by

For the Grimdark Fantasy Reader

The point of her shovel chips the ground where she drops it. She presses her foot on the blade’s flat rim and pushes. Clods of dirt break free, tossed aside to tumble and slide down the slope. Rimma presses her lips behind her teeth and digs into our bone wall alone. Her shovel has gouged a well nearly a foot deep when she hits something hard. She widens the hole’s edges, digging around the thing until she can lever it up. On her knees, she reaches in and pulls from the soil, the first long, pitted, ivory bone.

More shovels join in the excavation, the exhumed grave widening and deepening until shovels aren’t required, the bones resting on bones like loose gravel, bones nestled in bones in pockets of air, a tomb built of millions upon millions of bones. They rise from the top of the wall one at a time, in handfuls, in bouquets of rib bones, the thick-clubbed remains of arms and legs, blades of the back and hips, butterfly bones of the spine, hollow-eyed grinning skulls, the delicate twigs of fingers and toes.

The People watch with sober faces as we unearth their past, our past. I wonder if they’ve clawed into these walls before, if this vision is as fresh and tormenting to them as it is to us. The bone wall extends for miles. How far and how long will Rimma dig? I don’t believe she can stop.

“That’s enough, Rimma,” I say, squatting beside her. “Peace, Sister.”

She sits back on her heels, eyes closed, a tiny skull in her lap no larger than her clasped hands, an unborn child perhaps. She raises it over the open pit, and when her fingers open, it drops clattering back in, the toothless jaw snapping off. I believe that if I didn’t stand there, at the rim of her experience, at the edge of the gaping hole in the bone wall, she would have leaned forward and fallen into the grave herself. Without a word or glance, she rises to her feet, and with the shovel over her shoulder, trudges back up the spoke to Heaven.

~The Bone Wall

Yep, a little promotion 🙂

Peace

Flood Update: We are safe and dry and have lights as of late last night. Thank you for all the kind thoughts and comments. All is well.

49 thoughts on “For the Grimdark Fantasy Reader”

  1. Georgina Cromarty says:
    December 17, 2015 at 4:39 am

    Reblogged this on The Little Blue Balloon.

    Liked by 1 person

  2. Tara Sparling says:
    December 16, 2015 at 3:25 pm

    Love the excerpt. A powerful alternative to the schmaltzy Christmas stuff we’re swimming in right now (sorry, no watery pun intended)

    Liked by 1 person

  3. Linda Visman - wangiwriter says:
    December 15, 2015 at 5:45 pm

    Dark indeed, but it makes me want to know more! A great teaser. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

  4. Julie Holmes, author says:
    December 14, 2015 at 2:44 am

    Glad to hear the flood waters are receding and everything is getting back to normal. Due to holly-daze madness, missed the promotion, but this is so next on my Amazon list!

    Liked by 2 people

    • D. Wallace Peach says:
      December 14, 2015 at 4:35 am

      No problem, Julie. I find the season hectic too! Today is my get-my-act-in-gear-for-Christmas day or I’m going to miss it again. One year I sent out my Christmas letter on July 4th, and last year on Valentine’s Day. I’m improving 🙂

      Like

  5. dgkaye says:
    December 13, 2015 at 2:13 pm

    Powerful excerpt here Diana. We have only ourselves and the kindness of others to promote us so plug away. Now, I’m off to check if that’s the book I have in my reader or I’m going shopping! 🙂

    Liked by 2 people

  6. balroop2013 says:
    December 13, 2015 at 1:58 pm

    Thanks for that free offer! That picture of skulls is kind of scary. Wishing you all the best Diana.

    Liked by 1 person

  7. joannesisco says:
    December 13, 2015 at 9:34 am

    Every once in a while, I read a word differently from what is actually written. This time I had to read it 3 times before I realized it DIDN’T say “a little premonition”.
    .. I had an OMG! OMG! moment.

    As a promotion, it’s GREAT! 🙂

    Glad to hear your world is getting back to normal again!

    Liked by 2 people

  8. sonshinegreene says:
    December 12, 2015 at 2:46 pm

    Reblogged this on Riley Amos Westbook and commented:
    This was a great read!

    Liked by 1 person

  9. Nicholas C. Rossis says:
    December 12, 2015 at 10:28 am

    Downloaded! Thank you so much for sharing, and for the powerful excerpt.

    Liked by 1 person

  10. Annika Perry says:
    December 12, 2015 at 6:22 am

    Lovely to see your post Diana and happily surprised. I am just imagining you trapped in your house, collecting water, surviving on a few hours of electricity. Have you got lots of candles?! We’ve done that for a few days in Sweden when we had problems, but then not all the worry about others suffering. Here in the northwest of England the area flooded last week are under water again. Very grim. Oh, meant to start with liked you self promotion piece, powerful dark writing. I like the name, Rimma. Sounds almost Viking or such? Keep warm and dry! Hugs

    Liked by 1 person

    • D. Wallace Peach says:
      December 12, 2015 at 8:44 am

      Thanks, Annika, glad you like the grinchy holiday piece – ha ha. We are back to normal. We live “off the grid” a bit anyway, so limited internet was the hardest part! Some in town will have a harder winter ahead, and I heard about the flooding in the UK. 😦 Wishing you and everyone well.

      Like

  11. Sabiscuit says:
    December 11, 2015 at 4:19 pm

    I love that top photo. It depicts the dance of life, at least to me. I’m happy to read your updates because it means you’re safe. Sending you “safety” thought supplies.

    Liked by 1 person

  12. vgabow says:
    December 11, 2015 at 1:35 pm

    This sounds awesome! I’m excited to read more. 🙂 I’m glad to hear you’re safe and dry. We had a similar flooding situation here a few years back where the lower half of our neighborhood along the river flooded. It was scary to see, so I’m glad you’re on a hill.

    Liked by 2 people

  13. Jed Jurchenko says:
    December 11, 2015 at 9:29 am

    I’m glad you guys are safe and sound. Thanks for the book too. I just downloaded my copy and am excited to check it out!

    Liked by 2 people

  14. Lynz Real Cooking says:
    December 11, 2015 at 9:28 am

    I am so glad you are ok! we have had tons of rain as well over the past week but no flooding so far! Love the read! Awesome!

    Liked by 1 person

  15. davidprosser says:
    December 11, 2015 at 7:15 am

    I’m so glad things are getting back to normal for you and that you’re alright.
    xxx Huge Hugs xxx

    Liked by 1 person

  16. The V-Pub says:
    December 11, 2015 at 6:50 am

    I just got the kindle version of your book and I’m looking forward to reading it. I’m happy to read that you and your family are safe and sound.

    Liked by 1 person

  17. vanbytheriver says:
    December 11, 2015 at 6:36 am

    Glad to hear you’re warm and safe. Thanks for the preview. I want to buy the book…still like my paper books ! ☺

    Liked by 1 person

  18. Windmills of My Mind says:
    December 11, 2015 at 5:45 am

    Thank you Daina, my holiday reading, will give a review!

    Liked by 1 person

  19. Nurse Kelly says:
    December 11, 2015 at 5:06 am

    I second Richard – sounds fantastic! Glad all is well 🙂

    Liked by 3 people

  20. Richard Ankers says:
    December 11, 2015 at 4:23 am

    Looks a wonderful read, Diana. I hope the promotion does great. And we’re glad you’re still safe.:)

    Liked by 3 people

Comments are closed.