Wraiths of the Broken Land

by S. Craig Zahler

Like every couple, they were two separate individuals tied together by a rope with an indeterminate snapping point, and this conversation certainly strained their line.

already the huge man was a bestial being whose mind was daily devoured by the jaws of horrible contemplations.

(“San Pedro del Objeto!” Estrellita sang, a little ahead of the beat because of her excitement. Humberto added a two-measure etude so that he could lean over and kiss her forehead.)

“Oh.” Nathaniel was displeased to learn that his fate depended upon the lambent glow of mutilated insects.

Patch Up looked at his palms. “I can barely see the side that gets to vote.”

The luminous iron point traveled across the room like a fang pulled directly from the Devil’s mouth.

“I pray you ain’t as stupid as your mouth advertises.”