Night Terrors

Carl awoke screaming, still caught in his dream. Reeducation did that to you.

With the realisation that no-one could help their actions, had come the judicial reform. Violent offenders were no longer punished, but reeducated. Today it was possible to instill the sense of empathy in someone who lacked it.

So now Carl was capable of love and empathy. By day. By night he relived his past: every blow, every stab, every cruelty he had visited on his victims. The look in their eyes.

The suicide rate among Re-eds was 60%. The rest … probably innocent.

Quicker than death row, some said.

T.Mastgrave’s challenge: Determinism vs. Free Will.

To the Moon and Back

There was an old woman tossed in a basket.

Seventeen times as high as the moon;

But where she was going no mortal could tell,

For under her arm she carried a broom.

“Old woman, old woman, old woman,” said I,

“Whither, oh whither, oh whither so high?”

“To sweep the cobwebs from the sky;

And I’ll be with you by-and-by.”

– Mother Goose

Full Moon

From up here it really did look like a horse. And when the clouds shifted, it seemed to be moving. You could think you heard a whinny and the stamp of a hoof. …

It had dominated the discussions since it appeared. Old Graybor maintained that the shape of a thing determines its nature. The young realists thought it was more important what a thing does. This thing didn’t move, and it smelled of tree. Boldly Balin had cocked his leg and made it his own. Now he was leader of the pack. …

Showtime. He lifted his head in a howl.

The 100 word challenge at Julia’s place. My favorites to date:
Always look a gift horse…  (Ventahl). Earth magic (Lisawieldswords). Horse n°36 (sjbwriting).

This week’s prompt below: a driftwood sculpture by Heather Jansch. Don’t miss the beautiful photos.

Photo by Julia.

The eden project also boasts the biggest rainforest in captivity: I hope they treat it kindly.

How High the Moon?

Nearly as high as this tree, apparently.

Only half-full, but worth a quick howl anyway.