APOCALYPSE CONFIDENTIAL
Simon finishes his work for the afternoon, writing to the end of the sheepskin parchment paper in his packed Latin script before ringing the bell next to his desk. A secretary materializes from the dark hallway leading in, shuffling in with his overlong robe and greeting Simon as he approaches. “Quite finished, Sire?” “Quite. Think … HAIL ARTHUR!
APOCALYPSE CONFIDENTIAL
Gavin’s hangover was easing up as he nursed his first beer, sitting outside of a beach bar in the Philippines, the sun low in the sky. The fishermen had already beached their skiffs and were sorting the day’s catch along the shore, while the squid fleets were prepping to go out for the night. Once … FISHER OF MEN
APOCALYPSE CONFIDENTIAL
If inconstancy is the heart’s neighbor, the soul will not fail to find it— “Better. Good God almighty, I feel better.” He drank the rest of the Narragansett in one good long draught, ordered another. Courtney watched him, uncertain. “No cautionary tales tonight,” she said “No. Upon my word as a knight, no night of … FIDELITY
APOCALYPSE CONFIDENTIAL
The standard minimum training period for an embellishment line operator is three months. While I am not a person I consider above average in intelligence, I had the basic grasp of machine operations within a few weeks. My trainer, Deacon, told me that after learning the essentials, it’s getting intimate with the machine. He did … DAYSHIFT NEEDS TO DIE
APOCALYPSE CONFIDENTIAL
VINWALD “SOMEWHERES” MARTOM — LOPPER, THIRTY-FIVE, ID#: 23023094 [With one hand resting on the butt of his axe and his other busy picking bits of viscera from his scabby cheek, Vinwald surveys his handiwork. According to him, he’s chopped up at least fifty bodies since noon. Behind him, his apprentice — a boy no older … CHATEAU DE GRAL: AN ORAL HISTORY OF PRINCE CHRISTO’S DEATH BY WHATEVER
APOCALYPSE CONFIDENTIAL
A man named Russ Florida and a female grocery worker are standing in front of a lottery machine called THE GRAIL. A plastic cutout wizard looms above the machine holding a magic wand that is blinking blue at the tip. One of the wizard’s eyes is open wide while the other winks. They attempt to … THE AWEN OF MERLIN
APOCALYPSE CONFIDENTIAL
The Holy Grail and Europe’s Suppressed Faith “Once upon a time.” This is the common phrase used in works of fantasy, and it is the classic opener for any good bedtime story. However, for the purposes of this brief, exploratory essay, “once upon a time” references the mere facts of history. For example, once upon … GRAIL CONTRA CROSS
APOCALYPSE CONFIDENTIAL
“Arktos” “Merlin” “Round Table” “Sword & Stone” — Aaron Lange (b. 1981) is an author and visual artist living in the American Midwest. His credits include numerous zines and mini-comics; the long-form nonfiction graphic novel Ain’t It Fun: Peter Laughner & Proto-Punk in the Secret City; and Peppermint Werewolf, an ongoing experimental comix art project. Further, his … FOUR COLLAGES
APOCALYPSE CONFIDENTIAL
We are gathered here at twilight’s last gleaming to commemorate the 250th birthday of the United States of America, a danse macabre for a body politic that is filled with equal parts blood and embalming fluid. None of us knew the body when it was young, though some have argued that it was never young, … ANNOUNCING: AMERICAN BESTIARY
APOCALYPSE CONFIDENTIAL
when I was a childfor reasons I still don’t completelyunderstand (is it because I was sickand alone came so easy oris it becausethere was nothing left to do)I made a dealwith somebodyor somethinganything out thereI could not namethat might be listening(I never believed in Godor anything that could benamed—there was nolisteningto namesin me at all)the … “FINGERS”