How Martin Fisman Played A Small But Important Part In Rebuilding Europe #flashfiction

Posted on Dec 12, 2018 by TanGental

Martin Fisman grew up unaware of life beyond the farm in Wiltshire. His life followed the seasons. One summer afternoon, in 1912, he was ploughing the high field when the ground gave way and he found himself in a dark dank chamber. Unbeknownst to Martin he had fallen into an undiscovered ancient barrow. For two days he felt his way around eventually finding a spot near a large stone, where he dug the soft earth. His rescue was treated as a miracle, toasted in the Swan on his birthday, but he never described the details, the strange skull he had felt, the deep sense of dread.

When war fever swept the nearby town, he found himself part of the enthusiastic group signing up for service in France. One cold bright morning, fifteen months after he landed, he pulled himself over the parapet and advanced into no man’s land, when a crack brought him to a halt. In seconds a fissure opened in the mangled earth and Martin slipped below, memories of that moment three years before overwhelming him as the soil filled his mouth.

In the hot summer of 1947, Michel Founmann turned his tractor for the final run. The parched crusted ground grumbled as the thick tyres bit into the surface before giving way, tipping the machine and throwing Michel into the newly revealed hole. Michel waited for the soil to swallow him yet, somehow the sides of the hole held long enough to allow Michel enough time to scramble free.

He sat on the ground, gathering his thoughts and wondering if he had imagined, poking from the earth, a man’s skeletal hands holding a skull out to him as if offering him a lucky charm. 

About TanGental

My name is Geoff Le Pard. Once I was a lawyer; now I am a writer. I've published several books: a four book series following Harry Spittle as he grows from hapless student to hapless partner in a London law firm; four others in different genres; a book of poetry; four anthologies of short fiction; and a memoir of my mother. I have several more in the pipeline. I have been blogging regularly since 2014, on topic as diverse as: poetry based on famous poems; memories from my life; my garden; my dog; a whole variety of short fiction; my attempts at baking and food; travel and the consequent disasters; theatre, film and book reviews; and the occasional thought piece. Mostly it is whatever takes my fancy. I avoid politics, mostly, and religion, always. I don't mean to upset anyone but if I do, well, sorry and I suggest you go elsewhere. These are my thoughts and no one else is to blame. If you want to nab anything I post, please acknowledge where it came from.
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23 Responses to How Martin Fisman Played A Small But Important Part In Rebuilding Europe #flashfiction

  1. John W. Howell says:
    Dec 12, 2018 at 4:45 pm

    And so it goes.

    Liked by 2 people

  2. thecontentedcrafter says:
    Dec 12, 2018 at 6:17 pm

    I don’t understand this one at all – it’s very mysterious and with a sense of dread, leaves me wanting more ……..

    Liked by 2 people

  3. Ritu says:
    Dec 12, 2018 at 7:08 pm

    Your mind… Again… His Geoffleship!

    Liked by 1 person

  4. Erika Kind says:
    Dec 12, 2018 at 7:49 pm

    Wow, dark and mysterious!

    Liked by 1 person

  5. Robert Matthew Goldstein says:
    Dec 12, 2018 at 11:14 pm

    Just wow! Especially the scene of Martin’s final memories as the soil filled his mouth.

    Liked by 1 person

  6. willowdot21 says:
    Dec 13, 2018 at 12:10 am

    Excellent , more please 💜

    Liked by 1 person

  7. willowdot21 says:
    Dec 13, 2018 at 12:11 am

    This sounds like a tale from the Archiologist!

    Liked by 1 person

  8. arlingwoman says:
    Dec 13, 2018 at 12:21 am

    Ooh, this one is wildly creepy.

    Liked by 1 person

  9. Mick Canning says:
    Dec 13, 2018 at 9:57 am

    Eat more cheese, then, Geoff! I like that.

    Liked by 1 person

  10. Charli Mills says:
    Dec 13, 2018 at 6:55 pm

    Creepy and yet leaves me wanting to know the mystery. Keep working it!

    Liked by 1 person

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