For this weeks Flash fiction we had 200 words to write about the following:
Castle in Venezuela. Photo courtesy of David Mark, Pixabay
ILL-TEMPERED
The liquid glowed red like a sunset as it poured from the melting pot. The Smith wiped his brow with a thick leather glove to prevent the sweat from trickling into his eyes. He carefully guided the substance into the mould under the watchful gaze of his captors. They frantically made notes, studying his every move so as to eventually remove his usefulness to them. The only way to prolong this miserable existence was to keep them guessing. He changed the process again, this time pouring cold water onto the sculpture. It hissed and spat in protest as they scribbled away.
The ugly one with the moustache barked at him in broken english, “Why you add water?”
“It settles the metal quicker, makes it stronger. Allows you to pack it with more gunpowder, to fire further.”
Ugly smiled a wicked one-toothed grin. It would take several days for the metal to cool, and several more for them to ship this evil contraption to the castle. By the time they tried to fire it he would likely be dead, but he would get the last laugh when the weakened steel exploded in their faces. This would be his final contribution to the rebel cause.
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