The Spark: Chapter 8

by | Sep 30, 2021 | Fiction | 171 comments

PrologueChapter 12345, 6, 7

“Madame President?” She heard the voice distantly, but kept staring at the screen. She had watched, even urged on, protests and riots in the past, on television and on Twitter… but this was different. Because unless she was losing her mind, on the screen Harmon Kendrick’s body was swinging from a lamppost in an intersection in the Northeast section of the District.

She just kept staring at the television.

Sure enough, scrolling across the bottom was a line about “disturbing footage” and there was his name, Harmon Kendrick, longtime DNC fundraiser and current White House Chief of Staff, his body mangled and strung from a lamppost, had been murdered.

He sure fucking was, she thought. That’s the only thing that came to her mind. His hands were missing, and what remained from his elbows to his…stumps was flapping the same way that his legs were from the shin down, like an understuffed scarecrow, dancing in the wind. His arms were out away from his sides and a banner was fastened across a piece of wood, so it almost looked like he was holding the banner, except that he had no hands: “Sic Semper” and three blobs was painted in a deep, crimson-brown. As she squinted at the screen, she could see that the banner and wood were held in place with spikes nailed to Kendrick’s forearms.

“Madame President?”

“O fucking what!?” She finally snapped.

“Ma’am,” the older gentleman’s face softened, “we think it’s time to move you to another location. We’re coordinating to have Air Force One meet us at Andrews. As your head of security-”

“This is nothing!” Her voice cracked as it rose in pitch. “The National Guard has the District under control.” She lowered her voice again.

“Ma’am,” the older gentleman began, “Mister Kendrick is hanging from a light-pole.” He looked back at the television. “His security detail is missing and his car is on fire. We saw some black man being chased into a closed Metro station and… The Speaker of the House isn’t answering-”

“-I’m declaring martial law.” She blurted it out and wasn’t sure she heard herself correctly. “I’m not fleeing. I will not fucking run.” She spoke more firmly. “I’m declaring martial law.”

“I’m the President of the U-ni- of the… fucking PSA. Do it!”

Around her people stared at each other and looked around for someone to say something to know where to start.

“Starting today there will be an eight pm nationwide curfew.” She bellowed. “You.” She pointed at a young woman in uniform, “Megan-”

The auburn-haired woman with two-stars on each of the shoulders of her blue blouse looked around beside her.

“Me?” she asked.

“Yes, that’s your fucking name, isn’t it!?”

“No, ma’am. My name is Margaret-”

“O, fucking whatever! Get the Secretary of Defense on the line for me right now! I’m invoking the Insurrection Act. Astrid,” she whirled on a lithesome young woman with a blond page-boy haircut, “round up the media flacks. I’m going to have a press conference – live – in 15 minutes. Let’s go!” The President snapped her fingers in the air. “Let’s go, people. Lincoln did this, too!”

Slowly, people began to move in response to her voice, less from a sense of urgency it seemed than from a sense to do something, anything beyond stand still and watch the chaos on the television. She didn’t care.

Martial law it will be, she whispered through gritted teeth.

I will not be remembered for… this.

About The Author

Ozymandias

Ozymandias

Born poor, but raised well. Marine, helo pilot, judge advocate, lawyer, tech startup guy... wannabe writer. Lucky in love, laughing 'til the end.

171 Comments

  1. Gustave Lytton

    Nice fan service there Ozy.

    • Ozymandias

      I duz what I canz.

  2. Ownbestenemy

    Ooooh the universe is bleeding. Astrid appears!

    Now the fun begins…when the hammer falls, it is never good for either side.

  3. Ed Wuncler

    “No, ma’am. My name is Margaret-”

    Kind of OT but on Monday my daughter was born two weeks and some change ahead of time and we named her Margaret Louise. My wife walked from work at around 9:15 and was like….”I think my water just boke.” And then drove herself to the hospital while I was waiting on my sister.

    And as always Ozy, great story. The idea that the President thinks she’s in control while her Chief of Staff is swinging from the lampposts in DC sounds all too real and current.

    • Tundra

      Congratulations, Ed! That is awesome news!

      All my best to you, mom and Margaret!

    • Sean

      Did you get her vaccinated yet?

      *cackles*

      Congrats!

      • Ed Wuncler

        I got vaccinated as did my wife but I told her that getting our kids getting not vaccinated for COVID is a hill I’m willing to die on.

    • ron73440

      Congratulations, your first?

      My wife did the same to me many years ago.

      • Ed Wuncler

        My second and probably my last. Lol.

      • ron73440

        I said the same thing, but one drunken night, not being careful, now I have three.

        I wanted to name the youngest Sam, in honor of Sam Adams, but the wife wouldn’t let me.

      • JaimeRoberto (shama/lama/ding dong)

        So you named him Bud instead?

      • Not Adahn

        I knew a formerly closeted guy who named his kids “Brandy” and “Margarita.”

        I am not making that up.

      • Ozymandias

        Was she such a fine girl?
        Was the other one… *pulls off glasses* a bit salty?

      • Not Adahn

        Alas, I never met them. Amazingly enough, his ex-wife got custody of them when her preacher husband came out as gay.

      • Ozymandias

        That’s a great little anecdote.

      • juris imprudent

        No love for Alvan?

      • Tres Cool

        I wouldnt have Tres Version 2.0 if it wasnt for Crown Royal.

    • Ozymandias

      Huzzah! Congratulations, Ed! That’s a beautiful name. One of my best friends is “Margaret Louise” – she goes by “Peggie” which is perfect for her.
      Black sheep of the family, but an absolute peach.
      Best wishes on the bundle of joy. So sorry about the sleep you’ll be missing for the next bit. 😉

    • Animal

      Congrats, Ed! Always a happy time.

    • The Other Kevin

      Congratulations! Nice to see some very good news for a change.

    • wdalasio

      Congratulations!

    • creech

      Congrats. One always wonders about the wisdom of bringing another life into this world, but “wonder” is the absolute word when you first hold your newborn in your arms.

    • JaimeRoberto (shama/lama/ding dong)

      Congratulations on the new human resource.

    • Ghostpatzer

      Congrats on the new arrival!

    • Cy Esquire

      GRATS!!! It’s never boring. Good luck!

    • db

      Congratulations on the little one!

    • Semi-Spartan Dad

      Congrats Ed!

    • Surly Knott

      Congrats to you and the Mrs! Teach your children well (which is probably redundant coming from this site).

    • Donny Three-Fingers

      Congratulations! After the diapers comes Lego and invented curse words… again!

    • Mojeaux

      w00 h000 That is FANTASTIC! Congratulations and kudos to Mrs. Wuncler for her equanimity in the situation.

    • MikeS

      Glibertarian procreation is a joyous event! Congrats!

    • hayeksplosives

      Congratulations to you and the missus!

      And congrats to Margaret to being born to a freedom-loving family instead of to a couple of knucklehead Eloi.

    • DEG

      Congratulations!

    • trshmnstr the terrible

      *celebratory gunfire*

      ? ?

      With all the good news here on Glibs, I’m gonna have to restock the celebration ammo stash.

      Congratulations Ed!

    • DrOtto

      Congratulations! We named my number 2 in our household Margaret.

    • Ted S.

      My wife walked from work at around 9:15 and was like….”I think my water just boke.” And then drove herself to the hospital while I was waiting on my sister.

      You’ve got her trained well.

      • db

        “What about your wife?”

        “Oh, her? She’ll take the bus. She’s a rock.”

    • Lackadaisical

      Well done sir. You’ve just completed part 1 of your most important contribution to the world.

  4. Tundra

    Worlds collide!

    Just fantastic, Ozy!

    Next week can’t come soon enough.

    • Fourscore

      I know something you don’t but I’ll not spoil a secret.

      Thanks, OZY, you can trust me.

  5. ron73440

    I will not be remembered for… this.

    That’s what bothers her more than Kendrick getting hammered.

    Great story, shit’s getting real!

    • Ozymandias

      Thanks, Ron. Glad you’re enjoying it.

  6. Sean

    she could see that the banner and wood were held in place with spikes nailed to Kendrick’s forearms.

    Hardcore.

    • juris imprudent

      Answers my question from last week.

  7. Yusef drives a Kia

    This world is getting wild! what next? Elon shows up in a Tesla with Marilee riding shotgun?
    Great stuff Ozy!

    • Ozymandias

      Hey! You been sneaking into my drive to read ahead?? 😉

    • Ozymandias

      It’s gonna be tough to work the dick rocket into all of this, but if that’s what the people want…

      • Yusef drives a Kia

        Nonnono, Bezos has the DickRocket, Elon’s actually go to orbit,

  8. Animal

    Good stuff, Oz. My breath is bated, awaiting the next installment.

    • UnCivilServant

      It’s a weekly series, you need to breathe before next thursday. Breathe, man, breathe!

  9. juris imprudent

    Astrid

    The streams, they have crossed.

  10. R C Dean

    Ozy, I’ve been meaning to drop this when I saw you around. Pardon the OT, but:

    As the fellow owner of a 1301, I thought I’d pass this along:

    I’ve taken the Mesa Tactical rail and sidesaddle off of mine. It wouldn’t stop working loose, and I think its because the recoil would make the sidesaddle want to shift, since its only attached to the rail. There’s a possible fix, if you really want the combo, but it would involve getting some kind of high-adhesion double-sided pad that would fit between the sidesaddle and the receiver. I’ve heard this is a common problem with the screw on side saddles across multiple platforms – the weight of the shells off to the side of the gun just “works” the screws too hard on recoil.

    I’ve got a couple of these. They seem very well made. The loops are extremely tight. Brand new, its not easy to get the shells in, but I expect them to stretch out some (I’ve got them full of shells right now). Haven’t actually stuck the velcro pad to the shotgun yet – probably this weekend.

    I replaced the rail with one of these during a brief interval when they were available. Most excellent, if you are rocking a red-dot, and I find I like the co-witnessing. If their sidesaddles ever get back in stock, I will have a dilemma – they look best in class, but are priced accordingly.

    • Ozymandias

      No pardon necessary, RC! And thanks for the information.
      I added the mag extender and then had to go secondary market for a piece that clamps onto the end for a light – it has a small piece of rail on it, as well, for a sling.
      The site where I got that from is open about “this will rub your shotgun!” so I’m not really sure how I feel about the set up yet. Still an early work in progress, but what a joy to shoot!
      Took it to the range once and had some fun. Sooooo much better with the gas-system. Now back in the OLD Corps…!

      • R C Dean

        The site where I got that from is open about “this will rub your shotgun!”

        Oh, it will, I have rub marks on mine from the Nordic barrel clamp. They have a silicone thingy that fits between the clamp and the barrel and mag tube that will prevent that, but, wait for it . . . out of stock. I may try to find something that I can jerryrig. OTOH – “Its a shotgun. It beats you up, you beat it up”. So spake The Front Sight instructor while giving an enthusiastic demonstration of how to clear a jam by pounding the stock on the ground.

        I just got a rail mount for the mag tube, because the Nordic clamp puts the flashlight to the side, and I want it underneath. I might be able to fit both of them on there – I do like the clamp. Also on my list for the weekend.

    • Ozymandias

      Hey, RC – how many do you have? Did you get the full 7 shell holder, or something less? I’m curious how many fit comfortably along the stock.

      • R C Dean

        I got the sixer. It fits. Not sure if you could get another shell on there.

      • Ozymandias

        Okay – thanks. Good info. I was thinking about a nickle. That’s a fair number that I think should be able to get me to…my (next) ammo cache.

    • Animal

      Where does the bayonet go?

      • Not Adahn

        On the end, pointing away from you.

      • DEG

        Secured with duct tape. It fixes everything right?

      • Animal

        See, I would have said “pointing towards the bad guys,” but that’s just semantics, I guess.

      • R C Dean

        Yes, I have looked for a bayonet mount. I haven’t found one. In any event, I suspect it would . . . complicate your self-defense claim.

      • Animal

        If I ever found an old Winchester 97 trench gun with that yard-long bayonet they issued, I’d be tempted. There’s something very visceral (hah) about the idea of a would-be home intruder wriggling like a frog on a gig with 24″ of steel through his chest.

        The Army used those (and Model 12s, and Stevens 520As) through both world wars. Plenty of German and Japanese soldiers found out the hard way that a magazine full of 00 buck slam-fired down a trench can ruin your whole day.

      • Not Adahn

        Ah, but those have a barrel shroud which makes them only suitable for murdering schoolchildren.

      • Ozymandias

        It’s my opinion that a man in his own home with a semi-auto shotgun is about as good as it gets for self-defense.
        That’s a whole lot going in that person’s direction against an intruder.

      • Not Adahn

        I am hoping the club approves my game idea so I can play with my m3k this winter.

      • Animal

        I’d accept that as an operating premise.

        I’m more of a pump-gun guy, though, because I’ve used them all my life and am accustomed to them. Your mileage may vary.

      • Ozymandias

        #MeToo – but man, that semi-auto is just so niiiiiiice on the shoulder.

      • EvilSheldon

        You are not wrong. Nothing else you can carry hits like a 12-gauge.

        Unless you have an old M79 floating around. That would just be rad…

      • Ozymandias

        In Afghanistan we managed to get these.
        Not too chabby.

      • db

        Not so great for the carpets and walls, however.

      • juris imprudent

        “He ran at me and impaled himself” isn’t plausible?

      • Nephilium

        It happens all the time to those dumb college kids.

      • EvilSheldon

        In the garbage where it belongs.

        (runs and hides from UCS)

      • Not Adahn

        It’s ok, his guns don’t have bayonet lugs.

  11. R C Dean

    We saw some black man being chased into a closed Metro station

    Ruh-roh.

    • WTF

      WHITE SUPREMACISTS!!!11!!

  12. wdalasio

    Very good story. I really enjoy these pieces. Keep up the good work.

    • Ozymandias

      Thx, wd. This has been fun to write – particularly for this audience.

  13. Ozymandias

    Also, just to pick up on the “fan service” comment – that’s an obvious homage to the Great One Touched by the Elder Gods himself, our very own SF.
    There are some great writers here: Animal, Mojo, UCS, and on and on. I don’t always have time to comment, but JoeMala is an absolute treasure.
    So was Hat and the Hair – including CPRM’s animated version.
    I feel blessed to get to publish here, so just wanted to say a large thanks to all of the other folks who contribute to our little artist’s colony of non-conformists, as well as all of the commenters. I was a regular lurker at Reason for years, but didn’t know about the Glibbening until well after it happened. But I had noticed the marked decline in the IQ level of commenters after it happened. I stuck around long enough to see someone answer a question about what had happened and that led me here.

    • Ownbestenemy

      Its a riveting story Ozy. Really enjoying it.

      • Ozymandias

        Glad, OBE. See my reply to WTF. I think all of the “movement” happens in the next three weeks.

  14. Cy Esquire

    Good stuff Ozman!

    When does Milley launch the nukes at Texas?

    • Ozymandias

      The comments here are always such a great source of ideas for a writer.
      Better than anything I could come up with on my own.

  15. db

    oh shit

  16. Ghostpatzer

    Nice one, Ozy, thanks. Now that you’ve used the lamppost, how do you plan to work in a woodchipper?

    • Ozymandias

      *Waggles eyebrows*

  17. DEG

    “Starting today there will be an eight pm nationwide curfew.” She bellowed. “You.” She pointed at a young woman in uniform, “Megan-”

    The auburn-haired woman with two-stars on each of the shoulders of her blue blouse looked around beside her.

    “Me?” she asked.

    “Yes, that’s your fucking name, isn’t it!?”

    “No, ma’am. My name is Margaret-”

    I chuckled at this part.

    I like the inclusion of Astrid.

    • Not Adahn

      I like the detail that she’s a media herder and has a short haircut.

  18. Lackadaisical

    From Q:

    Related:

    https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1743609515339400

    “Six scientists with different experimental evidence debate the existence of the vaginally activated orgasm (VAO).”

    Its existence?

    If you read this link you will realize you went into the wrong profession. We all could have made money studying female orgasms. *sigh*

    If only my high school counselor had told me.

    • R C Dean

      In my experience, female orgasms tend to align with the expense side of the income statement, not the revenue side.

      Am I doin’ it wrong?

      • Lackadaisical

        Apparently so.

    • Ghostpatzer

      Where does one sign up to be a subject for such experiments? Asking for a friend.

      • db

        Kind of hard to do a double-blind experiment there….

        “Whoa, whoa, wrong hole!”

        “No, I’m pretty sure that’s your vagina.”

        “Are you sure?”

        “Yep, that’s what the procedure says.”

        “Oh, well, OK then. Proceed.”

  19. Ed Wuncler

    I was at a dinner with my in laws a little after that the Afghanistan withdrawal debacle and I made a comment that if there any justice in the world, a lot of lampposts would be decorated with our political leadership’s bodies.

    • Ed Wuncler

      They did not take that comment well.

      • Not Adahn

        Duh. Who wants to attract crows and flies to the yard?

      • Toxteth O'Grady

        They’ll have to put up with you in order to see the baby, though. (Congrats!)

    • Ozymandias

      That’s my stock answer when people ask me “but what will it take to stop this?”

      • WTF

        Where we’re at right now is too many people are still too comfortable and have too much to lose to seriously resist. But if the mandarinate keeps on with their bullshit, and they will, there will become a tipping point where enough people are in a bad enough position to say “fuck it”, and then shit will go sideways a lot more quickly than most people assume.

        Great stuff, Ozy, I’m enjoying this immensely!

      • EvilSheldon

        Yup. Revolutions don’t happen when people are comfortable. We’re very much still in the prep phase right now. The trick is to stay free and healthy and connected enough to still be effective when it does go sideways…

      • Plisade

        You might be interested to read The Anatomy of Revolution. According to the author, a revolution has more to do with gubmint taking more and more $ from people who are doing well, while giving them less say in politics. The people who start a revolution may be comfortable when they do; and they’re not the peasants.

      • EvilSheldon

        I would indeed be interested. Who’s the author?

      • Plisade

        Crane Brinton

      • Lackadaisical

        I’ve heard the same. I think it matches with most revolts in history. Peasant revolts are the exception not the norm.

      • Ozymandias

        Right on!! I hope you’ll like the next few chapters.
        I particularly like what’s coming next week… and the week after that.
        …But the week after that is the payoff. 😉

      • WTF

        I’m sure I will continue to love it! Can’t wait!

      • Ownbestenemy

        Sounding like a certain government official…just another week 🙂 Really looking forward to them.

    • MikeS

      This year, during a visit on Sept. 9, Dorene noticed her mother was coughing. She knew her mother’s caretaker had been feeling sick after her husband returned from a wedding in Idaho. All three had been vaccinated. But as she drove away, Dorene guessed that her mother had contracted COVID-19.

      • Nephilium

        But who was the unclean one who brought them the breakthrough case?

      • MikeS

        Some goddam rethuglican, anti-vaxxer, backwoods hick in Idaho, no doubt.

    • ron73440

      Larry the cable Guy buying flowers for his dead 105 yo grandmother and the flower guy asks:

      “how did she die?”

      “How’d she die, she flipped her Harley at bike week.” “How’d she die, she was 105, that’s how she died!”

    • The Other Kevin

      Florida has already done the same. Counting down the days until Biden doubles down and fires off another EO blatantly aimed at punishing red states.

  20. CPRM

    I saw one of these pulling a 5th wheel camper that looked like a regular trailer the other day, now I want one!

    • ron73440

      That is crazy. It’ll make you do a double take I’m sure.

  21. Ownbestenemy

    Between the hard work of a man in a can here, the Presbyerian Church in SC and a local Calvary Chapel locally also standing against the mandate, I believe that I will envoke that path with my work. Really thought and prayed on it and initially didn’t want to just envoke God for the sake of it, but with conviction. I am still in my heart about it.

    • Ownbestenemy

      Can’t spell. Presbyterian and I think that church is actually in Cali, not SC… Anyway, that was the denomination I was baptized into, just out in California. Long-standing beliefs and all that jazz

  22. tarran

    Hey guys, what was the url of those guys making masks that are just as effective as the cloth ones that most people wear but are more comfortable to breathe through that Hayek mentioned in a recent comment?

    I’m uh asking for a friend… for novelty purposes. 😉

      • tarran

        Yes!!!!

        Thanks.

      • Rebel Scum

        I got a couple of those. Wore a mech one to the eye doctor. Doc didn’t say anything about it. But I think he knew.

      • Tundra

        TSA made a buddy of mine replace it with a paper one. Same with a stewardess. But he said that’s been it out of many trips and corporate-land adventures.

        Well worth the $18.00

  23. The Other Kevin

    Mrs. TOK: “OMG I’ve seen 10 messages on Facebook today, Got a booster! Got a booster!”
    Me: “You should start posting things like Took my vitamins today! Drank water today! Took a shit today! Or maybe I’ll just log on and reply to all of them with NOBODY CARES. “

    • The coolest vaccine-free BEAM in the world™

      “I’m so sorry your original vaccine didn’t work, even though the government pinky-swore that it would. Better luck with that booster!”

    • EvilSheldon

      It says that the system is remarkably well-designed.

    • R C Dean

      a slew of policies supported by the vast majority

      I’ve heard Manchin and Sinema are blocking the spending bills, but this makes it sound like they are blocking some popular proposals. What would those be?

    • The Other Kevin

      “…supported by the vast majority…”

      I don’t think he understands what “vast” means.

      • Rebel Scum

        A margin of 6 million people in California.

      • R C Dean

        A margin of 6 million people “votes” in California.

    • rhywun

      TW: ?

    • juris imprudent

      I’d smack that asshole for saying “supported by the vast majority”, but it would be punching down.

      • R C Dean

        I prefer punching down. You get better leverage, and you can really put your weight behind it.

    • Urthona

      Policies supported by the “vast majority”. hmmm

      They were elected as moderates and if they don’t stick to that they’ll be out. Democrats don’t have any mandate this radical.

    • EvilSheldon

      I’m still sitting here, hoping for a Matt Helm movie series…

    • Not Adahn

      What? They give a white cishet male a deadly virus then blow him up?

    • Rebel Scum

      No Time To Die doesn’t have a post-credits scene, but if you stick around to the end you’ll see the classic words “James Bond will return.”

      The phrase has never been more reassuring, but we don’t know yet who’ll be taking over from Craig.

      Well, the number 007 position just conveniently opened up and they cast a black chick in this one, so…

  24. Ozymandias

    I gotta run, but next week’s chapter is in the queue.
    Cheers!

  25. limey

    Nice work Ozy.

  26. slumbrew

    Great story, Ozy

    • Rebel Scum

      Amazon delivered something to me at 6am this week. Dissolve the usps.

      • MikeS

        Two weeks ago I got a delivery from FedEx at 2pm…on a Sunday.

    • Plisade

      They’re moving to Tennessee. And Ford’s building Blue Oval City here, too.

      • kinnath

        Deplorables one and all. Good riddance.

    • Sean

      Good for them.

      • kinnath

        Still leaving a thousand production jobs.

      • The coolest vaccine-free BEAM in the world™

        Those are harder to move quickly. Give ’em time.

      • Sean

        That’s what I get for not following the link.

    • The coolest vaccine-free BEAM in the world™

      I’d happily murder one of those, even though my colon would punish me for it afterwards.

    • MikeS

      USA! USA! USA!

    • db

      I would hit that so hard…