Author: Nik

A forty something Welshman addicted to writing. And running. And writing about running. Except when I'm writing stories. Or being addicted to stuff.
In conversation with...

Tobias Haglund In conversation with Nik Eveleigh

Nik

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”Did you know that The Hobbit has 95022 words?”

“I didn’t. Now, watch your head. You’re taller than I thought. I mean, I’ve only seen your picture-“

“Yes, those are deliberately small. So this is your man cave?”

Nik skipped and yodeled his way to the brewing station. “Here! Look here. Now, wait, let me conduct a little presentation for you, my Swedish friend. Here, is where ale becomes Bale – that’s a Welsh football reference – here, is where a pond of swans becomes Swansea. But enough of my great Welsh puns, HERE, is where the best beer brews, buddy.”

Tobias sniffed and smiled, sniffed and smiled. By now, he was more dog-like than people-like. “So spin me the tail… I mean tale of the beer.”

Continue reading “Tobias Haglund In conversation with Nik Eveleigh” →

All Stories, General Fiction, Story of the Week

Ella’s Ghost by Nik Eveleigh

Nik

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“Please. Can you stay just a little longer?”

Ella holds my palm to her cheek and smiles. Her radiance pushes through the withered dilution of her past glory and warms me as her skin no longer can.

“I’m lost without you.”

“Hush.” She lays light against me.

“I’m sorry. You should have had so much more. So much more than I…”

Ella raises her head and grips my hand in hers. “You were always enough for me Charlie. Always. Don’t ever think that.” She is crying now. “Promise me.”

Continue reading “Ella’s Ghost by Nik Eveleigh” →

All Stories, Science Fiction

Unit 4207’s Failed Assignment by Piyali Mukherjee

Nik

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Decrypted sections of the file are as follows:

Data log attributes: Begun on 5787th day of 23rd Lunar Cycle

Type: Personal

Today was the day I started on the gene project. It was not as complicated as I expected. Unit 5481 tells me the beginning is always easy. All you have to do is choose the number of genes you want to work with. It’s maintaining the culture that’s the nightmare.

Continue reading “Unit 4207’s Failed Assignment by Piyali Mukherjee” →

All Stories, General Fiction, Story of the Week

The Old Man In The Park by Nik Eveleigh

Nik

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“Of course you can talk to him, off you go.”

“Thanks daddy!”

I watch as Daniel sprints away. Head down. Arms pumping. Balance ready to fail him at any given moment. Adrenaline fires my heart as he skids on a pine cone at pitch-forward-and-split-head distance from the wooden bench. I breathe again as he thrusts his hands forward and climbs laughing onto the seat and gives the old man a hug who, in return, as usual, pats my son’s head and continues to stare at the trees lining the park.

“I got a book from the library today it’s about a dog and Charlie wanted it but I got it first and gave it to my teacher and…”

Continue reading “The Old Man In The Park by Nik Eveleigh” →

All Stories, Science Fiction, Story of the Week

Kill Switch by Nik Eveleigh

Nik

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“You’re looking for some answers. I can understand that. I can relate. Isn’t that what the hippies used to say?”

Joe’s gaze remained flat. He waited for the man to continue.

“Don’t say much do you? I’m guessing you’re all out of empathy as well as words right now but if not, I won’t keep you. Good luck in finding a tree left to hug.”

“I’m not going anywhere until you tell us why it started.” Continue reading “Kill Switch by Nik Eveleigh” →

All Stories, Humour

A Few Dead Men by Nik Eveleigh

Nik

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It was a typical Friday night at the Planet Bar. Money rubbed shoulders with money. Ladies preened and giggled over the top of cucumber daiquiris and rosewater mojitos all the while seeking out new targets, fresh wallets. The men played their part. Laughed a little too loud when needed. Stepped out for smokes. Drank their Johnnie Walker Blues. Ordered more with practiced flickers of fingers. In the midst of this maelstrom of entitlement and low grade sexual minestrone one man patrols his bar, an oasis of calm in an otherwise…

“Miss Auder.”

“Your honour?”

“Could you please remind your witness he is in a courtroom, not in his study writing a failed novel.” Continue reading “A Few Dead Men by Nik Eveleigh” →

All Stories, General Fiction

Midas Brown by Nik Eveleigh

Nik

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Midas Brown stands at the door of his shack and spits into the rain. When the storm broke an hour ago removing the oppressive heat of the day Midas was a happy man. Now, on reflection, as he scratches his sunken belly and listens to the water drumming against the iron overhang, he would gladly take the early evening sauna over this big shitty noise.

He digs around the cracked remains of a lateral incisor, works a sliver of tobacco loose and spits again. He knows the storm outside will pass soon enough.

He is less sure about the storm within.

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All Stories, Crime/Mystery/Thriller

The Lost Dog by Robert V. Stapleton

Nik

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It was a grey April morning in downtown LA. I’d stopped outside my office to relight a stale cigarette butt. A woman was standing on the sidewalk just a few yards away, dressed in a red two-piece, the shade of an irate poinsettia. She was looking at me.

‘You Marlowe?’ she asked.

‘That’s me, lady.’

‘My name’s Marcia Reilly.’

I noticed she was wearing a wedding ring. ‘How can I help you, Mrs Reilly?’

‘Oh, Mr Marlowe,’ she sighed, ‘I’ve lost my little doggie.’

I drew on my cigarette and looked into her anxious face. ‘I’m sorry I can’t help you,’ I told her. ‘I’m a Private Investigator, not a dog-catcher.’

‘But you don’t understand,’ she whined, creasing her face as if she were on the verge of tears. ‘This one’s twenty-two carat gold, with diamond eyes. It’s an antique bracelet-charm worth a thousand dollars.’

Continue reading “The Lost Dog by Robert V. Stapleton” →

All Stories, Humour

Crouching Feline, Hidden Lobster by Nik Eveleigh

Nik

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It begins as these things often do with a man talking to an imaginary cat. This fabulous and formidable feline is not only figmentary, but also sarcastic, cynical and prone to unprovoked bouts of profanity.

“So I’m supposed to say bollocks and the like for no reason?”

“Yes, that’s the sort of thing I expect. Now shut up and let me return to my musings.”

It begins as these things often do…

“You’ve mused that already.”

“Yes, thank you for that. Now once again shut up.”

“Just saying…”

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All Stories, Humour, Story of the Week

Any Crow In A Storm by Nik Eveleigh

Nik

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At the top of the eastern tower hunched against the wind, the man in black gazed out across the grey, winter waste of his homeland. His strong hands gripped the cold stone of the battlement as further assurance against the restless elements and neither his stance nor his stare wavered.

He was a man of many names. In the hushed, excited tones of children telling ghost stories he was The Darkman. To the men who had battled at his side throughout the surrounding lands he was Nightstrike. His dear, departed mother had referred to him as Wherizzeethistimethelittleshi…

Everyone else called him Stormcrow. Continue reading “Any Crow In A Storm by Nik Eveleigh” →