Friday Fictioneers – The Meeting

~ neilmacdon
fatima-fakier-deria-3
Photo Prompt © Fatima Fakier Deria

The meeting broke up early. You’d think it would take days to reach such a decision, but only fifty-three minutes had passed, I walked with the President in the gardens. On the lawn a peacock called, the sound rasping and full of anguish.

“All of them?” I said. “Must they all die?”

The President brushed hair from her eyes. It was a weary gesture. “You know the answer. If even one survives, this will get out.”

Beyond the walls, I heard the rumble as the tanks moved off.

 

Friday fictioneers is a weekly challenge set by Rochelle Wisoff Fields to write a 100-word story in response to a photo prompt. You can find other stories here

105 thoughts on “Friday Fictioneers – The Meeting”

      5. My ‘No’ was meant to be my answer to your question “But it makes all the difference in the world whether they’re making the decision for the country’s benefit or their own, doesn’t it?” I hadn’t noticed it would be separated by other responses!
        But as I’m here…
        Whatever the motives behind the decision, the people will end up dead. So, no difference at all.

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      6. During the second world war, the government had to allow the bombing of Coventry to avoid the Germans realising their code had been broken. The cold calculus is of numbers of lives saved divided by numbers sacrificed

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  8. Uneasy lies the head that wears the crown and similarly a weary president’s head may well lie uneasy – a terrible responsibility. Not all such people are villains. I really like the way you pull back into the human facet with the brushing away of the hair.

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  16. Neil, I’m going to lock the doors and bar the windows. It wasn’t me.
    Great story Neil, with loads of suspense and very chilling.
    After reading the comments, I’m even more afraid.
    xx Rowena

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  17. What a cold- hearted murderer! I wonder what the ‘ this’ in ‘ …. this will get out’ is! But, that probably is immaterial now.
    Intriguing story and superbly skilful storytelling.

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  20. Sandra stole my line… I, too, loved the presence of the peacock. And I would hate to have to be in the president’s position – I’ll choose the only scenario that is acceptable to me. Must annihilate a source to save the masses…

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  29. The thing that struck me is that the act (whether for good or bad) has been ordered by a woman and the female gender and this kind of destruction normally doesn’t go together. I too loved the peacock and felt the ending was well mastered with the tanks moving off. Lots of questions but so well written.

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  38. I sincerely enjoyed the intrigue of your story leaving me to wonder. The human touch, where she brushes the hair from her eyes, was was excellent. So many enormous decisions that must be made, I can’t imagine having that kind of responsibility. It’s a bit scarey too, considering the world scene today. Nicely done!

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  41. I think this triggers a debate about whether such decisions are okay if it is for the greater good. It’s always subjective. And that’s why I’m glad I’m not in such a position! Sinister story, Neil. Well executed, excuse the pun 🙂

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