Author Topic: Pseudopod 717: The Mad Eyes Of The Heron King  (Read 1309 times)

Scuba Man

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on: August 16, 2020, 01:41:53 AM
I can’t wait for it to be posted!

This was a surprising episode. Indeed, if one takes a “natural” setting at a pond, it’s tempting to think of the apex predator being benevolent. Poor Leonard learned that the hard (and deadly) way. The heron wasn’t evil, per say. He was psychotic. And had distain towards any non-heron entities.

While I work on clearing brush and deadfalls on our woodlot, I have encounters with Massasauga Rattlesnakes. I never molest nor kill them (while venomous, they control the rodent & insect populations). They’re fascinating creatures. Yes, they (like the Heron King) are beautiful. I would NEVER let my guard down with them. Unlike weirdo Leonard.  :o

I'm a stand-up philosopher until 2024. Then, I move onto my next gig. I'm a gentleman forester and farmer. I also enjoy jumping into Lake Huron and panicking the fish.


Bdoomed

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Reply #1 on: August 17, 2020, 06:09:52 PM
PseudoPod 717: The Mad Eyes of the Heron King

Author: Richard E. Dansky
Narrator: Kris Straub
Host: Soren Narnia
Audio Producer: Marty Perrett

“The Mad Eyes of the Heron King” originally appeared in the anthology Dark Faith, Apex Publishing, 2010



There was a lake or something like one near Leonard’s office, and it was to that lake that Leonard occasionally took himself after work. He did so in order to relax, to avoid thinking about work, and generally to sidestep the possibility of doing anything he might later regret.

But mostly, he did it to watch the herons.

Leonard liked watching them, finding something soothing in their manner. He admired the way they moved, standing still for untold minutes before suddenly striking, or advancing robotically back and forth on some secret avian agenda that only they would ever know.

And thus it was that when his work day was done, Leonard would come to the lake, and watch the herons, and do nothing else because nothing else needed doing. At least, not until the day the Heron King spoke to him.




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I'd like to hear my options, so I could weigh them, what do you say?
Five pounds?  Six pounds? Seven pounds?


Bdoomed

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Reply #2 on: August 17, 2020, 06:11:37 PM
Hmm I thought I might be able to choose the order of posts when I merged topics, but I guess I can't. Ah well. Scuba Man has the floor on this one :D

I'd like to hear my options, so I could weigh them, what do you say?
Five pounds?  Six pounds? Seven pounds?


TrishEM

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Reply #3 on: September 11, 2020, 01:29:36 AM
I rather expected an unfortunate ending for the protagonist, but it was interesting to see how the story developed.



Scuba Man

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Reply #4 on: October 28, 2020, 10:02:43 PM
Thank you, Bdoomed. I still think about this story. It's like a TASTY scotch whiskey. Our rattlers say hello (and are now cuddling up together in their hibernaculi on our woodlot). Sweet dreams, my pretty reptiles!  8)

I'm a stand-up philosopher until 2024. Then, I move onto my next gig. I'm a gentleman forester and farmer. I also enjoy jumping into Lake Huron and panicking the fish.