June 2008: Goodnight Puzzles

"日本語 困惑"

“What do we know about this one?”
“Just the one Asian that needs to be taken out.”
“Do you anticipate a resistance?”
“The boss said not to, but I think we should be prepared anyway.”
“We should have shotguns for this shit,” Karen giggled as she got out of the car. After she shut the door, she checked her hair and dress in the reflection of the car’s window.
“How do I look?” Karen asked. Jack walked around to the other side of the beat up Cadillac that the company gave them for the job. Starting with her feet, he began a close inspection of Karen’s appearance.
“Let’s see…shoes, check. Clear pantyhose, check, but you know I’m a fan of bare legs.” Karen smiled at the compliment about her legs that almost happened. “And we continue, let’s see. Turn around for me?” Karen did a brief 360 degree turn with the grace of a grade school ballerina. “Hmm…that dress does not accentuate your posterior the way that your black business suit does.”
“Stop talking about my ass. We’re professionals!”
“Right, well you asked me how you look, and I’m giving you a fair answer. Having a nice butt is important in this line of work.”
“Jack, come on.”
“Fine,” Jack said with a devious grin. “You’ve been wearing your hair in that same early 90’s Demi Moore style for the past six months, so perhaps it’s time for a change there but other than that, I think you look great. Now can we get to work?”
Karen closed her eyes and handed a shit eating grin on a plate to Jack. “Absolutely.”
“Sun’s going down. Let’s do this.”

peter's story was inspired by Youtube videos of insane Japanese people. He also enjoys mustard.

Andromeda and Nereid

__________He tried to keep the swirling sensation of his guttural panic hidden from Reid. But he couldn't help it. Without even thinking about it, he searched for a line of the horizon in the pitch. His eyes focused, narrowed, dilated, all without his thoughts. Like breathing, his automatic attention was dimmed and sharpened. The air was thick, everything was a shade of shadow, sometimes charcoal, sometimes ink. The moon was hidden and there wasn't even a sign of silver glow behind the clouds, nothing but slow moving bulks in what he had to only assume was the sky because it was what he saw when he stretched his neck and looked up. When Reid emerged from his cabin every few hours, he came up with a lantern and shone it in Andre's face making his eyes water from the shock of the brightness. Reid pulled and jangled the chains to ensure they were still tight. Andre knew they were because his arm had gone numb what could have been hours ago. Another night dragged itself across the sky. In the mornings Andre slept.

Continued. . . .