tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-296545382024-03-18T13:33:41.431+10:30Monster-Blood TattooA blog about Rossamünd, Writing & all things related. Here is the place to come for things about D.M. Cornish, Monster Blood Tattoo and The Foundling's Tale.D.M. Cornishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09452470049845132286noreply@blogger.comBlogger212125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29654538.post-40530593368322001912017-02-17T07:52:00.000+10:302017-02-17T18:36:51.463+10:30Grasping the nettle.<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><i>Well, it <b>has </b>been a while (understatement of the day so far...) Below is my first faltering steps into what I hope/intend will be Europe's "back story" (ugly phrase, but the best way to describe things here). It is not in any way edited or vetted, just straight from draft to you. </i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">.D.
EUROPE: THE BEGINNERING of the first kind</span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">© D.M. Cornish<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">When the Duke and Duchess
Magentine of the great city-state of Naimes declared themselves pregnant the
good people of that long city-state heaved a deep, collected sigh. For well
beyond the last century Naimes’ ducal line had been dangerously thin, producing
only a single heir for five of the past six generations. Beset on every border
by rival cities all denouncing their common neighbour an illegitimate state
founded by squatters and usurpers, the citizens Naimes had suffered long with
doubt and fear; boundary parishes raided, stores and factories burnt or worse,
bombed by clandestine dissenters, innumerable walls pasted with anti-ducal
bills claiming all manner of wild and dishonest things. Worst was the
ever-lurking, never-mentioned dread of assassination, of the collapse of their
ruling line and the city with them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Happy
for all the Nomine peoples then, that that the young duke’s even younger wife,
Euodia, came from a famously fertile line. When the Duchess of Naimes grew duly
great with child late in the very first year of her union to the Duke, she
proudly stood upon the balconies of the Window Obvious to display her swollen
belly to the pressing rapturous delight of her crowding subjects in the square
below. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">By
signal of the weather, the shape and height of the duchess’ swelling, the
manner of her increasingly waddling walk and the flow of her humours, the court
prognosticators declared the outcome most certainly a <i>boy</i>. All the seers and wiseacres of the city concurred and the
citizens Nomine held joyous galas and ebullient toasts and breathed a little
easier, their stability of life for a generation more apparently at last secured.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Yet
– alas! – on a heavy, storm-wracked night – an excellent sign for the birth of
so significant a child – of snow-locked Middlemonth of HIR 1566 the happy
auspices of the court prognosticators were quickly reversed as this first issue
came screaming into the world a <i>girl</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Never-the-less,
so inflated were the peoples collected hopes that any initial disappointment amongst
the lofty or lowly was soon swallowed in the renewed expectation of many more
chances to come.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Mother
and child thrived, and soon enough the Duke’s firstborn was presented amongst
much ceremony in the columned vastness of the Hall of Pageants with is wide
view out onto the newly finished Grand Palide Boulevardte. Amidst clattering
timpanies and marching soldiery, the great and mighty of Naimes gathered in a
wonder of colour and glittering weapons worn for genuine purpose as much for
display. For the duke had perhaps foolishly granted notable personages and
sceptical observers from Naimes’ hostile neighbours – Vauquelin, Haquetaine,
Westover, Castor and Maine – to attend and <i>see</i>
the child herself and despair of their own empty claims. These were collected
in a sullen group upon the north wing of the Hall of Pageants, watched by
quartos of their own lifeguards and larger platoons of the Duke’s. In easy
eye-shot but in a seat of much greater honour were collected an honoured
contingent of Imperial Secretaries, for it was as much the will of the Haacobin
Emperors far to the north that kept Naimes unmolested as an unbroken line of
ducal rule.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Wrapped
in velvet swaddling of bright scarlet and gleaming magenta that required four
attendants to carry its thickly trailing hems, the weeks-old girl was lifted
before the solemn assembly. Waving the Historied Thistle over the still and
staring babe and placing the Cold Stone beneath her head – according to the
ancient formulas, the Arch-Lineate intoned her full and mighty name:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Cadence Europa Aria Orinia Nomine
Magentine</span></i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">…
a mouthful her mother promptly shortened – following the way of <i>her </i>family – to <i>Europe</i>. Dabbed with the Sanguine Water upon her brow for wisdom,
her lips for clarity and her throat for compassion, infant Europa Magentine was
finally signified before all as a true heir of Naimes. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Strangely
silent for one so new into this darksome bustling world, baby Europa squirmed
only once when the Arch-Lineate accidently prickled her tiny and impertinently
grasping hand with the Historied Thistle. All agreed this was a <i>very good thing</i>: “a pleasing show of pluck,”
was the murmur amongst the mighty gathering, while some ruder fellows at gloomy
far end of the hall called out, “Our duchess grasps the Nettle!” – a call that was
quickly transmitted to the common crowding citizens pressing and eager in the
grand square before the Hall of Pageants.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">OUR
DUCHESS GRASPS THE NETTLE! they cried, the muffled din of it echoing back into
the hall. OUR DUCHESS GRASPS THE NETTLE!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">The
secretly mortified clerks administering this particular part of service could
have sworn the tiny babe beheld him with an almost condemning glower of disconcerting
clarity.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Passed
over Treshinghold and given the Ducal Mace – the very weapon the first Duke of
old wielded to conquer this land: far too large of course, the ancient weapon
was held in her stead by an officer of the lifeguard pledged already to her
service. Fully invested, Europe was united again with her frankly proud parents:
her father in bright lorica of his troubardier guards; her mother wide dress of
flashing white silk, neck and cuffs and shawl thick with the crimson fur of
some impossibly exotic beastie. Standing before all, father, mother and child
were hailed together while the Arch-Lineate proclaimed:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">“I
declare the Family Magentine a Line Entire, fitted by Imperial Sanction and the
Rights of Ancient Custom to rule the Vasty Greatness of Naimes until Death only
prevent you!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">With
that the cheers went from proper formulas to spontaneous elation; all the
people within and without united for that wondrous moment in their joy: <i>Naimes would stand for another generation</i>.
The foreign observers did not join the raptures: the best among them simply
clapped where they stood while most remained obstinately seated and muttered to
each other darkly and showing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Future
secured, the mightiest family of Naimes lead a great procession back to their
ancestral courts where they presented themselves along with the Duke’s Mother –
sad and infirm – at the Window Obvious for the milling mass of lesser folk to
behold.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">OUR
LITTLE DUCHESS GRASPS THE NETTLE! NAIMES FOR ALL AND EVERMORE!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">“A
bundling boy could have done no better,” the Duke whispered close to his
Duchess’ ear, grinning in self-forgetful delight at his daughter and then out
at the jubilant throng.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">So
thunderous was their exultation – the Duchess was fond to repeat for years to
come – that Europa stirred in the cuddling thick furs that proofed her against
both the cold and harm, and stared at her subjects with a strange and dark-eyed
wisdom.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
D.M. Cornishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09452470049845132286noreply@blogger.com48tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29654538.post-72537815596111078272014-06-02T11:22:00.000+09:302014-06-02T11:22:54.304+09:30The Reason for the Silence... such as it is.As per usual I begin with an apology - and this the most earnest of those so far: so very sorry for the abruptness and the length (!) of my silence.<br />
<br />
I am in fact, still alive, still working, and most significantly, preparing for fatherhood.<br />
<br />
I do suffer from chronic, low level depression which most often presents itself as a strong desire to be left alone and excessive computer gaming :\ ... yet the main reason for the sudden stop was more particularly two things:<br />
<br />
1/ fear, as I approach the moment/scene in ECONOMOUS that motivated me to start his story in the first place; &<br />
<br />
2/ realising that I had no idea who Miss Swift actually is (since *-SPOILERS AHEAD!-* I want to make her a main character) and not being able to proceed without her being better realised.<br />
<br />
Well, happy day \o/, thanks to my writers' group of Michael Hawke, Ben Morton & Rikki Lambert, I have a much clearer sense of her now (and quite different she is from how I have penned her so far) so proceeding can begin again.<br />
<br />
That said, I am currently in the thick of illustrating a growing list of picture books which have most of my creative professional attention, and what of that is left for writing I am thinking of applying to the other fruit of the WRITERS' GROUP: the continuing story of Europe, the Branden Rose, taking up where FACTOTUM left off. Excitingly (for me, at least) I have a beginning, middle and sense of the end (or a final catalysing moment to work towards), so it now simply awaits for me to take the start I have already and turn it into a finished tale.<br />
<br />
I would like to thank you all for your persistence and Tom Wamstad for his expressed concern (which prompted me to speak up at last). I am still here, a little overwhelmed, but getting there.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">For my next post I shall seek to respond to the comments from the last long ago post, so stay tuned...)</span><br />
<br />
<br />D.M. Cornishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09452470049845132286noreply@blogger.com88tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29654538.post-61119688762729714172014-01-24T09:20:00.000+10:302014-01-24T09:20:48.561+10:30Economous Musgrove Chapter 9 Part 3<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.18181800842285px;"><b>Wow, almost did not make it :O</b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.18181800842285px;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.18181800842285px;"><b>I blame my preoccupation with a picture book I am working on that is due in little over one weeks time - <i>I Don't Want to Eat My Dinner</i> it is called, a sample for you below.</b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.18181800842285px;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pJGyMUTyzWU/UuGcWSj_RcI/AAAAAAAAAlU/3rBpd7p3-6g/s1600/I+DONT+WANT+TO+EAT+MY+DINNER+-+page+12+&+13+SAMPLE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pJGyMUTyzWU/UuGcWSj_RcI/AAAAAAAAAlU/3rBpd7p3-6g/s1600/I+DONT+WANT+TO+EAT+MY+DINNER+-+page+12+&+13+SAMPLE.jpg" height="171" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.18181800842285px;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.18181800842285px;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.18181800842285px;"><b>On posting this, I am painfully aware of missing details, of things not quite fleshed out, but such is the state of first drafts, so read on knowing that if this gets to a more polished stage it will be fuller, fitter, finer.</b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.18181800842285px;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; font-size: 24pt;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; font-size: 24pt;">Economous<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; font-size: 24pt;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; font-size: 24pt;">musgrove<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; font-size: 24pt;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-align: center;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-i49HZVV0Pxc/UhqhoasY-CI/AAAAAAAAAjg/x563JftKVAw/s1600/economus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: #7d181e; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-i49HZVV0Pxc/UhqhoasY-CI/AAAAAAAAAjg/x563JftKVAw/s320/economus.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 20px; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-left-radius: 5px; border-bottom-right-radius: 5px; border-top-left-radius: 5px; border-top-right-radius: 5px; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 20px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="220" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std';"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; text-indent: 35.45pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; text-indent: 35.45pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; text-indent: 35.45pt;"> </span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std';">© D.M.Cornish<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std';"><b><span style="background-color: white; color: #bf9000;">PLEASE DO NOT PUBLISH OR REPRODUCE WITHOUT MY PERMISSION</span></b></span><br /><span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std';"><br /></span></div>
<div class="DMCChapterTitle" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; line-height: 19px;"><b>Chapter 9 PART 3</b></span></div>
<div class="DMCChapterTitle" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.99147605895996px; text-indent: 47.266666412353516px;">The Sulk & Through</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto;">
* * * * *<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
The tenth day of
his travels and Economous was on the road again. Elated, he whistled softly to
himself as he sat in the now moving lentum cabin, Miss Swift once again opposite
and once again ignoring him. Two new somebodies sat beside each of them – some
large lady in a thick shawl and coddling a covered basket, and a gentleman in
sleek blue soutaine – either whom Economous took little time to observe: just
to be moving on again was all his interest. The smudgy threat of the Ichormeer
glimpsed once more from the hilltop road out of Poonemünd was enough to arrest
his attention and he stared at it until the road dropped once more to the
unending flatness of the Sulk plain and the dread mire was lost to sight.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
“And what calls
you out to Undermeers, my good friend,” the well-dressed gentleman said
suddenly, addressing Economous directly in an accent somewhere between Gott and
Bosch, with a strange Tutin ring to it too.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
Though
surrounded by people after so long in the strange near-solitude of this journey
– this great crossing – Economous almost did not answer the forward fellow. “I
have services to render to a great lady of the region,” he said, telling more
than he cared to in his haste to make amends for his slowness to answer.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
The
well-dressed gentleman looked at him and nodded slowly. “Well for you, sir,
well for you.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
“What of thee,
dear girl?” the shawl-draped lady enquired with beady fascination of Miss Swift.
“What brings thee hither to such out-away places?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
Tip of her fan
touching her chin then fluttering with abrupt modulation, her falseman’s eyes
hid again in the shade of a tricorn brim, the young woman also took a moment to
respond.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
“My answer is
much the same, madam,” she said bluntly and turned her gaze to the view without
to bring any further enquiry to an end, casting Economous a brief and subtly
perplexed glance as she did.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
“A great lady
too, is it?” the be-shawled traveller pressed.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
Miss Swift’s
fan shut and tipped to the left, before snapping open and fluttering <i>angrily</i> – was the only word Economous
could give the motion – again. “Indeed, madam” she said with careful
politeness. “And I do not wish to say more on it.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
To this the
portly woman smiled a peculiar, almost indulgent smile and inquired no more.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
Economous did
not know what to make of it all, but he was certain the two newcomers passed
knowing looks.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto;">
* * * * *<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
The lack of
proper way-posts, coach-hosts or any such thing to change teams forced the
lenterman to halt often to rest his horses along this stretch named the Lang
Plat. Though these were only the briefest pauses possible to serve the contrary
demands of both speed and equine wind, it was not until very late in the day
that they achieved the intersection of the Lang Plat and the Conduit Limus –
the Ichor Road it was commonly called, its southern arm running audaciously – and largely unused – through the threats and horrors of the Ichormeer. A long earthen dyke ran upon the western flank of the Ichor Road, reaching north and south as far as could
be seen. Economous had some recollection of receiving instruction at the athy
of a battle being fought here during the early days of the Sulk’s full
founding, though between whom and over what he could not now bring to mind.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
For the meeting
of two reputedly major highroads, the crossing was strangely empty of settlement
and traffic – no imperial bastion to watch and tax, nor even an eeker’s cottage to make advantage of the
congruence. <span style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">Leaning out and
looking ahead – quite painful to achieve – the young fabulist beheld in the
westering light the battlements of some fashion of fortress showing clear above
the rises some miles further ahead.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
With scarce a
pause in caution of contrary traffic, the lentum crossed the Ichor Road and
pressed on.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
Yawning and
stretching in his seat to clear the travel-drowse, Economous heard the
lenterman shout the six horse team to greater exertions despite their weariness
and to the young fabulist there seemed a note of fear in the harshness of the
bluff man’s cries. <span style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">Though the
sensation was surely just the weariness of the road, but he almost dared to
admit to himself that there was something unfriendly in the air without,
something – dare he admit – </span><i style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">threwdish</i><span style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
about the entire darkling vista. Now that he was ken of it, the threwdishness
pressed upon his wind and he found himself nodding in hearty accord with the
driver’s hoarse infrequent barks. Surly they were about to be beset by some
slobbering horror!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<i>Why does the lenterman not drive us faster? </i>he
fretted, peering through the lattice at the darkening hurrying world without. <i>Is he dumb to our danger?<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
Over a final
rise and the bastion loomed, jutting from the acute slope cut into a hillside
and running long and narrow along the flank of the road. Spangled by myriad
windows, its west-facing battlements lit deep orange in the sun’s last light. With
a loud “Heyah!” from the driver and a disconcerted bellow of horses and the
lentum lurched, shaking its passengers sharply. Miss Swift was almost knock
from her seat but for the quick steadying hand of Economous’ on her shoulder.
Tossed about smartly, the four travellers clung to whatever hold they could.
Rocking and leaping the carriage closed the final fathoms to the bastion gates
at a sprint, making the foreyard with a clash and boom of a gate closed abruptly
behind them.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
“<i>Thank you</i>, Mister Musgrove,” Miss Swift
said as she coolly but firmly pushed Economous’ hand from her shoulder with the
guardstick of her closed fan.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
The cabin door
burst open and the back-stepper was there, ready to hand the ladies alight, his
face flushed, his eyes gleaming with glee the lantern glow of the yard. “Did ye see the basket?” he exclaimed up to
the driver and the sidearmsman even as he opened the cabin door and handed the
ladies first from the lentum.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
“Nay, di’n’t catch a hook of it,” cried the
sidearmsman. “But [NAME] thought he did and got us to th’ gate with all breath behind
him,” he declared with tip of his head and a smirk to the driver beside him,
clapping the pale and shaking fellow upon the back. “You getting the ghasts, me
hearty?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
The lentum
driver shrugged. “Better sure than sorry,” he muttered.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
“A nicker was
after us?” Economous asked as he clambered out, looking back to the closed gate
that had made good their escape, then up to the wall tops where musketeers in
Imperial mottle stood peering into the deepening gloom.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
“I say it was,
aye,” the lenterman replied sourly. “Just rose up outta the stubble and sprang
at us. I thought I was done, but got us away. Where’s yer eyes at, [NAME]?” <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
“In me dial, as
per usual,” the sidearms man grinned. “But I reckon yours are poppin’ out at
any lurching fancy.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
The driver said
nothing to thus but spitting a curse, stowed his whip and dropped stiffly from
his high seat to the still hard earth.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
A single musket
shot hissed and popped into the silence from the battlements above, drawing
gasps from the new arrivals. Passengers, lenters and yardfolk alike looked to
the heights of the fortalice.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
“Can ye see it?”
came a gruff call from the yard. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
“Nothing, bell-sergeant,”
was the reply from pediteers watching from the wall-tops. “It has surly
scunnered … if it was there.” <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
Looking to
Economous then the rather paler sidearmsman, the lenterman adjusted his copstan
to a jaunty angle. “Got the ghasts have I?” he uttered, then turned and went to
help unharness the horse team.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
“Aye.” The
sidearmsman looked uncomfortably at Economous. “What ye gawpin’ at, townie!” he
snarled and turned his back to clamber off his high seat on the lentum too.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
But all Economous
cared for was how close he had just come to dire monstrous encounter.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
“Withdraw
inside the coaching house, if you please, goodly peoples,” demanded a tired
looking man of middling years resplendent despite obvious weariness in military
harness of rouge, luec and or – red, white and gold.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
Economous
training at the athenaeum had been martial enough that he recognised the
pediteer as a sergeant-at-arms of His Most Serene Emperor’s service.
Compliantly, the fabulist turned his attention to his luggage being heft from
the lentum roof, as he fellow three passengers retired with the elevated wind
of those who have just scraped with danger.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto;">
* * * * *<o:p></o:p></div>
D.M. Cornishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09452470049845132286noreply@blogger.com44tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29654538.post-80410229261774321082014-01-15T12:33:00.001+10:302014-01-15T12:34:26.465+10:30Economous Musgrove Chapter 9 Part 2<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-size: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.18181800842285px;"><b>Late again, but still arrived, more Economous is here.</b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.18181800842285px;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 18.18181800842285px;">May I just say too, how much I appreciate you all, whether you comment or not, and how much your comments encourage me to continue and aid in the creative process - it is like you are all some kind of beta (alpha?) testers helping guide the outcome of the final result. Anyway, lame </span></span><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 18.18181800842285px;">similes</span></span><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 18.18181800842285px;"> aside, thank you all.</span></span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.18181800842285px;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; font-size: 24pt;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; font-size: 24pt;">Economous<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; font-size: 24pt;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; font-size: 24pt;">musgrove<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; font-size: 24pt;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-align: center;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-i49HZVV0Pxc/UhqhoasY-CI/AAAAAAAAAjg/x563JftKVAw/s1600/economus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: #7d181e; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-i49HZVV0Pxc/UhqhoasY-CI/AAAAAAAAAjg/x563JftKVAw/s320/economus.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 20px; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-left-radius: 5px; border-bottom-right-radius: 5px; border-top-left-radius: 5px; border-top-right-radius: 5px; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 20px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="220" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std';"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; text-indent: 35.45pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; text-indent: 35.45pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; text-indent: 35.45pt;"> </span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std';">© D.M.Cornish<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std';"><b><span style="background-color: white; color: #bf9000;">PLEASE DO NOT PUBLISH OR REPRODUCE WITHOUT MY PERMISSION</span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std';"><br /></span></div>
<div class="DMCChapterTitle" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; line-height: 19px;"><b>Chapter 9 PART 2</b></span></div>
<div class="DMCChapterTitle" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.99147605895996px; text-indent: 47.266666412353516px;">The Sulk & Through</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
The next morning, with the sun already
beating with summer heat upon all uncovered pates, Economous found the lenterman
sitting easy with the side-armsman and the backstepper, all sipping the best
local under the shade of coachyard’s broad eaves.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
“No passage
today, m’hearty,” the lenterman said with a lazy tip of his already lazily
tilted stovepipe hat.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
The second day
proved even hotter and the lentermen all the more comfortably disposed under
the coachyard eaves, and the driver’s answer was the same as before.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
“You’ll not
make the clock wind faster,” the fan-flicking woman observed as Economous
sought frustrated retreat to his small solitary bunk space.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
Sat at a small
round budge-table just outside the common room door, she was sipping what the
young fabulist could only guess was salloop. Head now barely covered by an
impractically small version of a stovepipe known as a columna, she still wore
the same dark green travel cloak, satin mules of striking red poking out from
beneath the viridian hem of her light cloak. But more striking yet – and
catching Economous utterly off guard – were her eyes, now clear of any
obscuring hat-shade, were clearest blue with orbs of solid bloody red. She was
a falseman. A lie-seeing leer. A <i>lady </i>lie-seeing
leer.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
“Neither will chiding me, madam!” Economous
retorted hotly, surprising himself so profoundly with his own heat that his
pace quickening in shame as he sought to retreat past her and seek the solace
of his hired room. Yet better nature over-ruled him the very next beat and halting
abruptly, the fabulist pivoted on his heal to face his fellow traveller.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
She sat up the
straighter, fan clicking shut and readied as a weapon. She blinked at him with those disquieting eyes, expression pinned between dismay and self-defence. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
“Uh…” he
fumbled, “I – I – Sorry for my impulsiveness, madam,” he bowed as low as seven
days aboard a po’lent would allow. “Please … please, allow accept my
apologies.” <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
This woman
beheld him in still silent deliberation.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
“I am not of
the habit,” she returned at last, “for speaking freely to one of whom I am not
properly introduced.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
Economous
blinked at her. “Mister Economous Musgrove, Metrician Third Table and
Illuminator to Gentry.” The young fabulisto obliged his audience with a second
bow: a bumbling simulacrum of the sweeping bobs Mister Bidbrindle liked to beck,
if only to avoid looking into those red-and-blue eyes.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
“Miss Swift, if
you must,” she returned, her voice cool but her fan a-flutter tightly. “Panapolë
Swift of Doggenbrass.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
“Well, Miss Panapolë
Swift of Doggenbrass,” Economous halted before her – <i>A name at last!</i> – “Surly <i>you</i>
find the delay tiresome?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
“I do, of
course,” she said, taking a sip of salloop, “but I know better than to fret at
a cause I cannot alter. Lights know I have had much practice,” she added, more
to herself.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
With no counter
for this, Economous stood dumb, hands behind his back and cupping the bottom of
his bautis-box to give them something to do, sucking in the warm air as he
rocked upon booted heels and gazed up at the thin clouds drifting west.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
“And how is it, Miss Swift,” he said at length,
“that you are still my travelling companion?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
Regarding him
for a moment with a <i>must-thee-know </i>stare,
she finally said: “I am seeking a particular personage in Knapphausen,” she
offered at last.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
“As am I,”
Economous returned, his last syllable going mawkishly shrill in his surprised
delight. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
He blinked at
her and she at him, quickly turned upon both sides to gaze-averting
embarrassment.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
“It is hiring
season then, in the Subtle Pall…” said Miss Swift as she stared fixedly at her salloop
with those discomposing eyes and fanned herself with especial vigour. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
“Aye,” was all
of Economous’ reply.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: 180.0pt; mso-add-space: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto;">
* * * * *<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
Carrying <i>Miserichord</i> about in its box on his back,
Economous took to assiduously avoiding Miss Swift, instead wandering about the village,
crouching to draw the sagging wooden highhouses with their distinctive conical
roofs of flax and their grim-faced denizens. At first he was a spectacle as
souls stood over him to watch him make his marks, but tiring quickly of
muttering wonders and beady observation, the fabulist fled east out through the
gated gap in Poonemünd’s warding dyke and moat. In the windy hissing solitude
of the surrounding pastures, the road actually went directly up a hill of all
things, a mound really, but a genuine lifting of the earth. It was a herald –
as he soon found – of much greater undulations east, the shadows of dark hills
on the horizon.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
Clambering over
a stone fence that bordered the rutted, scarce-used way, Economous climb through
dry grasses and withered thistles to the highest point of hilly mound and found
it afforded a remarkably wide view of world. To the south the land fell away in
a series of wooded folds running over long miles to a dark stretch along the
horizon that occasionally glimmered with water reflecting the morning sun. A
fume seemed to hang over that far off strip, and from even such a distance
there was an obvious deep rouged taint upon it. With a queer inward leap of
fascinated fright then a sinking of dismay Economous realised that he was
seeing the dread Ichormeer, a vast swampland even the most closeted niavine knew
as a seat of unconquered and largely undocumented monstrous power. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
“So close,” he
murmured in vocal amazement.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
The trained
metrician in him thrilled to the thought of measuring even a small portion of
its unexplored precincts, report back the weird species creature he might
uncover and be an ornament to his profession at last. But the rest of him just
beheld it in the dread common to all everymen at such a prospect.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
In the evening
– warm and clear, a glory had he been in the mind to care – he climbed upon a
hayloft roof as he had as a child, to lay and gaze at the meteor splendours of
the unclouded night sky until Maudlin was westering and weariness forced sleep
upon him.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
The only wonder
of the next day was the late arrival of a post-lentum from the populated west,
disgorging its brood of rumpled passengers.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
“Aye,”
Economous’ lenterman reported with a smirk and commendable patience as he
sipped a bowl of Mullhammer’s Best in the common room of the <i>Cradle & Manger</i>, “we have fares
enough to be going on tomorrow.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
“Thank you,
sir,” Economous returned with a bow, taking and shaking the startled fellow’s
hand happily, “Thank you, thank you.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
“A’right,
mate,” the sidearmsman retorted, nodding over his own beer-bowl at this sudden
enthusiastic limb-pumping. “He’ll need that arm for the harness termorrow.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
“Yes, yes, of
course,” offered Economous, releasing the bemused lenterman and giving an
apologetic bob. “I will see you tomorrow.” With that he ordered [FOOD GOES
HERE] and retired to his room to wait the last hours of stranding.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<i>At last!</i><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<i><br /></i></div>
D.M. Cornishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09452470049845132286noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29654538.post-48791794636469083672014-01-07T08:31:00.000+10:302014-01-07T08:34:50.736+10:30Economous Musgrove Chapter 9 Part 1<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 18.18181800842285px;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">So we begin again, Finnigan</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span><span style="font-size: xx-small;">("... he has </span></span></span><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 18.18181800842285px;">whiskers</span></span><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 18.18181800842285px;"> on his chin again...")</span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-size: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.18181800842285px;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.18181800842285px;"><b>It may well be noted that this chapter has the same title as the previous, and this is because I have actually renamed them in between postings; for <i>this</i> chapter bears the title much better than the previous (which is now called, "Humour" - tho this is not a title I am yet fully settled upon).</b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.18181800842285px;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.18181800842285px;"><b>Things are likely to get lumpier still from now on for we are most definitely in "writing as I go" territory: let the terror begin!</b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.18181800842285px;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 18.18181800842285px;">As for </span></span><i style="color: #333333; line-height: 18.18181800842285px;">Tales from the Half-Continent</i><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 18.18181800842285px;">, it is 216 pages long, has 1 map (recycled from </span></span><i style="color: #333333; line-height: 18.18181800842285px;">Factotum </i><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 18.18181800842285px;">- please forgive me),</span></span><i style="color: #333333; line-height: 18.18181800842285px;"> </i><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 18.18181800842285px;">8 character illos but alas, no </span></span><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 18.18181800842285px;">appendices</span></span><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 18.18181800842285px;"> - it seems I am become too obscure to be allowed such indulgences a second time.</span></span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 18.18181800842285px;"><br /></span></span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 18.18181800842285px;">Let us revel in the obscurity together \o/</span></span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #333333; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18.18181800842285px;"><br /></span></span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 18.18181800842285px;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">I see too that I got the athy's names mixed up</span><span style="font-size: x-small; font-weight: bold;"> </span><span style="font-size: xx-small;">(THANK YOU, ANON, VERY HELPFUL INDEED)</span><span style="font-weight: bold;">: it is known </span><span style="font-weight: bold;">by all three </span></span></span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: bold; line-height: 18.18181800842285px;">names in my various notebooks - I think because I cannot decide whic</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: bold; line-height: 18.18181800842285px;">h noun I like the more (one for the suburb it is in, the other after its founder, a third for the street it is on) so perhaps I will keep them all?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 18.18181800842285px;"><br /></span></span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 18.18181800842285px;">Also: How's the story as a whole tracking so far, folks?</span></span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.18181800842285px;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; font-size: 24pt;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; font-size: 24pt;">Economous<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; font-size: 24pt;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; font-size: 24pt;">musgrove<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; font-size: 24pt;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-align: center;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-i49HZVV0Pxc/UhqhoasY-CI/AAAAAAAAAjg/x563JftKVAw/s1600/economus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: #7d181e; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-i49HZVV0Pxc/UhqhoasY-CI/AAAAAAAAAjg/x563JftKVAw/s320/economus.jpg" height="320" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 20px; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-left-radius: 5px; border-bottom-right-radius: 5px; border-top-left-radius: 5px; border-top-right-radius: 5px; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 20px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="220" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std';"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; text-indent: 35.45pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; text-indent: 35.45pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; text-indent: 35.45pt;"> </span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std';">© D.M.Cornish<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std';"><b><span style="background-color: white; color: #bf9000;">PLEASE DO NOT PUBLISH OR REPRODUCE WITHOUT MY PERMISSION</span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std';"><br /></span></div>
<div class="DMCChapterTitle" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; line-height: 19px;"><b>Chapter 9 PART 1</b></span></div>
<div class="DMCChapterTitle" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.99147605895996px; text-indent: 47.266666412353516px;">The Sulk & Through</span></div>
<div class="DMCChapterTitle">
<br /></div>
<div class="DMCChapterTitle">
<b style="line-height: 150%;"><i>word ~</i></b><i style="line-height: 150%;"> definition …………</i></div>
<div class="DMCChapterTitle">
<i style="line-height: 150%;"><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<b>E</b><span style="font-variant: small-caps;">conomous </span>had thought
the three day journey from his childhood home to Brandenbrass three years
previous had been a bold and extended venture: it took four entire days upon
the Grand Trunk to make it even half way across the vasty fields of the Sulk. In
the first the young fabulist thrilled to the alien vista that was presented to
him through the sashed windows of the lentum; a land both familiar in its
pastoral simplicity yet subtly foreign in its form of building, fashion of
citizen and the utter flatness of the ground. He had once reckoned the
Milchfold about western curtains of Brandenbrass topographically unremarkable
but that region was a veritable downs of undulation compared to endless
evenness of this current scape. The word “plain” was well meant here. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
Perhaps most
remarkable were the many white mill-towers with their red or blue roofs and great
wind-sails of red or white ever turning even in the light summer airs. Communities
of them were founded at every sight of the compass, the tips of rotating sails
even glimpsed peeping above the arc of the horizon green with row upon row of
low-sprouting vegetables – carrots, beetroots, radishes and chives. An uncommon
sight in the Page – where much milling was done by ox-drawn stones – Economous
watched these windmills with keen fascination, leaning out over the door sash
to crane his neck and stare if the road took them close to one of the
marvellous devices. In their shadows and out amongst almost every field toiled
a greater multitude of moilers and other labouring folk, a far greater number
than Economous had ever beheld during his child-years, each – man or woman –
dressed peculiarly baggy breaches of white or faun, gathered about their shins and bulging at the thighs.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
At the
sprawling rural focus of Swaddle Tunp the rotund gentleman and his consort left
the journey, to be replaced the next morning by a fellow of advancing years who
smelt strongly of skolding parts. The vertical stripes he bore upon his face to
show that he was indeed a monster-slaying skold. This new passenger must have
been most talented at his profession: <i>There
is no such thing as an old teratologist </i>went the axiom yet here he sat.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
“Hello and good
morning, sir,” Economous tried, wishing to express his admiration, a similar
greeting falling flat once again upon the young fan-flicking lady.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
“I can see that
you are a measuring man and I will grant most readily that your kind are a boon
upon the road,” the old skold said with a glare from eyes especially and
penetratingly pale. “But I am not interested in chitter chatter, sir, and ask
of you the peace to travel quiet and unmolested by empty words.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
Eyes still hid
under the rim of her tricon yet clearly smirking, the fan-flicking lady hid her
amusement behind her fan.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
Economous
returned his gaze to the sash.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
By sheer
frequency the marvels of the region wore out their charm as the steadily
passing vista proved unchangingly horizontal, and despite the miles shared, his
fellow passengers remained self-possedly unengaging so that the young fabulist found
himself nodding. Resting his head upon his bundled coat – unneeded in the heat
of the cabin – he lost great stretches of road to his recollection, the journey
becoming a strange cycle of boarding, sleeping, eating, disembarking at some
new town: Swaddle Tunp, Eg Harbidge, Sulking Mede, Boston – each remarkably
similar to the last, each a place only to sleep until the small of the next day
when the sequence began again. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
By the seventh
day travelling between the low sturdy bastion of Fauquemberg and Poonemünd –
the last concentration of population of the eastern Sulk – landscape and
architecture did change. The ground began to undulate and grow craggy with grey
granite boulders thatched with dull green lichen rising up from fields now
whitening with the heads of buck-wheat, barley and spelt, tossing and rippling
in the gentle warmth. The dry stone walls about fields became higher and more
often began to form the foundation for thick thorny hedges that now obscured
the once wide and open view from the carriage window just when the scene was
becoming more interesting. Once proceeding flat upon the flat land, the road
began to dip and rise and cut long furrows into the hilly earth. Pines and
cedars grew now in dark copses upon hillock tops or in tight windbreaks across in
growing count of low ridgelines. The people the lentum passed – day-walking
postmen amblers, itinerant soup-sellers, cart-driving farmers – did not grin or
wave as the more westerly denizens of the Sulk had done but went about with
frowning inward expressions despite the glorious bright of the waxing summer.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
The post-lentum
arrived at Poonemünd as the wondrous yellow glare of a pristine sunset draped
every westerly surface in solar gold, making steady way along a broad unpaved
street of sun-hardened dirt, rutted and rough yet lit rather incongruously down
its middle by a line of fine lamps. The journey terminating at the wayhouse, <i>[wayhouse name]</i>, a complex of low,
sole-storied, wide-roofed quadrangles connected by covered walks. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
“Commerce
bain’t as steady regular as one might reckon betwixt them easternly folk and
us,” the lentermen informed Economous as the fellow put his mark upon the two
remaining passengers’ Ticket-of-Passage. “Dour and close, they keep well to
themselves and well may it continue so. We won’t be trundlin’ yonder” – he
nodded to the arc of pallid eastern sky already glimmering with the night’s
first stars above the red-tiled roof of the wayhouse coachyard – “until I have
a full count o’ passingers – not worth the wear or worry elsewise.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
Increasingly
keen to be at his new work, Economous thought this a remarkable inconvenience. However,
his fellow passenger – the young fan-flicking woman in the fashionable garb who
had shared the whole journey with scarce a word – took this information with a
patient nod and proceeded directly into the common room of the <i>Cradle & Manger</i>. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
Frustrated but
helpless to alter affairs, Economous followed after.<o:p></o:p></div>
D.M. Cornishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09452470049845132286noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29654538.post-74832930851651623522014-01-02T09:37:00.002+10:302014-01-02T09:37:58.387+10:30The Beginerringenine of Anno MMXIVWelcome welcome to a new year!<br />
<br />
Alas for 2013, t'was a lovely number now gone, the year itself full of twists and turns.<br />
<br />
Normal transmission of <i>Economous Musgrove </i>will resume next week 6/1/2014 <span style="font-size: xx-small;">(that's how a date is logically writ in everywhere sensible ;p - a set of numbers expanding rationally in scale from least to greatest rather than some un-sensible jumble \o/ )</span><br />
<br />
For those new, middle-arrived or just needing it, here is a link to the very beginning of Economous' tale - and I will be adding a button-widget-graphic thingo to the right that does the same: <a href="http://monsterbloodtattoo.blogspot.com.au/2013/08/an-idea.html">ECONOMOUS MUSGROVE: The Beginnering</a>.<br />
<br />
To tide us all over and as a murky kinda Yule-Christmas-New Year in-the-notion-of-some-sort-of-present-giving-malarkey thing I am well pleased to announce that March this new year (in Australia at least for now) the release of <b><i>Tales of the Half-Continent</i> </b><span style="font-size: xx-small;">(I wanted to call it <i>Sensoria</i> for reasons that I reckon will be clear once the stories are read, but was overruled)</span>.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MVw0GYA1nVU/UsSeRiRoq5I/AAAAAAAAAlA/7MdMxsjvUKE/s1600/ToHC_sample_cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MVw0GYA1nVU/UsSeRiRoq5I/AAAAAAAAAlA/7MdMxsjvUKE/s320/ToHC_sample_cover.jpg" width="204" /></a></div>
<br />
Two stories set in the H-c (one already released in anthology, but now polished and with more WORDS<span style="font-size: xx-small;">[TM]</span> added) involving new Sundergirdians doing their own thing (by which I mean <u>NOT </u>a sequel of MBT)<br />
<br />
So, on we go and blessings to you all.D.M. Cornishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09452470049845132286noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29654538.post-8599500278417379332013-12-16T13:25:00.002+10:302013-12-16T13:25:57.282+10:30Economous Musgrove Chapter 8 Part 4<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">
<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.18181800842285px;">On time?!! How is this possible?!?!??!?</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">
<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.18181800842285px;"><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">
<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.18181800842285px;">This chapter is the longest so far - 4 (!) parts to it. I seem to need to bang on with the travel bits :\</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">
<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.18181800842285px;"><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">
<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.18181800842285px;">I had this small thought this morning about plotting ahead of time versus just winging it, and I think why I prefer to wing it (with a sense of direction/purpose mind) is that plotting seems to me more of a stand affar and determine from without, but I need to be in the meat with my characters, need to see and feel the tale with them in order to know/find where to go next. </b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">
<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.18181800842285px;"><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-size: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.18181800842285px;"><b>Winging it is more fraught but I feel like I share the journey rather than dictating from above, as it were.</b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-size: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.18181800842285px;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-size: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.18181800842285px;"><b>Oh, and not that this is important, but this is still the pre-written "stuff" - though the fear-facing is going on as I now start to lay track before the very wheels of the moving train.</b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.18181800842285px;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; font-size: 24pt;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; font-size: 24pt;">Economous<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; font-size: 24pt;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; font-size: 24pt;">musgrove<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; font-size: 24pt;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-align: center;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-i49HZVV0Pxc/UhqhoasY-CI/AAAAAAAAAjg/x563JftKVAw/s1600/economus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: #7d181e; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-i49HZVV0Pxc/UhqhoasY-CI/AAAAAAAAAjg/x563JftKVAw/s320/economus.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 20px; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-left-radius: 5px; border-bottom-right-radius: 5px; border-top-left-radius: 5px; border-top-right-radius: 5px; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 20px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="220" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std';"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; text-indent: 35.45pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; text-indent: 35.45pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; text-indent: 35.45pt;"> </span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std';">© D.M.Cornish<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std';"><b><span style="background-color: white; color: #bf9000;">PLEASE DO NOT PUBLISH OR REPRODUCE WITHOUT MY PERMISSION</span></b></span><br /><span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std';"><br /></span></div>
<div class="DMCChapterTitle" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; line-height: 19px;"><b>Chapter 8 PART 4</b></span></div>
<div class="DMCChapterTitle" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.99147605895996px; text-indent: 47.266666412353516px;">The Sulk & Through</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
A thump and shout and Economous started
awake in his makeshift berth, humours pounding inexplicably in his ears, sleep driven
from him. He cast about wildly, thinking himself beset by some strangling
violence but quickly realised his place, and the choking sensation simply his
stock twisted uncomfortably in his sleep. In the strange twilight he could see
a bargeman grinning at him like the foolish city lubber he must have seemed and
straightening his harness, Economous pulled and settled his baldric of
concometrist mottle to remind the fellow that he was not just some daft
naivine. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
“Weal morning,”
he said to cover his own chagrin.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
The fellow
appeared to get the implication for he left off his idiot smirking and with an
acknowledging shrug and a “Weal morning,” in reply, went back to what ever
labour it had been that had most likely woken Economous in the first.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
Stretching a
yawn and peering ahead, Economous was surprised to see a great town – indeed a
veritable city – shadowed against the eastern arc of sky ruddied by the
approaching sun. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
Here was Proud
Sulking, great riverine trading port of the Sulk, the Idlewild and the lands
beyond.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
By steady
cycling of the cromster’s gastrines they travelled all through the night and
now arrived with the dawning, drawing to the long addit wharfing of Proud
Sulking in line like proud rams-of-war treading stoutly into battle. Stretched
well beyond the walls of the riverine city itself, the addit wharfs were heavy
frames of swarthy wood raised on great blackened plinths of hard and slimy
stone. Built at the time of the port’s foundation – so Economous recalled from his readings –
each slab had been mined from the granite quarries of Exodus and brought up
river on barge to be sunk into the shore until they formed a solid platform
nigh as longs as the coastal front of Brandenbrass herself. There was not one
stretch of the quay that was not spiny with loading sheers of various function
and size, many busy even now before the day was fully dawned. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
Here the <i>Douse Fish</i> drew to halt at the tail of yet
another a line of craft awaiting their call to berth and load or unload. Here the
cromster’s boat was lowered and Economous’ chest and canvases and the box that
held <i>Miserichord</i> were brought up from
the hold to be stowed aboard it. Joined by River-master Patefract going ashore
for his own business, Economous was rowed to one of several score low stone
hards at the foot of the wharf where he was handed ashore while his goods
roughly unloaded. Patefract having said nothing on the row, said nothing now
and depart upon his own business with only the shortest glance and the merest tilt
of a nod of goodbye.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
Walking much of
the mile of the southern arm of the addit, Economous found a great
fortress-like entry house with three tall uncomfortably narrow doors through
which folks were already passing in crowded shuffling line. Musketeers in
Imperial harness of rouge and or – red and gold – stood fast on either side of
each door, eyeing all comers sternly but not impeding the progress of the
arrivals. A motto carved into the heavy lintel above the doors and their
wardens read:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Adveho Totus vos Defessus Hucilluctorum<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<i>Come all ye weary wayfarers.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
Economous
smiled wryly. “Come and <i>do</i> what,” he
muttered to himself.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
The
gate-wardens in Imperial mottle and grim admitting clerks waiting at the end of
the long colonnade that kept three line of souls discrete from each other were
familiar enough in their bullying officiousness. His nativity patent
scrutinised and reluctantly verified and his meagre collection of chatels
inspected, Economous was allowed to proceed through. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
Released to the
street beyond, Economous blinked at the glare of sun now rising above curtain
wall and roof top, shooed away the many demanding offers of help and took a
moment to right himself. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
After his time
in Brandenbrass – one of the the great cities of the not just the Soutlands but
surely of the Sundergird itself – Proud Sulking seemed on the face smaller and
quaint. For all its bustle and clutter; the close street and crowding evidence
of great business, of lofty garner towers and eminent mercantile
representations raised above domestic dwellings; all the mighty ceaseless
labour of loading an endless line of barges, cromsters and prams with all the
produce the old and fruitful leagues of the Sulk provided, this comparably
noteworthy city lacked the ponderous feeling of ancient – dare he call it <i>constipated </i>– gravity that veritably
throbbed from even the dunkest alley of
his onetime home. Strange – perhaps even revolting – to his inculcated senses,
Proud Sulking did not smell of the vinegar of the sea, rather the usual
horse-soil, brick-dust and wood-smoke of urban life was permated by the loamy,
moldering fug of river-ooze and ploughed field. It was powerfully redolent of
childhood and of home, odours that he had almost forgotten that filled him now
with nameless misgivings.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
Spying a
coach-host – signed <i>The Timely Boot </i>–
located opportunely up the street adjoining that on which the admitting house
was found, he left his pondering Proud Sulking’s scant wonders and made directlyfor
the establishment. Through the long yard full of horse teams in harness and hurrying
porters, of luggage by the stack, of pails and baled hay, he entered the parenthis
and its fare booths. As fast as another queue of people allowed, he hired a
seat upon a post-lentum to take him the first stretch of his great overland
quest.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
“Where are ye
destined?” came the commutation clerk’s question.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
“Knapphausen.”
Economous proclaimed the name as if it were deliverence itself: the last stop
before ultimate success.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
The clerk
regarded him narrowly for a moment, as if he had just cursed. “I can writ ye
the passage to Sulking Mede and Char Soster, but ye’ll have to shift for yeself
to go beyond.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
Though
Economous knew well enough that the cities of the Subtle Pall were states unto
themselves and independent of the loose collection that had become of the
Haacobin Empire, he was surprised to find such unfriendliness to the mere
mention of one of its destinations. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
“Then make <i>shift</i> I shall,” he said in parting as he
took the handful of sheafs that were his Right-to-board and Ticket-of-Passage
from post to post along the Grand Trunk
Road. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
Alotted a number
upon a slip of card – 143 – unable to find a seat in the congested commons of
the parenthis, he availed himself of an untenanted nook between the left-most
fare booth and a fine-looking long-clock tocking out the long wait.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
Despite the
sense great and ceaseless activity out in the co<span style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">ach yard and the steady cry of
what seemed random slip card numbers, the cram of waiting passengers never
seemed to get smaller. Refusing to crane his neck to watch the long-case clock beside
him, the fabulist nodded from sheer boredom even as he stood, roused repeatedly
yet incompletely by the tooting – loud even from within the commons of the
parenthis – of lentermen’s parting horns.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
Final amongst a
collection of other numbers, his call came, “143!” <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
Out in the
yard, Economous good’s were taken from him once more to be secured atop the
roof of a fine looking post-lentum of deep glossy green.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
“Mornin’,
brother-measurer,” said the lone backstepper in winking greeting from his perch
at the rear of the carriage.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
“G-morning,” came
Economous’ unready and fumbled reply. It was an odd quirk of society that
lentermen held brotherhood with concometrists as fellow wayfarers – view that,
whilst appreciated, was not reciprocated by the metricians. Regardless, it
persisted.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
Hauling himself
into the cabin, the fabulist found with small sinking of disappointment that he
was one of four passengers. He knew it was foolish to have thought it could be
otherwise, but Economous felt that now he had finally arrived upon new shores
his adventure was all his own, and that these three fellow wayfaring souls were
only intruders on his quest. Squeezing next to a rotund fellow in surprisingly
expensive coat, trying with only minor success to not knock people with <i>Miserichord</i> in its box, he smiled tightly
at handsomely dressed lady across the barely manageable gap between knees. If
he had to share his lentum then to accompany such a damsel went a goodly way to
ameliorating his frustration. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
Brown curls of
hair caught up in a travelling shawl of deep and fashionable green beneath a
gleaming black tricorn that kept much of her face in shadow within the gloom of
the cabin, the lady regarded Economous silently as he fumbled aboard. At his
greeting she flicked her fan smartly apparently against the already heavy
warmth within the cabin but said nothing. And when the bautis-box inevitable
knocked her skirted knee, she snapped her fan shut with a snap and quicker than
blinking, tapped knocking the over-long bautis as if it were the source of all
discomforts. She then looked away as if Economous no longer existed.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
Swallowing down
his embarrassment, Economous looked out the window at whatever he could fix his
gaze upon, as with a toot of the cockrobin’s horn and shouts of, <span style="text-transform: uppercase;">“As ye please, gentles, as ye please!”</span>
from the sidearms man, the cabin lurched and the lentum was away.<o:p></o:p></div>
D.M. Cornishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09452470049845132286noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29654538.post-47807338766111001062013-12-12T10:20:00.000+10:302013-12-12T10:22:29.197+10:30Economous Musgrove Chapter 8 Part 3<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-size: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.18181800842285px;"><b>Wow, pushing the limits here; that is what fear will do for you. </b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-size: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.18181800842285px;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-size: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.18181800842285px;"><b>Well, still some already material left though it has gaps in it: gaps where I do not know details of that moment but know what comes after. I will do that at times. This is a first draft so you are going to get all the lumps and bumps that come with that I am afraid. That said, I am actually pleased with how complete the text has been up to now (full of errors certainly, but no gaps of writing).</b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-size: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.18181800842285px;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-size: 13px;">
<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.18181800842285px;">Any way, apologies for the extended delay, now on with the show.</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-size: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.18181800842285px;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; font-size: 24pt;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; font-size: 24pt;">Economous<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; font-size: 24pt;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; font-size: 24pt;">musgrove<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; font-size: 24pt;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-align: center;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-i49HZVV0Pxc/UhqhoasY-CI/AAAAAAAAAjg/x563JftKVAw/s1600/economus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: #7d181e; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-i49HZVV0Pxc/UhqhoasY-CI/AAAAAAAAAjg/x563JftKVAw/s320/economus.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 20px; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-left-radius: 5px; border-bottom-right-radius: 5px; border-top-left-radius: 5px; border-top-right-radius: 5px; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 20px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="220" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std';"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; text-indent: 35.45pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; text-indent: 35.45pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; text-indent: 35.45pt;"> </span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std';">© D.M.Cornish<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std';"><b><span style="background-color: white; color: #bf9000;">PLEASE DO NOT PUBLISH OR REPRODUCE WITHOUT MY PERMISSION</span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std';"><br /></span></div>
<div class="DMCChapterTitle" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; line-height: 19px;"><b>Chapter 8 PART 3</b></span></div>
<div class="DMCChapterTitle" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.99147605895996px; text-indent: 47.266666412353516px;">The Sulk & Through</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span style="text-indent: 35.45pt;"><span style="line-height: 150%;">By a </span><span style="line-height: 24.545454025268555px;">ceaseless</span><span style="line-height: 150%;"> rotation of limbre and gastrine, the </span></span><i style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">Douse
Fish</i><span style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;"> was kept at a cracking pace for so small a vessel, passing upon the
ladeboard other craft guided by less impatient souls.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
With the
westering sun low in the wan blue dome of almost cloudless heaven, the cromster
made the great rivergate with beats to spare, her timely advent hailed by a
great din of frog chorus ringing from either weedy bank. Dark in the dusk-light
against mounting billows of delicately orange clouds rising to the north and
twinkling with a myriad lantern and window-lights, the Spindle entirely blocked
the river ahead. Against the pallid element Economous could make out the crenelations of the squat bastions that
anchored it to either shore, and see its long low battlements crawling with
people all moving with snail’s speed from right to left – east to west.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
“Refuge-seekers,”
the lady passenger said as if she and he had been in constant conversation all
day, speaking with pointed volume to be heard of the squall of frog-song. “They
seek to escape the growing threat of monstrous uprising to the east. And hark,”
she continued pointing to the sheoak lined eastern shore where high-screened
barges disgorged companies of pediteers in the rouge and juverd – red and
yellowed green – mottle of Useless. “The city-states begin to mass their
soldiers.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
Economous
beheld the mass of moving martialing souls on bridge and bank in amazement.
“The threat is truly that grave?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
The woman
looked at him sidelong. “Yes,” was all her answer.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
It was
Economous turn to look at her. “And has it reached up to the Undermeer?” he
asked, fearing the answer.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
“I do not yet
know,” was the reply. “I presume that is your journey’s end?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
“Aye,”
Economous nodded slowly. “That it is.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
“SEIZE ALL
LIMBRES! RIDE THE TREADLE!” Patefract bawled, cutting conversation short.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
Immediately the
poor cromster was again put to shudders as her pace was arrested and she was
brought with handiness of long experience to join the end of the line of
vessels all waiting for their turn to pass through the impenetrable
fortification. Pacing at the steerboard beam of the tiller, Mister Patefract
fretted the much desired summons by the rivergate masters while his small crew
worked to unstep the single mast and lay it secure upon the deck. Muttering and
glowering at the flag-bearing masts that rose from the central hornwork of the
Spindles, the master let out a wordless bark when the <i>Douse Fish</i>’ number was finally signalled with the instruction to
proceed. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
With tell-tale
shudder, the cromster drew into one of the four low tunnels through which
vessels were let upstream. Passing under the daggered teeth of a ponderous
black-iron portcullis, Economous felt a strangely anxious thrill – a silly
little fear that they would not be allowed on for some reason. Here on a low
stone pier to the ladeboard-side along with the usual waterside cablemoors stood
a coterie of excise clerks and their guards, each proofed in black and all
looking drawn and drooping in the stark light of their night flares after a day
long of ceasless scrutiny. So very much like the inky, neck-stiff clerical
souls of the city, Economous paid scant heed to their preamble as they declared
their right Imperial to step onto the <i>Douse
Fish’</i> sacred deck, marvelling instead at the grimy arch of stone a scarce
arm’s reach above where dark algaes glistened with the sweat of tunnel-confined
water. The cromster was tied, the excise clerk’s came aboard review the bill of
lading and the other passenger made her leave.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
“The dove’s
flight carry you safe to your harbour, Mister <i>Some-time</i>,” she said, offering this odd parting with the slightest
of curtsies.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
“Oh, travel
well, good lady,” Economous bade in farwell, half-standing and fumbling his hat
from his head in surprise, amazed to discover that this woman was even shorter
than she had seemed whilst seated.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
“Indeed,” she
said. “If you do happen to discover that nickers threat your destination please
send me word of it.” She passed him an unexpected item – a calling card
inscribed with a name and more amazingly an occupation:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Dolours of Herbroulesse (Ly)<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Laude to the August of the Right of the Pacific Dove<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
This woman was
a calendar! <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
Yet before Economous
could press for more, this Dolours of Herbroulesse sprang warrior-nimble to the
stone quay with a flash of parti-hued leggings showing through the flaring
shirt of her coat and hurried through a heavy iron-bound door that lead by a
low arch off the stone quay of the tunnel pier.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
Cries from the
pier and a officious bow from the chief of the excise clerks told of the <i>Douse Fish’</i> worthiness to proceed. With
shouts of his own and, Patefract had the cromster continue “under limbres,” as
he ordered it. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
“Half ahead by
limbres,” Patefract ordered loudly, smiling finally in satisfaction – an
expression that looked positively wicked on so uncongenial a face.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
As the cromster
came out of the tunnel a bright pink sibaline flare shot from a central bastion
into the darkening sky, informing all approaching vessels from either south or
north that they would have to moor for the night in the shadow of the
impassable wall. With sullen clang and a ponderous splash a great black
portcullis dropped behind them as if to add punctuation to the signal: no other
was passing through today.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
But the labour
of the <i>Douse Fish</i> was not done.
Despite the closing day, the faithful little craft was made to tread on, pressing
upstream as above her, her crew and sole passenger a slow spectacle of tiny
cosmic lights came out in ones and twos until the entire dome of sky blazed
with spangled fire. Catching a line of other vessels visible only as low
shadows on the faintly glistening water and single dancing mast lamps, Patefract
joined his course to their their’s, becoming now the tail of this improvised
squadron. At first the vessels kept to the left – that is, the ladeboard and in
this moment western – side of the river’s flow, allowing way for south- and
sea-ward bound vessels to pass unhindered upon the right. Yet as they wore on in
silent north-bound convoy each vessel began to prefer a course as close to the
middle of the river as was reckoned prudent, as if their masters were by mystic
accord reluctant to remain near the ladeborad shore. Chimes – or late supper –
was softly called and the meal-time conversation amongst the <i>Douse Fish’ </i>small crew gathered at the bow
happened in a hush, every sentence accompanied by vigilant furtive glances to
the western landfall. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
Sitting now
upon the deck, back propped against the bit, Economous ate his own meagre
repast from Bidbrindle’s thoughtful parting parcel – pan-bread, best Wretcher
wide-cheese and parched apple parings – and kept his own puzzled watch upon the
ladeboard shore. “May I ask why you have taken port on the opposite bank to
your course?” he inquired of a passing bargeman.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
“’Tis an
unhappy stretch o’ ribbon is all, sir,” the fellow muttered with a nictating
wink. “Discomfittin’ sounds and causeless spookings. Yet fear not; harm seldom
happens.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
Yet as it had
been with the teratologists, rather than frightening him, the intelligence that
monsters might be lurking in shadows and tangles scarcely the length of a long
field away aroused only intense fascination. Wrapping himself in his coat like
a blanket, he stared scarcely blinking to the dark western shoreline, wishing
he had a laggards eyes to pierce the black blank and spy what manner of
hobpossums might be skulking there. He listened pointdly yet no discomforting
sounds came to him across the river but the gentle plash of earthen-reeking
water pushed aside by the blunt blade of the cromster’s bow and the endless
batrachian chorus ringing out from the reedy mud. Undisturbed by man or
monster, it was as if every tribe of frog had turned out to bellow from the sodden
grime – long low hoomings, metalic ringings, repetative baritone mutterings and
high pingings that almost gratted in the ear – a raucous trilling concord that
did not cease even when late coming <span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Phoebë raised her lumpen lunar dial above the dark eastern
line of trees.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">With the moon’s arrivial Economous
made </span>a bunk for himself where he lay. Draping his cloak over himself and
doubting any prospect of sleep, he set himself to witness the transit of the celestial
glories as he had once done on secret night excursions as a child. T<span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">rying to summon the </span><span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">ephemerides
</span><span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">–</span><span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">
</span><span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">the </span><span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">tables
showi</span><span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">ng
seasonal planetary positions and subject of no small count of examinationaries at
Athingdon Athy – to mind, he determined himself to witness the transit of tiny Jekyll
across Maudlin’s midnight face. </span>Yet <span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">as the great constellations – Vespasio, Medise
Toxothene, Vauxall, the Tides and the Lots with luck-plagued Droid twinkling so
innocently from within – span in radiant glory across the benighted dome, </span>the
silent rhythmic throb of the cromster’s gastrines and the gentle yawing of the
deck lulled him…<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: 180.0pt; mso-add-space: auto;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto;">
* * * * *<o:p></o:p></div>
D.M. Cornishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09452470049845132286noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29654538.post-87961105761051069752013-12-02T09:07:00.000+10:302013-12-02T09:08:14.428+10:30Economous Musgrove Chapter 8 Part 2<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 18.18181800842285px;">So, the inner wobbliness continues, by which I mean my uncertainty about many things, most especially: do I make the journey a "thing" (perhaps too </span></span><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 18.18181800842285px;">repetitive</span></span><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 18.18181800842285px;"> of MBT)? Or, do I expedite the journey for a change, give a sense of the passing vista, making note of important highlights, but cutting to the chase plotwise?</span></span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 18.18181800842285px;"><br /></span></span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 18.18181800842285px;">The urge is strong (as ever) to show the Half-Continent for its own sake, but I fear that my urge here is less geographic completeness and more a fear of getting into the meat and potatoes of why I even began this story in the first.</span></span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 18.18181800842285px;"><br /></span></span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 18.18181800842285px;">You can see with this week's offering that the former has been my current approach...</span></span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 18.18181800842285px;"><br /></span></span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 18.18181800842285px;">Plotting ahead is one thing, but I have found there are just some points in a story where I will not know what happens in it or lies ahead until I have actually written that scene and been through it with my characters and seen how they all react together thus revealing the next step/s.</span></span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small; font-weight: bold; line-height: 18.18181800842285px;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; font-size: 24pt;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; font-size: 24pt;">Economous<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; font-size: 24pt;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; font-size: 24pt;">musgrove<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; font-size: 24pt;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-align: center;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-i49HZVV0Pxc/UhqhoasY-CI/AAAAAAAAAjg/x563JftKVAw/s1600/economus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: #7d181e; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-i49HZVV0Pxc/UhqhoasY-CI/AAAAAAAAAjg/x563JftKVAw/s320/economus.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 20px; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-left-radius: 5px; border-bottom-right-radius: 5px; border-top-left-radius: 5px; border-top-right-radius: 5px; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 20px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="220" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std';"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; text-indent: 35.45pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; text-indent: 35.45pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; text-indent: 35.45pt;"> </span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std';">© D.M.Cornish<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std';"><b><span style="background-color: white; color: #bf9000;">PLEASE DO NOT PUBLISH OR REPRODUCE WITHOUT MY PERMISSION</span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std';"><br /></span></div>
<div class="DMCChapterTitle" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; line-height: 19px;"><b>Chapter 8 PART 2</b></span></div>
<div class="DMCChapterTitle" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.99147605895996px; text-indent: 47.266666412353516px;">The Sulk & Through</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
Slowly the <i>Douse Fish</i> got under way, treading with
gradually gaining pace down channels marked among the collection of other
vessels great and small by long heavy posts driven into the harbour bed, their
scarlet painted tops pointing high out of the milky element. Ahead of her a
pilot’s longboat of twelve oar somewhat redundantly – or so Economous thought –
lead the way, its oarsmen straining to keep at speed.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
Clear of the
general crowding traffic of Middle Ground, the pilot boat signaled with the
solemn waving of a large red burge. With a second, deeper shudder, the <i>Douse Fish</i> shook herself and
quickly gathering a couple more knots, pointed north-east, setting for a course
up the coast.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
As the slowly
turning long-boat was left behind, sea-birds Economous could identify as [………] terns
and a few larger mollyawks squabbled and squawked as they flocked above the
departing cromster. Diving and darting, they shot with a staccato of splashes
into the roiling wake of the gastrin-vessel, each coming up with a wriggling
flash of scaly silver in their long bills.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
“They feed on
fish,” remarked his fellow passenger, speaking at last, her voice having a soft
musical lilt as one from the southern states of the Patricine. “And these in
their turn come up from safer depths to feed on the effluent ejected from the
pull below our feet,” by which she meant the gastrines arranged in a line about
the treadle of the screw.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
“Do they,
indeed. I have ne’er seen a gastrine functioning before,” Economous said evenly
then added in low and subtle irony. “Do you think the goodly captain would
grant me a grand tour of the workings?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
The woman
looked at him sharply then apprehending he was playing a jest, smiled wryly –
an experssion that cracked her solemn mein like unexpected sun through winter
storms. “I have it on good authority that he does,” she returned with equal
satire. “Preceded by a grand luncheon of Pondeslee cheese, hart’s tongue and green-garnished
spreadeagle – made from genuine eagle and not the usual whimbrels or
craw-buzzards – all washed with the finest Equamine grass-wine.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
“After which he
regales us with cheerful tales of all his near-misses and calamities turned to
fortune,” Economous continued with a laugh, drawing an audible growl from Mister
Patefract at his wheel. “Economous Musgrove, illuminator and sometime
concometrist,” he offered introduction at last, touching a knuckle to the brim
of his black tricorn. “At your service.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
“<i>Some-time</i> concometrist,” came the flat
reply. The woman arched a brow once more and saying nothing else, retreated
into herself again and stared out at their heading.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
The
conversation went still as smartly as it had begun.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
The <i>Douse Fish </i>pressed on towards a mighty
bastion rising out of the white water. Cauda Caputum it was called; a
slope-sided, flat-topped stronghold of brick and stone, appearing squat despite
its great size, the northern-most bastion of the arx maria – five mighty
sea-fortresses that rung the waters of the city about. Passing Cauda Caputum
upon the left – the ladeboard as it was properly called in maritime service – Economous
could make out Fidelis Fidës off to their right in the haze of middle distance,
the next arc in the ring. Enormous spandarions of sable and leuc chequey –
black and white checks – flew above them both, the proud flag of Brandenbrass
at sea.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
Past the grim
watch of these arx the sea seemed released and set willingly to an increasingly
powerful wallowing heave of wave that lifted and dropped the cromster’s deck in
a ponderous rolling motion. Though the two passengers were far enough back to
avoid much of the caustic spindrift that sprayed up and out from the blunt bow,
a stinging mist pervaded the air, making Economous’ eyes red and winking sore.
All this alarmed him at first, yet the handful of crew tending the weatherdeck
did not show any concern and so the young illuminator grit his teeth and made a
good showing. His first time ever at sea, Economous was gratified to find he
did not suffer the sea-ills as most lubbers were wont of suffering especially
upon a maiden voyage.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
Taking out the
salvaged confusion of pages that was his numrelogue – kindly rebound by Binbrindle
as best as could with viol gut – Economous wrestled the spray and heave of wave
to draw the small common wonders of the sea: the blunt headlands that served as
their sea-marks, their vinegar-washed foundations craggy with scores of
scabrous rocks serving as home to birds and fat waddling creatures – <i>seelows</i> he believed they were called – lazily
baking themselves in the summer heat and bellowing cantankerously with every
twitch or fart of the neighbours; dark olive-drab weed-wrack hissing past the
cromster’s hull; a constant opportunistic escort of whimbrel gulls and terns
hovering over the vessel’s mucky wake; discarded casks of every dimension bobbing
by in a nigh-continuous flotilla – puncheons, barrels, hogsheads, even a great
butt knocking with a damp hollow gonging upon the iron-clad hull of the <i>Douse Fish</i>; and always the pressing sweet-yet-sour
reek of the ocean.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
Once or twice the
young illuminator stood to get a better view of some bird or flotsam only to
arouse ire from Mister Patefract.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
“Sit ye down,
sir!” the master’s growl would come from the tiller-post behind. “Yer ticket fee
dun’t cover me a-swimming to fetch ye out o’ th’ wine and none of me mateys
know how to paddle to git ye.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
Remaining
always in he place, his fellow passenger regarded the entire unfolding scene
with serene uninterest.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
Despite her
slight size, her master plied the <i>Douse
Fish</i> with skill as she hopped her way from headland to headland up the north-western
coast of the Grume, so that by mid morning the little vessel made the Gullet where
the great Humour river poured into the sea. Two low towers were there, one –
the Underend – rising from the muck of the estuarine marshlands of the Sough on
the Humour’s western shore, the other – the Over End – lifted upon great
foundation-stones out of the very midst of the mighty river’s mouth. Under the
watch of these fortalice, the <i>Douse Fish</i>
joined several score of other vessels collecting from all compasses of the
southern seas and even from far off and more fabled ports, marshalled before
the western side of the river-mouth in a loose line stretching out to sea. On
their right – to the east and beyond the bastion of Over End – Economous could
see as many vessels as were labouring to enter the Humour, coming out of the
same, hurried on under the river’s heavy outward push out into wild and open water.
He could only marvel at the bizarre and impossible places some of them might be
bound for, and felt a sault of joy that he too was on adventure to an alien
destination. Squatting upon his rough seat before the helm, Economous stared in
wonder at the gathered craft: many many cromsters of a surprising variety of
lengths; lines of barges both laden and empty in the draw of iron-clad sheers-drudges;
great shallow-draughted prams wide and flat to hold vast cargoes. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
Upon the west
of these, closer to shore in the quieter waters kept by the governing shadow of
the Under End tower, a makeshift fleet of packets waited – light, two-masted sailers,
each with signalling burge flags flying, requesting a tow behind any willing
gastriner through the contrary surge of the out-flowing river. There was a time
before gastrine vessels when such as these would have had to haul themselves
through the churning eddys in their own boats by oar and arm alone. Indeed in
these more enlightened times some still might, for though it was proper
maritime practice for a gastriner to answer a <i>Request for Towage</i>, it was not – unless in time of open war – an
absolute law. For the sailers moored by the Gullet it was a genuine lot-cast as
whether a haul would be offered them or not by the masters of the muscle-driven
vessels so commonly in their own hurry.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
The <i>Douse Fish</i> trod within hailing distance of
one such vessel – close enough for Economous to read <i>Emperorfly</i> upon her prow plate – and its master immediately called
with great shouts for the cromster to heave to and throw the sailer a cable. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
With a curse of,
“Pullets and cockerils!” for the delay, Mister Patefract proved himself in some
stripe a noble fellow after all and, slowing to a dead crawl had the loose end
of the heavy, much-prized rope rowed in the cromster’s sole jollyboat to the
needy packet. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
Under proper tread
again, the <i>Douse Mouse</i> took the
weight of the <i>Em</i><i style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">perorfly</i><span style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;"> in her
stride at first, further into the Gullet she began to struggle against the full
and mighty weight of southward pushing flow. With all limbres to the screw, the
cromster shuddered as the muscles inside her gastrine boxes strained against the
inexorable flow of the dark primordial river pouring into the milky waters of
the vinegar sea. Economous clung to the sole mast as </span><i style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">Douse Mouse </i><span style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">– surely about to shake herself to flinders under her
master’s obstinate command – juddered and heaved beneath the young
illuminator’s unsteady feet. With a final lurch, the effluent surge let them go
and cromster pushed her way into calm of the river proper, pulling a grateful </span><i style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">Emperorfly</i><span style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;"> with her. Yet Barge-master Patefract
was far from content. Without pause the sour fellow ordered his own towage cable
cast loose rather than lose precious moments in its proper retrieval, and so
released of the sailer’s weight drove the hard-working craft on.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
“We’ll nay make
it, we’ll nay make it,” he kept grumbling to himself, determined to make the fortified
rivergate of the Spindle before close of day when the fortress watchmen retired
for the evening. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
D.M. Cornishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09452470049845132286noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29654538.post-34918297241102707102013-11-27T09:10:00.000+10:302013-11-27T09:10:28.223+10:30Economous Musgrove Chapter 8 Part 1<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 18.18181800842285px;"><b>Two days missing!?! </b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 18.18181800842285px;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 18.18181800842285px;"><b>I think I am getting the jitters, for we are actually now in the lumpy parts of the story; that peculiar wilderness between what is definitely written, what is still being formed, and what has yet to be writ.</b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 18.18181800842285px;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 18.18181800842285px;"><b>This is where my First Draft will really be showing.</b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 18.18181800842285px;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 18.18181800842285px;"><b>Those of a praying persuasion, please pray that I face the fear of writing before your very eyes, because I very much want to get this story told, hence showing it to you all in the first, but fear is my constant opponent.</b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 18.18181800842285px;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 18.18181800842285px;"><b>Regarding last week's questioning, it is a salient point that the serialised nature of this tale promotes pondering on what is next because there is only short bursts of words with a significant pause in between. </b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 18.18181800842285px;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 18.18181800842285px;"><b>Also, I am sorry if I gave the impression of not appreciating the deeper insights into the flow and direction and implications of these: I value such musings greatly (tho not just simple guessing/showing away about the plot, but genuine full-expressed wonderings) - indeed, they have at times given me insights into what I am doing I could not have had myself. So, thank you musing folks.</b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small; font-weight: bold; line-height: 18.18181800842285px;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; font-size: 24pt;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; font-size: 24pt;">Economous<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; font-size: 24pt;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; font-size: 24pt;">musgrove<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; font-size: 24pt;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-align: center;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-i49HZVV0Pxc/UhqhoasY-CI/AAAAAAAAAjg/x563JftKVAw/s1600/economus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: #7d181e; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-i49HZVV0Pxc/UhqhoasY-CI/AAAAAAAAAjg/x563JftKVAw/s320/economus.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 20px; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-left-radius: 5px; border-bottom-right-radius: 5px; border-top-left-radius: 5px; border-top-right-radius: 5px; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 20px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="220" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std';"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; text-indent: 35.45pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; text-indent: 35.45pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; text-indent: 35.45pt;"> </span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std';">© D.M.Cornish<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std';"><b><span style="background-color: white; color: #bf9000;">PLEASE DO NOT PUBLISH OR REPRODUCE WITHOUT MY PERMISSION</span></b></span><br /><span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std';"><br /></span></div>
<div class="DMCChapterTitle" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; line-height: 19px;"><b>Chapter 8 PART 1</b></span></div>
<div class="DMCChapterTitle" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.99147605895996px; text-indent: 47.266666412353516px;">The Sulk & Through</span></div>
<div class="DMCChapterTitle">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><i>gastrine(s) ~</i></b><i> great muscles grown especially in boxes
– usually made of bronze- or iron bound
wood - and used to drive treadles whose
motion is used originally and chiefly to provide motivation for rams (naval
gastrine vessels) and packets (articled gastrine vessels). In more recent
decades they have also become more widely employed in the manufacture of
mill-worked goods: beating metal,grinding grains, turning looms, and making
many folks very wealthy in the process. ALSO <b>stachel ~ </b>said "STA-kl", a spine, especial one grown upon the back.</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<b>T</b><span style="font-variant: small-caps;">oo</span> excited to sleep,
Economous spent the night in preparation, which consisted mostly of packing,
examining, re-packing and re-examining his meagre count of possession. The
heaviest items to bring were his foldable easle that had seen little use in the
last few months but would be useful indeed over the next; and a small carter’s
trunk holding spare smallclothes, the
few books he still owned – every blank leaf scrawled with drawings, his modest
collection of paints and brushes, a pair of handsomely buckled mules that had
somehow survived his regular system of pawning – and would be good to wear come
his first presentation to his patroness, and his sole threadbare blanket – such
a friend for so many cold winter nights he could not bare to leave it to be
sold. Rolled inside a hempen sack, he placed three blank, unstretched canvases
of various dimension. Rather than wrestle the bulk of made frames all the way
from Brandentown to the domain of his mysterious patron, he planned to
construct them from wood he was sure would he could find once he had arrived at
his journey’s terminus. Wondering at first if he might leave the dread tool
behind, he wrapped <i>Miserichord</i> in his
sole spare shirt and placed inside a narrow wooden box – the purpose of which
or how he came to have it he could not recall – with a leatherned strap like
the sword-holding bautis boxes carried by sabrine adepts. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
The morning of
the eighth day of the second summer month dawned with a cackle of magpies upon
the neighbouring roof waking him from his slump upon the tandem. Leaving the
sale of his remaing paltry goods in the hands of Bidbrindle – who promised to forward
what ever profit he could garner as soon as Economous could furnish him with an
established address – Economous farewelled his tiny garret, descended the
geriatric stair for the last time. Half way down he was met my by Bidbrindle himself
coming out from his own second storey abode.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
“A-hey! The
adventurer off to seek his making,” the older man greeted him. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
“Aye, or bread
and bunk, at least.” The young illuminator smiled, putting the carter’s trunk
down with a clumsy thud so as to get a better hold on it.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
“Well, let it
not be that the heldin is set on his way unsung,” Bidbrindle returned. “Or
unfed.” He flourished a canvas flour bag, tied with a hair-ribbon lumpy with
foodstuffs. “Allow me to assist you with your heavier articles, I shall come
with you to bid your farewell from the hard.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
Economus did
not know what to say. His innards griped with sudden regret at abandoning so true
a man as the violin-maker.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
“You have
elected to wear your metrician’s cingulum, I see,” Bidbrindle observed quickly,
seeking to spare them further discomfort. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
“Aye,”
Economous returned with a duck of his head and a shrug, tugging at the black
sash about his shoulder and chest that showed his to be a full-measuring
concometrist. It made him feel like an imposter, but it could ease the path
ahead, especially with the more clerical set – unless they were an
abacus-trained mathematician, of course.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
“Very wise,
sir,” the violin-maker pressed on even quicker, seeing his first attempt fail.
“Everyone likes a member of the Amicable Fraternity of Athenaeus.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
Passing through
the tiny vestibule some small part of him still wanted for the vaunted door –
that old portal to both fear and bliss – to spring open this one last time and
for Asthetica to fling her lithely arms about him in weeping apology. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
It did not and
she did not.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
For only the
third time since he had come to Brandenbrass and the second time in a week,
Economous hired a takeny from the To-Market, directing the stripe-coated driver
to [……NAME OF EC’s HOUSE PLEASE!], there to pick up the carter’s trunk, easle
and faithful Mister Bidbrindle with them. The journey to the harbour was
startlingly brief and all too soon Economous found himself – not really feeling
like himself the whole time – stepping off from mildewed steps at the bottom of
the Queen’s Wharf Hard and into a jollyboat already waiting to take him to his
vessel. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
“Fare thee
well, good sir!” Bidbrindle cried from the top of the stonepace wall. “Write me
that I might boast of you success to all who need tell of it!”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
“I will!”
Economous cried in return, his voice cracking clutching the flour-bag of
vittles had passed to him in farewell like it was a treasured keepsake. “<span style="text-transform: uppercase;">I will!</span>”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
“Sit ye down,
ye bloat-brained looby!” the master of the boat skolded roughly. “Who wants yer
fussin’s to make us over-tip and miss gate-shut at the Spindles!”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
Amongst the
great number of receiving vessels gathered in the outer moorings of Middle
Ground, Economous’ vessel – the <i>Douse
Fish</i> – looked disconcertingly small. She was a cromster – this much he
could see by sight of her: a river-going craft that was surely scarce large
enough for even the relative tranquillity of the inshore waters of the north
western Grume. Climbing the short side ladder and handed aboard with the disdainful
aid of a young bargeman, he was gratified to find that the craft was neatly
turned out at least, neither rusted or cluttered with lumber and unravelled
rope as was the common lubberly view of all sea-going vessels. While his
carter’s trunk and his canvases were heft aboard and sent down to the hold, he
presented himself and his commutation ticket to an ancient fellow standing by
the long hefty tiller beam at the helm who he presumed to be the diminutive
vessel’s master.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
“ Mister
Patefract,” he said with gracious nod, flourishing the ticket to be verified by
this age-ed sea dog. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
Close to the
man now, Economous observed a face white-wiskered and ruddy red, the flesh
scarred with white dotted cicatrices and the tiny, burrow-like pits of a life
spent upon the vinegar seas.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
“I cannot vouch
for what them inky boobies at the certifying establishment told ye…” the
vessel’s master drawled, squinting suspuciously at the paper held before him
then up to Economous’ slightly disconcerted face,“Mister<i> Musgrill</i>. Yet I am reckoning they likely failed to collect ye,
sir, that the ’<i>Fish</i> is not some fiddling-worked
ducal caroucelle with more bunks than batteries.” He uttered these otherwise
sardonic words with the flatness that could only come from constant repetition.
“Ye’ll find no pillow for ye to lay yer head tonight – the deck will be yer
berth as it will be mine and yonder barge-fellows.” He nodded backwards to a
crew of two man-handling Economous’ stores below: the rest of yonder
barge-fellows were presumably below deck to ready limbres and gastrines for the
great push out to sea. “Only the gastrineer gets the privilege of keeping dry
below decks and for that he must suffer the gutline’s reek. Sleep or wake as ye
please, but stay ye clear of me crew and their labours. And that long lump o’
lumber ye have there,” he went on with a second nod, now to the narrow box
holding <i>Miserichord</i>, “will have to go
below: stachels on shoulders is one thing, but I’ll not have such above until
ye reach yer harbour.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
“Very good,
Mister Patefract,” Economous answered, not knowing what else to say. Despite
the slight fee he had paid for his ticket, he had hoped for a little more. <i>All disappointments be dashed!</i> he
schooled himself as he passed the offending article to a stowing bargeman. He
was on his way to brighter days and that was all the purpose of life answered. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
His
oft-rehearsed speech now done, with scarce more than growls the river-master
gestured to a rough bench formed from a line of puncheons sawn in half and
fixed together between two wooden riding bits before the sole mast. Another soul
cloaked from neck to ankle in a long oil-hide despite the balmy morn was
already sat there, clutching cloak to throat and staring fixedly away to open
waters on the right. As Economous – with a tip of his tricorn – bade this other
whom he assumed to be his fellow passenger good morning he felt a shudder
transmit from the pale slightly bowed deck through his feet and up his shanks.
This surely was the gastrines – the boxes of living muscle that propelled all
such vessels through the hostile waters – being released to action. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
His fellow
passenger glanced ever so briefly to him, thus revealing herself to be a woman.
Neither obviously young nor noticably old, her faced was striped on each side with
pale parallel bands that came from under
the band of her own tricorn, going over either eye, down the cheeks and around the
line of her jaw – the markings of a skold.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
The lady skold
nodded but said nothing and returned to her inspection of the outer reaches of
the harbour.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
“Sit, will ye, sir!”
Mister Patefract barked from his station by the tiller behind. “Or wind and wine
help me, I’ll lash ye to the polemast!”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
Economous sat.<o:p></o:p></div>
D.M. Cornishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09452470049845132286noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29654538.post-16963487066642967102013-11-18T09:07:00.000+10:302013-11-18T09:09:37.456+10:30Economous Musgrove Chapter 7 Part 3<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.18181800842285px;"><b>Alas, with <i>Supanova </i>Adelaide now done I have the post con blues, but such trifles are not enough to stop Economous from pushing on!</b></span></span><br />
<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 18.18181800842285px;"><br /></b>
<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 18.18181800842285px;">To those who are seeking to guess what is happening next, it may come as some surprise to you that if my stories have plot twists these are not nor have ever been intentional, and though some authors might (certainly tv script writers seem to anyway), I am not sitting at my keyboard rubbing cunning hands and playing some kind of guessing game with you all. </b><br />
<b style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.18181800842285px;"><br /></span></span></b>
<b style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.18181800842285px;">If their are "twists" they are instead simply </span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.18181800842285px;">artefacts</span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.18181800842285px;"> of me seeking to be true to my characters and to the Half-Continent most of all, and because the H-c is a foreign land with forces driving it different from our own, "twists" occur, it seems. Was this how you were reading the MBTs? Trying to fathom ahead how things were going to turn out? </span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.18181800842285px;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.18181800842285px;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">(I do not do this myself, so I find the practice strange - I have always thought a story best enjoyed if each moment is savoured and I leave the telling and what is ahead to the director/author/whoever.)</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; font-weight: bold; line-height: 18.18181800842285px;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; font-size: 24pt;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; font-size: 24pt;">Economous<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; font-size: 24pt;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; font-size: 24pt;">musgrove<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; font-size: 24pt;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-align: center;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-i49HZVV0Pxc/UhqhoasY-CI/AAAAAAAAAjg/x563JftKVAw/s1600/economus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: #7d181e; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-i49HZVV0Pxc/UhqhoasY-CI/AAAAAAAAAjg/x563JftKVAw/s320/economus.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 20px; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-left-radius: 5px; border-bottom-right-radius: 5px; border-top-left-radius: 5px; border-top-right-radius: 5px; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 20px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="220" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std';"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; text-indent: 35.45pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; text-indent: 35.45pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; text-indent: 35.45pt;"> </span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std';">© D.M.Cornish<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std';"><b><span style="background-color: white; color: #bf9000;">PLEASE DO NOT PUBLISH OR REPRODUCE WITHOUT MY PERMISSION</span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std';"><br /></span></div>
<div class="DMCChapterTitle" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; line-height: 19px;"><b>Chapter 7 PART 3</b></span></div>
<div class="DMCChapterTitle" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.99147605895996px; text-indent: 47.266666412353516px;">Opportunity Unlooked For</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
In the bright cheer of a warm Estor
morning promising a hotter day, Economous – dressed in full coat, high shirt
collar and neckerchief despite the waxing heat – finally set a step outside the
warren of his garret. With many a wary glance to left and to right he hurried
his way to the harbour where the many commutation offices were, eschewing
common paths in favour of an obscure route less likely to be patrolled by those
not local living. His way took him to seaward precincts of the harbour’s edge
where the closer to the powerful stink of the palid, acrid waters of the
harbour the city drew, the more tumbledown it became. For the more well-to-do
souls were, the further back from the reek they sought to dwell and to work –
most of the city’s peers living in the hilly suburbs beyond the first curtain
wall – as if to escape the bitter reality of the hostile waters. Even the
Brandendirk – the Archduke’s palace and the cities chief seat of government –
was built well inland. Economous had read once that it was the reverse in
Gottland: that for their noble classes it was considered a sign of the strength
of their breeding to live as near the sea-stink as possible, building out even
over the smashing waves that were a feature of those distant waters.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
It was the
reverse for comutation agents too. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
Proximity to
the sea was prized for its convenience to the very vessels for which each agent
acted and all the best crowded the main strands that ran along the very rim of
the city’s many elevated stone pace – great structures of stone, brick and
mortar lifting the sea-side districts safe from the monster-infested waters. Consequently
it was in lanes and walks the tunneled off from these high strands that the cheaper
– and generally shabbier – commutation agents were to be found. And, as a
seldom contradicted rule, the shabier the agent, the shabier the vessels they
represented. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
As for himself, Economous had grown well used
to the smell by now, and standing now on the stoop of [AGENT NAME &
ADDRESS], found in a dingy perpendicular alley, he drew in a lung-full of the
odour before entering the file. He still remembered vividly his own very first
proper smell of the vinegar seas; stinging, over-sweet yet caustic at once, bringing
back a time in childheood when his father had spilt embalming douse all over
the kitchen floor. The reason for such an expensive mishap in so incompatible a
location remained vague yet disquieting even to this day, though Economous well
recalled that at the time he and his mother – under her tearful insistence –
spent a goodly long time living in the kinder-smelling hospitality of their
next door neighbour’s tiny back room.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
Purchasing the
cheapest commutation ticket possible – twelve whole sequins or a week’s
labouring wage – from a blandly mannered clerk, Economous was set to depart on
the least costly receiving vessel warping a course to Boschenberg very early in
two mornings’ time. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
“The <i>Douse Fish</i> is the vessel’s gazetted name,”
the commutation clerk intoned. “Its master one Mister Patefract.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
“Is it a good
vessel?” Economous asked before he thought. “Sea-fit or whatever the saltdogs
call them?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
The clerk
regarded him with a mixture of required patience and barely vieled scorn. “I
cannot say, sir,” he said and added meaningfully as he collected the fee. “I
believe in our line you get what you pay for.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
With nought
else to offer, Economous passed over on of the dazzling new coins of his
down-payment.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
“What is <i>this</i>, sir?” the clerk arched a brow at
the glittering geld.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
“It is… gold,
sir,” Economous returned mildly, thinking fast. “Surely you do gold?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
“It is also not
proper tender, sir,” the man blinked long-sufferingly at him. “Sous, oscadrils,
staters, grassus, hours, Hergott doubles, Turkic lots and even Sebastian
imations we <i>do</i>, but <i>that</i>” – he continued to regard the coin
as if it were nothing more than a slip of paper with the word <i>money </i>writ bold upon it – “we <i>do</i> not. Find a benchman and git <i>this </i>changed into something useful… Or
better yet, take it to one of those learn-ed wiseacres at the Pike Athy who
could buy it off you to put on wondrous display,” the froward fellow concluded
in a tone that spoke of anything but wonder. “On either course, no ticket will
be issued without genuine denominations.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
Economous had
thought the gleam of genuine gold would move folk to be far more willing, but
it appeared that the avoidance of bureaucratical tribulations was prized
higher. Half the district, two thirds of the day and four benchmen later,
Economous at last found <span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">some one willing to do more than snort or sniff or scowl at his alien
billions.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;">“That’s a Samnian knot!” this
fourth benchmen – one Mister [………BRILLIANT NAME HERE………], Handler &
Exchange, according to his well-polished sign on the shop’s door post – finally
responded, speaking through rotten teeth and straggling greasy moustachio like
the drooping wiskers of a cat. Despite these most obvious disadvatages, the
fellow was finely turned out in well-cut frockcoat, his solitaire properly tied about a </span><span style="line-height: 24.545454025268555px;">pristine</span><span style="line-height: 150%;"> white
collar.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> “From the lost kingdom of Samé?” Economous
replied, recognising the name from his athenaeum learning.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">“Aye, aye, Samé, Samnë –
‘tis all apples,” the benchman returned. “Where in the blighted here and vere
did ye find such trove? Ye di’n’t steal ‘em, did ye?” he pressed with a scowl,
drawing himself up indignantly. “I’m no fence for pilfer, sir!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Economous straightened too, puffing
his cheeks at the accusation, refusing the fright and the inwardly repeating
scene of the fight on the Prandial with Monsiere Blanquett and his
all-too-eager roughs. “It is payment, man,” he retorted hottly, “from my
patroness in the far-off Undermeer.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The benchman’s dubious
expression did not shift, yet he said no more on it and agreed to five sou for
each coin less his handling fee, writing up ten crackling-fresh folding notes –
one for each coin.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Of a sudden, Economous found
himself in that single transaction pocket-filled with an entire year’s living.
Oppressively aware of the sheer weight of wealth in his wallet as he stepped in
a daze from the benchman’s shop, the young illuminator hurried back to </span>[AGENT
NAME & ADDRESS] to pay the commutation fee. Receiving yet more folding notes
as change from the increasingly unamused clerk and, for only the second time in
his entire life in Brandenbrass, Economous hired a takeny-carriage to carry
him, money and all, safe back to Shaded Rafters.<span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">As Binbrindle so sagely predicted,
Madamine Grouse was indeed displeased to be told of such abruptly final
departure.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">“I must be allowed time to
advertise for your replacement!” she declaimed tartly from her appartment door.
“How am I to make my own small way in zis ugly city wizout a full list of
lodgers?” She thrust her hand at him, open and empty always wanting more.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Behind her and turned out
prettily</span> in a white summer dress all wide whispering hems of the
softest, purest cloth and a broad straw bonnet – obviously a preparation for
some dazzling Midwich outing with her beau –
Asthetica pottered in the saloon
and made a point of not looking at him.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
But Economous
felt bold now that he was going and he would show these grasping women <i>the full stretch of his bow</i> – as
Bidbrindle was fond of putting it. “This ought cover my obligation,” he retorted
with equal severity and slapped one of his newly writ one sou notes onto the
cold grasping palm of his landlady. It was likely well more than was needed,
but worth the loss if just once, on this last occasion, it <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
Astounded to
silence, the Madamine just blinked and the folding money, laying so crisp and
brightly printed in her grip.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
This oddly
strangled silence drew Asthetica’s attention. “Ma-ma?” she asked, coming now to
the door.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
“You stole it!” Madamine Grouse suddenly gasped,
clutching the billion to her bosom in over-drawn shock. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
“Ma-ma!”
Aesthetica chided.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
“He stole it,”
the older woman insisted, waving the note like it was an alarum flag, “and now he
is fleeing zis city for fear of ze duke’s justice!”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
“I did not <i>steal</i> it, madam!” Economous grew loud. <i>Why are folks so keen to cry this at me? </i>“I
have a <i>patron</i>!”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
“So you have
been playing pauper all this time, have you?” the sour-souled woman shifted
flank as quick as any wily ambuscadier. “Fooling this poor soul, starving my
precious daughter out of her food! But now it proves you are a-wash with coin!”<i><o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
“I have a
patron <i>now</i>, Madamine Grouse!” the
illuminator insisted with yet greater volume which seemed to bring him space to
speak at last. “An agent for a lady of the highest distinction called only
yesterday. This great personage has sent for me especially from the Subtle
Pall. Her, and <i>that</i>” – he nictated
firmly to the glittering disc snatched so securely away – “is part of a down
payment to retain my service. If it proves insufficient, madam,” he pressed,
keen to keep the momentum of the shock, “then you may take what rent you like
from the sale of my affects. You are welcome to it. I am leaving this city,
probably never to return.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
At this
Aesthetica finally beheld him in full and frank surprise.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
“<i>Never</i>
to return?” she repeated in a small, strangely strangled voice.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
Economous
frowned and jutted his bottom jaw obstinately. “Aye,” was all he said in overly
cold reply. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
Occult thoughts
clearly raced behind the perplexed quickly blinking gaze of his one time
fixation, and her perfect Hamlin-bow lips seemed for a moment to quiver perhaps
with emotion, perhaps about to speak… Yeet Asthetica said no more.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
What was it to
her that this was so? She already had her deep-pursed peer just as was always
intended; Economous was free to go and do now just as winds blew and for once
they were gusting his way.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
“Well zen, good
bye to you, sir,” Madamine Grouse returned with an abrupt stiffening of manner.
“Maybe now I can get someone to pay proper rent for your room.” Reaching across
her daughter to subtly yet bodily shove the confused girl back into to room, his
landlady firmly shut the apartment door, gracing him with one last and
peculiarly narrow-eyed glare before the portal closed with a telling final “thud”.<o:p></o:p></div>
D.M. Cornishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09452470049845132286noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29654538.post-7744398324757178052013-11-11T16:36:00.000+10:302013-11-11T16:36:38.937+10:30Economous Musgrove Chapter 7 Part 2<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-size: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.18181800842285px;"><b>Here I am, back from <i>Supanova </i>Brisbane after meeting a whole tribe of most excellent readers and fellow Sundergirdians. How uplifting it was to speak to you all of whom I met - someone signed my book "you were more normal than I thought you would be," which I am choosing to receive as a compliment (maybe <i>too</i> normal?).</b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-size: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.18181800842285px;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-size: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.18181800842285px;"><b>But alas, such happy times always end and here I am, returned in time for more Economous.</b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-size: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.18181800842285px;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-size: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.18181800842285px;"><b>I now have a week to catch my breath before <i>Supanova </i>Adelaide - of which I am now a late inclusion \o/</b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.18181800842285px;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; font-size: 24pt;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; font-size: 24pt;">Economous<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; font-size: 24pt;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; font-size: 24pt;">musgrove<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; font-size: 24pt;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-align: center;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-i49HZVV0Pxc/UhqhoasY-CI/AAAAAAAAAjg/x563JftKVAw/s1600/economus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: #7d181e; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-i49HZVV0Pxc/UhqhoasY-CI/AAAAAAAAAjg/x563JftKVAw/s320/economus.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 20px; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-left-radius: 5px; border-bottom-right-radius: 5px; border-top-left-radius: 5px; border-top-right-radius: 5px; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 20px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="220" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std';"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; text-indent: 35.45pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; text-indent: 35.45pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; text-indent: 35.45pt;"> </span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std';">© D.M.Cornish<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std';"><b><span style="background-color: white; color: #bf9000;">PLEASE DO NOT PUBLISH OR REPRODUCE WITHOUT MY PERMISSION</span></b></span><br /><span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std';"><br /></span></div>
<div class="DMCChapterTitle" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; line-height: 19px;"><b>Chapter 7 PART 2</b></span></div>
<div class="DMCChapterTitle" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.99147605895996px; text-indent: 47.266666412353516px;">Opportunity Unlooked For</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
So, in the
unhealthy steadily summer-cooking gloom Economous slowly formulated a resolve
to give up on the Moldwood, on Asthetica and fabulism and seek more certain
employment in some duller – <i>surer </i>–
line of trade. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<i>Perhaps in another city?</i> he considered with little
enthusiasm. <i>Doggenbrass, maybe…?</i>
Brandenbrass’ most immediate southern neighbour languishing in the shadow of
the great city’s gravity likely possessed less opportunity <i>… but at least it is not HERE.</i> Here where all paths were thwarted
and aspirations brought to nil.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
The very
morning – was is Luneday or Meerday? – he settled with uneasy certainty upon this
sure, unhappy yet necessary answer, ascending footsteps shook with increasing
violence upon the staircases up to the garret door.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<i>The duffers have come for me!</i> was his
first wrenching terror, but he quickly caught hold of panic as he realised only
one pair of feet was making the awkward climb. Bidbrindle knew the stairs too
well to be so noisy, and Asthetica – even <i>if
</i>she might condescend to pay a visit – would have been quieter yet, besides
which, it was the wrong time of day for either of them.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<i>It must be Scrivener-Sergeant […NAME…]</i> ,
he realised with a dark twist of guilt in his gizzards. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
Being paid a
visit from a senior metrician of the local athy was and oft threatened consequence
if a concometrist was know to be about but failed to bring their numrelogue its
for requisite quarterly numrelogical examination. Scarcely avoiding a
suspension last time, Economous had missed the year’s first review at the ………
Room in Pike Athenaeum – Brandenbrass own athy – for obvious reason. He glanced
uncomfortably to the little stack of rent binding and frayed paper that was the
vainly reconstituted remnant of his numrelogue lying where he had thrown it
down more than three weeks gone. Drawing what he saw as he saw it had always
seemed to him the best way to <i>measure</i>
anything, and he had contended this successfully every time he took his
number-book for inspection. Such fine argument was not going to help him here.
So ready to claim the title as a defense in a fight, surely he could scarcely call himself a
concometrist any more.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
The inevitable
knock fairly rattled the thick planks of his garret door, far firmer even than
Bidbrindle in all his unwonted enthusiasm.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
Easing the
portal open a cautious crack, Economous fairly unravelled with relief: it was a
stranger – a tall man clad in a frockcoat of strangely iridescent black and
wearing a lofty black stovepipe hat and not at all like the cruel-faced
officials in the archduke’s service. This the mysterious caller now swept off
his crown and flourished as he bowed: a stiff bend at the middle like his hips
were a hinge and an oddly jerking twist of the head. Under his silken coat, the
caller seemed disconcertingly gaunt – Economous might have gone so far as to
say <i>malnourished</i>. Yet he stood tall
and steady enough as he straightened once more in the gloom of the landing
before Economous garret door. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
“Good morning…
sir,” the visitor declared proudly. “My name is… Hoopstick. I am an agent for a
great lady… of the northern realms of… the Undermeer.” Thin and breathy and
strangely inflected. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
Economous
nodded a bow of his own in baffled reply.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
“I hope that…”
this Mister Hoopstick continued, “you do not… mind this intrusion upon… your
civil privacy? Your grand <i>knavery</i> –”
he spoke this word with a sour twist of mouth “– directed me here upon… my
enquiries.” Here he paused and waited.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
Roused by the
silence from his fascination for the fellow’s stilted manners, Economous
realised he was expected to respond. “Oh – not at all, sir. I have time.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
The awkward
caller gave a thin and cryptic smile. “I… come to you, good sir, to… bring my
mighty mistress’… compliments. Your fame as a… worthy pen, an … accurate
delineator of physiognomy has… gone ahead of… you, even to my mistress’… ears. And
now she seeks to offer to… you her patronage if…if you would but… come to her
mighty halls in… Meerschaum’s borders and there… daub her imago.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
A great lady? <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
A mighty
mistress! <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
Economous
innards gave a happy leap. <i>At last,</i>
he delighted inwardly,<i> my labours are
sprouting fruit! </i>Word of his work at the gala of the Branden Rose must have
made it all that way north. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
Situated at on
the northern lands beyond the dread Ichormeer, Meerschaum and the united realms
of the Undermeer were at least a weeks journey or more to the north east. Yet two
years of thwarted intent had made Economous ravenous for any chance no matter how
slim or difficult and he readily accepted the offer. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
“To which great
lady in which great hall should I present myself?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
“My mistress
lives… in necessary seclusion and does… not wish her name be… bandied abroad
too… readily. Yet as a… token of her good… faith and my honour as… her
messenger, allow me… to present this pledge… of our <i>veracity</i>.” With a staccato click of elbow and knuckles, the agent
held out a purse made of the same shimmering dark material as his coat.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
Taking the
purse and peering within, the would-be fabulist beheld a golden glint – ten
gold coins of alien denomination, larger by size and weight that the sou of the
Soutlands or oscadril of the Haacobin empire. Economous almost dropped the
payment in his shock; even the Branden Rose did not pay as richly!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
“There is ten…
times that awaiting you – and with it… <i>other</i>
rewards<i> </i>– upon… your successful
depiction of my mistress.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
Dumbfounded,
Economous goggled at Mister Hoopstick who in his turn smiled a sunken-eyed –
almost cadaverous – smile.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
“I shall depart now,” the agent concluded,
bowing another stilted, hinge-like beck, “and go… ahead of you… to report the
good… news of your agreement. When you achieve… the haven of the stout… city of
Knapphausen, wait… on me at the [………………] on [……………] Street, and I shall see you…
escorted to my mistress’… residence.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
With that
Mister Hoopstick turned and retreated down the shuddering stairs, leaving a
flabberghasted Economous blinking stupidly in his garret doorway, the purse of
wealth still open in his outstretched hand. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<i>I have a patron…?</i> he marvelled in shock,
arm still reaching out. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
“Uh, goodbye,
sir,” Economous eventually collected himself enough to call down to departing
messenger already halfway descended to the vestibule.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<i>I have a patron!</i> But darker clouds
immediately threatened<span style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;"> this glowinig prospect. </span><i style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">Now, now, don’t tally your skins ‘til they’re skun, let’s await to see
if all bears out well.</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<i style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;"><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
Economous shook
his head as if to clear it. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
He was not
interested in sensible-seeming, joy-dampening, parent-voiced cautions: he had a
patron! All roads had closed to bring him to this one shining opportunity. Was
he in any other state of soul, he would likely have turned such a proposition
down, but today at this moment he was ready, ready, <i>ready</i>!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
Arriving with a
supper for two of ox tongue poached in brine, a novelty he called sun-parched
tomatoes and a thick stop of bread, Bidbrindle received the happy news with his
usual gust. “A patron, by the Lots! A patron!” he exclaimed. “Ah, a <i>patroness</i> to be exact. When do you plan
to go and leave us all bereft?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
“Tomorrow if
possible, the day after if not.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 34.9pt;">
The violin-maker
baulked. “I reckoned it would be prompt, but that seems a mite <i>too</i> prompt to me, m’boy. She-down-stairs”
– by which he meant Madamine Grouse – “will not like it one knot. I have seen
it before: she always demands a month’s written notice for such things.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 34.9pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 34.9pt;">
“Well, I will
tell her and see,” Economous returned with the sudden confidence that comes
from receiving excellent news. “On either hand, I am going.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 34.9pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
To this
Bidbrindle gave one of his knowing shrugs and the two settled to silence of
hungry eating.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
“A body would
reckon I ought be glad to lose so eligible a rival for the dear Asthetica’s
attentions,” the older man said at last, becoming strangely glum as he looked
up from his poached ox tongue clumsy. “But I am not, my good sir, not at all.
Who now will I share these distant and impossible longings?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
“You are
welcome to her, Mister Bid,” Economous said a little too carlessley. “I am done
with this city and all in it – Oh! I do not mean you, sir!” he interupted
himself at sight of Bidbrindle’s open dismay. “You have been a light here when
much else is dark. I shall write you when I have achieved my glorious new
position and invite you over to visit. Mayhap my new employer might have viols
that new mending.” Silent and brooding for so long, Economous’ words fairly ran
out from him.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
Bidbrindle
laughed brightly. “Yes yes! Here is hoping she does, good fellow! I could do
with a summerscale excursion.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: 180.0pt; mso-add-space: auto;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto;">
* * * * *<o:p></o:p></div>
D.M. Cornishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09452470049845132286noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29654538.post-48624500351859685972013-11-05T09:36:00.001+10:302013-11-05T09:37:07.129+10:30Economous Musgrove Chapter 7 Part 1<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.18181800842285px;"><b>A days delay <i>again</i>! </b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.18181800842285px;"><b><br /></b></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.18181800842285px;"><b>Why? </b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.18181800842285px;"><b><br /></b></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.18181800842285px;"><b>I think perhaps because we are only some weeks away from the pre-written work coming to an end and me anti-ing up to press on with the tale, and I am afraid. I do not know how it is for others, but writing for me is a whole lot of facing myself, which I do not find easy. Perhaps this is why I write protagonists who themselves struggle to "emerge".</b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.18181800842285px;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; font-size: 24pt;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; font-size: 24pt;">Economous<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; font-size: 24pt;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; font-size: 24pt;">musgrove<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; font-size: 24pt;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-align: center;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-i49HZVV0Pxc/UhqhoasY-CI/AAAAAAAAAjg/x563JftKVAw/s1600/economus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: #7d181e; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-i49HZVV0Pxc/UhqhoasY-CI/AAAAAAAAAjg/x563JftKVAw/s320/economus.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 20px; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-left-radius: 5px; border-bottom-right-radius: 5px; border-top-left-radius: 5px; border-top-right-radius: 5px; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 20px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="220" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std';"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; text-indent: 35.45pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; text-indent: 35.45pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; text-indent: 35.45pt;"> </span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std';">© D.M.Cornish<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std';"><b><span style="background-color: white; color: #bf9000;">PLEASE DO NOT PUBLISH OR REPRODUCE WITHOUT MY PERMISSION</span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std';"><br /></span></div>
<div class="DMCChapterTitle" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; line-height: 19px;"><b>Chapter 7 PART 1</b></span></div>
<div class="DMCChapterTitle" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.99147605895996px; text-indent: 47.266666412353516px;">Opportunity Unlooked For</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><i>benchman ~</i></b><i> articled yet ungazetted money changers and
exchangers of goods for coin, supplying loans as needed if proper items can be
provided as collateral . MORE ………………………………………………………………………………………………<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<b>HIR</b> 1601 had ended as a year of curiosities: the Emperor came South
from his far away throne to show off his newest grandson; monsters attacked in
mass on the borders of human habitation up north; a mercantile gent with more money than sense had
set off very publicly to hunt a mere rumour of a monster over the eastern seas;
the Aestival Walking at the Hippodial had been a grand success despite the
great dread of monstrous assault … and Economous Musgrove, concometrist and
aimless imagineer, had found a monster-lord in the innermost districts of the
city, defeating three spurns single-handedly with little more than a stick.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
HIR 1602 was
brought in with more noise than had been made in a goodly long time, a great
riot of desperate joy, music and dancing, the tolling of the new annum welcomed
with great clashings of anything that made such racket, and a grand cannonade
from every harbour fort and as many rams out in the water as were present: a
greater display than even the Emperor had received a month before… <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
Yet Economous Musgrove
– locked away in his garret for fear of discovery and reprisal – heard it all with
little care and witnessed nil but glimpses from the thin grimy panes of his
loft window. Keeping watch day upon day upon the thin view of the street
through sooty lichen-blotched roofs and elongated smoke-dribbling chimneys, he spent
his hours pinned between anxiety of discovery and of foiled ambitions, and a
confounding wearying wariness of the black rule, <i>Miserichord</i>. All too often in his vigil his attention would be
drawn to look where it lay hidden and half-discarded behind a pile of books
that even at his most indigent he could not bare to sell. Unseen though it was,
he could yet <i>feel</i> it there until it
seemed to him the black rule occupied the entire garret, leaving him only his
vigil couch as sanctuary. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
So it went. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
Were it not for
the kindness of Bidbrindle fetching vittles for him each day, the sulking,
aimless imagineer would have expired of the starve. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
Of course the
rumour of the beating given to some uppity gentleman come to lord it over the
low with an army of spurns and being “lorded” in his stead was all over
Merry-the-boon and Liberty Folgate – indeed, the whole of the Alcoves. Until
then, the biggest subject of enthusiastic repeated conversation – bigger than
rampaging northern bogles, or the Grand Imperial Visitation in the last month
of last year – had been a pitched battle said to have been fought by various
private parties in the harbourside suburbs of the Alcoves itself. But now the stoop-step
tale-tellers and alehouse story-mongers had
a far better tale upon which to rant; a tale that involved one of their
own!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
“The mighty deed
is supposed to have been done by a golden-haired heldin born of our very own
streets,” the violin-maker declared with unrelieved enthusiasm delivering a
small parcel of vittles he insisted upon paying for from his own meagre purse.
“The defender of the low, of ladies’ honour, of children and small animals come
with a flashing blade and a biting turn of phrase to put down the wicked overlord!”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
Not sure
whether to be gratified at such a valiant transformation of his own
unimpressive physiognomy, or dismayed at the wide spreading of the report
however exaggerated, Economous only nodded.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
“It is a lovely
bit of <i>absurdus ineptiae</i>,” Bidbrindle
continued and then sighed. “If it were but true… I have it on quiet but firm
authority that our true heldin was of a more modest frame.” He gave Economous a
disquietingly knowing wink. “Bravo, my boy, bravo,” he added in a whisper.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
Humours
starting, setting a frighted banging in his ears, Economous looked at the
violin-maker with rabbit-wide eyes. If Bidbrindle knew, <i>anyone</i> might know<o:p></o:p>…</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
“For what,
sir?” he said with fumbled innocence.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
The other man
laughed. “All secrets safe as Hollicar’s tomb, here, m’boy!” Bidbrindle patted
the paper-wrapped parcel in a fatherly way. “Though perhaps it is best I keep
bringing you these as you stay hid away for a little while longer…”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
Whatever his
qualifications or his wide yet largely unacknowledged learnings or the quality
of his patronage, Economous’ resolutely cheerful neighbour had always played to
the tacit pact of goodly Alcovine with pointed thoroughness: <i>never betray your neighbour to any
aristocratic oppressor; there is ever someone in more desperate need than you; every stranger in the ‘Coves is a neighbour</i>. It
was a most surprising trait in a fellow who worked so constantly for the higher
stations and expressed such unalloyed admiration for the same.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
Economous could do nought but trust that
Bidbrindle would continue in this role and keep his disconcertingly astute
reckoning mute. For an entire month into the new annum, he did not dare to
venture from his hiding hole, furtively watching the slightest sliver of a
glimpse of the street below that he had from his garret window. Remaining in
the increasingly stifling heat of his cheap attic rent, he relied on the violin-maker
for his sustenance and for reports of the daily to-and-hither often provided by
irregular deliveries of topical gazettes like the<i> Scribner</i> or <i>Assessor</i>.
Yet, while it may have been wondrous scandal throughout the Alcoves, the
glorious assault did not feature once in the august pages of either broadsheet
– not even in the obscure observations in the rearward pages. Whatever morbid
fascination many well-to-do folk might have with grand district, the rest of
the city did not actually care what happened to those living in its infamous
streets.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
Close confined
and sweltering, he began to long for the peculiar comforting airs of the
Moldwood; yet he knew all too clearly that the glebeland’s shadows and hissing
boughs and its grazing rabbits all hinting the great and terrible secret that
dwelt within would only bring deepening of his gloom. The ancient park had now come to represent
most solidly of all his frustration with his life’s path. Even if it did not,
despite the encouraging absence of gazetted report, he dared not step out – not
until Bidbrindle said it was safe to do so.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
Tellingly,
Anesthetica had not once made the short journey up the worn flights to seek
Economous out, nor even left a note – as she had on his last self-seclusion. He
listened to her every day carefully not making noise as she went out to work
and returning later and later and all
too often accompanied by the arrogant tones of Lord Fold… But she never came up
to him. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<i>So much for “You are missed”</i>Economous
concluded bitterly, then corrected himself: Of course she had not, why would
she, all her goals were achieved in Lord Fold, Reive of Lot-in-the-Hole.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
He considered
some brief missive of apology for his rude and thrusting behaviour that
ill-shone night so short ago, but an ugly quandary of blame kept him from
forming suitable words.<o:p></o:p></div>
D.M. Cornishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09452470049845132286noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29654538.post-84068705000528100222013-10-29T08:50:00.002+10:302013-10-29T08:50:16.668+10:30Economous Musgrove Chapter 6 Part 2<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-size: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.18181800842285px;"><b>Hmm, will testicles be grown at last?</b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-size: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.18181800842285px;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-size: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.18181800842285px;"><b>By way of apology for the delay in posting I give you a bumper issue.</b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">
<b style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; font-size: 24pt;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; font-size: 24pt;">Economous<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; font-size: 24pt;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; font-size: 24pt;">musgrove<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; font-size: 24pt;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-align: center;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-i49HZVV0Pxc/UhqhoasY-CI/AAAAAAAAAjg/x563JftKVAw/s1600/economus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: #7d181e; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-i49HZVV0Pxc/UhqhoasY-CI/AAAAAAAAAjg/x563JftKVAw/s320/economus.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 20px; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-left-radius: 5px; border-bottom-right-radius: 5px; border-top-left-radius: 5px; border-top-right-radius: 5px; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 20px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="220" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std';"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; text-indent: 35.45pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; text-indent: 35.45pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; text-indent: 35.45pt;"> </span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std';">© D.M.Cornish<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std';"><b><span style="background-color: white; color: #bf9000;">PLEASE DO NOT PUBLISH OR REPRODUCE WITHOUT MY PERMISSION</span></b></span><br /><span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std';"><br /></span></div>
<div class="DMCChapterTitle" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; line-height: 19px;"><b>Chapter 6 PART 2</b></span></div>
<div class="DMCChapterTitle" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #cc0000; font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-indent: 35.45pt;">Bless-ed </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.99147605895996px; text-indent: 35.45pt;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: 'Charlemagne Std';">Anonymity</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
“Return that
purloined item to me this instant,” the saviour of the city purred, “and all
shall be forgot. I shall see that the property finds its… <i>rightful</i> home, and you shall go on your worthless way knowing that
you owe your continued breath to the mercy of your highers and betters.” He
finally looked Economous in the eye to see that the import of his false claim
had made it home.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<i>False in fact, but true by station</i>, went
the term – the loftier classes were right by right, regardless of truth or
actual wrong. The higher a soul stood in society, the “righter” they were.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
“Come, Mister
…………, Madamielle Cantaline, Mister ……………,” the fat fellow purred to his spurns.
“Learn this ill-read brute a just and fitting lesson that he might not
re-offend and a small jink of justice be
done in this most unjust place.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
All too willing
to obey, the three bravoes stepped around their master and made to encircle
Economous, the two men brandishing their heavy cudgels suggestively while the
lady skold took a caste of dangerous chemistry from one of several digital containers at her
belt. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
Economous
backed away clumsily, colliding thigh and buttock with a stone-post, arresting
his retreat just long enough for the trio of sturdy roughs to gain and surround
him. <i>How did I get here!</i> his eternal
inward observer wailed, slow to believe and therefore truly comprehend his
danger. Habits formed through training served him now as the imagineer was
thoughtlessly leant back into the eighth primary stance – held best when facing
sundry foes. <i>Miserichord</i> buzzed like
a hive of wasps in his twitching grasp.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
“You do not
have to do this,” he said in druken fright, he mouth speaking without reference
to his working mind.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
“’Tis a mite
late for mewling, lad,” the largest of the spurns – Mister ………… appeared to be
his name – returned with fixed determination.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
“You wouldn’t
attack a concometrist would you, not in such open view,” Economous tried again.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
“I would!”
barked the youngest spurn – so named Mister ………… by his master. Clearly
thinking he had easy prey plumping in his clutches and all too eager in his
inexperience, the brazen youth closed directly with Economous.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
Even through
his drunken daze, Economous recognised the lads mistake but found himself unwilling
in that instant to exploit it for fear of making a bad situation worse. His
limbs however, did not apparently share such quibbles and without knowing what
his own arms were at, Economous suddenly struck out with <i>Miserichord</i>, lashing the youngest spurn across the unwary fellow’s
cheek. It was a mighty blow: a perfect sinidextrous ortus capat – upper-cutting
left-to-right strike to the head –that instantly drew gore spluttering from the
foe’s nose, sending the spurn reeling back clutching his stricken face, to
collapse scarce sensible upon the flags. With only the slightest sense of risk
behind, the calibrator whipped back faster than Economous knew was within his
own ability, foiling a wicked turbus capat aimed purposefully at his head by Mister
………… seeking to exploit the younger spurn’s error.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
“Oh-ho, it
seems this one knows what he is about,” the lady skold – one Madamielle Cantaline
– chortled grimly as the older spurn span away from so skilful a defence to
think again upon his next assault.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
Wide-eyed and
amazed at himself, Economous stared now at the skold, fathoming full well that
her fumes were his greatest threat. In the very motion of that thought, the
woman flicked her arm with that peculiar twisting flourish of a skolds-throw
and Economous knew he was in strife. Even as he futilely swung his priceless
black calibrator to prevent at least being directly struck by the bursting of
the caste, he knew his only real hope was that the potive flung was nothing
more than a choking fume and not some deadly mordant or blasting fulminant.
Eyes shut against the inevitable engulfing chemistry, he was amazed to feel a small
yet satisfying <i>chock!</i> as <i>Miserichord</i> deftly connected with the
tiny fragile caste. However, rather than shattering the tiny delicate vessel
with its foul concoction, the intervening strike sent it directly back at the
skold to burst with a flash of orange and purple upon its very originator. With
several startled yelps, people passing near scampered clear of the fume,
pulling unwary neighbours with them. Flailing her arms as she sought to douse
the dire fizzing so abruptly and unexpectedly turned against her, Madamielle Cantaline
promptly dropped to her knees and flopped forward on face and stomach, overcome
by her own makings. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
Her employer –
several feet to Economous’ left – flapped his own limbs in impotent rage at this
<i>mishandling </i>of his staff. “HOW DARE YOU, SIR! HOW DARE YOU! THEY COST
ME SIXTY SOU PER ANNUM EACH! SCOUNDREL! HELP! HELP! I AM ATTACKED!” – a cry
to which no one paid the smallest
attention.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
“Full of
tricks, aren’t we,” Mister ………, the last spurn growled, drawing now a short,
heavy straight-bladed jacksword from the folds of the pleated frocks of his
proofed coat. “I have ploys of my own…”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
As amazed as
his thwarted attackers at the sublime and unlikely skill of his self defence,
Economous blinked a little stupidly at this final opponent.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
As much as any
calibrator might be re-enforced against the whittling cuts of any sword,
Economous well knew that in the end, blades beat cudgels in all but the best
hands. As handy at harundo as he might have been – steady enough to place on
the tables of Athingdon Athy’s best cudgel-players – it had been a double run
of profound fortune that had saved him tonight; he did not want to chance the
Lots a third – and anecdotally fatal – time. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
Jacksword in
one hand, wickedly knobbled cudgel in the other, the third spurn did not give
him a choice, springing left then right in a zagging rush, striking first with
sword then swift as a swallow with stick. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<i>Thwack! Thwack!</i> Economous stopped them
both in a single astonishing motion,<i> Miserichord</i>
was <i>alive</i> in his grasp, sending an
impulse of unalloyed glee surged up the illuminator’s arm that set his wind
leaping until it was all he could do to not laugh aloud for the joy of the
fight. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
Mister …………
leapt back with a frustrated growl, doubt shewing in his mein for the first
time.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
“WELL, GET HIM,
MAN!” Monsiere Blanquett bawled without any care for the two ailing spurns at
his feet. “I DO NOT LODGE YOU AND PAY YOUR INFLATED FEE TO HAVE YOU STAND BESIDE
AND GAWP!”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
At this,
Economous let his queer, fizzing delight out in a coughing guffaw, a bizzare
gurgling sound that gained more attention from those so studiously giving the
fracas a wide berth.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
“WHY DOES HE
LAUGH, MISTER …………?” the false adventurer demanded. “<span style="text-transform: uppercase;">Make him stop, this instant</span>!”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
“Aye! Aye!”
Mister ………… barked angrily. Glowering pure malice at Economous, the spurn now
stepped side to side now to circle leftwards about the illuminator. “You want
something to laugh upon, do ye?” he snarled. “I can think of a thing or two to
do it!”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
Suddenly the
fellow was upon him, sweeping sword and wood alike, over and over, a fury of blows
that were no less shrewd and true for all their violence.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
Feeling like a
dumb puppet trailing at the end of <i>Miserichord</i>,
Economous foiled every hit; he needed merely to have the slightest sense of an
incoming strike before the wentry tool was whipping left, right, up or down,
stopping the assault cold, the gorgeous elderwood unmarked even by the tempered steel of the blade.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
With a rough,
cursing cry of frustration, Mister ………… finally over-stepped with a vehement
yet fatigued flail, leaving – however briefly – himself exposed to a counter
offend. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<i>Miserichord </i>now almost felt to pull Economous
to step aside and like being lead in a dance, pivot about smartly to smack the
astonished spurn hard upon the exposed gap between his tri-corned head and the
proofing of his gaulded frockcoat collar. With a disconcerting <i>Crack!</i> the fellow was sent sprawling
hand and knee to the cold hard flags. A dollymop with her nose in a long written
list and more pressing concerns spinning about her thoughts, paused for only a
blink to look first at the fallen soul then frown up at Economous before
stepping over the prone spurn even as he arrived at her feet. More, Economous rushed
to stand over the spurn, black calibrator raised and ready to smite his foe
again should the fellow be lack-witted enough to try and rise.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
The older spurn
stayed down.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
All
battle-delight left Economous in a heave of weariness. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
Now that the
violence was done, people finally began gathering in a loose and cautious ring
and Monsiere Blanquett immediately responded. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
“DO NOT HURT ME!
DO NOT HURT ME!” the high-blown fellow shrieked, all bravado voided like an
emptying bladder in the face of such precipitous defeat. “I am dear friend to
the Marchess of the Pike! I dine regularly with the Lord Prune, 2<sup>nd</sup>
Estimator-General to the Arch-Duke himself!”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
Empty – almost
bereft – <i>Miserichord </i>a dead weight in
his hand, Economous stepped to stand over the cowering soul and looked down on his
would-be accuser with dark, uncontainably frank contempt. <i>And I have drawn the great and true lord of this city</i>, he seethed inwardly
to counter the monsiere’s reaching claims. Not knowing what to do – never
before had he been in a such a position of supremacy, and the skold, Madamielle
Cantaline was rousing – Economous left
his rotund tormentor where he grovelled and hastened into the milling souls.
Pausing only to buy – as he had always intended – more claratine and poor
bread, he hurried far down the Prandial, seeking distance and bless-ed
anonymity. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
He might have
saved his own hide but what of the consequence of such a victory. No
aristocratic sort would sit for long in such humiliation. Economous would be
sought out, witnesses questioned, harried, made to tell. He could only hope
that he had looked so uncommonly dishevelled that few of his streetside
neighbours would have recognised him <span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">… </span><i>A battle won but the war
lost</i>, went the line.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
Full of fear
and mistrust, he did not return directly home, rather running in the opposite
direction deeper into the Alcoves, desperate to not be recognised and pinned
fatally to the fight. For a bad end was certain should he be named as Monsiere
Blanquett’s attacker: in defence of self or not, conviction at the Duke’s Bench
of assault by a common soul upon a
personage of elevated station was a short trip to the gallows in Coldbeam
Square. Yet what else could he have done? His end was a standing before a magistrate
had he submitted to Monsiere Blanquett’s false accusation.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<i>If only I had not run out so rashly!</i> he
berated himself. <i>What was I at! What must
Asthetica make of such a childish display?</i><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
Despite such
self-imprecation, he marvelled at the ease of his victory and the skill of his
fighting arm – or perhaps more truly, the unheard of yet mirablic efficacy of
his wentry tool, his payment for drawing a creature who itself ought not exist
as it did.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<i>Mirabilic, indeed!</i> <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
The hopeless
illuminator sighed heavily. Hunched and hidden in this dank nook in the fishing
district of The Pot, he drank, chewed over-cooked bread, his humours still
refusing to calm as he re-fought the incomprehensibly one-sided fight in his
soul over and over again. How <i>Miserichord
</i>– now still and cold like any other span of lumber – had buzzed and leapt
in his grasp. Reluctant to keep hold of it, yet loath to cast it so simply
away, Economous regarded the black rule like it might at any moment spring off,
dragging him haplessly with it. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<i>Could any witness tell it was the stick that
fought and not its wielder? Who could credit such a thing?</i><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
Wedged between crawdod
pots and shaken down butts, jumping at every rattle or bump or hint of human
voice, Economous waited. As night drew on he was amazed to find an almost
continuous traffic of rabbits moving about in the secluded quiet of his hiding
place, constantly nuzzling the air for threats many stopping to stare at him,
wretched fellow that he was.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
“Tell your
master he can have his stick back,” the thwarted fabulist hissed at them.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
They simply
winked and twitched at him.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
He had read
once that the blessings of monsters were a blight on all everymen, and he was
now beginning to see why. He tried to shoo the creatures away and leave him
free of this constant token of the Lapinduce’s presence. Failing to shift them,
he took to glaring at the sneaky little beasts, until the first gleam of morning
glory glowed in the eastern arc of roof cluttered sky and the rabbits scattered
to deeper shadowed alleys. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
Rising, Economous
shook himself and returned by an uncommon route of byways, avoiding the eye of
the several lamp-dousing limn-men he passed until at last he made it to his
garret. With infinite care, he crept up the unsteady flights to lay a-bed at
last, thought-consumed and twisted by fright, watching sun rays piercing the gaps
in the slats of his garret shutters grow more acute in angle, the winking of
his weary eyes growing long and heavy, until senseless sleep finally overtook
him.<br clear="all" style="mso-special-character: line-break; page-break-before: always;" />
<o:p></o:p></div>
D.M. Cornishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09452470049845132286noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29654538.post-68360973505570682442013-10-21T15:17:00.001+10:302013-10-21T16:01:58.508+10:30Economous Musgrove Chapter 6 Part 1<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.18181800842285px;"><b>I would suggest the following is </b><b><u style="font-style: italic;">NOT</u> </b><b>a good way to get out of a hole.</b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.18181800842285px;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.18181800842285px;"><b>I am finding folks theorums and ponderings about who is what very entertaining and helpful. Please, keep the thoughts coming.</b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">
<b style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; font-size: 24pt;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; font-size: 24pt;">Economous<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; font-size: 24pt;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; font-size: 24pt;">musgrove<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; font-size: 24pt;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-align: center;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-i49HZVV0Pxc/UhqhoasY-CI/AAAAAAAAAjg/x563JftKVAw/s1600/economus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: #7d181e; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-i49HZVV0Pxc/UhqhoasY-CI/AAAAAAAAAjg/x563JftKVAw/s320/economus.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 20px; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-left-radius: 5px; border-bottom-right-radius: 5px; border-top-left-radius: 5px; border-top-right-radius: 5px; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 20px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="220" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std';"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; text-indent: 35.45pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; text-indent: 35.45pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; text-indent: 35.45pt;"> </span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std';">© D.M.Cornish<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std';"><b><span style="background-color: white; color: #bf9000;">PLEASE DO NOT PUBLISH OR REPRODUCE WITHOUT MY PERMISSION</span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std';"><br /></span></div>
<div class="DMCChapterTitle" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; line-height: 19px;"><b>Chapter 6 PART 1</b></span></div>
<div class="DMCChapterTitle" style="background-color: #fefdfa; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-indent: 35.45pt;">Bless-ed </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 18.99147605895996px;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Charlemagne Std;">Anonymity</span></span></div>
<div class="DMCChapterTitle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><i>casque ~</i></b><i> a hinged slat of wood with holes for neck
and wrists and a heavy lock to secure it shut; used as the most basic form of
civil punishment by many cities of the Soutlands, seen as more humane than
lashes with a cane that was for many generations the usual mode. MORE…………</i><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<b>H</b><span style="font-variant: small-caps;">alf</span>-blind in drunken
dismay and utterly shocked with himself, Economous part jogged, part staggered down
the To-Market, determined to put as many strides between him and the disarray
behind him as he could in an evening. So
rough was his exit that he fully expected to be chase down and accosted, hauled
back to Lord Fold to apologise with great show: but no pursuit followed him in
his rapid, unsteady retreat. With a confused notion of replenishing his
vanished stock of cheap claratine, Economous bumped through his fellow downside
citizens agitated with anticipations of the year’s turning. About him folks
made ready all manner of cauldron-bells, clutter-bottles, ratchet weasels,
pots, griddle pans, cutlery, tom drums, tin horns and speaking trumpets: a
great collection by which to make a great din of noise to see out one annum and
bring in the new. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
Once, long ago
in less urbane times, such clamour was universally held to frighten off
monsters prowling at the foot of village walls. And though the custom was
thoughtlessly continued in most cities of the Soutland city-states, such
simple-headed ideas were largely forgotten or scoffed over. Yet any rustic
parish neighbour, especially those under very present threat from nicker and
bogle out on the sokelands at the fringe of human habitation – such as
Economous’ native town of Lo – knew better. As much as he relished city life, Economous
had always thought the name of “naïvine” for an urbanite who had never
encountered a monster acutely apt. City folk loved to put on knowing manners
and pretend to themselves that they were supreme over all the threats of
nature, but he had only met a few who fathomed fully the dread and danger that
country souls called normal. And the higher the rank, the deeper this ignorance
commonly went: such as Lord Fold. Economous sorely doubted if the Reive of Lot-in-the-hole – despite his
country purview – had ever been dial-to-dial with even a mildly mischievous bogle,
let alone a ravening nicker and survived.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
Resolved on
finding some small species of satisfaction in this dyphr-wreckage of a day, the
frustrated illuminator hurried onto wider way of the Prandial Street, a dual
carting way fancy enough to possess stone-posts and its own row of street lamps at the regulation
twenty-five yards, paid for by subscription of the local shopkeepers. Such
glorious enlightenment – normally only found in middling or high-station
suburbs – made this thoroughfare popular in the darkling hours and its
merchants and markets and walk-in bazaars remained open well after all other
sellers had retired for hearth and bed. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
As the sun
westered, the day-light traffic of cart and drey and the rare private lentum
was replaced by handsome, open-top dyphrs, park-drags with teams of six and
fare-charging takenys coming from all wards of the city. Under the frowning wood
embellishments leaning from the salt-stained façade of every structure to crowd
the vacancy above the Prandial, the usual throng continued without pause: water-caddies,
crossing-sweeps and wandering tray or barrow sellers, moll potnys, sharps with
their cheap tricks and grab-cleats lurking, looking for easy prey. But now
these were joined by early revellers, a great many of whom – by evidence of
their fine clothes – were not native to the Grand Liberty of the Alcoves. With all
these hurried a unique sight in this modern age: dollymops by the dozen in
their high white bonnets and aproned stomacher dresses. Like lowly pantry maids
they went with clear purpose from grocer’s stall to shambleman, from
tallow-puff to dispensurist and all domestic shops between, forced by their
work-a-day hours to buy their food and necessaries at such an unseemly time. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
Among it all Economous
wove a worming way until he spied the shuffling figure he sought: Chancer
Pigfeet – a convicted pinch-dough baker only recently returned from prison,
back to scratch his scant living from the admirably forgiving or those of his neighbours
too poor to afford grudges. Employing a tallow barrow as his stall, crying: “Loafs
for the loathely! Bread for starving souls!”, Chancer Pigfeet also sold the
cheapest claratine this side of the Spokes.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
Sight fixed on
the pinch-doughman, Economous bustled through a small collection of fine-looking
folk out of place in their well-cut cloth and gathered so carelessly and
obstructively in the very midst of the Prandial’s walk. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
“Oi!” came a
rough retort.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
Ignoring
exclamations and goodly manners – such as his own parents had taken pains to
inculcate in him during his awkward, lonely boyhood – the aimless imagineer
pressed on to his goal of small, stony loaves and thin wine. Yet when he
approached [BAKER NAME] the fellow looked past Economous, paled, turned and
hurried his meagre goods to some other vantage on the bustling street.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
Economous
blinked stupidly and frowned.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
“My, that’s a
fine piece o’ wood you have in your hands, m’boy,” came an oily observation
from close behind.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
Economous
turned to find a portly high-station fellow in a fine coat of cloth-of-silver
brocaded with cloth-of-gold, and a high silver wig standing before him: primped,
powdered, flabby cheeks rouged prettily, entire person drenched in pungent
sweet-waters. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<i>Lord Dust of Drystick, little doubt</i>,
Economous concluded and chuckled to himself. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
Here was
another bored and indolent person of circumstance out on “adventure” in the
rough districts.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<i>What is it about the Alcoves that attracts
these overblown dastards?</i> <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
At the <i>brave</i> “adventurer’s” back were three unfriendly
looking figures, the man’s spurns, there to make the slumming adventure actually
possible, all clad in heavy proofing and sour looks that served well to keep
most trouble bayed. One – a woman – was marked with a twin of dark vertical stripes
upon their face going from hairline, over either eye and down each cheek. <i>A skold!</i> – a brewer and thrower of
dangerous potives designed first to harm monsters but proving ill against
everymen too.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
“I am myself a <i>connoisseur</i> – as they say it in the Patricine
– of such curiosities,” the powdered fellow said smoothly, looking intently to
Economous’ hand. “From whom did you steal it?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
Puzzle-headed,
Economous lifted his hand and saw what grip alone confirmed, that in the heat
of the instant he had fled Madamine Grouse’ Bunkhouse with the black-elder
calibrator still in grasp. “It is not
stolen!” he slurred angrily. “H-how dare you, sir! It was a –” … then realised
with a souse-addled blink he had no fitting tale as to how he possessed it,
close his mouth with an audible <i>plop!<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
“Oh I think we will find it <i>is</i> stolen, m’boy,” the preened and powdered adventurer pressed, his regard only
leaving the priceless tool to make certain he was making a fine spectacle. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
By now other
folk were realising something dark and portentially unpleasant was a-foot and
began reflexively to skirt widely about Economous and his well-served
tormentor.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
“Do you see,
[………NAME………],” the fat fellow continued over-loudly, talking now to a young
spurn on his right: a swaggering yet rather common-looking fellow a year or two
Economous’ junior and cradling a gabelung in his arms as if it were the historied
Mast of Ruin itself. “<i>This </i>is why we
do the necessary civic service of descending into this reeking place and
patrolling its diseased streets. At every turn is some half-clothed blackguard
such as <i>this</i> fellow here,” he flicked
a dismissive gesture at Economous, “strolling about brazenly without
neckerchief or hat or cingulum, boasting their crimes and thinking these
warrens of unhealthy streets will hide them. Not while Monsiere Blanquett is on
his watch! Oh no! Not while <i>I </i>care
and dare enough to bring right and fruitful living to those most in need of the
instruction.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
“Dare you seek
to impeach the noble and tested character of a concometrist, sir!” Economous
retorted boldly, his humours simmering with all the courage three bottles of
bitter-strong vin can bring.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
For a blink his
rotund accuser took pause: it was indeed a grave thing to assault any of an
athy’s agents by word <i>or</i> deed. Had
Economous been wearing his baldric, sable edged in leuc – black edged in white,
the unique sign of a concometrist – it would have been unlikely they would have
accosted him in the first, fancy calibrator or nil.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
But all too
quickly the man’s expression turned shrewd.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
“Ho now!”
Monsiere Blanquett declared victoriously, looking the dishevelled illuminator
boot to crown with open disgust. “Where is your cingulum? Your number-book? Your
fitting mode of attire?” He raised a victorious finger. “For if you <i>are</i> a concometrist, sir,” he continued
waspishly, “then you are a disgrace to that institution’s glorious dignity!”<i><o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
Though Economous
was about himself enough to not let it show, this judgement hit true, for it was
– surely – true. “Well,” he returned with a contrived and showing lightness of
tone, “allow me to hasten home and fetch it then, to prove my claim and save
you embarrassment.” Realising that he was just playing into this silken bully’s
game in remaining tamely to receive his lecture, Economous now turned and went
on his way, already thinking how tasty even an ill-baked pinch loaf would
taste at that moment.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
“Don’t you walk
away from me, you lousy malnourished brute!” the self-proclaimed monsiere
bellowed with all the authority four spurns gained him. “Stop! STOP ! I say, or
for this insult alone I shall make certain you suffer an afternoon in a casque
on the public step of the Leak!"<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
This was no
idle threat: a person of high station could indeed – upon their word alone –
have any low-born soul incarcerated briefly on the charge of insolence and
wilful impertinence.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
Despite
himself, Economous halted and turned. <o:p></o:p></div>
D.M. Cornishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09452470049845132286noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29654538.post-35303288712791837472013-10-14T18:44:00.001+10:302013-10-14T18:44:52.385+10:30Economous Musgrove Chapter 5 Part 3<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">
<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.18181800842285px;">Depths still deeper for Economous I am afraid?</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">
<b style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; font-size: 24pt;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; font-size: 24pt;">Economous<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; font-size: 24pt;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; font-size: 24pt;">musgrove<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; font-size: 24pt;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-align: center;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-i49HZVV0Pxc/UhqhoasY-CI/AAAAAAAAAjg/x563JftKVAw/s1600/economus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: #7d181e; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-i49HZVV0Pxc/UhqhoasY-CI/AAAAAAAAAjg/x563JftKVAw/s320/economus.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 20px; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-left-radius: 5px; border-bottom-right-radius: 5px; border-top-left-radius: 5px; border-top-right-radius: 5px; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 20px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="220" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std';"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; text-indent: 35.45pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; text-indent: 35.45pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; text-indent: 35.45pt;"> </span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std';">© D.M.Cornish<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std';"><b><span style="background-color: white; color: #bf9000;">PLEASE DO NOT PUBLISH OR REPRODUCE WITHOUT MY PERMISSION</span></b></span><br /><span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std';"><br /></span></div>
<div class="DMCChapterTitle" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; line-height: 19px;"><b>Chapter 5 PART 3</b></span></div>
<div class="DMCChapterTitle" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-indent: 35.45pt;">Wretched Obscurity</span></div>
<div class="DMCChapterTitle" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-indent: 35.45pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
Had this been <i>before</i> <i>– before</i> the portrait and the failed search for the Duke of Rabbits
– he might have retreated to the Moldwood to draw, to dream, to forget: but a
fellow cause of his confusion, the Lapinduce’s haunt was lost to him now.
Instead he bought three bottles of Missus Apostle’s Best Buttressed Claratine
from the first goose-a-grab grocer he clapped eyes upon and lost in angry
thoughts, somehow he stumbled homeward. Tripping and thumping up the narrow
staircase to his garret and ignoring the shouts of his landlady for “Quiet und
care, please!” he finally sank himself in to the forgetfulness of a triple
helping of cheap fortified wine. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
Slouched upon
on his sole soiled tandem seat, Economous pondered joining those few
acquaintances he had managed to form in this great anonymous city bent on
ceaseless endeavour for the unspoken promise of a fortune as reward. The notion,
however, of an evening of revelry amongst happier souls he was still yet to
fully trust whilst he was so sunk of wind seemed a sour prospect indeed.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
He stared now in
uncertain awe at the black calibrator of pricesless black elder lain with his
numrelogue on the cushion beside him. The spicy scent of the wood seemed to
saturate the close air of his cramped dwelling. He took up the wentry rod in
his grasp and was amazed once more at the lively tingling he had originally
remarked the first time he held the wood, a tingle that grew with every swig of
claratine until he was convinced this inanimate tool was animate after all. Yet
for all this, it was in some fashion a useless thing: how could he carry such a
priceless device about freely without gaining the unpleasant attention of some
unpleasant soul with an eye for such things? He certainly could never show it
to his fellow concometrists or the masters at Pike Athenaeum or Athingdon Athy.
It was just some secret memento of his secret meeting with a secret monster and
would remain that way for ever more. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
“I name you <i>Miserichord</i>!” he declared with a wry
blurt of laughter, plucking the appellation from some half-recalled morsel of
history, the tale of an ancient blade of black wood and glass made by forgotten
arts. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
The tingle of
the wood in his hand sharpened abruptly, cutting Economous’ mirth short and
causing him the drop the bizarre item to the floor. Glaring at it, his glower
turning to a puzzled frown as his mind was already disbelieving what had just
happened: that the calibrator had pulsed energetically, like the beat of humours or the wriggle of a live fish he had plucked with hookpoles from the
[CREEK NAME HERE] as a child. More perplexing yet was the profound sense that
it had done this almost as if in response to its naming.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
“Pffff!” the
aimless illuminator puffed. “Nonsense! Drunken, wine-bibbled nonsense!”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
The image of
the panderer on South Arm the fortnight gone – back when the Moldwood was an
innocent place of calm and comfort – glaring at him in dignified shock flashed
in his mind’s eye, set him to grinning, and her words repeating “How unseemly,
sir!” set him to guffaws that had him rocking until his gaze fixed with
disconcerting clarity upon his numrelogue, so unwittingly yet blasphemously
defaced. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
With grim
reluctance, he took it up and beheld the gilt-framed, coal brown leather of its
cover. Finally opening the hallowed tome to the tear the Lapinduce had made in
it, Economous peered at the sundered wasp-paper in waxing dread that even his
fall-back future as concometrist was now likely in doubt.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
One of the attributes
he long admired in the concometrists – in the entire Brotherly Order of
Metricians – was their comparatively broader way of reckoning upon the nature
of monsters and the nature of everymen. Indeed, as a sworn measurer, he knew
just how open such open thinking was. Yet even the most generous-minded
metrician he knew at Athingdon Athy would baulk at a tale of a page removed by
a mighty monster-lord, let alone the harder-headed brother-measurers of Pike
Athenaeum here in Brandenbrass. All he had for excuses then was some false
admission of negligence. Flexible as they might have been about a great many
notions, the concometrists’ entire devotion to measuring the length, breadth
and depth of <i>all</i> the world – and with
this the wholeness of the documents that made this possible – was not a place
where they bent.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
Vision
swimming, he began to dab at the incriminating frays, pulling little lose bits
and pulling yet more with a clouded yet growing conviction that he might be
able to remove the remainder and disguise the damage. Alas! At the wrong moment
wine-clumsy fingers tugged a touch too hard, beginning an entire new tear on
the following leaf necessitating its complete removal. This proved harder than
the Duke of Rabbits had made it seem and only with a great determined wrenching
was Economous performed with a histrionic flourish and a leap of conscience
like he was a naught, taffie-stealing child. Alak! Such force in turn loosened
the sew of the binding of the whole gathering to with the leaf had belonged so
that it stuck out noticeably from fore edge.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
Suddenly he was
ripping and pulling and tearing in a venting fit of furry, of whelming
frustration at all the forces that seemed to work against him, of panic for a
future without a goal. Sobbing – almost growling – Economous beheld the ruin he
had made of his precious numrelogue and refusing to own the blame for its
destruction, took up the black elder calibrator and flourished it, intent on
smashing it too as its touch seemed to fizz in his hand.<i> CRACK!</i> he brought the wentry tool down upon the iron-bound crown
of his trunk chest, fracturing the wood and bending the metal fittings. This
only served to raise his wrath. <i>CRACK! </i>he
swung the swart wood at a beam that held roof from floor, fully expecting the
calibrator to fly apart in splinters only to find the beam itself split and
splinter near half-way through. Still this did not stop him and eyes fixed upon
his tandem seat, he swung the rod high…<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
… The lightest
rattle and smallest thump of front door and deliberate noiselessness in the
vestibule three floors below – the telltale quiet of Asthetica’s return – stopped
him still. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
His dudgeon was
vanished in an instant.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
Panting, blinking
at the disarray and feeling utterly and abjectly foolish, he escaped the wreckage
of his violence. Eager to forget so unseemly an outburst, he hastened three
steps a stride down the cramped flights to small shuddering vestibule, where
his sozzled hopes told him Asthetica was even now reading his reply. He almost
fell the final flight when found that though indeed the beautiful lady was
there, so was the Reive of Lot-in-the-hole, arriving just in time to witness
Lord Fold pluck Economous’ heartfelt note from the Asthetica’s unwary grasp.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
To her eternal
credit, Asthetica betrayed wide-eyed and red-cheeked shame at the audicity and
discourtesy of her guest and made a flapping attempt to take the letter back
but was simply thwarted by a raised hand from the reive.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
Eyes angry and
wide, cognisant of the dire consequence for any lowly soul who dared raise threat
against a peer, Economous took a single step down.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
The Reive
looked up at him with an arch smile the hopeless you fellow slowly descended
the last steps. “Such a handsome invitation, man,” he purred with supreme self-confidence.
“What a fine and steady hand you have. ’Tis almost pity to break such a noble
soul with the information that she chooses to grace <i>this</i> honoured body –” flourishing his hand with a twirl of purple-gloved
fingers and flick of wide mauve hems of his sleek frockcoat, he gave a mocking
bow to indicate himself “– with her<i> excellent
and steady company…</i>”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
With a wine-sodden
rush in his humours and a flash of red passion so recently revealed in his
garret, Economous staggered a second step towards the upstart.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
“Alas for you,
dear fellow, and you inadequate charms,” Lord Fold continued. “This <i>excellent </i>and <i>steady </i>maid will be with me for the Year Sending at none other than
Sashette’s.” Dropping the name of that finest and most fashionable of fine
eateries as if it were a trifling thing, the high-blown fellow blinked at Economous,
knowing, owl-like. Infinitely secure in his elevated status, a foul gleam in
his eyes dared the poorer, lower born man to do more, to go further, to take up
his little, low-station anger and <i>act!</i>
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
“He’s married
already, y’know,” Economous slurred in defiance, addressing Asthetica now as if
the Reive of Lot-in-the-hole was not there.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
Gasping, clutching
at her pale, quivering throat, Asthetica looked at him wide-eyed, maybe even
ashamed. “I know,” she said in a small voice.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
“Why you coarse
and stupid fellow!” Lord Fold declaimed with a sneering guffaw. “She already
has knowledge of this! Surely if you cannot be so patently stupid and
louse-headed to fail to apprehend that a man of broad power and high circumstance
such as I could not be so without such slight details being common knowledge.
If this is all that vexes you, boy, then know that this steady maid beside me
has contented herself as my mistress…” He took Asthetica’s arm in his and
patted it possessively.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
Flummoxed and
desperate to avoid the violence he was sure he would perpetrate if he remained
even a breath longer, Economous shoved clumsily between Asthetica and the reive,
causing the maiden to cry in alarm. Stumbling from the vestibule and out into
the last evening of the old year without hat or neckerchief like some life-lost
wastrel, he pushed roughly past the reive’s spurns and hurried down the
To-Market lane before him, ignoring the cries of consternation from behind. <o:p></o:p></div>
D.M. Cornishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09452470049845132286noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29654538.post-6549873681696589732013-10-07T09:04:00.001+10:302013-10-07T09:04:36.983+10:30Economous Musgrove Chapter 5 Part 2<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0px;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 18.18181800842285px;"><b>Daylight saving has just started and I have lost a hour - a WHOLE hour - from the day. Whatever will I do? Where did it go? To the place where time is killed? </b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0px;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 18.18181800842285px;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0px;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 18.18181800842285px;"><b>Anyway, Economous presses on once more; but what is a soul to do when the aftermath of an extraordinary event is just more of the same old boring blah?</b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">
<b style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; font-size: 24pt;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; font-size: 24pt;">Economous<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; font-size: 24pt;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; font-size: 24pt;">musgrove<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; font-size: 24pt;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-align: center;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-i49HZVV0Pxc/UhqhoasY-CI/AAAAAAAAAjg/x563JftKVAw/s1600/economus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: #7d181e; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-i49HZVV0Pxc/UhqhoasY-CI/AAAAAAAAAjg/x563JftKVAw/s320/economus.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 20px; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-left-radius: 5px; border-bottom-right-radius: 5px; border-top-left-radius: 5px; border-top-right-radius: 5px; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 20px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="220" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std';"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; text-indent: 35.45pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; text-indent: 35.45pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; text-indent: 35.45pt;"> </span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std';">© D.M.Cornish<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std';"><b><span style="background-color: white; color: #bf9000;">PLEASE DO NOT PUBLISH OR REPRODUCE WITHOUT MY PERMISSION</span></b></span><br /><span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std';"><br /></span></div>
<div class="DMCChapterTitle" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; line-height: 19px;"><b>Chapter 5 PART 2</b></span></div>
<div class="DMCChapterTitle" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-indent: 35.45pt;">Wretched Obscurity</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
For a long time
all Economous could do was blink in awed dismay at the blue sigil rabbits tossing
and flicking so prettily on the silken banners while the goodly citizens they
represented bustled about beneath them in complete ignorance to their true
import. What if they did? What if it suddenly became wide and accepted
revelation that a monster-lord dwelt in the very heart of their safety? Would
the entire city suddenly rise up in revolt, invade the Moldwood, drive the
Lapinduce from his warren and burn the feral park to its stumps? Would they
seek to keep such terrible information from the ken of their neighbours already
jealous and ever so keen to find just such a powerfully justifiable excuse to
band together and wipe their chief rival from the map?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
Already
perplexed by his secret knowledge, his intelligence of the Lapinduce suddenly
felt a ponderous weight indeed. Seeking to escape this increasing heaviness,
Economous finally turned his attention to his note and shaking his head to
clear it, began:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<i>Most dear Asthetica… </i><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
He hesitated
for a fretful beat… <i>Is that too emphatic
for such a note? Too intimate? </i>His stylus hovered in uncertain hand a
moment longer than scrawled on: the greeting would remain, it was how he felt
and it needed to be said whatever the outcome.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<i><span style="line-height: 150%;">How can I make </span><span style="line-height: 24.545454025268555px;">amends</span><span style="line-height: 150%;"> for my carelessness!
I have a profound thing to tell you and can only hope it suffices for my
unaccountable absence and my cruel want of basic civility. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<i>Please allow me to meet with you to make my
excuses. <o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<i>May I extend my invitation for you to join
me for Lestwichnight tomorrow, that I might spend the ending of one year and the
heralding of the new in your…<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
… While he
searched mind and wind for the right word to sum his view of Asthetica’s
character, Economous became aware of the twitching regard of beady rabbit eyes
glimpsed in the obscurity of a footway that ran between his bunkhouse and its
neighbour. <i>Why didn’t you let me find
you!</i> he complained inwardly as he glowered at the blighted animals, as if
the Lapinduce might fathom such thoughts through what were surely his furtive
agents. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
In a windy
flapping of black wings, a pied daw dropped and landed without warning upon the
left balustrade of the tenement steps to peer at Economous with its
disconcertingly shrewd yellow eye. Here in the city these birds were despised
as cousins of the crow: the barer of ill-news and unhappy dreams. Yet out in
the parishlands about Lo such creatures were also held as signals of shifting
circumstance for both ill <i>and </i>good.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
Economous
regarded the handsome bird closely and reflexively began to draw its heavy bill
and beady frown upon the top left corner of the letter leaf.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
With a peculiar
almost word-like croak, the pied daw took wing again and rose up swiftly to disappear
over ridgecaps.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
Perhaps the
time had come for the aimless drawer to shift his circumstance and be more
forthright with Miss Grouse about his own, far truer intent; to stride out boldly
upon this last path left to him…<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<i> … your
<u>excellent</u> and <u>steady</u> company.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<i>Ever in respect and admiration,<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<i>[PICTURE HERE]</i><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
He marked this with
a cartoon of a pair of cooing doves, beak to beak, there heads enclosed with a
circle. About to knock upon the Grouse’ hallowed ground floor door, he thought
better of it and simply left the brief missive slotted between floor and jamb
as the one for him had been, to be found by the damasel on her return from the
day’s duties. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
To stop himself
from being consumed by expectation for a reply the would-be fabulist returned
to his apartment for his hat, his coat and his usual bland calibrator and
stepped out. He did briefly consider bringing his prize with him instead, but
it would surely not do to wander about with an entire yard of black elder in
hand… and he was uncertain he wanted to feel its alien <i>restlessness </i>in his hand as he attempted to restore what passed for
his mundane routine. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
Taking the hour
walk from the more salubrious northen-western corner of the Alcoves – where not
everyone was an unrepentant scoundrel yet rents were low enough for some one of
such inconstant means – he made his way along steadily improving streets to the
grand and hectic circuit known as the Spokes. Here it was his intent to employ the
afternoon within the green domed colonnades of the grand knavery of Letter and
Coursing House, seeking and applying for fabulist work with whichever
teratologist would have him. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
From his very
first day fresh-arrived in Brandenbrass, the Coursing House had served as the
focus of Economous’ aspiration, a compass to which he always turned to remind
him of his path when low winds threatened to cast him adrift. The Mouldwood now
failing him, the knavery would have to do as a refuge.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
Up the marble
steps and through heavy wooden doors, Economous strode into the cool Removing
his tricorn he took his place in the shortest of the three lines before the
clerking stalls and he basked for a breath in the soft blue glow of the
gretchen globes that hung in rows of carbuncles from the high domed ceiling.
Costly luminescent pearls each the size of a pumpkin, these gretchens were said
to be formed in the gizzards of the sea-dwelling kraulschwimmen and spat up to
be found by unnaturally brave meerlunkers or fortune-favoured beachcombers. In
this lofty space – this house of goals achieved – it was his hope to avoid the
heights of his anxiety through the shuffling of papers and arguing with the ubiquitously
disdainful and obstructive knaving clerks. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
A loud clearing
of the throat brought Economous to abrupt awareness.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
A teratologist
was standing on his right, clearly insisting upon pushing ahead of Economous in
the line.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
It was an
unchallenged custom of any knavery that the monster-hunters themselves had
implicit seniority. And though no decent teratologist would ever be so rude as
to push in directly, it was a given that they should be allowed ahead of any <i>lesser </i>soul in any queue – especially
the longer sort. The best sort of monster-slayer did not stand in any manner of
line, of course, but had staff – a factotum or valet or hand-maiden – to do
such petty things for them.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
Economous
stepped back reflexively with scarce a glance at the upstart knave.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
For a dark,
gizzard-tumbling beat he thought it was the very teratologist he had last
served with such ill result these sixteen months gone, the one whose kill he
had foiled with his fascination for the small bogle they were certificated to
kill. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
It was not. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
The fellow – a
lightning-grasping fulgar with a great red diamond in the middle of his
forehead – fixed him with a withering smirk before taking his enforced place at
the line’s head. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<i>Let him scowl and glower¸</i> Economous
counselled himself. <i>I fathom </i>he<i> could not stand a moment in the court of a
lord of monsters. </i>Well aware of where he was – a veritable bastion committed
entirely to monster-slaughter – the would-be fabulist stifled this route of
thinking lest it somehow show on his dial and sink him in to deeper strife.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
With the fulgar
came a servant hefting a clearly weighty bag that was most surely holding the
severed trophy of a successful hunt: the necessary proof for gaining a glorious
pot of prize money. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<i>Had the creature deserved such a bitter
ending? </i><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
The dangerous
question flashed across Economous’ thoughts and was gone again before he could
arrest it. Keeping his face from showing guilt and knowing full well how absurd
he was being, he looked to left and right to see if anyone in the queues at
either hand had noticed him having such a treacherous idea. No one was paying
him even the slightest regard. <i><o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
“One might reckon that with your soiled
reputation, Master Musgrove,” came the sardonic voice of the knaving clerk in
the now vacated lattice before him, “you would cease wasting our time with your
continued applications.” <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
Too shocked at
himself, Economous had not realised the teratologist had concluded their
business and moved on. Seeking to shove all sedonary notions as far from his
inner turnings as he could, he stepped to the stall and got on with the usual
trade of finding employment. Yet, as he sparred words with the quill-licking
clerks and carefully filled and filed several Certificates of Intention and
Offer of Compact a notion occurred that stopped his labour short. Stylus
hovering over the seventh Intent he had filled that day, he blinked sightlessly
at the latticed booth screen before him.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<i>How can I join the hunt for monsters now that
I have met one of their lords?</i> <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
With a defeated
sigh, he put his elbows heavily on the scribing shelf of the booth and covered
his face with his hands. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<i>Surely of all souls </i><u>I</u><i> have to own that not </i>all<i> monsters ought be slain outright?</i><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
What of his
ambitions now? <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
For the last
two years he had been telling himself that teratologists only pursued the worst
monsters, those who by their violence had brought such deadly attention upon
themselves. In his deepest thoughts he had always known that this was a thin
rationale; that in the thrill of the chase and with it wealth and glory, no
teratologist made such nice distinctions. The rationale was thin, yes, but it
had let him live within a society were the common opinion – the <i>only </i>opinion – was that <i>all </i>monsters were worthy only of
destruction. Ever since his shaggy childhood saviour had been mercilessly and
mindlessly hunted by the stoutest souls of Lo and a teratologist from the city
sent for to find and properly “do the wicked creature in!” he had been schooled
in this all too well. More than this, such thin thinking had let him somewhat
untroubled of soul to seek an alliance with monster-hunters as their fabulist.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
But now he had
not simply glimpsed but spent a day in the very company of a monster – a king
of monsters no less. His thin rationale was blasted; with a shock he could see
that driven by selfish ambition he too had lapsed into his own kind of mindlessness,
operating upon the thoughtless presumption of doing right.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
A great groan
of frustration roiled in his milt. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
One small sour
consolation was that he had participated in only three such hunts, and for the
first time felt some good that he had helped that childlike bogle of the last
of these to escape destruction, however unintentional it might have been. He must
have unwittingly given actual voice to this inward cry, for looking up at last
he found the factoti, the teratology agents, the lesser teratologists filling
their own papers and other desperate souls in the booths on on either hand
looked up to frown or sneer or snicker at him.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
Bereft and
aimless, would-be fabuilist no longer, Economous fled the Knaving House. <o:p></o:p></div>
D.M. Cornishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09452470049845132286noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29654538.post-40611605521574219502013-09-30T09:43:00.001+09:302013-09-30T09:45:48.953+09:30Economous Musgrove Chapter 5 Part 1<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">
<b>Survived and enlarged of property, what will Economous do now with his entry</b><b style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; text-indent: -12px;"><span style="cursor: url(http://cdn2.reverso.net/lexi/v151a/static/img/CM.cur), auto;"><span direction="targettarget" id="ID0EGDAC" style="cursor: url(http://cdn2.reverso.net/lexi/v151a/static/img/CM.cur), auto;"> into a wider wilder world? What great heights of confidence and action will he now achieve from such wondrous happenstance?</span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">
<b style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; text-indent: -12px;"><span style="cursor: url(http://cdn2.reverso.net/lexi/v151a/static/img/CM.cur), auto;"><span direction="targettarget" style="cursor: url(http://cdn2.reverso.net/lexi/v151a/static/img/CM.cur), auto;"><br /></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">
<b style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; text-indent: -12px;"><span style="cursor: url(http://cdn2.reverso.net/lexi/v151a/static/img/CM.cur), auto;"><span direction="targettarget" style="cursor: url(http://cdn2.reverso.net/lexi/v151a/static/img/CM.cur), auto;">I like that you get to see my "working in progress": the blanks and spaces that must occur until things are fully fathomed. Writing happens by layers, I have found, rather than some great single largely correct out-pouring - or maybe that is just my limitation. Ah well, as long as it gets writ, I do not mind.</span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">
<b style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; text-indent: -12px;"><span style="cursor: url(http://cdn2.reverso.net/lexi/v151a/static/img/CM.cur), auto;"><span direction="targettarget" style="cursor: url(http://cdn2.reverso.net/lexi/v151a/static/img/CM.cur), auto;"><br /></span></span></b></div>
<b style="background-color: white; text-indent: -12px;"><span style="cursor: url(http://cdn2.reverso.net/lexi/v151a/static/img/CM.cur), auto;"><span direction="targettarget" style="cursor: url(http://cdn2.reverso.net/lexi/v151a/static/img/CM.cur), auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">It was noted some posts back that the tree in the Lapinduce' court in </span><i style="font-family: Arial;">Factotum</i><span style="font-family: Arial;"> was a walnut, but that I had got it wrong in this story as an olive: I have, alas, </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">been too subtle it seems, for my intent in this was to highlight that we were in fact in a different region to the one Rossa</span></span></span></b><span style="background-color: transparent; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>ümund found himself - that the Lapinduce has more than one court. Indeed, tho not stated, my thinking was that Economous was met in a more "public" area whilst </b></span></span><b style="background-color: white; text-indent: -12px;"><span style="cursor: url(http://cdn2.reverso.net/lexi/v151a/static/img/CM.cur), auto;"><span direction="targettarget" style="cursor: url(http://cdn2.reverso.net/lexi/v151a/static/img/CM.cur), auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Rossa</span></span></span></b><span style="line-height: 18.18181800842285px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>ümund had been granted entrance into the deeps within the great Cunobillin's parkland realm. I have surely dropped the ball at times, but not in this case I hope.</b></span></span><br />
<span style="line-height: 18.18181800842285px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></span>
<span style="line-height: 18.18181800842285px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>I am also very gratified to learn that the tale (up to now at least) has not perhaps taken any presumed routes: I hope I might continue to keep you guessing (for your entertainment, of course, and not just for the sake of it or to some how fell "cleverer").</b></span></span><br />
<span style="line-height: 18.18181800842285px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></span>
<span style="line-height: 18.18181800842285px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Blessings.</b></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">
<b style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; font-size: 24pt;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; font-size: 24pt;">Economous<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; font-size: 24pt;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; font-size: 24pt;">musgrove<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; font-size: 24pt;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-align: center;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-i49HZVV0Pxc/UhqhoasY-CI/AAAAAAAAAjg/x563JftKVAw/s1600/economus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: #7d181e; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-i49HZVV0Pxc/UhqhoasY-CI/AAAAAAAAAjg/x563JftKVAw/s320/economus.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 20px; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-left-radius: 5px; border-bottom-right-radius: 5px; border-top-left-radius: 5px; border-top-right-radius: 5px; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 20px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="220" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std';"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; text-indent: 35.45pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; text-indent: 35.45pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; text-indent: 35.45pt;"> </span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std';">© D.M.Cornish<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std';"><b><span style="background-color: white; color: #bf9000;">PLEASE DO NOT PUBLISH OR REPRODUCE WITHOUT MY PERMISSION</span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std';"><br /></span></div>
<div class="DMCChapterTitle" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; line-height: 19px;"><b>Chapter 5 PART 1</b></span></div>
<div class="DMCChapterTitle" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-indent: 35.45pt;">Wretched Obscurity</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><i>concometrist ~</i></b><i> definition …… Properly the Amicable
Fraternity of Athenaeus, a great and learned father of history, said to be the
last great scholar of Phlegm and the first king of the Attics …………MORE………</i><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<b>T</b><span style="font-variant: small-caps;">he</span> chase lead him
back and about through trees, the over-sized rabbit called Ogh proving every
bit as fractious as its twin, leaping on and on, pausing just in view then
springing away when Economous hurried near only to halt once again and wait to
be pursued. Fumbling and faltering, hands reaching grasp for his stolen satchel
if ever he was near enough to Ogh to try, Economous was unwittingly drawn to
the very gates of the Moldwood. Here before the very foot of the now closed
park gates, the rabbit-thief simply dropped the satchel and job done, leapt
away into the dark before Economous could do another thing. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
Frame heaving
as he caught his breath at last, the would-be fabulist jogged to a halt and
snatched up his bag, looking up at the black-iron gate – now shut at days end –
as he did. A sly smile twitched at the corners of Economous’ mouth as he
considered that the gate was likely locked and that he was held within the park
for the night, forcing the Duke of Rabbits to play host again, at least until
morning. He gave the wrought frame a single testing tug and found with a start
and sinking wind that it came open. <i>Someone
is not doing their duty,</i> he thought with a sharp look to the cheerily lit
windows of the gatekeeper’s cottage built into the very stone wall of the park.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
Hurrying home
as full night took hold, Economous was glad it was dark. For, if it was day he
was certain all could read upon his face that he possessed the wondrous,
outrageously damning knowledge of a monster found in the inner-most precincts
of the city; a nicker-lord dwelling undetected behind the many rings of curtain
wall raised over centuries to keep such dread things out. Uncomfortable
feelings leapt up painfully from long unheeded wells of childhood memory. His
fellow townsfolk of Lo had regarded him with perplexing caution after his
survival from the harthwood savaging, and he was certain all the nameless
city-living souls passing now about him on the slate-cobbled walks were casting
the same sceptical – almost accusing – looks his way.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
Somehow found
his way home. Up the tight stairs, door opened then locked again against all
the suspicions, he lay abed his soul and mind animated by perplexing
combination of relief to be off hostile streets and a low aching kind of grief
at so brief a time with a king of monsters so abruptly concluded. Agitated and
sleepless, he took out the mystic black elder calibrator – his fee for services
rendered – from is bag. The instant he grasped the mystic wood a buzzing –
quick, almost alive – transmitted into his palm and up his arm. What was this
thing he had been paid, this object of the monster world? Was it everyman-made,
or monster-made? Did monsters even <i>make</i>
things? The Lapinduce would surely have the answers – if only Economous had
thought to ask such wonders <i>before</i> he
had been so suddenly ejected.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
“That does it,”
he said in a flash of clarity to the steep, thickly beamed ceiling.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
He would make
good on his declaration to return fully equipped to the Lapinduce’s lair to
paint a proper, wall-worthy daub of the great creature, something to even begin
to approach some small beginning of parity with so extravagant overpayment.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
Thus resolved, Economous
closed his eyes and remembered nothing more until morning.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
*
* * * *<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
Again and again, Economous returned
with easel, paints, brushes and canvas to seek the Rabbit Duke out, searching
far into the trees, spending whole days on nothing else, trying to retrace
those steps on that wondrous day that had lead him to the monster-lord. Yet
every time he was certain he was on the right trail, it just deposited on the
far side of the Mouldwood – by the street known as the Dove – or simply lead
him back where he had begun. At other moments on promising trails he found the
threwd about him grow so heavy and daunting that he actually staggered under
its invisible, formless pressure and weeping with frustration, was forced to
withdraw. This at least was some small confirmation in the midst of his growing
self- rebuking doubt that <i>something</i>
dread and intelligent dwelt in the park.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
For an entire
week and into the next Economous employed himself in this fruitless hunt, careless
of washing, of changes of clothes, of eating, missing his single, precious
weekly meeting with Asthetica in his obsession. It was a great outpouring of
effort to round out the year and it produced nought: he never saw the Lapinduce
again, nor even once glimpsed either of the over-large buck-rabbits that were
the urchin’s servants. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
Yet it was a
letter found forced under the jamb of his garret door that finally brought him
to sense. It must have been hand delivered, for all official post always came
by the intermediary of Missus Everrest, his patient yet scornful landlady. The
hand that had written his name so elegantly upon its facing fold was
unmistakably that of his beloved. It read:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<i>Mister Musgrove<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<i>You are missed.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<v:shapetype coordsize="21600,21600" filled="f" id="_x0000_t75" o:preferrelative="t" o:spt="75" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" stroked="f">
<v:stroke joinstyle="miter">
<v:formulas>
<v:f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0">
<v:f eqn="sum @0 1 0">
<v:f eqn="sum 0 0 @1">
<v:f eqn="prod @2 1 2">
<v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth">
<v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight">
<v:f eqn="sum @0 0 1">
<v:f eqn="prod @6 1 2">
<v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth">
<v:f eqn="sum @8 21600 0">
<v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight">
<v:f eqn="sum @10 21600 0">
</v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:formulas>
<v:path gradientshapeok="t" o:connecttype="rect" o:extrusionok="f">
<o:lock aspectratio="t" v:ext="edit">
</o:lock></v:path></v:stroke></v:shapetype><v:shape alt="Asthetica_signature.tif" id="Picture_x0020_0" o:spid="_x0000_i1025" style="height: 122.25pt; mso-wrap-style: square; visibility: visible; width: 122.25pt;" type="#_x0000_t75">
<v:imagedata o:title="Asthetica_signature" src="file:///C:\Users\David\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image001.png">
</v:imagedata></v:shape><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
It was
concluded by a stamp of the ellegant manu propa – the personal sign – that Asthetica
had formed for her at no small fee by the notable manua proscripta writer,
Blandus Sandle.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--y_rJvPsTo0/UkjClsUi4mI/AAAAAAAAAkg/is2t1q_PL5M/s1600/Asthetica_signature.tif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--y_rJvPsTo0/UkjClsUi4mI/AAAAAAAAAkg/is2t1q_PL5M/s200/Asthetica_signature.tif" width="200" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
That was the
entirety of the message, but its effect was like a blow.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
Taking a hold
of himself, Economous left his garret, went down and sat outside upon the
stony bunkhouse step to write a reply to leave with Madam Grouse. Being the
middle of a Solemnday – indeed, the second to last day of the year – he knew
well enough that his beloved would not be at her home but working as all the
most modern lectry-class girls did these days. Stylus hovering above a blank
letter page, he blinked up at the sky, a dazzling stripe within its frame of
steeply peaked half-house roofs and many many jutting chimnies. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
About him the
Brandenbrass hummed with a very tangible expectancy of Lestwich – the last day
of the year – a defiant show of enthusiasm to push back the heavy expectation
of sudden disaster that had gripped one and all since Winstermill’s fall. On
the lane before him that went down to the markets and along the street on
either hand, wreaths and withies of boxthorn – the traditional monster deterrent
– festooned every transom, ledge and lintel in far greater number than Economous
recalled from any previous year-sending. Intersped with these were hung small
flags of empire and of city: the golden Imperial owl against a barred field of
rouge and leuc – red and white, and a rabbit in ducal blue against bars of leuc
and sable – black and white, flying together in heightened anticipation of the
Emperor’s imminent arrival in the new year. Not normally given – like all good
concometrists – to the common mania for anything Imperial, Economous found that
he too held a small but certain thrill at the thought of the Emperor, <span style="line-height: 150%;">Procrustès IV Clementis Rex</span> Haacobin
himself – and his grand court with him – stepping the streets of Brandenbrass.
The formally stated cause for the visit was the display of yet another Imperial
grandson and continuing addition to the posterity of the Haacobin line: the
very child whose arrival into this vexing world had prompted the changing of
the spring-time months. Yet in actual purpose it was far more their great
imperial father coming, bringing comfort to them all.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
Tapping stylus
to chin for a further pondering moment, Economous watched the cerulean-hued
sigil dancing upon the city’s flags: Con Robbart was the name common souls had
for it – Cuniculus Robustus, the Stalwart Rabbit. <i>Did Brandenbrass’ masters know just how present and apt a symbol it
was? </i>The general reckoning was that the sigil simply stood for the crowd of
rabbits that infested the nooks and shadows of Brandenbrass. <i>Had the historied founders of this grand,
long-thriving city once actually known who it was that dwelt in their midst?
Had they knowingly built their city about the dread monster-lord? How else
could it be that the Moldwood had been so long preserved despite the centuries
of ever-increasing expansion and crowding demand?</i> Coming quickly, one upon
the next, such shocking thoughts came like a blow, yet as disconcerting as
these might have been, the final conclusion came with all the sting of a
ringing slap:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<i>Do the
current lords know even now?<o:p></o:p></i></div>
D.M. Cornishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09452470049845132286noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29654538.post-5253507879685614882013-09-23T16:59:00.000+09:302013-09-23T16:59:14.964+09:30Economous Musgrove Chapter 4 Part 2<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">
<b>What is it to draw something that is not meant to exist?</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">
<b style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; font-size: 24pt;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; font-size: 24pt;">Economous<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; font-size: 24pt;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; font-size: 24pt;">musgrove<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; font-size: 24pt;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-align: center;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-i49HZVV0Pxc/UhqhoasY-CI/AAAAAAAAAjg/x563JftKVAw/s1600/economus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: #7d181e; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-i49HZVV0Pxc/UhqhoasY-CI/AAAAAAAAAjg/x563JftKVAw/s320/economus.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 20px; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-left-radius: 5px; border-bottom-right-radius: 5px; border-top-left-radius: 5px; border-top-right-radius: 5px; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 20px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="220" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std';"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; text-indent: 35.45pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; text-indent: 35.45pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; text-indent: 35.45pt;"> </span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std';">© D.M.Cornish<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std';"><b><span style="background-color: white; color: #bf9000;">PLEASE DO NOT PUBLISH OR REPRODUCE WITHOUT MY PERMISSION</span></b></span><br /><span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std';"><br /></span></div>
<div class="DMCChapterTitle" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; line-height: 19px;"><b>Chapter 4 PART 2</b></span></div>
<div class="DMCChapterTitle" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-indent: 35.45pt;">An Uncommon request</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
The sun
achieved its apex and swung beyond unheeded by the would-be fabulist and his
astounding unmoving model. Rabbits began to gather bout his feet and upon the
rubble about him, all facing him as if engrossed by his process, but he scarce
noticed them as he drew and drew and drew. It was movement in shadows of his
vision’s corners that finally distracted him, perhaps more a shifting of <i>threwd </i>– if such a thing were possible –
than of bodies finally arresting his attention. Looking quickly beyond the
olive trunk into gloom of the deeper cellar, Economous was abruptly brought out
of his creative stupor. For there he saw several bogles lurking there – small
monsters mostly, many about the size of a child, each in its own bafflingly
distinct form. One covered in a segmented grey shell Economous could only be likened
to an over-large cousin to the pillboys that infested the danker corners of his
garret. Another had the form of a swollen and distorted frog; a third maybe in
shape like a pile from a nightman’s cart suddenly sprung to life. Barely
discernible in the deepest cellar gloom behind these – as if aloof from such
lesser creatures – lurked a taller being whose only fathomable detail was its
ill-proportioned head like that of an over-sized magpie or daw. This it
appeared to turn oh so bird-like one way then the next as if to get the best
view of the frail, foolish vistor.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
Economous
entire sense of the state of the cosmos lurched and faltered. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
It was one
shock to find a lord of monsters allowing a city to be built up about it; yet
how were such forbidden creatures able to come and go with such unhindered
facility? What of the famed might of the city’s guarding war engines? What of
her many rings of impassable walls perforated by bastion gates that in a moment
could each become a fortress unto itself? What of the white waters of her
harbours prowling with countless iron-skinned rams crewed by hundreds of
hardened and vigilant vinegaroons?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
Economous was
so perplexed his stylus quivered in the usually steady pinch of thumb and
forefinger. So terribly aware now of these watching bogles, he thought he could
make out hushed but urgent conversation from the smaller kind.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
“Eat the
wombson, I say, and be done with its intrusion! We have talking to be done that
cannot wait…”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
“Aye, aye, a
scrawny pink morsel for evening grubbings…”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
“<i>He’ll</i> never let us, oh no…”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
In terrified
dismay, the would-be fabulist ceased his drafting completely.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
“TO HUSH WITH
YOU!” the Lapinduce hissed with sudden vehemence over its silk coated shoulder.
“I did not ask for you to follow me hence. Be still or I shall send each of you
unanswered back to your masters and mistresses…”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
There was a
frightened tittering, a shuffling of feet – or whatever mode of appendage each
beastling might have moved upon – as the squat shadows shoved and poked at each
other, then quiet.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
“Do not mind my
other guests, Master Pen,” the lord of monsters said in tones of pointed – and
strangely mundane – impatience. “They have been sent to rupture my peace and
pester me to join one cause or the other of my lorded equals to the north who
wrestle over some everyman fortress long known as Winstresslewe.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
The would-be
fabulist suddenly felt very little and very foolish in a world brim-filled with
towering behemoths older and wiser than the stones themselves, who passed so
easily through the most staunch of everyman defences like these were mere
cheesecloth. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
“I beseech you,
everyman,” the Lapinduce lifted a velvet-downed paw in supplication and smiled –
a weird sight to behold in so impossible a face with a mouthful of over-sized
teeth. “Continue…”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
Blinking
rapidly to focus himself back upon his drawing, Economous pressed on. The day’s
shadows grew long indeed when finally he felt that perhaps he might have drawn
as much as he could of the marvels of his dread subject. The would-be fabulist
held out his numrelogue to stare at it for one long confirming squint, flicking
his eyes between the final image to its likeness and back again, over and over,
making an adjustment. Despite the great weight of expectation that had knotted
and turned in his innards, he had produced as fine a portrait as he had ever
made. Indeed in the glow of evening and in the presence of this mighty and
prohibited king of beasts he was suddenly awakened to a deep sense of
fittingness he had not known in a very long time. Never-the-less, in fear of
the crushing of his fragile soul should his monstrous patron prove to be
disappointed with the work, Economous hesitated to reveal the finished
drawing.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
“The day waxes
long, son of brevity,” the Lapinduce spoke, his rasping-rich words thrusting in
on the would-be fabulist’s prevarications. “By your winkings and starings and
the lack of scrawling me thinks you are complete. Come, present to me what I
look like to you. Let me see how the count of centuries has tolled upon my
face.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
Only now
realising with a shocked blink the lateness of the hour, Economous passed his
vaunted recording book to the Duke of Rabbits and held his breath half in hope,
half in dread. His stomach gave a hungry lurch. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
Stroking its
chin with one hand while it held out its stylus-drawn portrait with the other,
the Lapinduce tilted its bestial head to the left, then titled it to the right,
its grey cat’s eyes squinting just as Economous’ had. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
Fretting all the
errors that suddenly seemed so obvious to him, Economous held his entire being
in thrumming, expectant stasis. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
Crickets began
to call to each other; frogs took up their gurgling song too. The firmament
cleared and span now with a billion stars and still the Lapinduce beheld the
fresh-scrawled image. Yet as the light failed so the ruined, tree-grown cellar
began to glow with bluish moss-light gleaming from the crevices between the
ancient foundation stones. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
Finally the
Duke of Rabbits spoke. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
“Such admirable
labour deserves rewarding,” the creature pronounced, then clacked its wicked
sharp teeth together.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
At this summons
two over-large rabbits appeared from the darkness beyond, together drawing a
long oiled bag along by cords in their mouth. One was the very same which had
served that morning as so inconstant a guide, and its aid could have been its
twin.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
The Lapinduce
stood, stooped took up the bag. Stepping to Economous to tower once more over
the everyman, it bent an elegant bow and presented the bag to the would-be
fabulist. “A wage for honest labour,” it proclaimed.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
Taking the yard
long bag gratefully, Economous drew out the satin draws and rolled the
unfastened mouth of the bag down to show its contents. Here in the wan, fungal
light, he found a what was obviously a calibrator. Yet it was like none he had
beheld before, fashioned from a dark wood rather than the light oak as his
current one was, its graduations – of inlaid silver – not marking the usual quicks,
inches or feet but some other span of measure in base five and base ten. By the
smell alone Economous knew that this antique item was made from the wood of a
nigh-mythic black elder. Did this Lord of monsters realise what a kingly gift
he was giving for so simple a thing as the spedigraph just performed?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
“I am of the
understanding that you call such things <i>wentry</i>,”
the Lapinduce observed mildly.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<i>Wentry!</i> Blithely items said to possess
qualities beyond any mundane object of similar form. Provoked by such marvels,
Economous’ athenaeum-found book-learning come back to him from libraries
in his mind he did not previously believe he possessed. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
“This –” his
voice caught for a moment as he gripped the hallowed wood and felt a prickling
sensation in his palm. “<i>This</i> is too
much, my lord! I – I shall return again with proper pigments and a full-stretched
canvas to make a truly <i>worthy</i> image
of you!”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
“You have honoured
me, womb-born, so why do you refuse my own honouring of you?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
Economous suddenly
felt ashamed of himself but was shocked from his chagrin by the abrupt sound tearing
of untearable velum from its binding as the Lapinduce carefully but easily
parted his portrait from the other pages of the would-be fabulist’s numrelogue.
Come with no other equipment, he had – as was his custom – drawn it in his
numrelogue, and now the folly of this dawned upon him: for in diligent service
of continuity and completeness it was forbidden for any concometrist to tear
even one page from their numrelogue, unless driven by direst need. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<i>I am already under reprimand from the athy
here for drawing in my log, what will they do to me now it is incomplete?<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
Stunned by the
impossibility of the circumstance, Economous surrendered helplessly to the mutilation
of his sacred tome. Perhaps being cast out from the league of metricians for
such further defacement might turn to his benefit? There was nought he could do
about this current crime that made such ejection likely: the truth would not be
a helpful defence.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
“The night’s
signals pivot above us,” the Lapinduce spoke into the humming night. “It is good
for you to return to your usual path of life so long to you, so short to me.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
“But –”
Economous began to counter, cricking his neck to look the monster-lord in the
face, if not in the terrible eye. He was not ready now to be parted from the
melancholy wonder of this mighty creature. He wanted yet to be consumed once
more in bliss of that sad, vital and all too brief music, to dwell for a little
longer in the strangely discomforting clarity that seemed to radiate from every
follicle of the monster-lord’s fur, every fibre of his silken frock-coat, every
bole and craggy load of rubble. “But –”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
The Duke of
Rabbits raised a paw to silenced him. “Each time in its place and each place
for its time, womb-born,” it said with an almost fatherly tone. “My servant Ogh
will lead you out again,” it continued, the same paw now gesturing to one of
the pair of rabbits who had brought the princely prize and now waited amongst
the roots of the old olive. “I hope he <i>proves</i>
a better guide to lead you out than his brother, Urgh, proved to be on leading
you in,” their master added as if talking as much to the dumb beasts themselves
as to Ecomomous.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
One of the
rabbits dropped its ears for a beat as if chastened and its fellow – the one
named as Ogh – loped forward, pausing before the would-be fabulist to wink and
twitch its nose at him.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
Half-standing, Economous
tried to formulate some cause, some excuse, some reason to remain.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
Ogh seized the
strap of Economous’ satchel lying at the would-be fabulist’s feet, and with a startling
show of strength, leapt away into the darkening wood, dragging the bag behind. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
With a stifled
yelp, the would-be fabulist was properly on his feet, yet still unwilling to go
his head quickly swivelled as he looked from Lapinduce, calm, silent, waiting,
to his hastily departing property and back.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
“I…!”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
Catching up his
hat and numrelogue, his old calibrator and the velvet bag holding the new, the
would-be fabulist made a sketch of a bow. With a hurried, incoherently
apologetic farewell, Economous chased after the rapidly retreating rabbit and
vowed to return to paint a more fitting image of the Lapinduce, Duke of
Rabbits, lord of monsters.</div>
D.M. Cornishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09452470049845132286noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29654538.post-7309115151070920932013-09-16T14:31:00.001+09:302013-09-16T14:34:37.358+09:30Economous Musgrove Chapter 4 Part 1<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">
<b>And here we be again, with Economous perched upon the threshold of dread and wondrous things.</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">
<b>I think I shall now go and have a look at the comments from last week.</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">
<b>Enjoy (oh, I sure hope you do - sorry for the maybe odd break in this weeks words, but the chapter had no easy place to sever it, so I just made shift as best I could...)</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">
<b style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; font-size: 24pt;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; font-size: 24pt;">Economous<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; font-size: 24pt;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; font-size: 24pt;">musgrove<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; font-size: 24pt;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-align: center;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-i49HZVV0Pxc/UhqhoasY-CI/AAAAAAAAAjg/x563JftKVAw/s1600/economus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: #7d181e; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-i49HZVV0Pxc/UhqhoasY-CI/AAAAAAAAAjg/x563JftKVAw/s320/economus.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 20px; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-left-radius: 5px; border-bottom-right-radius: 5px; border-top-left-radius: 5px; border-top-right-radius: 5px; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 20px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="220" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std';"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; text-indent: 35.45pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; text-indent: 35.45pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; text-indent: 35.45pt;"> </span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std';">© D.M.Cornish<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std';"><b><span style="background-color: white; color: #bf9000;">PLEASE DO NOT PUBLISH OR REPRODUCE WITHOUT MY PERMISSION</span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std';"><br /></span></div>
<div class="DMCChapterTitle" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; line-height: 19px;"><b>Chapter 4 PART 1</b></span></div>
<div class="DMCChapterTitle" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; line-height: 19px;">An Uncommon request</span></div>
<div class="DMCChapterTitle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<b><i>word ~</i></b><i> definition …………</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<b>I</b><span style="font-variant: small-caps;">n</span> a dread of
involuntary awe, Economous dropped to his knees, expecting in any beat to feel
the crash of crushing violence to come down upon his neck.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<i>It’s true! It’s true!</i> rang with
child-like astonishment in his quailing soul.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
A peculiar and
loud click came from the mighty creature’s mouth, like it was clashing its long
front teeth together. “Do <i>not</i> bow to me,
son of the short-lived!” it spoke with open dismay, its voice rasping yet
somehow rich – a voice no human throat could make and the very same that had
compliment his drawing two days gone. “Such worship is not mine to demand nor
receive. Come stand again and let me behold so peculiar a creature more fully.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
Economous
swallowed and slowly got back to his feet. The back of his neck pinched sharply
as trembling, he dared to look the dread thing in the eye. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<i>Is this an </i>eating <i>or a </i>saving <i>kind of monster?</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
It peered at
him closely, almost accusingly, a stare of pale grey from eyes like nothing the
would-be fabulist had even gazed into before; eyes that held secrets beyond
measuring, that had watched spans of time past reckoning and witnessed
calamities that would have driven lesser beings raving mad. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
The would-be
fabulist wanted to look away, to bow again, to not provoke this eoned creature
a mite further. Yet his gaze locked with the mighty beast, he found that he
could not move.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
“I behold that
you are a womb-born,” it spoke again, bending its face close to his so that the
perfume of blossom and loam filled his senses, “who is better reconciled to
what you would name <i>monstrous</i> <i>things</i> than most of your all-too-brief
kind.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
It took a
moment to recognise that the rabbit-beast was expecting some form of response.
Economous mouth opened, but not a sound came out. He tried again, squeezing at
his rebelious vocal organs. “I – I …”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
This seemed
enough for the creature for it continued: “It has been some time as you brief
ones reckon it since an everyman has found peace and sought only gentle
occupations in my wooded courts. I have enjoyed you calling on us to scribble
and dream: you are a fine draughtsman, sir.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
Economous
ducked his head, finding his voice at last. “Y-you are the first to say it so,
my lord.” Such an appellation felt awkward in his mouth, yet to call such a
magestic creature by anything else seemed profoundly unfitting.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
“I am – oh son
of vapour – an urchin-lord; the great undying Cunobillin you might have read on
in you measurers’ library; the master of this city you Brandenmen think your
own, and if I say something is so, then – Providence alone only contradict me –
it is <i>so</i>!”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
Economous had
indeed read upon one named Cunobollin, a dread creature famed for terrorising
the wild Piltmen – whom they called the Haraman – before Brandentown’s
Burgundian ancestors came from the east to subdue them. There were many books
in Athingdon’s three libraries that pronounced on many such beings and
Economous had read every one, each several times, whether he had permission to
or not. Most texts offered only conjecture as to the existence of any kind of
recognisable heirarchy amongst monsters; the most invective refused such
notions as being a signal of proper intelligence and consequently impossible. Yet
here was one now, defying all common and stoutly held convention.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
Refusing to
fall to his knees again and incite further ire, the everyman clamped his jaw
shut and vowed not to speak again before this dread <i>urchin-lord</i>. Yet questions were piling in his concometrist’s mind
like a jam of carriages at high noon on the Spokes.<i><o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
“I <i>seldom</i> allow any creature into my deeper
sanctuaries.” The Lapinduce looked about the ruined, tree-grown cellar. “And
few is the count of those whom I have welcomed into my inner courts. Most
everymen fool enough to make a determined enterprise into my park find
themselves upon the otherside no matter how hard press their explorations. Others
come for ill reasons and seldom more than once, yet you linger in my garden
week upon week and show yourself happy to do so. <i>How curious</i>, I marvelled to myself as I watched you quietly. But
more than benign curiosity, I smell on you that you have met my frair – my
brother <i>monsters</i> – before… and been
marked by the meeting.” It clacked its teeth together and went silent, letting
its observation linger.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
Before a dread
king of nickers, an ancient creature who so clearly fathomed far beyond the
usual ken, Economous found the admission rising easier than ever it had. “Aye,
when I… I was a boy, living west in L… Lo.” Even now the old reluctance tried
to catch at his words. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
“And you won
through the encounter.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
Economous could
not tell if this was a question or and observation. He answered anyway. “I was
rescued by one m-monster –” was that even the right word to use before such a
being? “– from – from the hunger of another.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
“And who
believed such a story, I wonder…” the monster-lord’s feline eyes glittered with
bitter humour.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
“It was
insisted that such a thing was not possible and my silence for evermore
demanded of me.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
Tapping its
downy, black chin with an equally swarthy fore-knuckle, the Duke of Rabbits
regarded him closely. “So it has long been,” he said at last.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
It seemed to
Economous that – impossibilities upon impossibilities – this creature truly
understood him, that in that moment he had gained the sympathy of this dread
nicker-lord and that he in turn was well disposed to it. “Sir, if I may…” he
dared in the encouragement of this insight. “What do you want of me?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
“I have seen
you draw my little kin, son of brevity, and now I desire that you would draw <i>me</i> too. I would like a graphice, an
imago, a spectacle de vue – a <i>portrait</i>
– of myself, for it has been many generations as you would reckon them since
the last tender soul presented themselves for the task and it pleases me to
gain another. It will be a record of your passing to remind me in later
centuries.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
Suddenly,
Economous’ self-taught, unacademied skills seemed for the first time to him to
be scant and dangerously inadequate. Yet to decline was surely worse than what
ever feeble image he would produce. “If that is what you wish for, sir, then I
shall do my best to grant it,” he replied with firm tone designed to bolster
his own failing courage. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
To this the
Lapinduce perched itself upon a particularly large knobble in an oliveroot,
crossed one leg upon the other, folded its long long hands about its knees and
stared up into nothing like a person well suited to sitting for a portrait.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
“Do – do you
have a preferred side, sir?” he asked reflexively, as he did of all customers
seeking a spedigraph.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
“Side, sir?”
the Lapinduce cocked a shaggy brow at him. “Why, my own <i>side</i> always.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
Economous
swallowed. “Aye, of course, my lord… and… and<span style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;"> which sphere of your face would you
have me draw?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 150%;">“I
think you will find this current one is as good as its twin,” the Lapinduce
said with a haughty and slightly wounded air and the sat unnaturally still,
chin lifted like some historied heldin from the hailed paintings of Economous'
long dead mentors.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 150%;">Yet
the fabulist could not draw; how could he when the impossible was solid and
breathing and very much <i>possible</i> before him? Time ceased as
Economous just sat and blinked and struggled and failed, struggled and failed
to comprehend his situation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 150%;">How
long it was before the creature stirred could not be told but eventually the monster-lord
looked sidelong to the befuddled everymen sat before him and declared dryly, “Unless
you have unlocked the lost telegraphic arts of the Phlegmish goests, I do
believe stylus must make contact with paper for an image to be forthcoming…” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="line-height: 150%;">Economous
shook himself as if startled. “Oh… oh, yes - yes, indeed, sir. My apologies…” And,
ears ringing and senses reeling with wonder of it all, he began to draw</span><span style="line-height: 150%;">.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Perched upon toppled
stonework, numrelogue open upon his knees, the fabulist shook his head and </span></span><span style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">squinted studiously
and long at his outlandish sitter, fixing the Lapinduce’ alien form into his
inner eye before he dared put stylus to paper. At last – and all too aware of
the oddness of his position – Economous began to draw, striving with every line
to capture the full-rounded form and render it accurately on the contrary flatness
of a single page. Stylus frequently hovering in pent potential mere fractions
from paper as he looked long at his subject, the would-be fabulist strove to
get the fineness of the glossy felt of the rabbit-lord’s silken black fur down
true; to describe as precisely as he could the true relationship between the
great protruding front teeth, the rabbits nose, the grand sweep of those mighty
ears; to find the exact sit of the gleaming silk collar upon the shaggy neck;
to find exactly how to line the profile glimpse of the mighty therian’s
eon-seeing eyes.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
For his part,
the Duke of Rabbits made an excellent subject, sitting with preternatural
stillness, never once twitching, itching, looking over to see how the portrait
was coming along.</div>
D.M. Cornishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09452470049845132286noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29654538.post-21987610118537314912013-09-09T09:23:00.000+09:302013-09-13T14:25:40.726+09:30Economous Musgrove Chapter 3<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">
<b>Welcome to a new week, welcome to chapter 3 - the whole chapter for it is a touch shorter than its previous two siblings. </b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="background-color: #fefdfa;">
<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 17.99715805053711px;">I have made note for second draft (if this proceeds that far... ) to check for one dimensionality in Lord Fold, and for info dumping at the very start (to see if these crimes are actually so or just simply tricks of perception versus intent). That said, as you know from MBT, I have this tendency to write rather tightly from a character's point of view, we see the world much as they see it, we know what they know, we go where they go - seldom do I do third party, author omniscient cut-aways: not sure why that is - the "Sauron effect" maybe (= we never know what the antagonists are doing kind of thing...)?</span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="background-color: #fefdfa;">
<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 17.99715805053711px;"><br /></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="background-color: #fefdfa;">
<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 17.99715805053711px;">Anyhoo, f</span></span></b><b style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 17.99715805053711px;">ascinated to know what you all make of this week's offering - keep the comments coming.</b><b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 17.99715805053711px;"><br /></span></span></b><b style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; font-size: 24pt;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; font-size: 24pt;">Economous<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; font-size: 24pt;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; font-size: 24pt;">musgrove<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; font-size: 24pt;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-align: center;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-i49HZVV0Pxc/UhqhoasY-CI/AAAAAAAAAjg/x563JftKVAw/s1600/economus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: #7d181e; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-i49HZVV0Pxc/UhqhoasY-CI/AAAAAAAAAjg/x563JftKVAw/s320/economus.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 20px; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-left-radius: 5px; border-bottom-right-radius: 5px; border-top-left-radius: 5px; border-top-right-radius: 5px; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 20px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="220" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std';"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; text-indent: 35.45pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; text-indent: 35.45pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; text-indent: 35.45pt;"> </span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std';">© D.M.Cornish<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std';"><b><span style="background-color: white; color: #bf9000;">PLEASE DO NOT PUBLISH OR REPRODUCE WITHOUT MY PERMISSION</span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std';"><br /></span></div>
<div class="DMCChapterTitle" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; line-height: 19px;"><b>Chapter 3</b></span></div>
<div class="DMCChapterTitle" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; line-height: 19px;">A Fear Faced</span></div>
<div class="DMCChapterTitle" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="DMCChapterTitle" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">
<div class="DMCChapterTitle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left;">
<b><i>word ~</i></b><i> definition …………</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left;">
<b>T</b><span style="font-variant: small-caps;">he</span> next morning – and
two days after the first <i>possibly</i> threwdish
encounter – Economous found himself once more at the gate of the weird park,
peering uneasily into the shadows ahead, unsure to go ahead but loath to
retreat and let another day pass pinched by indecision. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
It was a
strangely unsettled day, low heavy clouds an unbroken pale grey, blustering
winds oddly warm and unable to decide whether they were easterly or northerly –
blowing down from the vast threwdish grasslands that stood between the southern
city-states and their Imperial capital.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
For motivations
Economous did not fully comprehend, it had seemed appropriate to him to come garbed
as finely as his meagre resources allowed: his shirt, longshanks and trews new
washed, his neckerchief freshly pressed and tied with a full and highly
fashionable gather about his throat, his coat brushed thrice and picked clean
of grime. Yet he was not about to stroll naïvely into this bosom of danger. In
his hand he gripped his calibrator, grateful for the five years training he had
had in bastinado arts, and at his hip swung salt-pouch holding several doses of
bothersalts – tiny bags of smarting chemistry to hurl at any monstrous threat. Yet,
with all this preparation, all his determination, he hesitated still upon the
very brink of the Mouldwood. Some echo of an upstanding citizen within fretted
that he really ought tell the rightful organs of civil wellbeing about his
albeit <i>brief </i>and increasingly
uncertain discovery. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<i>How many folk had glimpsed this creature?</i><span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">As threwdish as it might be,
the Mouldwood must be visited by other souls – though Economous could recall
seeing anyone else.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Economous let out a short bitter
bark of a laugh. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">What a hoot it would be! A
city full of folk holding such a shocking secret and no one telling another it
for fear.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<i>If I do tell</i><span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> – came the immediate counter – <i>what then if I am</i> believed? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The Mouldwood would surely be
burned, the scorch-dead land cleared and turned into a swarming suburb or a
sweltering tanning district or some other teaming cradle of filth and enginry. <i>He </i>for one was not about to be the cause
for such despoilment. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">On either turn it was all
conjecture; if he had not been able yet to bring himself to even tell his
beautiful Asthetica of the monstrous encounter, there was little chance of his
confessing it to some starchy city master.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Some subtle movement in the
gloom focused his attention and h</span>e spied a lone rabbit emerge about two
score and ten yards in among the exposed roots of an age-ed olive that reached
up over the single path that led so perilously – so invitingly – into the
city-bound wood. A rather large specimen brown of body and black of face and a drooping left
ear, the rabbit appeared to stare boldly at Economous, almost daring the
would-be fabulist to shake of his reluctance and enter the darksome park once
more. Teeth Grit, Economous took one step and crossed the threshold from drab
city bustle into hushed threwdish mystery, the very decision giving him
momentum that took him directly to the crooked olive and its beastial watcher.
As he drew close the hefty rabbit turned but rather than bounding away as
Economous fully expected, it loped nonchalantly ahead with what seemed very
much an attitude of haughty assurance – if a mere animal could possess such
manners. Halting upon the path a little further in, it sat now to smuggly
observe what its everyman guest would chose next. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
What else could
Economous do but follow? </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
Ears a-thump
with rushing humours, feeling like his five-year-old self returning at last
into the forbidden, forbidding hearthwood, he played the game of come-get-me
with this self-important buck-rabbit, letting himself be drawn deeper and
deeper until all he was aware of was the rhythm this slow, steady chase. Of a
sudden, the rabbit sprang away. In a twinkling his guide was gone, breaking the
fascination sharply and leaving Economous alone in this dim park, blinking like
a man just waking from a long night’s slumber. Peering confusedly about, the
would-be fabulist found himself much farther than he had ever ventured into the
Mouldwood before, standing in a shallow dell surrounded by low olives and not a
glimpse of an exiting path to be seen. All was hushed in this wooded gloom, no
ringing of clatter of carriages nor faint but unmistakable cries of moll potnies, pamphlet sellers, posy hawkers, and begging songbirds, just the whoosh and gust of the fractious wind in olive boughs.
The sensation of being in some isolated setting far from walls or streets or
the safety of crowding people was no longer a trick of imagination but an
abrupt and very present certainty. It seemed to him that the very trees ringing
him about and the ground beneath <i>knew</i>
that he was there, marked his presence and were not entirely pleased about it.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<i>The threwd!<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
He <i>had</i> once thought the Mouldwood untamed,
yet what he previously knew was its mere fringes; here he found himself in a
veritable wildwood, the darkling trees encircled so tightly – so threateningly
– the warm wind clattering and rushing
in the boughs above, an ominous racket under heavy grey sky. With each disoriented
step the unwelcoming watchfulness thickened, until Economous was glancing repeatedly
over either shoulder and starting in fright at every twitch of branch or
shadow. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<i>Jumping at shadows…<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
So this all had
just been a trick of rabbits after all.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
Seeking to
clear his overwraught mind with a violent shake of his head, the would-be
fabulist regreted his descision to return to this blighted wood at all. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<i>Think, man, think!<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
Though the sun was
hidden fully behind the day’s dull vaporous blanket, he had a notion of finding
his way out by the guide of the compass moss spread up and down many trunks. Even
an ill-attentive nilyard – metrician-prentice – such as he had once been
remembered well enough that such growth was to be found only on the southern
side of a tree. Yet, at first inspection, every trunk seemed completely arrayed
– south, north, east <i>and </i>west – in
shaggy grey or scaly yellow. Flinging his hands up in frustration, Economous
turned completely about and in the very midst of this action caught a hint
carried on the boisterous wind of what might have been …</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<i>Music?</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
Unsure, his
head cocked against the blusters to hear better, stepping forward to follow
this tenuous hint. The threwd almost throbbing at every hand, the hint resolved
into a queer kind of strumming, plucking music, ringing out from the very midst
of the trees. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<i>Perhaps it is someone playing from their
house on the farther side?<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
With every
stride the sublime melody filled him, setting the fine sympathies of his
creative acuity ringing, drawing him into its charm. Economous quickly found his
soul thrumming in sympathy, a-tremble with an ache for a lost beauty he had
never known existed. His extremities to tingling, he found himself weeping that
such wondrous splendour was now no more, then felt a lift of hope as he found
in the melody itself both an expression and a fulfilment of a great urgency to
keep even some tiny fragment of that impossible primordial innocence alive. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
Oh, such
soaring marvels of ecstatic enchantment! </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
Was it
happiness? </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
Was it sadness?
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
Was it a kind
of pain?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
More than anything,
he wanted to be at the source of that music, to behold for himself the author
of such inexplicable wonder.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
Then, all too quickly,
the ancient soul-invading melody ceased.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
“NO!” <span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">Economous could
not help but cry out his dismay.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
Bereft, he
stumbled on, desperate now to dwell once again and forever more in that
sonorous place of memory and warmth and a clear soul. Sobbing, staggering
headlong, he tripped upon some obscured obstacle and collasped hands and knees to
damp cool weeds, his hat all that he carried flying from him in his fall.
Jarred back to something like proper sense, Economous sat back on his haunches,
shamefacedly wiping the tears from cheek and jowl. Reaching out to collect his
accoutrements he began to make out a more general brightness to his right,
through the dim twilight. Putting his tricorn back atop his head, he clambered
to his feet and went immediately for this glowing clarity, dodging about
haphazard trunks and stumbling on warrenholes or crooked roots unseen in the
wild grasses.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
The diffusion
of light proved to be a glade, a stark cavity amongst the thickness of trees in
which stood a circular house on a high foundation – an ancient ruined variety
of the rounded bottomholms still built by the long-conquered Pilts out in
sokelands of about Lo – its mouldering bricks fallen about its feet in
weed-grown piles, its windows gaping cavities. The once high-pitched roof was collapsed
and gone, its several crude chimnies half toppled and sprouting yellow soursobs
and purple sweetjane from their crumbling mortar. Leaves rattling and hissing
in the wind, an enormous elderly olive grew from the very midst of the ruin,
its venerable beams spreading wide over the crooked rim and making a new roof
to shelter it. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
The
watchfulness felt heaviest here, though perhaps a mite less <i>unfriendly</i>.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
The building
was so decayed that the nearest side of its great foundation had tumbled open
to reveal the undercrofts within. Glory-vine was spread over the cavity, its
leaves glaring crimson despite the lateness of the year and among the bright unseasonal colour, Economous spied the
buck-rabbit sitting easy as if it had been waiting there for him all along. It
seemed to be regarding the would-be fabulist in reproach – if such an
expression was possible in a dumb animal. Unfoundedly certain that this precocious
creature would ken where the beautiful, all-conquering music had gone,
Economous approached the fallen down house, that unmanning desire for the
intoxicating melody rising all-too-quickly again in his bosom. Clambering to
the gap he entered willingly into the the cellar gloom, the rabbit retreating
before him, its coal-black eyes twinkling with a mischievous gleam from the
shadows of the undercroft proper. His yearning for the return of primal melody compelling
him on, he followed his fractious guide deeper, ducking his head beneath the
low curve of a dark tunnel like passage that deposited him in an ill-lit cavity
that must have been in the very midst of the roundhouse. Here was the basal
trunk of the elderly olive tree, creaking and groaning in the wind, the wild
rattling of its arid, gust-torn leaves echoing and re-echoing down into cavity
until it was like a hissing clattering thunder.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
Somewhere the
dull distant ringing of a noonday bell came with the wind, tolling into
Economous’ awareness, breaking the enthralment, leaving him bereft but
sensible now to the threwd pressing in on him like an ache in his head.
Something else was here with him, something much greater than any over-sized
buck-rabbit, something sitting oh so very still between ancient roots in the
shadowy bole of the olive.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
“What is a
womb-born doing so deep inside my borders?” a rasping deep voice spoke, coming
as from all about Economous, its question like an inquiry made to the entire
cosmos.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
Though he had
heard it but once before, the would-be fabulist knew this voice instantly: for
it was surely the <span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">rabbit-and-cat
</span>creature! </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
By an instinct
– unsteadily though it might have been – formed from four years of unceasing
practice, Economous brandished his calibrator and shifted his feet reflexively to
the first defensive stance.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
The shade
stirred. “You will not be needing sticks nor the fine tricks that go with their
wielding, young everyman,” the sonorous voice crooned from one corner or
another, from above and from below. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
Transfixed
between terror and the need to know, to properly and fully <i>see</i>, Economous watched eyes wide as the shade silently stood – or
more truly, <i>unfolded</i>. Getting taller
and taller still as it unbent, until it finally rose erect, towering over him on
long slender shanks bent awkwardly like a rabbit’s, and ending in feet of downy
rabbit’s paws. Great ears upon his head – rabbits ears, he realised, but surely
two foot or more in length themselves – made it more enormous still. To
Economous’ astonishment, it wore a frock-coat of rich glistening indigo – such
an expanse of cloth that could have garbbed Economous three times over –
embroidered on its cuffs and at its hems with curling frolicking rabbits in
golden thread. He knew well enough that monsters sometimes stole and dressed in
clothes, but to actually see something so alien and bestial dressed as fine as
any aristocratic soul of the city was disturbing, incongruous and charming in
one. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
The blustering
element chose its own moment to bring drama to the meeting, clouds splitting
for a moment to let warm spring light upon the countenance of the monstrous
thing. The face was more terrible and even more cat-like than first impressions
told, the pale eyes narrowed and feline and fixing him with a sharp, shrewd gaze.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
“Well-a-do, brave
everyman,” it declare in that low rasping, “<i>I
</i>am the Lapinduce, the Duke of Rabbits, true lord and master of this city.”</div>
</div>
<div class="DMCChapterTitle" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
D.M. Cornishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09452470049845132286noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29654538.post-30089932762004415752013-09-02T15:24:00.001+09:302013-09-02T15:25:38.571+09:30Economous Musgrove Chapter 2 Part 2<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">
<b style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Hello hello, </span></b><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">I hope you have all been well over the last week, and I hope you enjoy this next instalment.</span></b><br />
<b style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b>
<b style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; font-size: 24pt;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; font-size: 24pt;">Economous<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; font-size: 24pt;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; font-size: 24pt;">musgrove<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; font-size: 24pt;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-align: center;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-i49HZVV0Pxc/UhqhoasY-CI/AAAAAAAAAjg/x563JftKVAw/s1600/economus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: #7d181e; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-i49HZVV0Pxc/UhqhoasY-CI/AAAAAAAAAjg/x563JftKVAw/s320/economus.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 20px; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-left-radius: 5px; border-bottom-right-radius: 5px; border-top-left-radius: 5px; border-top-right-radius: 5px; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 20px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="220" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std';"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; text-indent: 35.45pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; text-indent: 35.45pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; text-indent: 35.45pt;"> </span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std';">© D.M.Cornish<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std';"><b><span style="background-color: white; color: #bf9000;">PLEASE DO NOT PUBLISH OR REPRODUCE WITHOUT MY PERMISSION</span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std';"><br /></span></div>
<div class="DMCChapterTitle" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; line-height: 19px;"><b>Chapter 2</b></span></div>
<div class="DMCChapterTitle" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; line-height: 19px;">A thing that ought not be</span></div>
<div class="DMCChapterTitle" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; line-height: 19px;">part 2</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
Asthetica’s
arrival provoked her mother, Madamine Grouse, to emerge from the ground floor door
of her private sanctums. Tall and still slender despite three children and being
well on the reverse slope of her prime, she bustled out with a hiss and rush of
many silken skirts like a sea-born gale to throw her arms about her daughter.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
“Oh oh, my <i>wenigblüte</i>!” she cried, her accent thick
with the Gottish roll despite many years away from her homeland far across the
Pontus Canis to the south-east. “My little blossom! Home to me once more. How I dread
that someday it will be a skopp-boy instead to tell me that you are ground to
powder under the wheels of those awful <i>flecheschatchel
</i>and be returned to me as nothing more zan a sack of powder.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
“Mama…”
Asthetica glanced the merest long-suffering glance to Economous. “You know full
well I do not work with the gastrine mills, mama,” she continued her role in
the game. “The worst I might suffer is to be smothered under a great pile of
paper.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
These two
played much the same game every time he was there to witness he beloved’s
workday homecoming.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
“Oh, how can
you say such horrors to your dearest old ma-ma!” Madamine Grouse demanded with
a pitch close to a wail. “You know how I fret myself to frays over you with <i>untermensch</i> – monsters – loose on every
turn and circuit…”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
At this a tall
man entered the vestibule and graced the entire scene with a broad, knowing
smile but saving his longest most oily looks for Asthetica herself. Though only
a few years ahead of Econmous in age, the fellow was entire vaults filled with
coin ahead in quality of dress.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
It was Monsiere
the Lord Sprandis Fold, Reive of Lot-in-the-Hole.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
So far below
the man in station that a mere word from him could have them wisked off to the
Duke’s Bench, Binbrindle and Economous immediately bowed – just as they ought –
offering a duet of “M’lord” as they did.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
The Reive
scarcely apprehended them, releasing them from their obeisance with a flick of
his velvet-gloved hand.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<i>Glossy</i> was the only word Economous could
think to describe the man as he straightened: glossy brightblack slippers,
glossy silken trews, glossy plum longshanks and matching frockcoat, glossy
fullbottom wig of fashionable silver, and – worst of all – betwixt glossy locks
and glossy white neckerchief, a glossy unblemished smile. What woman would <i>not</i> be swept up by such dazzling
cockery? </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<i>A pearl would be shamed to stand in this
man’s presence</i>, Economous concluded sourly feeling very drab indeed. He
could not even dismiss the fellow as a high-stepping fluff; for primped and
fashionable as the Reive of Lot-in-the-Hole might have been, he had not strayed
into the kinds of sartorial excesses – huge bows, enormous ruffled
neckerchiefs, fur-lined everything – of a vain and ludicrous dandidawdler.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
“The Lord Fold
has so very kindly brought me home today, ma ma,” Asthetica declared with
pointed attention to her mother, yet her cheeks flushed with such pretty
pleasure at such a focus of male attention.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
For the merest
pulse of a humour Economous was certain he witnessed an expression of utter horror twist the mother’s
face as she comprehended just who it was that stood resplendent in her shabby
vestibule. However grandiose her ambitions for her daughter, it had clearly
never figured in her reckonings that Asthetica would bring her exulted prize
home. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
“A kindness indeed,
my gracious Lord,” Madamine Grouse proclaimed with a shrill display of delight,
curtseying low with a cracking of knee joints and back bone. “Such more zan any
others can do for my <i>wenigblüte</i>, I am
sure,” she added with the briefest, sidelong scowl at the two lowly gents left hapless
on the stairs.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
“T’was a trifling,
good lady.” The Lord Fold took the lowly landlady by the hand becked a genteel
bow as she were a duchess of state herself.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
Eyelashes
fluttering girlishly fast as any bee’s wings, Madamine Grouse palid face
transmuted to a scarlet hue Economous had never thought possible in such a habitually
sour mien. Fer several beats her mouth made breathless “oh’s” of delight, until
she finally declared, “Such handsome treatment, sir! Such handsome treatment!”
Released once more, the madamine took Asthetica by the hand and drew her daughter
towards the door of their ground floor apartment. “If you please, my lord,
allow me und my delight some moments to <i>refresh</i>
ourselves,” she said with a harsh and nervous laugh, bobbing and nodding
obsequiously even as she retreated.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
“Refit and
refurbish, a-hey – as the vinegaroons on the docks would say,” Bidbrindle
offered with a friendly chuckle.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
Backing through
her domestic portal, Madamine Grouse glared at him from the shrinking gap, her
eyes communicating perfectly just how inappropriate such terms were to be
applied to ladies, and in the presence of gentry too!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
Awkward,
throat-clearing, foot-shuffling minutes commenced and ground on. Leaving the two lesser men
unreleased, Lord Fold seemed quite content to stand in silence, leaning on his
silver-topped baton and staring at a yellowing patch in the green paint above
the Grouse’ family door. He paid no mind at all to the other two men, yet
neither Economous nor clearly the violin-maker had felt themselves unable to go
on with their own small, pointless lives.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
With a stout
ruttle, Bidbrindle bravely undertook his marvellous tale of the black-elder
viol on the Reive who looked at the violin maker in a show listening but
clearly barely comprehended him nor saw the need to. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
At the place in
Bidbrindle’s telling where the rosewood was being ordered from Turkmantine, the
Reive suddenly spoke. “You there!” he demanded of the violin-maker, stopping
the poor fellow dumb. “Go out to my fit and let my bridleman know I shall be
some time yet.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
“How will I
know which fit is your, m’lord?” poor Bidbrindle asked, even as he moved to
comply.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
To this Lord
Fold arched a brow and gave an impatient nod. “It is immediately outside. I can
assure you, you will tell it from all others…”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
Whether by
strength of wind or a trained and broken soul, Binbrindle becked and humbly obeyed,
stepping outside. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
As the heavy
front swung open then shut again, Economous caught a glimpse of two heavy set
fellows without, waiting on either side of the door : the Reive’s spurns – his
personal guards – little doubt, glowering at all passers and patently ill-at-ease.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
Abruptly the
Reive fixed his attention on Economous. “I do believe I know you, man,” he
declared bluntly.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
“M – me,
m’lord?” Economous blinked.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
“Aye indeed,
man,” Lord Fold returned. “I have been puzzling on it o’er and o’er these many
minutes gone, ‘W<i>here is it that I have
beheld such a distinctively lank-locked and
underfed face before?</i>’<i> </i>I
never forget a face, you see. Once seen, it is in,” he tapped his smooth brow
with a velvet-gloved finger. “And now I have it!”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<i>Lank-locked</i>, Economous did not hide his
frown. <i>Underfed!</i> “And where have you
seen me, m’lord?” he asked if only to divert his offended sensibilities.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
“At the great
gala that strutting foreign duchess-heir held at the fore o’ month: you were a
scribbler there scribbling all the illustrious faces. My how you must have been
agog to be surrounded by such glories, such heights of society – it’s a wonder
you could draw at all. Still, my wife was well pleased with your work. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<i>Wife?</i> Economous’ scandalised mind
lurched. Had the man meant to tell this? He was clearly careless of his
company, but surely the Reive was not <i>this</i>
contemptuous?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
Lord Fold went
on without a pause, as if nothing so extraordinary had passed his indulged and
pouting lips. “‘Tis pity that that appalling Branden Rose dame was your first
employer, m’boy, else I might have had you along as a curiosity at my own
upcoming Lestwich Tide. Were she still here I would absolutely have to have
you, but she is – as the papers say – run off again on some outrageous errand,
no doubt to marry some monster if the buzz about <i>certain</i> circles is to be believed… It is a wonder the Emperor did
not demand an explaining when he was with us a fortnight ago. <i>She</i>, of course, was not in the city –
but if <i>I </i>were <i>he </i>I would have summoned her right back from where’er she is
supposed to have slunk off.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
In his growing
dismay Economous barely remarked any of this.
<i>Asthetica cannot surely know that
he is wed already, can she? </i>“You said have a wife, m’lord?” he said, daring
to draw out the appalling revelation so carelessly disclosed.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
Yet in the very
moment of utterance he was saved what
would have most likely been a dangerously withering remark and the more
dangerous ire of a well placed peer by the racket of the simultaneous return of
Bidbrindle back from street and Madamine and Miss Grouse emerged again from
their boudoir.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
Dressed in fold
upon fold of glistening cloth-of-silver draped over petticoats of blood red
then pristine white, Asthetica stopped all noise dead with her expensive splendour.
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
Gazing at her
with cool yet patent hunger, the Reive crooked his arm for Asthetica to lay her
hand upon, which she now did with a mannered kind of grace. He then said
something he obviously found funny for he laughed loud and look-at-me drawing a
shrill bray of uncomprehending mirth from the two women as he swept his
beautiful companion out and away.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
Dumbstruck, Economous
watched them leave, utterly flummoxed as to how it was he could save Asthetica
from heartbreak and shame without shaming her or breaking her heart instead.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
Stamping her
foot to get attention, Madamine Grouse gave a scornful sniff.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
The young man
and the older look at her as one.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
“I have
reckoned ze new rent arrears to ze start of spring,” she said with sharp tones
so very appropriate to such sharp practice. “You owe me ze difference!” she
proclaimed sourly without looking either man in the eye and slammed the door.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
Turning and
climbing the stairs to his own apartment, Bidbrindle tipped a knowing nod to
Economous, as if he and the young concometrist belonged together in the same
hopeless chase. “Raised rents equals fine dresses, methinks,” he said with a
smirk, and retired.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
Clearly too
age-ed and frowsty and full of dull stories, that Bidbrindle fathomed his own
cause with Asthetica to be a thin ruse was admirable self-knowledge; that he
thought Economous was his fellow member in such a forlorn school was a bitter
brew. Feeling thwarted and furious with himself, Economous climbed the
shuddering, groaning flights to his cramped garret and lay a-bed on his tandem
chair among the frames and boards and the greasy smell of seed oil, the gusting
turmoil without a perfect twin of that within.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
Was he to let
all of his life be stymied by fear? </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
Was everything
he reached for to be somehow snatched away as impossible?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
Yet as wind
battered angrily against the narrow shutters, it seemed to him that facing the
Mouldwood was a less frightening prospect than exposing the blackguard Fold and
laying himself soul-bared to Asthetica.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<i>I will act then</i>, he determined and with
that, fell asleep.</div>
D.M. Cornishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09452470049845132286noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29654538.post-36237866709902884772013-08-26T09:59:00.000+09:302013-09-02T15:25:54.524+09:30Economous Musgrove Chapter 2 Part 1<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Well-a-day once more, yet more Economous. I have a whole chapter to deliver but split it in two to keep to the 1000-1500 word limit I set myself. This limit is entirely arbitrary so if you would like more words at once just say.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b>
<b>More importantly, thank you for your words, comments, encouragements - I have not been responding much in the comments but I am definitely reading each one gratefully.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>I have been thinking about the apparent "slow" start, the "info dump" of it and in part think that yes it does perhaps need review; yet when I consider the classics I have enjoyed find that many of these can begin in such a fashion, that such a start is consistent with the form of style and cannot help but wonder if it were in an actual book format whether it would feel nearly quite so "info dumpy" as it does in this electronic format, where expectations are different...? Hmm.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Anyway, on with the show.</b><br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">
<i style="line-height: 18px; text-align: start;"><b><br /></b></i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; font-size: 24pt;">Economous<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; font-size: 24pt;">musgrove<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-align: center;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-i49HZVV0Pxc/UhqhoasY-CI/AAAAAAAAAjg/x563JftKVAw/s1600/economus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-i49HZVV0Pxc/UhqhoasY-CI/AAAAAAAAAjg/x563JftKVAw/s320/economus.jpg" width="220" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std';"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; text-indent: 35.45pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; text-indent: 35.45pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; text-indent: 35.45pt;"> </span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std';">© D.M.Cornish<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std';"><b><span style="background-color: white; color: #bf9000;">PLEASE DO NOT PUBLISH OR REPRODUCE WITHOUT MY PERMISSION</span></b></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #fefdfa; font-family: 'Charlemagne Std';"><br /></span></div>
<div class="DMCChapterTitle" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #cc0000; font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"><b>Chapter 2</b></span></div>
<div class="DMCChapterTitle" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #cc0000; font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">A thing that ought not be</span></div>
<div class="DMCChapterTitle" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #cc0000; font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">part 1</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<b><i>word ~</i></b><i> definition …………</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<b>A</b><span style="font-variant: small-caps;">ll</span> night Economous
lay upon his tandem-chair, wondering, steadily doubting that he had seen what
he had seen, dreaming of rabbits leaping from bushes and alleys. In the morning
he rose unwilling to return to the Moldwood, just as he had been unwilling to
go back into the doubly-forbidden hearthwood of Lo when he was small. Yet as the
day progressed, he could not shake his fascination nor quash the steadily
increasing need to seek a repetition of the encounter and resolve what in his intellectuals
– his thinking – he held as unlikely yet his wind – his soul – held as certain.
By mid afternoon he found himself ambling upon the opposite walk of South Arm, past
the shabby park’s east gate, glancing at the iron-bound entrance and the dark
trees beyond repeatedly through the bustle of carriage and handcart. Up and
back he went, almost toppling into several well dressed day-strolling folks many
times in his inattention to his actual path. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
For its part,
the Moldwood was as quiet and inscrutable as ever.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<i>Surely what he had witnessed yesterday was
an imaginary figmurement?<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
The dark
treetops swayed in the freshening breeze of the afternoon pipistrelle – so
common in Spring – and seemed to beckon the would-be fabulist within.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
Finally Economous
dared to cross to the gate side of South Arm but as he approached the black-wrought
portal he spied the same water-caddie of the day before standing beneath a red
lamppost not two hundred yards further down past the gate, crying, “Goose a
gulp!” </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
As if prompted
by the regard upon him, the fellow turned and regarded Economous closely, an
amused wisdom growing clear on the forward fellow’s mien.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
With a small
start and thinking himself observed in his absurdity, Economous refused to lets
his cheeks redden but with a tug on his neckerchief and a touch to his hat,
hurried past the gate, the park and the water-caddie and made for the long
miles back to his garret. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
As the sun hid himself
behind the Branden Downs – the low hills northwest of the great city – in a
blaze of storm-promising orange, Economous footsore and ill-humoured finally
found home. Shaded Rafters was its unlikely name: a narrow four storied
tenement nigh identical to all its long row of neighbours on this close lane in
the down-at-heel suburb of Merry-the-boon – dank, ill-repaired and necessarily
affordable.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
Scarcely up the
first flight of uneasy stairs when a bang and bustle of the front door opening in
the vestibule where he had just been below gave Economous a happy jolt for anticipation
of Asthetica’s return. Yet the arrival was too bustling and too loud to be her.
Rather it was Mister Bidbrindle Gleens – violin maker, neighbour and one of
Economous rivals for fair Asthetica’s regard – returning from his working shop
in fine suburb of Risen Mole.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
“Hullo hullo!” Mister
Bidbrindle called with unusually elevated cheer the very instant he spied
Economous peering at him from the landing atop the first flight. Though he must
surely have reckoned that Economous was a competitor in wooing, the
violin-maker always spoke with great civility to his younger opponent. Clearly
itching with some great tale, Bidbrindle waved Economous to remain even as the
would-be fabulist tried to turn and retreat at last to the bless-ed gloom of
his garret.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
With a silent
sigh, Economous gave the older man respect and did as he was bidden.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
“You would not
credit what was granted to me to heal this week, sir,” Bidbrindle declared
excitedly, perching himself between the second and forth step.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
“I would if I
could, sir,” Economous said, nodding a polite bow and – his tricorn off and
wedged beneath his arm – touching his crown.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
Needing scant
encouragement, the violin-maker continued with but a breath. “I was strolling this
very morn up Baker’s Lane to start my daily labours,” he said in the rehearsed
manner of someone who has told certain information many times already that day,
“when upon nearing my humble workshop I spied a pavillion and six – six horse,
sir! – drawn up at the very door. The Signals know how often such fine fits
come for that sleuthing fellow who occupies the entire top floor space above my
own humble workshop. But today – <i>today!</i>
– the fine carriage was for me, sir. Can you credit it!”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
Economous shook
his head dutifully.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
“Out steps the
personal servant of a body of the <i>highest</i>
consequence – a body who I am undertaken with the solemnest of promises to
always hold secret – to summon me away. No sooner was I aboard than we are hurtling
to a location I am equally sworn to never divulge, where amongst great
opulence, this body of consequence shows to me a viol passed to him from some
obscure relative, saying it was in sore need of repair and that <i>I </i>– <i>I!</i>
– was the only artisan he would trust such delicate work to. Oh, how my eyes
poked from their seat when I beheld the instrument…” He paused in the gravity of
imminent revelation.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
Economous
blinked.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
“It was a
Cordialis,” Bidbrindle declared with delighted solemnity. “A Cordialis!” he
repeated when his listener’s only replied was a blank mein. “It is old as a
still tuneful viol can get, m’boy! It is so old and so precious its neck and
tailpiece are fashioned of black elder.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
At this
Economous was final moved to genuine excitement. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
Held to possess
wondrous properties and highly prized by carpenters and habilists alike, black
elder was so rare as to be almost mythic. The
common soul on the street would scarce know what to make of the stuff –
just some dark pretty wood – but to the connoisseur and the learned who had even
an inkling of its manifold qualities it was highly prized as the rarest and the
best of woods. Only the lumber of the even rarer almug-tree was held in greater
esteem. Economous had seen some once – and only once in the hallowed vaults of
Athingdon Athy where Master [……NAME……] had shown the anthenaeum’s single
precious item – a small saltbox made from the stuff, a beautiful little item,
Yet, what had most impressed him at the time was the rare wood’s spicy sweet
perfume.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
“Oh!” Mister
Gleens went on in pompous satisfaction at this reaction in his listener, “if
only I could show it to you, you would marvel, sir, <i>marvel!</i> But alas, its owner will never suffer to have such a
precious heirloom leave the safety of their palatial halls. Well for me it is
not this wood that needs mending – not that it should, black elder is always
true – for there is nowhere I know to get more without recourse to deals with
the black habilists and their dark partners. Be that as it is, what work does
need to be done has had me sending to far away Turkmantine for the finest
rosewood they po…”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
The quiet thump
of front door opening once more instantly captured Economous attention away and
it was quickly transmuted to joy as he first heard the swish and soft step that
were oh so sweetly familiar to him and then beheld the subject of his longing.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
“Asthetica!”
Mister Bidbindle proclaimed, springing with admirable alacrity in an older man from
his step to the vestibule. “All the flowers of Arbustrum have flowered in one!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
Before them was
revealed a vision to render the desire for such paltry things as black elder or
fine viols suddenly base and common. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
Hair the
raven-black of deepest coolest midnight, wide eyes grey like storm-tossed sky;
face an ideal oval of pure marmoreal pallor; the rose-buds of her Hamlin-bow
lips dented so perfectly in the middle and dimpled so prettily at the cheeks, often
expressing gorgeous little “O’s” of wonder; lithe of limb and of form, her
every action quiet and considered: <i>this</i>
was Asthetica Grouse. Clad in a simple stomacher skirt of sombre grey to match
her gleaming often solemn eyes, with a black bonnetbow holding back her equally
raven tresses, Asthetica was dressed almost as drably as a servant, yet her
radiance remained undiminished. For this epitome of beauty, this exemplar of
femanine wonder, was also a member of those most modern of modern <i>innovations</i>: a dollymop – a girl-at-work
– fetching and filing for an underclerk to a lesser secretary of a minor
responsibility at Fribbles Determined Franchisements. What Fribbles Determined
Franchisements actually <i>did</i>,
Economous had never been able to fathom, but they certainly employed a great
many young middling station women to help them do it. Flustered and
dishevelled, to Economous she was a vision of Atopian Dido herself.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
“Good evening, Mister Gleens,” she said, bobbing
ever so slightly as she spoke with a fine address that told of the expensive
day-school education her mother and long dead father had striven to afford her.
“Good evening, Mister Musgrove.” She smiled at him with that smile he liked to
imagine he never saw her give to another.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
“Miss Grouse,”
Economous returned, bowing low in his turn and wishing he could just seize her
up in his arms.</div>
D.M. Cornishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09452470049845132286noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29654538.post-64423630510987715452013-08-19T14:41:00.000+09:302013-08-20T17:53:35.029+09:30Economous Musgrove Chapter 1 Part 3<div align="left" class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i style="text-align: start;"><b>Well-a-day to you all and welcome to a new week and the proper beginning of my intent to regularly post the continuing tale of Economous Musgrove, </b></i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; text-align: center;"><b><i>illustrator, some-time concometrist and would-be
fabulist, and </i></b></span><i style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; text-align: center;"><b> </b></span><b>citizen of Brandenbrass. It must be said that I cannot promise that this will succeed as a story, but I am willing to try if your are willing to go with me come what may. </b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i style="text-align: start;"><b><br /></b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i style="text-align: start;"><b>Either way, let us get on with part 3 ...</b></i></div>
<i style="text-align: start;"><b><br /></b></i>
<b><span style="font-family: "Charlemagne Std"; font-size: 24pt;">Economous</span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Charlemagne Std"; font-size: 24pt;">musgrove<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; text-align: center;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4iTGOIuD5Ds/UhGqdv1jeRI/AAAAAAAAAjQ/578xt1GuGzM/s1600/economus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4iTGOIuD5Ds/UhGqdv1jeRI/AAAAAAAAAjQ/578xt1GuGzM/s320/economus.jpg" width="220" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Charlemagne Std";"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; text-indent: 35.45pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; text-indent: 35.45pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; text-indent: 35.45pt;"> </span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Charlemagne Std";">© D.M.Cornish<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: 'Charlemagne Std'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"><b><span style="background-color: white; color: #bf9000;">PLEASE DO NOT PUBLISH OR REPRODUCE WITHOUT MY PERMISSION</span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Charlemagne Std";"><br /></span><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "Charlemagne Std";">Chapter 1, part 3</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
Breathing
deeply of the tepid leafy perfume of the wooded park, he heaved a long sigh
seeking to expel his fretting with that great exhalation. Curling and uncurling
his bare toes in the grasses kept cropped and neat by many rabbit mouths, he
allowed himself to bask for a beat or two of his humours in the dapple of
sunlight touching his face as the day orb reached the acme of its meridian. Ringed
about by hawthorn, the bench that was his seat was far enough in that he could
almost pretend the city and its press of cares was not there. He tilted his
head slightly so that the pale leaves of a stand of plane trees screened the
banal sight of a chimney and a ridgecap. For this moment he let himself believe
that he was out in proper woods wide, unfettered by taming walls, free of woes
and weights, living each day as though it was new and unspoiled. A kind of
music that was not quite music started in his soul singing of a longing for a
great before when all things were simpler and bright … </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
With a snort
and a startled blink, Economous roused himself. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
“Was I
sleeping?” he wondered in a whisper.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Bringing his attention pointedly
to the scrawl of rabbits bounding over the open page of his numrelogue,
Economous became sharply aware that the threwd of the park had thickened,
became more intent, more deliberate in its watchfulness. In all the months he
had been coming here such a thing had never happened before. A chill shuddering
down his backbone, Economous turned first to his right, peering futilely into
the wooded gloom seeing nothing but leaves, branches, trunks growing haphazard
as if a true wild wood, stretching back in to the deeps of the park behind him.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">“You have a commendable discernment
of subject, womb-born,” came a deep, oddly purring voice over his other
shoulder.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Pivoting in a twinkling he
found himself peering straight into one of the queerer sights he had ever beheld.
Partly thrust from thick hawthorn growth was the face of a greatly oversized
rabbit – well, more the combination of rabbit and something more feline, its
great ears errect and swivelling as it looked on the would-be fabulist with
what to all the Alle looked like mirth. Suddenly this creature bent close and breathed
upon him. Instantly his senses were overwhelmed with the thick perfume of
honeysuckle and the odour of new-turned earth that brought happy thoughts of
the vegetable plot at Athingdon Athy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">With a jolt, Economous
remembered that he ought to be afraid. Shouting in wordless fright, he seized
his calibrator and his thricehigh and sprang away, hareing barefooted down the
lawn and the scant path, heedless of thorns and prickles in the lawn, leaving
all the rest of his belongings to that … that <i>thing </i>as he dashed from that haunted parkland. Through its gate and
safe out on the South Arm – the street of cloes-built half houses and merchant
vendors that ran along the Mouldwood’s eastern boudary – Economous halted. His
days were tough enough; he would not be deprived of his shoes and trews, nor of
his numrelogue, satchel or the well-proofed frockcoat that had already
preserved him from a deadly blow dealt many years ago.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Squaring his thricehigh
determinedly upon his crown, the would-be fabulist steeled his milt and raced
back into the Mouldwood, back up the path of his hasty flight to the hawthorn
bench. He slowed for fear of the rabbit-beast. The woodland park creaked and
ticked. His humours thumped in his ears. All the rabbits were gone and the weak
threwdishness he new as common to this land was restored. Somewhere deeper in
the park a wagtail gave voice to a tetchy call. With a lunge, Economous
snatched his abandoned belongings from the hazelwood bench and dashed back to
the Moldwood gates as fast as limbs and load would let him. The moment he was
clear of the tree and grass and gate and out again on the long house-crowded
street he halted. Bent, hand on knee, wind heaving to and from his lungs in
great gulps, he leant against a stone pillaster of the park’s wall and quite
unaccountably began to laugh. The clatter of lentums, park drags and pavillions
running past largely swallowed the scandalous noise, but a day-strolling
panderer in the lead of three fine-dressed young children was forced to step
about him as he was rocked in his peculiar glee.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">“How unseemly, sir!” the panderer
exclaiming, her cheeks puffing self-importantly. “Not in all my born; it is
scarce midday and you are as soused as a hog’s face!” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">This made Econmous laugh
only the harder. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<i>Unseemly!</i><span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">If only she knew what he had
just seen. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<i>That </i><span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">was<i> a monster I just
found wasn’t it…?</i> he wondered in astonishment his laughter subsiding as
quickly as it had risen. <i>Suely surely not…</i>
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">He had seen a hand of nickers
and bogles on the few monster hunts he had managed to join; terrifying things
all teeth and claws and slavering malice Yet a monster right in the very heart
of our ancient, impreganble city? This should be mpossible… <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<i>I ought tell someone of this!</i><span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The masters of the city
would most certainly desire to know so terrible a revelation yet what would he
say? To whom would he actually say it? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">“Are ye a’right, mate?” asked
a passing water caddie, permanently bent – as was a mark of his trade – under
the small but substantial weight of a water puncheon. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">“There’s a… there’s a…” the
would-be fabulist tried between great gasps. “There’s a mon–” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Abruptly, with a swallow, Economous
stopped. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Who would credit such an
outrageous claim? The impossibility of a monster in the very middle of so great
and safe a capital as Brandenbrass. He doubted even </span>Asthetica<span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> would believe him… And now
that he came to it he found that did not <i>want</i>
to speak to anyone of this after all. The rabbit-and-cat beast had neither
slavered nor snarled, nor had it rent him limb from trunk as all monsters were
supposed to do. The worst it had done was compliment his drawing and to blow on
him – odd certainly, but not violent. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Suddenly, inwardly,
Economous was five years old again, just returned terrified but elated from the
hearthwood copse that had grown behind the row of high-houses on the edge of
his home village of Lo far out west on the fringes of the parishlands of the
Page. Such coppices are a dangerous necessity in any rural setting, providing
firewood easy to hand but always a potential haunt for some wandering bogle or
nicker. Sure enough, little Economous had been seeking delicious bird’s eggs
out in the forbidden trees with three childhood chums when a nasty slavering
nicker all spines and talons had reared out from some dense blackberry thicket,
snatching the little Economous in its cruel grip and sending the other boys to
wild hollering flight. Still able to conjure the whirling, thought-emptying
panic that had gripped him, one notion had stood clear in his little mind: this
was his end. Yet in a great and tumbling violence, little Economous found
himself free. Kicking and flailing to his feet, all he glimpsed before flying
into the trees and home was a brown-skinned horned and bearded creature
grappling with his wicked abductor, pounding away at the slavering black nicker
with terrible mighty blows. Home once more and barely believing what had
happened he immediately confessed to his parents of his profound fortune. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">“I was attacked by a bad
monster but a good one saved me!” he had cried in child’s delight and wonder,
thrilled by such an astounding discovery, his humours racing at so <i>miraculous</i> an escape.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Yet rather than the delight
that such a revelation of such a wondrous rescue of their only son, his parents
had scolded him bitterly for telling such a horrid falsehood. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">“There is no such thing as a
<i>good</i> monster!” his father had
bellowed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">“Never <i>ever</i> speak of this to anyone!” his mother had hissed in wide-eyed
worry.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Not one gleam of relief that
their own son was safe, just this great dread of other people’s regard, of
ill-rumour – all too ready, and of the
black consequence for being found a monster-loving sedorner. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">In the days after he had
appealed to the witness of his friends yet none of them ever said a word in
support of the truth or even of a supposed comrade.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Something had shifted inside
little Economous so long ago, and it had never righted itself since…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">“Jumpin’ at shadows are we,
mate?” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The water caddie’s garbled
voice broke into the dark charm of memory. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Tricorn tipped back on his
crown to scratch at his brow, the fellow was squinting at Economous closely. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Equanimity returning, it
took a beat for Economous to understand what the fellow had said through shockingly
broken and protuberant teeth. “Well,” Economous began. “I –”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">“She’s a curious plot of
glebeland, that’s a’certain,” the fellow pressed, nodding towards the park and
shrugging his shoulders against the heavy leather strap of the puncheon where
it had worn the cloth of his olive-drab frockcoat to a greasy gloss. “Not
willin’ to let go her threwd for no labour. I have watched ye as I amble on me
common rounds, go in day on and day off like no common folk do. I caution ye: loiter
a’long in that yonder park and ye are might to reckon on sights of things not prop’ly
there…”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Economous frowned. “Well…” He
was too keen an observer, too used to rigourously discerning what it is his
eyes beheld to be duped by so simple an effect as the swiming shadows of breeze
tossed branches. Perplexed now, Economous straightend and drew in the city’s
pungeant air. Somehow, the creature’s breath lingered yet in his nostrils,
sweet and sour and loamy at once. No, he had seen what he had seen and there
was no getting around it. “Jumping at shadows.” Economous muttered, more to
himself than as an answer. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">However this seemed enough
for the smiling water-carrier and he immediately took hold of this small
opportunity. “A goose for a gulp, m’lord,” he asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Economous paid two cobs – or
four guise – and took four full swills from the communal pewter ladle that hung
by a long leather cord from harness that held the puncheon high on the caddie’s
hunched shoulders.</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">With a wink the caddie went
on his way.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Returning trews and shoes
and coat to their rightful stations on his frame, and taking his lank black
hair up in a bow and setting his thricehigh firmly back upon his head, Economous transformed
himself from an unshod, bare-headed, tree-embracing wilder to the civilised
city-dwelling soul he usually played. Thus comported, he made his way south
down South Arm and for home, perplexed by a muted yet definite glow of peculiar
and unfounded … <i>positivity</i> – if that
was a word – that had crept into his bosom.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
D.M. Cornishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09452470049845132286noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29654538.post-27740240082107409622013-08-14T15:20:00.000+09:302013-08-14T15:20:04.985+09:30Onwards we go with Economous then \o/Thank you all for your continued thoughts and reactions. I wondered too about having a more conversational start, to reveal some things about EM through chatter at an alehouse with fellow spedigraphers and other arterly types. We shall see - info-dumping is a common first draft symptom, so perhaps - if this goes to a second working - such an issue will be resolved.<br />
<br />
I am thinking to post 1000-1500 words every Monday (Oz Monday that is, so this may vary for other parts of the world, late Sunday in the US and its neighbours for example). How does that grab you?D.M. Cornishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09452470049845132286noreply@blogger.com6