“Ahoy. AAA road, er, water service.”
“Took you long enough.”
“Sorry. Message in a bottle can be slow this time of day, you should check the tidal
charts. Or use the gulls next time.”
“Noted. Anyway, hand over the strongbox, please.”
“Ah. An ambush. Kind sir please read the sign.”
“Drivers do not carry any guilders. I see.”
“Indeed. Plus, there are two of us. And we too are armed, Delft is not what it used to be. By the time you fire and reload your flintlock one of us will have shot you down.”
“I did not realize there would be two of you.”
“Yes, you paid for the upgraded elite Knickerbocker level package.”
“Ah well at least there are no witnesses, otherwise I’d be in Dutch.”
“On the contrary my fine Heer. See young Vermeer on the shore working away
furiously, we are being painted right now.”
Scott MacLeod is a father of two who writes in Central Florida. His work has appeared recently in Punk Noir, Rmag, Micromance, Free Flash Fiction, Microzine, Every Day Fiction, Wrong Turn Lit, JAKE, Underbelly Press, Bristol Noir, Havok, Witcraft, NFFD Write-In, Coffin Bell, 10 By 10 Flash, The Yard, etc.
This story was shortlisted in the September 24 Monthly Micro Competition.