Photo by: Sandra Crook
Henry Wilchert made money the old-fashioned way; with cost overruns and outrageous product prices. He wanted to expand out of pharmaceuticals and into defense contracts. So he toured SpiderArmor before his hostile takeover.
Company owner, Gavin DuPuy, showed off the loom-like machine that made bullet-proof fabric. “We’re always under budget and meet proposed prices,” said Dupuy.
How do you make a killer profit? thought Wilchert. That’ll change. “How are the threads made?”
Dupuy pointed up. “Lilith.”
Above the loom crouched a spider, seven-feet across, feeding out silk to the spools.
“My god!”
“Don’t worry,” chuckled Dupuy. “She only eats greedy-minded men.”
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Written for the Friday Fictioneers: https://rochellewisoff.com/2019/03/27/29-march-2019/
Authors Notes:
Spider silk woven into armor isn’t just my imagination. The US Army is looking into it right now:
https://www.upi.com/Army-to-test-body-armor-made-from-spider-silk/3531534778738/
https://www.defenseone.com/technology/2016/07/army-testing-genetically-engineered-spider-silk-body-armor/129814/
To my friends in the world of flash fiction world: I’ve been generally uncommunicative, and I apologize for that. I’m working on a full-length book. The editing/critiquing process is long and arduous. Plus my very social 3-year old keeps me pretty occupied. The book is in final stages so I plan to be more responsive in the near future.
EagleAye
Teehee! It’s good to read one of your humorous pieces again! Only eats greedy men, eh? Wilchert had better watch his step!
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Hehe. If he does any kind of step it’s the leaving in a big hurry kind. 😉 Thanks so much, Penny!
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Yup, he’s a goner.
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No doubt about that. 😉
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Any chance we can set Lilith upon the world of big business?
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Yes, can we please? I’ll get a message out to her. 😉 Thanks Iain!
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Maybe SpiderArmour is not such a good takeover prospect for Henry after all… 🙂
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Dear Eric,
Wilchert better run!!! I know I would if I saw a spider that big. Hell. I run from little ones.
I, too, just finished a novel. I’m awaiting feedback from my beta readers and then comes the fun of shopping it around. So I understand. As for the social 3 year old, mine are all grown and gone, but I do understand. At any rate, it’s good to see you back in the FFFold.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Great story, Eric. Welcome back, I hope you and the family have been well ❤
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She probably has a big web site too. Well spun story.
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This will have me smiling to myself all day. Well done.
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Great to see you, Eric – And so easy to understand your absence. You’ve got your plate full for sure.
As for this… Gulp! So glad I am not the greedy sort…
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Lilith the spider is after you Dupuy. You better watch out.
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I love Lilith.
I’m not very communicative either. I haven’t written on Criminal Mimes in two weeks or longer. My baby is a 1948 Ford F-3 truck. She is taking up a lot of my time and even more of my money.
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