THE COLLABORATOR

How ironic that he should use this car in order to blend in to the street life of Haifa.

When Elias had been a boy the sight of a Volkswagen would have turned heads. Not anymore.

The man crossed the street in front of the car. Elias glanced at the photograph to be sure. It was him. Thirty years older but there was no doubt.

Elias gunned the engine. The man turned. Realisation spread over his face. His past had finally caught up with him.

How apt that he should be killed by a German car, Elias thought as he floored the accelerator.


vw-in-israel-wmq
Copyright Kent Bonham

Written as part of the Friday Fictioneers challenge hosted by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields (more details HERE). The idea is to write a short story of 100 words based on the photo prompt (above).

To read stories of 100 words based on this week’s prompt, visit HERE.

88 responses to “THE COLLABORATOR”

  1. A full and satisfying story in 100 words, Iain

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks Neil, much appreciated.

      Like

  2. Haha! Loved this one. I realized where this one was going after the third line and as expected the denouement was just spectacular. Cheers, Varad

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you, very kind.

      Like

  3. You create excitement and the need to know more with such few words.

    Liked by 2 people

  4. I think it might be ‘closure’ for both of them. Nicely done.

    Liked by 1 person

  5. Good story. I like the irony as well, though it was BMW who made the tank and aircraft engines for the Nazis.

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    1. Thanks. Volkswagen produced military vehicles during the war for Germany too and their logo in the 1930s was the VW symbol surrounded by a swastika. Mercedes-Benz and a few others were also tainted by this. As far as I can tell (from very brief research) Israel initially did little trade, including cars, with Germany post-war, but by the 1970s this seemed to have thawed.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. You are right! They made tanks! I stand corrected. The whole concept was Hitler’s and Speer’s idea anyway.

        Liked by 1 person

  6. Dear Iain,

    Now THAT’s poetic justice. 😀 Love it. Well done.

    Shalom,

    Rochelle

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you Rochelle, I’m glad it met your approval 🙂

      Like

  7. Yes, closure, for sure What a complete story_- taut and crispy and served piping hot. Well done, Lian.

    Liked by 1 person

  8. Karma definitely bit him in the —…. Good story.

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  9. Irony, indeed! Particularly enjoyed having the Nazi run over by the car of *that* particular model – and you didn’t even need to spell out who the victim was!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks Chris, glad it all worked for you.

      Liked by 1 person

  10. What a Great story !

    Liked by 1 person

  11. Nicely done Iain.

    Liked by 1 person

  12. What a great story and I liked how it linked back to the prompt. Well done.
    xx Rowena

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks Rowena, much appreciated.

      Like

  13. BAM! Great story 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

  14. Oh, the irony. Great story, Iain 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

  15. Justice, action, perfect timing and a wham of an ending. Great story, Iain.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. that’s all you have to say Keith, thank you!

      Like

  16. michael1148humphris Avatar
    michael1148humphris

    Two stories for the price of one, and a lot of history thrown in. Great.

    Like

  17. Good story! I just finished reading a true story about a Jewish family torn apart by the Nazi’s (We Were the Lucky Ones) and I could easily see one of the main characters doing something like this.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks Janet, sounds like a good read.

      Liked by 1 person

  18. It is amazing how much has been told in such little words. The story extends far beyond this. Very well done!

    Liked by 1 person

  19. A German(cough.. Nazi) killed by Made in Germany (cough.. Volkswagen) which ironically was the German(cough.. Nazi) pride.. Hmm.. Justice is served..

    Liked by 1 person

  20. A Writer's Beginning Avatar
    A Writer’s Beginning

    Ouch! Great story – there’s so much depth for only 100 words; you handle the limit so well! Thanks for sharing; I enjoyed the take 🙂

    Like

  21. Sweet rev-enge. Hope he gets away with it.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Ha, I see what you did there 🙂

      Like

  22. YES! Satisfaction guaranteed here, Iain! Nice story construction.

    But, how did he drive all the way to Haifa from Kansas …??? 😀

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Maybe he needs that plate for his next assignment! Thanks for reading.

      Like

  23. Ian, you are really good – This was a mystery and it makes the reader want to know more! Excellent piece. Nan

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks Nan, what a lovely comment!

      Like

  24. i hope he survived, brought to justice, and sentenced to death by hanging.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I think his sentence to death has already been delivered. Thanks for reading.

      Liked by 1 person

  25. Nice one Iain. The VW seems to have inspired some ‘German’ stories this week. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you. It certainly has.

      Like

  26. Ha, nice! Full circle, sort of.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks – a story with a nice bookend always feels satisfying.

      Liked by 1 person

  27. Good one, Iain. I love the irony too.

    Liked by 1 person

  28. Poetic justice. Well done.

    Liked by 1 person

  29. Very well done, Iain. Poetic justice indeed..

    Liked by 1 person

  30. The perpetrator becomes the victim – justice (or revenge) has a long arm.

    Liked by 1 person

  31. Be sure your sins will find you out … His past has caught up with him. I wonder if it’s a shock for people who are caught after so long, or a kind of relief? Great tale, Iain

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Probably a mixture of both I suspect. Thanks Lynn.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. My pleasure 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

  32. Ooooo cold revenge for a past that deserves it. Well told Iain. Anger stays with us

    Liked by 1 person

  33. Superb! Wonderfully written & satisfying.

    Liked by 1 person

  34. Wooooahhh!! And I was hoping the story was headed for a happy end😊 Great style of storytelling Iain.
    More power to your pen!

    Like

  35. You have put so much into so few words. So very well done, Iain.

    Liked by 1 person

  36. Good take and beautifully written Iain. It reminded me of the car chase (sort of) in Marathon Man, which heightened the tension as I read. Is it safe?

    Liked by 1 person

  37. Wonderful story! I could really feel the tension.

    Liked by 1 person

  38. A good read. Thank you!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. You’re very welcome 🙂

      Like

  39. You used every word superbly. A great stroy is so few words, Iain.
    I enjoyed your take on the challenge. Well done …
    Isadora 😎

    Liked by 1 person

  40. Great story Iain, I originally thought of something similar. When I was a boy there was a man in our street, emaciated from his time in a Japanese POW camp. I never forget one of the other neighbours proudly showing off his new Datsun to him and wondering why the man wasn’t impressed.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I bet he wasn’t impressed! Thanks Michael

      Like

  41. Great use of short sentences to build tension, and tell a story that leaves us wanting to know more.

    Liked by 1 person

  42. Wow.. Quite a story. Could be a movie actually. Good one.

    Liked by 1 person

  43. Exciting piece! I want to know what happened before now!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. It has inspired me to write something longer – whether it ever comes to something, I’ll let you know!

      Like

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