This short piece is inspired by Sonya’s three line tales prompt. You’ll notice it’s rather more than three lines. This is the first time I’ve gone into the realms of true flash fiction with this prompt. Must be something in the air.
photo by Marco ten Hoff via Unsplash
We had answered the call, the secret, furtive summons on our group’s private notice board, and we waited with bated breath in the narrow room for him to appear and tell us what we wanted to hear.
His words had thrilled us, so full of the obvious that our leaders denied, pointing out their falsehoods, the coverups, urging us to take to the streets and show them we were duped no longer.
He burst into the room, a giant, backlit in silhouette, wreathed in smoky light, and we roared his name, stamping our feet. He silenced us.
“Your time has come, your moment of glory. They are here, outside the building, the dogs of the conspiracy of corruption, to silence us. Their guns are pointed at the doors and windows. Go! Meet them, like the heroes you are!”
We looked at one another, licked dry lips.
“And you, Master? Will you lead us?”
“I will be behind you, praying for your success, to wade through your blood to take power.”
Even in the murky half-light, his wide grin shone white as bone.
Current events? I was just reading some of the latest on what happened here in January.
It’s general, everywhere. The groupuscules that use the social media to spread lies and form their cells of activists. Scary.
It is very scary!
I’m rereading The Fox in the Attic and the episode of the Munich Beer Hall Putsch. Nothing’s changed. We just have quicker communications nowadays.
I had to look that one up, but yes.
He writes very well about how people looked the other way, let their fears be manipulated when a bit of common sense and humanity would have shown them they were wrong. Nobody comes out of it without shame.
It sounds interesting.
He was a good writer who wrote a book about every ten years. He was too busy trying to earn a living!
😀
Shades of January 6 but also of one of the GOP conventions where I believe the man formerly known as president trump ascended the stage through fake fog. At least in your story, the man is honest enough to say he is not going with his followers, but will wait until their dead.
They all have slightly different profiles, but there have been similar men throughout history, ready to stir up the masses with lies, and step over their dead bodies to power.
They way of all false prophets and their mindless followers! A great write Jane! 💜
Thanks Willow 🙂
A pleasure 💜
xx