The sky was darkening, and a cold breeze was blowing skirls of early autumn leaves around me as I made my way to my mailbox. I huddled into my trenchcoat, cursing the oncoming winter. I threw open my mailbox, expecting only the usual handful of bills and circulars --
-- a small, anonymous packet rested within. Written in the return address section was an address I'd been half-watching for for months.
My heart leaped into my throat.
As quickly as I could I retrieved my mail, telling myself that my fingers were shaking only because of the cold. The anonymous packet was quickly hidden behind the rest of the mail, and I made my way home at a quick pace, attempting not to jump at the encroaching shadows.
A few breathless moments later in the tiny shabby rathole I called home my worst suspicions were confirmed as I poured raw uncut emeralds into the palm of my hand. No note accompanied them, no directives, nothing but emeralds pouring in a stream from packet to hand. He hadn't even had time to scribble a line to accompany them. I tried not to think about what that meant.
Quickly I put them aside, trying not to look at their green lustre. The Arab, I thought, lighting a cigarette with shaking hands. I'll take them to the Arab tomorrow. He'll know what to do. He'll get the cursed things off my hands.
But a single stealthy footstep outside my door hinted that I might not have until tomorrow. My hand crept to the tiny two-shot derringer concealed in the hem of my thigh-high stocking. Two shots. Would it be enough? Would I get out of this alive? Would I...
... ever stop being so damned dramatic?
In other words, in yesterday's mail I did indeed receive approximately half a pound of raw uncut emeralds. I bought them off eBay for approximately $12 plus shipping, so there's no need to make plans to rob my house or anything; currently they're happily churning in a bath of water and grit. The rock tumbler sounds like the washing machine. It's kind of soothing.
The events described above are largely (but not entirely) true. But receiving a packet of emeralds in the mail just seemed so film noir that I couldn't resist.
Replies: add your comment: currently 5 comments
Hey Moon. When you get them all polished up, maybe you can post a pic? ummmm Emeralds.... Pretty!
Posted by Sheerlyevil @ 10/19/2002 12:37 PM EST
I did start to wonder there...
Yes, post a picture so all can see perty em'ralds! : 3
Posted by Wolf @ 10/20/2002 10:44 AM EST
Ere's lookin at you kid....and your emeralds
Posted by Cloud12287 @ 10/20/2002 04:59 PM EST
I DON'T WANT TO BE RUDE OR ANYTHING ( AND YOU CAN FEEL THE 'BUT' COMING) BUT WON'T THE TUMBLE POLISHER BE PRETTY ROUGH ON THE CLEAVAGE PLANES IN THE EMERALDS?
Posted by NEEN @ 10/20/2002 07:03 PM EST
Well, sure, if they'd been actual sizable crystals. But heck, I paid about $13 for a pound. They're mostly just emerald matrix (masses of crystals too small to be seen with the naked eye).
I did get three halfway-decent crystals in the lot. Those didn't go in the tumbler. I doubt they're worth anything, but hey.
Posted by Mooncalf @ 10/20/2002 09:44 PM EST
