A quick reminder that some more stories have come in so check back here to enjoy some lovely coffee-time reading.
In the meantime I am posting my story for this week earlier than usual to tie in with Katie's post for today (don't look at it yet; I'll put a link at the bottom of this one).
Totally coincidentally we posted the same photo, which is kinda sweet, but as my story relates to it I thought I'd better tell it today.
If you've not already written your story and don't want to read mine yet, please look away now.
If you couldn't care less, read on.
This week's sentence is taken from Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein" and is:
"When I found so astonishing a power placed within my hands, I hesitated a long time concerning the manner in which I should employ it".
Apologies for the bloated verbosity but I have discovered a love of pastiche and Mary Shelley is a ripe seam to mine.
Dear reader, I present for your edification (in the pompous style of Victor Frankenstein):
The Deathbed Confession Of The Monster "Dive"
as witnessed and transcribed by Ms. Mary Shelley
I dedicate this confession to my inamorata Katie, for it was she who located the fateful artefact in question, she who presented it to me, and it is she - in addition to your good selves, the remainder of humanity - who must live with the consequences of my subsequent actions.
Pray allow me the opportunity of this brief testimony, notwithstanding my fear perforce that you will never see it in your hearts to forgive me for what I have done.
Suffice that the inopportune happenstance of such a marvellous machine falling within the orbit of my influence is a misfortune the world shall rue for long ages to come.
And yet …
When I found so astonishing a power placed within my hands, I hesitated a long time concerning the manner in which I should employ it.
The sheer enormity of responsibility it implied staggered the mind and I reeled, dizzy with shock, yet the thing lay within my grasp; it only remained for me to stretch out my hand and direct its power howsoever I willed.
I touched it.
How could I not?
I defy any among you to state on oath that you would have acted to the contrary.
The metal was warm from the sun and the moment my fingertip brushed it a sudden shock of realisation thrilled through me; the certain knowledge that this gift could be used once and once only, and that its effect would rely solely upon my own conscious choice.
That choice was laid bare before me, and what a dreadful doom lay in the choosing.
Should I - Could I? - endeavour to save humankind from itself?
For such a machine surely had this dream within its gift: in a single stroke to bring about an end to war, to hatred, to bigotry and persecution, to inequality and injustice.
Yet doubt gnawed at my fragile ego …
Were I to direct such awesome power for the good of the world would its effect consequently become so diluted as to not benefit me directly?
My parched, greedy soul screamed to keep this monstrous and wonderful discovery a furtive secret, perverting its power for the sole gratification of my own desire.
Yet if I did so, would that not equate by omission to using the thing for Evil?
I quailed before the very magnitude of my dilemma.
Again, if I prevaricated, might - in the meantime - another then discover the thing and take such opportunity to use it for their own purposes, depriving both the world - and more pertinently myself - of the glories of its beneficence?
Mea culpa.
I am but a man and as such am driven by greed and lust.
I am weak.
The temptation to reserve this gift unto myself overmastered my too feeble resistance; the choice was made.
Humankind must therefore suffer still the Purgatory of a loveless, conflicted world while I covet this gift and the wonder it brings.
I pushed the button …
Katie sent me the photo the other lunchtime and it just seemed to fit with the silliness of writing in period pastiche.
Here's her post for today.
Apologies again to the world for choosing personal happiness over universal luurve (my alternative title for this story was: "Dive Saves The World From Hippies").
I'll round up the rest of your stories as they're posted and corral 'em all for a review post next Thursday as usual.
The Marvellous Machine
17 comments:
OMG! This is so touching and romantic and COOL. Love is grand, ain't it? I feel hope rising unbidden in the cold recesses of my heart. How shocked am I to find it has not lost it's ability to be moved by the mere beauty of a photo and the words Push Button For Love.
Aww, gee, that is adorable!
Awwwww :-)
If what they say is true...'love conquers all,'then by definition the whole world will benefit anyway from the happiness of two people who will spread that happiness far and wide.
So there.
That was WONDERFUL Dive!!!!! And you picked the same picture???
It must be the real thing.
Push the button, cross the street and enjoy the other side!
Ok you said "no peeking" and "please look away now" if I haven't already written my story. Hmm, I have no intention of ever writing a story, so I guess I'll just have to trust that you wrote a good one here. Nice photo by the way!
Never apologise for being in love or for being happy.
Even if you were formerly the gatekeeper of the cranky universe. (I'm in no way saying you were, its just a hyperthetical)
I've finally moved to my secret location and am coming to you live from the bat cave downstairs.
Alfred is upstairs doing my unpacking.
I shall, by way of retribution post last weeks and this weeks stories at the same time (thursday).
Great read Master Dive, as always.
Such synchronicity...sometimes that happens with "luurve" :)
Another good story, too. You have a good way of building the tension so we want to read on.
Awwww gee, shucks …
I'm not writing stories either, at least not right now. No time. But yours is a pleasure to read. Dive Saves the World From Hippies! Hooray!
I bet you've been pushing that button on the screen, haven't you?
Petrea: thank you so much.
Somebody had to save the world from universal love so it might as well be me.
Mme: But of course!
Somehow the world still benefits from this selfish wish. :D
I love that you have an "inamorata" and that she is Katie.
Great job!
I had to come back to reread because I so adore your verbosity and lovely words like inamorata ... ah, I'm still so happy for you my dearest friend. My own happiness is still in it's development stage alas as the thorn in my side had taken almost a year to dislodge!
Shan: I'm pretty pleased with my inamorata, too!
Mme: How wonderful it is to have my verbosity adored. Hee hee. Thank you so much.
Ah, that thorn was a really nasty one. Let's hope it's gone for ever now. You deserve every happiness.
AHH! I'm behind again. I just got back from my long weekend away, so I'm not sure when I'll get to this one. I'll read your story when I've finished mine.
Awww, as everyone else has said. I had to look away and save this read for today. It was worth the wait. Mine is now posted.
Oh, you greedy and selfish man!! Just kidding. I actually know women who would have pushed the button and taken it all for themselves.
You followed the style so well, too.
Post a Comment