of nurture’s wildness - a novella (ch. 9)

by Tom Stuckey

IX

Just as the two brothers were bringing out their first course, a selection of Zakuski, the undertakers arrived to take Bernards remains into the city. It was still law that any human remains had to be disposed of at a licenced facility, there was money to be made from the dead. Bernard being of the business elite would of approved of the transactional nature of the deal as Gloria signed the necessary papers for his remains to be taken.

The undertakers were not of the traditional sense and looked more like delivery drivers form UPS. Once the remains were loaded they set off at speed flying over pot holes and around the mountains corners, they were more like professional drivers than undertakers. “She had nice tits, did you see?” Dan was short, stocky, and hairy, except for on his head. “Yes, I did, there is something about working with the dead that makes the living so much more vibrant and sexier.” Luke was tall and thin like a big bird. “Why do you have to talk like that, why can’t you be normal, why not just say ‘Yeah, she has nice tits,’ I get stuck with your shit.” Luke looked over the tops of his glasses at Dan, “Sorry. Daniel, yes she had very nice tits.” Dan looked at Luke briefly, an expert driver, using his peripherals to guide the van into the downhill corners, still at speed. “Good, yes she did, didn’t she, nice and firm.” Dan turned on the radio which was preset to the regime’s public broadcast and newest pop hits, as they made it into the city by nightfall in exceptional time, speeding through the cities lights as some gunfire could be made out in the distance.  

*Read Tom Stuckey’s next installment of Of Nurture’s Wildness on July 10, 2025, at 6PM CST.

Photo of Tom Stuckey

BIO: Tom is a writer from Devon in England.  His work can be found at A Thin Slice of Anxiety, Bristol Noir, Nut House Press, and Pulp Magazine. He is the author of The Canary in the Dream is Dead and The Sun Marches upon Us All. Learn more about Tom Stuckey at www.tomstuckey.com.