75 WORD CHALLENGE - January 2012 Victory for springs1971!

[johnnyjet]

The Hanging Platform

Jerry approached the platform with trepidation. Not because of the hangman’s noose that promised an end to his suffering. He feared the rumors of what lay beneath.

Jerry was tall, husky, dark -- a daunting individual. He broke many men in his long career. Now was his time to pay.

The hangman put the noose into place. The floor beneath fell open.

The next moment someone was handing him his underground town maintenance work schedule.

 

[juelz4sure]

Tumbleweed​

Tumbleweed rolled past the now decomposing corpse as vultures circled high above ready to devour any leftovers.

It had been a while since I last killed a man but it felt right as the town's citizens came out to greet me merrily.

Laughter erupted from them as they circled the dead body and devoured the mans rancid flesh.

I passed the wright of passage and brought food to my family for the upcoming winter.

 

[High Eight]

[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]DEAD MAN'S HAND[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]One by one I pick up the cards.[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Eight of spades[/FONT]

“[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]You'll be the best until.........”[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Eight of clubs[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Good start. “Until?”[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Ace of clubs[/FONT]

“[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Until it's time to pay of course. I'll let you know.”[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Ace of spades[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]I've got my back to the door! I never sit with my back to the door! And now I hear approaching footsteps and Jack McCall's voice saying “take that!”[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Noise.[/FONT]......

[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Then nothing.[/FONT]

 

[Highlander]

DRAW!

Two gunslingers eyed each other. “DRAW”, they cried simultaneously.

At that command, the ground below them shook and – unbelievably – started lifting upwards!

They tumbled off the rising mound and became immersed in swirling clouds, clutching neckerchiefs over mouths. Briefly, they spotted a silvery disc before it shot away to the horizon.

The two men stared at each other, dispute forgotten, and wondered about what had happened.

They never realised that “Drauugghhh” in Sirian means, “Evacuate!”

 

[Joe the Timelord]

First post. I'd like to say hello, and I hope you guys like this.

Thoughts of a Simpler Time

Eighteen years and it’s still cold here. Old stories started to flash in Fuller's head about a wild west from when last time America decided to screw herself. He envied those stories. At least then there was a sunset to ride into.

Fuller bit down against the minus 30 degree gust that broke through four inches of padding and his gas mask, and drew his .45 against the massive shape rising from the nuclear drifts.

 

[Scott R. Forshaw]

The Tale Of The Reaper​

“You're either quick or you're dead around here -- he's both.”​

Wilbur Junior swallowed hard, his eyes narrowing, too afraid to speak.​

“They say he rides with the Devil, down in Hell. Riding a horse of bones, a six shooter on his hip. When he comes, and you hear that hammer ****, there ain't no time for running. Ain't no time for nothing, except death.”​

The candles flickered and died. Darkness entombed them.​

Click ​

 

[Bob Senior]

Judge ROY BEAN

"What day is this?" a sleepy Colorado Kid asked from his cell. "The day Judge Bean comes to hang your sorry behind" answered the deputy.

Judge Bean heard the charges then questioned the Kid. "You robbed the bank and shot two citizens, correct?" "Yup", said the Kid, "the safe only had eight dollars, so I shot the manager". "What about the other guy?" asked the Judge
"He was a LAWYER", the Kid said !

"CASE DISMISSED".

 

[HoopyFrood]

Fair Fight, Now

He's nervous, I reckon.

Should be. No one better than me. All in the reflexes, ain't it.

Sun's gonna appear. Any second. My hat's low, coat wrapped tight, ready for it. Ain't touching me, no how.

'E's got one eye on the horizon. The idiot. Can't shoot 'fore we're told.

“Sun up!”

I draw.

Front of 'is coat explodes open.

Why, the cheatin'-!

You can't beat a guy holding twelve guns!

 

[The Judge]

The Yellow Rows of Texas


The fence –- gone. Wire cut, posts ripped up. Corn cattle-trampled in the dirt.

“Them ranchers ain’t ever gonna let us farm here, Pa. We gotta find us another place.”

“Over my dead body,” says Pa.


Pa dies that night. We buries him in the cornfield like we was told. Then put in more posts, string up more wire, plant more corn.


When the cattlemen come back, Pa’s waiting. In the cattle-trampling corn.

 

[Ursa major]

Bonanza


“Itzawl Mine!”

“Sez who?”

“That sign,” said West.

“Where’s De Gap?”

“Tunnelling through from his mine.”

“Unbelievable,” said Artemus. “Little green men.”

“They come in peace.”

“In a pod.”

“There’s our inside man!” said West.

“Why’s he emerald?”

“The grass is greener on the other side...?”

“Hola,” said Tharg.

“Well?” asked West.

“Drier than Mars.”

“They accept? A dollar a day?”

“Yes,” said Tharg.

Artemus smiled. The best saucer profits west of the Mississippi.

 

[StormFeather]

The Real Danger Came from the North​

'Witch of the West, you have been found guilty of crimes against the Frontier Town of Munchkin, including, but not limited to, the causation of drought by magical means, thereby leading to starvation and death. You are sentenced to death'

Elphaba raised her arms, whereby all could see ripples undulating beneath her skin.

'Fools! I’m not your Wicked Witch! But I will save you.'

The violent undulations erupted.

*Silence*

Dissipation.

Dispersion.

And the rains began.

 

[Teresa Edgerton]

The Challenge is closed. Congratulations to everyone who posted a story.

The poll will be along shortly.

 

[Teresa Edgerton]

And here it is

http://www.sffchronicles.co.uk/forum/534912-poll-75-word-challenge-january-2012-read-first.html