A chilling end, but perfectly logical. I recently watched a fascinating programme about body snatchers and grave robbers who sold corpses to anatomists. It has incredible potential, and used very well here - a great story and a very human take on the people involved.
This has a Sherlock Holmes feel for me; the night-time activities, and a distinct lack of honour amongst thieves, or at the very least some entrepreneurial thinking. Lovely chilling ending. Adam B @revhappiness
Timely tale seeing as even this week the US Supreme Court has prevented stem cell research because of Western religion's warped perception of what constitutes human life.
Burke & Hare - the scum of society, hobnobbing it with doctors separate for cadavers, a marriage made in the free market of Hell!
You did a great job with this Icy, of course they would turn their hand to murder, the market dictates it has to be so!
I'm glad everyone liked it! I got the idea after reading a story about the introduction of legislation to ensure surgeons could only dissect executed criminals, and wondered how far grave robbers would go in the aftermath of this legislation!
It was weird reading all of the dialogue tags after the dialogue. I put them there often, but nearly an entire story of them felt almost as odd as their situation. Was that on purpose, to help the mood?
Delightfully dark and creepy. Loved it, even the squadgy parts. You wonder if all those surgeons are on the level as well. Maybe another Dr. Frankenstein among them.
It's been a while since I last read a grave robbing story and the ending is unexpected and appropriate. Great dialogue and descriptions to boot. Thanks for the great read!
As much as I liked the ending, I don't think it's as pat as all that. The guy isn't going to go quietly, and the other two are just as likely to get nabbed for the crime, too. But that line of logic works just as well for me because then they all end up as another of the doctor's specimens. Good tale, and good ending.
Valerie - I'm not intending that the rest of the gang will get off scot-free. The point is just that they'd be willing to sell out their leader just to make money.
Great story! Makes me think of Lovecraft's "Herbert West - Reanimator." I betcha old Herbert would have bought that corpse. Though it might not have been freshly dead enough for him to try and resurrect. Excellent take on the grave robber story.
Will thought he had the power in the gang and found out the hard way that even the lowest worm will turn, given the right opportunity. Good story! Great ending!
Grave robbing that most misunderstood of professions. What I enjoy about your Flash Fictions is the wide and varied themes and material you launch at us each week, You never know what you're going to score when you visit Icy's says I.
"Shadows pooled in the folds of skin under his eyes."
I thought that was a great description of the surgeon. The twist at the end was another example of the lack of honour among thieves. A very nice story, Icy.
A chilling end, but perfectly logical. I recently watched a fascinating programme about body snatchers and grave robbers who sold corpses to anatomists. It has incredible potential, and used very well here - a great story and a very human take on the people involved.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.joelyblack.com
This has a Sherlock Holmes feel for me; the night-time activities, and a distinct lack of honour amongst thieves, or at the very least some entrepreneurial thinking.
ReplyDeleteLovely chilling ending.
Adam B @revhappiness
Guess there is no honor among thieves. I actually feel sorry for Will in a way. Creepy flash! :-)
ReplyDeleteThat's a good way to get rid of a bothersome person. :) Great story!
ReplyDeleteThat ending made me chuckle. No honor among thieves, eh? Good story!
ReplyDeleteTimely tale seeing as even this week the US Supreme Court has prevented stem cell research because of Western religion's warped perception of what constitutes human life.
ReplyDeleteBurke & Hare - the scum of society, hobnobbing it with doctors separate for cadavers, a marriage made in the free market of Hell!
You did a great job with this Icy, of course they would turn their hand to murder, the market dictates it has to be so!
marc nash
Gruesomely good, loved this one. Great pace to it, and the characters - why are the bad ones so much fun?
ReplyDeleteThe ending made this unforgettable. Loved it.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad everyone liked it! I got the idea after reading a story about the introduction of legislation to ensure surgeons could only dissect executed criminals, and wondered how far grave robbers would go in the aftermath of this legislation!
ReplyDeleteIt was weird reading all of the dialogue tags after the dialogue. I put them there often, but nearly an entire story of them felt almost as odd as their situation. Was that on purpose, to help the mood?
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry John, your comment makes little sense to me.
ReplyDeleteDamn near perfect slice of fiction this. I especially like the detail of the midden heap, and "the skin glowed pale green in the lantern light".
ReplyDeletePoor Will, what a revolting crew.
ReplyDeleteNasty bunch of mercanaries, enjoyably dark humour.
ReplyDeleteDelightfully dark and creepy. Loved it, even the squadgy parts. You wonder if all those surgeons are on the level as well. Maybe another Dr. Frankenstein among them.
ReplyDeleteWill had it comin'. *L*
It's been a while since I last read a grave robbing story and the ending is unexpected and appropriate. Great dialogue and descriptions to boot. Thanks for the great read!
ReplyDeleteGrave robbing is a dirty business. The ending is spot on.
ReplyDelete-David G Shrock
As much as I liked the ending, I don't think it's as pat as all that. The guy isn't going to go quietly, and the other two are just as likely to get nabbed for the crime, too. But that line of logic works just as well for me because then they all end up as another of the doctor's specimens. Good tale, and good ending.
ReplyDeleteValerie - I'm not intending that the rest of the gang will get off scot-free. The point is just that they'd be willing to sell out their leader just to make money.
ReplyDeleteHeh, great way to turn the tables on that jerk.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed your creepy tale, Icy, and loved the ending. :)
ReplyDeleteGreat story! Makes me think of Lovecraft's "Herbert West - Reanimator." I betcha old Herbert would have bought that corpse. Though it might not have been freshly dead enough for him to try and resurrect. Excellent take on the grave robber story.
ReplyDeleteWill thought he had the power in the gang and found out the hard way that even the lowest worm will turn, given the right opportunity. Good story! Great ending!
ReplyDeleteGrave robbing that most misunderstood of professions. What I enjoy about your Flash Fictions is the wide and varied themes and material you launch at us each week, You never know what you're going to score when you visit Icy's says I.
ReplyDelete"Shadows pooled in the folds of skin under his eyes."
ReplyDeleteI thought that was a great description of the surgeon. The twist at the end was another example of the lack of honour among thieves. A very nice story, Icy.
Ha! Great ending! Will should have put in some hard graft and carried the corpse a bit himself!
ReplyDeleteEwwwww, creepy!
ReplyDelete