In recent weeks, when I’ve written to FF prompts, I’ve tried to steer away from illustration in favour of inspiration. This week’s story is a bit of both. There is a literal element to it, but that’s not actually where the story came from. It started with a line from John Donne (via Bon Jovi, which I’m not ashamed to say is where I first heard it!) and a bit of philosophising on our species’ behaviour and then cycled back around to the picture mostly by accident. What a strange beast the brain is.
Thanks to Marie Gail for the picture, and to Rochelle for her ongoing leadership of our little archipelago.
Ozymandian Defences
“Boss calls ‘em Ozymandian,” Rufus directed his apprentice to the remains of a solitary tower.
“What’s that mean?” said the boy, “Hermit?”
Rufus kicked a stone block so his foot would hurt more than his head. He hated when the kid used brain even more than when the boss did.
“’Parrently they had this saying: no man is an island, entire unto hisself,” he said, quoting her and hoping the boy wouldn’t ask any more, “But then when The Wash came, everyone took off on they own.”
“Maybe an island’s easier to defend.”
“Jus’ get on wi’t job,” Rufus snapped.
elmowrites 