Mike Sutton's Blog: For prose apply within. - Posts Tagged "gozer"
Ritual
The Announcer climbed onto the the stage. The steps were difficult to ascend under the weight of his proton pack. But the bulky metal box was a symbol of his station. He was the Master of Ceremonies. The High Priest who lead this celebration.
Below, within in a ring of tape, stood hundreds of men. 731 to be exact. They wore identical light blue shirts and tan slacks. As they rocked back and forth, they resembled a wind troubled lake. Further out was a dense ring of curious onlookers intent on a spectacle. Well, they would be a part of it soon enough.
The Announcer held his Neutrona Wand over his head and waved it about for silence. Chatter slowed and stopped. All eyes were trained on the stage. The time had arrived.
“You all know the rules!” The Announcer intoned. “And you know the stakes and rewards inherent in this competition.” The lake shimmered and rocked with a murmur of affirmation. They knew what the prize was, and every last one of them thirsted for it.
“The Traveler has Come!” The Announcer said in his deep voice. He brought down the Neutrona Wand like a green flag. The tape dropped, and like a lake bursting through a dam, the contents flowed outward and away at a shambling, bumbling lope. 731 runners and 731 different directions. The onlookers scattered under the ferocity of their sudden charge.
“I am Vinz Clortho! Keymaster of Gozer! Are you the Gatekeeper?” Came from a dozen voices simultaneously, followed closely by a woman's shriek – half terror, half surprise. No, she wasn't.
A reporter climbed up on stage, her eyes “Well, how long do you think this run will last?” She asked the Announcer.
“The Gozer Run will last until one of them finds their Gatekeeper and finishes the ritual joining. Until then, we wait. The Gozer Run is a ritual of life and fertility. Or it will be, after this year.” The reporter nodded, only half paying attention. The Announcer smiled to himself. “Are you the Gatekeeper?”
Below, within in a ring of tape, stood hundreds of men. 731 to be exact. They wore identical light blue shirts and tan slacks. As they rocked back and forth, they resembled a wind troubled lake. Further out was a dense ring of curious onlookers intent on a spectacle. Well, they would be a part of it soon enough.
The Announcer held his Neutrona Wand over his head and waved it about for silence. Chatter slowed and stopped. All eyes were trained on the stage. The time had arrived.
“You all know the rules!” The Announcer intoned. “And you know the stakes and rewards inherent in this competition.” The lake shimmered and rocked with a murmur of affirmation. They knew what the prize was, and every last one of them thirsted for it.
“The Traveler has Come!” The Announcer said in his deep voice. He brought down the Neutrona Wand like a green flag. The tape dropped, and like a lake bursting through a dam, the contents flowed outward and away at a shambling, bumbling lope. 731 runners and 731 different directions. The onlookers scattered under the ferocity of their sudden charge.
“I am Vinz Clortho! Keymaster of Gozer! Are you the Gatekeeper?” Came from a dozen voices simultaneously, followed closely by a woman's shriek – half terror, half surprise. No, she wasn't.
A reporter climbed up on stage, her eyes “Well, how long do you think this run will last?” She asked the Announcer.
“The Gozer Run will last until one of them finds their Gatekeeper and finishes the ritual joining. Until then, we wait. The Gozer Run is a ritual of life and fertility. Or it will be, after this year.” The reporter nodded, only half paying attention. The Announcer smiled to himself. “Are you the Gatekeeper?”
For prose apply within.
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