The Chimney by Chipka
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Description
Winter. Night. The sky flooded the city with a kind of spectral effluence in the colors of methane and high-pressure sodium vapor stroked, plucked, and kneaded by fingers of electricity. There were other colors as well: window-colors to mark the presence of incandescents and halogen globes; the flickering blue of tell-me screens set to whatever channels had license to broadcast after curfew; and here—not far from the river—the flickering green glow of electrified mercury vapor. Night birds—widgets and red-crested hooligans—called to one another, but only a Marshal might hear them.
There were widgets as Rennek paced the length of his beat, a cigarette poised between his lips. His badge gleamed in the city’s hepatic light: jaundiced metal pinned to the pocket-flap on his chest that only a Marshal might wear. Only Marshals wore such badges and Rennek—the youngest of his father’s four sons—was first in the family to ever ascend to the Municipal Ranks. There was disappointment—spoken softly here, there, and there among the family elders—but always it was whispered, polite, and tinged with self-recrimination. There were other things the family wanted of him, other (more rarified) honors to achieve. But instead, he walked the streets after curfew, smoking…thinking…and smoking some more. There was some pleasure in this, especially now, as Rennek passed the fenced enclosure of Clone Factory 223.
As a child he’d always found fascination in the hulking, chimneyed factories. There were those who said that the factories were dark and evil places. Others thought little of them, but marked their chimneys as dubious for more arcane (or paranoid) reasons. Strange radiations were said to spew from their gaping, up-thrust maws. Others claimed that missiles stood in their depths, aimed at some obscure and undefined sky-target. Still more said that the chimneys were weak-points in factory architecture: places where zombies might climb into the night and wreak whatever havoc the curfews had been enacted to prevent. Rennek’s own mother claimed that zombies roamed the streets: errant factory output, not yet taken under municipal control, and it was mother who voiced the strongest opposition to Rennek’s choice of employment.
“Be careful,” she always warned him. “Don’t take unnecessary risks,” she said.
And now, on a night like any other, he smoked midway through his beat: pausing once to consider the hulking mass of the clone factory. The green glow of mercury vapor lamps lent strange illumination to the night, recalling the color of ghosts. Above, city-light shaded the perpetual clouds. Night birds sang. And no one but Marshals and other municipal workers maintained order and the City’s intimate functions.
****
I'd originally taken this picture last week, on my way home from visiting Corey. It's actually the chimeny and back-end of Chicago's Roosevelt High School...but it had a strange, industrial look to it, and that's really what inspired Rennek's brief story-fragment. I'm familiar with the front of that school as Corey lived across the street from it (sort of) in those strange days before I left for Prague.
As always, thank you for viewing, reading, and commenting, and I hope a great week lies ahead of you.
Comments (19)
flora-crassella
fantastic picture!!!!!
jac204
I was reminded of my childhood when I used to be afraid to go into the local woodworking shop because of the noise, I guess. You put such insight into your pictures. Bravo!
durleybeachbum
A compelling image, and looking at it your narrative is very believable!! I can't imagine why a school has a chimney that size..very suspicious!
helanker
WHat a wonderful capture that is. I like it alot. The story was Good abd a bit creepy. :) BTW I found a tiny woodlous in the bathroom yesterday. Took some nice pictures. Ill post them next week.
mbz2662
I really like how you captured the light~ Is that straight out of the camera? Great story to accompany this photo. Good work Chip!
anaber
Fantastic photo! Absolutely majestous the chimey against the sky!And misterious too!
watapki66
Wonderful colors!
auntietk
Compelling image and story! I love the colors and lights in the photo, and it's absolutely believable as some sort of sci-fi cloning project. Nicely done!
beachzz
This has an eerie, surreal feel to it. I half expected some horrible creature to jump put and attack Rennek. The green glow, the strange chimney, it all combines to make for a great piece of work, both your foto and your words!!
dadon72
An intriuging story. Hopefully you will someday expand on it... I've always liked dark, industrial imagery and this is a great example of it... inspiring piece Chip, nice work all around.
myrrhluz
I really love this image! There is such beauty and menace in it. Excellent rust colored sky and chimney speak of factories and machinery. The brightly lit building on the left, when all the others are quiet seems threatening. Even the two lights with their beautiful rays, seem to be reaching out aggressively to the viewer. The green light reaches out from the buildings and carpets the ground in a eerie way. After gazing a while on this image, my mind was already prepared to be drawn into a dark and disturbing reality. Cloning. Even in the most benign story of cloning there is that lurking fear of it gone awry. The feeling that comes whenever man contemplates manufacturing sentient life. Whether it is machine, assembled, or grown, there is that superstition that it will all go horribly wrong, because it is the purview of God and beyond where man should meddle. I love that the cloning is an undefined back story. The factory number 223 indicates that cloning is widespread and perhaps common. Yet all else we know is of fears and rumours. I also love the hint of the family displeasure at his choice of career. This narrative gives tantalizing bits of information, that only intensifies the desire to know more. This is excellent and a fav for sure!
blondeblurr
I grew up in Berlin, with my adopted family, who had this big Nursery; growing flowers, fruit and vegetables in a dozen hothouses. Naturally they had to keep up the heat in those, especially in Winter, which required endless rows of pipes to be heated by this huge oven in the Cellar...and consequently a large chimney was there on the outside, much to my curiosity and...joy ! I was only about 6 years old and had to find out what was inside this chimney, so I climbed up, and up ,and up, until I reached the top, checked out the black soot and down again, somewhat disappointed...you won't believe the big hiding I received that day, no Dinner either. Your fascinating story was a reminder of my childhood exploits...nothing dark, nothing evil and no clones or zombies anywhere. Thanks BB
MrsRatbag
Wow, otherworldly and vaguely haunting image; and shivery haunting storylet! Well done, Chip!
kgb224
Outstanding capture and story my friend.I like the colors and the long star shaped rays of the lights.
Meisiekind
Wonderful Chiplet... and the image - well just marvelous! I did smile at Andrea thinking a school shouldn't have a chimney like this! I particularly love the star burst effect you got on the lights! Wonderful work Chip! :)
JaneEden
Well done Chip I too love the starburst effect you got and the colours are fabulous, a really superb shot and story!! hugs Jane xx
KatesFriend
As always, inspiring writing. The short story is engrossing for its defining of an entire world complete with glimpses into its own fearful mythologies. Yet we are brought down to the well worn tale of the beat COP taking his rounds and keeping the peace during a well understood dark, cold night. The green and orange light in your photograph feeds the feeling of a displaced world. Green and orange clash so brilliantly down they? Setting the mind at unease and portents of danger and the stirring of unnatural forces. Yes, I drank rhum tonight.
elisheba
scary school, excellent story/comment and very cool capture. red skyes and green lights makes it look even more poisonous!:)
jif3d
Sort like Chicago meets Chernobyl...minus the massive destruction of course ! Kool capture Chip, also a bit reminicent of Pink Floy's "Animal" album cover. Well done & ~Cheers~