Grueberfest '07: Wheelhouse (350 hits)
Category: NoneRating: -0.09 on 15 reviews (Rate this item) (V)
Submitted by HurtByTheSun (View user info) at 2007-10-04 20:30:54 EDT
A man toils over his work, grunting as he planes and sands the finishing touches of yet another beautiful piece. You wouldn't think that a man so hideous in appearance would have been capable of creating something so pleasurable to behold.
His workshop is small and hot, lit only by candles, which flicker off the various lumps of wood on the walls as well as the scars that line his face. He continues to whittle away at the last peg on the wheel, oblivious to the sweat beading his brow. Still bent over the wheel, there is a ferocity and rage to the speed of his work. Panting, he reaches a terrible climax and pushes himself back from the table, admiring his work.
Satisfaction spreads over the old mans face as he rests back in his comfortable chair and lights his pipe. A break, he thinks, before the final bit of work that will ensure a little piece of his soul remains in the wheel. The room fills with smoke as he looks out the knife he will need to perform the finishing act.
His smoke finished, he approaches his workbench again, and gently turns the wheel to expose the small square hole that remains in the main body of the wheel. Grimacing, he draws the knife across the palm of his hand. Slicing through years of scar tissue he lets the blood drip into the hole, filling it half way. Muttering an ancient phrase, he picks up the final piece of wood and slots it deftly into the wheel, covering the hole. A lick of varnish and the lines of the join have disappeared. The small metal plate with simple the word 'Clarissa' engraved into it, screwed gently into the wood finishes the job.
***
"Kids! Kids!" the young father, Paul, yells up the stairs, "We're going to miss the tide!"
"Coming dad," his daughter, Penny a beautiful 14 year old replies in a bored voice.
His son, James, a feisty 8, bounds down the stairs, fully kitted out in a stripy top and shorts, and arrives at his side with a chirped, "Ready, cap'n!"
Paul looks down at his son and ruffles his hair affectionately.
"Great, son, now we just have to 'round up those land lubbing women and hit the road! You go get your sister, I'll grab your mum."
Walking through to the kitchen, Paul sees his wife, Clarissa sipping a glass of water by the sink, rubbing her forehead.
"You OK baby?" he puts his arms around her, playfully cupping her breasts.
She smiles, "Yes, just a bit of a headache, I'll sleep it off in the car."
"Great! Then I'll be able to teach the kids rude words and give them a brief history lesson about the wonders of rock'n'roll!"
"I'm sure they'll love that. Let's go."
The family left the house, carrying everything for a week at sea in the boat their dad had been working on for the last year. With the car packed, and the family all comfortable, Paul turned the key in the ignition, pulled out and began the hour -long trip to the dock.
"Right kids, your mother's going to sleep, so I'll be telling you all I can about some of the greatest bands of the 80's!"
"Dad, you're so bloody lame."
"Penny, don't use that kind of language!"
"Why? You do."
"Well... shit," he laughed. "I suppose I do."
His daughter smiled, tried to hide it and plugged her earphones firmly into her ears.
"Well, James, how about you?"
His son was already asleep, the early start having knocked him out.
With his family settled and snoozing around him, he happily fell to thinking of the boat he had built practically with his own hands.
***
The green Volvo pulled up at the marina and the children woke with a start as the car stopped. Clarissa woke more slowly but snapped alert as she caught sight of the boat she just knew had to be her husbands.
"You named it for me?" she whispered.
"Of course." Paul replied with a wink, "Right guys, everybody out."
They walked the short way down the pier to the boat and climbed aboard.
James immediately shot off to explore whilst Penny stood, sulkily looking around and conceded that it was actually 'pretty cool'. Smiling, Paul took the hands of his wife and led her around to the wheelhouse.
"I got this specially made by a crazy old sailor guy. Really ugly chap, but he's got a reputation as a master craftsman. Specialises in ships, particularly wheels. Look."
And he spun the wheel to show the little engraved plaque that bore her name.
She smiled, and kissed him long and deep.
***
The evening had set with a beautiful deep red shimmer dancing across the waves. The family had gone to bed rested and content after a meal when even Penny had joined in the idle conversation about music, films and plans for the rest of the summer. Normally sullen, despite her popularity and good looks, she had earnestly joined in with the rest of the family. By the time 10 o'clock rolled around, the sea air and a hearty dinner had tired them all out. They went to bed a happy family.
Clarissa whispered to Paul as soon as they were inside their cabin,
"Make love to me Paul. I want you. Right now."
She tore her clothes off and threw herself on the bed waiting for her husband's attentions.
Afterwards, exhausted and slick and sweaty they fell asleep in each other's arms, content.
***
Paul woke with a jolt. Groggily he looked over at the clock. Fuck, he thought, 3AM. He pulled on his trousers, and a jumper to protect against the brisk sea air and climbed the ladder to the main deck. Strolling across the poop he ducked into the wheelhouse and unfastened the wheel from the course it had been set on.
Marvelling at the beauty and craftsmanship of the wheel he held it lightly, gently turning it this way and that. The sheer joy of the varnished wood against his palms filled him with delight as he steered his beautiful ship through the night. Through the small windows he saw the sky start to darken. Shit, he muttered to himself, I hope we're not in for a storm.
It seemed to happen all at once. The sky became completely dark and he seemed gripped by a terrible fear. Unable to let go of the wheel he shuddered as wave after wave of sickening nausea swept over him. He felt as if he was being consumed by evil, by a spirit ancient and powerful. He slumped against the wheel, overcome by the sensations battering his body.
He fell into a delirium, dominated by visions of his family and the old sailor who had made the wheel of his ship...
Paul opened the door to James' room quietly at 4AM. He had woken up not 10 minutes ago, feeling strong, alive and powerful. As soon as he'd pulled himself up off the wheel of the boat, he'd felt a powerful lust for something. Automatically he raised a hand up to his mouth and bit hard into the skin, relishing the pain as the blood flowed into his mouth.
"Fuck yeah." He whispered, eyes gleaming in the night. "Fuck yeah."
And now he stood over his small son, a boy he had loved since birth. A boy he had such hopes for. Those hopes were now gone as a powerful rage gripped Paul and he plunged a fist straight into the face of his son. The boy made no sound as he opened his eyes wide and full of tears at sight of his father standing strange and angry above him. He barely squealed as his father hit him again and again, bludgeoning the face of the little boy into the pillow. After several minutes of this savage violence, Paul grew tired and stopped, his whole body, as well as the bed, covered in the gore of his son, James. Standing up, Paul looked down at the body he had just created. He moved on without a second thought.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Fuck. I really wanted to finish this, but I'm too tired and have run out of direction. Enjoy, such as it is. He was going to kill the wife and daughter, try to kill himself but fail and then become the next wheelmaker.
Nice one Domenad!
User Reviews
Submitted by ColchesterDr (user info) at 2007-10-07 12:56:57 EDT (#)
Ranking: -1
Yeah, this was going pretty good when you stopped.
A +2 in the making, I'm sure.
Submitted by Jack_McCallum (user info) at 2007-10-05 14:50:35 EDT (#)
Ranking: -1
There was some good stuff in here. +2. Some awkwardness as well. -2. You could have had a decent tale, but you stopped dead. As much as I'd like to be nicey-nice, I can't. -1.
Submitted by HurtByTheSun (user info) at 2007-10-05 09:22:14 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by CaptainThorns (user info) at 2007-10-05 14:19:10 BST (#)
Ranking: 1
Please finish this...
=============
I'm planning to either this evening or tomorrow. Left it a bit late, mainly because I couldn't get any ideas, and got too tired to keep going.
Submitted by CaptainThorns (user info) at 2007-10-05 09:19:10 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
Please finish this...
Submitted by HurtByTheSun (user info) at 2007-10-05 05:46:14 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by EmissionImpossible (user info) at 2007-10-05 10:38:42 BST (#)
Ranking: 2
Hmm what am i doing writing a review?
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On a half finished piece of work? Fuck knows.
Submitted by EmissionImpossible (user info) at 2007-10-05 05:38:42 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Hmm what am i doing writing a review?
Submitted by HurtByTheSun (user info) at 2007-10-05 04:32:30 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by orphelia (user info) at 2007-10-05 09:29:17 BST (#)
Ranking: 0
Red is right.
However, it was a very good start and I enjoyed reading what you wrote.
===============
Cheers! Will try and finish it off at the weekend so I didn't just win by default.
Submitted by HurtByTheSun (user info) at 2007-10-05 04:29:30 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by redskieslookfake (user info) at 2007-10-05 07:45:35 BST (#)
Ranking: -1
Seriously - try harder. There were some awful clichés in this. Awful.
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It's supposed to be all B movie style. Was writing it last night and got too tired to finish. Graaah.
Looks like domenad hasn't submitted anything though...
Submitted by orphelia (user info) at 2007-10-05 04:29:17 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Red is right.
However, it was a very good start and I enjoyed reading what you wrote.
Submitted by Stagger_Lee (user info) at 2007-10-05 02:56:44 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
Come on now.
Go Scotland. I don't think I'd mentioned that yet.
Submitted by redskieslookfake (user info) at 2007-10-05 02:45:35 EDT (#)
Ranking: -1
Seriously - try harder. There were some awful clichés in this. Awful.
Submitted by HotWillie (user info) at 2007-10-04 21:33:07 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
Dude, you shut down just when it was getting good.
Submitted by monkeyswithguns (user info) at 2007-10-04 21:29:58 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
Sorry man, it looked like a good concept and I was just starting to get into it.
Quitters never win.
They never lose either though, because, ya know, they just quit instead.
I know I said I'd +2 everyone, but I can't do it here.
Submitted by beer-turtle (user info) at 2007-10-04 20:55:27 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Not gonna -2 ya for being a quitter, but I ain't gonna +2 ya either.
Submitted by TheUniter (user info) at 2007-10-04 20:32:41 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
B@W