RECCE - a story in less than 100 words

RECCE

Asbed scuttled up the shingle like a crab, terrified at the noise it made, and peeped between the seaweed covered beams of the breakwater.

After the filth and fear of the camp the peaceful town looked like paradise. He imagined clean beds, decent food, and freedom. If only...

From the dinghy Karim hissed, ‘Hurry up!’

Asbed sighed and took a photograph. They returned quickly to the yacht and sailed east again – just two men out on a fishing trip.

Back at the refugee camp Asbed’s photograph sold a hundred cross-Channel tickets.

*****

Sandra Crook's photograph could almost have been taken on my short break last week in Folkestone, where there is a vast shingle beach, empty on the cool and foggy morning of our walk, from which on a clear day you can see France.
That family visit, and the glorious weather over the Easter weekend, are my excuse for my absence from FF last week - I hope you missed me.

THE END OF CIVILISATION - a story in 100 words

THE END OF CIVILISATION

It was deadlier than a nuclear blast – an endless tsunami of sound. Those who didn’t die of embolisms jumped into the ocean in suicidal agony.

Animals, unaffected by the sonic bomb, invaded the towns with astonishing speed – pampered pets fell victim to predators or turned feral.

Within months the cities began to disappear beneath foliage. Pollarded trees hid their scars with luxuriant growth, cracking pavements in their search for water. Unchecked plants climbed telephone wires, reaching though open windows. Mould consumed paper, fabric and, eventually, even plastic.

It was the end of civilisation – but not the end of the world.

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 This is a story written in response to the photograph taken by Roger Bultot and posted for Friday Fictioneers on Rochelle's blog at  https://rochellewisoff.com/  If you visit her blog you can follow the links to read how scores of other writers interpreted the image.

After an early burst of spring in the south of England which brought my new garden to life, we have returned to wintry blasts. Unfortunately the grass doesn't know it's supposed to stop growing, and the lawn mower has been out twice already, and the birds are consuming vast quantities of seed and dried mealworms. Only my vegetable seeds and potato sets are sensibly keeping their heads below ground until the weather warms up - which we hope will be in time for Easter.

Meanwhile, if you're stuck indoors, why not read one of my books? While I work on a third book in my Living Rock series, the first two books, A Volcanic Race and Wolf Pack are available on Amazon, along with Helter-Skelter, a stand-alone historical novel.

I would love to have LOTS more readers and, of course, more 5* reviews!

NOT LOST BUT HIDING - a 100 word story

NOT LOST BUT HIDING

“You lost her?” Ellie’s mum shrieked. “It’s getting dark and she’s only seven!”

“She just ran off,” Roy mumbled. “You know how thick those woods are.”

“You’re the thick one – now we’ll have to go back out there and find her.”

Ellie didn’t like the woods at night – all those trees looming, the brambles clutching at her dress – and she was scared. When she saw the torches she nearly called out – until she heard his voice.

She didn’t want to be found after all – at least, not by Uncle Roy.

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Ronda del Baccio's photo inspired a dark story this week - my first for a fortnight as I have been on holiday with my daughters and granddaughter. We were looking forward to a week of sunshine but the weather had other plans. One day of torrential rain, another of showers, but we managed a couple of mornings on the beach and a few delicious meals out, so I came home refreshed.

Since my return I have been concentrating on a severe rewrite of the third book in my Living Rock series, and have finally settled on its title - Rock Fall. If you haven't read the first two, now is your chance - A Volcanic Race and Wolf Pack are available on Amazon in print or ebook.

Along with many other writers I am also tweeting a Very Short Story on Twitter regularly, prompted by a word chosen by #vss365. If you would like to read those, my tag is @young_liz.