"What the frail are you doing here?" said Rog, not expecting to see Arn.
"Nice to see you too," said Arn. "I can leave if you like. Your call."
"It's not that. I was just expecting someone else. Come in."
Arn didn't move.
"Well?" said Rog.
"Didn't come to socialize."
"Yeah?"
"Came to save your petard. Grab Yul. I'll explain on the way."
"Look--"
Arn looked blankly at his chron.
"Yul is ill. Help is on the way. Be here any minute."
"I am your help," replied Arn without raising his voice. "You don't want to be here when that help arrives."
"I don't think you understand."
"Let me put it this way. Stay here. You die."
Rog stared at Arn who stared back. Each still as a tree in a windless dawn.
"Damn it Arn, does everything have to be a frailing mystery with you?"
"Words are time and we don't have time. You coming or--?"
An explosion sent Arn into Rog's arms, the room concussed, shaken as if by a giant, dust and plaster falling like snow, choking breath and caking tongue, the room a blizzard of destruction, their bodies as lumps in an avalanche.
__________
"You don't look Kulmykian," said Trev, the room somewhat of a drunken blur.
"I'm not," she said, closing the door and turning the lock.
"Arc'teryxian?"
"No."
"What are you then?"
"Does it matter?" she smiled, approaching the bed.
Trev considered that for a moment while fumbling with a pillow on the headboard. "Suppose not."
"Didn't think so," her voice creamy, the room spinning. Running her thumbs over his forehead, she closed his eyes, her blue nails tracing elliptical loops on his flush temples. "Relax. Promise you won't feel a thing."
__________
Von looked at the chaplain. "What the hellocks happened?"
"Some things, we don't know."
Von lifted his hand.
"And you can beat me to a pulp and you'll get no more. I can't give what I don't have."
Von lowered his hand, looking at it as if it didn't belong to him. "Okay, then give me your best guess."
"What has occurred here has never occurred before. Your guess is as good as mine."
"Your shiotting me."
"I'm afraid not."
"Never before?"
"Never."
"Really?"
"Really."
Von's left eye begin to twitch. Turning to the fount, he raised his right hand. "I wouldn't do that if I were you," said the chaplain.
Von glanced in his direction and then back to the fount before dipping his fingers in the light. In a blink, he was gone.
17 comments:
For the sake of chronology, the scene with Arn and Rog takes place prior to the scene with Trev and the girl and the scene with Von and the chaplain takes place before both. Everything clear now? :-D
In other words, we have the scene in the Chapel where John leaves Von. After John leaves (with Kyra, Em and Ariel on their way to Bravo), Von disappears into the fount as we see here. In the meantime, Arn has been dispatched to pick up Rog and Yul (where we see they run into a bit of trouble) and then find Trev.
Is funny, when you put it that way, how the scenes come to play within this single chapter in relation to where they belong on a time line, :-), like the rest of the story, back and forward and now and then and maybes and amazingly still and at the same time so easy to follow, and by follow I mean literally move with the times in a manner of speaking.
Ooooh ooooh ooooh, :-D, was my thought when I got to the last line, nothing is ever entirely guessable though there are instances where one imagines the beginnings of what comes next and those beginnings were on the right track, more often than that it is in hindsight that the turn seems to have been there all the while, in this case I had not contemplated that it was Arn at the door and that there were as yet no disturbances to Trev's stolen hour. That Von was not with John and the others though the seat next to him was not spoken of was indicated through that lack, in other words this was cleverly executed. Dialogue, I must stress once again, is so natural which in some ways is rather a strange observance to make not least when what is being talked about are words we, us, would never hear. And the metaphors within this first third are entirely wonderful, the still trees and the description of the explosion. It was so nice to see the word caking, a word I have not seen in a while, the realization only occurring as I read it, exceedingly illustrative word and it fits so securely within.
There is, and I freely admit it is more than likely just my imagination running amok, or rather I get a sense of foreboding when I watch the scene unfolding between Trev and Ms 'does it matter?', perhaps it has only to do with the colours between Lil' and Trev, but the words here at the end have been spoken before, perhaps not these direct words, but something that lends stress to that sense...excellent piece of writing also. It is for sentences such as her blue nails tracing elliptical loops on his flush temples. that renewed admiration is due. It all, but there is one concrete, quoted example.
You're shiotting me Just gotta love that for its own sake. Unique and distinguished has been the language used within this story and it is in cases such as these, yakmuk's arse/ass and a hundred others, where no matter what is going on, how tense the situation is and so forth, one just cannot help smiling here at. Gorgeous, just simply though we are talking shiott, it is gorgeous! :-D
And my gosh, I do not even know where to start in regards to Von's disappearance or rather his following of Zoe and unborn bairn and the huge wall of white that it creates, blankness, a canvas to be filled and the possibilities are just so fascinating and progressive and..so looking forward to seeing where it all leads, what you will do with it, and to being stunned by the (and don't you dare insert something about too high expectations, such a thing is impossible when it comes to you and your writing this much you have proved too many times to number) expanse.
Abso*lutely excellent chapter!! To follow the 591 AECs before it.
Glowing in awe. As always.
Wowed.
Amazed.
Done been Poppeted and I'm liking the feel. :-D
Hey Tr'ee!
I wanted to say hello and say I started my blog back up.
I will be back to catch up (if that is possible) on the story. Hopefully I will be getting a laptop before surgery next week so I can do some much needed reading during my recovery.
Hugs Sweetie,
Kimmie
Kimmie, so nice to see you stopping by. I'll keep you in my thoughts and prayers in the days ahead. As far as reading material, if I don't have enough for you here, I can always write more. :-D
Oh, my Goodness!
Mystery abounds!!
I'm on the edge of my seat!
Man of mystery. That's me. :-D :-D
Bring that edge a little closer, if you don't mind, your seat, that is. :-D
Sunshine, you've been Poppeted. :-D
That is the funniest thing I've seen in some time. :-D
These snapshot chapters are fun to write. So glad you enjoy reading them. As always, your warm and wonderful comments are a sweet indulgence to read. I even skipped dessert tonight. Didn't need it. :-D
Whatever the chronology, I guarantee that I can read your book backwards too! :)
Each chapter is an art & stands by itself!
Arn says that they cannot waste time & he is the one mincing words! I guess old habit die hard! Unless we die with them of course :D
The girl in the second episode has blue nails?
She must be a Vishkanya ( an Indian mythical girl, who is fed poison in small quantities since infant hood, to make her into a strategic war weapon. ( they were sent as 'gifts0 to the rival kings & could kill them with a kiss the first night itself)
Thank You Tr'ee. You are such a sweetie.
Wow...what a chapter for me to come back to! I certainly have to go pretty far back to get into the swing of this entire story again. I am rather lost. :-(
I must say though, I felt myself react to each part of this in a different way. Emotions...the are so complex. :-)
Wow...I cant wait to read more!
OK, #1...Arn? I am going to have to look back and figure out who that is and why there would be... mistrust(?) by Rog.
#2 You won't feel a thing? Either what is happening is NOT what I thought was happening or Trev is getting gyped. I thought "feel" was the whole point unless... she is saying you won't feel all that emotional mess because of what is about to happen? Ding ding? Was that my light bulb moment?
And #3 As I was reading the Von segment I am picturing something miraculous? Is that the right word?
Have a great weekend Tree.
Happy Birthday Jen. I wanna see that child inducing cringe dance. :-D
Arn is a minor character, a member of The Brotherhood, which was in opposition to The Hood. Rog has nothing against Arn, he was just expecting someone else (from the hospital) and his concern about Yul is what is fueling his reaction.
As for the girl and her statement, well, I kinda like your insight here. All I can say at the moment is stay tuned. What she meant is still up in the air, which is to say it could be either good or bad, depending on how I make up my mind as to the role she plays. ;-)
And as far as Von, well, it could be. We'll just have to wait and see. ;-)
Meleah, me too. :-D
Kimmie, if you say pretty please, I might do an audio summation of where the story is at this point. More going on at the moment than normal. Stay tuned. :-)
Mona, you always make me smile with your wonderfully unique comments and I dream of having a cup of tea with you over conversation, being able to watch your mind at work, to see the texture of your life in your tone and your eyes. I'd like to see that.
Pretty Please????
And I'll even put some sugar on top! ;-)
I would love that! It would be perfect to help individuals such as myself who tend to weave in and out...I know...bad Kimmie! You may have to *spank* me!
I.did.not.just.type.that! ;-)
I will stay tuned! Now I must read.
Hugs
Kimmie, how could I resist. Enjoy. :-)
As for the spanking, just say when. :-D
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