It Washes Nothing Clean By Thomas X Veil ~ 10 min read ~ More Stories It must have begun in the night, because it isn’t so hot now. I can feel a cool breeze wafting its lazy way through the bedroom window, making the hairs on my chest stand to attention. But it’s the sound. The downpour drumming against the canvas awning sheltering the … Read more
What Quiet Sounds Like When it Breaks By Thomas X Veil ~ 30 min read ~ More Stories Gradually, a noise, a constant drone, became apparent. Shoppers stopped, hands weighed down with carrier bags full of that morning’s purchases, heads tilted up, mouths agape. Shopkeepers stepped outside; hawkers fell quiet, all staring upwards. A few of the older adults might have … Read more
A Quiet Choice By Thomas X Veil ~ 17 min read ~ More Stories Beneath the polite bustle, Rosehaven’s small cells and secure offices do the silent work of the factions. ***** I’ve never been in this one before, and that’s saying something. I’ve been in a lot. A bit of a klepto, me, and to be perfectly honest (hee hee) I’m not that good at it. This one’s too fuckin’ bright … Read more
A War of Quiet Refusals By Thomas X Veil ~ 15 min read ~ More Stories In a reasonably busy side street, not far from the town centre, sat a large, run-of-the-mill antique shop. And under its very foundations, a hidden world thrived, invisible to the factions’ patrols. The workshop was under its basement, sharing … Read more
A Silent Key Turns By Thomas X Veil ~ 27 min read ~ More Stories David During debriefs, I’d discovered that if I concentrated enough on the New Tomorrow logo at the top of each sheet in front of me, then I could suppress my desire to reach over the table, grab the so-called spy’s lapels and shake him uncontrollably. The glass partition … Read more
Profits of Conflict By Thomas X Veil ~ 15 min read ~ More Stories Dino I got up, went over, and looked in the mirror. Time for a pep talk. “No more Dick Clapper, you’re now Dino Delfino entrepreneur extraordinaire! Now get your ass into gear and make it work!” It had been an incredible couple of months; the … Read more
Whispers Are Not What They seem By Thomas X Veil ~ 36 min read ~ More Stories I look in the mirror, as I do every morning. Check myself out, make sure I know who they’re looking at. Chris Jenkins, 24 years and two months old, slim but strong, some would say wiry. A buzz-cut. I enjoy … Read more
Fighting the Quiet Tide By Thomas X Veil ~ 10 min read ~ More Stories A single snare drum kept time. The bass drum pounded a triplet, and the others joined in. Flutes rose high above everything, their melody floating, threatening and sinister. Huge banners demanding loyalty and faith were carried by big men flushed … Read more
On the town shared by these stories By Thomas X Veil ~ 1 min read ~ More Stories Rosehaven is a medium-sized coastal town with wind-swept streets and salt-stained windows. It is bordered by fertile farmland and the ruins of an old industrial district. Further along the coast lie pristine beaches, but the town itself … Read more