And with apologies - a visit to family in Suffolk and a school-friend in Norfolk took up all lap-top time - I have now read and much enjoyed all entries and am putting Jim in the top spot for his Seeking Refuge Part II -- scary place, threatening happenings and a worrying conversation.
Words for the coming week: divert, gravel and triangle.
entries by midnight Thursday August 11th, new words posted Friday 12th
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. Lots to catch up on, but in case you are waiting for words for next week, have a go at: divert, gravel and triangle
Winners later
today.
(Antonia) many congrats, Jim! Well deserved.
ReplyDeleteYes, i agree Antonia . I'm waiting now for the next installment.
DeleteCongrats, Jim!
DeleteThe man tore down the gravel road at a speed that should have scared him into slowing down, or even stopping. But he had no time for such trivialities. His mission was sacred, and nothing could stop or even divert it. He only hoped he was not too late.
ReplyDeleteOne curve left, and he slammed the brakes. The old truck shuddered and died. The pine logs standing in the glen were no longer bare. Instead, they were adorned with terrible fruit, his nightmare.
Her head hung down, as she were if ashamed to be seen like this.
Too, late, Daddy.
"Terrible fruit" sets the imagination alight; hanging-down head painting it darker still.
DeleteI don't like where my imagination leaps with this haha. (shudder) Well done!
DeleteI don't know if I said anything at the time, but my friend Jerry Gaither passed from this world a year ago.
ReplyDeleteI remember you did Dave :-( A writing talent much missed .
DeleteYeah, he was a good man. On a separate note, I obviously screwed up my post this week, both in name and keywords. How can I remove and reissue? Thank you.
DeleteDave, I've removed the duplicate; if that's not as you intended let me know.
DeletePerfect, thank you Terrie. Unfortunately I missed an edit. I wanted to replace "logs" with "Triangle". Sigh...
DeleteAntonia - exciting full on thriller stuff there, Dave, more please in the next challenge.
DeleteThe Secret Armadillo Soldier (SAS) Diaries - entry 200
ReplyDeleteThe attack arrived as a pale triangle of dawn-light ignited the horizon.
Hasty warning from sentries, tumbling into the tunnel scuffing dirt behind them as they came, spurred them all to collapse the opening with slack, gravelly, soil and retreat lower.
‘Moloch’s horny-lizard scum an’ a troop of stinkin’ rats on the rise two hills over,’ gasped one of the sentries, ‘we spotted ‘em sneakin’ along. They didn’t see us Sarg.’
‘Leave the higher burrows open as divershun but narrow the main run as we go down,’ barked Sarg, ‘move it soldiers!’
As they ran, Sarg took rear guard.
Action stations indeed!
DeleteAntonia - loads of action on the part of the dillos and a hefty new chapter for he soldiers to study...
DeleteAn excellent beginning line to set the scene. Loved the sentry's curse.
DeleteThe Secret Armadillo Soldier (SAS) Diaries - entry 201
ReplyDelete‘Got this fer Cinereus,’ Atlas, held out a smooth, triangular shaped, pebble scribed with a black dot in a circle, ‘actually, Mr Pink gave me one fer all of yuh,’ he opened his other paw waiting for them each to take one.
Nigel retrieved his pebble last, and in a voice sharp with gravel-tone unease growled, ‘Wot the feck does he fink we need a bleedin’ pebble fer, ‘ow we gonna create a diversion wiv this lump o’ junk?’
‘Could just save your life, in a tight spot.’ Cinereus said, stowing his pebble in the smaller of his pouches.
'How?'
How indeed? Next episode awaited with bated breath
DeleteI'm also very curious to find out how. Excellent work playing to our curiosity! :)
DeleteRhyme time gazette
ReplyDeleteIssue 7
Local woodsman, Big-Brown-Wolf released after police questioning.
Interviewed by reporter, Peter Piper, B.B admits ‘I got a sack orlright; Diverted me from me mushroom pickin’ when I found it on a gravel path in the woods.
It’s got triangle patterns on it and a neat drawstring too: Looked like someone chucked it away. I uses it to collect me veg and spring-greens in.
I swear, I never touched them chickens, or eggs. I bin vegetarian fer years.’
Update – Miss Locket, cotton-goods and design-magnate, in vitriolic rant accuses Big-Brown-Wolf of stealing large embroidered sack-pocket containing stores cash.
Breaking news – Woodsman re-arrested.
Will he wriggle out of this one?
DeleteAntonia - how cl;ever is he at wriggling out of things when it really comes down to it, but then again he's not being that smart, triangle marks??? Really???
DeleteThis story is so clever and fun! Loved imagining Miss Locket based on the desc and how it ends with breaking news. :)
DeleteChange of focus [479]
ReplyDeleteBen raised his pint, ‘Cheers.’ Then to divert Henry from dire warnings as to the undesirability of love triangles, reverted to Philly’s admission, ‘How d’you think she came by two other step-children?’
‘Accident rather than design? Doubt it’s deliberate. Nor that that’s what’s motivated Pettinger to propose marriage.’ The gravel of Henry’s voice, normally a brief aural surprise for its contrasting with the gentleness of ‘Moth’, now doubly so for the angelic innocence implied by his blond ringlets.
Suddenly exasperated, Ben added, ‘And when does Sleeping Beauty wake up? And you become a bloke again?’
Teasing, ‘Who says I will?’
Antonia - there's easing and then there's hidden, about-to be-revealed truths, which way is this going? Ether will be good...
DeleteA fun combination of Henry's gravely voice with the 'angelic innocence' implied by his ringlets.
Delete[Threshold 403]
ReplyDeleteSuch was the consistency of the desert – sand no longer wind-drift fine but chunky, pea-sized gravel – travelling at speed was both painful and noisy, the stones a constant clatter against mudguards, scouring bare metal silver triangles in the paintwork.
An hour, by the sun, and by mutual, unspoken agreement, we stopped, our senses battered so far into non-functioning as to divert our intention. The peace an all-enveloping blessing.
‘Still smell water?’ Raven asked.
I tried. Believe me, I tried.
‘… No –‘
Sympathetic, rather than condemning, he pointed to the sky. Grey cloud, backside badly fraying. Rain!
We set off again.
Antonia - whoo hoo, strong 'carry the story onward whilst reminding us it ain't raining...
DeleteA wonderful example of fine writing, Sandra - especially that splendid first paragraph.
DeleteThank you, both Antonia and Jim (ashamed at how frequently I forget to do so, but it does mean a lot.)
DeleteIn chase of rain! The sand does not sound pleasant to travel through at speed. I hope they find water soon!
DeleteBlew the dust off this little serialisation
ReplyDeleteGathering magic- 19
The white rock, gravelly slopes, and triangular peak of White-Mountain, almost obscured in the frosted landscape, loomed ever closer.
Shaking ice-dusted wings, Batt frowned. He was worried. The place appeared untainted and clean, but The Lord of the Mountain was more dark and dreadful in his deeds than the idiot wizard ever was.
No longer a girl, the young woman striding through the snow beside him still had no name. He diverted himself from feeling the cold by choosing some as they travelled.
Her laughter echoed in his mind, ‘I’ll choose my own name, Batt.’
Her skills were increasing.
This feels perfectly paced, and promises much to come.
DeleteAntonia Woodville, Terrie, how do you make it look so easy???
DeleteYet again, I am amazed at your marvelous use of language, Terrie.
DeleteOooo I like this one and that it sounds like the woman can read his mind?
DeleteIt's Good to Be Home [26]
ReplyDeleteI grin, inhaling the citrus-scented breeze that eternally blows through Skathagrat. An attack by glitter-spewing slimes provided a welcome diversion along the road, but it’s good to be home. I’m envisioning a long, quiet soak in my werecat-sized tub when Vera emerges from the Guildhall.
“Three hundred gold coins for Erd and his goons.” Her lips purse as she raises several triangular slips of paper. “And vouchers to a new vampire play at the theater.”
The gravel grinds beneath Rach’s bootheel. She’s clearly unsatisfied.
Felicia’s grinning. “Vampires?”
An enraptured audience in a darkened theater? Sounds like a trap to me.
This has been a bit of a week, so rushing to get this up before the tomorrow...though now I see we have until next week. Ah well! No more tinkering. :)
DeleteTheatres can have that effect. Look forward to seeing how this plays out.
DeleteAntonia Woodville
Deletelike this, like this a lot, it's beautifully set up for ongoing nastiness.
And what may the future hold? Very nice, Holly.
DeleteThank you, all!
DeleteTHE CHOSEN - PART I
ReplyDeleteThe twelve Chosen sat in the triangular shape signifying the Fluarti, the Clan’s elders. All wore hooded black robes, all faced inward, their hands piously folded upon the scrolls on their laps. All eyes were riveted on the Reader, sitting at the head of the triangle. To divert one’s eyes from the Reader earned a shock from the thunderstick carried by the guard on duty.
A voice like churning gravel stiffened everyone. “Attention!” The Reader rose. “The scrolls you have contain a word. Eleven scrolls hold the word “Life”; one holds the word “Death.”
“Who will be the lucky one?”
Antonia Woodville
Deleteintriguing stuff here, Jim, like 'a voice like churning gravel - nice one!
What sort of society welcomes 'death' as a lucky break?
DeleteVery curious what the death scroll might mean! Their death or perhaps the power of death?
DeleteAntonia writes - wow, what lies behind this cold blooded rather nasty ritual and do you know how the story will go?????
DeleteAntonia Woodville - did I recall Sandra saying she didn't check the word count, hope so, this one refused to go away and refused to be reduced. It's insane but best offers this migraine loaded over heated week...William the Q is not yet speaking so just one entry this week...
ReplyDeleteFood On Demand
The first rat said
It’s easy to fool these people, look tired, look sad…
The second rat said
It’s not easy to fool a load of people who are smart enough to develop the triangle – where it keeps on coming back to itself
The first rat said
No, no, you just divert down a different pathway and fool them.
The second rat said
Like you running into the bank of gravel, yeah, right…
The first rat said
Well, if nothing else there’s food aplenty out there, I suggest we grab an arm or two and go eat.
The second rat was too busy munching to respond.
No one came to check on them, so they started on the second body…
Ugh. Cannabilised philosophy. Just what Prediction calls for.
DeleteWell, what do you expect from rats? I loved the format of this.
DeleteNow that's horrible imagery! I'm very curious about these bodies though and where they came from. :)
Delete