Every once in a while, a piece lands in Instant Noodles Literary Magazine that reminds me exactly why I enjoy reading short fiction.
John Tures’s “Lex Talionis” has everything I could want in a flash piece: a ghost ship, naval warfare, a dash of history, supernatural revenge, and an ending that lands exactly where it should.
Set during the War of 1812, the story follows a British frigate pursuing what appears to be an American privateer. The captain dismisses warnings that the vessel ahead may be something far more dangerous than an enemy ship. Unfortunately for him, ghost stories have a way of becoming real at exactly the wrong moment.
One of the pleasures of flash fiction is watching a writer establish a world, create tension, and deliver a satisfying payoff in only a few hundred words. Tures accomplishes all three. The story moves quickly, but it never feels rushed. Instead, it unfolds like a campfire tale told by someone who knows exactly when to reveal the next detail.
I was also drawn to the historical setting. The War of 1812 doesn’t receive nearly as much attention in fiction as the American Revolution or the Civil War, which makes it fertile ground for storytelling. Add a phantom privateer seeking revenge on the British Navy, and you have a premise that immediately grabbed my attention.
The title is a clever touch as well. Lex talionis is a Latin phrase often translated as “the law of retaliation” or “an eye for an eye.” By the time the story reaches its conclusion, readers will understand exactly why that title was chosen.
One of the things I enjoy most about literary magazines is discovering work I might never have found otherwise. Every issue introduces me to new voices, new ideas, and occasionally a story that simply makes me smile because it delivers exactly what it promises.
“Lex Talionis” was one of those stories.
If you enjoy historical fiction, ghost stories, maritime adventures, or simply a well-executed piece of flash fiction, I encourage you to give it a read. Just remember: if an experienced sailor tells you not to chase the ghost ship, you should probably listen!
Have you gotten to peruse Boats Planes Cars and Trains yet? What was your favorite piece?
OLD SCRATCH PRESS 