The pounding rhythms of the drums beat through the clammy air, vibrating up through the floor and setting the rib-cages of the people buzzing. The sultry summer night had finally drained the last of the daylight from the sky and the whole scene was lit by the orange glow of electricity. Tom strode down the street, head down, until he came to the entrance of a small building with the sign “Undertree” pinned to the wall. The building was set at a slant on the long, snaking cobbled street, and seemed to cling to the edge, skulking in the darkness. One wall backed onto a steep drop that fell down into the slimy green river, curling its path around the building.
“Evening,” said Tom, nodding to the bouncers, hulking in the doorframe.
The powerfully built men eyed him up warily and greeted him in reply.
“It’s quiet tonight,” one of them growled in a harsh, deep voice.
Tom nodded and passed into the club.
***
Chris nodded and snaked his way over to the bar. The club was beginning to get slightly busier, although there was still no real queue at the bar. He came back shortly after, carrying five bottles, which he carefully dumped on their table and handed out to their recipients. He retook his seat and picked up his bottle.
“Cheers!” he said and took a swig. The rest of the table followed suit, including Tom, who only took a small drink. As he withdrew the bottle from his mouth he looked more closely at it and frowned very slightly. There was something slightly different about this bottle, he thought. There was something not quite right.
“Everything alright?” said Chris in his deep, level voice, his eyes following Tom.
“Fine, thanks,” said Tom, quickly putting the bottle down and pushing his doubts from his mind. He would need to concentrate on this next round.
They played another couple of rounds, Tom occasionally sipping on his beer. However, the longer they played the more he began to doubt his judgement. He was losing and he was finding it harder and harder to pick out the patterns of cards to make up the hands. He rubbed his forehead with one hand and was surprised when it came away sweaty. It was always hot in this club and the air was unusually moist, but this was still odd. He felt very very thirsty. He took a longer swig on his beer.
“What do you say we up the blind?” said Chris, dealing once again. “How about twenty?”
The rest of the group nodded assent and Tom seemed to feel curiously blasé about the whole thing.
They continued to play the game until Tom realised he had nothing left in his wallet.
“I seem to be out,” he said blearily, finishing the rest of his drink and slumping forward in his chair. “I’ll check.” He ran his hands over his body, searching for elusive pockets. He began pulling out assortments of pocket-fodder, including keys and receipts.
“Tell you what,” said Chris, leaning forward conspiratorially. “I’ll give you a chance to win all your money back.”
“All my money?” said Tom, blinking and trying to focus in the strangely swirling lights.
“Yes. I’ll go ‘all in’ on this hand,” he said gesturing at the cards. “In exchange for that key.” He pointed at the car-key resting on the table.
“My key?” he said blearily. “I don’t know.”
He picked up his cards and looked at them. He had the Six of Clubs and the King of Clubs. On the table were the Jack of Clubs, the Ace of Clubs and the Jack of Diamonds.
“I’m out for this round,” said Felix conspiratorially. “Would you like my advice?”
“Ok,” said Tom, swaying slightly in his seat.
Felix leaned over his shoulder and looked at the cards.
“You might get a flush,” he whispered very quietly in his ear. “You need one more club. If the next two cards are a Queen and a Ten, you might even get a straight.”
Tom nodded enthusiastically, and said, “That’s a good thing?”
“Yes,” said Felix mildly, tilting his head lightly.
“Ok,” said Tom, “I’m in.”
“Brilliant!” said Chris, rubbing his hands together. “Let’s have the final two cards dealt out then!”
The final two cards were tossed up and shown to be a Jack of Spades and a Queen of Clubs.
“So, what do you have?” said Chris, watching Tom carefully.
He threw his cards down on the table and stared at them.
“A flush of clubs,” said Felix, rearranging them for him. “Six, Jack, Queen, King, Ace.”
“A fair hand,” said Chris with a nod. He placed his own hand down and leant back in the chair.
“Full house,” said Felix, rearranging the cards. “Jacks full of Aces.”
“You lose,” said Chris, with a smile.
Tom leant sideways in his chair and kept going, until he hit the ground with a thump.
“Oh dear,” said Chris mildly. “Perhaps our friend has had too much to drink.” He picked up Tom’s keys and pocketed them, along with all his money.
Showing posts with label Modern Myth. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Modern Myth. Show all posts
Thursday, 20 November 2008
Wednesday, 19 November 2008
Nano Modern Myth 2.5.3
This one just starts I'm afraid. The scene is: Eurig, Eluned, Felix, Tom, Cerys and Aoife (new character) are in the sitting room. Eurig and Eluned have just arrived. Euan and Callum are upstairs in their rooms.
Eurig wraps an arm around Eluned and directs her to a sofa in the corner of the room.
“Let’s sit over here, babe,” he said soothingly.
“That’s a nice necklace,” she said pointedly, staring at Cery’s neck.
Cerys reached up protectively and touched the fine-spun, heavily jewelled necklace.
“Yes, thank you,” she replied.
“She’s always wearing that necklace,” chipped in Felix. “It’s her most prized possession.”
“It is at that,” Cerys replied with a sigh.
“Not surprising given the price she paid,” Felix sniggered wickedly.
“It was a present,” she replied admonishingly. “I don’t know what it cost.”
“But that’s not really the issue, is it?” Felix said in a sing-song voice. “It’s more a question of what it cost you.”
“Oh, shush, you,” she replied irritably. “I’m going to the loo. You can pick a fight with someone else while I’m gone.”
Cerys got up and left the room.
“Yes, that’s enough, Felix,” Tom growled from his corner.
“Fine, whatever,” Eluned said, rolling her eyes. “I was only asking. Come on, Eurig, let’s go to your room.”
Eurig blushed slightly, but got up nonetheless and the two of them headed for the doorway.
“Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do,” said Felix with a leer.
“And what exactly would that be?” Tom snapped at him.
“Fair point!” Felix sniggered, rubbing his hands on his thighs.
“Maybe I should go too,” said Aoife, shifting slightly uncomfortably in her seat.
“No, don’t go on his account,” said Tom, leaning forward in his chair.
“No, do stay,” said Felix quickly, “if you go I won’t have Tom’s cow-eyed expressions to entertain myself.”
Aoife blushed, looking down at her hands.
Tom spluttered incoherently.
“So what is it with you two then?” Felix continued, quirking an eyebrow. “Just fuck-buddies or are you in a proper relationship or what?”
“That’s none of your business!” Tom managed to articulate, his face flushed red.
“So you are sleeping together!” Felix exclaimed. “That would explain it.”
“Explain what?” Aoife replied sharply, narrowing her eyes.
“Oh, everything!” said Felix loftily. “Don’t worry. I’ll keep the secret.”
He tapped the side of his nose with his hand.
“But I have to tell you guys,” he continued, shaking his head. “It’s not much of a secret. Everyone knows that something is up.”
“Well everyone else shouldn’t be poking their nose into other people’s business!” said Tom hotly, shifting restlessly in his chair.
“I’m going,” said Aoife, getting to her feet. “I’ll speak to you again sometime.”
She hastened from the room.
“You’re ever so tense,” said Felix, winking at Tom.
“Are you surprised?” said Tom fretfully. “Why do you want to go messing things up between me and Aoife?”
“Whilst she does have very beautiful blonde hair,” said Felix contemplatively, “I must admit I wouldn’t have thought she was your type.”
“What do you mean by that?” said Tom tensely, a frown crossing his brow.
“I just thought you were more the other way inclined, that’s all,” said Felix loftily, swiping imaginary dust from his top.
“Leave me alone!” snapped Tom, jumping to his feet. “In fact, you can get out of my house! You don’t live here, you know!”
“Fine,” said Felix quietly. “Seems I’ve hit a nerve.”
He stalked towards Tom, paused half-way passed him and looked back. Meeting his eyes, he smiled and then winked.
“You know, there’s an offer there, if you ever want to take it,” he muttered in a deep voice.
“Just get out,” Tom snapped back, his body tense.
Felix shrugged and left the room, bumping into Cerys in the hallway.
“There’s only Tom left in there,” he said gesturing over his shoulder. “Everyone else has abandoned ship I’m afraid.”
Cerys was about to reply when there was a knock at the door. Felix strode over and opened it to reveal a tall man with short-cropped dark brown hair framing the doorway. His dark brown eyes met Felix’s pale ones and the two paused, their postures tense.
“Do I know you?” Felix asked cautiously.
“I’m here to see Eurig,” he replied in his slow, deep voice.
Cerys sprung down the hallway and peered over Felix’s shoulder.
“Ryan!” she exclaimed happily. “Come on in!”
“You know this man?” said Felix, still defensive.
“Yes, yes,” she tutted, pushing Felix aside. “Let him in, man.”
Ryan stepped into the hallway as Felix backed off.
“I’m going now anyway,” said Felix, still eyeing up the stranger.
He pushed through the doorway and slammed it shut behind him.
***
Eluned sighed and rolled out of the bed. She flung on Eurig’s dressing gown and picked up her clothes. She left the room and was heading towards the bathroom when another door opened and Euan stuck his head out.
“Ah, sorry Eluned,” he said, darting his eyes away, “I thought it might be Eurig.”
“No it isn’t,” she replied boldly, staring at him.
“I just wondered who was at the door. I couldn’t catch what Cerys said,” he added, still more awkwardly.
“I think she said it was a bloke called Ryan or something,” Eluned replied, shifting the weight of her clothes in her hands.
“Ah, really?” he said with a nod. “Thanks.”
“So what have you been up to all secretive?” Eluned asked, pushing towards his door and trying to look over his shoulder.
“Just some work,” said Euan, slightly alarmed.
“Work, eh?” she said doubtfully. “What kind of work?”
“Just stuff that’s part of my English degree,” he said, backing away slightly and trying desperately not to look too closely at her barely concealed nudity.
“What’s that you’ve got on your desk?” she asked, leaning so close to look past him, that the towel of her bath-robe was brushing against Euan.
He glanced over his shoulder nervously.
“A family heirloom,” he blurted suddenly, then cursed himself inwardly. “Just a book from the library.”
“Really?” she replied. “It looks very old. Is it valuable?”
He shook his head.
Eurig wraps an arm around Eluned and directs her to a sofa in the corner of the room.
“Let’s sit over here, babe,” he said soothingly.
“That’s a nice necklace,” she said pointedly, staring at Cery’s neck.
Cerys reached up protectively and touched the fine-spun, heavily jewelled necklace.
“Yes, thank you,” she replied.
“She’s always wearing that necklace,” chipped in Felix. “It’s her most prized possession.”
“It is at that,” Cerys replied with a sigh.
“Not surprising given the price she paid,” Felix sniggered wickedly.
“It was a present,” she replied admonishingly. “I don’t know what it cost.”
“But that’s not really the issue, is it?” Felix said in a sing-song voice. “It’s more a question of what it cost you.”
“Oh, shush, you,” she replied irritably. “I’m going to the loo. You can pick a fight with someone else while I’m gone.”
Cerys got up and left the room.
“Yes, that’s enough, Felix,” Tom growled from his corner.
“Fine, whatever,” Eluned said, rolling her eyes. “I was only asking. Come on, Eurig, let’s go to your room.”
Eurig blushed slightly, but got up nonetheless and the two of them headed for the doorway.
“Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do,” said Felix with a leer.
“And what exactly would that be?” Tom snapped at him.
“Fair point!” Felix sniggered, rubbing his hands on his thighs.
“Maybe I should go too,” said Aoife, shifting slightly uncomfortably in her seat.
“No, don’t go on his account,” said Tom, leaning forward in his chair.
“No, do stay,” said Felix quickly, “if you go I won’t have Tom’s cow-eyed expressions to entertain myself.”
Aoife blushed, looking down at her hands.
Tom spluttered incoherently.
“So what is it with you two then?” Felix continued, quirking an eyebrow. “Just fuck-buddies or are you in a proper relationship or what?”
“That’s none of your business!” Tom managed to articulate, his face flushed red.
“So you are sleeping together!” Felix exclaimed. “That would explain it.”
“Explain what?” Aoife replied sharply, narrowing her eyes.
“Oh, everything!” said Felix loftily. “Don’t worry. I’ll keep the secret.”
He tapped the side of his nose with his hand.
“But I have to tell you guys,” he continued, shaking his head. “It’s not much of a secret. Everyone knows that something is up.”
“Well everyone else shouldn’t be poking their nose into other people’s business!” said Tom hotly, shifting restlessly in his chair.
“I’m going,” said Aoife, getting to her feet. “I’ll speak to you again sometime.”
She hastened from the room.
“You’re ever so tense,” said Felix, winking at Tom.
“Are you surprised?” said Tom fretfully. “Why do you want to go messing things up between me and Aoife?”
“Whilst she does have very beautiful blonde hair,” said Felix contemplatively, “I must admit I wouldn’t have thought she was your type.”
“What do you mean by that?” said Tom tensely, a frown crossing his brow.
“I just thought you were more the other way inclined, that’s all,” said Felix loftily, swiping imaginary dust from his top.
“Leave me alone!” snapped Tom, jumping to his feet. “In fact, you can get out of my house! You don’t live here, you know!”
“Fine,” said Felix quietly. “Seems I’ve hit a nerve.”
He stalked towards Tom, paused half-way passed him and looked back. Meeting his eyes, he smiled and then winked.
“You know, there’s an offer there, if you ever want to take it,” he muttered in a deep voice.
“Just get out,” Tom snapped back, his body tense.
Felix shrugged and left the room, bumping into Cerys in the hallway.
“There’s only Tom left in there,” he said gesturing over his shoulder. “Everyone else has abandoned ship I’m afraid.”
Cerys was about to reply when there was a knock at the door. Felix strode over and opened it to reveal a tall man with short-cropped dark brown hair framing the doorway. His dark brown eyes met Felix’s pale ones and the two paused, their postures tense.
“Do I know you?” Felix asked cautiously.
“I’m here to see Eurig,” he replied in his slow, deep voice.
Cerys sprung down the hallway and peered over Felix’s shoulder.
“Ryan!” she exclaimed happily. “Come on in!”
“You know this man?” said Felix, still defensive.
“Yes, yes,” she tutted, pushing Felix aside. “Let him in, man.”
Ryan stepped into the hallway as Felix backed off.
“I’m going now anyway,” said Felix, still eyeing up the stranger.
He pushed through the doorway and slammed it shut behind him.
***
Eluned sighed and rolled out of the bed. She flung on Eurig’s dressing gown and picked up her clothes. She left the room and was heading towards the bathroom when another door opened and Euan stuck his head out.
“Ah, sorry Eluned,” he said, darting his eyes away, “I thought it might be Eurig.”
“No it isn’t,” she replied boldly, staring at him.
“I just wondered who was at the door. I couldn’t catch what Cerys said,” he added, still more awkwardly.
“I think she said it was a bloke called Ryan or something,” Eluned replied, shifting the weight of her clothes in her hands.
“Ah, really?” he said with a nod. “Thanks.”
“So what have you been up to all secretive?” Eluned asked, pushing towards his door and trying to look over his shoulder.
“Just some work,” said Euan, slightly alarmed.
“Work, eh?” she said doubtfully. “What kind of work?”
“Just stuff that’s part of my English degree,” he said, backing away slightly and trying desperately not to look too closely at her barely concealed nudity.
“What’s that you’ve got on your desk?” she asked, leaning so close to look past him, that the towel of her bath-robe was brushing against Euan.
He glanced over his shoulder nervously.
“A family heirloom,” he blurted suddenly, then cursed himself inwardly. “Just a book from the library.”
“Really?” she replied. “It looks very old. Is it valuable?”
He shook his head.
Friday, 14 November 2008
Nano Modern Myth 2.5.2
Euan left the room and shortly after they heard the front door slam.
“So, while the cat’s away, the mice’ll play,” Felix said, rubbing his hands together. “What should we do now?”
“Well, I don’t know about you, but I’m going to take Euan’s seat!” Eurig exclaimed, leaping up and springing into the large armchair.
“It’s a great view from that chair,” Simon said in his soft, gentle voice. “You can see the whole city from there.”
“I know,” Felix replied with a wicked grin. “It’s a great chair for spying from.”
“I wouldn’t have thought there was much to spy on,” Simon replied, a curious expression crossing his pale green eyes.
“Ooh, you’d be surprised,” Felix replied enigmatically.
“Look!” said Eurig, sitting up in the chair, “It’s that girl again!”
Felix and Simon got up and crowded over Eurig’s shoulders.
“Which girl?” Simon asked, squinting out the window.
“Down there, coming up the road,” Eurig said, gesturing at a figure climbing up the hill, her white-blonde hair a bright guiding beacon. “I’ve seen her around before.”
“She’s a bit of alright, isn’t she?” Felix leered with a wink.
“I know her!” Simon exclaimed, to the surprise of the others. “That’s Eluned. Welsh girl, if you couldn’t guess. Does Geography with me and Tom.”
“Ooh, never!” Eurig replied, his eyes fixed on the girl climbing the hill.
“You should go ask her out,” said Felix, clapping one hand on Eurig’s shoulder. “Play up to the Welsh card.”
“Oh, no, I couldn’t do that,” Eurig replied with a blush. “I don’t even know her. Besides, she might already have a boyfriend and then it would just be embarrassing.”
“I don’t think she does,” Simon replied thoughtfully, running one hand through his straggly, brownish-red hair. “I could find out if you like.”
“Could you?” Eurig replied, biting his lip and fidgeting.
“You’d better get in there quickly before someone else does,” said Felix, rolling his eyes. “I’ll go ask her if you like.”
He started walking towards the door.
“No! Not you!” Eurig exclaimed sharply, jumping to his feet. “You’ll only cause trouble, you.”
“Fine, whatever,” Felix replied with a shrug. “I was just thinking that if I start heading down the hill now, I’d be able to ‘accidentally’ bump into her.”
“I suppose I could do that,” said Simon, nodding his head. “I mean, I already sort of know her. It wouldn’t be so weird for me to stop and say ‘hi’.”
“Could you do that for me?” Eurig asked, his eyes wide.
“Yeah, I reckon so,” Simon replied with a smile. “I’d better go now though.”
He headed through the door and into the hallway.
“I owe you one!” Eurig called after him, then sat back in the chair to watch the action.
****
Eluned stopped and sized him up, her pale grey eyes searching over him.
“Good, thanks,” she said, flicking her white-blonde hair over her shoulder. Her voice was cold, her accent high, sharp and nasal.
“I don’t see you around in so many lectures anymore,” he said playfully, with a conspiratorial smile.
“I think we’ve taken different modules this year,” she said dismissively, with a one-shouldered shrug.
“So how’s life been treating you?” he asked expansively, concealing his sinking feeling that this was not going so well.
“Same as ever,” she replied, a slight frown crossing her clear, pale skin.
Simon reached back into the dregs of his memory and pulled up a name of whom he’d heard was an ex-boyfriend.
“Still together with Ben?” he asked lightly, putting his hands in the pockets of his hoodie.
“No,” she replied suspiciously. “We split up about a year ago.”
“Oh!” he said, putting on a show of being slightly embarrassed. “Are you seeing someone else then?”
She paused, looking him up and down with a slightly calculating look.
“I’m not,” she replied eventually. “Why are you asking?”
“Just making conversation!” he replied jovially, with a defensive hand gesture. “Although…” he trailed off, not entirely sure how to proceed with his next statement.
“Look, I’m not interested in you Simon,” she said sharply. “To save you the bother of asking.”
“It’s not me!” he said rashly, taken aback. “I mean…”
“Oh, so there is someone, is there?” she said sarcastically. “Go on then, who is it?”
Simon shifted uncomfortably on the spot.
“Well, it’s just… it’s my friend, you see,” he began awkwardly. “I’ve heard him say he likes you and I just thought that, seeing as you were passing, I might just, you know, test the waters.”
“Which friend?” she replied impatiently, quirking a finely-plucked eyebrow.
“Err… Do you know Eurig?” he asked hesitantly.
“Yes I do. There’s him and his twin sister Cerys, both of them come here to do their degrees.”
Eluned paused again, narrowing her eyes thoughtfully.
“Yes, that’s him,” Simon replied faintly.
“You know, it’s funny,” she said stridently, “I always thought he was gay.”
“Really?” he replied neutrally, shifting the weight in his feet.
“Yes. You too for that matter,” she said, with a sniff.
“Well, do you want to go out with him or not?” he said, slight irritation in his tone now.
“No denials, then?” she said with a cackle. “Ok, look. He wants to ask me out he can damn well call me himself.”
“He doesn’t have your number,” Simon replied quickly.
“God, a man who doesn’t have my number,” she said with a shake of her head, “now there’s a shocker.”
“Why not just meet up with him, say, Friday at 8? In the Union Bar?” said Simon, irritation definitely evident in his tone.
“The Union Bar? Screw that,” she replied loftily. “If I’m going on a blind date he can take me somewhere nice. And he can pay.”
“So, while the cat’s away, the mice’ll play,” Felix said, rubbing his hands together. “What should we do now?”
“Well, I don’t know about you, but I’m going to take Euan’s seat!” Eurig exclaimed, leaping up and springing into the large armchair.
“It’s a great view from that chair,” Simon said in his soft, gentle voice. “You can see the whole city from there.”
“I know,” Felix replied with a wicked grin. “It’s a great chair for spying from.”
“I wouldn’t have thought there was much to spy on,” Simon replied, a curious expression crossing his pale green eyes.
“Ooh, you’d be surprised,” Felix replied enigmatically.
“Look!” said Eurig, sitting up in the chair, “It’s that girl again!”
Felix and Simon got up and crowded over Eurig’s shoulders.
“Which girl?” Simon asked, squinting out the window.
“Down there, coming up the road,” Eurig said, gesturing at a figure climbing up the hill, her white-blonde hair a bright guiding beacon. “I’ve seen her around before.”
“She’s a bit of alright, isn’t she?” Felix leered with a wink.
“I know her!” Simon exclaimed, to the surprise of the others. “That’s Eluned. Welsh girl, if you couldn’t guess. Does Geography with me and Tom.”
“Ooh, never!” Eurig replied, his eyes fixed on the girl climbing the hill.
“You should go ask her out,” said Felix, clapping one hand on Eurig’s shoulder. “Play up to the Welsh card.”
“Oh, no, I couldn’t do that,” Eurig replied with a blush. “I don’t even know her. Besides, she might already have a boyfriend and then it would just be embarrassing.”
“I don’t think she does,” Simon replied thoughtfully, running one hand through his straggly, brownish-red hair. “I could find out if you like.”
“Could you?” Eurig replied, biting his lip and fidgeting.
“You’d better get in there quickly before someone else does,” said Felix, rolling his eyes. “I’ll go ask her if you like.”
He started walking towards the door.
“No! Not you!” Eurig exclaimed sharply, jumping to his feet. “You’ll only cause trouble, you.”
“Fine, whatever,” Felix replied with a shrug. “I was just thinking that if I start heading down the hill now, I’d be able to ‘accidentally’ bump into her.”
“I suppose I could do that,” said Simon, nodding his head. “I mean, I already sort of know her. It wouldn’t be so weird for me to stop and say ‘hi’.”
“Could you do that for me?” Eurig asked, his eyes wide.
“Yeah, I reckon so,” Simon replied with a smile. “I’d better go now though.”
He headed through the door and into the hallway.
“I owe you one!” Eurig called after him, then sat back in the chair to watch the action.
****
Eluned stopped and sized him up, her pale grey eyes searching over him.
“Good, thanks,” she said, flicking her white-blonde hair over her shoulder. Her voice was cold, her accent high, sharp and nasal.
“I don’t see you around in so many lectures anymore,” he said playfully, with a conspiratorial smile.
“I think we’ve taken different modules this year,” she said dismissively, with a one-shouldered shrug.
“So how’s life been treating you?” he asked expansively, concealing his sinking feeling that this was not going so well.
“Same as ever,” she replied, a slight frown crossing her clear, pale skin.
Simon reached back into the dregs of his memory and pulled up a name of whom he’d heard was an ex-boyfriend.
“Still together with Ben?” he asked lightly, putting his hands in the pockets of his hoodie.
“No,” she replied suspiciously. “We split up about a year ago.”
“Oh!” he said, putting on a show of being slightly embarrassed. “Are you seeing someone else then?”
She paused, looking him up and down with a slightly calculating look.
“I’m not,” she replied eventually. “Why are you asking?”
“Just making conversation!” he replied jovially, with a defensive hand gesture. “Although…” he trailed off, not entirely sure how to proceed with his next statement.
“Look, I’m not interested in you Simon,” she said sharply. “To save you the bother of asking.”
“It’s not me!” he said rashly, taken aback. “I mean…”
“Oh, so there is someone, is there?” she said sarcastically. “Go on then, who is it?”
Simon shifted uncomfortably on the spot.
“Well, it’s just… it’s my friend, you see,” he began awkwardly. “I’ve heard him say he likes you and I just thought that, seeing as you were passing, I might just, you know, test the waters.”
“Which friend?” she replied impatiently, quirking a finely-plucked eyebrow.
“Err… Do you know Eurig?” he asked hesitantly.
“Yes I do. There’s him and his twin sister Cerys, both of them come here to do their degrees.”
Eluned paused again, narrowing her eyes thoughtfully.
“Yes, that’s him,” Simon replied faintly.
“You know, it’s funny,” she said stridently, “I always thought he was gay.”
“Really?” he replied neutrally, shifting the weight in his feet.
“Yes. You too for that matter,” she said, with a sniff.
“Well, do you want to go out with him or not?” he said, slight irritation in his tone now.
“No denials, then?” she said with a cackle. “Ok, look. He wants to ask me out he can damn well call me himself.”
“He doesn’t have your number,” Simon replied quickly.
“God, a man who doesn’t have my number,” she said with a shake of her head, “now there’s a shocker.”
“Why not just meet up with him, say, Friday at 8? In the Union Bar?” said Simon, irritation definitely evident in his tone.
“The Union Bar? Screw that,” she replied loftily. “If I’m going on a blind date he can take me somewhere nice. And he can pay.”
Thursday, 13 November 2008
Nano Modern Myth 2.5.1
Five cool-points to whomsoever first tells me which myth this was lifted from.
Matt entered the small, narrow hallway, with its dark tiles and orangey-red walls. There were piles of papers and miscellaneous stuff stacked everywhere. It looked typically studenty. There was even a bike propped against the wall.
“It’s through in the kitchen,” Euan said, following along behind him.
Gathered around the kitchen table Felix, Callum and Cerys were sitting and chatting. They paused when Euan and Matt came in.
“This is Matt Smith,” said Euan, with a gesture, “He’s come about the boiler.”
“Ooh, good,” said Cerys with a slight shiver, “It’s getting very cold in here!”
“We wouldn’t want that,” said Matt with a smile.
Cerys shook her head and smiled.
“We’ll go through into the sitting room,” said Callum, getting up, “It’ll give you some space to work.”
The three of them got up and shuffled round to the doorway. Matt stepped back to let them pass.
“So what’s up with this boiler then?” asked Matt, going to take a look at the device.
“I’m not sure. We don’t get hot water and none of the radiators work. It’s been like this since yesterday,” said Euan thoughtfully.
“Ok, well I’ll get on and have a look at it,” said Matt with a nod.
“Ok, I’ll be in the sitting room if you need me,” said Euan and wandered away.
He found Callum, Cerys and Felix lounging around the sitting room, all of them looking fairly pale and tired.
“How’re the hangovers?” Euan asked, trailing into the room and flopping down into an empty chair.
“Sore,” replied Callum, rubbing a hand over his eyes. “That’ll teach us for trying to ‘drink ourselves warm’ yesterday.”
***
“Can I get you a cup of tea?” Felix asked, gesturing at the kettle.
“That’d be grand, thanks,” Matt replied with a grin.
Felix started to prepare the tea-making equipment.
“You don’t live here, do you?” Matt asked, glancing over at Felix.
“No, just visiting,” Felix replied with a shrug. “As is Cerys.”
“That’d be the blond girl?” Matt asked curiously.
“That’s the one,” said Felix with a slightly insidious smile.
“Girlfriend is she?” Matt asked with forced nonchalance.
“No, no,” said Felix seriously, “She’s single at the moment. On the look-out though.”
Matt grunted and allowed himself a small smile.
“Here’s your tea,” said Felix, handing the steaming mug to Matt.
“Don’t suppose you have her number, do you?” Matt asked, blowing the heat off the top layer of his drink.
***
“Made a deal with Matt to get the boiler fixed before twelve o’clock,” said Felix with a grin.
“What kind of deal?” said Euan suspiciously.
“Said I’d let him have Cerys’s number if he got the job done in time,” said Felix, with a glimmer in his eyes.
“You did what?” said Cerys, sitting bolt upright. “I can’t believe you did that! I don’t want to go out with Matt! And you can’t just go giving my number away to any old person!”
“It’s not any old person,” said Felix with a shrug. “It’s Matt. The man who fixes the boiler.”
“Look, boy,” said Cerys, standing up and putting her hands on her hips. “You go back in there and sort this mess out right now, you hear? I’m not having any blind dates with any strange men, ok?”
“Can’t do that,” said Felix. “He might not want to fix the boiler if I tell him that.”
“Then find some other way to fix it!” said Cerys. “But I repeat, you are NOT to give my number to Matt the boiler man! Ok?”
***
“It’s nearly five to twelve now and he’s still not back!” Cerys muttered anxiously.
Suddenly they heard the sound of running footsteps down the corridor and the front door slam. Felix meandered into the room.
“What happened?” Cerys demanded.
“Was that Matt?” asked Euan. “Has he fixed our heating?”
“Calm down, people,” said Felix, holding up his hands. “Our problem is solved.”
“What did you do?” Callum asked in wonderment.
“I told Matt that I saw a man drive off in a white van just like his one, not twenty minutes ago,” replied Felix innocently. “He’s just gone to check.”
“His van?” said Euan, widening his eyes. “You’ve not gone and done something to his van, have you?”
“I’ve relocated it to a more convenient location,” he replied loftily.
“And how on Earth did you manage that?” said Cerys loudly.
“He doesn’t lock his van and hot-wiring a piece of junk like that is child’s play.” Felix shrugged and grinned.
“Gods!” exclaimed Euan, “We’re in for it now. Please tell me he’d fixed the boiler before he left?”
“Of course not,” said Felix, shaking his head. “I had to get him out of the house before he won the bet.”
Callum groaned.
“You idiot!” said Euan. “Now what are we going to do for heat?
“You should have just left well alone,” said Cerys, shaking her head.
“Some thanks, I get,” Felix replied. “I’m off anyway. Things are starting to heat up around here. And I’m not talking about the temperature!”
With that, he swanned out of the room and they heard the front door slam.
“I can’t believe he did that,” Callum muttered.
“At least he didn’t give my number away,” said Cerys. “I’ve had enough creeps with my number, thank you very much.”
They heard a knock at the front door.
“I’ll go,” said Euan with a sigh.
He opened the front door to reveal Matt standing there, very red in the face.
“Now I don’t know who it is has been playing silly-buggers with my van,” he spat at Euan. “But I’m taking my stuff and getting the hell out of here. You can fix your own damn boiler.”
Matt entered the small, narrow hallway, with its dark tiles and orangey-red walls. There were piles of papers and miscellaneous stuff stacked everywhere. It looked typically studenty. There was even a bike propped against the wall.
“It’s through in the kitchen,” Euan said, following along behind him.
Gathered around the kitchen table Felix, Callum and Cerys were sitting and chatting. They paused when Euan and Matt came in.
“This is Matt Smith,” said Euan, with a gesture, “He’s come about the boiler.”
“Ooh, good,” said Cerys with a slight shiver, “It’s getting very cold in here!”
“We wouldn’t want that,” said Matt with a smile.
Cerys shook her head and smiled.
“We’ll go through into the sitting room,” said Callum, getting up, “It’ll give you some space to work.”
The three of them got up and shuffled round to the doorway. Matt stepped back to let them pass.
“So what’s up with this boiler then?” asked Matt, going to take a look at the device.
“I’m not sure. We don’t get hot water and none of the radiators work. It’s been like this since yesterday,” said Euan thoughtfully.
“Ok, well I’ll get on and have a look at it,” said Matt with a nod.
“Ok, I’ll be in the sitting room if you need me,” said Euan and wandered away.
He found Callum, Cerys and Felix lounging around the sitting room, all of them looking fairly pale and tired.
“How’re the hangovers?” Euan asked, trailing into the room and flopping down into an empty chair.
“Sore,” replied Callum, rubbing a hand over his eyes. “That’ll teach us for trying to ‘drink ourselves warm’ yesterday.”
***
“Can I get you a cup of tea?” Felix asked, gesturing at the kettle.
“That’d be grand, thanks,” Matt replied with a grin.
Felix started to prepare the tea-making equipment.
“You don’t live here, do you?” Matt asked, glancing over at Felix.
“No, just visiting,” Felix replied with a shrug. “As is Cerys.”
“That’d be the blond girl?” Matt asked curiously.
“That’s the one,” said Felix with a slightly insidious smile.
“Girlfriend is she?” Matt asked with forced nonchalance.
“No, no,” said Felix seriously, “She’s single at the moment. On the look-out though.”
Matt grunted and allowed himself a small smile.
“Here’s your tea,” said Felix, handing the steaming mug to Matt.
“Don’t suppose you have her number, do you?” Matt asked, blowing the heat off the top layer of his drink.
***
“Made a deal with Matt to get the boiler fixed before twelve o’clock,” said Felix with a grin.
“What kind of deal?” said Euan suspiciously.
“Said I’d let him have Cerys’s number if he got the job done in time,” said Felix, with a glimmer in his eyes.
“You did what?” said Cerys, sitting bolt upright. “I can’t believe you did that! I don’t want to go out with Matt! And you can’t just go giving my number away to any old person!”
“It’s not any old person,” said Felix with a shrug. “It’s Matt. The man who fixes the boiler.”
“Look, boy,” said Cerys, standing up and putting her hands on her hips. “You go back in there and sort this mess out right now, you hear? I’m not having any blind dates with any strange men, ok?”
“Can’t do that,” said Felix. “He might not want to fix the boiler if I tell him that.”
“Then find some other way to fix it!” said Cerys. “But I repeat, you are NOT to give my number to Matt the boiler man! Ok?”
***
“It’s nearly five to twelve now and he’s still not back!” Cerys muttered anxiously.
Suddenly they heard the sound of running footsteps down the corridor and the front door slam. Felix meandered into the room.
“What happened?” Cerys demanded.
“Was that Matt?” asked Euan. “Has he fixed our heating?”
“Calm down, people,” said Felix, holding up his hands. “Our problem is solved.”
“What did you do?” Callum asked in wonderment.
“I told Matt that I saw a man drive off in a white van just like his one, not twenty minutes ago,” replied Felix innocently. “He’s just gone to check.”
“His van?” said Euan, widening his eyes. “You’ve not gone and done something to his van, have you?”
“I’ve relocated it to a more convenient location,” he replied loftily.
“And how on Earth did you manage that?” said Cerys loudly.
“He doesn’t lock his van and hot-wiring a piece of junk like that is child’s play.” Felix shrugged and grinned.
“Gods!” exclaimed Euan, “We’re in for it now. Please tell me he’d fixed the boiler before he left?”
“Of course not,” said Felix, shaking his head. “I had to get him out of the house before he won the bet.”
Callum groaned.
“You idiot!” said Euan. “Now what are we going to do for heat?
“You should have just left well alone,” said Cerys, shaking her head.
“Some thanks, I get,” Felix replied. “I’m off anyway. Things are starting to heat up around here. And I’m not talking about the temperature!”
With that, he swanned out of the room and they heard the front door slam.
“I can’t believe he did that,” Callum muttered.
“At least he didn’t give my number away,” said Cerys. “I’ve had enough creeps with my number, thank you very much.”
They heard a knock at the front door.
“I’ll go,” said Euan with a sigh.
He opened the front door to reveal Matt standing there, very red in the face.
“Now I don’t know who it is has been playing silly-buggers with my van,” he spat at Euan. “But I’m taking my stuff and getting the hell out of here. You can fix your own damn boiler.”
Nano Modern Myth 2.4.3
“Yes?” the clear, business-like voice of the receptionist cut across his meandering thoughts.
“I’m here to visit Michael Caswell. Could you tell me which room he’s in please?” Euan asked politely, with a pleasant smile.
The receptionist met his eyes and did an almost imperceptible double-take. It was only really noticeable if you were looking for it, or if you were expecting it, which Euan had come to. She blinked and looked away, focusing on her computer screen and started to rapidly type in the search criteria.
“Mr Caswell is in Room 4D, in the ‘Gradilsgy Wing.’ Do you need directions?” she asked promptly, her fingers hovering over the keys.
“No thank you,” said Euan, shaking his head. “I know my way around.”
He walked away from the reception and headed down the familiar corridors. The white walls, the long glaring strip lights and the squeaky smell of disinfectant, triggering hosts of memories that probed at his mind. It was very quiet in here today. He was the only one walking down this corridor and the only distinct sound was that of his feet tapping out a beat on the floor. He reached the elevators and pressed the ‘Up’ button. One of the elevators opened immediately and Euan stepped inside, turning to press the button for the fourth floor.
***
“Hello Mike,” he said approaching the bed in the middle of the room, without looking directly at its occupant. “It’s me, Euan.”
Mike turned his head and looked at Euan.
“Yes,” he replied, slightly sarcastically. “I can still see you know.”
“Touché,” said Euan, with a slightly twisted smile. He looked Mike in the eye, who stared straight back, unflinchingly.
“Go on, then,” said Mike, turning his head slightly, “Take a seat.”
Euan dragged a chair up close to the bed and sat down.
“So, how are things?” Mike asked. “Seen much of the others yet?”
Euan shook his head.
“No. We’re all coming down this week though. You know, getting our stuff moved in ready for the next term,” replied Euan, slightly awkwardly.
Mike nodded his head fractionally.
“Who did you get to take my place in the end?” he enquired slightly icily.
“Well, Eurig said he’d come live in our house and Penny and Cerys have found someone new for their house,” said Euan, blushing slightly. “It’s just so we can afford the rent you know.”
“I know,” he replied slightly waspishly, then sighed. “I get these moods sometimes these days. I don’t seem to have any control over them.”
Euan nodded, not sure exactly what to say.
“So, who’s moving in with Penny and Cerys? Just three in their house, wasn’t it?” Mike asked, his tone lighter.
“Do you know Aoife?” said Euan, relaxing a little.
“Not very well,” Mike replied thoughtfully, “Long blonde hair? Quite tall? Very Irish?”
“That’s the one,” Euan said with a smile.
“I bet you Tom’s pleased,” said Mike with a quirky smile, “He’s had his eyes on her for ages.”
Euan laughed.
“Yeah, he’s trying to hide it though,” he said with a grin, “But Tom is terrible at disguising or pretending.”
***
“They tell me it’s my fourth cervical vertebrae,” Mike continued, looking up at the ceiling.
“What does that mean?” Euan asked, after a long pause had stretched out between them.
Mike looked back across at Euan.
“It means that if I’d damaged my third cervical vertebrae, I probably wouldn’t be able to breathe. Small mercies, eh?” he said in an ironically playful tone.
“Christ!” Euan exclaimed, exhaling sharply.
“I know,” Mike said, shaking his head.
There was another protracted silence between them.
“But is there any chance, you know, of recovery?” said Euan, cutting into the silence.
“Yes, some ridiculously small odds of some sort,” Mike replied. “I may be able to have more mobility in my head some day, possibly even feel my chest or shoulders.”
“I’m sorry,” said Euan, shifting awkwardly in his seat.
“Don’t be sorry, I find arms and legs to be vastly overrated items. I’m not dead am I? I could have been dead,” said Mike, once again in a mock-playful tone.
Euan smiled and the two of them fell once again into silence.
“Isn’t there some small part of you that would rather be?” said Euan in a rush, twisting his hands in his lap and looking away. There. He’d done it. He’d asked the question.
“No,” said Mike firmly, then paused and bit his bottom lip. He then continued, “Well, probably yes. But I’ve been given free entry into next summer’s exams, so I can pick up where I left off.”
“You’re still going to do your exams?” Euan exclaimed incredulously.
“Of course! Stressful little buggers that they are,” said Mike with a smile, “I could be the next Stephen Hawking, you never know. Plus, I thought I’d better jump in with that comparison before anyone else got there before me.”
Euan laughed.
“How’s Felix doing?” Mike asked suddenly, a slight frown creasing his forehead.
Euan gritted his teeth and narrowed his eyes.
“I don’t know. No-one’s talked to him since…” he broke off.
“Don’t,” said Mike firmly, trying to fix his gaze on Euan’s. “Don’t push him out and ignore him for my sake. It wasn’t his fault.”
“But if he hadn’t said what he did…” Euan began incredulously.
“I don’t care,” said Mike seriously. “Look, he played a stupid prank and there’s the end of it. If it’s going to be anyone’s fault, it’s going to be either mine, for not looking where I was going, or that van, for going through the red light.”
“I don’t know if the others will see it like that,” said Euan, shaking his head.
“Well, tell them that I don’t want them to blame him, ok?” said Mike firmly. “Tell them I’ll be very upset if I hear about them picking on him on my account.”
“I will do,” Euan replied with a shrug. “Some of them will come round. But I don’t think Tom will.”
“No, well, I don’t think Tom needs an excuse to hate Felix,” said Mike with a roll of his eyes.
***
“Are you still going to focus on that epic poem?” Mike asked.
“Yes. I think so. It’s really beautiful. I’ll have to read it to you sometime,” said Euan, a dreamy expression crossing his face.
“I’d like that,” said Mike with a smile. “You’ll have to come visit me in my new place.”
“New place?” said Euan curiously.
“Yes,” said Mike with a smile. “I’m moving into a care home for a while. It’s an unfortunate aspect of my condition that I need full-time care.”
Euan bowed his head and could not meet Mike’s eyes.
Mike smiled and then continued, “There’s a place called Wellsend about twenty miles from here. It’s near to my family and I’ll be looked after without having to be a burden on anyone I know.”
“I’ll definitely come visit you sometime,” said Euan, nodding his head assertively. “You’ll have to let me know the address.”
“Take the leaflet,” said Mike, his eyes pointing out a stack of paper on the bedside table. “It’s not like I can pick it up whenever I like.”
Euan stretched out a hand and picked up the leaflet. There was a picture of a long driveway, lined by silvery ash-trees, leading up to a smart old building. At the top of the leaflet was “Wellsend Community Care Home.”
“I’m here to visit Michael Caswell. Could you tell me which room he’s in please?” Euan asked politely, with a pleasant smile.
The receptionist met his eyes and did an almost imperceptible double-take. It was only really noticeable if you were looking for it, or if you were expecting it, which Euan had come to. She blinked and looked away, focusing on her computer screen and started to rapidly type in the search criteria.
“Mr Caswell is in Room 4D, in the ‘Gradilsgy Wing.’ Do you need directions?” she asked promptly, her fingers hovering over the keys.
“No thank you,” said Euan, shaking his head. “I know my way around.”
He walked away from the reception and headed down the familiar corridors. The white walls, the long glaring strip lights and the squeaky smell of disinfectant, triggering hosts of memories that probed at his mind. It was very quiet in here today. He was the only one walking down this corridor and the only distinct sound was that of his feet tapping out a beat on the floor. He reached the elevators and pressed the ‘Up’ button. One of the elevators opened immediately and Euan stepped inside, turning to press the button for the fourth floor.
***
“Hello Mike,” he said approaching the bed in the middle of the room, without looking directly at its occupant. “It’s me, Euan.”
Mike turned his head and looked at Euan.
“Yes,” he replied, slightly sarcastically. “I can still see you know.”
“Touché,” said Euan, with a slightly twisted smile. He looked Mike in the eye, who stared straight back, unflinchingly.
“Go on, then,” said Mike, turning his head slightly, “Take a seat.”
Euan dragged a chair up close to the bed and sat down.
“So, how are things?” Mike asked. “Seen much of the others yet?”
Euan shook his head.
“No. We’re all coming down this week though. You know, getting our stuff moved in ready for the next term,” replied Euan, slightly awkwardly.
Mike nodded his head fractionally.
“Who did you get to take my place in the end?” he enquired slightly icily.
“Well, Eurig said he’d come live in our house and Penny and Cerys have found someone new for their house,” said Euan, blushing slightly. “It’s just so we can afford the rent you know.”
“I know,” he replied slightly waspishly, then sighed. “I get these moods sometimes these days. I don’t seem to have any control over them.”
Euan nodded, not sure exactly what to say.
“So, who’s moving in with Penny and Cerys? Just three in their house, wasn’t it?” Mike asked, his tone lighter.
“Do you know Aoife?” said Euan, relaxing a little.
“Not very well,” Mike replied thoughtfully, “Long blonde hair? Quite tall? Very Irish?”
“That’s the one,” Euan said with a smile.
“I bet you Tom’s pleased,” said Mike with a quirky smile, “He’s had his eyes on her for ages.”
Euan laughed.
“Yeah, he’s trying to hide it though,” he said with a grin, “But Tom is terrible at disguising or pretending.”
***
“They tell me it’s my fourth cervical vertebrae,” Mike continued, looking up at the ceiling.
“What does that mean?” Euan asked, after a long pause had stretched out between them.
Mike looked back across at Euan.
“It means that if I’d damaged my third cervical vertebrae, I probably wouldn’t be able to breathe. Small mercies, eh?” he said in an ironically playful tone.
“Christ!” Euan exclaimed, exhaling sharply.
“I know,” Mike said, shaking his head.
There was another protracted silence between them.
“But is there any chance, you know, of recovery?” said Euan, cutting into the silence.
“Yes, some ridiculously small odds of some sort,” Mike replied. “I may be able to have more mobility in my head some day, possibly even feel my chest or shoulders.”
“I’m sorry,” said Euan, shifting awkwardly in his seat.
“Don’t be sorry, I find arms and legs to be vastly overrated items. I’m not dead am I? I could have been dead,” said Mike, once again in a mock-playful tone.
Euan smiled and the two of them fell once again into silence.
“Isn’t there some small part of you that would rather be?” said Euan in a rush, twisting his hands in his lap and looking away. There. He’d done it. He’d asked the question.
“No,” said Mike firmly, then paused and bit his bottom lip. He then continued, “Well, probably yes. But I’ve been given free entry into next summer’s exams, so I can pick up where I left off.”
“You’re still going to do your exams?” Euan exclaimed incredulously.
“Of course! Stressful little buggers that they are,” said Mike with a smile, “I could be the next Stephen Hawking, you never know. Plus, I thought I’d better jump in with that comparison before anyone else got there before me.”
Euan laughed.
“How’s Felix doing?” Mike asked suddenly, a slight frown creasing his forehead.
Euan gritted his teeth and narrowed his eyes.
“I don’t know. No-one’s talked to him since…” he broke off.
“Don’t,” said Mike firmly, trying to fix his gaze on Euan’s. “Don’t push him out and ignore him for my sake. It wasn’t his fault.”
“But if he hadn’t said what he did…” Euan began incredulously.
“I don’t care,” said Mike seriously. “Look, he played a stupid prank and there’s the end of it. If it’s going to be anyone’s fault, it’s going to be either mine, for not looking where I was going, or that van, for going through the red light.”
“I don’t know if the others will see it like that,” said Euan, shaking his head.
“Well, tell them that I don’t want them to blame him, ok?” said Mike firmly. “Tell them I’ll be very upset if I hear about them picking on him on my account.”
“I will do,” Euan replied with a shrug. “Some of them will come round. But I don’t think Tom will.”
“No, well, I don’t think Tom needs an excuse to hate Felix,” said Mike with a roll of his eyes.
***
“Are you still going to focus on that epic poem?” Mike asked.
“Yes. I think so. It’s really beautiful. I’ll have to read it to you sometime,” said Euan, a dreamy expression crossing his face.
“I’d like that,” said Mike with a smile. “You’ll have to come visit me in my new place.”
“New place?” said Euan curiously.
“Yes,” said Mike with a smile. “I’m moving into a care home for a while. It’s an unfortunate aspect of my condition that I need full-time care.”
Euan bowed his head and could not meet Mike’s eyes.
Mike smiled and then continued, “There’s a place called Wellsend about twenty miles from here. It’s near to my family and I’ll be looked after without having to be a burden on anyone I know.”
“I’ll definitely come visit you sometime,” said Euan, nodding his head assertively. “You’ll have to let me know the address.”
“Take the leaflet,” said Mike, his eyes pointing out a stack of paper on the bedside table. “It’s not like I can pick it up whenever I like.”
Euan stretched out a hand and picked up the leaflet. There was a picture of a long driveway, lined by silvery ash-trees, leading up to a smart old building. At the top of the leaflet was “Wellsend Community Care Home.”
Nano Modern Myth 2.4.2
Euan continued packing things into his rucksack, taking down the array of “Get Well Soon!” cards littering the surfaces of the room. The bright sunlight poured through the large double window, illuminating the white room with streaks of gold.
He picked up a small vanity mirror that had been left on the side table and looked at his reflection. He still found it strange to try and focus with only one eye. His depth perception just wasn’t what it was. He could see his face, paler now and less swollen than it had been. The scratches from the glass were now thin red lines criss-crossing his face, giving him what Penny described as a ‘raffish charm’. He looked into his good eye, which to him still looked slightly odd and blood-shot. He could not see the bad eye. The hard plastic eye cover was still taped over it, blocking any chance of vision from that side.
“So when are you getting out of here?” Tom asked, leaning against the window frame.
“Tomorrow, hopefully,” Euan replied.
“Ooh, brilliant!” said Cerys, rubbing her hands together. “The sooner the better, isn’t that right?”
“You’re right about that,” Euan replied with a smile.
“Have you seen much of Mike?” Callum asked, his earnest eyes meeting Euan’s.
“No,” Euan shook his head. “He’s still too ill to receive visitors.”
“It’s good to see you,” Penny said, pushing her way over to Euan and giving him a hug.
“Yes, and you,” he replied, hugging her back.
“You’re looking so much better from the last time we came,” said Eurig flamboyantly, jumping onto the end of Euan’s bed and crossing his legs.
“This eye is a lot better,” said Euan gesturing to the left one, “I can see so much more clearly out of it.”
“That’s good news,” Tom stated, with a firm nod.
“So, what’s been happening in the outside world?” Euan asked with a smile.
“Nothing much,” Cerys replied with a shrug.
“Just finishing up the last exams really,” said Callum, looking thoughtful.
“What are they going to do about your exams?” Tom asked, his expression concerned.
“They’re letting me take the re-sits in August, but with full credit,” said Euan. “I was surprised because I thought they were going to make me retake the entire year.”
“That’s great!” said Eurig with a broad smile.
“Yes, I’m very pleased,” said Euan with a matching smile.
“You know we haven’t seen anything of Felix since that day,” said Callum solemnly, “He’s keeping a very low profile.”
“And well he might!” exclaimed Tom fiercely.
“He’s not exactly popular at the moment,” Penny muttered.
He picked up a small vanity mirror that had been left on the side table and looked at his reflection. He still found it strange to try and focus with only one eye. His depth perception just wasn’t what it was. He could see his face, paler now and less swollen than it had been. The scratches from the glass were now thin red lines criss-crossing his face, giving him what Penny described as a ‘raffish charm’. He looked into his good eye, which to him still looked slightly odd and blood-shot. He could not see the bad eye. The hard plastic eye cover was still taped over it, blocking any chance of vision from that side.
“So when are you getting out of here?” Tom asked, leaning against the window frame.
“Tomorrow, hopefully,” Euan replied.
“Ooh, brilliant!” said Cerys, rubbing her hands together. “The sooner the better, isn’t that right?”
“You’re right about that,” Euan replied with a smile.
“Have you seen much of Mike?” Callum asked, his earnest eyes meeting Euan’s.
“No,” Euan shook his head. “He’s still too ill to receive visitors.”
“It’s good to see you,” Penny said, pushing her way over to Euan and giving him a hug.
“Yes, and you,” he replied, hugging her back.
“You’re looking so much better from the last time we came,” said Eurig flamboyantly, jumping onto the end of Euan’s bed and crossing his legs.
“This eye is a lot better,” said Euan gesturing to the left one, “I can see so much more clearly out of it.”
“That’s good news,” Tom stated, with a firm nod.
“So, what’s been happening in the outside world?” Euan asked with a smile.
“Nothing much,” Cerys replied with a shrug.
“Just finishing up the last exams really,” said Callum, looking thoughtful.
“What are they going to do about your exams?” Tom asked, his expression concerned.
“They’re letting me take the re-sits in August, but with full credit,” said Euan. “I was surprised because I thought they were going to make me retake the entire year.”
“That’s great!” said Eurig with a broad smile.
“Yes, I’m very pleased,” said Euan with a matching smile.
“You know we haven’t seen anything of Felix since that day,” said Callum solemnly, “He’s keeping a very low profile.”
“And well he might!” exclaimed Tom fiercely.
“He’s not exactly popular at the moment,” Penny muttered.
Tuesday, 11 November 2008
Nano Modern Myth 2.4.1
Hospital
I
At first all he could see was the light; the piercing, blinding light. It filled his whole vision, all his senses focused on the sheer moment of experience. Time passed, though whether it was a second, or an Age, Euan could not be sure. He felt his feet touch the ground, or possibly, he felt the ground rise up to meet his feet. Dim shapes and outlines began to come into clear focus for him.
“A crossroads,” he said aloud, his voice sounding dim, and distant to his ears.
He knew that was where he was. He could see the lines of the roads stretching away seemingly into infinity. The rest was grey and mist, with no details. He made his way to the centre of the crossroads and sat down. He waited, as he knew he must.
He sat and he waited. Time continued to stream through him, but still he sat and he waited.
A sound. Quiet at first, so quiet he could barely hear it. A whispering, a wailing, a sobbing sound. It was coming from beneath the ground. Yet still he sat and he waited.
A figure, a shadow, a fluttering form in white appeared before him, growing more and more substantial. He sat and watched, his eyes never leaving the form before him. The blurred visage of a woman gradually took shape, her face fractured and her image as insubstantial as mist. He fixed his eyes on hers and did not move, as he knew he must.
“Why have you called me here?” she wailed, her voice resounding in the silence.
He fixed his eyes on her and did not move, as he knew he must.
“You want to know?” she cried, her eyes widening, not moving from his, “I will show you want you want to know.”
Out of the mist, Euan could hear sound rising up, the boiling, burning, crackling sound of flame.
“We are born in the inferno,” she murmured, her form flashing suddenly red, as if with fire.
A distant, cold laughter came echoing across from the hills rising up in the distance. A figure was stood atop the highest peak, his hair fire-red, his face ash-white and his eyes coal-black. He stood and he laughed and he laughed.
“Out of mutual betrayal,” she continued to chant, her voice beginning to quiver.
More laughter, this time gentle and child-like, coming from the form of a familiar face. The boy stood there, in the open, laughing while stones hit him from all sides, bouncing away, leaving him unharmed.
“In pain and suffering,” she wept, her voice thick and choked.
The same boy lay on the floor, his eyes closed, his face pale and he did not move. A pale shroud drifted from above and covered his body, settling to the ground with a sigh.
“Until the ultimate end,” she concluded, her voice fading away.
An enormous snake reared up from the ground and a man jumped between it and Euan.
“What next?” Euan called out, backing away from the huge creature.
“Do you know enough yet?” she called from a distance, her form nearly gone, “Or do you want to know more?”
The ghostly image of a wolf reared up in front of him, snarling, its teeth gnashing at him.
“No!” Euan called, raising his arms to fend off the apparition. “What else? What next?”
With a wail, the woman totally faded and was gone.
He heard the loud call of three cockerels, their bodies flashing in red, black and gold. The sound blasting through his senses, overriding all the others. The sound was all there was. The trumpet-like call.
Euan opened his eyes and screamed, sitting bolt upright in the bed.
“He’s awake,” a soft voice murmured.
Euan thrashed and struggled, trying to break free of the constrictions of the stiff white linen.
“Calm down,” said the soothing voice softly, “You’re in the hospital. You’re alright now.”
Euan paused, confused briefly and then touched one hand to his face.
“I can’t see,” he said dazedly, “what’s this on my face?”
***
“It’s bad news isn’t it?” said Euan quietly, replaying the last image he’d seen of Mike again and again in his head. The white van like a streak of light, the way that Mike was crumpled and then swept away.
“Yes and no,” she replied gently, resting one hand on his arm. “He’s still alive, but he’s in intensive care. His injuries are very severe.”
“Is he going to make it?” Euan asked, bracing himself for the news he expected.
“They can’t be sure,” said Audrey, “Even if he does, it is likely that he will be severely paralysed.”
Euan sat back and silently absorbed this knowledge.
“Your friends have all been very worried,” Audrey continued, trying to change the topic. “They would all like to come and visit you when you feel strong enough. Penny came with me today if you’d like to see her.”
“I would, yes,” Euan replied, trying to ignore his mother’s casual use of the term ‘to see.’
“I’ll go tell her,” said Audrey, getting up and walking away.
***
“What will I do if I can never see again?” he asked, his tone slightly desperate. “I won’t be able to do anything!”
“There’s plenty you could do!” Penny replied enthusiastically. “Don’t worry yourself unnecessarily at this stage, though. There’s every chance you might recover sight in both eyes.”
“I don’t know. I don’t know what’s happening,” said Euan, slightly waspishly, “The doctor still hasn’t come by to see me yet.”
“I think they’re quite busy today,” she said, her voice still calm and soothing. “I’m sure they won’t be too much longer.”
“I’m sorry, Pen,” said Euan, suddenly mournful. “I think it’s the drugs they have me on. I didn’t want to upset you.”
“You haven’t upset me!” she replied, putting both hands on his.
“But things are different, aren’t they?” he asked quietly. “You won’t want to be stuck with a cripple like me.”
“Oh, tush!” she exclaimed. “You’re being silly now. It makes no difference to me. I’d love you no matter what happens.”
“You love me?” he murmured back, wrapping his fingers round hers.
“Yes, of course I do,” she replied, slightly exasperated. “Now, are we going to have less of this sillyness?”
“Yes, Penny,” he said, mock-contritely. He brought her hand up to his lips and kissed it.
“That’s more like it,” she said, with a laugh.
“Ouch,” said Euan, wincing slightly. “You know, my face is a bit sore, now that you come to mention it.”
“Oh, I’m sorry,” she replied anxiously, squeezing his hand.
“I suppose you’ll just have to kiss it better,” he laughed, a wicked smile flittering across his face.
“Euan!” she scolded, “You had me really worried for a moment there.”
He laughed again.
“Sorry,” he said, still smiling.
I
At first all he could see was the light; the piercing, blinding light. It filled his whole vision, all his senses focused on the sheer moment of experience. Time passed, though whether it was a second, or an Age, Euan could not be sure. He felt his feet touch the ground, or possibly, he felt the ground rise up to meet his feet. Dim shapes and outlines began to come into clear focus for him.
“A crossroads,” he said aloud, his voice sounding dim, and distant to his ears.
He knew that was where he was. He could see the lines of the roads stretching away seemingly into infinity. The rest was grey and mist, with no details. He made his way to the centre of the crossroads and sat down. He waited, as he knew he must.
He sat and he waited. Time continued to stream through him, but still he sat and he waited.
A sound. Quiet at first, so quiet he could barely hear it. A whispering, a wailing, a sobbing sound. It was coming from beneath the ground. Yet still he sat and he waited.
A figure, a shadow, a fluttering form in white appeared before him, growing more and more substantial. He sat and watched, his eyes never leaving the form before him. The blurred visage of a woman gradually took shape, her face fractured and her image as insubstantial as mist. He fixed his eyes on hers and did not move, as he knew he must.
“Why have you called me here?” she wailed, her voice resounding in the silence.
He fixed his eyes on her and did not move, as he knew he must.
“You want to know?” she cried, her eyes widening, not moving from his, “I will show you want you want to know.”
Out of the mist, Euan could hear sound rising up, the boiling, burning, crackling sound of flame.
“We are born in the inferno,” she murmured, her form flashing suddenly red, as if with fire.
A distant, cold laughter came echoing across from the hills rising up in the distance. A figure was stood atop the highest peak, his hair fire-red, his face ash-white and his eyes coal-black. He stood and he laughed and he laughed.
“Out of mutual betrayal,” she continued to chant, her voice beginning to quiver.
More laughter, this time gentle and child-like, coming from the form of a familiar face. The boy stood there, in the open, laughing while stones hit him from all sides, bouncing away, leaving him unharmed.
“In pain and suffering,” she wept, her voice thick and choked.
The same boy lay on the floor, his eyes closed, his face pale and he did not move. A pale shroud drifted from above and covered his body, settling to the ground with a sigh.
“Until the ultimate end,” she concluded, her voice fading away.
An enormous snake reared up from the ground and a man jumped between it and Euan.
“What next?” Euan called out, backing away from the huge creature.
“Do you know enough yet?” she called from a distance, her form nearly gone, “Or do you want to know more?”
The ghostly image of a wolf reared up in front of him, snarling, its teeth gnashing at him.
“No!” Euan called, raising his arms to fend off the apparition. “What else? What next?”
With a wail, the woman totally faded and was gone.
He heard the loud call of three cockerels, their bodies flashing in red, black and gold. The sound blasting through his senses, overriding all the others. The sound was all there was. The trumpet-like call.
Euan opened his eyes and screamed, sitting bolt upright in the bed.
“He’s awake,” a soft voice murmured.
Euan thrashed and struggled, trying to break free of the constrictions of the stiff white linen.
“Calm down,” said the soothing voice softly, “You’re in the hospital. You’re alright now.”
Euan paused, confused briefly and then touched one hand to his face.
“I can’t see,” he said dazedly, “what’s this on my face?”
***
“It’s bad news isn’t it?” said Euan quietly, replaying the last image he’d seen of Mike again and again in his head. The white van like a streak of light, the way that Mike was crumpled and then swept away.
“Yes and no,” she replied gently, resting one hand on his arm. “He’s still alive, but he’s in intensive care. His injuries are very severe.”
“Is he going to make it?” Euan asked, bracing himself for the news he expected.
“They can’t be sure,” said Audrey, “Even if he does, it is likely that he will be severely paralysed.”
Euan sat back and silently absorbed this knowledge.
“Your friends have all been very worried,” Audrey continued, trying to change the topic. “They would all like to come and visit you when you feel strong enough. Penny came with me today if you’d like to see her.”
“I would, yes,” Euan replied, trying to ignore his mother’s casual use of the term ‘to see.’
“I’ll go tell her,” said Audrey, getting up and walking away.
***
“What will I do if I can never see again?” he asked, his tone slightly desperate. “I won’t be able to do anything!”
“There’s plenty you could do!” Penny replied enthusiastically. “Don’t worry yourself unnecessarily at this stage, though. There’s every chance you might recover sight in both eyes.”
“I don’t know. I don’t know what’s happening,” said Euan, slightly waspishly, “The doctor still hasn’t come by to see me yet.”
“I think they’re quite busy today,” she said, her voice still calm and soothing. “I’m sure they won’t be too much longer.”
“I’m sorry, Pen,” said Euan, suddenly mournful. “I think it’s the drugs they have me on. I didn’t want to upset you.”
“You haven’t upset me!” she replied, putting both hands on his.
“But things are different, aren’t they?” he asked quietly. “You won’t want to be stuck with a cripple like me.”
“Oh, tush!” she exclaimed. “You’re being silly now. It makes no difference to me. I’d love you no matter what happens.”
“You love me?” he murmured back, wrapping his fingers round hers.
“Yes, of course I do,” she replied, slightly exasperated. “Now, are we going to have less of this sillyness?”
“Yes, Penny,” he said, mock-contritely. He brought her hand up to his lips and kissed it.
“That’s more like it,” she said, with a laugh.
“Ouch,” said Euan, wincing slightly. “You know, my face is a bit sore, now that you come to mention it.”
“Oh, I’m sorry,” she replied anxiously, squeezing his hand.
“I suppose you’ll just have to kiss it better,” he laughed, a wicked smile flittering across his face.
“Euan!” she scolded, “You had me really worried for a moment there.”
He laughed again.
“Sorry,” he said, still smiling.
Monday, 10 November 2008
Nano Modern Myth 1.3.3
Felix sidled out of the glass entrance, glancing cautiously around himself.
“I thought you would come,” said Ronan from a shadowy recess near the entrance. He had a fresh cigarette in his hand, the smoke from it curling up and away.
“I wasn’t welcome with the others,” Felix replied with a shrug.
Ronan laughed quietly and took a draw on his cigarette.
“Not causing trouble, were you?” he asked, his tone innocent.
“Would I cause trouble?” Felix replied with a crooked smile.
Ronan smiled back and handed him his cigarette. Felix took a long pull and then offered it back. Ronan shook his head and pulled another cigarette out of his pocket.
“You keep it,” he said, taking out his lighter. “I’m quids-in thanks to my darling cousin Euan.”
Felix laughed, the smoke pouring out of his mouth and nose in a rush. Ronan struck a light, the smoke of his first puff clouding away around him. He snapped the lighter shut with a loud click.
“So,” Ronan began, fixing his pale eyes on Felix’s slate-grey ones. “Do you have anything for me?”
***
“Friday?” Felix enquired, his tone light. “That’s odd.”
“What’s odd?” said Mike, a frown forming on his face.
“It’s probably nothing… forget I said anything.”
Felix shrugged and began to turn away.
“No, really. What is it?” Mike asked, slightly frustrated.
“It’s just that I could have sworn that I heard the deadline was today. That’s what I heard Jason King telling Matt Brown. But I probably heard wrong, so forget about it.”
Felix shrugged and took a couple of steps away. Mike looked around the rest of the group for reassurance and found nothing but scepticism and doubt.
“No. I’m sure it’s Friday. That’s what it says online,” he said doubtfully, trying to reassure himself.
Felix stopped and turned around to face him again.
“Yeah, that’s what they were saying. But apparently it’s different on the departmental noteboard,” he said conspiratorially.
“What!” Mike exclaimed, panic entering his tone.
“Yeah, I think that’s what they said,” he said slowly, nodding his head.
“Gods! I’ve got to go! I’ve got to check!” Mike gabbled, putting his hands on his head. He quickly leapt to his feet, knocking his books askew and sending his chair flying backwards.
“Are you sure, Felix?” Euan asked, doubt evident in his tone.
“I’m just repeating what I heard,” Felix replied with a shrug.
“I’m going anyway,” said Mike in great agitation, running his hands through his hair. He barged his way into the main corridor and charged out the door, leading to the main entrance way.
“He’s left all his stuff here,” Cerys chipped in, gesturing at Mike’s belongings.
“We’ll still be here by the time he gets back,” Callum replied in a soothing tone. “We’ll look after it for him.”
Cerys beamed at him.
Felix suddenly burst into laughter; cold, sneering laughter.
“What now?” Tom demanded, his body tense.
“I can’t believe he fell for that,” Felix replied, waving one hand dismissively.
***
The lights nearest Mike turned to red, so with the briefest of glances, he ran straight out into the road. Euan was mere metres behind Mike now, his bike flying across the ground.
“Mike!” he called again.
Mike turned his head around, mid-sprint, his eyes seeking and then meeting Euan’s. With a sudden screech of brakes, a white van came streaking through the red light, ploughing directly into Mike and scooping him out of sight. Euan slammed on his bike brakes in shock, his front wheel locking and flipping him up over the handlebars and throwing him in the direction of the road. He put up his hands to protect himself as he flew straight into the side of a car, the glass of the door shattering on impact with the side of his face. Euan crumpled to the floor, his face obscured by blood and lay still as unconsciousness swept through him.
“I thought you would come,” said Ronan from a shadowy recess near the entrance. He had a fresh cigarette in his hand, the smoke from it curling up and away.
“I wasn’t welcome with the others,” Felix replied with a shrug.
Ronan laughed quietly and took a draw on his cigarette.
“Not causing trouble, were you?” he asked, his tone innocent.
“Would I cause trouble?” Felix replied with a crooked smile.
Ronan smiled back and handed him his cigarette. Felix took a long pull and then offered it back. Ronan shook his head and pulled another cigarette out of his pocket.
“You keep it,” he said, taking out his lighter. “I’m quids-in thanks to my darling cousin Euan.”
Felix laughed, the smoke pouring out of his mouth and nose in a rush. Ronan struck a light, the smoke of his first puff clouding away around him. He snapped the lighter shut with a loud click.
“So,” Ronan began, fixing his pale eyes on Felix’s slate-grey ones. “Do you have anything for me?”
***
“Friday?” Felix enquired, his tone light. “That’s odd.”
“What’s odd?” said Mike, a frown forming on his face.
“It’s probably nothing… forget I said anything.”
Felix shrugged and began to turn away.
“No, really. What is it?” Mike asked, slightly frustrated.
“It’s just that I could have sworn that I heard the deadline was today. That’s what I heard Jason King telling Matt Brown. But I probably heard wrong, so forget about it.”
Felix shrugged and took a couple of steps away. Mike looked around the rest of the group for reassurance and found nothing but scepticism and doubt.
“No. I’m sure it’s Friday. That’s what it says online,” he said doubtfully, trying to reassure himself.
Felix stopped and turned around to face him again.
“Yeah, that’s what they were saying. But apparently it’s different on the departmental noteboard,” he said conspiratorially.
“What!” Mike exclaimed, panic entering his tone.
“Yeah, I think that’s what they said,” he said slowly, nodding his head.
“Gods! I’ve got to go! I’ve got to check!” Mike gabbled, putting his hands on his head. He quickly leapt to his feet, knocking his books askew and sending his chair flying backwards.
“Are you sure, Felix?” Euan asked, doubt evident in his tone.
“I’m just repeating what I heard,” Felix replied with a shrug.
“I’m going anyway,” said Mike in great agitation, running his hands through his hair. He barged his way into the main corridor and charged out the door, leading to the main entrance way.
“He’s left all his stuff here,” Cerys chipped in, gesturing at Mike’s belongings.
“We’ll still be here by the time he gets back,” Callum replied in a soothing tone. “We’ll look after it for him.”
Cerys beamed at him.
Felix suddenly burst into laughter; cold, sneering laughter.
“What now?” Tom demanded, his body tense.
“I can’t believe he fell for that,” Felix replied, waving one hand dismissively.
***
The lights nearest Mike turned to red, so with the briefest of glances, he ran straight out into the road. Euan was mere metres behind Mike now, his bike flying across the ground.
“Mike!” he called again.
Mike turned his head around, mid-sprint, his eyes seeking and then meeting Euan’s. With a sudden screech of brakes, a white van came streaking through the red light, ploughing directly into Mike and scooping him out of sight. Euan slammed on his bike brakes in shock, his front wheel locking and flipping him up over the handlebars and throwing him in the direction of the road. He put up his hands to protect himself as he flew straight into the side of a car, the glass of the door shattering on impact with the side of his face. Euan crumpled to the floor, his face obscured by blood and lay still as unconsciousness swept through him.
Nano Modern Myth 1.3.2
Mike and Euan were just inside when a cold voice called out from the entrance they had so recently passed through.
“Hey Euan, where’s the rush?” called Ronan, leaning against the glass doorway.
Euan paused, not needing to look around to know who it was.
“What is it?” he called back, through gritted teeth.
“Can you lend me a tenner? I’m running short over here,” he replied, before taking a long draw on his cigarette.
“Go on without me, I’ll be there in a minute,” Euan told Mike under his breath.
“Good luck,” Mike whispered back, with a sly roll of his eyes.
Mike continued through the double doors into the next section of the library, whilst Euan turned back to the main glass entrance way. He passed through the door and out into the haze of smoke.
“What do you want it for?” he asked, his tone guarded.
“Does it matter?” Ronan replied, flicking the ash off the end of his cigarette.
“I don’t suppose it does. It’ll inevitably end up going on more fags and booze,” said Euan through gritted teeth.
“Hey!” said Ronan, putting one hand on his chest in mock-hurt. “I steer clear of the booze, me. You must be thinking of someone else.”
“Whatever,” Euan sighed. “A tenner, was it?”
“Or twenty, if you’ve got it,” said Ronan, his dark eyes following the movements of Euan’s hands.
Euan drew out his wallet and handed Ronan a ten pound note. Ronan reached over and nonchalantly pulled it from his hand. He held it up to the light, to see the Queen’s face beaming down on him.
“Just checking,” he said, before stuffing the note into his trouser pocket.
“What are you doing here anyway?” Euan asked, eyeing his cousin with some suspicion. “I wouldn’t have thought the library was really your scene.”
“Normally I’d agree with you,” Ronan replied, blowing out a stream of smoke into Euan’s face. “But needs must.”
“You didn’t come all the way over here just to bum a tenner?” Euan demanded, a scowl crossing his features.
Ronan shrugged, a crooked smile forming on his lips.
***
“How’s it going?” Cerys asked, smiling around the group, whilst ruffling her brother’s hair.
“Terrible, naturally,” Tom replied, shaking his head.
“Unmitigatingly bad,” Callum added, waving a copy of ‘Law Firms and Legal Practices: A Guide’ above his head.
“Objection!” Felix shouted spontaneously, slamming his hand on his copy of ‘Ambulance Chasing: the hows and whys.’
There was a brief lull in that section of the library, as everyone looked at Felix curiously.
“I hope you haven’t been working yourself too hard,” Penny murmured to Euan, coming up behind his chair and wrapping her arms around him. He smiled, twisted around in his chair and kissed her lightly on the lips.
“I’m sure he still has plenty of energy for you,” Felix sneered, with a wink.
“Back off Felix,” Tom growled, his hand holding his book open on the title heading ‘The Formation of Thunder.’
“And for you too, if you ask nicely,” Felix quipped without pause.
Tom glowered darkly at him, gripping his book tightly in his fists.
“I’m sure you’d love that, wouldn’t you Felix?” said Cerys with a roll of her eyes.
“Ooh, tell me about it,” he replied with a leer. “The more the merrier, don’t you think?”
“You’re disgusting, Felix,” Penny objected, pulling up an extra chair to sit beside Euan.
“No I’m not,” he replied in mock-shock. “Disgusting would be joining in on Cerys and Eurig getting down with some twinning action.”
“Urgh! Don’t even say things like that man!” said Eurig with a shudder.
“Just shut the hell up!” Tom added.
“Some of us are trying to get on with our work,” said Callum, shaking his head.
“You’re going to get a slap in a minute, boy, if you keep that filthy talk up!” Cerys spluttered, putting her hands on her hips.
“Is that a promise?” Felix replied, looking her up and down.
“Just get the hell out of here!” said Tom, slamming down his book.
“Fine! I know when I’m not wanted,” said Felix, tidying up his section of the desk.
“Good. I’ll take that seat from you, while you’re at it,” said Cerys, moving in to take his spot.
“I’ve always got a seat going spare for you, Cerys,” Felix leered back, standing up and shouldering his bag.
“Oh, hush, you!” she snarled back, waving her hands at him dismissively.
Felix ambled away from the group, who collectively scowled at his retreating back.
“I can’t stand that boy,” said Tom, the minute he was out of sight. “I don’t know why we let him hang around with us.”
“He doesn’t have any other friends,” Penny replied with a shrug.
“He’s just so… conniving and slimey!” Eurig exclaimed, brushing imaginary filth from his sleeves.
“He doesn’t really have many social skills,” muttered Euan contemplatively.
“Probably stems from problems in the family,” added Callum with a nod. “In our lectures and things, he’s never been particularly keen on ‘Family Law.’”
“I’d have thought he’d have relished the idea of working with divorce cases,” Cerys replied bitterly. “He loves to stick his nose in, breaking things up. Trying always to uncover people’s secrets.”
“Hey Euan, where’s the rush?” called Ronan, leaning against the glass doorway.
Euan paused, not needing to look around to know who it was.
“What is it?” he called back, through gritted teeth.
“Can you lend me a tenner? I’m running short over here,” he replied, before taking a long draw on his cigarette.
“Go on without me, I’ll be there in a minute,” Euan told Mike under his breath.
“Good luck,” Mike whispered back, with a sly roll of his eyes.
Mike continued through the double doors into the next section of the library, whilst Euan turned back to the main glass entrance way. He passed through the door and out into the haze of smoke.
“What do you want it for?” he asked, his tone guarded.
“Does it matter?” Ronan replied, flicking the ash off the end of his cigarette.
“I don’t suppose it does. It’ll inevitably end up going on more fags and booze,” said Euan through gritted teeth.
“Hey!” said Ronan, putting one hand on his chest in mock-hurt. “I steer clear of the booze, me. You must be thinking of someone else.”
“Whatever,” Euan sighed. “A tenner, was it?”
“Or twenty, if you’ve got it,” said Ronan, his dark eyes following the movements of Euan’s hands.
Euan drew out his wallet and handed Ronan a ten pound note. Ronan reached over and nonchalantly pulled it from his hand. He held it up to the light, to see the Queen’s face beaming down on him.
“Just checking,” he said, before stuffing the note into his trouser pocket.
“What are you doing here anyway?” Euan asked, eyeing his cousin with some suspicion. “I wouldn’t have thought the library was really your scene.”
“Normally I’d agree with you,” Ronan replied, blowing out a stream of smoke into Euan’s face. “But needs must.”
“You didn’t come all the way over here just to bum a tenner?” Euan demanded, a scowl crossing his features.
Ronan shrugged, a crooked smile forming on his lips.
***
“How’s it going?” Cerys asked, smiling around the group, whilst ruffling her brother’s hair.
“Terrible, naturally,” Tom replied, shaking his head.
“Unmitigatingly bad,” Callum added, waving a copy of ‘Law Firms and Legal Practices: A Guide’ above his head.
“Objection!” Felix shouted spontaneously, slamming his hand on his copy of ‘Ambulance Chasing: the hows and whys.’
There was a brief lull in that section of the library, as everyone looked at Felix curiously.
“I hope you haven’t been working yourself too hard,” Penny murmured to Euan, coming up behind his chair and wrapping her arms around him. He smiled, twisted around in his chair and kissed her lightly on the lips.
“I’m sure he still has plenty of energy for you,” Felix sneered, with a wink.
“Back off Felix,” Tom growled, his hand holding his book open on the title heading ‘The Formation of Thunder.’
“And for you too, if you ask nicely,” Felix quipped without pause.
Tom glowered darkly at him, gripping his book tightly in his fists.
“I’m sure you’d love that, wouldn’t you Felix?” said Cerys with a roll of her eyes.
“Ooh, tell me about it,” he replied with a leer. “The more the merrier, don’t you think?”
“You’re disgusting, Felix,” Penny objected, pulling up an extra chair to sit beside Euan.
“No I’m not,” he replied in mock-shock. “Disgusting would be joining in on Cerys and Eurig getting down with some twinning action.”
“Urgh! Don’t even say things like that man!” said Eurig with a shudder.
“Just shut the hell up!” Tom added.
“Some of us are trying to get on with our work,” said Callum, shaking his head.
“You’re going to get a slap in a minute, boy, if you keep that filthy talk up!” Cerys spluttered, putting her hands on her hips.
“Is that a promise?” Felix replied, looking her up and down.
“Just get the hell out of here!” said Tom, slamming down his book.
“Fine! I know when I’m not wanted,” said Felix, tidying up his section of the desk.
“Good. I’ll take that seat from you, while you’re at it,” said Cerys, moving in to take his spot.
“I’ve always got a seat going spare for you, Cerys,” Felix leered back, standing up and shouldering his bag.
“Oh, hush, you!” she snarled back, waving her hands at him dismissively.
Felix ambled away from the group, who collectively scowled at his retreating back.
“I can’t stand that boy,” said Tom, the minute he was out of sight. “I don’t know why we let him hang around with us.”
“He doesn’t have any other friends,” Penny replied with a shrug.
“He’s just so… conniving and slimey!” Eurig exclaimed, brushing imaginary filth from his sleeves.
“He doesn’t really have many social skills,” muttered Euan contemplatively.
“Probably stems from problems in the family,” added Callum with a nod. “In our lectures and things, he’s never been particularly keen on ‘Family Law.’”
“I’d have thought he’d have relished the idea of working with divorce cases,” Cerys replied bitterly. “He loves to stick his nose in, breaking things up. Trying always to uncover people’s secrets.”
Thursday, 6 November 2008
Nano Modern Myth 1.3.1
I couldn't find a good place to end this so it just stops. Soz.
Exam Time
I
The sun shone brightly, stretching its rays across the verdant surroundings. Perched amid the greenery, the glass building soared upwards into the bright sky, the light glittering off it. The sun’s rays poured through the windows, refracting and playing over the figures moving about inside. There was a dull, feverish energy about their movements as they scoured about the maze of shelves. The student denizens, their faces flushed, were stalking amongst the books, clutching handfuls of stolen treasure to their chests.
“Do you have the last copy of ‘Fortran’?” a sinister voice asked a pale-faced man, clinging desperately to his text.
“No,” he replied, “This is ‘Meyser’.”
“Damn. Someone’s taken the last ‘Fortran’. Probably hidden it in the Foreign Languages section. That’s where I found this copy of ‘Howard and Roth’.”
The strangers parted and went about their business.
Nearby was a long row of tables pushed together, dozens of students lining all sides. The feverish scratching of their pens and the frantic turning of pages overwritten by the dull murmur of conversation. Occasionally, there was a half-hearted ‘shush’ from someone wanting silence. But silence was never to be found in the University Library.
Huddled together at the end of one such table were Euan and some of his friends. They were likewise surrounded by piles of books, some of which were necessary, flicking through their pages. Euan had not brought the manuscript with him. He did not trust it this near to so many exam-crazed students. Nor the librarians. But they were just scary.
Suddenly, Eurig popped out of one of the long lines of shelves, his hands laden with textbooks. He bounced across to the group and dropped his forage in front of the one empty chair. He glanced around the group, their faces overwritten by stress, especially Mike, who was looking very pale and anxious, with deep rings under his eyes.
“How’s it going?” Eurig asked.
“Don’t ask,” Mike mumbled, one hand propping up his head, bowed over an enormous tome.
“I’ve managed to find some more textbooks on lichenology!” Eurig exclaimed, a broad smile on his face.
“I thought your module was on fungi?” said Tom, flicking through the index of a book entitled “Meteorology; Climatology; Hydrology and Me.”
“Yes, but these are the only books left in that section that were published post 1950. Some of them even have pictures!”
“You should have put reserves on them last month,” said Felix, pausing through a half-written sentence.
“Ah, well!” Eurig replied breezily, waving his hands dismissively. “If I’d done that, I’d never have found this…” he held up a battered old textbook entitled ‘Functional Fungi.’
“Is it useful in any way?” Felix asked, resuming his writing.
“No. But that’s not the point!” Eurig enthused, “Look at this- it’s older than my parents! Combined! My granddad might have read a book like this. And it would still be considered old fashioned!”
“Great. Now all you need is to invent a time machine and travel back to a time when the research it discusses was relevant to your degree,” said Callum, briefly waking up from his torpor to join in.
“Where’s your sense of romance, guys?” Eurig demanded, with a roll of his eyes, “Come on Euan, you agree with me right? Old books are cool!”
Euan chuckled and rubbed his face with his hands.
“Yes. I suppose they are,” he replied with ill-concealed ironic intent. “Although I think I’ve seen too many books lately. God, I could do with a coffee.”
Euan got to his feet, stretching out his aching muscles, his lungs yawning with underuse.
“Anyone want to come?” he asked, picking up his wallet, but leaving the rest of his work where it was.
“I’ll come,” Mike replied, “I need a caffeine fix.”
He stood up shakily, leaning on the table for support. The others in the group muttered dissent, motioning that they would stay and work for a bit longer. Mike and Euan weaved their way out of the main library and down to the adjacent coffee shop. It was packed with noise and bustle, students snatching their caffeinated beverages in eager hands and drinking of their golden goodness. They joined the ragged queue, eventually being served their piping hot, drug-laced luxuries. Finding no space inside the café, they took their drinks outside, pushing through the clouds of smokers by the entrance. They stopped at a slightly secluded stretch of grass and sat down.
“That’s better!” said Euan, lightly smacking his lips and the coffee worked its way into his bloodstream.
“Tell me about it,” Mike replied, his hands curling around the paper cup shaking slightly.
“So how are things really going?” Euan asked Mike, suddenly more serious.
“Terrible,” Mike replied morosely. “I’m never going to be able to get through the sheer mind-numbing volume of work.”
“They do say that Physics is one of the most difficult subjects you could take here,”
“I know,” said Mike with a wry smile. “That’s why I applied here. More fool me.”
Exam Time
I
The sun shone brightly, stretching its rays across the verdant surroundings. Perched amid the greenery, the glass building soared upwards into the bright sky, the light glittering off it. The sun’s rays poured through the windows, refracting and playing over the figures moving about inside. There was a dull, feverish energy about their movements as they scoured about the maze of shelves. The student denizens, their faces flushed, were stalking amongst the books, clutching handfuls of stolen treasure to their chests.
“Do you have the last copy of ‘Fortran’?” a sinister voice asked a pale-faced man, clinging desperately to his text.
“No,” he replied, “This is ‘Meyser’.”
“Damn. Someone’s taken the last ‘Fortran’. Probably hidden it in the Foreign Languages section. That’s where I found this copy of ‘Howard and Roth’.”
The strangers parted and went about their business.
Nearby was a long row of tables pushed together, dozens of students lining all sides. The feverish scratching of their pens and the frantic turning of pages overwritten by the dull murmur of conversation. Occasionally, there was a half-hearted ‘shush’ from someone wanting silence. But silence was never to be found in the University Library.
Huddled together at the end of one such table were Euan and some of his friends. They were likewise surrounded by piles of books, some of which were necessary, flicking through their pages. Euan had not brought the manuscript with him. He did not trust it this near to so many exam-crazed students. Nor the librarians. But they were just scary.
Suddenly, Eurig popped out of one of the long lines of shelves, his hands laden with textbooks. He bounced across to the group and dropped his forage in front of the one empty chair. He glanced around the group, their faces overwritten by stress, especially Mike, who was looking very pale and anxious, with deep rings under his eyes.
“How’s it going?” Eurig asked.
“Don’t ask,” Mike mumbled, one hand propping up his head, bowed over an enormous tome.
“I’ve managed to find some more textbooks on lichenology!” Eurig exclaimed, a broad smile on his face.
“I thought your module was on fungi?” said Tom, flicking through the index of a book entitled “Meteorology; Climatology; Hydrology and Me.”
“Yes, but these are the only books left in that section that were published post 1950. Some of them even have pictures!”
“You should have put reserves on them last month,” said Felix, pausing through a half-written sentence.
“Ah, well!” Eurig replied breezily, waving his hands dismissively. “If I’d done that, I’d never have found this…” he held up a battered old textbook entitled ‘Functional Fungi.’
“Is it useful in any way?” Felix asked, resuming his writing.
“No. But that’s not the point!” Eurig enthused, “Look at this- it’s older than my parents! Combined! My granddad might have read a book like this. And it would still be considered old fashioned!”
“Great. Now all you need is to invent a time machine and travel back to a time when the research it discusses was relevant to your degree,” said Callum, briefly waking up from his torpor to join in.
“Where’s your sense of romance, guys?” Eurig demanded, with a roll of his eyes, “Come on Euan, you agree with me right? Old books are cool!”
Euan chuckled and rubbed his face with his hands.
“Yes. I suppose they are,” he replied with ill-concealed ironic intent. “Although I think I’ve seen too many books lately. God, I could do with a coffee.”
Euan got to his feet, stretching out his aching muscles, his lungs yawning with underuse.
“Anyone want to come?” he asked, picking up his wallet, but leaving the rest of his work where it was.
“I’ll come,” Mike replied, “I need a caffeine fix.”
He stood up shakily, leaning on the table for support. The others in the group muttered dissent, motioning that they would stay and work for a bit longer. Mike and Euan weaved their way out of the main library and down to the adjacent coffee shop. It was packed with noise and bustle, students snatching their caffeinated beverages in eager hands and drinking of their golden goodness. They joined the ragged queue, eventually being served their piping hot, drug-laced luxuries. Finding no space inside the café, they took their drinks outside, pushing through the clouds of smokers by the entrance. They stopped at a slightly secluded stretch of grass and sat down.
“That’s better!” said Euan, lightly smacking his lips and the coffee worked its way into his bloodstream.
“Tell me about it,” Mike replied, his hands curling around the paper cup shaking slightly.
“So how are things really going?” Euan asked Mike, suddenly more serious.
“Terrible,” Mike replied morosely. “I’m never going to be able to get through the sheer mind-numbing volume of work.”
“They do say that Physics is one of the most difficult subjects you could take here,”
“I know,” said Mike with a wry smile. “That’s why I applied here. More fool me.”
Wednesday, 5 November 2008
Nano Modern Myth 1.2.3
This entire sequence is wrapped in salacious sexiness of the type I'm definitely not sharing until I've re-edited it. Soz. But here's some extracts anyway.
III
For old acquaintance be forgot and never brought to mind.
“They’re going to start the count-down soon,” Audrey shouted through to Euan from inside the house.
“Thanks!” Euan called back from the balcony, where he was stood next to Penny, his arm around her waist.
“Do you want to go back in?” she asked him, touching her hand to the arm wrapped around her.
“Are you cold?” he said, his tone concerned.
“No!” she replied hastily. “I’m fine. I think this wine is warming me up from the inside!” She gestured to the nearly empty glass perched on the edge of the turret.
He chuckled in response. From inside the house, the muffled sounds of the count-down filtered through.
“Eight…” Penny said with a smile.
Euan stroked one hand down the length of her cheek, tilting her chin slightly.
“Five…” he muttered, his face close to hers.
She ran her hands up his torso, leaving one hand pressed against his chest, whilst she ran the other round the back of his neck and up through his hair.
“Two…” she whispered in his ear.
“One,” he replied nigh on instantly. “Happy New Year.”
He leaned down and kissed her gently on the lips. She leant into his kiss, curling his hair around her hand and very delicately parting her lips. He kissed her again, firmer this time, drawing her tighter against his body with his arm, still wound around her waist.
“Happy New Year!” Boris called from just inside the doorway, causing the couple to break apart rather hastily.
“Happy New Year!” they called back in unison.
Boris leant his head out into the night, a broad smile across his gentle face.
“The party is heading downstairs now. I’m just going to put Jamie to bed and then I’m going to rejoin them. I’ll probably see you there a bit later?” He finished the last sentence with an enquiring lilt.
“Ok, Dad,” Euan replied, shifting slightly awkwardly on his feet. Boris’s head retreated back inside the door frame.
“Do you want to go back to the party?” Euan asked Penny, still standing slightly away from her, his tone casual, neutral.
She stepped closer, wrapped her arms round his waist and looked him straight in the eye. She smiled and tilted her head, silently begging him to ask the question.
“Or we could stay here,” he put both his arms around her back. “Or…”
He paused, a slightly wicked smile curling the corners of his mouth.
“I like the sound of ‘or,’” she said, quietly watching him for his response.
***
Euan flicked his desk lamp on, casting a low orange light over the room. He turned to face Penny, who was standing a short distance away, watching him.
“We don’t have to do anything you don’t want to,” Euan murmured, his heart skipping in his chest.
Penny stepped forward and wrapped her arms round his shoulders, planting a delicate kiss on the edge of his mouth. She leaned in and whispered into his ear. Euan smiled, wending his arms round her back.
“Ok,” he replied.
III
For old acquaintance be forgot and never brought to mind.
“They’re going to start the count-down soon,” Audrey shouted through to Euan from inside the house.
“Thanks!” Euan called back from the balcony, where he was stood next to Penny, his arm around her waist.
“Do you want to go back in?” she asked him, touching her hand to the arm wrapped around her.
“Are you cold?” he said, his tone concerned.
“No!” she replied hastily. “I’m fine. I think this wine is warming me up from the inside!” She gestured to the nearly empty glass perched on the edge of the turret.
He chuckled in response. From inside the house, the muffled sounds of the count-down filtered through.
“Eight…” Penny said with a smile.
Euan stroked one hand down the length of her cheek, tilting her chin slightly.
“Five…” he muttered, his face close to hers.
She ran her hands up his torso, leaving one hand pressed against his chest, whilst she ran the other round the back of his neck and up through his hair.
“Two…” she whispered in his ear.
“One,” he replied nigh on instantly. “Happy New Year.”
He leaned down and kissed her gently on the lips. She leant into his kiss, curling his hair around her hand and very delicately parting her lips. He kissed her again, firmer this time, drawing her tighter against his body with his arm, still wound around her waist.
“Happy New Year!” Boris called from just inside the doorway, causing the couple to break apart rather hastily.
“Happy New Year!” they called back in unison.
Boris leant his head out into the night, a broad smile across his gentle face.
“The party is heading downstairs now. I’m just going to put Jamie to bed and then I’m going to rejoin them. I’ll probably see you there a bit later?” He finished the last sentence with an enquiring lilt.
“Ok, Dad,” Euan replied, shifting slightly awkwardly on his feet. Boris’s head retreated back inside the door frame.
“Do you want to go back to the party?” Euan asked Penny, still standing slightly away from her, his tone casual, neutral.
She stepped closer, wrapped her arms round his waist and looked him straight in the eye. She smiled and tilted her head, silently begging him to ask the question.
“Or we could stay here,” he put both his arms around her back. “Or…”
He paused, a slightly wicked smile curling the corners of his mouth.
“I like the sound of ‘or,’” she said, quietly watching him for his response.
***
Euan flicked his desk lamp on, casting a low orange light over the room. He turned to face Penny, who was standing a short distance away, watching him.
“We don’t have to do anything you don’t want to,” Euan murmured, his heart skipping in his chest.
Penny stepped forward and wrapped her arms round his shoulders, planting a delicate kiss on the edge of his mouth. She leaned in and whispered into his ear. Euan smiled, wending his arms round her back.
“Ok,” he replied.
Nano Modern Myth 1.2.2
Disclaimer: I don't write kids often. I also don't write fights. Especially not this quickly. Enjoy!
II
Euan pulled the satchel towards himself, and carefully undid the straps binding it together. He drew its precious contents out, protected by a special case. He pulled his gloves off hastily, unclicked the fiddly locks and took the manuscript out from its protective bed of velvet. He held it in his bare hands, admiring anew the tarnished cover: thick and dark and ancient.
“What are you doing?” a child’s voice called unexpectedly from behind Euan, causing him to jump out of his skin.
“Jamie!” Euan replied, clutching a hand over his heart. “Good grief! You gave me a shock!”
He quickly snapped the manuscript back into its protective casing and thrust it back in the satchel.
“I’m sorry, Euan,” Jamie replied, digging his toe into the snow. He looked suddenly very sad.
“Come here, you silly-billy,” Euan replied jovially, leaning down and holding out his arms to him. “Give your big brother a great big Christmas hug!”
Jamie toddled over and wrapped his arms around Euan’s neck. Euan scooped him off his feet and sat him on the bench next to him.
“So, tell me” Euan began conspiratorially, “What’s brought you out this far, anyway?”
“Playing a game,” Jamie replied enthusiastically. “Do you want to play?”
“What game are you playing?” Euan asked, his tone cautious.
“Hide and Seek. I’m hiding. But you can come hide with me if you like,” Jamie said the last statement in a slightly wheedling tone.
“Isn’t it a bit cold for hide and seek?” Euan asked, rubbing his hands together theatrically.
Jamie shook his head, his eyes wide and earnest.
“Who are you playing with?” Euan suddenly asked, sitting up sharply and looking around himself suspiciously.
“Cousin Ronan,” Jamie replied in a slightly proud tone.
“Right,” Euan sighed, closing his eyes. “How long have you been ‘hiding’ for?”
Jamie shrugged.
“I see,” Euan’s lips pursed slightly. “How would you like to play a new game?”
“What game?” Jamie asked, his tone conveying an edge of child-like cynicism.
“How about the, ‘Walking back to the house to get a cup of hot milk and a biscuit’ game? It’s one of my favourites.”
Jamie laughed and clapped his mitted hands.
“You’re funny,” he replied. “Can I have a bourbon?”
Euan stood up, carefully slinging the satchel back over his shoulder.
“That depends, little bro,” he said earnestly, putting his hands on his hips. “Are you going to behave yourself?”
“Yes, Euan,” Jamie replied seriously, his eyes wide.
“Come on then, quick march!” Euan held out his hand to his brother, who took it and allowed himself to be lead back down the track.
***
Jamie scrambled up into the seat and Euan pulled it closer to the table for him. He carefully hung his satchel on a hook and then covered it with his coat and scarf, thrusting the gloves into the coat pocket. He then set about the kitchen, fetching a jug of milk from the fridge and a tin of biscuits from the top shelf, carefully positioned by the kettle. He set the milk to gently heat in a saucepan, whilst he filled the kettle to boil himself some water for tea. He got a pair of plates out and carefully lined up a bourbon biscuit on each.
“Do I hear the sound of the kettle boiling?” a voice called from an adjacent room.
“No, dad, you can’t hear anything of the sort! It’s all in your imagination,” Euan shouted back, just as the kettle made its final click.
Jamie giggled and clapped his hands to his face.
“I want mine strong with just a dash of milk!” Boris called back, the hint of a chuckle in his tone. “You know how I like it.”
Euan got out another two cups and placed them by the kettle. He dropped tea bags into two of them and a scoop of coffee into the third. He then carefully filled all three with the newly boiled water, just as the door swung open.
“Was that the kettle?” a woman’s voice asked him, her tone overwritten by cautious optimism.
Euan mixed a dash of milk in with the coffee and turned to face her.
“Here you are, mum,” he replied, holding the cup out to here.
“Ooh, you’re a life-saver,” Audrey murmured appreciatively, carefully entwining her fingers around the hot drink. “Is that one for your dad,” she asked, indicating one of the cups of tea.
“Yes,” Euan replied, pulling the teabag out with a spoon and dropping in a dash of milk. “Could you drop it in to him on your way past?”
“Certainly,” she said, picking the indicated cup up and heading back the way she had come. With a swish of cashmere, she had sashayed through the doorway and was gone.
***
“So what have you been up to?” Ronan asked, before depositing the second half of the biscuit into his mouth.
“I was out on a walk,” Euan replied through gritted teeth, “When I met Jamie here. He said you were playing Hide and Seek.”
Ronan shrugged.
“I’ve found you,” he drawled at Jamie, who was nibbling on his biscuit nervously.
“This doesn’t count,” Jamie asserted, his eyes wide. “We’re not playing anymore.”
“Oh, goodie,” said Ronan, rolling his eyes.
Euan clenched his teeth and gripped his cup tighter in his hands.
“So I hear that you’re bringing Penny to stay next week,” Ronan leered, slouching back in his chair. “Things getting serious aren’t they? For a quick fuck like her?”
Euan slammed his hand on the table and stood up.
“Come on, Jamie,” he said, “Let’s go set up one of your computer games.”
Jamie grinned and scrambled to his feet. Euan opened the door to the hallway and guided his brother through, casting a quick scowl back at Ronan before shutting the door. Ronan merely smirked and helped himself to the remainder of Euan’s half-eaten biscuit.
***
Euan strode back down the hallway, nearly running his father down as he emerged from the study.
“What’s the rush, son?” Boris said, mock-playfully, holding up his hands defensively.
“It’s that…” he paused to bite back a swear word, “… nephew of yours.”
“What’s he done now?” Boris sighed, rubbing his scalp thoughtfully.
“Swearing in front of Jamie,” Euan snapped out, clenching his fists. “And just generally being really… annoying!”
“He’s not here for much longer. He’s going to stay with some of his college friends over New Years.”
“Thank God,” Euan replied bitterly. “Can’t be soon enough for me.”
“And you’ll have your lady friend coming to stay too,” Boris added with a knowing look.
“Dad!” Euan exclaimed, not entirely sure whether to be amused or outraged by his father’s antiquated language.
“I know, I know,” he said, tapping a finger to the side of his nose. “I promise not to embarrass you.”
Euan chuckled. “You wouldn’t embarrass me, dad.”
“That’s what you think!” he replied, pretending to roll up his sleeves. “I’ve been in training.”
Euan shook his head, a broad grin sweeping across his features.
***
He stared at the peg he’d hung his coat on, covering his satchel. Perhaps that might have afforded it some protection from Ronan’s keen eyes. With a sinking feeling he noticed that his scarf, which he’d so carefully hung over the top, had fallen to the floor and been kicked against the wall. He rushed over and pulled his coat off the top of his satchel, throwing it aside and scrambling to undo its fastenings. He refused to believe the evidence of his hands, the sudden lightness of the bag. Not until he’d witnessed it with his eyes.
The satchel was empty.
He ripped open the back door and tore out into the garden, ignoring the searing cold that stabbed through his clothes.
“Your coat!” his dad shouted from behind him, but he ignored the call.
He ran round the side of the house, praying that Ronan would be where he suspected. The one place a man like that went when he needed to think.
He could smell the place before he could see it. Ronan’s smoking den. A semi-sheltered corner of the building, littered with the filth of his addiction. He tore around the corner in a rush and nearly charged straight into Ronan, leaning casually against the wall.
“Watch it!” he snapped in surprise, straightening up, holding his hands out defensively.
Euan paused only momentarily.
“Where is it?” he snarled, grabbing Ronan by the lapels and shoving him against the wall, his head impacting with a sickening crack. Ronan merely looked Euan straight in the eyes, cigarette still burning in his outstretched hand.
“You don’t know what you’re starting,” Ronan hissed at him, narrowing his eyes.
“Give me back my stuff or I’ll punch you’re damn skull in,” Euan spat, leaning his face in threateningly close.
With the nonchalance of practise, Ronan flicked his cigarette around in his hand and in one rapid movement, drove the burning end against Euan’s face. Euan yelped, letting go of Ronan and jumping backwards, trying to wipe the scalding ash off his cheek.
“You nearly had my eye out, you fucker!” he yelled.
Ronan pulled another cigarette out of his pocket and took out his lighter.
“You want to talk like civilised people?” Ronan asked, flicking a flame into existence with his right hand.
II
Euan pulled the satchel towards himself, and carefully undid the straps binding it together. He drew its precious contents out, protected by a special case. He pulled his gloves off hastily, unclicked the fiddly locks and took the manuscript out from its protective bed of velvet. He held it in his bare hands, admiring anew the tarnished cover: thick and dark and ancient.
“What are you doing?” a child’s voice called unexpectedly from behind Euan, causing him to jump out of his skin.
“Jamie!” Euan replied, clutching a hand over his heart. “Good grief! You gave me a shock!”
He quickly snapped the manuscript back into its protective casing and thrust it back in the satchel.
“I’m sorry, Euan,” Jamie replied, digging his toe into the snow. He looked suddenly very sad.
“Come here, you silly-billy,” Euan replied jovially, leaning down and holding out his arms to him. “Give your big brother a great big Christmas hug!”
Jamie toddled over and wrapped his arms around Euan’s neck. Euan scooped him off his feet and sat him on the bench next to him.
“So, tell me” Euan began conspiratorially, “What’s brought you out this far, anyway?”
“Playing a game,” Jamie replied enthusiastically. “Do you want to play?”
“What game are you playing?” Euan asked, his tone cautious.
“Hide and Seek. I’m hiding. But you can come hide with me if you like,” Jamie said the last statement in a slightly wheedling tone.
“Isn’t it a bit cold for hide and seek?” Euan asked, rubbing his hands together theatrically.
Jamie shook his head, his eyes wide and earnest.
“Who are you playing with?” Euan suddenly asked, sitting up sharply and looking around himself suspiciously.
“Cousin Ronan,” Jamie replied in a slightly proud tone.
“Right,” Euan sighed, closing his eyes. “How long have you been ‘hiding’ for?”
Jamie shrugged.
“I see,” Euan’s lips pursed slightly. “How would you like to play a new game?”
“What game?” Jamie asked, his tone conveying an edge of child-like cynicism.
“How about the, ‘Walking back to the house to get a cup of hot milk and a biscuit’ game? It’s one of my favourites.”
Jamie laughed and clapped his mitted hands.
“You’re funny,” he replied. “Can I have a bourbon?”
Euan stood up, carefully slinging the satchel back over his shoulder.
“That depends, little bro,” he said earnestly, putting his hands on his hips. “Are you going to behave yourself?”
“Yes, Euan,” Jamie replied seriously, his eyes wide.
“Come on then, quick march!” Euan held out his hand to his brother, who took it and allowed himself to be lead back down the track.
***
Jamie scrambled up into the seat and Euan pulled it closer to the table for him. He carefully hung his satchel on a hook and then covered it with his coat and scarf, thrusting the gloves into the coat pocket. He then set about the kitchen, fetching a jug of milk from the fridge and a tin of biscuits from the top shelf, carefully positioned by the kettle. He set the milk to gently heat in a saucepan, whilst he filled the kettle to boil himself some water for tea. He got a pair of plates out and carefully lined up a bourbon biscuit on each.
“Do I hear the sound of the kettle boiling?” a voice called from an adjacent room.
“No, dad, you can’t hear anything of the sort! It’s all in your imagination,” Euan shouted back, just as the kettle made its final click.
Jamie giggled and clapped his hands to his face.
“I want mine strong with just a dash of milk!” Boris called back, the hint of a chuckle in his tone. “You know how I like it.”
Euan got out another two cups and placed them by the kettle. He dropped tea bags into two of them and a scoop of coffee into the third. He then carefully filled all three with the newly boiled water, just as the door swung open.
“Was that the kettle?” a woman’s voice asked him, her tone overwritten by cautious optimism.
Euan mixed a dash of milk in with the coffee and turned to face her.
“Here you are, mum,” he replied, holding the cup out to here.
“Ooh, you’re a life-saver,” Audrey murmured appreciatively, carefully entwining her fingers around the hot drink. “Is that one for your dad,” she asked, indicating one of the cups of tea.
“Yes,” Euan replied, pulling the teabag out with a spoon and dropping in a dash of milk. “Could you drop it in to him on your way past?”
“Certainly,” she said, picking the indicated cup up and heading back the way she had come. With a swish of cashmere, she had sashayed through the doorway and was gone.
***
“So what have you been up to?” Ronan asked, before depositing the second half of the biscuit into his mouth.
“I was out on a walk,” Euan replied through gritted teeth, “When I met Jamie here. He said you were playing Hide and Seek.”
Ronan shrugged.
“I’ve found you,” he drawled at Jamie, who was nibbling on his biscuit nervously.
“This doesn’t count,” Jamie asserted, his eyes wide. “We’re not playing anymore.”
“Oh, goodie,” said Ronan, rolling his eyes.
Euan clenched his teeth and gripped his cup tighter in his hands.
“So I hear that you’re bringing Penny to stay next week,” Ronan leered, slouching back in his chair. “Things getting serious aren’t they? For a quick fuck like her?”
Euan slammed his hand on the table and stood up.
“Come on, Jamie,” he said, “Let’s go set up one of your computer games.”
Jamie grinned and scrambled to his feet. Euan opened the door to the hallway and guided his brother through, casting a quick scowl back at Ronan before shutting the door. Ronan merely smirked and helped himself to the remainder of Euan’s half-eaten biscuit.
***
Euan strode back down the hallway, nearly running his father down as he emerged from the study.
“What’s the rush, son?” Boris said, mock-playfully, holding up his hands defensively.
“It’s that…” he paused to bite back a swear word, “… nephew of yours.”
“What’s he done now?” Boris sighed, rubbing his scalp thoughtfully.
“Swearing in front of Jamie,” Euan snapped out, clenching his fists. “And just generally being really… annoying!”
“He’s not here for much longer. He’s going to stay with some of his college friends over New Years.”
“Thank God,” Euan replied bitterly. “Can’t be soon enough for me.”
“And you’ll have your lady friend coming to stay too,” Boris added with a knowing look.
“Dad!” Euan exclaimed, not entirely sure whether to be amused or outraged by his father’s antiquated language.
“I know, I know,” he said, tapping a finger to the side of his nose. “I promise not to embarrass you.”
Euan chuckled. “You wouldn’t embarrass me, dad.”
“That’s what you think!” he replied, pretending to roll up his sleeves. “I’ve been in training.”
Euan shook his head, a broad grin sweeping across his features.
***
He stared at the peg he’d hung his coat on, covering his satchel. Perhaps that might have afforded it some protection from Ronan’s keen eyes. With a sinking feeling he noticed that his scarf, which he’d so carefully hung over the top, had fallen to the floor and been kicked against the wall. He rushed over and pulled his coat off the top of his satchel, throwing it aside and scrambling to undo its fastenings. He refused to believe the evidence of his hands, the sudden lightness of the bag. Not until he’d witnessed it with his eyes.
The satchel was empty.
He ripped open the back door and tore out into the garden, ignoring the searing cold that stabbed through his clothes.
“Your coat!” his dad shouted from behind him, but he ignored the call.
He ran round the side of the house, praying that Ronan would be where he suspected. The one place a man like that went when he needed to think.
He could smell the place before he could see it. Ronan’s smoking den. A semi-sheltered corner of the building, littered with the filth of his addiction. He tore around the corner in a rush and nearly charged straight into Ronan, leaning casually against the wall.
“Watch it!” he snapped in surprise, straightening up, holding his hands out defensively.
Euan paused only momentarily.
“Where is it?” he snarled, grabbing Ronan by the lapels and shoving him against the wall, his head impacting with a sickening crack. Ronan merely looked Euan straight in the eyes, cigarette still burning in his outstretched hand.
“You don’t know what you’re starting,” Ronan hissed at him, narrowing his eyes.
“Give me back my stuff or I’ll punch you’re damn skull in,” Euan spat, leaning his face in threateningly close.
With the nonchalance of practise, Ronan flicked his cigarette around in his hand and in one rapid movement, drove the burning end against Euan’s face. Euan yelped, letting go of Ronan and jumping backwards, trying to wipe the scalding ash off his cheek.
“You nearly had my eye out, you fucker!” he yelled.
Ronan pulled another cigarette out of his pocket and took out his lighter.
“You want to talk like civilised people?” Ronan asked, flicking a flame into existence with his right hand.
Tuesday, 4 November 2008
Nano Modern Myth 1.2.1
Chapter 2 is all bloody backstory and very difficult to write. I'm going to push through it as quickly as possible and get on to the good stuff in Chapter 3. Here's a hasty pair of extracts for you all:
Christmas
I
Earth was hard as iron, water like a stone.
The dawn broke cold and still over the Lochlainn Estate. Snow lapped over the grounds, laying the whole scene flat and even. The silence tingled across the land, edged with a crystalline echo. With an obscenely loud click, a doorway from the Estate opened and Euan stepped out into the garden. His footsteps crunching down the track shattered through the delicate music of the surroundings. His cheeks turned instantly red against the cold, the only part of his body exposed to the elements. His pale blue coat blended into the scenery, his thick gloves and scarf a white counterpoint to the vivid colour. He exhaled sharply, his breath clouding and forming icy tendrils that drifted up into the air.
...
But he was making progress. And he was sure his grandfather was right; he was sure that he had something special on his hands. He trudged further down the track, his feet leading him in their own direction. It was not long before his brain caught up.
He was in a heavily shrouded grove of trees, packed densely around a small clearing. In the middle of the clearing were two trees, an ash and an elm, their branches now growing so closely that they were beginning to overlap and entwine. Between the two trees there was a bench inscribed with his grandfather’s name: “In memory of Douglas Lochlain.”
Euan sank heavily onto the bench, carefully positioned the satchel by his side and then put his head into his hands. A single cold tear trickled from the corner of his eye and streaked its icy path down his cheek.
Christmas
I
Earth was hard as iron, water like a stone.
The dawn broke cold and still over the Lochlainn Estate. Snow lapped over the grounds, laying the whole scene flat and even. The silence tingled across the land, edged with a crystalline echo. With an obscenely loud click, a doorway from the Estate opened and Euan stepped out into the garden. His footsteps crunching down the track shattered through the delicate music of the surroundings. His cheeks turned instantly red against the cold, the only part of his body exposed to the elements. His pale blue coat blended into the scenery, his thick gloves and scarf a white counterpoint to the vivid colour. He exhaled sharply, his breath clouding and forming icy tendrils that drifted up into the air.
...
But he was making progress. And he was sure his grandfather was right; he was sure that he had something special on his hands. He trudged further down the track, his feet leading him in their own direction. It was not long before his brain caught up.
He was in a heavily shrouded grove of trees, packed densely around a small clearing. In the middle of the clearing were two trees, an ash and an elm, their branches now growing so closely that they were beginning to overlap and entwine. Between the two trees there was a bench inscribed with his grandfather’s name: “In memory of Douglas Lochlain.”
Euan sank heavily onto the bench, carefully positioned the satchel by his side and then put his head into his hands. A single cold tear trickled from the corner of his eye and streaked its icy path down his cheek.
Monday, 3 November 2008
Nano Modern Myth 1.1.3
Two extracts from part 3 of Year 1, Chapter 1. The first is by request of Quoth The Raven. It's because I couldn't be bothered to justify the role of my Policeman 1.0 character. The second one is more normal.
Euan turned and headed in the direction of the lights, picking an off-track route amongst the undergrowth. They pushed their way through a patch of bracken and burst out onto a tarmac road. Striding forward with more confidence they found a police car pulled up further down the road, an officer was stood by the open door, talking on the radio. They stumbled up to him and he put the radio back.
“What’s happening?” Euan asked his voice still hoarse from the smoke.
“You need to evacuate the area,” the officer replied. “There’s an evacuation point further down the road.”
“Thank you,” Penny replied. “Come on, Euan we’d better head there and see if we can find the others.”
“An officer will have to take a statement from you. Because I’m trying to imply that there’s been a crime and shit.”
“Oh na,” said Penny.
***
“Come with me,” Ronan gestured, flicking the end of his cigarette away into the undergrowth.
“You should be careful with that,” Felix told him, indicating the smouldering cigarette butt. “You could start a fire.”
Ronan fixed him with a look and merely smiled.
“So what are you going to show me?” Felix asked, glancing around himself restlessly.
“It’s over here,” Ronan replied, heading in the direction of the fire.
Felix wondered briefly whether this was such a good idea. It wasn’t a fear he would articulate to Ronan, however. They walked for quite a long time until they reached the edge of the char line where the fire had burnt and then passed onwards. Felix hesitated slightly at the line, but then followed Ronan over. The ground was still slightly hot under foot and some willowy saplings were still covered in glowing orange veins over the black char.
“There,” Ronan stated, pointing at the ground.
He was pointing at a bundle of charred hair and bone, which at some point would have formed the body of an animal.
“Stupid sheep. Panicked in the fire. Ran straight into the blaze,” Ronan pulled out another cigarette and stuck it into his mouth.
Felix looked down silently at the smoking remains and then at Ronan, who was taking a long drag on his cigarette. Ronan handed the cigarette over to him and Felix took a long draw. He handed the cigarette back, the strong tobacco catching slightly in his throat. Ronan merely smiled.
Euan turned and headed in the direction of the lights, picking an off-track route amongst the undergrowth. They pushed their way through a patch of bracken and burst out onto a tarmac road. Striding forward with more confidence they found a police car pulled up further down the road, an officer was stood by the open door, talking on the radio. They stumbled up to him and he put the radio back.
“What’s happening?” Euan asked his voice still hoarse from the smoke.
“You need to evacuate the area,” the officer replied. “There’s an evacuation point further down the road.”
“Thank you,” Penny replied. “Come on, Euan we’d better head there and see if we can find the others.”
“An officer will have to take a statement from you. Because I’m trying to imply that there’s been a crime and shit.”
“Oh na,” said Penny.
***
“Come with me,” Ronan gestured, flicking the end of his cigarette away into the undergrowth.
“You should be careful with that,” Felix told him, indicating the smouldering cigarette butt. “You could start a fire.”
Ronan fixed him with a look and merely smiled.
“So what are you going to show me?” Felix asked, glancing around himself restlessly.
“It’s over here,” Ronan replied, heading in the direction of the fire.
Felix wondered briefly whether this was such a good idea. It wasn’t a fear he would articulate to Ronan, however. They walked for quite a long time until they reached the edge of the char line where the fire had burnt and then passed onwards. Felix hesitated slightly at the line, but then followed Ronan over. The ground was still slightly hot under foot and some willowy saplings were still covered in glowing orange veins over the black char.
“There,” Ronan stated, pointing at the ground.
He was pointing at a bundle of charred hair and bone, which at some point would have formed the body of an animal.
“Stupid sheep. Panicked in the fire. Ran straight into the blaze,” Ronan pulled out another cigarette and stuck it into his mouth.
Felix looked down silently at the smoking remains and then at Ronan, who was taking a long drag on his cigarette. Ronan handed the cigarette over to him and Felix took a long draw. He handed the cigarette back, the strong tobacco catching slightly in his throat. Ronan merely smiled.
Nano, Modern Myth, 1.1.2
Four extracts this time, all from part II of Chapter 1, Year 1.
1st Year
Bonfire Night
II
“Which one of these guys is it that you really want to meet?” Cerys’s eyes sparkled with a hint of mischief, a smile playing with the corners of her mouth.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Penny replied with a blush.
“Oh, come on. It’s obvious,” Cerys replied with a shake of her head. “You’ve been twitching to meet up with these guys for days. So either you’re really fed up with me, or you’re really hoping to see someone else.”
“Well, I suppose,” Penny muttered, looking away and rubbing her hands together anxiously.
“Brilliant!” Cerys replied in evident delight. “So which one is it? It’s not Eurig is it?”
“No, no,” Penny replied hastily.
“Hmph. Not pretty enough for you?” Cerys replied in mock hurt, playing the twin card as hard as she could.
Penny laughed in reply.
***
“Hi guys! How’s it going?” Cerys called over to Euan and Mike, who were stood quietly, looking pensive.
“Hey, Cerys!” Mike replied with a smile, “Good, thanks. How are you?”
“Hi,” Penny said quietly, half turning her head so that she could watch Euan without having to look directly at him.
“Good, good,” Cerys replied enthusiastically. “Euan! You’re looking very serious. Come and get into the festive spirit of things!”
“I never really thought of Guy Faulkes Night as particularly festive,” Euan replied mildly, with a slightly ironic smile.
“We’re celebrating our government defeating an evil terrorist plot! It’s celebratory and contemporarily relevant!” Cerys winked at him, an action largely lost by the darkness of the night.
“We’re celebrating burning a man alive. It’s a bit dark really,” Euan replied.
“Worse than that,” Penny chipped in, moving slightly closer to him. “Guy Faulkes wasn’t actually burnt alive. He was hung, drawn and quartered. And that was after being horribly tortured for months.”
“Charming!” Cerys replied, shaking her head. “Well, I’ll leave you two gloomy birds to it. Come on Mike! Let’s have a cheery walk.” With that, Cerys linked arms with Mike and lead him away to rejoin the main group a short distance away.
***
“It is a good view from up here,” said Penny, a hint of doubt entering her tone. “It can be a bit intimidating though. We bumped into Ronan and that lot on our way to meet you guys.”
“That doesn’t surprise me,” Euan replied, gritting his teeth slightly. “I’ve known Ronan for many years. Although, I personally wouldn’t trust him this near to a large supply of explosives.”
Penny laughed and glanced at his face, to check she’d judged his tone right. He smiled back at her and she looked away again.
“How do you know him? Was he at school with you?” she asked, rubbing her hands together.
“Yes. But I’m afraid I know him through far more sinister means than that,” he said in an increasingly suspenseful tone. “You see…” he paused for dramatic impact, “he is my… cousin!” he said the last with a bit of flare and an arm gesture.
“No way!” Penny replied, covering her mouth with her hand. She hastily rewound the conversation in her mind, making sure she hadn’t said anything that could offend a family member.
“Yes way. Unfortunately.” Euan smiled and then sighed.
“Wow. I’m sorry,” she giggled and then heartily laughed as she could just about make out his mournful expression. She pushed his arm lightly in a playful gesture.
***
“Look, perhaps we should go rejoin the others,” Euan said in a slightly apprehensive tone.
“I think you’re right,” Penny replied.
The two walked back the way they had come, suddenly aware of how much lighter it now seemed than it had earlier, even though it was later into the night. But the light was not the cool whites of moonlight, but the hot, yellows of firelight. Too much firelight.
1st Year
Bonfire Night
II
“Which one of these guys is it that you really want to meet?” Cerys’s eyes sparkled with a hint of mischief, a smile playing with the corners of her mouth.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Penny replied with a blush.
“Oh, come on. It’s obvious,” Cerys replied with a shake of her head. “You’ve been twitching to meet up with these guys for days. So either you’re really fed up with me, or you’re really hoping to see someone else.”
“Well, I suppose,” Penny muttered, looking away and rubbing her hands together anxiously.
“Brilliant!” Cerys replied in evident delight. “So which one is it? It’s not Eurig is it?”
“No, no,” Penny replied hastily.
“Hmph. Not pretty enough for you?” Cerys replied in mock hurt, playing the twin card as hard as she could.
Penny laughed in reply.
***
“Hi guys! How’s it going?” Cerys called over to Euan and Mike, who were stood quietly, looking pensive.
“Hey, Cerys!” Mike replied with a smile, “Good, thanks. How are you?”
“Hi,” Penny said quietly, half turning her head so that she could watch Euan without having to look directly at him.
“Good, good,” Cerys replied enthusiastically. “Euan! You’re looking very serious. Come and get into the festive spirit of things!”
“I never really thought of Guy Faulkes Night as particularly festive,” Euan replied mildly, with a slightly ironic smile.
“We’re celebrating our government defeating an evil terrorist plot! It’s celebratory and contemporarily relevant!” Cerys winked at him, an action largely lost by the darkness of the night.
“We’re celebrating burning a man alive. It’s a bit dark really,” Euan replied.
“Worse than that,” Penny chipped in, moving slightly closer to him. “Guy Faulkes wasn’t actually burnt alive. He was hung, drawn and quartered. And that was after being horribly tortured for months.”
“Charming!” Cerys replied, shaking her head. “Well, I’ll leave you two gloomy birds to it. Come on Mike! Let’s have a cheery walk.” With that, Cerys linked arms with Mike and lead him away to rejoin the main group a short distance away.
***
“It is a good view from up here,” said Penny, a hint of doubt entering her tone. “It can be a bit intimidating though. We bumped into Ronan and that lot on our way to meet you guys.”
“That doesn’t surprise me,” Euan replied, gritting his teeth slightly. “I’ve known Ronan for many years. Although, I personally wouldn’t trust him this near to a large supply of explosives.”
Penny laughed and glanced at his face, to check she’d judged his tone right. He smiled back at her and she looked away again.
“How do you know him? Was he at school with you?” she asked, rubbing her hands together.
“Yes. But I’m afraid I know him through far more sinister means than that,” he said in an increasingly suspenseful tone. “You see…” he paused for dramatic impact, “he is my… cousin!” he said the last with a bit of flare and an arm gesture.
“No way!” Penny replied, covering her mouth with her hand. She hastily rewound the conversation in her mind, making sure she hadn’t said anything that could offend a family member.
“Yes way. Unfortunately.” Euan smiled and then sighed.
“Wow. I’m sorry,” she giggled and then heartily laughed as she could just about make out his mournful expression. She pushed his arm lightly in a playful gesture.
***
“Look, perhaps we should go rejoin the others,” Euan said in a slightly apprehensive tone.
“I think you’re right,” Penny replied.
The two walked back the way they had come, suddenly aware of how much lighter it now seemed than it had earlier, even though it was later into the night. But the light was not the cool whites of moonlight, but the hot, yellows of firelight. Too much firelight.
Nano, Modern Myth, 1.1.1
Disclaimer: Naturally this is written very fast and with no care for accuracy. These are 3 extracts from part I of Chapter 1: Bonfire Night from 1st Year. The extracts are not linked. They have been cleverly divided by ellipses. I'm so clever.
1st Year
Bonfire Night
I
From the darkness and the chaos came the inferno. But that was in the beginning.
The night was dark and sultry, clouds obscured the sky and blocked out all possible moonlight. A held silence stretched out, waiting, expectant. Light flashed suddenly and brilliantly across the sky in a streak, shrieking as it went. With a loud explosion the light blew into thousands of sparks, releasing the crowd from their spell.
“Ooh!”
“Ahh!”
“Whoah!”
The crowd muttered their ritual incantations.
“I don’t know what they’re so impressed about. You can barely see the fireworks with all this cloud,” Euan muttered, his eyes upturned to the sky.
Another firework shot upwards, exploding above the clouds, like unearthly red sheet lightning. The crowd “oohed” nonetheless.
“It’s not their fault,” Mike replied, thrusting his hands inside his pockets. “They came here to be entertained. And they have no damn intention of leaving until they are.”
The group sniggered slightly at this, their breath curling out like a fine mist and trailing away.
“You know, Mike, you don’t but half talk some bullshit sometimes,” Tom interjected, with a slight shake of his head.
With a whirring scream, a Catherine Wheel was set in motion, a few flying sparks all that could be seen from this far back in the crowd.
“He’s right though,” Euan replied, with a shrug.
“You would take his side, wouldn’t you,” Felix quipped snidely, his eyes dancing with mischief.
“Cut it out, Felix,” Tom snapped back, glowering darkly at him.
There was a brief silence between them, interrupted only by the repetitive pop of a set of Roman Candles being lit.
.....
The monk in his dark recess, lit only by the light of a small candle, prayed and quivered in fear. The air became hotter and thicker, but the fire could not reach him in his stone prison. The monk sweated and gasped; choking he collapsed forward onto his books, the light of his candle dim, so dim now. So dim with no air to keep it lit.
...
“And you think you can write your dissertation on one of these texts?” Mike replied, slightly breathless as they were reaching the summit of Muspel Hill.
“Yes. One specifically. The Old English text.”
The two of them scrambled up the last section of hill in silence and then paused on reaching the top. Mike thought about saying something, but then realised that really, there wasn’t anything he could say.
1st Year
Bonfire Night
I
From the darkness and the chaos came the inferno. But that was in the beginning.
The night was dark and sultry, clouds obscured the sky and blocked out all possible moonlight. A held silence stretched out, waiting, expectant. Light flashed suddenly and brilliantly across the sky in a streak, shrieking as it went. With a loud explosion the light blew into thousands of sparks, releasing the crowd from their spell.
“Ooh!”
“Ahh!”
“Whoah!”
The crowd muttered their ritual incantations.
“I don’t know what they’re so impressed about. You can barely see the fireworks with all this cloud,” Euan muttered, his eyes upturned to the sky.
Another firework shot upwards, exploding above the clouds, like unearthly red sheet lightning. The crowd “oohed” nonetheless.
“It’s not their fault,” Mike replied, thrusting his hands inside his pockets. “They came here to be entertained. And they have no damn intention of leaving until they are.”
The group sniggered slightly at this, their breath curling out like a fine mist and trailing away.
“You know, Mike, you don’t but half talk some bullshit sometimes,” Tom interjected, with a slight shake of his head.
With a whirring scream, a Catherine Wheel was set in motion, a few flying sparks all that could be seen from this far back in the crowd.
“He’s right though,” Euan replied, with a shrug.
“You would take his side, wouldn’t you,” Felix quipped snidely, his eyes dancing with mischief.
“Cut it out, Felix,” Tom snapped back, glowering darkly at him.
There was a brief silence between them, interrupted only by the repetitive pop of a set of Roman Candles being lit.
.....
The monk in his dark recess, lit only by the light of a small candle, prayed and quivered in fear. The air became hotter and thicker, but the fire could not reach him in his stone prison. The monk sweated and gasped; choking he collapsed forward onto his books, the light of his candle dim, so dim now. So dim with no air to keep it lit.
...
“And you think you can write your dissertation on one of these texts?” Mike replied, slightly breathless as they were reaching the summit of Muspel Hill.
“Yes. One specifically. The Old English text.”
The two of them scrambled up the last section of hill in silence and then paused on reaching the top. Mike thought about saying something, but then realised that really, there wasn’t anything he could say.
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