The Vigilant
The sorcery of djinn was like a stalking beast. You had to stay downwind of it, even when you were the hunter. Antar knew, as always, everything depended on him seeing the unseen and forcing his eyes to reveal what lay in the membrane between light and darkness. He drew a deep breath and rolled between his thumb and forefinger the seal that was chained to his neck. Instinctively his eyes scanned for weaknesses as he stepped out of the door and into the night. As he walked through the strewn refuse of the alley, he smelled the stench of stale urine and beer that eternally impregnated the gutters. He liked the warm evenings like this one –if he closed his eyes and didn’t breathe for a moment, he could convince himself that he was home again. The sounds coalesced into the clangour of a bustling soukh, the cries of merchants touting their wares... he imagined the sweet smell of cinnamon and burning frankincense...
But, as always, he had to breathe, and the stale decay of St Kilda re-entered his blood stream.
But, as always, he had to breathe, and the stale decay of St Kilda re-entered his blood stream.
Praise for "The Vigilant"
My favorites from the book... "The Vigilant" by Dirk Strasser is a short story written in a way that makes you want more. A Vigilant does his lonely rounds in order to prevent the destructive emotions of people that tear holes in our reality, allowing monsters to enter our world. Strasser has avoided information overload which is often a problem with this type of story. Nicely done.
Phantastik-Couch (translated from German)
Phantastik-Couch (translated from German)
Publication History
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"The Vigilant" was published as "Der Vigilant" in German in Auf der Strasser nach Oodnadatta before it was published in the online magazine, Fantasy, in English.
Read online Listen to podcast Read an interview with me about the story: "The Fantastic Has to Have the Texture of Reality" |