Because all, as ever, are such top-class, entertaining entries, deserving of praise and prizes, I’m opting out of declaring a ‘winner this week and will also do so for posting entries for a couple of weeks, because I’ll be away from home. I will schedule new words on 12th and 19th of May and it would be encouraging (and reduce the echoing absence) if each of you could comment and name your favourites.
Words for the coming week: battery diamond remove
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.
Gathering Heads for Androids
ReplyDelete'Street by street,' said the sergeant. 'Search every house. There will be bodies in abundance. Remove the heads and gouge out the eyes. Use your knives like they taught you. Remember your surgical gloves.'
'New soldiers for the cause,' said one of the conscripts.
The sergeant nodded. 'We'll wire them up and insert diamond optics in their eye sockets. The heads can be reattached and the cadavers given a jump start with lithium batteries.'
'What if there are snipers?' asked another conscript.
'Good point,' said the sergeant. 'If anyone gets shot take their head too.'
this is so grim, so blatantly horrid it's a joy to read!!! Nothing like a bag load of real blood-soaked heads - more please
DeleteThis is deliciously horrific, David, and so nicely crafted!
ReplyDeleteTREE
ReplyDeleteI’m a tree.
I’m serious! I don’t simply identify as a tree; I am one – a small Diamond Willow. I know this because my wood is shaped into diamond-like patterns found on certain willow trees. I don’t know how I became one. I just did.
Were I able, I would sue my family for battery given the manner they removed me from our home. They angrily pulled me up by my developing roots and threw me into the backyard. I hear them now, arguing over what they should do with me.
What is that rough buzzing sound - a chainsaw?!
this came as a big surprise, a good one! Whoo, Jim, carefully created images and then - wow some strictly horror images!
Deletesorry I havent posted lately, I went away to Tintagel ..came back and was offered a free holiday in Lancing, by the sea near Brighton, so of course I said yes. Struggled with the prompt words this week and taken liberties with the word battery as armadillos and batteries just didn't seem to gel. Anyway here is instalment 227.
ReplyDeleteThe Secret Armadillo Soldier (SAS) Diaries - entry 227
Atlas leaned against his lump-hammer and shielded his eyes from the diamond-bright sun rising in a cloudless sky. ‘Gonna be bloody blisterin’ out here today, pity anyone thinking of followin’ our trail in this heat: Weasels are just doolally enough t’ try it mind.’
Armi shrugged, ‘they’ll come; they can’t ‘elp ‘emselves. Rats under orders are like rattlesnakes, dangerous, but they aint the brightest fireflies in the flower-patch neither. Batter the bunch of em, remove the leader an’ they’ll skitter headlong into anythin’.’
His belly rumbled as he dug in his tool belt, ‘I got beetle grubs if yer ‘ungry.’’
You create such amazing images, Terrie... 'bloody blisterin' out here,' brightest fireflies in the flower-patch.'
DeleteTreasure Hunting
ReplyDeleteI removed any evidence of my having violated the corpse. I stood to collect big money from this, so I was NOT getting caught (again). The diamonds were right where Gulliver and said they would be, half-way down the intestines. Nasty, but profitable. The battery-powered carving knife cut the fibrous flesh, once I found the right spot. I had to pay a bit to Gulliver, but that was no worry. Too late I realized, that while I opened the abdomen, I neglected to sever his head. But then, the inhumanly strong, filthy hands and bone-dry teeth reminded me, sadly. Bugger.
I'm with Antonia... this is my kind of horror! Well done, Dave!
DeleteSuch a casual referenve to the body patts he's slicing open ... this is my kind of horror, love it.!
ReplyDeletemore, more, more...
DeleteThank you! Unfortunately, I believe our hero doesn't have much more dialogue. Hmmm, I wonder is first-person Zombie would be a good premise? LOL
ReplyDeletemy favourite is Jim Deegan's 'Tree', they don't come more mysterious than that!!!!
ReplyDelete