Exercises

“And ill luck will ensue.”

Build a story around this phrase.

Jonas screwed up the little message and popped the fortune cookie in his mouth. His teeth came down on it—crunch—and simultaneously there was an enormous explosion as one entire wall of the Chinese restaurant exploded and a semi-trailer charged violently through it, coming to an improbable stop just inches from Jonas’s head. His first thought was for his briefcase. There was no doubt that his enemies had found him; this incident bore all the hallmarks of their insidious and subtle methodology. He scarcely paused for the cheque. Donning the portable jetpack he always kept close by for occasions such as these he aimed for a clear space of sky and hit the “do it!” button. One second he was there, the next he was at the far end of a dissipating column of exhaust smoke and punching the clouds. His enemies were not to be outdone however. At the exact moment he noticed his fuel gauge spluttering around the empty mark, six jetpacked flunkies came out of the sun at him. He held up a thumb to block out the glare and picked the first to die. He had to time this just right ...

by Peter Gifford