There is a long silence. She must be contemplating things as much as I am. Basically she is Vansittart’s property from now on. There is no telling what she will say to him in her dire need to be accepted by him. For this, she is not to be trusted. I can’t give her any… Continue reading Glum Wanderings of Soul
So, it is here where the threads of different events of past days seem to be woven together. Longax whitehairs and that Gabaldon-fellow who was in need of my services. I have an ominous feeling he is behind all of this. A young, rising star could very well profit from great turmoil that would drop… Continue reading Connecting the Dots
Ominous as it seems, there is really no room for me to back off now. I knew there would be trouble ahead when I decided to come back and try to reorganize my life. At first, when I arrived I was reluctant, like a shy boy in front of a strange, but exotic girl. But… Continue reading Investigation and resolution
As the soft voice of Plotkin fills the room I think again and again of Papak and his relationship to this cult. As a professional I used to regard highly of my ability to read the essence of people and if anything, Papak was not a man who was into religious life. The answer then,… Continue reading Circles and Splinters
Phryne sets a dish down on the stove with an audible clank. Chrysal turns to her, taking her hand – and the jewel – along. — Do you need to go? Chrysal asks the girl. — I have to work today, yes, Phryne says, facing away. — Take care… The girl wastes no time slipping out of… Continue reading Derak in the Jeweled Swamps, revised
The waking comes as it has for a long time now: sharp and quick, rousing the consciousness up violently in mid-breath. Perhaps it is something acquired in my travels in the jungles, where the time between sleep and wakedness could bring death. Not that such danger wouldn’t exist in the jungle of man as well.… Continue reading The Die is Cast
A moment of silence answers your request, only to be broken as Chrysal moves to lock down the straps on your chest. You can’t help flinching at it, but you compose yourself as she looks up and moves to take the chest to the back room. The girl, Phryne, stays seated, conspicuously unmoving. — You… Continue reading Take a Night Shape
How is Vallon even standing with that wound? Amazing vitality in that man. I sway uncertainly myself, still gripping my shirt. Truth is, I feel entirely naked already, in a way: I feel the Speculum within me, but it — she — is moving and out of apposition, leaving me bare to the world. Anybody… Continue reading Parliament of Fools
An overwhelming feeling of helplessness washes over you, and you double your efforts to end your dualistic state. You pull on the silver cord with all of your might, so that it sinks burninginly in your imaginary flesh. You ignore the searing pain and pull savagely. No matter if you occlude completely, this state of… Continue reading Changes
The chamber of the dead Dreamer grows silent in the dual light of the globe that is still hanging in midair. Gently you lower the head of Abanir back onto the stone dais. He seems calm under the eyes of your double vision, an empty shell now so you’ll leave him be where he is.… Continue reading Awake and Asleep
Derak in the Scarlet City 