title: Fiction: Elements Of The Short Story
author: McGraw-Hill
description: McGraw-Hill authors represent the leading experts in their fields and are dedicated to improving the lives, careers, and interests of readers worldwide
zlib_text: **Rock of Wages**
  
  [ _by Patrick Welch_ ](mailto:Daasek@aol.com)
  
  _Mr. Welch says of himself..._
  
  _I published in Riverside Quarterly and Analog while pursuing my MA at Bowling
  Green State University. Quit_ _writing short fiction to concentrate on writing
  advertising and articles for local publications until about a year_ _ago. Have
  had fiction accepted by_ _ **Knightmares Magazine**_ _,_ _ **Dazzler's Digital
  Domain**_ _and_ _ **Virtual Press**_ _. Plus the_ _mandatory novel or two
  bouncing around publishers._
  
  It was the noise that attracted me. A thunderous rolling sound followed by a
  crash. A stream of curses and grunts. A scuffle of feet, more grunts, loose
  falling stone and then the thunderous rolling sound again.
  
  I stopped my wagon at the side of the steep hill. The last few days had been
  extremely unprofitable, my recent stay in the village of Imogen a complete
  loss. The townsfolk had expressed no interest in my elixirs, curiosities,
  mechanisms or other, even more exotic wares