Blood Is Thicker Than Rain (770 hits)
Category: NoneRating: 2 on 13 reviews (Rate this item) (V)
Submitted by morontian (View user info) at 2005-10-30 12:37:09 EST
Mid - July, 107 degrees in the shade in the heartland of America.
I was standing on top of the red farm truck with my cousins Todd, Danny, and Joey looking out at the patch of cane growing about 50 yards deep in the cornfield. From this vantage point we could see the the heads bobbing in the slight breeze, waving at us to "come hither, get some." We hopped down off the truck and performed the ceremonial 'paper, rock, scissors' to see who gets the dirty end of the stick. Three short rounds and Danny hangs his head in shame as he grabs his machete and his water bottle and clips the walkie-talkie to his belt. Moaning and bitching, he stepped into the first row of corn and disappeared.
I climbed back on top of the truck to monitor his progress into the heart of the field. His thin stature allowed him to walk down the row without causing so much as a sway in the stalks around him. I waited for a few minutes and then raised the radio to my face.
"Breaker, breaker one-nine. What's your forty? Over."
An instant of static followed by short beep, "Yeah, you're funny, asshole. Here." Danny grabbed a couple of corn stalks and waved them back and forth testily. "Just tell me where to go so I can get out of here before it rains."
"Okay, I think you need to get over about seven rows to the left and it's about twenty more yards in." I looked up at the line of thunderheads pushing their way across the sky. Lightning danced and thunder crashed inside the clouds, turning them into a giant rave in the heavens. I looked over and saw Joey and Todd throwing a slightly premature ear of corn at one another. I remember wishing I could call it something as dignified as a game of catch, but it was really more like dodge-corn, without the dodging. Joey ducked under a high throw from Todd and the corn landed beside the truck, right in front of me. I was about to pour my cup of ice water on Joey's head as he retrieved the weapon when we heard a scream peirce its way form the depths of the field.
At the same time, the first drop of rain fell from the sky and landed on the roof of the truck before my feet. I had not realised how much dust had gathered there; the drop looked like a small entry wound, wet crimson underneath the thin, brown skin of dirt.
"Danny! Danny!!" Of course there was no answer. Looking back on it now, I think I knew even then that there wouldn't be.
Todd and Joey ran into the field. I stayed on top of the truck, shouting directions as best I could. It was like trying to regain the location of a specific term in a dense crossword puzzle. Their trail was much easier to track than Danny's was, the broken corn stalks tracing pronounced map lines across the field. The rain started to fall steadily from the all-watching sky.
As I guided them to the point that I was pretty sure Danny was at, I witnessed a crop circle of stalks, maybe thirty feet in diameter, open like a gaping mouth and slam shut again. A geyser of blood sprayed upward and rained back down on the shivering stalks. A small cluster of birds took flight in a paniced, scattering group a few yards away. This time I was not even reassured with the sound of screaming, there was only silence broken by the smattering of raindrops.
I don't know how long I stood there looking into the corn. All I remember is the shock and fear dissolving into rage and the pitiful stupidity of the swaying corn antagonizing me further. I slowly, deliberately step down from the truck. I reach into the bed and feel the rough, wooden handle of my corn knife with my fingertips. I allow them to linger there for a moment, teasing them out for the act that I am preparing my mind to accept. This is the most reckless thing I will ever do, and I want to relish every sensation involved.
A sharp peel of thunder shatters the sky and the rain becomes a deluge. I tilt my head back and let the rain cool my burning face. The flood of tears gets lost in the blanket of water.
This is right now; I send my thoughts to whoever can receive them.
Mother, I won't be coming home.
I have work to do.
User Reviews
Submitted by jumpinjellyfish (user info) at 2005-11-03 14:29:09 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
This is good...thanks.
Submitted by electrictoothsyndrome (user info) at 2005-11-03 14:18:58 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Not sure what I think about this one, but it was fairly well written. The end just left me hanging, I thought.
Submitted by Brdn_Nkd (user info) at 2005-11-01 16:33:44 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
I liked this a lot. mmmmmm.... corn
in my crap!
Submitted by The_Yellow_Dart (user info) at 2005-10-31 11:21:20 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by Average_Dan (user info) at 2005-10-31 07:44:04 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Auto +2 for all. For me, a n00b, getting on B@W!!
http://www.ubersite.com/m/77872
I love Uber!
Submitted by Wisher (user info) at 2005-10-31 00:12:09 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
hahaha!
****
"Breaker, breaker one-nine. What's your forty? Over."
**
Shouldn't it be What's your 20?
Funny!
Submitted by Anansie (user info) at 2005-10-30 23:25:46 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
sequel, please.
Submitted by kaos-king (user info) at 2005-10-30 23:11:20 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by missedthepoint (user info) at 2005-10-30 17:40:56 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Fuckin' A!
This is great
descriptive and engaging
is there more?
Submitted by fluff (user info) at 2005-10-30 14:29:16 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
This pic is gorgeous. (It's a photoshop right?)
Submitted by Dante_Alighieri (user info) at 2005-10-30 13:30:17 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
"in a paniced" ...Made me twitch.
But still, good read. +2 for you.
Submitted by ghola (user info) at 2005-10-30 13:29:41 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
wow, i'm impressed.
i have never read and liked a story about corn.
kudos.
Submitted by Bubba2341 (user info) at 2005-10-30 13:03:17 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Sunday morning. Not too many folks up/awake/coherent yet.
This was a good story.
I love corn on the cob.
Thanks for making me hungry, butthead.