Gilham's End 1: the gods must be crazy

^{(Humpbuckle Tales 17)}

According to Gilham, the world was created in an asylum for crazy gods.

"The universe makes sense," he says. "When you realise it is simply the ravings of insane deities."

"Drink up, foolish old man," Molly chuckles. "Go home. Take that smelly coat with you."

Gilham drains his pint, smiling.

...

Gilham's End 2: die pot

^{(Humpbuckle Tales 18)}

Chloe is locking The Dye Pot door as Gilham stumbles past.

They chat for a minute before she heads home to Molly.

He meanders on.

The walk along the windswept clifftop path is sobering.

The waves crash against the rocks below.

He wonders what it would feel like to fall.

...

Gilham's End 3: gopher

^{(Humpbuckle Tales 19)}

There is, what at first looks like, a pile of clothes on the clifftop bench overlooking the ocean.

He squints.

A head pops out, gopher-like, from the bundle.

"Hello Gilham," it says.

It takes his fuddled brain a moment.

"Brian."

Gilham suddenly wishes he'd taken the long walk home.

...

Gilham's End 4: knee problems

^{(Humpbuckle Tales 20)}

If he wasn't so old, drunk, and beset with knee problems, Gilham might have considered fleeing.

But he'd never run away from danger before.

Why start now?

Brian was younger, fitter, less intoxicated than he.

But Gilham would fight if he had to.

He steps forward.

"What do you want?"

...

Gilham's End 5: circus performer

^{(Humpbuckle Tales 21)}

In his youth, Gilham could backflip like a circus performer.

These days he might pull a muscle simply getting out of bed.

"What did Dave say?" Brian asks. In his hand, a rock.

"I know what you did," Gilham says.

"Shame."

Gilham's reaction is slow. The rock cracks his head.

...

Gilham's End 6: musk ox

^{(Humpbuckle Tales 22)}

Regaining consciousness, Gilham's besotted brain doesn't register immediately that he is being dragged to the cliff edge.

He tries to shout but the alcohol and concussion work against him.

He barely whimpers.

The last thing he thinks before his body smashes onto rocks below is:

"The bastard stole my coat!"

...

These 6 50-word stories were written using @mariannewest's @Freewritehouse Weekend Freewrite prompts. I used all six prompts from the previous week, rather than just one.

This continues my Humpbuckle Tales Series. Each tale is supposed to be able to be read independently (although I am not sure I have succeeded with all of these tales), but if they are read together they start to fill in gaps in a much bigger story. The stories sometimes flip from one time to another (although these ones follow on from each other). For example, these 6 stories happened before the very first story.

I am really enjoying writing these stories, I hope you are enjoying reading them.

I am not running a contest at the moment but if you would like to write a Zapfic (microfiction story) of 99 words or less, then please feel free to tag me and I will read it and if I like it I'll upvote and reblog it.

Tomorrow (Monday 18 October) - as well as writing Humpbuckle Tales number 23 - I will be publishing an author reading of the first 10 tales.

I hope you are having a wonderful weekend.

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