The man licked his dry, cracked lips and squinted across the water again looking for a sign, any sign, of a rescue party. There was nothing but water. Clutching the reeds in his hand, he cleared his throat and spoke. His raspy voice came out as the softest of whispers.1
“Are we all agreed then?”2
His companions scanned the horizon. He did too, hoping; but there was nothing. One by one the men and women in the boat nodded their consent. He held out his fist and they all drew a reed. He looked at the one he was still holding; it was shorter than the others.3
The man searched the horizon with a desperation he hadn’t felt since the first days after the ship went down. There was nothing but water. Another man finally broke the silence.4
“I’ll do it,” he said. The man with the short reed looked at him; they’d been good friends once.5
“You’ll take care of my daughter?” he asked.6
“If I can.”7
The man looked at his little girl and prayed she’d make it somehow. She wouldn't last much longer without food or water. He handed his old friend a knife.8
“Do it quick,” he instructed and closed his eyes tight. There was pain as the first blow was struck, then the second. Then there was nothing.9
Author notes
I wrote this one day at work while I was bored. It's based around an old custom called The Custom of The Sea (hence the title) where a group of shipwrecked people could unanimously decide to draw straws to determine who was going to be killed and eaten without having to worry about facing a murder charge should they ever be rescued.
A contest entry
- Short and Sweet by WritersEffigy.
175 points, ended October 24, 2008, 25 entries
Honorable winner
• next story in this contest, remove from contest
Comments
1 - 6 of 6
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Wow. Creepy, but I love it. The mere idea of it makes my blood run cold, I mean, imagine pulling the short stick and having to face death to feed people you know...mind-blowing, it is. Good luck in the contest.
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Thank you, and thank you for the comment.
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Ooooh I like!
Thanks for entering! -
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Thank you for hosting the contest.
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Holy crap!
Whoa.... this was not something that I was expecting... though I'm surprised that you wrote it of all things.
The piece gives the feel of the desperation and being alone... what a moving piece of literature. Nice job!
DarkOne
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Thanks. I have been known to write a depressing story or two, but I'll admit it doesn't happen all that often.
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