An
Assembly of Assassins
[3
thematically connected drabbles]
by
Hillary Lyon
Bryan’s
Big Adventure
The cancer
was a
time bomb hidden inside him, set off when he reached late middle age. “With the
time you have left,” his ex-wife exhorted, “you should travel, have an
adventure.” “No,” his little brother countered, “you should do something
important; leave your mark on the world.”
So much misery in
this country, Bryan pondered. Too much wealth and power concentrated
in an elite few. The gatekeepers wouldn’t allow a peon like me near the power
center—near the one who orchestrates it all.
I’ll travel, have
an adventure, he decided. But first, buy an unregistered sniper
rifle.
* * *
Anton, the Aide-de-Camp
Only Cuban
connection Anton had was, he liked the cigars; as for Russia, vodka. And China?
He really liked the women. A liquidator by trade, did he use poison powder
secreted in a ring, à la Borgia? A jab on the street with the tip of an
umbrella, inserting a radioactive pellet under the skin? Pay an asymptomatic
hooker to infect with Ebola? Maybe; but he didn’t. This Fed, Anton, was old
school. He became a lapdog, to get close to the target. Stealthy as moonlight
in a graveyard, he’d smother ‘em in their sleep with a feather pillow.
* * *
Priscilla (Power-to-the-People)
Unwashed,
wild-eyed Priscilla claimed the median at a busy intersection. Her signs
changed daily: “homeless, please help,” “hungry, anything appreciated,” etc.
Some Samaritans offered change or snacks, which she accepted. Some offered
rides, which she declined. Until Senator Stalwart’s limo pulled up beside her,
long after dark.
When the door
opened, Priscilla leaned over, accomplishing two things: advertising her ample
bosom, and securing the switchblade nestled in her boot. After she slid into
the back seat, the door closed, and Priscilla, in one fluid motion, achieved
what no political rival had been able to do: terminate Stalwart’s 50-year
political career.
Hillary
Lyon founded and for 20 years acted as senior
editor for the independent poetry publisher, Subsynchronous Press. Her stories
have appeared lately in 365tomorrows, Black Petals, Sirens
Call, Night to Dawn, 50 Word Stories, Legends of
Night drabble series anthology, and Revelations drabble series
anthology. She’s the Assistant Art Director for Black Petals and is also
an illustrator for horror & pulp fiction magazines.
https://hillarylyon.wordpress.com/
