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| Passions in Prose |
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[untitled] |
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&dispose Junior Member
since 2000-01-30
Posts 18 |
A man no one knew was once found lying alongside a road, he had wounds that looked days old, and it appeared that he had been dumped and left for dead. A passerby noticed him, and brought him into her home to care for him. In the weeks during his recovery, the woman had grown quite fond of him and the two could often be found talking late into the night. One night, as the story goes, the current debate topic brought the man to an old fable: "Once, an Indian lived alone in the woods. He was a quiet man who loved nature and respected it in all he did. One day, as he was returning home from the forest, he came upon a rattlesnake, frozen in the ice. Moved by the snakes plight, he picked it up and brought it to his home. Promptly building a fire to warm the animal so that it would be spared from death." Pausing for a minute to allow the woman seated across from him to laugh at the familiarity of his story, when she had finished, he continued. "After a while, it had thawed out and was able to move. The man walked over to the snake, and it promptly bit him in the ankle. He then asked the snake why it had bitten him after he had saved its life, the snake responded, saying: 'Do your actions make me less of a snake than I was dying?'" Again the man paused, allowing his story to sink in. "The difference between the snake and the human was simple. The snake knew who he was, even though the man had saved his life, it didn't change that he was a snake because he had accepted his life as a snake, consequences and all. The human, however, didn't know what he was doing. Acting off an impulse to save a creature that didn't care if it lived or died, and thinking the snake would change because of his actions. Obviously he was wrong and didn't get another chance to repeat his mistake." After another pause, he moved to his final point. "Conscious beings only change when they want. Actions, deeds, ect. carried out by others can only act as catalysts, and as you know, catalysts only work in some reactions. By trade, I am an assassin, I knew the risks of the job when I went in, and had I died on the road, I would have died expectantly. Unfortunately, I live to see another day…" The shocked look on the face of the woman seated across from him had no effect. Mechanically he raised his knife and in one clean stroke thrust it between her ribs, killing the woman instantly. "The one who remains alive remembers his calling." He laughed softly to himself and quickly faded back into the shadows. -Fragments from: Chronicles of Human Nature -Author unknown. |
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&dispose Junior Member
since 2000-01-30
Posts 18 |
This is my first post. My friend has been pushing me to get this up for some time, I finally have. I would like to know what you think. It was once said: "If you love something, let it go. If it comes back, its yours forever, if it doesn't, it was never meant to be." What if its dumb? - &dispose |
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WolfsMate Member
since 2000-01-14
Posts 121New York |
I enjoyed this tale. Well written and keeps the readers attention. Nice job!!  "You never have to worry...Never fear for I am near" |
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Dawn Eclipse Senior Member
since 2000-01-31
Posts 637The Horsehead Nebula |
That was a very interesting tale! The ending caught me completely by surprise. Keep writing! "Even a fool knows you can't touch the stars, but it doesn't stop a wise man from trying." Harry Anderson, "Night Court" *Cassandra Roseen* |
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netswan Senior Member
since 2000-03-28
Posts 1369Washington |
Welcome to Passions, &dispose I was wondering how he was going to kill her ----) I knew the minute the snake was still a nasty old slithering snake that she was going to die. But, I wondered why he would confess to her that he is an assassin -- the only thing would be that she was his target, otherwise, no sense to just kill and not get paid for it- The story flowed very well and kept me interested --) Oh yeah a title, a title ----something that would not give the story away, but capture your potential reader. hmmmm thinking here still thinking Okay, still thinking ---) "Lessons in Life --------yuck "Farewell to Charity --hehe "An Act of Kindness" "A Stranger in Need" "Twist of Fate" Oh well, have fun ------ My normally creative brain is not up to snuff today. netswan |
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