~ 13°42′S, 76°13′W

by Nick

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The fine grain sands of the Peninsula Paracas worked their way into the crevices between Alejandro’s toes; a disquieting and comforting sensation. He had sworn he would never leave Pisco — he had been born here, raised here, orphaned here and he would, one day, die here. A condor flew overhead, its caw a familiar call for the boy to hear.

The green-blue waves of the ocean started infringing more and more upon the beach; the breakers around Perú weren’t stopping the waters as they once did. And then he noticed it: trout — huge trout from Chile — were migrating and jumping from the waves.

Then the tremors started; the ground vibrating in an unnatural way. Alejandro noted a shadow looming over the ocean’s horizon; a mountainous form obscuring the sun… and it seemed to move towards him, massive tendrils wriggling about from beneath its apex.

Alejandro was frozen in fear as it continued to approach.

“Dios, ahórranos, rescata nos del mal,” were Alejandro’s final words.

But none were left nearby to hear them.

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Comments

Average Reader Rating: 5.0 stars out of 5

  1. ~ 13°42′S, 76°13′W

    Nick's Buddy Icon Nick

    Posted 8 months ago

    Since we’ve never established any real timeline for these events, the unofficial date of this ficlet is: August 15, 2007.

    If anyone knows why, you win a no prize.

  2. ~ 13°42′S, 76°13′W

    Nick's Buddy Icon Nick

    Posted 8 months ago

    Oh… and I’m terrible at Spanish. I studied it for a very short period and I’m sure I messed the above up. I think “Dios, nos ahorra, nos rescata de mal” mean “God, spare us, rescue us from evil,” but — if I’m wrong — please let me know how to correct it.

  3. ~ 13°42′S, 76°13′W

    Ana Cristina's Buddy Icon Ana Cristina

    Posted 8 months ago

    Almost there on the Spanish. It should read: “Dios, ahórranos, rescata nos del mal.” And I’m not sure about the date’s significance, but it has a pretty crappy significance for me, it being the date an ex-boyfriend of mine and I began dating. (Shudder.)

  4. ~ 13°42′S, 76°13′W

    Nick's Buddy Icon Nick

    Posted 8 months ago

    Thanks, Ana Cristina. I studied Spanish for a mere six months and that was years ago… so I figured that what I cobbled together was wrong on some level or another.

    Since no one’s guessed, the date of 15 Aug 2007 is when Pisco in Perú was devastated by an 8.0 earthquake that claimed countless lives — including at least 100 people who died when the local cathedral collapsed.

  5. ~ 13°42′S, 76°13′W

    Alexa ♥'s Buddy Icon Alexa ♥

    Posted 5 months ago

    That’s a sad bit of history, Nick.

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