The high priest of Shamash contemplated the sun and bowed to the west, repeating the holy chant of the sunset. For three thousand years, the cult had been preparing for this season’s solstice, when the planets came into unique alignment and Shamash would be at his greatest power. The sacrifice was properly prepared and spread-eagled on the altar. All was as it should be.
A shadow crossed the altar moving from right to left…
The holy sunset blocked by the shadow of monstrous buildings!
Traction City Cleveland thundered southwest on titanic treads, starving for the oil fields of western Texas.
100 words. Inspired by this week’s Sunday Photo Fiction prompt:
Science Fiction fans may have been exposed to mobile cities novels at some point (Cities in Flight, Mortal Engines, the Cyberiad, lots of steampunk titles).
Springing this one on the unsuspecting visitor at sunset… That feels like a cheat. But hey, it’s what I saw in this image!
ParkInkSpot 
Laputa is real! My father saw it!
Heh. Forgot Swift. That’s why it feels like a cheat; works best if the reader’s already familiar with the concepts.
It’s all cheating, really.
Unfortunate timing!
Indeed. Poor priest dude, But hey, the sacrifice appreciates the Hail Mary reprieve, right?
You got my imagination running wild here. There are many possibilities with this.
Wild imaginations need to be a protected species.
After three thousand years of waiting for that solstice, I’d say it was more than bad luck that the city chose that moment to pass. Another three thousand years wait…? Gripping story.
Not to mention how difficult it is to get new followers for pre-christian pagan deities these days.
Well, I know a few … but not nearly enough for the requirements as given. lol You have a bit of a problem there – but I’m sure you’ll think of some way of improvising.
This is brilliant! I love the clash and the contrast of very different societies. You have a very inventive and interesting plot here. Well done!
It’d be fun to play out the culture clash at longer length. A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court is always fun. But there just can’t be that many left alive that worship Shamash, I was thinking more like “final lights out for the Sumerian sun god.”
Great way of bringing together ancient and post-modern times! Great story!
A timely piece indeed.
DJ