Part 1 of 6
Read the full text, as well as the show notes, at http://flashpulp.com
Tonight, we return to Ruby’s rotting world, as she attempts to survive both the gnashing teeth of the dead, and the scheming minds of the living.
The Skinner Co. Network
FP260 - Ruby Departed: Wasting Time, Part 1 of 6
(upbeat music) Welcome to Flashpulp, episode 260. This evening we present Ruby Departed, Wasting Time, part one of six. This week's episodes are brought to you by Netty Bytes. Wake up, go to work, work, come home, eat dinner, rot your brain out, go to bed, lather, rinse, repeat. Are you tired of an old humdrum life? Tired of things that just weigh you down and depress you? And you'd rather just focus on things that are awesome. Tune into Netty Bytes, find out what's awesome. Netty Bytes, nimlas.org/blog. (upbeat music) Flashpulp is an experiment in broadcasting fresh pulp stories in the modern age. Three to 10 minutes of fiction brought to you Monday, Wednesday, and Friday evenings. Tonight, we return to Ruby's rotting world as she attempts to survive both the gnashing teeth of the dead and the scheming minds of the living. Ruby Departed, Wasting Time, part one of six. Written by J.R.D. Skinner. Art and narration by Opoponox. An audio produced by Jessica May. (upbeat music) (upbeat music) August 4th, Lunch. I woke up early to the smell of hay and wasted an hour just lying down. At dawn, the barn is still full of sleepers, but there's a certain privacy to sinking into the middle of a nest of straw. I considered sneaking out from under the nose of Rachel, but instead, I gave my snoring jailer a prod. She seemed embarrassed, but traded me a smile for my courtesy. After a bit of stretching and a drink of water, she took me to meet Cracker. I don't know if the chief was being a smartass when he named the horse, but Rachel says the ivory white stallion has always had the name. He certainly earned it. Every morning, once he's done his oats, the horse walks the exterior of the outer fence and the old man trails close behind. The process goes, something like this. They find a knot of dead folks. Good, say the dead folk. "Hurry and numb defects," says the old man. "Nee," says Cracker. Then, like a boxer pummeling a speed bag, the animal rears and lets fly with his front hooves. Once all the stumblers have had their skulls shattered like dropped light bulbs, the whole thing repeats until the area is clear. The group today looked like a bunch of high school kids who'd been done in on a camping trip. One of them had somehow caught his fishing line in the fence while the hook was buried in this thigh. It's a bizarre thing to watch. It's a bit like a monstrous circus act. I'm not terribly familiar with horses, but the big white beast is beautiful in its way, especially with its muscles taught and its breath snorting out as mist in the morning air. Not that I intend on getting anywhere near him. I wouldn't want to risk being misidentified as a walking corpse. How do you even start training an animal to do that? With the show complete, Rachel and I opted to go on a picnic in the middle of the cornfield. Space is kind of a commodity here. I mean, it's a large piece of farmland, but so much of it is dedicated to crops that there's not a lot of room left to live on. And after being stuck in quarantine, I'm feeling oddly claustrophobic with so many living people around. I often have to stop myself from thinking of them as those who aren't dead yet. Maybe she's been paying attention because the private meal was actually Rachel's suggestion. She brought it up when we couldn't escape Dalton and Kimberly's arguing. He acts like he's trying to get the situation under control, but it's really his ridiculous sniping that starts the fights in the first place. Anyhow, have I mentioned the one hints? They're basically just hammer handles with a nail driven through them, but everyone here carries one. They're only intended to be used once and they only exist for a single purpose, to whack someone in the noggin and stick a bit of metal in their brain. But I guess it's about as effective on the living and the dead alike. The way the parker's guards keep giving each other embarrassed looks though. I almost expect them to use theirs on the squabblers. But speaking of, I'm putting down the pen for a moment as someone is yelling to find us. A few hours later, while still picking separate of my teeth. When I was assigned a 16 year old as a guardian, I thought it was a sign of respect. If not for me, then for Bethany, who's quite popular around the compound. The thing is, gangly little Mike Parker was paired off with Rachel's only slightly younger sister. And I knew the moment it happened that I could only end in disaster. I just didn't think it would be so soon. It was he and his girlfriend who interrupted us. I guess they were making out in shadows of last night's bonfire. And now they're pretty sure they want to marry. She's got the right to do what she wants as both of her parents are dead and Rachel is an old enough to tell her what to do. I can't really blame the girl for wanting to form long-term attachments, but I can already hear adultons screaming from somewhere in the future. Huh, now that I'm thinking on it, I have to wonder if the chief foresaw the outcome. Sort of like sending a royal daughter overseas to form an alliance with a distant power. Whatever the case, Mikey wanted my advice and I was probably a bit harsh. They stormed off when I suggested they'd drop it. And Rachel and I were worried they were gonna do something dumb, but I found the youthful lovers holding hands at dinner. I tried to talk it over with Ronnie, but he seems busy with his sulking. Maybe it'll work out for the best anyway. There was some discussion of an expedition into town tomorrow. I guess McKinley is doing well, but needs penicillin for his leg. And the new people have been charged with the task. Nevermind that I barely know the man. Dalton kissed plenty of ass though. He's eager to earn a place here, for his family. Despite his methods, I find it hard to be angry about that. Hell, I suppose I could use a decent stretch anyhow. Before all that though, I'm going to go get some more garlic mashed potatoes. (dramatic music) Flashpulp is presented by flashpulp.com and is released under the Canadian Creative Commons attribution non-commercial 2.5 license. Text and audio commentaries can be sent to skinner@skinner.fm or the voicemail line at 206-338-2792. But be aware that they may appear in a future flashcast. We'd also like to thank the Free Sound Project, found at freesound.org. For a full listing of effects used during the show, as well as credits for the users who provided them, please check this episode's notes at flashpulp.com. And thanks to you for listening. If you enjoyed the show, please tell your friends. (dramatic music) ♪ Sunday is gloomy, my hours are stumbled ♪ ♪ Here is the shadows I live with are stumbled ♪ (upbeat music) (upbeat music)