Breaking Point

A bit of Flash Fiction. 350 words of fanfic for Ian Flemming's Agent 007, to perhaps, provide a smile.

The scene is a dank, dungeon-like space, the floor stained with old blood, the walls impregnated with the screams of the dying. Centered, is a table on which James Bond lies, shackled and helpless. With him is a man in a tuxedo. His face shows no cruelty, only indifference, though his eyes belie that indifference and his eyes glitter with malice.

 “So, Mr. Bond, it’s down to this. You will tell me all your department’s secrets or you suffer more than you have believed humanly possible.”

Cooly, and with a sneer of dismissal, James Bond shakes his head. “Do you think you can frighten me, Coldfinger? I’m a trained agent. Pain means nothing to me. You may kill me, yes, but I’ll never give in, and I’ll take my government’s secrets with me to the grave.”

 That brings a smile and a sad shake of the head. “You may believe that, Mr. Bond, but once I use this machine, you’ll be a spillway to everything I care to know.”

He points to a small machine sitting on the table next to where Bond is chained. It’s a simple box, with a single control--"a small pushbutton. From the box two slim wires run, presumably connected to James Bond in some unknown way.

 Bond turns his head as much as his shackles permit. He frowns before saying, “What does it…do?” The simplicity of the thing obviously has him concerned.

 “It makes you talk, Mr. Bond. It makes any man talk. When I push that button you will know agony such as no man has ever faced. It’s connected to your neural system, and will make you know exactly how a woman feels in labor…hard labor.” Coldfinger grins, cruelly, as he leans back in his chair, hand poised over the box, awaiting a response.

 For a long moment Bond stares, as though accessing the chance that the man is lying. He weighs his options and resources. Finally, he shrugs and takes a deep breath.

“Okay…. The man in charge of my department is named Quincy Farber, and his second in command…”

Reviews

[raj24]

I enjoyed the plot and for a moment I thought maybe Mr. Bond is strong enough but you got him.

[Cherrie]

Very gripping and the story is constantly moving the reader forward. I enjoy flash fiction, both the reading of and the creating. Your character alone lays so much of the ground work for the reader.

Sometimes writers try and make flash fiction cliffsnotes, but it is not a summary it is power-packed flavor.

You've shown us a great scene absent of fluff. I enjoyed it very much.

[Samuel Dickens]

Heh-heh, that's a good one. I guess the thought of labor pain was too much for the intrepid Mr. Bond. Clever--I might only have threatened him with a martini that had been stirred.

[Jolan H]

Now I see what you are talking about. The POV is nice, and the description adds to it. I don't know exactly how to rate this as I am fresh off the turnip truck.