Tales of the Vampire Twilight

(Chapter Seven)

"The Harvest"

When Martin awoke last Thursday, his left hand was gone. As you might imagine, he first thought he was dreaming. After a short time, he came to realize that he was awake and, with no explanation, and, it's worth mentioning, no blood, he was down a hand.

Now, Martin was right-handed, so this presented no overwhelming obstacle--though he was fortunate to own a car with an automatic transmission. Nevertheless, he was understandably distraught and confused by his loss.

He ran out of his dingy SRO and pounded on the door across the hall with his remaining hand--careful not to damage it. After a beat, the door opened a crack and his neighbor, Jose, peered out, seemingly as shaken as Martin.

"Christ, Jose...somebody stole my hand!"

Jose literally trembled, then the door opened further and Jose raised his right arm...and displayed a hand-less stump of his own.

"What the hell...Jose...what the hell?" Martin could barely stammer out the words.

"I dunno, man. It was just gone this morning. I don't see it nowhere, man."

Now, would it surprise you that everyone in the building has lost their right hand that night? Or that the next night, both of their feet were gone?

In the meantime, rich people got richer, politicians got reelected, and Internet stock offerings kept making money for people who had money to buy stock, even though the companies produce nothing.

You are referred to the First Law of Thermodynamics, which says matter can neither be created nor destroyed.

Though Martin and Jose may not be amused.

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