My Entry to the Finish the Story Contest - Week #43!
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Hello, everyone, it is time for me to take part in the Finish the Story Contest again. This is one of the funniest contest to try if you are like me and pretend you're a writer. I have been getting a lot better due to this and a few other writing contests I try. I have never been the best when it comes to vocabulary but I have a pretty wild imagination so that helps. This week we have a really interesting start by @f3nix. I am going to do my best to finish this up in 500 words as the rules say. If you take the time to read my story head over to the link and vote for someone. Me that is cool other also cool cause that means you read more than one of the endings. If you like this project and want to support it. Feel free to join the @bananafish curation trial or delegate a little SP or a lot of SP. Any of those actions will help this contest grow. I also want to give a shout out to @crowdmind for their support of this.
Sharp Clouds in Eden
by @f3nix
As the seasons went on, she had not yet accustomed to that sight.
The expanse of clouds unfurled just beyond the edge of the plateau like a harmonious and yet restless carpet, woven from ranks of industrious angels. Only the blue condor, curious to taste the rarefied ozone flavor, occasionally tried to pierce the milky diaphragm.
An unnamed and timeless plateau. It had always belonged to that celestial ocean, cradled by its waves like the head of a gigantic primeval tortoise, asleep for thousands of years.
The woman sat absorbed on the black basalt edge. Lying on her knees stood a tablet with elusive colors. Her tapered fingers danced over it decidedly, following the counterpoint of secret music. A warm upward current ruffled her thick brown hair until she was forced to give in and stop the dance, hastily moving the curls from her forehead.
She procrastinated, holding back her knowledge on the tips of those solitary fingers that, slowing down, now left room for memories. Now the memories were transmuting, stretching in long meditating axons, which she watched parading before her eyes at the capricious rhythm of the clouds.
The plateau had no name and, at the same time, kept all the names, including those that she wanted to forget.
The fingertips resumed drumming on the iridescent surface of the tablet to stop almost immediately. As always, before even hearing him approach, she had felt his eyes on the back of her head.
"I'm almost done, Heitor." It was not true, but she tried to comfort her husband as her fingers flew frantically, receiving small luminous epiphanies from the device.
“Debes beber, mi amor. Al menos esto.” He sat close and gently pushed forward the cup of muña until the mint's scent convinced her to stop and take a couple of quick sips. Hidden among the gestures of daily care, she could not ignore a note of concern in her husband's voice.
"We were fine here until it lasted, weren't we?" The words came out crumpled, making their way slowly through the wood of thoughts. He raised an asymmetric smile and winked at her the way she used to like.
Her distinctive wrinkle of concentration formed between her eyes, two delicious hazelnut drops, while she sighed.
"You know it does not help us, mi vida. I'll join you as soon as I can." At that moment, the importance of what she had to do was the perfect alibi not to raise her gaze on him. She silently kept repeating to herself that this wasn't a goodbye.
The vibrating bark of the imperial ship came suddenly. As it emerged, the clouds frayed around the cobalt metal frigate like impotent fingers, in the last desperate attempt to hold back a blind, deep-water fish.
She watched her husband run back to the house, as planned.
"Let the show begin, bastards." She thought while the ship's jaws already spewed out a black phalanx, heading at a steady pace in the direction of the woman.
"Kalliska Pan, Imperial Master Grower, you're under arrest on evidence of desertion and high treason. Do not resist and follow us spontaneously or I will not hesitate to order coercive measures against you. "
"The Empire has no sovereignty over this soil. Be careful what you do, Colonel. "
"Master Grower, you have lost all diplomatic immunity. I repeat: do not resist. "
"I know the reason for your visit, Colonel. And I regret having to point out that you are not in the position to order anything. We could save time if you left your pathetic bluff right away. "
In an abrupt gesture toward the guards, the black leather of the colonel's glove stood out against the diaphanous sky. "You all. Back to the ship now."
The warm upward current strenghtened, making the imperial frigade's hull resound like a grim stork. They were alone. She held the Colonel's stare.
"There's still time to fix this, Kal .."
"Since long already you have lost any right to call me like that, Musashi"
While even the clouds seemed to stop, the fingers of the Master Grower continued to dance.
My Ending.
"There's still time to fix this, Kal .."
"Since long already you have lost any right to call me like that, Musashi"
While even the clouds seemed to stop, the fingers of the Master Grower continued to dance.
Master Grower finished the last stokes on the tablet and hit send. She stood and walked up the phalanx to board the imperial ship. She had her head held high and once she stepped on the deck she saw Kal her old friend waiting for her.
“Colonel would you like me below?”
“Do what you want. Why act any different today?”
Colonel Kal turned his back to her and walked up to stand by the wheel. They had once been close but when she turned away from the empire she had lost many friends. She walked towards the prow of the ship. Her mind went over her plans.
Night came and she knew they would reach the capital in the morning. She went to try to talk to Kal one more time.
“Colonel you know I had no choice but to leave. You are high enough to know the truths the Empire hides from the people.”
“Master Grower the truth is not that simple. They have no need of the truths you tell. They want to live their lives that is all.”
“That isn’t true and you will see that soon enough.”
“I doubt it”
With that Kal headed for his cabin and Musashi went to her room to sleep.
She was escorted to the courthouse right away. The plan was simple she had released more secrets of the Empire. She had asked the people to come to the courthouse to support her. She had contacts there ready to help. Today the Empire would see they had lost the people.
“Musashi it is time to go”
She was surprised to hear her first name. She stepped out of the car and she looked around the square yard of the courthouse. No one was there.
“I am sorry Musashi they won’t be coming”
She looked at Kal and for the first time saw some pity. What did he know that she didn’t?
“The Empire knew what you had. They knew you would share it so they prepared. They put out the info on their own. They spun it a bit and told the people a truth more powerful than yours. They would have to sacrifice many comforts if we stopped.”
She looked around again at the empty courtyard. It was a military trial. She was found guilty on all charges. She sat alone wondering what had happened. The door opened and Kal came in holding a tablet.
“Musashi here so you can see the truth of it.”
She read the releases and watched the clips. They had told the people. They had offered to stop if they wanted to give up the way they lived. They had given them the choice and her people had not shown up to stop it.
“You see they are not as noble as you. You shouldn’t have left this was your home and you betrayed us.”
“They betrayed me first Kal.”
“Well, tomorrow you can ask God who was right, old friend.”
The same thing happens when you leave open the enclosure of animals used to live and in captivity: it is very difficult for them to come out of their own free will.
You have told a sad truth!
The universe of the principled is lonely, indeed. This is like a morality play. I almost feel we are in the middle of it, and the people will come to regret their crass choice in the end. Well written, @stever82
Yes if I had more words her friends would rally them after.
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Peace
I read the last submission of the story. The final act was intense and revealed the major play between the Kal and Musashi. I found interesting this final act, and will read your next story.
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Thank you for stopping by to read my work.
The end was really intense really liked the plot.
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Thanks for coming by to read it
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Always enjoy when a Finish the Story forks in a new direction. Too bad for them. Only the truth hurts. LOL
Truths hurt a lot but many ignore them to live the life they do.
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This post has received a 3.13 % upvote from @drotto thanks to: @sbi-booster.
Love that last line. Great ending.
Thanks man
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You gave us quite the twist from the expected, Stever! The Master Grower, confident in the truth rallying her people, had the rug pulled out from under her. In a surprising move, you had the Empire cleverly counter her reveal with a spin on a truth that undermined her supporters' convictions. This was an inspired move, as now the people (who chose their comfort) have more faith in the Empire and any further revolutions will have less of a chance of gaining ground. We're left aching for the Master Grower, left alone in her final hour after having sacrificed so much to help her people.
Loved your ending line!
Wow thanks. Was one is the first times I had the main person lose. But this story came to mind. Glad you enjoyed it.
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