The Cost – Alastair’s Photo Fiction 19May2013

Alastair’s Photo Fiction is a weekly challenge to produce flash fiction from a photo prompt. The word limit is 150 words but actually it isn’t a strict limit. Alastair claims the Word Police will not arrest anyone for “dangerous prolixity,” but to be on the safe side I’ve limited myself to merely pushing the envelope. Alastair supplies the images and the rest of us have the fun of writing a story about it. Anyone is invited to join. My story begins after the image. The challenge may be found here: http://alastairsphotofiction.wordpress.com/2013/05/19/photo-fiction-sunday-19th-may-2013/

Genre: Horror
Word Count: 150

Copyright: Alastair Forbes

Mortimer sighed. “Another useless heirloom, Kenrick?”

“Not at all, sir,” said Kenrick, setting the box before Mortimer.

Mortimer ignored the decorative knotwork. Callously, he threw open the box and withdrew a blackened and wrinkled hand. “What good is this to this bankrupt estate, Kendrick?” He gestured with the hand. “This estate, that should have made me money, hmm?”

“It is the preserved hand of a Celtic sorcerer, sir. The previous Lord Hinton used it successfully but…”

“Used it how?” Interrupted Mortimer. “Did he just think ‘money’ and it appeared out of…?” Mortimer stopped when he noticed the pile of gold coins before him.”

“It works rather well, sir,” said Kenrick. “But there is a cost.”

Mortimer ignored him, shouting “Money!” and creating piles of gold around the room.

One hour later, the sorcerer’s hand lay upon a pile of bones, surrounded by gold coins.

“Nothing left but to retire,” sighed Kenrick.