The original Words for Wednesday was begun by Delores and eventually taken over by a moveable feast of participants when Delores had computer troubles. Sadly, Delores has now closed her blog forever due to other problems.
The aim of the words is to encourage us to write. A story, a poem, whatever comes to mind.
If you are posting an entry on your own blog, please let us know so we can come along to read it and add a few encouraging words.
This month the words/prompts are supplied by messymimi and can be found here
This week's words/prompts are:
1.horizon 2.consciousness 3.theorist 4.great 5.enhance 6.enter
and/or this sentence:
"It took him a while to realise that everything he decided not to change, he was actually choosing"
Also including Charlotte's colour of the month straw yellow.
Here is my story:
Repercussions from the removal of several hundred computers from their owners were felt around the world almost immediately. One young man, brilliant of mind, had become so ill from the echo he had lost consciousness and been hospitalised with his normal rosy tan now being the dull yellow of old straw.
Quentin had been quite proud to be included in the Hacker's team and to shake the hand of the great theorist known throughout out the gaming world as "Raving Bunny". His real name had never been revealed, but he whispered to Quentin "if you can tell me how you spotted the subliminal, I'll tell you my name is plainer than dry toast."
To this Quentin said, "I just saw it, a tiny blink of lightning in every level of the game and I somehow knew it wasn't supposed to be there. It doesn't enhance any part of the game at all, though of course you can't advance without blowing that up, unless you stick with the game and work around the long way, and that's when the echo sets in if you try to shut down."
"And what does this echo do?" asked Raving Bunny. "I don't know," said Quentin, "as soon as I felt the mind shift I backtracked and blew up that sucker!" "Excellent choice of action," said Raving Bunny, "but how did you do that?" "That's the part I don't understand yet," said Quentin. He looked around at all the people listening in, "it's some sort of instinct I have."
Raving Bunny had a short conversation with most of the hackers present and then asked to speak with Detective Rogers and Quentin's parents. "There may be a light on the horizon," he said. "If we allow Quentin to enter the game with all of us here to monitor his every move, we may discover how he does what he does and also how the subliminal makes itself known to him. The 'mind shift' he described is of particular interest. Then we can backtrack through the "Black Web" and find who put it in there." "And why," said Detective Rogers.
"It took him a while to realise that everything he decided not to change, he was actually choosing"... After typing that odd sentence out on his laptop, he rested his chin in his hands and considered how he might advance the novel.
ReplyDeleteFrom his study window, he enjoyed an ever changing view of The Pacific Ocean. Its far horizon seemed to bend like the arc of his self-consciousness. He had always been a great theorist, speculating about the whys and wherefores of human behaviour, seeking to enhance his perspective.
He pressed "enter" on his keyboard. A new paragraph. "Ramona sat at the dressing table brushing her straw yellow hair while humming a pop song she had heard the day before on the radio. She was just next door and he could hear her moving about."
Yes that would do for the afternoon. He shut his laptop and called to the living Ramona, "What time are we expected at the Taylors honey?"
I like where the prompts took you.
DeleteYorkshire Pudding; this is very good, thanks for joining us this week.
DeleteEnticing start to a novel, YP.
DeleteAt The Taylors three women were gathered in the corner gossiping. They were Elsie, Janice and Messymimi. It was like a witches' coven - all that was missing was a steaming cauldron.
DeleteHe drifted over to them with a bowl of salted peanuts but they declined his kind offer. As he walked away, they noted the muscularity of his buttocks beneath his tight, cream-coloured chinos.They cackled with delight and Elsie even wolf-whistled under her breath.
Standing nearby, Ramona was not amused.
There is a Quentin in dark shadow.
ReplyDeleteDora; I'm not sure what you mean.
DeleteI hope they can figure it out, and prevent it from happening again.
ReplyDeletemessymimi; they figure it out but things like this will keep happening as long as there are computers and those who misuse them.
DeleteCertainly Detective work attached to the story, R. Well done and nice read too.
ReplyDeleteMargaret D; thank you.
DeleteDelving into the depths, River - I like it.
ReplyDeleteUp-to-date story for sure!
ReplyDeleteIngo´s company got hacked weeks ago and he still has to use a usb-stick cause they still are not OK - scary times, great story. Well scary one.... My try:
"After the darkness there was a light at the horizon, actually two!: two offers for the training I am doing at age 53...
My consciousness ... I start at zero so often. As a theorist you pick a job and keep it. But times are a changing. You enter new stuff all the time. Great. You enhance your brain again and again.
But really... retirement, please?"
I look forward to ALSTOM but retirement for real... oh, would that be good - I have so much to do!