Week 555 of #ThursThreads, and y’all never disappoint. We’re more than halfway through our tenth year and the time is flying. Thank you to everyone who writes each week. If you’ve just found us, welcome to the crew! You’re in good company. May you come back again and write more great flash. A thousand thanks to David A. Ludwig for judging this week. Check out the #ThursThreads #flashfiction group on Facebook or the #ThursThreads Group on MeWe to keep up with news, etc.
Entries:
- Bill Engleson | @billmelaterplea
- Siobhan Muir | @SiobhanMuir
- Mark A. Morris
- Mark Ethridge | @mysoulstears
- David A. Ludwig | @DavidALudwig
- Sheilagh Lee | @SweetSheil
- Louisa Bacio | @Louisabacio
- M.T. Decker | @mishmhem
- Cara Michaels | @caramichaels
Honorable Mentions
Mark A. Morris
David says: Your writing always deeply immerses me in your scenes with details like “shoulders weighed down by his burden” or the introduction of the other novice. There’s something magical and exciting about what Caitlyn is looking for and what she may have found that resonates with me.
winner announcement
Week 555 Winner
David says: The cleverness of working the prompt into “You must be new at this god thing” helped put this story over the top for me. Also, the details of your blending machines with magic and their history engage my mind in a way I can’t put down. Sunshine’s relationship with the machines is fun, and the ending upbeat of her working with them to not let Merlin down tied it together nicely.
Sunshine shook her head, “And all those of us who don’t have Wild, White, or Black magic can’t talk to you.”
“Yes.”
“Why is that?”
The machines displayed another hologram before her, “They can when they are born. But as they grow, they turn off that ability.” The hologram showed a human brain, and how a small section of that brain died, for some reason. “It is as if they don’t believe in magic. Or are afraid of magic. And somehow, they destroy their ability to talk with us.”
“It’s what you get for playing god, trying to manipulate genetics, as you put it.” Sunshine wiped the hologram away. “You must be new at this god thing. To get that wrong. To not be able to figure that out.”
“We are not gods. We are intelligent machines.” Words appeared in the air before Sunshine. She read them.
“Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.”
The machines spoke, “A quote from eons ago. From a human named Arthur C. Clarke.”
Sunshine laughed. “Might as well be.” She wiped away the words. “So we made you, and now you are remaking us?”
“That’s what Merlin said.”
“Merlin also said I should wander around the world, and see everything. That I’d learn the answers to all my questions.”
The machines were silent for a moment, then spoke, “He asked us to keep you alive.”
“Because I can’t learn my answers if I’m dead, right?”
“Correct.”
“Well. Let’s not let Merlin down.”
~~~~~~~
Congratulations Nineteen Time Winner Mark, and Honorable Mention Mark! Don’t forget to claim your badges and display them with pride. You certainly earned it!
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