Keith B. Darrell's Blog, page 26
March 21, 2016
Magda - An Excerpt from Flashbacks
The Forests of Transylvania, 1725:
Zoltan’s wife, Nataliya, pointed to a scorched wagon. “One vardo was not consumed by the flames. We might be able to salvage something from it.”
Zoltan nodded. “See what you can find inside. The rest of us will bury the dead.”
Nataliya climbed the vardo’s shaky steps and entered the scorched wagon. She rifled through the drawers of a small dresser, pocketing the jewelry and trinkets inside. She was startled by a creaky noise behind her. Nataliya turned in time...
Zoltan’s wife, Nataliya, pointed to a scorched wagon. “One vardo was not consumed by the flames. We might be able to salvage something from it.”
Zoltan nodded. “See what you can find inside. The rest of us will bury the dead.”
Nataliya climbed the vardo’s shaky steps and entered the scorched wagon. She rifled through the drawers of a small dresser, pocketing the jewelry and trinkets inside. She was startled by a creaky noise behind her. Nataliya turned in time...
March 17, 2016
Lady Chiyoko - An Excerpt from Flashbacks
Kyoto Prefecture, Japan, early 2012:
Hiroko entered Lady Chiyoko’s office. She was greeted by a distinctive herbal aroma that wafted up to her nostrils from a censer on the director’s desk. She removed her shoes and walked across the tatami mats to a decorative shoji screen, which hid a futon. Hiroko fluffed the makuras on the futon and walked to a credenza on the other side of the room. An Oriental teapot and several tea cups rested atop the credenza. Hiroko poured a cup of warm blood and pla...
Hiroko entered Lady Chiyoko’s office. She was greeted by a distinctive herbal aroma that wafted up to her nostrils from a censer on the director’s desk. She removed her shoes and walked across the tatami mats to a decorative shoji screen, which hid a futon. Hiroko fluffed the makuras on the futon and walked to a credenza on the other side of the room. An Oriental teapot and several tea cups rested atop the credenza. Hiroko poured a cup of warm blood and pla...
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A drunken Irishman stumbles across a man he believes to be a leprechaun, who shows him the true treasure he already has but doesn't appreciate. A short story by Keith B. Darrell. 4,041 words.
A drunken Irishman stumbles across a man he believes to be a leprechaun, who shows him the true treasure he already has but doesn't appreciate. A short story by Keith B. Darrell. 4,041 words.
March 14, 2016
Callaghan - An Excerpt from Flashbacks
The Otherworld (Realm of the Fae), October 1607:
The Morrigan laughed. “Even assuming the magical anchor is still near the British Isles and a gateway could be opened, what delusional thought process leads you to believe your actions so far would give me the slightest confidence in you?” She gestured with one of her feathered arms and the dullahan was incinerated. Flakes of charred flesh floated to the floor. Staring at the pile of ash, the Morrigan called out to her couchant goblin...
The Morrigan laughed. “Even assuming the magical anchor is still near the British Isles and a gateway could be opened, what delusional thought process leads you to believe your actions so far would give me the slightest confidence in you?” She gestured with one of her feathered arms and the dullahan was incinerated. Flakes of charred flesh floated to the floor. Staring at the pile of ash, the Morrigan called out to her couchant goblin...
March 13, 2016
President Trump
Dateline: January 27, 2017, Washington, DC
. One week after his inauguration following in historic landslide election victory, President Donald Trump held a press conference in the Rose Garden to respond to Congress’ rejection of his economic stimulus plan.
“Congress has a 9% public approval rating,” President Trump said. “They're losers! The American people disapprove of the job Congress is doing. That’s because Congress isn’t doing anything and it hasn’t for decades. All it’s done is ob...
“Congress has a 9% public approval rating,” President Trump said. “They're losers! The American people disapprove of the job Congress is doing. That’s because Congress isn’t doing anything and it hasn’t for decades. All it’s done is ob...
March 11, 2016
Cody - An Excerpt from Flashbacks
A forest in Arizona, 12 Years Ago:
“Dad’s going to make some s’mores and then we’ll set up the telescope. You can see the stars so much clearer here than in the city. Plus, there’s a full moon tonight.”
A shiver shot down Cody’s spine. He glanced at the darkening sky. “It can’t be. Not tonight. How could I forget?”
Chuck pointed upward. “Look, even though it’s only twilight, you can make out the moon rising on the horizon.”
“I’ve got to go,” Cody said.
“Don’t be foolish,” Evan said. “I’m not letti...
“Dad’s going to make some s’mores and then we’ll set up the telescope. You can see the stars so much clearer here than in the city. Plus, there’s a full moon tonight.”
A shiver shot down Cody’s spine. He glanced at the darkening sky. “It can’t be. Not tonight. How could I forget?”
Chuck pointed upward. “Look, even though it’s only twilight, you can make out the moon rising on the horizon.”
“I’ve got to go,” Cody said.
“Don’t be foolish,” Evan said. “I’m not letti...
March 10, 2016
Valentina - An Excerpt from Flashbacks
Stalingrad, 1956:
Valentina gazed around the seedy neighborhood bar. Now that it was dark, the evening shift workers from the local plant would soon stumble in, seeking liquid relief from the bottles of vodka that lined the wall. They knew when they eventually arrived home, their wives would berate them for having spent their precious wages on alcohol when the necessities of everyday life – bread, meat, gasoline, and clothing –were rationed and only found in abundant supply on the expensive b...
Valentina gazed around the seedy neighborhood bar. Now that it was dark, the evening shift workers from the local plant would soon stumble in, seeking liquid relief from the bottles of vodka that lined the wall. They knew when they eventually arrived home, their wives would berate them for having spent their precious wages on alcohol when the necessities of everyday life – bread, meat, gasoline, and clothing –were rationed and only found in abundant supply on the expensive b...
March 8, 2016
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March 7, 2016
Claude - An Excerpt from Flashbacks
The Gauthier Farmhouse, on the Outskirts of a Small French Town Northwest of Paris, 1918:
The root cellar was dark and cramped. It was little more than a glorified hole in the ground, with earthen walls supported by a wooden lattice and a heavy wood trap door atop. Slivers of light flowed through cracks in the warped wood, like starlight coruscating through a blackened sky. The same cracks allowed air to circulate within the oubliette, but it was tainted by the stench of rotting vegetables lef...
The root cellar was dark and cramped. It was little more than a glorified hole in the ground, with earthen walls supported by a wooden lattice and a heavy wood trap door atop. Slivers of light flowed through cracks in the warped wood, like starlight coruscating through a blackened sky. The same cracks allowed air to circulate within the oubliette, but it was tainted by the stench of rotting vegetables lef...
March 4, 2016
Artemus - An Excerpt from Flashbacks
An island in the Mediterranean, 450 Years Ago:
The glistening fangs protruding from the child’s mouth contorted his facial muscles. His nose breathed in the pungent odor of sweat wafting through the air and he smelled fear. “Who am I? It is a fair question and, as it is the last you will ever ask, I shall grant you an answer.” He ran his small forefinger along the jugular vein pulsating on the neck of the human cowering before him, and tapped it lightly.
“You asked who I am, not what I am. I se...
The glistening fangs protruding from the child’s mouth contorted his facial muscles. His nose breathed in the pungent odor of sweat wafting through the air and he smelled fear. “Who am I? It is a fair question and, as it is the last you will ever ask, I shall grant you an answer.” He ran his small forefinger along the jugular vein pulsating on the neck of the human cowering before him, and tapped it lightly.
“You asked who I am, not what I am. I se...
