Sunday Photo Fiction is a weekly challenge presented by Susan Spaulding, who has taken over this great weekly prompt from my old friend Al Forbes.
This week’s photo, by Anurag Bakhshi shows what looks like an idyllic little spot, reminiscent of my childhood in South Africa. And my current abode on the Med.
The idea here is to write a short story (200 word max) inspired by what you see in the picture (below).
Click on this link to enter your tale, and see what others have written.
© Anurag Bakhshi
Click here to hear the author read the tale:
The Island
At first the islanders are curious.
Then we are amused.
These are the first outsiders to visit in many years, except for the Company, of course.
And that is just one small ship, twice a year.
Bringing supplies that are now considered vital.
They never stay more than one night.
They take their tribute and leave.
But this time they have been here for some weeks.
And other ships followed.
More and more outsiders, all friends and family, it seemed.
The numbers swelled into many many thousands, far more than the island can support.
When the Leader spoke to the outsiders they laughed.
And beat him.
Then the other ships started to arrive, and the outsiders attacked them on the sea.
They have guns, many guns.
Guns to sink ships.
Guns to kill people.
We fear they might kill us.
We no longer live in the village.
We hide on the high ground.
We know that to the south there is only ocean, then ice.
So we look to the north.
The giant cloud is drawing nearer each day.
It looks angry.
Angry as death.
Yes, this has happened and will always happen.
Sadly true, sir
Reminds me of the thousands of foreign students that invade my little seaside town each summer!
Thanks, Keith
That is how colonisation is done. First come alone, then few more, and then shiploads. Come with weapons, superior ones, beat and if necessary kill those who protest. I am afraid dark cloud in the horizon will be hardly any deterrent. Nice build up.
What you say is true, sir.
But the dark cloud is in fact the key.
All countries/races who have been ‘civilized’ by imperialism over the last few centuries have seen such scenes, unfortunately 🙁
All too true, sir
A Hobson’s Choice. Loved this Ceayr.
Thanks, Neel
quite a dilemma for the islanders, and expertly told I might add
Thanks, Susan
It sounds like a story of imperialism to me, and, as another commenter noted, an all too tragic reality. (Are the islanders going to try violent resistance, like the Sentinelese, or nonviolent resistance, like Gandhi? Are they going to cooperate, learn the outsiders’ ways, and beat them at their own game?
Indeed it is, up to a point, but the cloud means that none of these retaliatory options are possible. Thank you for giving it so much thought.
Welcome!
There can’t be many lands who haven’t experienced these sort of settlers at some point I’m their history. Excellent write CE.
Thanks, Iain
Oh, that was excellent!! I must know more!!
Laughing. Ask your questions, I have 15 words left!
I must know about the cloud and it’s relation to the outsiders with all the guns. Is it literal or is it a euphemism for the pestilence of armed intruders.
It is real.
The 3 lines between ‘We know that … and …nearer each day’ are the big clue.
They should explain everything that has happened.
That’s a cracker of a story, CE. And event that have probably repeated themselves since time immemorial. Well done
Thank you, Sandra. It is a recurring theme, for the most part.