend. The goblins were gone, along with our hard-earned treasure.
“Well,” says Felicia, ever optimistic, “in two days, the eclipse reveals the door to Kalabore again.”
I drain my beer and call for another. “The loot in that place varies, remember? One time we only found a rotting fingerbone.”
“And a whole lot of werecats.” Vera laughs. She’s happy now that we’re at the inn.
“No,” Rach growls. “We hunt that goblin down.”
Good to see Rach has her head screwed on right.
DeleteYes! Go after the goblin. Very satisfying episode.
ReplyDeleteThe goblins undoubtedly deserve whatever they are in for.
ReplyDeleteit's all casual, hey fellow well met and that, and all the time they're a bunch of killers... of course... loved it.
DeleteChange of focus [461]
ReplyDeleteGuilt – he unfit to be a father! Worry – where the hell had Aleks got to, when he was invariably home by six (and hadn't left a message to say otherwise) – and sheer bollock-shrinking fright combined to totally eclipse his joy at Philly's agreeing to become his wife. Dryness of his throat hampering his ability to speak, he grabbed her arm, 'Did he say anything to you about his plans? When did you see him last? '
'This morning. He was saying he wanted a mother. Brothers; sisters – I don't know that I fitted the bill.'
'I thought he liked you.'
I hope Aleks is out matchmaking and not in serious trouble somewhere. I don't think I would predict a wedding anytime soon. But who knows?
DeleteWorry and tension all about in this one, and rightfully so! Nice, Sandra!
ReplyDeletethe question is, why did he think he would make a good father, taking into account his background and activities? Good episode, moves the story on without you realising the story has moved on - in many ways.
DeleteOngoing saga of a second hand shop...
ReplyDeleteWe’re asked for vinyl (can’t display it, wall holders would eclipse the other items) so the new ongoing ‘have you got any-‘ is cassette tapes. Shaun is to someone who has a shed to clear - he mentioned cassette tapes… My daughter is doing a life laundry job and found a bundle of unused (unwanted) vintage postcards. A phone call next morning asked, have you any vintage postcards?’ The varied items we stock and sell never fail to amaze me but – there is talk of closing, I am ageing, customers are not well, bad throats abound and time slides away…
But Spring can't be that far away ... fingers crossed for sunshine and customers.
DeleteIt's probably times like these that make you wish you'd become a florist or a dental assitant or a stunt woman. I like Sandra's suggestion, though.
DeleteThe Mad Italian Is Here
ReplyDeleteThe invasion of the Ukraine eclipses all other news at the moment, even that I wanted to impart to you but no mind, there will be other weeks after Putin has croaked his way through another conference at which he will do nothing but waffle and look stern, whilst the rest of us dry out our throats by holding our breath to see if he will vary his output. Somehow I doubt it but at a time like this, when an invasion is new, hope is all you have. I wish you peace, even if others do not.
I thank the Italian for his sentiments of piece.
ReplyDelete