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| Mardi Gras by Angela White |
Missing President, Found!
President Carter
Hines was discovered late last night wandering the beach nearly 27 days after
vanishing during the last day of Mardi Gras!
The newspaper headline glared boldly and by morning it
was on everyone's lips. Where had he been? Had he been kidnapped? Was he still
the President even though the power shift had happened two weeks ago? What had
happened to him during the last parade of Mardi Gras? The article under the headline was short and gave
few answers.
President Hines was found stumbling along the deserted
coastline of Martha's Vineyard last night, appearing hundreds of miles from
where he and six secret service agents vanished. The President was last seen on
July 18th, attending the final Day of the New Orleans Mardi Gras Celebrations
with the First Family. Reports say he and half a dozen bodyguards simply
disappeared from a public section of the parade route, while watching the
floats pass. The search shut down the city of New Orleans for two weeks and was
only called off three days ago, due to a lack of clues.
At one o'clock this morning, a coastguard patrol boat
found the battered man, alone, and crewmen were heard to remark he was
muttering about destroying the oil companies and placing PETA in a position of
authority.
Following his debriefing, the President? was reportedly
taken to Camp David to recuperate from his ordeal. No word has been released
yet on his mental condition, status as President, or what happened to him
during the three and a half weeks he was missing. There has also been no word
on how he disappeared from the middle of a crowded parade route without anyone
seeing.
The bottom of the article showed a haggard black man in
a grimy tuxedo staring blankly into the camera. In the far background, the
night lights of the coastguard ship flashed off a sludge covered beach that was
littered with the bodies of those killed by the massive oil spill. And in the
very corner of the photo, was the shadow of what could only be a great white
shark, its glittering black eyes seeming to also be watching the man get
rescued.
27 Days Earlier...
"Madri Gras has arrived."
The Sergeant's
grave words instantly brought quiet to the meeting under the Big Rock. They had
come together for the Plan, dozens of species which couldn't stand even the
sight of each other, here to work together on a common goal.
"Some of us
will not return from this mission. Those not back come next the moon cycle will
be honored for their noble sacrifice."
The huge Troll
looked around the den, his flickering yellow eyes sweeping the gathered
warriors. "They say we do not exist. We will show them otherwise. We will
stop them from destroying our very lives!"
There were
rumbles of agreement from the small herd of Cyclopses, all that remained in the
entire world now, but the Unicorns voiced a unanimous feeling.
"They don't
know that that every time they tell a child we don't exist, it wound us, slowly
kills us. They are ignorant."
The boulder above
trembled with the raised voices, most against the horned horses and the Troll
slammed his club against the earth, making it shudder. The dirt screamed in
protest and silence fell.
"It doesn't
matter. They are evil. Nature's soul has been ripped out and used for their
comforts! They have earned this for hurting the Mother!"
The thunderous
agreement came from even the pale symbols of purity behind her and the Unicorn
bowed her head in acceptance.
"Come dawn,
we will be by your side."
The Troll's voice was almost kind in response
but there was steel in the words. "We do not do this lightly. We have let
them almost wipe us from existence before joining Nature's army."
The lean Cyclops
stamped his paw in agreement. "Surely this will make them
understand."
The Troll
shrugged, not meeting his fellow mythical creature's eyes. "And maybe a
miracle will save us all. Until then, I fight!"
The Big Rock
shook again with angry voices and the birds in the nearby roots clucked in
satisfaction. Nature would be happy with how the recruiting was going this
time.
Humans had
finally done enough damage that even the most peaceful of life forms were
adding their strength to the fight. With the Unicorns now on board, more of the
most elusive creatures would too. Like the Dragons.
Small battles
were already taking place across the planet, sharks a common soldier, but for
the most part, humans still had no idea that war had been declared by The
Mother. They simply refused to accept the environment as a living, thinking
being and that was their mistake. It would also be their ultimate downfall, as
Nature had no mercy left to give.
Her first blows,
Katrina and the Indian Ocean Tsunami, had been felt worldwide but the worst was yet
to come. Mother Nature had reached her limit and humans had to go. Or she
would.
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| New Orleans |
"We should go back now, Mr. President." The
agent suggested it firmly but the elegantly dressed man ignored his bodyguard.
"Look at those floats. So realistic." The
President moved closer to the parade line, the six agents roughly keeping the
crowd of screaming partier's back and the huge, exotic animals glided closer as
the Mardi Gras music increased in tempo.
"Look at that octopus! I'll bet it's 50 foot
wide." The President slipped under the caution rope, his agents protests
waved off, and they surrounded him in the street as the street performers moved
wildly by.
The men holding the eight legged octopus strings were
clever, short little beaver-like forms with huge teeth and fangs, and they
yanked the float down viciously as the President moved closer.
"Sir, we need to go back! It's too open here."
Carnival music shot into the air, vibrating the ground,
and it overwhelmed whatever response the man made. The crowd screamed in
delight as fireworks exploded above them, drawing every head upward, and very
few of the drunken partier's realized that the President and his agents could
no longer be seen for the huge octopus float.
When it rose back into the dark sky and moved on, he and
all six of his agents had vanished without a trace. The spots of oil in the
street ignored by those who came to investigate. Since the spill, it was
everywhere.
Madri Gras
Dedicated to all
the 'life forms' man has hurt, killed, destroyed completely, changed
irrevocably. I hope someday we'll actually deserve to share this planet with
you.
Want more? Here are two teasers with links
(A personal note: I don’t know
this first author. I found this free book on my new Kindle Fire and became
hooked. I am recommending it based on my own anticipation of the fourth book in
this series. I couldn’t wait, despite the errors you’ll notice. I think the
reviews are a bit unfair about her talent. Like me, she really does require a
constant editor. That being said, the prices are good, and the plots are a nice
mix of basic fantasy with a few surprises that will draw an emotion from you,
be it laughter or tears. And the final book, IMAO? Not as good as the first
three. 4 stars instead of 5, but very worth the time.
16 year old Eden Matthews has been in and out of private schools
for the last two years. She can't seem to stop herself from closing them down.
Kingsley is her last chance to finish high school and the last private school
willing to accept her. She is focused on just getting through graduation until
she realizes Kingsley is not like the other private schools she's been to.
The students may be different, but so is she. And after meeting
Kiran Kendrick, the boy who won't leave her alone and seems to be the source of
all her problems, she is suddenly in a world that feels more make-believe than
reality. To top it off, she is being hunted by men who want to kill Kiran and
her best friend Lilly is taken away to a foreign prison. Eden finds herself
right in the middle of an ancient war, threatening everything she loves. She
alone has to find a way to save her best friend and the boy who has captivated
her heart. Reckless is an intricate story about mystery, adventure, magic and
forbidden love. Eden Matthews is an unlikely heroine determined to save the
world and be with her one, true love before it's too late.
Endless Magic by Rachel Higginson
(Personal Note: Laura has been a guest on my blog before and is a regular of C9 Tours, a division of my Publication company.)
Alesta is a nurse with a secret.
When babies start disappearing from her hospital, the police investigation
implicates her. The police, however, are the least of her problems, as her past
comes back alive. Such is the way with vampires.
Alexandria, Scotland has no idea
what’s coming!
Delivered to Eternity is
fast-paced, thrilling and delivers it all, with a bit of bite, fear, all
wrapped up in Scottish humor.
I hope you’ve enjoyed this week’s
Sunday Story trilogy. Please join us next time for Easter Surprises.
Have a nice week,
A. White
"This
is Safe Haven Refugee Camp. Can anyone hear me?
Hello?
Is anyone out there?"
The Survivors
*Free on all
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