I am crazy busy these days. I apologize for not being around more and not posting as much as usual. Someday, perhaps, things will get back to normal. Thanks again to all those who shared my post about my t-shirt line, Fiction T’s. I’ll be drawing for the free t-shirts tomorrow.
copyright Douglas M. MacIlroy
Net Sacrifice
They dragged the screaming goat into the sweltering, LED-lit cave where hulking monsters hurled beams of light across the world, billions a second.
“We have the offering,” Mark said.
The Switch sat enthroned among the machines, a wizened creature with the light of a trillion bits gleaming in empty sockets.
“Goat,” it sneered. “I need more power! More speed! Bring me human.”
“Of course.” They escaped, the goat’s dying shriek echoing as the door slammed.
“We can’t do this,” Larry said. “People won’t stand for it.”
“No, people won’t stand for Google or Facebook slowing down.”
A pause.
“So . . . who?”
To me this story seems clear, but since it is sufficiently bizarre, for those who aren’t clear on the meaning, let me just say, it is as if the book Tubes, by Andrew Blum was instead written by H.P. Lovecraft. That’s all I’ve got: follow the links. Bonus points if you get the significance of the people’s names.
The Green-Walled Tower 
May 28th, 2015 at 12:02 am
Nice – I got Mark Z from FB & guessing Larry P from Ggl?
The Internet gives so much yet but demands so little…
KT
May 28th, 2015 at 8:29 pm
That’s quite true, KT. It’s amazing what we take for granted in terms of free information and entertainment that long ago would have cost a lot or been impossible.
May 28th, 2015 at 12:48 am
have fun!
May 28th, 2015 at 1:42 am
Just brilliant!
May 28th, 2015 at 8:28 pm
Thanks. 🙂
May 28th, 2015 at 2:26 am
I also thought of Mark Zuckerberg and Larry Page.
A very creative take on the prompt and it makes one wonder about the truth…
May 28th, 2015 at 8:28 pm
The book Tubes is a fascinating look at the infrastructure behind the Internet. Nothing as gruesome as this, but there is a lot going on behind the scenes to keep our Net working.
May 28th, 2015 at 2:54 am
I got Larry and Mark once I got to the Facebook and Google line. However…….
It is wrong that Larry the Lamb sprang to mind first!!! Good amusing Read.
May 28th, 2015 at 8:27 pm
Larry the Lamb…that would change the story a bit. 🙂
May 28th, 2015 at 6:22 am
Ouch .. you have revealed the dark truth of those networks we deem social.. watch out David.
May 28th, 2015 at 11:04 am
Bjorn,
I told you so. The goat always dies first.
Tracey
May 28th, 2015 at 8:27 pm
So, what do you think people would do in this situation. I think they would protest but not do anything to change it. We like our comforts.
May 28th, 2015 at 11:03 am
Wait, what? Slow the Internet? That’s scary stuff. 😉
May 28th, 2015 at 8:24 pm
Yep, the true horror of the story. 🙂
May 28th, 2015 at 1:27 pm
Please not us Friday Fictioneers……maybe one of the politicians who doesn’t support net neutrality.
Funny story!
May 28th, 2015 at 8:24 pm
I’m sure we’d all have reasons for not being ‘it’. Of course, it probably wouldn’t stop at just one either.
May 28th, 2015 at 6:47 pm
OoooHHhhh – well done. So tell me, who did the pick?
May 28th, 2015 at 8:23 pm
Hmm, I don’t know. Hopefully not me. 🙂
May 28th, 2015 at 7:54 pm
Oh my…IDK…I do love my internet 😉
May 28th, 2015 at 8:23 pm
Don’t we all. I was debating this with my wife today on the way to the store, what people might actually do in this situation.
May 28th, 2015 at 8:34 pm
Ok, does it count if I Googled. Larry Page and Mark Zuckerberg (I didn’t know Larry’s last name). You know we’re on a first name basis and all. Yes, this is bizarre and wild. People would go to great lengths for their technology. We know that now. Well done. Lovecraft would be pleased.
May 28th, 2015 at 10:11 pm
Of course it counts if you Googled it; how else do we find things out these days? 🙂
May 29th, 2015 at 2:01 am
Great title, and a clever story. Also a scary reminder of who has power and how it’s used.
May 29th, 2015 at 9:08 pm
Thanks Margaret. It is a lot of power, controlling the world’s Internet access.
May 29th, 2015 at 4:10 am
It will happen. Lovely story, great title, gritty language.
(Not me, him!)
May 29th, 2015 at 9:07 pm
I think the whole world would say “not it” at the same time. 🙂
May 29th, 2015 at 4:23 am
Dear David,
Your story is one that will linger. Sacrifice the internet??? Where would we be? Where would Friday Fictioneers be? Amazing that something that existed only in the imagination thirty years ago has become an integral part of life…and I speak for myself.
Wow.
Shalom,
Rochelle
May 29th, 2015 at 9:07 pm
It is hard to imagine the world without the Internet now. I think we would all suddenly feel very isolated. People would sacrifice a lot to keep it, I think, even if they didn’t want to admit it to themselves.
May 29th, 2015 at 7:35 am
Hah, this is great. So that’s where they get the power… I can’t wait to see what they’ll do when Darknet hits them. I guess the people first chosen would be the ones who turn on all the privacy features in fb and google and don’t let themselves be localized wherever they go. Rebellious lot, that. Now where to hide? Maybe google maps can show me a good place…
May 29th, 2015 at 9:05 pm
This has a lot of potential. What if Google took the first word off their motto: “Be Evil”
🙂
May 30th, 2015 at 1:12 am
Mark Zuckerberg and Larry Page! Who will they choose–Jeff Bezos?
Great story, very creative 😄
May 30th, 2015 at 8:58 pm
Hmm, I’m sure they could pick someone suitable. 🙂
May 30th, 2015 at 5:00 am
I have often wondered how they were powered!
May 30th, 2015 at 8:58 pm
The Internet is goat-powered; true fact. 🙂
May 30th, 2015 at 8:47 am
Larry Page and Mark Zuckerberg, I presume? Nice dystopian (hopefully) tale.
May 30th, 2015 at 8:57 pm
Yep, you got it. The Mark especially was a giveaway, I’m sure.
May 30th, 2015 at 11:06 pm
Fascinating piece. No, I guessed no names, but the drama still worked beautifully for me.
May 31st, 2015 at 9:44 pm
Glad you liked it. The names aren’t important, just a bonus.
June 2nd, 2015 at 3:01 pm
I didn’t think we were still into sacrificing goats to keep things working, but I guess I was wrong. Well done. 🙂 — Suzanne
June 2nd, 2015 at 10:52 pm
Hopefully not, but I like the juxtaposition of the ancient with the modern. Thanks for reading, Suzanne.
-David