The way was clear, the route less so.
They could all picture it. The blue skies, the light glinting on the water, the sand between their toes.
And they had been told this was the way, so they followed.
Many were soon lost, or sacrificed, or dismissed. The leaders had no time for weakness or doubt. They pressed on for the promised land, pursuing a distant memory.
No one could reclaim it in the end. It was gone, along with belief. Had it ever existed in the first place? No one could be sure.
On the beach, he waited silently.
Written for Friday Fictioneers 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.
Also linking to Fandango’s One-Word Challenge for today: Route.
For those who haven’t yet read my trilogy of novels, The State Trilogy is now available on Amazon in one collected volume on Kindle and in paperback. Three books in one (with a modest saving compared to buying them all individually!).
68 responses to “HE WAITED SILENTLY”
Wonderfully atmospheric, Iain. There is something very human about pursuing a goal whose route is unknown
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much Neil. We’re very goal orientated as a species.
LikeLike
I like the casual ‘or sacrificed’.
Great voice, Iain
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks CE, yep, plenty of expendable followers along the way.
LikeLike
A distant memory, you have got me thinking.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Michael, glad it got you thinking.
LikeLike
Your story is symbolic for life itself
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Sadje 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re welcome
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wow, life summed up. ‘They had been told…’ And the enigmatic ‘he’ waiting on the shore. Great story.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much for the lovely comment 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Much said, Iain.
We follow a route thinking it’s the only way- because we have been told.
We wait, but do we get what we had set out for?
LikeLiked by 2 people
Very few reach the promised land. Thanks Anita
LikeLike
Dear Iain,
A lot of story in 100 words. I could feel the sand between my toes and dense silence amid the ocean waves.
Shalom,
Rochelle
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks Rochelle, as always 🙂
LikeLike
Lovely atmospheric writing. A true explorer at heart…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Dale, looking forward to being allowed out to explore again soon!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I hear you! Enough already!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Theirs not to make reply,
Theirs not to reason why,
Theirs but to do and die
I remembered those lines while reading this. Nice one.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Appropriate lines. Thank you
LikeLike
Nice prose passage, Iain.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re welcome.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I enjoyed this very much Iain. Good take on the prompt today.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Di, much appreciated
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re welcome Iain
LikeLiked by 1 person
I have so many questions! Love the atmosphere in this, bleak but powerful.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, much appreciated 🙂
LikeLike
Hopefully as he waits on the shore he will think of new path to pursue.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m sure something will spring to mind 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
The promised land., somewhere many of us wonder about. An emotive piece indeed.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Keith, at the moment I would take a trip to the beach as the promised land!
LikeLiked by 1 person
A tragic feel to this one, reaching toward a goal that never was. The ending was perfect!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Brenda 🙂
LikeLike
I promise you, I wrote mine BEFORE I read yours :). There is the same sense of desolation, You can feel it in the pit of your stomach.
LikeLike
Must be something in the picture. Thanks Linda
LikeLiked by 1 person
Absolutely loved this one. And since I’m out of words at the moment, I’ll just leave it at that.🤗
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s all I need to hear 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m wrapped in your blanket of milieu.
Bravo, Iain. As always, unfolding a vision with your words.
Be Safe 😷 … Isadora 😎
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I like this. It has… hmm… a quality of supernatural existence… existential… oh, hell, I can’t find the word I want today. E-ether… something. Oh, well, I enjoyed reading this today. Something to think about…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Enjoyment is enough. Thank you.
LikeLiked by 1 person
ethereal… that’s the word. Had to stop thinking about it to find it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂
LikeLike
Perhaps the atmosphere will offer new hopes and dreams. Great poetic prose.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much. Beach, sea, sunshine – there’s always hope if you can find it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I bet that none of the leaders was sacrificed or dismissed… Great atmosphere, Ian, and so true.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Of course not! Thanks Gaby.
LikeLiked by 1 person
A shame they lost their belief in the end, it was something to hold on to. Though they sounded pretty cold-blooded about their pursuit of that belief.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think it’s fair to say some of the most devoted believers are also some of the most cold-blooded and intolerant of people. Thanks!
LikeLiked by 1 person
A poignant, tending to rather grim tale. History shows us many “sheep’ ready to follow some dream — and charismatic visionaries ready to lead, or use, the gullible.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, it’s an enduring fact of human history. Thanks Christine.
LikeLiked by 1 person
he could wait forever. it doesn’t matter for someone who believes.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Let’s hope he isn’t disappointed in the end.
LikeLiked by 1 person
This is a great line: “The way was clear, the route less so.” That’s the perfect opening. It takes us right into the contrast between belief and reality.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks, I liked it!
LikeLiked by 1 person
A mysterious piece that feels very poetic. Love the words you chose to paint that picture.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much
LikeLiked by 1 person
Powerful testament to the need for mercy if we are ever going to make *real* progress. I’m with the guy waiting on the beach and with those who progress that way, all of which feels very Zen to me. The whole reflection feels a bit Zen koan to me. In the best way.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I could do with a bit more Zen. Thanks Anne
LikeLiked by 1 person
This is very haunting, Iain.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Liz
LikeLike
Good story with plenty of atmosphere and suspense.
Ronda
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Ronda
LikeLike
A mysterious promise. I wonder if he’ll ever see the promised land?
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ve got to be honest, I don’t fancy his chances!
LikeLike
What a fascinating story! It has a spiritual dimension – or, perhaps more accurately, it considers a spiritual quest with a great deal of scepticism. Well written, Iain!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Precisely that Penny, thank you.
LikeLike