And now we return to see what happened to our hero... Chapter 8. He gazed tensely at the smoke and dust before him. The detonation had been even greater than he had expected, a blast that had cracked the nearest columns and left a choking cloud obscuring the area of impact entirely. Have I ended it even as it began? Or… A figure was becoming visible. The smoke suddenly cleared, and his gaze was caught and held by ice-blue eyes, filled with anger and shock, staring furiously from a salt-white face. The [ Continue reading... ]
Paradigms Lost: Chapter 23
August 6, 2014 By Leave a Comment
I'm pretty sure this is the shortest chapter in the book. ---- Chapter 23: Remembering Old Times "Okay, Jason, what've you got?" That was Renee, straight to the point. "A whole lot. But first, come here; there's someone I want you to meet." She followed me to the living room. Verne rose from the red chair, bowed as I introduced them. "Renee Reisman, Verne Domingo." She didn't shake hands. "Jason, we've had our eye on this man for some time. I'd like to know just what his [ Continue reading... ]
Paradigms Lost: Chapter 22
August 4, 2014 By Leave a Comment
Jason's got some information gathering to do... Chapter 22: Three Conversations, One Problem I got back to my house, opened the door, and went to the kitchen. A few minutes later, sandwich and soda next to me, I booted up my terminal program. I needed to contact "Manuel Garcia O'Kelly Davis." Manuel was actually a fairly high-placed military intelligence analyst. I thought he was Air Force, but there was no way to be sure. I sent him a secured e-mail, asking for a conference. He agreed, and we [ Continue reading... ]
Polychrome: Chapter 7 and First Vision
August 1, 2014 By Leave a Comment
It's time for a point of view we haven't seen for quite a while... since the beginning, in fact... and then one we will see short pieces of a few more times... Chapter 7. He looked up from the stone he was polishing as the Tempest swirled into the room. "You bring news?" The bound storm-spirit bowed low before Ugu, and in a thin shrieking voice reported its observations. As he listened, Ugu felt his face tightening, already thin lips thinning. And so it has begun. Once the Tempest had concluded, [ Continue reading... ]
Paradigms Lost: Chapter 21
July 30, 2014 By Leave a Comment
Jason has some personal issues to deal with... ----- Chapter 21: Admissions and Evidence The door opened. "Jason!" Sylvie said, looking surprised. "Hi, Syl. Can I come in?" "Sure. Watch out for the books on the floor, I'm rearranging the library." I stepped in. I noticed again the odd, warm smell of her house; the dusty, comfortable scent of old books blended with a faint tinge of kitchen spices and old-fashioned perfume, a smell that didn't fit someone as young and gorgeous [ Continue reading... ]
Paradigms Lost: Chapter 20
July 28, 2014 By Leave a Comment
So, Renee had given him a creepy crime to think about... ----- Chapter 20: An Unusual Consultant Red liquid swirled warmly in the crystal glass, throwing off crimson highlights. Verne Domingo sipped. I swallowed some of my ginger ale, noticing how little I was affected these days by the knowledge that Verne was drinking blood. "Why doesn't it clot?" I asked idly. "Heparin, my friend. A standard anticoagulant." "Doesn't that give you any problems?" His warm chuckle rolled out. "Not in the [ Continue reading... ]
Polychrome: Chapter 6
July 25, 2014 By Leave a Comment
Our two heroes were finally on their way... ----- Chapter 6. We leapt from cloud to cloud, the white mists undefined at close range, yet giving springily underfoot like deep, deep turf, little puffs of mist following every step. If I die right now, I'll die happy, I found myself thinking. It was clichéd, it was corny, but it was true. I'd met Polychrome, I'd actually found a way to show her beauty, and I'd flown and danced through the clouds themselves. But I wouldn't die a success, and the [ Continue reading... ]
Paradigms Lost: Chapter 19
July 24, 2014 By Leave a Comment
Well, Jason had had some disturbing news earlier... Chapter 19: Blood and Moonlight When I can't talk and can't act and can't work… I drive. I cruised down the various highways—the Northway, then part of the Thruway, 787, back to I-90—the windows wide open and the wind roaring at sixty-five. Even so, I barely felt any cooler; for sheer miserable muggy heat, it's hard to beat the worst summer days of Albany, New York, and its environs, which unfortunately include Morgantown. It was days like this that made [ Continue reading... ]
Paradigms Lost: Chapter 18
July 21, 2014 By Leave a Comment
We start a new section of the book with another brand-new chapter! Part III: Photo Finish August, 1999 Chapter 18: Action and Reaction "But I thought we would be seeing The Thirteenth Floor tomorrow night," Syl said. I winced. Truth be told, I'd forgotten all about our movie plans in the past few weeks, and Verne had made an appointment – after hours, naturally – to discuss several interesting opportunities he was looking into. Given the situation with Verne, I hadn't yet let Syl [ Continue reading... ]
Polychrome: Chapter 5
July 18, 2014 By Leave a Comment
Well, it seemed the Hero had cleared one hurdle... Chapter 5. He did it. He DID it! For a moment, Polychrome was so filled with joy that she could do nothing but dance in the darkness, the song in her heart echoed by the Music of the Spheres, trying to give to her dance the ascending glory and defiant, mortal pride and courage that glorious City represented. She laughed, and saw his face looking up at her as she floated lightly in the air, and for a moment, she wondered at what she saw there; he seemed [ Continue reading... ]
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