tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3546451480032327682024-03-05T10:57:23.565-08:00K. Marvin BruceBlog of a struggling writer.K. Marvin Brucehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13189602248843707089noreply@blogger.comBlogger342125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-354645148003232768.post-7844766348003065872024-02-10T05:46:00.000-08:002024-02-10T05:46:08.365-08:00Creativity<p> <span style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;">Maybe you’ve noticed this too.</span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;"> </span><span style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;">When you step away from fiction writing for a while, your creativity becomes flaccid.</span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;"> </span><span style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;">I’ve had to step away from this blog for a while because I was writing my sixth nonfiction book.</span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;"> </span><span style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;">God, I’ve missed fiction!</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Palatino; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px; text-indent: 18px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">Now that I’ve entered that phase of waiting for publishers to respond, I’ve turned my limited writing time back to fiction.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I submitted a couple of stories this week and am waiting to hear about those as well.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>When you’re a writer, waiting is a way of life.</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Palatino; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px; text-indent: 18px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">Opening my software where I store my fiction stories, I was amazed by how many I found.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Some of them are bad—so bad that they’ll never (rightfully) be published.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Some are surprisingly good and have been sitting around while I finished up my nonfic.</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Palatino; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px; text-indent: 18px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">The vast majority, however, are unfinished.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Some years back I realized that when I’m writing in the heat of inspiration but don’t have time to finish a story that I need to write down where I’m going with it to remind myself later.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>If I don’t, I come back to some half-forgotten tale with no idea where I was heading with it.</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Palatino; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px; text-indent: 18px;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8dHIJPZcBpJpaf_vDCkNfFetg0BIHQzlUS1zTfsj9b48S-Ogw80fruOP76VJu9JHv_HQ9go-e3KgLOGCYCG1M36aa9ZSfDr6hHwQn2zgf8BFDKPbCuxsbK8xJKHOq2ZtxyYJ8kTCrJ8GBBL0k1oKjxfUOvYSqjPR2fkCW9bjIxdBAMAfk4VG8fji9PqDb/s4032/IMG_2119.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8dHIJPZcBpJpaf_vDCkNfFetg0BIHQzlUS1zTfsj9b48S-Ogw80fruOP76VJu9JHv_HQ9go-e3KgLOGCYCG1M36aa9ZSfDr6hHwQn2zgf8BFDKPbCuxsbK8xJKHOq2ZtxyYJ8kTCrJ8GBBL0k1oKjxfUOvYSqjPR2fkCW9bjIxdBAMAfk4VG8fji9PqDb/s320/IMG_2119.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p class="p2" style="font-family: Palatino; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px; text-indent: 18px;"><br /></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Palatino; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px; text-indent: 18px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">In any case, the thing I’ve noticed—and I’ve noticed it before—is that my day-to-day life becomes much more creative when I write fiction.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I’m happier.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I think more clearly.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I can manage (slightly) to get through my nine-to-five job.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Fiction is real life.</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Palatino; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px; text-indent: 18px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">I know I don’t have many readers out there, but I’m posting this as a word of encouragement.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Don’t give up!<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I put aside fiction writing for a couple of years because I really needed to finish my latest nonfiction project.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>It doesn’t have the sparkle that some of my earlier books do.</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Palatino; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px; text-indent: 18px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">Writing is life itself.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Our world of trying to make money is not what it seems to be.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Fiction just makes sense.</p>K. Marvin Brucehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13189602248843707089noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-354645148003232768.post-45590004652987153182024-02-03T05:52:00.000-08:002024-02-03T05:52:59.622-08:00Dusty<p> <span style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;">My, this thing is dusty.</span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;"> </span><span style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;">My fans—hi, Mom!—perhaps believe me to have perished in the pandemic.</span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;"> </span><span style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;">No, it was nonfiction’s fault.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Palatino; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px; text-indent: 18px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">Since the pandemic began I’ve had two nonfiction books published and have written a third.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>With a nine-to-five job something’s got to give.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Unfortunately it’s been fiction.</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Palatino; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px; text-indent: 18px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">Well, the groundhog didn’t see his shadow yesterday, so it must be safe to come out.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I shuffled away the rejection notes and began submitting again.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I’ve got a backlog of weird stories and maybe some new publishers have emerged?</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Palatino; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px; text-indent: 18px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">The thing is, don’t you just hate it when you’re in the mood to submit and some lit journal has its window for submissions firmly shut?<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>My last story, “<a href="https://corev.ink/" target="_blank">The Hput,</a>” was published about three years ago.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Oh, I’ve submitted since then, but with no traction.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Well, it is winter.</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWQIND16atyGN9EKQakYx5HCmmN4-1PIVEwVIi_JEOWo3qPmpzoL2_jbhgFXcUcKhkEsKhm4xvqhkiQMSxguf0oDdvTcMvwTDsqzDbuHv7r9cjSC1QrNR8nGhalSj3L3QMFL7-A1563OSwU7-N2gwAufI_lSb46JZ64PH7jdoYHbSKhMBxzLQ0dhhmlahT/s4032/IMG_2154.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWQIND16atyGN9EKQakYx5HCmmN4-1PIVEwVIi_JEOWo3qPmpzoL2_jbhgFXcUcKhkEsKhm4xvqhkiQMSxguf0oDdvTcMvwTDsqzDbuHv7r9cjSC1QrNR8nGhalSj3L3QMFL7-A1563OSwU7-N2gwAufI_lSb46JZ64PH7jdoYHbSKhMBxzLQ0dhhmlahT/s320/IMG_2154.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;"><br /></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Palatino; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px; text-indent: 18px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">I’ve got a lot of stories lined up.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I’ve been sending them out again, dreaming of making a dime at what I love doing best.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>When you’ve been writing for half a century, you learn a thing or two.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I hope, anyway.</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Palatino; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px; text-indent: 18px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">Part of the problem is my stories don’t fall neatly into any categories.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Even “weird fiction” has come to mean something a little too Lovecraftian for what I’m doing.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>There’s a bit of humor and a ton of thought in my stories, which is why they don’t prosper, I suppose.</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;"><br /></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Palatino; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px; text-indent: 18px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">Still, a writing life is a writing life.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Since my last post I had to go through and make PDFs of all my stories since software keeps updating and saying that files aren’t readable.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>There’s a reason I don’t read ebooks.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Anyway, that kick in the ass got me thinking I need to submit more.</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Palatino; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px; text-indent: 18px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">And so I have.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I happen to believe that if you spend half-a-century doing something you might know something about it, right?<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>In the biz that counts for nothing.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Which is why, this Groundhog Day minus one, I’m trying to dust this thing off.</p>K. Marvin Brucehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13189602248843707089noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-354645148003232768.post-91318315216116254322023-03-11T11:19:00.001-08:002023-03-11T11:19:20.054-08:00Writer Beware<p> <span style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;">I recently submitted my Medusa novel to a publisher I found because </span><i style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;">they</i><span style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;"> approached </span><i style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;">me</i><span style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;"> to review one of their books.</span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;"> </span><span style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;">Now, my nonfiction blog isn’t a big deal.</span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;"> </span><span style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;">With only a couple hundred regular readers I’m sure it didn’t lead to sales.</span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;"> </span><span style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;">The book, honestly, wasn’t that good.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Palatino; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px; text-indent: 18px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">Still, the website was friendly and welcoming.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>As I filled in the proposal form I was honest, as it asked me to be.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>How many copies, it asked, do you think your book will sell?<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Be honest, it advised.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I put a number, realistic, that my own publisher would’ve been satisfied with.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Most books, truth be told, sell less than 1,000 copies.</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Palatino; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px; text-indent: 18px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">When they sent their rejection note a week later they said that I wasn’t well enough established as a fiction writer.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>In other words, I couldn’t bring in enough money.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I’m not established enough?<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>How are you ever going to get established if even a small publisher like that won’t give you a chance?</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVL3FgyUzdd2WYZI6dboK_pJzVP-OYUS-2TKYAhonz1gbfMeMUqY1QYDXuft2_wBjb7b9CwqT4t2DzfZgYat1yK3egfCX4P35SIkWKUFIaT154pAELh4PgqsAkgQtJBqJgTUbl4lp08_HQmcAhGAE9HSbcR8zVVXsnfrWFMsXaDkXA-Mu7WnjZleLE_w/s4032/IMG_1597.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVL3FgyUzdd2WYZI6dboK_pJzVP-OYUS-2TKYAhonz1gbfMeMUqY1QYDXuft2_wBjb7b9CwqT4t2DzfZgYat1yK3egfCX4P35SIkWKUFIaT154pAELh4PgqsAkgQtJBqJgTUbl4lp08_HQmcAhGAE9HSbcR8zVVXsnfrWFMsXaDkXA-Mu7WnjZleLE_w/s320/IMG_1597.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p class="p2" style="font-family: Palatino; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px; text-indent: 18px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">Here’s the inherent dishonesty in the system.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I’m not famous—I’m honest about that.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I, however, work hard for my publications.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I set up websites, I do interviews, and, I’m told, I write well.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>If you only accept established authors, for God’s sake say so!</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Palatino; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px; text-indent: 18px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">I’ve worked in publishing for going on twenty years now.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I’ve been writing for nearly half a century.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>For those who get my work, they note that it’s intelligent and often fun.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Would people pay to read it?<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I may never know.</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Palatino; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px; text-indent: 18px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">Looking back, I wonder if it was wise to submit my novel to a publisher that produced the kind of book (for an author with no platform, I must add) they sent to me.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>All I really lost was a week of hope that some publisher, honestly, would understand what it means to be a creative.</p>K. Marvin Brucehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13189602248843707089noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-354645148003232768.post-44183116985436638662023-03-04T03:59:00.005-08:002023-03-04T03:59:58.337-08:00Double Life<p> <span style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;">Sometimes life’s too busy to be leading a double life.</span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;"> </span><span style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;">My fiction writing has once again been suffering because of nonfiction.</span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;"> </span><span style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;">Funny how that goes.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px; text-indent: 18px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">I have my fifth nonfiction book coming out this summer and a sixth written in draft form.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>The real problem, however, is the nine-to-five job.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>As a professional, it’s expected that the eight-hour day be more like ten.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>And what with basic survival, and social time, writing both fiction and non can be a challenge.</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px; text-indent: 18px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">In a spate of optimism I submitted three or four stories back in the summer, with predictable results.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I finally got brave enough to submit my Medusa novel again.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>This one has quite a history, starting with being under contract in 2012.</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px; text-indent: 18px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">I’ve had a few nibbles since the publisher pulled the plug after an editor left.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Hey, as a professional I know that’s not a very professional thing to do!<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Publishers that don’t live up to their obligations, well, let’s just say they don’t thrive.</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px; text-indent: 18px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">Just recently, though, I saw that someone else had taken a similar approach to the exact topic of my novel.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Only they found a major publisher.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I had queried over 90 agents about it, with no success.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Not marketable, they said.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Well, the <i>New York Times</i> disagrees. (What do they know?)</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMKVgfMhRWbCTVFeaeQMTjCaJCDtTEUdIyGv1tuApJP6GDOWwWACSp-G3jcoLnU7OORnaeGHcwUII6w48PKCKYBNaRer9xcCdsbXNq-4xeRPynG_MTkMBneqgXxpNJoF_PqLMn_WEOQPDTJm7d3CJpSnfVZZtsJg4tzInDYUmwq3M3ogRN3GCxRMfuzg/s4032/IMG_1536.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMKVgfMhRWbCTVFeaeQMTjCaJCDtTEUdIyGv1tuApJP6GDOWwWACSp-G3jcoLnU7OORnaeGHcwUII6w48PKCKYBNaRer9xcCdsbXNq-4xeRPynG_MTkMBneqgXxpNJoF_PqLMn_WEOQPDTJm7d3CJpSnfVZZtsJg4tzInDYUmwq3M3ogRN3GCxRMfuzg/s320/IMG_1536.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p class="p2" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px; text-indent: 18px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">The real irony here is that I prefer to write fiction.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Eighteen different publishers say I’m good at it.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Breaking into the book market, well, you’re going to need more than a crowbar.</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px; text-indent: 18px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">Since I work in nonfiction, finding nonfiction publishers isn’t that difficult.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I’ve successfully placed five books over the years.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Why is fiction so much harder?<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Those who know such things say it’s because far more people try to write it.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>The key to successful writing, it seems to me, is research.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>And some talent.</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px; text-indent: 18px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">My fiction is as well researched as my nonfiction.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>You have to read to write well.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>The thing is, doing it in a double life adds a layer of complexity.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>And perhaps schizophrenia.</p>K. Marvin Brucehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13189602248843707089noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-354645148003232768.post-33942635210709900582022-10-01T13:16:00.001-07:002022-10-01T13:16:39.163-07:00Nothing Like It<p> <span style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;">There’s no feeling like it.</span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;"> </span><span style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;">Finishing a story that you know is good.</span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;"> </span><span style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;">You’re ready to send it to a publisher right away.</span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;"> </span><span style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;">But then you hesitate.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px; text-indent: 18px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">You’ve received so many rejection notes but each one stabs you afresh when another one comes.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Still, you know this story’s good.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>You’ve managed to do something different than you usually do.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Will they, can they appreciate it for what it is?</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px; text-indent: 18px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">I’ve managed to have thirty stories published—averaging one per every two years I’ve been on this planet.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>The rejection numbers are beyond a one-to-one correspondence.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>And yet, I know this story’s good.</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px; text-indent: 18px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">Fiction publishing’s all about convincing some editor you don’t know that you do know.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>You know your own writing.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I write many stories that aren’t publishable.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Writing’s that way.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>When I do manage a good one I’m like a kid on Christmas morning.</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px; text-indent: 18px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">It takes thick skin, they say, to be a writer.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>My question is should it?<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Of course, there are lots of would-be writers out there.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>You’d think a guy my age might have some observations about life to share.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>In fictional form.</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px; text-indent: 18px;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE6ff4uNFzfm23P4Qj3N2RvFeugidm1KNS4cFfK_TKVoqJsw_KRAXizJhUtHOSAXmfQs-Io7zBm70kSwFEzoz6JO0SK-5rpKDUolzf34b3hm8dXV9AunKOAQFOkWANcqr-BAu7jJ8ZCT39XYtv6RSLkZCAVjCnaiaIlkEeNc5urYOuWZbyZmJWKcIP9w/s4032/IMG_1401.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE6ff4uNFzfm23P4Qj3N2RvFeugidm1KNS4cFfK_TKVoqJsw_KRAXizJhUtHOSAXmfQs-Io7zBm70kSwFEzoz6JO0SK-5rpKDUolzf34b3hm8dXV9AunKOAQFOkWANcqr-BAu7jJ8ZCT39XYtv6RSLkZCAVjCnaiaIlkEeNc5urYOuWZbyZmJWKcIP9w/s320/IMG_1401.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p class="p2" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px; text-indent: 18px;"><br /></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px; text-indent: 18px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">There’s always an element of struggle to it.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Quite often I go back and re-edit my stuff.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I edit stories before ever submitting them.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I do tend to work in isolation, so nobody else reads them before I move them on.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>That’s one burden of using a <i>nom de guerre</i>.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>(People I know wouldn’t be accepting of my fictional thoughts.)</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px; text-indent: 18px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">I know lots of editors—mostly of nonfiction.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>One thing they tell me is that other eyes should see writing.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Often those eyes end up being of the editor her or himself.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>And if they spot too much wrong, the rejection letter follows naturally enough.</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px; text-indent: 18px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">I sometimes wonder if they’ve forgotten the excitement.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>The thrill of writing something they know is good.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>There’s nothing like it.</p>K. Marvin Brucehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13189602248843707089noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-354645148003232768.post-7021506746526218522022-08-27T09:16:00.000-07:002022-08-27T09:16:18.767-07:00Too Much Writing?<p> <span style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;">Has this ever happened to you?</span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;"> </span><span style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;">Have you written a story that you’ve completely forgot?</span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;"> </span><span style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;">Not only completely forgotten, but made unfindable?</span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;"> </span><span style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;">I play games with my stories and sometimes the joke’s on me.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px; text-indent: 18px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">Okay, I suffer from graphomania.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I write constantly.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I do try to keep organized—I use a spreadsheet that has all my submissions on it.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>It has rejection/acceptance dates (mostly rejection).<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Lots of information.</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px; text-indent: 18px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">I decided to list on it every story, whether finished or in process.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>There are far too many (mostly in process).<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>When I finish a story I often submit it.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>If I get burned, I’m shy about resubmitting.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I often rewrite at this stage.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Then, when I feel brave enough, I try again.</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px; text-indent: 18px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">The spreadsheet is color-coded.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>There, in the color that indicates finished and ready to submit is a story cryptically titled “The Password.”<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I don’t remember this story.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I can’t recall what it was about or why I thought it was ready to publish.</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px; text-indent: 18px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">Looking through my electronic files, there’s no project by that name.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Even my electronic files are scattered all the fuck over the place, so I have to check lots of spots.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Nowhere.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>No story or folder titled “The Password.”</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis0XO2jprFFrUu-czFVY5lH2zuH71nuStPwBObWZ_4pIcZcdRk4T_2uNN9iddIYtyDaY3WwBhLdLGuJ2tMf3dJSq5oU0-sxz7BpgQifvfcWQamw1dLy1wDO-8T5Le9qydBUa_K9qo6NapcpUoLrcoMXYIVXfdRYqBfuyY3QJc86n7-BBP69KuggmW2lQ/s4032/663FF9D1-96BA-403B-AB5A-721CAB514C71.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis0XO2jprFFrUu-czFVY5lH2zuH71nuStPwBObWZ_4pIcZcdRk4T_2uNN9iddIYtyDaY3WwBhLdLGuJ2tMf3dJSq5oU0-sxz7BpgQifvfcWQamw1dLy1wDO-8T5Le9qydBUa_K9qo6NapcpUoLrcoMXYIVXfdRYqBfuyY3QJc86n7-BBP69KuggmW2lQ/s320/663FF9D1-96BA-403B-AB5A-721CAB514C71.heic" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;"><br /></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px; text-indent: 18px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">What was I thinking when I put it down on my ready to publish list?<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>It couldn’t have been that long ago.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Why can I not remember writing it?</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px; text-indent: 18px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">Maybe if I could spend more time on my writing this wouldn’t be an issue.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Much of my writing time is devoted to nonfiction.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I seem to get that accepted for publication more easily.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>But, like John Lennon, I want to be a paperback writer.</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px; text-indent: 18px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">There’s over 160 stories on my spreadsheet, and that’s not all of them.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>It doesn’t include, for instance, those written by hand.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>For years I tried to do that, but then didn’t have the time to type all of them up.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>They’re sitting in the attic.</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px; text-indent: 18px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“The Password” was electronic, I know.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>And when I find it, I have the feeling it will unlock everything.</p>K. Marvin Brucehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13189602248843707089noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-354645148003232768.post-58063221260563939212022-05-07T12:39:00.000-07:002022-05-07T12:39:04.861-07:00Fiction Dreams<p> <span style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;">I haven’t submitted anything for publication for several months.</span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;"> </span><span style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;">Once the courage wears off, after having had some success, it seems that I’ve become thin-skinned again.</span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;"> </span><span style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;">Part of the reason, I suppose, is that I’ve had pretty good success with non-fiction.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px; text-indent: 18px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">But I really want to write fiction.</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px; text-indent: 18px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">One idea, and it’s not something I figured out, is that submitting to contests is a good idea.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Somehow knowing that hundreds of others are also trying makes it seem less like rejection if I lose.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I can say, “there were hundreds of others—chances were small to begin with.”</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px; text-indent: 18px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">I really have no idea how many submissions your typical magazine (print or electronic) gets.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I do know that a number of editors don’t get my style, or what I’m trying to do.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>It’s not really horror.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>It’s more weird fiction.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>But literary.</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px; text-indent: 18px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">What’s wrong with the literary weird?<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>To me, the unusual or uncanny is what I’m looking for when I read a story.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I’ve read too many where nothing interesting happens (and yet they get published).<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I’ve even thought about starting my own literary mag.</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px; text-indent: 18px;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Asx-t9Z6s7w81jt7tJjwEk7f5tfjzPvWjWrbSqbqbpNBAwZ8IBFHVxLDPmmz5NDnjUFn7aFm2cipxrko1bbNbAgyyJ2SPrW_1rxlS3aPhE5HwER3flwkNQkhcELgH0AUh-3cIyJDbGHBWljz5Pj3pDpdiR9d9tQ5H7hB_VJbvULEIedCr83N4usriA/s4032/IMG_0899.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Asx-t9Z6s7w81jt7tJjwEk7f5tfjzPvWjWrbSqbqbpNBAwZ8IBFHVxLDPmmz5NDnjUFn7aFm2cipxrko1bbNbAgyyJ2SPrW_1rxlS3aPhE5HwER3flwkNQkhcELgH0AUh-3cIyJDbGHBWljz5Pj3pDpdiR9d9tQ5H7hB_VJbvULEIedCr83N4usriA/s320/IMG_0899.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p class="p2" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px; text-indent: 18px;"><br /></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px; text-indent: 18px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">A friend of mine who writes used to say, “We write what we wish other people would write.” There’s a great deal of truth in that.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I write what I’d like to read.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>There must be other weirdos out there!</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px; text-indent: 18px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">Some of the weirdness goes into uncharted territory.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Many people, editors especially, prefer writing that stays on the map.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Here be monsters!<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>And what’s wrong with monsters anyway?<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Or fairies?<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Or even people who think about sex differently than other people do?</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px; text-indent: 18px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">I would never try one of those stories in a contest, of course.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>It has to be something respectable.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Like everyone else submits.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>That’s the trick to being an original.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Staying unpublished.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>And hoping, perhaps against hope, that some day someone will discover something I’ve produced.</p>K. Marvin Brucehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13189602248843707089noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-354645148003232768.post-28477979033656227882022-04-23T12:33:00.000-07:002022-04-23T12:33:14.649-07:00Writing Nook<p> <span style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;">When I bought a house (not on any royalties from my writing, mind!) I looked for a place with a writing nook.</span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;"> </span><span style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;">In order to work remotely I had to prove that I had a dedicated office since, well, the man doesn’t like competition.</span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;"> </span><span style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;">The writing nook was supposed to be separate.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV_iX0Vijl9uE8U180WT59hwHF_h4ZfhY8qOTAi41GaQqPlosExoK5TRzR2hcRwc9VypJzoosqTzw-w3-mSUhXprpDw7CtV_37FW0sdKs-NJtt1mls7zAu3Wkj9EaayEiM0pW_GqB5IYZd2EwbErMB2W_jYkqFTACXvUQbjwziyt2mKhu66w6rgDVytw/s4032/IMG_0928.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV_iX0Vijl9uE8U180WT59hwHF_h4ZfhY8qOTAi41GaQqPlosExoK5TRzR2hcRwc9VypJzoosqTzw-w3-mSUhXprpDw7CtV_37FW0sdKs-NJtt1mls7zAu3Wkj9EaayEiM0pW_GqB5IYZd2EwbErMB2W_jYkqFTACXvUQbjwziyt2mKhu66w6rgDVytw/s320/IMG_0928.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p class="p2" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px; text-indent: 18px;"><br /></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px; text-indent: 18px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">This requirement automatically ruled out modern houses.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>New houses have no space for books—they’re designed around entertainment centers and home theaters.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>We needed an older place.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>We found something from the 1890s.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Perfect.</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px; text-indent: 18px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">I tried writing in our downstairs office.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>It’s where my wife put the desktop computer—really, there was nowhere else for it—and it has no room for books.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>It’s also very cold in winter.</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px; text-indent: 18px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">Then I tried the attic.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>It’s sufficiently creepy and it’s full of books.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>It’s even colder than the downstairs study in winter, however.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>And, to get to the bathroom (I write very early in the morning), I have to creak down the stairs and through the bedroom to get there.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Between the cold and the awaking of spouse, it just doesn’t work.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I still have a desk up there, though.</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px; text-indent: 18px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">Then I settled in the living room.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>My favorite chair.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I can bundle up in winter and the bathroom is right there.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>But I would barricade myself in with books.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Whenever anyone came for a visit I’d have to put them all away and try to remember where I left off when they left.</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px; text-indent: 18px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">Finally I settled on the work office.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>It is full of books, and it is, it turns out, the warmest room in the house.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Still, I sit here at least ten hours a day Monday-through-Friday, most of it at a deadly dull job.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I associate the room with misery.</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px; text-indent: 18px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">But it’s growing on me.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>The thing about writing is you can do it anywhere.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>(It’s not so easy on a bus or in the shower, but the ideas still come.)<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>The writing nook is in my head.</p>K. Marvin Brucehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13189602248843707089noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-354645148003232768.post-51932137074542507972022-04-09T10:57:00.000-07:002022-04-09T10:57:02.109-07:00Research Writing<p> <span style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;">My current fiction project has me researching.</span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;"> </span><span style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;">The best advice all writers give is that to be a writer you must read.</span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;"> </span><span style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;">A lot.</span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;"> </span><span style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;">I read on an average, more than a book a week.</span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;"> </span><span style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;">Roughly half of them are fiction and the others non.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px; text-indent: 18px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">I’ve had four nonfiction books published (with a fifth in the editor’s hands).<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Writing nonfiction takes a lot of research.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>So does good fiction.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Not that it’s ever helped me get my novels published, but should they ever see the light of day, they’re well researched.</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDbW6ClNUqd_aQclSkSbOf4lNRxngLMcN3JnTXdLHVXnRxcb2fOn9rQZlej8zhPu6VfSHwAQvYFPJ8-A-Y8RaymQLryJqsuhvpAfwX1sTTf31Sb5F6rgVV_aiz3Fbd1hdblM7vdZmq49_gJ9vrAlyvFUJ-ih1Z9uZSrt9eIZpAykJEt4JPf2kmg5tsbQ/s4032/IMG_0894.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDbW6ClNUqd_aQclSkSbOf4lNRxngLMcN3JnTXdLHVXnRxcb2fOn9rQZlej8zhPu6VfSHwAQvYFPJ8-A-Y8RaymQLryJqsuhvpAfwX1sTTf31Sb5F6rgVV_aiz3Fbd1hdblM7vdZmq49_gJ9vrAlyvFUJ-ih1Z9uZSrt9eIZpAykJEt4JPf2kmg5tsbQ/s320/IMG_0894.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;"><br /></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px; text-indent: 18px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">My novel on Medusa, for instance, was written after teaching introduction to classical mythology three times at a state university.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Indeed, it was that class that led to the novel.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I was only an adjunct, of course, and those with full-time affiliations have it much easier.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I know.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Believe me, I know.</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px; text-indent: 18px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">Now my research takes the form of books I buy myself, much to the protest of my study shelves and bank account.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>All of my books contribute to my research and all of them are used to help me write.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>We all need help, n’est-ce pas?</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px; text-indent: 18px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">In a world where thousands and thousands of books are published each year, even in such a world, it’s difficult to get yourself taken seriously.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Agents are too busy to look at fiction by Ph.D.s.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Academic publishers tend not to do fiction.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>So, as Kurt Vonnegut says, it goes.</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px; text-indent: 18px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">Whether any of my novels ever get published or not, I will continue the research.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Reading is fundamental to the writing soul.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Any reading, done right, is research.</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px; text-indent: 18px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">My current novel (number eight) is being sandwiched between academic articles I’ve been contracted to write.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Along with blog posts and other ephemera.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Not to mention the daily grind.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I guess life is a form of research as well.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I’m hoping it teaches me more about writing.</p>K. Marvin Brucehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13189602248843707089noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-354645148003232768.post-83543341846765827022022-04-02T07:18:00.002-07:002022-04-02T07:18:59.323-07:00Serialize<p> <span style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;">So, as I’m bound down by nonfiction—one down, two to go—I’m still working on fiction.</span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;"> </span><span style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;">My current project, beyond about a dozen stories ready to submit, is converting one of my published stories into a novel.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px; text-indent: 18px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">I’m a self-taught writer.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I’ve never taken a composition class.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I don’t know the conventions of plotting out a story other than by having read many, many books.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I also know that many classic writers of the western canon weren’t trained writers either.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Our society seems to think you have to have a degree to be able to do anything.</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px; text-indent: 18px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">While I don’t doubt that degrees help, what is missing is the awareness that sometimes writing skill is a gift.</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px; text-indent: 18px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">Gifts benefit from development, sure.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Today, however, if you majored in something else and you never prospered enough to afford to get that MFA, you’ll find the establishment a struggle.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>All of which is to say, I hope I’m doing this right.</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px; text-indent: 18px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">I’ve written seven novels so far.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>A famous writer I know never took a writing course and he tells me that’s how he does it.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>He just writes.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>His early novels got attention and he shifted to what he does now after that.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>He found an agent and the rest is history.</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6K8Foyn-elGLJ6_nLTZLN6-v7HCkO4UZOfBewZQ0Z89zE6iGR331Dss8pRveNDUtBRV4jNmTDRLLFKFKFtM2e2LGzqHthb3tJ2FjJjT7IToCazyRelz5HmyUEO0QPHeqGqYEQe4O60QGIev7iOb-Bjh80G5nlXHDgTyRr9erd1HW0MXeWSe_Imr3cOg/s4032/IMG_0899.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6K8Foyn-elGLJ6_nLTZLN6-v7HCkO4UZOfBewZQ0Z89zE6iGR331Dss8pRveNDUtBRV4jNmTDRLLFKFKFtM2e2LGzqHthb3tJ2FjJjT7IToCazyRelz5HmyUEO0QPHeqGqYEQe4O60QGIev7iOb-Bjh80G5nlXHDgTyRr9erd1HW0MXeWSe_Imr3cOg/s320/IMG_0899.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;"><br /></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px; text-indent: 18px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">I began writing fiction in about fourth or fifth grade.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I suppose that means I’ve been doing this nearly half a century.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Other things have intervened—jobs, mostly—but you’ve got to wonder if any of that counts.</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px; text-indent: 18px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">So I’m trying to plot out my eighth novel.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I watch a few videos and talk to a few friends about how to do it, but it seems to me that the way is to just keep writing.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>The story ideas come to me as I do that.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Is that the wrong way to do it?<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I wouldn’t know.</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px; text-indent: 18px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">Many of the writers I admire were self-taught.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>They started, however, before publishing became big business.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Now breaking in without a degree is, well, largely fiction.</p>K. Marvin Brucehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13189602248843707089noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-354645148003232768.post-76285772045136624822022-03-06T02:55:00.001-08:002022-03-06T02:55:26.512-08:00Connectivity<p> <span style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;">So, I try to post every weekend.</span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;"> </span><span style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;">I’m in the middle of a new novel—well, wait.</span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;"> </span><span style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;">I’m at the beginning of a new novel, and I have three promised non-fiction papers to finish.</span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;"> </span><span style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;">Then after that, back to fiction.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px; text-indent: 18px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">I didn’t post last weekend, however, because the internet went out.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Actually, it was my modem that went out.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Hard to believe that in this day and age it takes 48 hours to get a tech to fix something so damned essential, but that’s the world we live in.</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px; text-indent: 18px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">I tried to get some writing done since you don’t technically need the internet to do it.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>It didn’t work.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>A weekend without the internet and with no way to post on my beloved blog.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>What’s a struggling writer to do?</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px; text-indent: 18px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">Come up with ideas, that’s what.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>My best ideas come up when I’m doing something unrelated to the actual writing I live for.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Taking a walk.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Taking a shower.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Driving.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>At least on the taking a walk option I can write things down.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Or I could if I took my notebook.</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg1y09VzzcZ9r-trre6Kt-DoqlsmgHVjSh7c83Krwa87EYtrJAFPP9Ze1GnV2q7lo5mxHEkvkNB62eMqd703_DbSPVjFHq7b3bjEID7FXu3VAusHBxdbu4RBb89SsoQk3eX8m0yWg1CCBjg7V1PjYPYASqpySM4PdKhyhyY02JR800w5kOS_QtW-TeSTw=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg1y09VzzcZ9r-trre6Kt-DoqlsmgHVjSh7c83Krwa87EYtrJAFPP9Ze1GnV2q7lo5mxHEkvkNB62eMqd703_DbSPVjFHq7b3bjEID7FXu3VAusHBxdbu4RBb89SsoQk3eX8m0yWg1CCBjg7V1PjYPYASqpySM4PdKhyhyY02JR800w5kOS_QtW-TeSTw=s320" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;"><br /></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px; text-indent: 18px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">As a working writer, I walk fast.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>It’s still too dark around here to get my walk in before starting work.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>So I take a quick break around lunch and walk.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I walk fast and I don’t stop.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>It’s often some of the most inspirational time during the week.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I come home repeating story ideas that I don’t want to forget, rushing for a paper and pen.</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px; text-indent: 18px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">I don’t take my notebook because I’m pressed for time.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I often muse that it is just this very time pressure that makes creativity flow.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>When I commuted into New York daily, I had very little time and when I stopped commuting the ideas seemed to have dried up.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>What is it with creativity and pressure?</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px; text-indent: 18px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">I think my limiting my walk time is a way of building pressure again, like an InstantPot on legs.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>It may not work for you, but when you have no internet, perhaps taking a walk is the most creative thing you can do.</p>K. Marvin Brucehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13189602248843707089noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-354645148003232768.post-6885698457740271102022-02-12T08:17:00.001-08:002022-02-12T08:17:57.504-08:00After Atoms<p> <span style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;">Well, I fooled myself.</span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;"> </span><span style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;">I thought there was one more chapter to </span><i style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;">The Space between Atoms</i><span style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;">, but I was wrong.</span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;"> </span><span style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;">All 67 chapters have now been posted.</span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;"> </span><span style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;">Now I wait.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px; text-indent: 18px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">I have a YouTube channel in my real name.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>It has only a handful of videos on it, but the other day one got a comment.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I happened to glance at the stats and saw it’d been viewed 80 times.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I haven’t had time to add any videos over the past two or three years.</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px; text-indent: 18px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">The point is, even while I’ve been doing other things, some people have been finding what I’ve already done.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Perhaps that’s how one gets recognition? <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px; text-indent: 18px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">There comes a time when three years can pass without anyone noticing.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Except the reaper.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I started publishing fiction in my late forties.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>That was about a decade ago.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I’m still waiting to get my first novel published.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I’ve written seven.</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px; text-indent: 18px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">I’ve started on a new novel but I’m reminded of just how much work they entail.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Not that I shy away from work, but sometimes I wonder how much time I’ve got left.</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px; text-indent: 18px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">Sorry to sound gloomy.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>It comes with being a horror writer, I suppose.</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg71Z5Qrz-O_fDEZKCscMf1eiHLMf5GPhKUwnlMwXIis4Pj44HQxL0P9f_-FSdrIx1j2RmZ3Q0doBggm8XfDSnAQzFIc5ZOb7-0_QO9Rd5pvRlkc22P4QCrIJrXnWJ6ibO7Fib3vnbokKOJkM5hvo4BaYAW-LGUBV61FoGF7HykuI04v-ixyM_Cn9kHXQ=s1024" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg71Z5Qrz-O_fDEZKCscMf1eiHLMf5GPhKUwnlMwXIis4Pj44HQxL0P9f_-FSdrIx1j2RmZ3Q0doBggm8XfDSnAQzFIc5ZOb7-0_QO9Rd5pvRlkc22P4QCrIJrXnWJ6ibO7Fib3vnbokKOJkM5hvo4BaYAW-LGUBV61FoGF7HykuI04v-ixyM_Cn9kHXQ=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;"><br /></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px; text-indent: 18px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">Over the past year I finished about six more stories and I’m trying to find the time to send them out.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Nonfiction has been eating up that time because, well, I can get nonfiction published.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I actually have people asking me to write it.</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px; text-indent: 18px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">It seems funny to me that you can get fairly easily published in nonfiction venues, but agents and editors don’t believe in your ability.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>How many more years of prolificacy until someone notices, if ever?<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I will write anyway.</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px; text-indent: 18px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">My true love has always been fiction.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><i>The Space between Atoms</i> was, as all stories are, slightly autobiographical.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Writers who claim otherwise have some problems with facing the truth.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Our stories are ourselves.</p>K. Marvin Brucehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13189602248843707089noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-354645148003232768.post-8964212044314943802022-02-05T09:09:00.000-08:002022-02-05T09:09:06.455-08:00The Space between Atoms 67<p> <span style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;">“I thought you said she was safe from Wednesday here!” Terah was frantic.</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“I said probably,” Calum sighed.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>“There’s something afoot.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>That much is clear.”</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“How do we find her?”</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">Calum turned to face the younger man.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>“I’m not sure that we can.”</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">Real panic hit Terah now.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Having been with Lindsey so long he couldn’t face this homeless life without her.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>He simply couldn’t imagine it.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>“Why not?<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>What about your library?”</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“You’ve got to understand.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>The supernatural is beyond human control.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I’ve got books on all kinds of supernatural subjects, including missing persons and remote viewing.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Missing persons are seldom found—some of them may have been taken elsewhere.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Remote viewing only works when an adept has a target, a place.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>If your psychic connection with her is strong enough, you might be able to reach her somehow.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Otherwise we’ve got an entire world—perhaps even universe—in which to look.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>We’re under a quarantine as well, so we can simply drive around asking people, as is that would work.”</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“Has she gone far, do you suppose?”</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg9dwIV2XR-GDVZkzCQ-cvDV5iTT-9lNqVZEQpUL_dQZYXfQYtZTe5jIimGFwnP9uvwNfjlys0ZzptbQVr97my2YEX-so8zrguxFDXtFAtOpM7F9nz7-gtdTu_9S2UYzhja49slZPEA6-O1RnS69NHZ7jkpTsmbInF29fZ2MFcEA1gj5MebjkvspiZZng=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg9dwIV2XR-GDVZkzCQ-cvDV5iTT-9lNqVZEQpUL_dQZYXfQYtZTe5jIimGFwnP9uvwNfjlys0ZzptbQVr97my2YEX-so8zrguxFDXtFAtOpM7F9nz7-gtdTu_9S2UYzhja49slZPEA6-O1RnS69NHZ7jkpTsmbInF29fZ2MFcEA1gj5MebjkvspiZZng=s320" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“She was clearly taken.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Smell the ozone?<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>This isn’t the case of a runaway.”</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“If it was Wednesday he might’ve taken her back to the asylum.”</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“At least that’s a place we can check.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I’ll have Kjell take care of things here.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>We’ll need to be careful, however.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Police are keeping a close eye on teen gathering places these days.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>They don’t seem too worried about the pandemic.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>But Terah, if we can’t find her there we can’t randomly go to revisit all your haunts.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>If she can escape she’ll come back here.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>It won’t do to have us getting infected or to be missing ourselves when she gets here.”</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">Terah, distressed as he was, couldn’t believe the variety of cars in Calum’s garage.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>“We don’t want anything conspicuous,” he reasoned.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>“Just what someone might drive out for groceries.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Let’s take the Prius.”<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>The classic silver hybrid was unlike anything Terah had ever driven.</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“This thing’s half computer!”<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>It momentarily replaced his worry about Lindsey.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Would they find her at Honest Oahusha?<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>He wished he knew more about demons and what motivated them.</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">Calum steered the mid-size from the garage.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>“Don’t get your hopes up, Terah.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I’m fairly sure Lindsey’s still alive, but I don’t know what the demons might want with her.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>She’s been able to fight back against them, and that doesn’t make anyone happy.”</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“She fights back?<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>How?”</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“That’s part of what I taught her.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>It’s our duty to resist evil, no matter what the cost.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>She’s taken that to heart.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>The training is a form of meditation, a rewiring of the brain.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Demons are spiritual beings that can affect the material world.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>We, on the other hand, are a blend of material and spiritual.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>We tend to concentrate on the former, but if we train our souls we can accomplish great things.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Sometimes at great cost.”</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">The eerie drive through ghostly roads devoid of cars sent a shiver through Terah’s shoulders.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>They had to find her.</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">Clearly, Calum knew his way to the asylum.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Since it was abandoned, the road that once led there was barricaded.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>No other cars were parked along the stump road.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>“Many people are using the pandemic to get out for walks, but it looks like this isn’t a popular spot.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>He pulled on a pair of latex gloves and offered the box to Terah.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>“For germs,” he explained.</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">Following the road beyond the barricade was simple enough.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>The place looked very different in the bloom of spring.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Terah recalled approaching the hard way, through snow-filled woods.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>His heart fell when he saw the front door hanging open.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Still, perhaps Lindsey had been whisked here and hadn’t had time to set up her alarm system.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>The light inside transformed the central room.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>The windows were still far away but seemed capable of admitting more illumination than they could muster in winter.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>The men stood and listened to the utter silence.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>A strange nostalgia nearly brought tears to Terah’s eyes.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>So much had happened here.</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“This way,” Terah said, recalling the blazes.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Calum had been prepared, so flashlights appeared and Terah led Calum to the basement and its boiler room.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>There was no sign of Lindsey.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>“This is where we stayed,” he explained.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>“We should check out the necessary room, just in case.”</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">Lindsey wasn’t there.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>After a sweep of the basement, Terah took Calum up to the room where he’d first seen Wednesday.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>The demon was assaulting neither ghost nor human.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Honest Oahusha was dead.</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“Perhaps she’s at Dickinsheet,” Terah said as they made their way back to the car.</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“We can drive part-way there.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>It is a hike, as you know.”</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">Terah insisted.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Nobody was on the streets of Stroudsburg. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>So much had changed since he’d walked through here with her.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>They wound their way through tortured back roads to where Calum knew to turn onto the grass track leading to the back entrance.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>The Prius wasn’t intended for off-road driving, and they had to walk from a distance.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Although it was spring, the sky was threatening to lose its light.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Terah recalled Caileigh and the thought of a wood nymph wasn’t exactly comforting in these circumstances.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>She was capable of harm.</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">Damage from the windquake was evident everywhere.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Ancient trees toppled, limbs down.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>It had been a few weeks, but worlds had changed.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>The scene at Dickinsheet was sobering.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>The houses were all damaged.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>They saw no-one.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Terah knew the men were secretive with strangers.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>“They know both of us,” Calum pointed out.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>“They’d have no reason to hide.”<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>He called out.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>No answer.</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“Where could they be?” Terah wondered.</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“They probably split up.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>It’s difficult to support a community with no money.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Besides, look at all the damage.”</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“We need to check her house.”</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">The light was fading and the silence was total.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>The chirping of birds ceased.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Insect noise grew.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Terah led the way to what remained of Lindsey’s house.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>They stepped inside and although a momentary flush of her presence washed over him it was clear that she wasn’t there.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>He turned to Calum utterly lost.</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“We may not find her,” the older man said. “But we must carry on.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>The spaces between atoms are where we find answers.”</p>K. Marvin Brucehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13189602248843707089noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-354645148003232768.post-82604960465511244212022-01-22T08:26:00.002-08:002022-01-22T08:26:40.615-08:00Christmas Wish<p> <span style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;">Maybe it happens to you too, struggling writers.</span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;"> </span><span style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;">Just when you get on a roll for fiction, nonfiction comes knocking.</span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;"> </span><span style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;">In the past few months I’ve been invited to contribute to three non-fiction books and I’ve secured a nonfiction book contract.</span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;"> </span><span style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;">I was just getting back into fiction.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px; text-indent: 18px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">Last year I had four stories accepted for publication.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>The last one came out just this past week.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>“Christmas Wish” is a funny werewolf story.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>You can find it in <i>Calliope</i> 174 (Winter 2021/22).<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>If you don’t read <i>Calliope</i> you should.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>They’ve got lots of worthwhile stuff there.</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhQlIAHwKTowLG7xXKeKeWSNQx5J5QZW216RNYuuExLWSbf5WNMMQMEMud-dqZYaPkfuxHxJjNKD02lcgHj8XgrIxhU7qcx3LHxTmFrVKn6epR9gdBCZjfIlpoyPVWEQm5CQJDPG9q32taeMteZ9jQC6hE0UVIeaedXhEUNyVmwU7o3T59da8szueVvEg=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhQlIAHwKTowLG7xXKeKeWSNQx5J5QZW216RNYuuExLWSbf5WNMMQMEMud-dqZYaPkfuxHxJjNKD02lcgHj8XgrIxhU7qcx3LHxTmFrVKn6epR9gdBCZjfIlpoyPVWEQm5CQJDPG9q32taeMteZ9jQC6hE0UVIeaedXhEUNyVmwU7o3T59da8szueVvEg=s320" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;"><br /></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px; text-indent: 18px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">What’s so fun about a werewolf, did I hear you ask?<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Well, if you try to make one your pet you’ll find out.</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px; text-indent: 18px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">The Christmas theme actually came from a story challenge I saw.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>They were looking for Christmas stories and this one was set around that time of year.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Add a few words making it explicit and then you have a story.</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px; text-indent: 18px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">Given the time of year, the story is set in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, a place I’ve never been.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I actually wrote an entire novel with a character from Bethlehem, imagining what it must’ve been like living there.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I’ve been to Pittsburgh, so I can guess.</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px; text-indent: 18px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">Bethlehem was actually founded on Christmas Eve by the Moravians.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>The local Lenape tribe probably understood what was happening differently.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Nevertheless, Bethlehem styles itself the Christmas City.</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px; text-indent: 18px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">Do they have werewolves around Bethlehem?<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I have no idea.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I can imagine if they did, however.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>This story makes one flight of fancy supposing they do.</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px; text-indent: 18px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">If you’ve been following <i>The Space between Atoms</i>, the story will be winding up in the next few weeks.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>The whole thing will have been posted on this blog and both of the characters appear in other stories I write.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>In the meantime, happy Christmas!</p>K. Marvin Brucehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13189602248843707089noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-354645148003232768.post-31618101471275812382022-01-09T08:16:00.000-08:002022-01-09T08:16:54.484-08:00The Space between Atoms 66<p> <span style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;">“It’s Wednesday!</span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;"> </span><span style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;">It must be!”</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">Lindsey was levitating.</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“No,” Calum calmed.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>“There have been saints who levitate too.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>This is for your benefit.”</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“But it’s against the laws of physics!”</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“Are scientific laws called laws because they can’t be broken or are they simply made up by human beings to describe what they see?”</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“Then why haven’t scientists described this?”</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“There have been many, many documented cases.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>One guess how scientism responds.”</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“Ridicule reaction?”</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“Yes, you’re beginning to understand.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Lindsey is a focal agent in a way that we’ve never seen.”</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">Terah watched her hover two feet above the table.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Her eyes were closed.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>She seemed perfectly relaxed, but not asleep.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Hovering might not have been the right word.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>She didn’t bob and undulate on the air.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>It was more like a David Copperfield magic trick, as if she sat on a flat surface. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Embarrassed at doing so, he looked to see if her jean bottoms were flattened at all, as if sitting on an invisible surface.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Unlike a Copperfield scenario she wasn’t draped in anything concealing.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Her behind was wonderfully rounded.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>She rested on nothing.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>He found no words.</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“Levitation,” Calum began, “is difficult to explain.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Especially with our current understanding of gravity.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Physics knows gravity as one of the four basic forces, and yet a falling feather can seem to take its time following it, rather like a ship on the ocean.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>The fact is we don’t understand gravity but we declare it unbreakable.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Here, she’s coming down now.”</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">Lindsey slowly, smoothly, came to rest in the center of the table.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Her legs crossed, she looked almost as if she was meditating.</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“She’ll likely be exhausted,” Calum warned.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>“Don’t be alarmed.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Levitation is very energy intensive.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I’ve only seen her do it twice before.”</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">Lindsey fluttered her eyes open.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>“That was weird,” she said.</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“You didn’t intend to do it?” Terah asked, still not quite believing.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>He’d too long been accustomed to seeing only what he’d been told was possible.</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“I never do.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I was just thinkin’ how all this fits together.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Our wanderin’s, the pandemic, the lightnin’.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Wednesday.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Even you, Terah.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>It was beginnin’ to make the connections and I realized I was floatin’.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Man, I’m exhausted.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I’m goin’ back to bed for awhile.”</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">The two men watched as she shuffled toward the door.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Once she was on her way to the stairs, Calum turned to Terah.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>“That was one of the more dramatic episodes, but life is actually full of events that we routinely dismiss.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>We say, like Lindsey just did, ‘That was weird,’ and we go on as if it never happened.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>No, I don’t have a Ph.D.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>What I do have is a careful record of those who refused to ignore the strange, the unusual.”</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">Terah felt the weightiness of the air, as if a spooky storm were building in the library.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>His shoulders tingled.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Then his spine.</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“Not all of these books are of equal value,” Calum continued.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>“Some were written by uneducated observers and they make far too grand assessments of what they saw.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Still, they were eyewitnesses.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Many of them were scribbled by writers with no gift or flare for composition and quickly self-published.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Others, however, are by university presses.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Yes, go ahead and look.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Chicago and Oxford are there.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Harvard, Penn and a variety of smaller presses.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>They can’t be too direct since the ridicule response is firmly in place.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>They are, however, beginning to publish books asking if we haven’t been too hasty in dismissing the invisible world.”</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“But doesn’t that imply Christianity is ‘true’?<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>If there is a supernatural world, and a god and an afterlife, isn’t that the same as admitting biblical literalism?”</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“Not at all.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>The Bible is one—actually, it’s multiple, as I’m sure you know—way of seeing it.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>The Bible has a variety of views, as does every religion.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>No faith system is entirely orthodox.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>America has been biblical from the beginning, so that’s our milieu, our matrix.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>It doesn’t mean that spiritual beings support that one view only.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Occam’s razor, remember, isn’t the only way to shave.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>And nature prefers beards.”<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>The two men regarded each other.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Calum’s white beard was trimmed and reasonable, while Terah’s gray was the tangle that nature dictated for a man long away from the comforts of home.</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“What about Wednesday?”</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“That we’ve got to figure out.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I don’t like that a demon has latched onto her.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>She’s probably safe here, but she has larger plans that just being here with me.”</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“Larger plans?<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Like being homeless?”</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“You don’t know her background.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>That was an exercise in self-discipline.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Yes, I offered to let her stay here.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>No strings attached.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>She’s a most remarkable person.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>She wasn’t in good shape when she arrived here.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I sent her to Dickinsheet when she insisted on going.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>One of the men there, an artist, is an acquaintance of mine, cut from the same cloth.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>He knew something about the powers.”</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“You know about Dickinsheet?”</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“Some of us do.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Homelessness is sometimes a matter of wanting to be off the grid.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>In any case we need to figure out how to fight demons.”</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“I thought <i>The Exorcist</i> had the answers to that.”</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhhWWRmmnKPViDJzPNEFx98CfJ2MfaeZlaIALlx35g-OFT1RrV15fo52lzSj-vzNB31FlcyYvQXwBlKv5d604JNUwCVs3-qVMeJbG9Tq6WYocEy5K6hNc2jZufJGg44hnAlwjAU71MP0jMlUWU0MpKqrl5_R9-6SSgFy2GApWXNIrs3R1fnyLLmR1bT1A=s2048" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhhWWRmmnKPViDJzPNEFx98CfJ2MfaeZlaIALlx35g-OFT1RrV15fo52lzSj-vzNB31FlcyYvQXwBlKv5d604JNUwCVs3-qVMeJbG9Tq6WYocEy5K6hNc2jZufJGg44hnAlwjAU71MP0jMlUWU0MpKqrl5_R9-6SSgFy2GApWXNIrs3R1fnyLLmR1bT1A=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“Demons are known across cultures.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>They respond, interestingly enough, to cultural cures.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Catholics respond well to the <i>Roman Rite</i>, and evangelicals response to Bible use.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Hindu demons respond to Vedic treatments.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Part of the problem is we don’t really know what demons are.”</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“Fallen angels?”</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“That’s only part of the story.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>The idea that demons are fallen beings is only one idea about them floated in the Bible.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>It doesn’t say much about them, actually.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>It just assumes they are there.”<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Calum began scanning his shelves.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>“I’m afraid my organization here follows my own brain patterns rather than Dewey.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I’ve never been one who agreed with how others organize knowledge.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Ah, here.”<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>He slid out a book.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>“Feel free to join in.”</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“How are they organized?”</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“Well, I do have all the titles on a spreadsheet,” he nodded toward an Apple desktop.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>“If you don’t have a title or author in mind, here in front of me are the books on demons.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Some are more helpful than others, of course.”</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">The house shook, as if an atomic concussion hit it.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Calum sprinted.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Terah followed.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Up the stairs at a pace startling for a man his age, Calum dashed to Lindsey’s room.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>The door had obviously been blown open.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Lindsey was gone.</p>K. Marvin Brucehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13189602248843707089noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-354645148003232768.post-77322626194813118402022-01-01T13:37:00.001-08:002022-01-01T13:37:31.009-08:00The Space between Atoms 65<p> <span style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;">The eerie feeling of that night in Boston for the American Academy of Religion meeting settled over the library.</span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;"> </span><span style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;">The mystery of possibility hung like an invisible fog in the room.</span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;"> </span><span style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;">Parker Yaffle had been one of the most respected Harvard scholars ever, right up there with William James.</span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;"> </span><span style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;">This uncredentialed, independently wealthy man had a private academic arrangement with Yaffle, earning the equivalent of a doctorate from him.</span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;"> </span><span style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;">Terah had often spied Yaffle at a distance at the Academy conference.</span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;"> </span><span style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;">He was always surrounded by the big names in the field and it was impossible to get close enough to introduce yourself.</span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;"> </span><span style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;">Terah had been snubbed by lesser academics who thought highly of themselves, and once, when the meeting was held in a rainy Chicago, he was standing outside the McCormick center for a moment when Yaffle had come out without a gaggle of followers.</span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;"> </span><span style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;">He’d held out a hand to introduce himself, but the academic lackeys quickly appeared and hustled Yaffle into a cab to whisk him off for a night of academic ass-kissing.</span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;"> </span><span style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;">Terah had trouble accepting that Calum knew him.</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">Lindsey brought over a folder.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>An oaken table stood in the center of Calum’s library, large enough for ten readers.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>“Thank you, Lindsey.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>You read my mind.”</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">She slipped into a chair and smiled.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>“Calum knows what he’s talkin’ about.”</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">Terah couldn’t believe the signed letters Calum produced.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Not only Parker Yaffle, but Anne Quarles, Derrick S. Iray, Brian Abernathy, Ultima Thule, Vannevar Synge, and a host of others, had been in regular correspondance with Calum, validating aspects of his work.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>His host, in other words, had set up his own doctoral program from universities across the globe.</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“I don’t often go on about my credentials like this,” he apologized.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>“Most of my students don’t know who any of these scholars are.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Nor do they care.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Most of them aren’t skeptics, either.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I’m glad for the challenge, though.</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“After Parker’s speech we went for a walk down Newberry Street.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>It was November in Boston and a chill breeze blew.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>The white Christmas lights decorated the small ornamental trees along the street.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Warm light spilled out from the boutique shops that were still open.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Not many pedestrians were out on a night like that.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Parker told me that he knew John Mack, a colleague at Harvard, and despite the public posturing, the university authorities knew and respected Mack’s theories.”</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“I don’t know John Mack.”</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“Mack was the head of the Psychiatry Department at Harvard Medical School.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>He also wrote books on and firmly believed in the reality of alien abduction.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Don’t smirk.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>He was deadly serious.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>All of this, Parker told me, was widely known in the academy and kept under wraps because of the ridicule factor.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Professors of religion, he told me, already studied in a field that was considered less rigorous than most.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>He’d studied ancient languages so difficult that a nuclear physicist would dissolve into tears, but it was never considered essential information.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>He had less to risk by trying to pry open lesser minds among the academy.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Abductions were real.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>This, he said, was but the ‘pyramidion atop Khufu’—his words.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>He told me to keep up my work, but for the sake of my own reputation, to keep it low key.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Thus you see Rothochtaid has become an invisible institution.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Lindsey stumbled into it on a roll of thunder.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Literally.”</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">Terah distractedly looked around at the collection of books.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>“So, these are all books on esoterica?”</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj2UovUfs9r6mgJq-wVgZhh10KKWhE3dgEnVL318PTnJbA-xcnAz22-3KkSihwxj1fGSQ12_uOe97KW4PJzH37U8U_UFwZu60-7Ra9jhHubDQCUNTJ24_St0yskrhLW-h0eLlMxGM8L2ig5aANBoONk70wyU-_GjHoqXC7Wd2LAvBR7TXQ-pBMhuC6OgQ=s2048" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj2UovUfs9r6mgJq-wVgZhh10KKWhE3dgEnVL318PTnJbA-xcnAz22-3KkSihwxj1fGSQ12_uOe97KW4PJzH37U8U_UFwZu60-7Ra9jhHubDQCUNTJ24_St0yskrhLW-h0eLlMxGM8L2ig5aANBoONk70wyU-_GjHoqXC7Wd2LAvBR7TXQ-pBMhuC6OgQ=s320" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“Paranormal,” Calum corrected.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>“Some people would see them as esoteric, but there is a difference.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Some people, we call them focal agents, have many paranormal experiences in their lives.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>You have to realize that when I say ‘many’ I mean they have an usual number but they don’t happen all the time.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>In fact, years can go by without anything strange happening.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>This is what makes this kind of investigation particularly challenging.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I call it the problem of occasional phenomena.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>If they happened consistently we could set up observational equipment, or ‘laboratory conditions.’<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>If, as is actually the case, you never know when they will happen, how can you set up a camera?”</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“You mean like why pictures of bigfoot are alwaysblurry?”</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“Sasquatch isn’t a good example.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>There are plenty of undiscovered animals, but that doesn’t make them paranormal.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Of course, the media ridicule response classifies them along with things that are truly inexplicable, according to our current scientific paradigms.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>UFOs might be a better example.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>See?<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>It made you smirk.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>That’s the ridicule reaction.</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“Unidentified Flying Objects are seen.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>In that sense, they’re ‘real.’<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>They leave trace evidence (burn marks and such) and this has been well documented.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>The government, for anyone curious enough to check, has been investigating them since the 1940s.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>There’s extensive government documentation on them.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>The media ridicule response makes it difficult to realize just how seriously this has been taken.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Are UFOs paranormal?<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>It depends on your definition of paranormal.</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“Just because humans haven’t figured out how to travel faster than light doesn’t mean it’s impossible.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>That’s assuming UFOs are from outer space.”</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“Where else would they be from?”</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“Some people theorize they’re inter-dimensional travelers.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Others that they’re time-travelers.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>That has the obvious advantage of explaining how they look somewhat human—convergent evolution is recognized here on earth, but on an infinite number of planets would two species develop with two arms ending in fingers, two legs, a head at the top with sense organs ordered eyes, nose, mouth?<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Possibly, but if they are far distant humans from the future that might explain things.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>All of these are reasonable questions.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>They simply go beyond what our science knows.</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“The reason I raise this is that we’re trying to get serious research done on the topic, and we need focal agents.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I suspect from your skepticism that you’re not one.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>That’s no value judgment; most people aren’t.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Kjell isn’t.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>But Lindsey is.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I took an interest in her because the number of experiences is unprecedented, in my experience.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>She has an unbelievable number even for a focal agent.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>And those around her are often brought into the experience.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>It looks like one is happening right now.”</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">Terah glanced at Lindsey and screamed.</p>K. Marvin Brucehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13189602248843707089noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-354645148003232768.post-40694249848741275312021-12-11T09:29:00.000-08:002021-12-11T09:29:34.331-08:00The Space between Atoms 64<p> <span style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;">“What’s matter made of?”</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“Atoms.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Protons, neutrons, electrons.”</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“And what are they made of?”</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“Well, the protons and neutrons are made of quarks.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Electrons are energy.”</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“And what are quarks made of?”</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“Depends on the theory.”</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">Calum nodded.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>“String theory, which looks pretty promising, says energy.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Strings of vibrating energy.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>If that’s correct, everything is energy.”</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“I’m with you.”</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“There are many sources of energy, of course.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Fossil fuels, natural processes like winds and waves, solar and nuclear.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>All of them derive from the sun, ultimately.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>All living beings require energy.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>We get it from eating.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>We expend it by exercising.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I’m sure Lindsey won’t mind if I discuss sexual energy.”</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">Terah flushed and put his hand to his face.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>He was glad he’d decided not to shave his beard.</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“The orgone, or life force, was first explored by Wilhelm Reich in the 1930s.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>The main work was carried on by his student Charles Kelley.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Surely you’ve noticed the considerable energy released at orgasm?<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>These scientists believed the orgone was a separate kind of energy responsible for life.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Of course, standard science rejected their claims.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>They’re based on common sense, however.</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“Paranormal activity and sexuality have been connected many times.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Science has explained neither fully and both participate in the irrational.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Yes, procreation is rational, but the lengths we go to, well, they speak for themselves.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Don’t worry, Terah, I’m not suggesting an orgy or anything like that.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I’m simply asking you to consider the obvious.</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“The paranormal has been studied at a few universities over time.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Science, however, requires funding.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Funding requires donors.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Science that leads to big news or big patents repays donors.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Science just for the sake of knowing has fallen on difficult times.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Universities, as I’m sure you know, are political.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Jobs are passed along as favors.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Dynasties exist.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Pride and rivalries—they’re human inventions, after all.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>The paranormal has suffered from a concentrated effort to make anything outside the mainstream look ridiculous.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Ridicule works.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>You’re probably thinking by now that I’m just another self-taught crackpot.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Am I right?”</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgQv_ciVj4QUzhMOadgZb69HtEsmMf2h-oAQ2ZxlXe4_dPvRe-cZEE-RrfJkAHFHpjxXMRxNdzrC8GJLC1Rc-h1Yy7GwspvvdsAPIAEl6fh3iIS6SszzAf1-LOdXTqzbLr0792XMa1YdzMpWZiTVHM8_6el0liqOgeyeTLncrWxhC1TDKML0ktk5m71dQ=s2048" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgQv_ciVj4QUzhMOadgZb69HtEsmMf2h-oAQ2ZxlXe4_dPvRe-cZEE-RrfJkAHFHpjxXMRxNdzrC8GJLC1Rc-h1Yy7GwspvvdsAPIAEl6fh3iIS6SszzAf1-LOdXTqzbLr0792XMa1YdzMpWZiTVHM8_6el0liqOgeyeTLncrWxhC1TDKML0ktk5m71dQ=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">Lindsey pulled a book from a shelf and found a comfortable seat.</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“Well, it does sound far-fetched,” Terah admitted, not wanting to insult the man who was feeding and housing him.</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“I insist on absolute honesty, Terah.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Don’t worry about the room and board.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I need to know what I’m dealing with.”</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“Are you sure?<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Having been fired for being honest makes it difficult.”</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“Lindsey, am I sincere?”</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">She looked up.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>“Believe him, Terah.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I always have.”</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“If you’re sure.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Okay.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>So, scientists from the beginning have by and large dismissed all of this.”</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“Sorry to interrupt.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Please tell me what you mean by the beginning.”</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“Newton, Galileo, Copernicus.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>The usual suspects.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>They showed that the universe was mechanical.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>There was no need for an outside force, like God.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Science grew from there.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Darwin, Hubble, Einstein.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Universities carried on the work and have long dismissed the supernatural.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Religious studies is a branch of anthropology, one of the soft sciences.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Nobody thinks the claims of religion are really real.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>We study it as a phenomenon, something people used to believe.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Not something to be taken literally.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Like English lit.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Why should I believe someone who hasn’t had their thinking changed by years and years of having to defend your ideas, reading everything about a subject?<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>You can read, of course, but where’s the critical thinking?”</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">Calum nodded.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>“Good points.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>You do know Newton remained a convinced alchemist to his death.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Galileo didn’t really accept the church, but Copernicus was a clergyman, although it’s unknown if he was ever actually ordained.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Darwin is best considered an agnostic—and a tortured one at that—Hubble struggled with religion, and even Einstein left the door partially open.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>No one doubts these scientists were critical thinkers.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>There is doubt about their atheism, though.</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“As for my qualifications, you’re right to question them.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I was a commodities trader, not an academic.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I’m not without training, however.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>What they’re now calling ‘distance education’ has also existed for centuries.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I began by writing out my ideas, along with bibliography, and sending them to Parker Yaffle—I see you’ve heard of him.”</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“Professor Yaffle was the foremost religion scholar Chicago ever produced!<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Spent his career at Harvard.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Of course I’ve heard of him!”</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“Parker was a most accommodating man.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I sent him a letter explaining who I was and what I was trying to do—this was when people still sent actual letters.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Parker was unlike many academics.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>It didn’t worry him that he wasn’t being paid to help me.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>He thought it was a strange idea that knowledge could be exchanged for money.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Still, over the years he agreed to take me on as an unofficial doctoral student.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I learned critical thinking from him.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I know that an author is as important as a book or article, most of the time.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I know the publisher of a book matters.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I know the deep and concentrated engagement with a subject.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I even know the value of peer review.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I also know the system can be gamed.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>And I know academics tend to be biased against the supernatural.</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“Parker once told me—I still have his letter in my files—that the Paraíba Inscription is authentic.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>The artifact was discovered in 1872 outside Paraíba, Brazil.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>It was a stone monument written in Phoenician.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Found by slaves of a wealthy landowner named Joaquim Alves da Costa on his plantation, the stone was badly weathered.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Da Costa made a drawing of the inscription and took it to<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Ladislau de Souza Mello Netto.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Netto was the director of the National Museum of Brazil.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>He showed the drawing to semitic experts who declared the language to be Phoenician.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>The inscription told how a shipload of Phoenicians—they had circumnavigated Africa according to Herodotus, a problematic source, I know—was blown off-course and landed in this strange country.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>If you look at a map you’ll see Africa and Brazil are only 1,600 miles apart at their closest.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Netto at first accepted the inscription as authentic.”</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“I’ve heard about this,” Terah interjected.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>“There were grammatical errors in the copy and da Costa claimed the original stone had been stolen.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Netto declared it a forgery.”</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“Indeed, you are correct.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Parker, however, looked at the inscription and declared that the ‘errors’ were actually Phoenician dialectical variations unknown in the 1870s.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>There was no way da Costa—who had committed suicide over the shame brought on his family name—could have known these dialectical variations.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I used to attend the American Academy of Religion annual meeting; I see from your expression that you used to attend as well.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>The year Parker was elected president I went to hear his address.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>The room was crowded and an eerie feeling hung in the air as he went over his catalogue of artifacts that fit his theory.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>He ended his speech by stating even stranger things could be said.”</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“I was there for that talk,” Terah conceded.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>“The audience left in silence.”</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“I had an appointment with Parker after that speech.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>You won’t believe what he told me that night.”</p>K. Marvin Brucehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13189602248843707089noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-354645148003232768.post-59135191331394380092021-12-04T07:24:00.000-08:002021-12-04T07:24:09.858-08:00The Space between Atoms 63<p> <span style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;">The aliens in his room had to have been hypnagogic hallucinations.</span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;"> </span><span style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;">Terah would say nothing about them.</span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;"> </span><span style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;">He couldn’t even envision himself mouthing the words.</span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;"> </span><span style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;">Long years of doling out the ridicule response to the idea didn’t dissipate, even when he himself had experienced their presence.</span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;"> </span><span style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;">Already his observation of the wee people in the woods had evolved to a lucid dream state brought on by deprivation.</span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;"> </span><span style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;">The supernatural wasn’t real.</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“So what do you know about this pandemic?”<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>It seemed a safer topic.</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“It’s a new strain of the Spanish Influenza.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>There’s no vaccine yet.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Some are classifying it as a ‘superbug’ because it evolves so fast.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>The belief in isolationism kept many Americans from thinking it could spread here, but inevitably it did.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Now, slowly, they’ve begun to take measures to isolate individuals.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>You’ve been avoiding populations at the right time, it seems.”</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“Doesn’t the science involved here complicate your worldview?”<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>The question was out before Terah could stop it.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>If Calum was offended he showed no sign of it.</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“Science is a very effective way of knowing the physical part of the world.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>We ignore it to our peril.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>The earliest civilizations had science, you know.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>While some would quibble and say the pyramids of Egypt are engineering, they involve the understanding of science.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Have you heard of the Bent Pyramid of Dahshur, south of Cairo?<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>It begins at a 54-degree angle and then it suddenly shifts to 43 degrees.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>The Egyptians had been making stepped pyramids for ages, so why this sudden, massive mistake?<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Scientists have calculated that had they continued at the 54-degree angle the pyramid would’ve been so massive that the huge blocks of stone would have acted as liquid under the weight.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>No, they wouldn’t have melted, but they would’ve flowed, behaving like a fluid.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Egyptians at 2500 BCE knew that they had to change the angle or face disaster.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>That’s science.</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“Or consider even metal smelting.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>The recognition that zinc or tin added to copper would make a much harder metal called bronze.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Perhaps it was an accidental discovery, or perhaps it was experimentation.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>From what we know of ancient life, it was probably discovered by women, by the way.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>They were the ones who kept the home fires burning.</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“In any case, science is a method, not a proper belief structure.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I don’t think pandemics are guided by supernatural forces.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>More by human ignorance.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>People don’t wash their hands enough.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>We touch things indiscriminately and spread germs all the time.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>When a deadly one gets in the mix we have to change our lax behavior.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>It’s difficult to do.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>This strain of flu has a 20 percent mortality rate.”</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“Twenty percent?<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>That’s astronomical!”</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“That’s why you don’t see so many people out and about.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Living off the grid, I suppose, you didn’t see any changes.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Here it’s been the leading news story for a solid month.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Much of the country’s on lockdown.”</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“And you’re safe here?”</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">Lindsay spoke up.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>“There’s nowhere safer than with Calum.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I’d stake my life on it.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>He took care of me after the lightnin’ strike.”</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“You’d probably be safe if you kept wandering in the woods, but it’s the foraging for food that worries me.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>You’d likely encounter the virus, that is, if you found stores open.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>You’re welcome to stay here.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Kjell’s here on an extended tutorial.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>He’s the only other person who’s been in the house since the pandemic began.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Unless you’re already infected, there’s virtually no chance of getting the virus here.”</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">Terah glanced around the stone circle.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>This man was dedicated to his craft.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>“Lindsey’s probably told you a bit about me.”</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“A bit.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>You’ve got a doctorate in religious studies, and from Edinburgh, no less.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>You’re a good provider and you’ve got some suspicion over the death of your partner.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Don’t worry, you won’t be found here.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>The real problem will be adding to your already substantial training.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I know that earning a doctorate changes the way you think.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>My methods may seem crude to you, but the sources in my library will explain much.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I am skeptical.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Your raised eyebrows are no surprise.”</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“How can you be skeptical if you believe in the supernatural?”</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“Belief in any one thing has nothing to do with skepticism.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>You see, belief in the supernatural is uncritical only if you believe it because it was in some way revealed to you, or if you accept it just because some church authority told you to.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Me?<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I was an atheist.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I was a commodities trader, after all.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I didn’t have anything revealed to me and I didn’t get converted.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I started examining what we know in a Socratic way—asking questions and then asking more questions.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>When you do that with scientism you’ll discover that the dismissal of the supernatural is because we haven’t devised material ways to measure the immaterial.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>You’ve heard of quantum entanglement?<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>It’s just the tip of the iceberg.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Scientism limits what it can discover.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Science—the scientific method—can be applied to the supernatural.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>You’ve just got to keep an open mind.”</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“Scientists have open minds.”</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“Somewhat.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Yes.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I have no problem with science.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>It’s the dismissal of evidence that bothers me.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I understand that sweeping anomalous results off the table is necessary for developing theories.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>The problem is when those results are kept off the table and never revisited.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Some of them have proven themselves statistically significant but are simply treated with the ridicule response.”</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">Terah shook his head.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>“Why would scientists dismiss data?”</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“Let me conduct a little test.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>What do you think of ESP?<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>That smirk already tells me something.”</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“What?<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Are you going to tell me Extrasensory Perception is real?”</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“Why do you suppose you automatically dismiss it?”</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“Psychics.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Hoaxers.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>For entertainment purposes only.”</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“Did you know that both Duke University and Princeton had departments that studied ESP and both determined that results, although limited, were statistically significant?<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Two major universities.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Scientism wasn’t happy when its orthodoxy was challenged.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>These programs were shut down.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>The results are still available.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>They’re peer reviewed.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>They’ve been shoved off the table and haven’t been reconsidered.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Most people think of Dr. Venkman and his faking data at a fictional Columbia to get laid.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>They laugh.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>It’s all a joke.”</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“You’re serious?”</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“Think more broadly.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>We should probably head to the library for the next part.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I only ask that you keep an open mind.”</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">Terah looked to Lindsey.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>The expression on her face was utterly serious.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Showered and in clean clothes, she was even more enticing than she had been all along.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>If she believed…</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“At my own risk,” Calum said as he closed the library door, “let me introduce a subject you’re sure to laugh at.”</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi5k4zuF3nxTLV3mrZQglJYxm4KX7-bUcpraDr8oDXml_146IVRf-heBZmEiJnp2FlyQoR2obno5h-S1oSOTnoXqkVnrAXHPNZ3ywexGbTjaHV7c7KoNZIDrJ5Cwh4MHqmsI8xaHHEESwgD89-HClCGQwav5DthZ--S6PXuMlAY8l0qzMvPaa06d0TC8Q=s2048" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi5k4zuF3nxTLV3mrZQglJYxm4KX7-bUcpraDr8oDXml_146IVRf-heBZmEiJnp2FlyQoR2obno5h-S1oSOTnoXqkVnrAXHPNZ3ywexGbTjaHV7c7KoNZIDrJ5Cwh4MHqmsI8xaHHEESwgD89-HClCGQwav5DthZ--S6PXuMlAY8l0qzMvPaa06d0TC8Q=s320" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;"><br /></p>K. Marvin Brucehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13189602248843707089noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-354645148003232768.post-34689017500516004332021-11-20T12:24:00.001-08:002021-11-20T12:24:31.906-08:00The Space between Atoms 62<p> <span style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;">It was like Stonehenge.</span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;"> </span><span style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;">Terah found himself in shock.</span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;"> </span><span style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;">After everything he’d experienced, he’d not been prepared for this.</span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;"> </span><span style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;">“Stone circles,” Calum said on their short walk through the woods to the clearing, “have an ancient pedigree.</span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;"> </span><span style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;">Stonehenge and Avebury are the most famous, but you find them all over the world.</span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;"> </span><span style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;">Up in the Orkney Islands the Ring of Brodgar is in impressive sight, standing out alone on Stenness.</span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;"> </span><span style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;">People don’t hear about it because it takes considerable effort to get there, but once you’ve seen it—felt it—you’ll know that these stone circles were numinous places.</span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;"> </span><span style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;">We don’t know why they built them, but the put considerable resources into doing so.</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“Or think of Göbekli Tepe.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>At least ten millennia old, and fine work indeed.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>And it was built in Turkey before agriculture even developed.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>There are stone circles in Israel.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>In northwest France.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>They’re likely to be found in other locations as well.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I knew that when I finally had a place of my own, I would have to contribute to the tradition.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>The Ring of Rothochtaid isn’t ancient, of course, but it is megalithic.”</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxIBsApS27ycXQ2r3Il6ZSIy-wSwGKVTNY1BQn4gnEBYU2gagDwsmKPMLEVv5t55IEKfymgjm1U3lSij8GQZnAm_HMBkFkGlkyxTHsxIR_cZvokvEgD7-npE8180LgXPniTfdDFG8tHYSC/s2048/DSCN1749.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxIBsApS27ycXQ2r3Il6ZSIy-wSwGKVTNY1BQn4gnEBYU2gagDwsmKPMLEVv5t55IEKfymgjm1U3lSij8GQZnAm_HMBkFkGlkyxTHsxIR_cZvokvEgD7-npE8180LgXPniTfdDFG8tHYSC/s320/DSCN1749.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">Terah was in awe.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>He walked up to the massive stones.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>“I visited Stonehenge once, but you had to keep to the trail, far from the trilithons.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>This is something else.”</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“You can feel the power, can’t you?<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>There’s something spiritually powerful about stone circles.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>That’s what led Lindsey here.”</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">Such was the draw of the towering megaliths that Terah didn’t take the excuse to look at her.</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“I was struck by lightnin’ right in the middle.”</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">That drew Terah’s gaze.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>“Here?”</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“I’d escaped from a bad situation.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I’d been wanderin’ through the woods, and I found this place.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I was transfixed, like you are.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I wasn’t worried about the storm.”</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“I saw it happen,” Calum confirmed.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>“She wasn’t harmed.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I took it as a sign.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>She became my pupil.”</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“But why?” Terah asked, hand on a large monolith.</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“What do you know about geology, Terah?<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Not much?<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>What are stones but concentrations of minerals.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Don’t worry, I’m not some crystal reader.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Still, we do well to pay attention to minerals.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Our bodies are made of them.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Yes, organic, flexible, mobile, but minerals.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Everything comes from stars, they say.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Well, everything physical.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Science still has trouble explaining exactly what life is, but we assume stones aren’t animate.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>They don’t move on their own.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Or do they?”</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“Calum showed me a film of trees movin’—not in the wind, but actually movin’ across the ground.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Time lapse, shot over years.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>They move, but not on our timescale.”</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“And so do rocks,” Calum added.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>“We call it erosion.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>We say that they are just obeying gravity.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>What if there’s more to it than that?<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Really long timescales we call geologic ages.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>We know even the continents move.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>They’re far too slow for us to see, but they do move.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Even if you can’t let your mind go that far, consider that we’re made of the same things, in different concentrations.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>In my days as a commodities trader I learned quite a lot about natural resources—crass capitalistic label that it is.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Minerals have always been deemed quite valuable.</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“You asked about stone tape over breakfast.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>The science of ghosts—yes, there is such a thing—the science of ghosts lags behind other sciences because it receives very little funding from universities, governments, or corporations.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Although people are utterly concerned about what happens after death and ghosts have been reported from all civilizations throughout history all across the world, the science of ghosts is laughed right out of higher education.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>We haven’t yet figured out how to measure the non-material.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>That doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Privately funded research groups do explore ghosts scientifically.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>No, I don’t mean those guys on television who take high tech equipment and call that science.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Serious work, low profile, slowly, steadily adding to our knowledge of the spiritual world.</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“One of the theories that has developed about ghosts, particularly those that are non-interactive, is that they are kind of like tape recordings.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>They can be seen doing the same activities in the same place, over and over.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>They ignore people who happen to see them, just like the figures on television ignore viewers.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>How could they be ‘taped’?<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>The qualities of some stones seem to be conducive to keeping ghosts around.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Particularly granite.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Around here we don’t have tons of granite like some mountainous regions do, but other mineral combinations may do the same thing, but less effectively.</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“Concrete isn’t exactly a new invention.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>It is big industry in this area, however.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Mostly they use local rock—why pay for shipping stone if you can use what the local quarry has?<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>And making entire buildings out of concrete is something new, relatively speaking.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Ghosts have been reported in poured concrete structures.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>The thing is, the stone is broken and mixed up.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>How would a recording survive?”<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>He looked at Lindsey.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>“I suspect stone tape couldn’t account for the ghosts at Honest Oahusha for that reason.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I’ve been thinking about it.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>They must be a different variety of ghost.”</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“And Wednesday is a demon, not a ghost,” she confirmed.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>“We saw some strange things there.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I saw them long before Terah showed up.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Wednesday was always havin’ sex with ghosts.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I figured he was a stone tape, but the ghosts were interactive.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Some of them, anyhow.”</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“Interactive how?”</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“They moved stuff around.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Heavy stuff.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>They knew I was there.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Mostly they left me alone, but they did interact some times.”</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“Their love making,” Terah blushed, “seemed real enough.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I thought they were actual people.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>That’s how I met Lindsey.”</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“Whoa, let’s explain that.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I found Terah watchin’ ‘em go at it.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I knew he was there, makes more noise than a bulldozer.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I hadda make sure he wasn’t a threat.”</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">Calum nodded.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>He spread his arms expansively.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>“This stone circle may be fairly recent, but it participates in the creation of energy that ancient peoples began exploring.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>It drew Lindsey, among others, to my home.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>And some of the other visitors have been most unexpected indeed.”</p>K. Marvin Brucehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13189602248843707089noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-354645148003232768.post-81901742700447628652021-11-06T12:43:00.000-07:002021-11-06T12:43:00.686-07:00The Space between Atoms 61<p> <span style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;">Terah awoke with a scream.</span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;"> </span><span style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;">His own.</span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;"> </span><span style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;">Or it would’ve been, had any sound emerged.</span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;"> </span><span style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;">He was paralyzed on the comfortable bed.</span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;"> </span><span style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;">His opened eyes could move, however, and he saw in the dim light, other people.</span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;"> </span><span style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;">Small people.</span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;"> </span><span style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;">Incongruous in the modern room with Medieval touches.</span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;"> </span><span style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;">Although he’d had no interest in the paranormal back in his teaching days, he had no trouble recognizing aliens.</span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;"> </span><span style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;">The word “greys” even echoed in his mind.</span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;"> </span><span style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;">They were all around the bed, regarding him with their wrap-around eyes.</span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;"> </span><span style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;">Their skinny bodies seemed to be covered with tight-fitting clothing and their bulbous heads were enormous.</span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;"> </span><span style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;">Their long fingers reached for him and he couldn’t move.</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">He hadn’t drawn the drapes and milky moonlight spilled over the scene.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>He wasn’t levitating.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>He wasn’t aboard some spaceship.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>He was in a house—a place almost as foreign as a flying saucer these days—but a house with occult appurtenances.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Worse yet, he didn’t even believe in space aliens.</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">As spindly fingers crept toward his face he tried to jerk his arm up to prevent contact.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Obliquely the thought of the pandemic flitted through his mind.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Terah had no idea what time it was.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>He hadn’t slept to a clock in many months.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>He hadn’t been without Lindsey for several weeks.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>To his horror he discovered an erection to which the aliens seemed to be paying special attention.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Suddenly he sat up.</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">Daylight.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>He was alone in the large, comfortable room.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>No sign of aliens or forced entry.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>He was still wearing the new underwear Calum had provided.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Sighing deeply, he made his way to his private bathroom only to discover the underwear was on backward.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>He had to take it off to pee.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>And urinating in a proper toilet.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>One that flushed and refilled, was an experience which he’d nearly forgotten.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Since he was undressed he decided to shower.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>He found no strange marks on his body, but he chalked it all up to the weirdest wet dream—evidence of which could be found—he’d ever had.</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJlVhO5NgdjsqeKVEAh4D4ZQQVJWXvEtDAq4vjiimDweYNxJxL1gdtcR66bYD-7ruyWTPDZrJKVB0OcuCP8j_Qu97wtqaHHmkrfFGWo2kwKFiTskM-UT-tMm0pG6EAspQZyJl9dPO9N2ax/s2048/DSCN5008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJlVhO5NgdjsqeKVEAh4D4ZQQVJWXvEtDAq4vjiimDweYNxJxL1gdtcR66bYD-7ruyWTPDZrJKVB0OcuCP8j_Qu97wtqaHHmkrfFGWo2kwKFiTskM-UT-tMm0pG6EAspQZyJl9dPO9N2ax/s320/DSCN5008.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">The dresser in his room was gothic in design, but would’ve been at home in any decor that allowed for heavy, dark-stained oak.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>He found fresh underclothes in it and reasonable outer clothes in the closet.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>This lifestyle was almost as much a dream as had been his nightmare.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>He decided to mention it to no one.</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">Downstairs he found both Lindsey and Calum at the large dining table with breakfast spread on the buffet.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>There were eggs but no bacon or ham.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>His sense of propriety compelled him to point out that he couldn’t pay for any of this.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>He chastely poured a bowl of Cheerios.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>“We don’t have much cash left,” he began.</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“Nonsense,” Calum said.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>“You pay by doing the same for others when you can.”<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>That hardly seemed likely ever to occur when breakfast cereal felt like a luxury.</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“How did you sleep?” Lindsey asked.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>She looked well rested.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>At home.</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“Fine,” he lied.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Well, partially lied.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Up until that dream it had been like anesthesia.</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“Nothing unusual?” Calum asked.</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“No,” he said, paying close attention to his Cheerios.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>“How about you two?”</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“I’m used to the strange things at Rothochtaid, and they sure beat the hell out of sleepin’ in a cave with a demon lurkin’ at the door.”</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“And how long has this demon been after you?” Calum asked.</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“At first I thought he was just a ghost.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Terah here showed up at Honest Oahusha after I’d been there several months.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Have you ever been?”</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">Calum shook his head.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>“I was just reading about it, but I’ve never had the occasion.”</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“Well, I’d been livin’ there for quite a while—I’d left Dickinsheet because I needed time alone.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>The guys there were great, but it was a community with community obligations.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>They taught me how to live on the lam, but I needed more practice with what you’d taught me.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>By the way, Dickinsheet has a wood nymph hangin’ around, if you’re lookin’ for something to discover.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Mention that Claresta sent ya, and they’ll let ya poke around.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Anyway, it was after the windquake that I realized Wednesday was a demon.”</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“So, it first appeared as a ghost at the asylum?”</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“Yeah.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Terah here saw him attackin’ me one night, well, about to attack me, I guess, and I started to wonder back then.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Terah also saw him fuckin’ other spirits and that seemed like a pretty aggressive spiritual activity.”</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">Calum smiled.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>“Sexuality and the paranormal have a long history together.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I see we amuse you Dr. Economy.”</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“Please, call me Terah—the ‘doctor’ means nothing anymore.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I just think it’s a bit of a cliche to say sex is spiritual.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>It’s just reproduction.”</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“Hardly,” Lindsey said with a stare like flint.</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“It’s just, well, it’s why guys said at seminary to get women in bed with them.”</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“They did that at seminary?” Lindsey asked.</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“Seminary means ’seed bed,’ you know,” Terah smirked.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>He didn’t often feel that he knew anything she didn’t.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>“I always thought it was a theological pick-up line to say sex was a spiritual experience.”</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">Calum stepped in.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>“That’s natural enough.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>There have been studies—mostly ignored by mainstream science—that show tremendous and statistically improbable correlations between sexuality and what we might call spiritual activity.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Probably the most obvious example is the poltergeist.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>An adolescent, usually a girl, becomes the center of objects moving on their own, generally violently.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Plenty of cases have been documented, safely categorized as hoaxes by scientists, but real enough nevertheless.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>And there are any number of less dramatic, but still convincing associations.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Sex is far more than procreation.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>But we were hearing about Wednesday.”</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“Well, Terah here thought the ghosts were real people.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Livin’ people, I mean,”<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Lindsey continued.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>“I’d assumed they were stone tapes, you know.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>The asylum would’ve been unusual in havin’ a concrete matrix, but stone is stone.”</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“And concrete would be like mixing the matrix from several different places.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Your observation stands to reason.”</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">Terah had no idea what they were talking about.</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“Well, then after Terah here moved in Wednesday got aggressive.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Terah insisted we leave.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I think he still thought I was a boy at that point.”</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">Terah nodded.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>“It was always dark in the asylum.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>You never gave any indication otherwise.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>What’s a stone tape?”</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“Ah,” Calum said with a smile.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>“It’s time you saw the stones.”</p>K. Marvin Brucehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13189602248843707089noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-354645148003232768.post-74623187506421622662021-10-31T00:01:00.000-07:002021-10-31T00:01:02.455-07:00The Space between Atoms 60<p> <span style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;">“Library!” Terah ejaculated as Calum showed him in.</span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;"> </span><span style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;">“I’ve never seen so many books in a private collection.</span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;"> </span><span style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;">And I was once invited to a book review editor’s house.”</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“Wait’ll you get a look at the titles,” Lindsey said.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>“I think you’ll begin to see how it all fits.”</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">Calum added, “You’re free to read anything while you’re here.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I wouldn’t presume to teach someone with a Ph.D. in religious studies, but you’re welcome to join Lindsey is the continuation of her training.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Now that she’s here, it’s time to advance her tutorials.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Especially since all my other seminars are on hiatus.”</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">Terah was still in shock from the euphoria that books standing together brings, but he’d always been suspicious of those who didn’t hold advanced degrees who’d set themselves up as teachers.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>He had known more than his share of inadequate professors too, however.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>The process of earning a doctorate changed forever the way you thought, if it was done right.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Was it possible for an individual to do that to him or herself through intensive reading?<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>The university experience pitted sharp minds against one another and taught humility and critical thinking.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Terah had been publicly dressed down more than once by scholars more advanced than himself.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Yet, Lindsey had proven herself more adept at handling demons.</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8ML5J2jUXgSr6Sc2SWKAO8g20gNLUEZ9mQjnh201SYm3R69oEt0PdaZW0UVXTAsyb8-Yul7Pe35YWndE9jhurE-mWeS3OJyUrVlDl7hRSHE63twxVXy2Zd_6wnpPMxE5kdikXanlpz2Cm/s2048/IMG_0590.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8ML5J2jUXgSr6Sc2SWKAO8g20gNLUEZ9mQjnh201SYm3R69oEt0PdaZW0UVXTAsyb8-Yul7Pe35YWndE9jhurE-mWeS3OJyUrVlDl7hRSHE63twxVXy2Zd_6wnpPMxE5kdikXanlpz2Cm/s320/IMG_0590.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“She told you she was struck by lightning yesterday, didn’t she?<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I’m not sure if she needs to see a doctor or not.”</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“With hospitals in the middle of a pandemic crisis, I suspect if she feels fine she’s safer here.”</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“You remember,” she said to Calum, “when it happened before.”</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">Terah pulled his attention from the books.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Calum nodded.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>“This may sound strange, Dr. Economy, coming from someone who’s largely self-taught in these subjects, but when Lindsey first studied here she’d been struck by lightning.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>That’s how I found her, in fact.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I rushed her to what is now St. Luke’s in Easton, but they found nothing wrong with her, apart from prior injuries.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>They released her and she decided to stay on and study here.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>If she’s feeling okay, I see no need to take her to a place risking infection.”</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">Terah teetered between trust and suspicion.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>A deep-seated prejudice toward formal education clung to him.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>He recalled scoffing, back in his days of full employment, at a book where someone was described as having read enough books to be a professor.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Reading books wasn’t enough.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>There came a point, and Terah couldn’t pinpoint when, that doctoral training changed your actual thinking process.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>It didn’t come through reading alone.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>It happened when intelligent mentors who’d themselves been through the process interacted with you on a daily basis.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>They challenged your ideas and tore your arguments apart.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Then, at some point you could construct something they couldn’t assail.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>You’d done enough research and reasoning that you were more certain than they were.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Scholars would never all agree on anything, but you were now one of them.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>You’d earned the right to be called an expert.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>That didn’t mean that a scholar couldn’t learn from the self-taught, but it did mean they were skeptical about doing so.</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“Calum,—and please call me Terah—did you have any mentors in this?”<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>He spread his hands and swept them about the library.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>“Who taught you all this?”</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“You’re asking the question of authority.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>No, don’t blush.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>It’s a reasonable question.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Critical thinking requires it—how does someone know something?<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>If you didn’t learn it from an expert, how did you?<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I’m sure you know the three-legged stool?”</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“Sure.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>The classical source of knowledge, at least among Episcopalians, were the three legs of scripture, tradition, and reason.”</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“Quite right,” Calum nodded.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>“Then John Wesley added a fourth leg, experience.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I think we can agree that we’ve lived long enough to safely remove the supernatural element of scripture, right?”</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">Terah nodded.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>“People assume because you teach religion that you’re religious.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Most of us start out that way.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>When you study the Bible long enough you start to get another view.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>The religious would want to include some form of special revelation, which is what Scripture represents.”</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“But in the academy were you ever presented with arguments based on divine revelation?”</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“No.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Of course not.”</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“Then we’re left with three legs again: tradition, reason, and experience.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Tradition has a supernatural element, but it doesn’t insist on it.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I have come to believe, through reason and experience, that we shouldn’t dismiss it completely.”</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">Terah had to think about this.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>“You mean you still admit the supernatural into the equation?”</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“Has everything you’ve experienced in your life fit into the rational category?<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Has anything inexplicable ever happened to you?”</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“Well, yeah, but they’re just those things you file away as weird, but that science will eventually explain.”</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“And does it?”</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“Does science explain them?<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I guess it hasn’t so far, but I don’t think about them every day.”</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“Neither do you forget them.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>You see, when something uncanny happens your brain focuses in the same way as when danger threatens, or a beautiful woman captures your fancy.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>You go into deep attention mode, imprinting the event indelibly in your psyche.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Thousands of days of your life are gone, completely forgotten.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Still, those numinous moments are there, and the mere mention of them recalls them in startling clarity, doesn’t it?<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>That tells us they’re important.”</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“Or that we <i>think</i> they’re important.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Our brains can be fooled.”<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Terah couldn’t let down his guard of decades of learning.</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">Calum merely nodded.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>“Reason and experience support it as well.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Most of my students still have some resistance when they start.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I don’t try to convince anyone.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I just try to help them open their eyes.”</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">Terah was beginning to see why Lindsey thought the way she did.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>He had, however, seen Wednesday.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Or he thought he had.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>The weariness of being on their own, sleeping in unheated buildings, and wandering through the woods with no home fell upon him suddenly.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>The thought that an actual bed awaited him upstairs seemed foreign, almost erotic. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“Go to bed,” Calum smiled.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>“You need some sleep.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>And please don’t be alarmed at anything you might see in the night.”</p>K. Marvin Brucehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13189602248843707089noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-354645148003232768.post-47220451374372822682021-10-24T00:29:00.000-07:002021-10-24T00:29:21.416-07:00The Space between Atoms 59<p> <span style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;">“My name is Calum Nymet.</span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;"> </span><span style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;">All of this,” he motioned around him, “was made possible by the good luck of being in the correct place at a fortuitous time.</span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;"> </span><span style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;">No, I was not to the manor born.</span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;"> </span><span style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;">In fact, I was reared in humble circumstances and worked my way through an education.</span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;"> </span><span style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;">Being a commodities trader was only a day job, although a very lucrative one.</span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;"> </span><span style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;">I was able to retire by forty-five and begun following my real passion, which was truly tapping human potential.</span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;"> </span><span style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;">Perhaps you’ve heard of Esalen?</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“No matter.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Human potential doesn’t dismiss science, but it does not accept scientism.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Science, you see, is a method of learning about the world.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>It’s extremely effective.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>The human brain, however, has evolved, like all animal brains, for survival, not for finding all the answers.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Think of it—our species has survived by reasoning based on our five senses.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Those senses pick up stimuli that help us avoid danger and find food, shelter, and the ability to procreate.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Sorry, I didn’t mean to make you choke.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Sex is part of the picture, obviously.</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“Our brains do not sense all possible stimuli.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>To use just one example, we know that birds navigate by sensing the magnetosphere.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>We live our lives as if it didn’t exist.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>We don’t feel it or sense it in any way.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>It is just as real as light or sound, but we can measure it only with instruments.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>And birds aren’t the only ones with abilities to detect stimuli that we can’t.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>They do, however, demonstrate that all of our science, as robust as it is, is based on partial evidence.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>We can’t see x-rays.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>We can’t hear micro-sounds.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>They blend into each other at some place along the spectrum of how sound and light interact, but there are other sources of information that we don’t register at all.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Our bodies are being penetrated by neutrinos every second.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>We don’t feel, see, hear, taste, or smell them.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>They are part of reality, however.</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“The human potential movement suggests that we have the capacity to develop greater abilities than we routinely show.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>It’s not romantic navel-gazing.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>It’s based on the many, many documented cases of human abilities that scientism simply dismisses.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Telekenesis, psychokenesis, out of body experiences.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>These things happen and have happened throughout human history.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Since the empirical measures are difficult, or even impossible, scientism says they can’t exist.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Did you know, Dr. Economy, that laboratory studies at Princeton and Duke Universities demonstrated beyond statistical probability that ESP is real?<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>The numbers weren’t impressive, but consistently above chance.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Universities, however, are political institutions and these programs were quietly eliminated.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Similar programs still exist at the University of Virginia and Edinburgh University.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>In other words, these aren’t the ravings of a madman.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>They are real.</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“The implications of these studies, not yet demonstrated in any real way, is that the spiritual realm may exist.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>We don’t know what it is, but that doesn’t mean it’s not there.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>It suffers from its mythology being taken too literally by believers.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>This country especially is unduly influenced by biblical literalists.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Their embarrassing outlook makes it difficult for anyone to get funding or peer acceptance for exploring bits and pieces that they may have correct.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>So that’s what I’ve done here.</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“I’ve been fortunate in my investments.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I had many breaks in my career.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Sometimes I think that I was meant to have them so that I could do my real work, which is to explore the unacknowledged world of human potential.</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“Some years back Lindsey found her way here.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>She’d escaped a very bad situation.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>She also had some human potential abilities.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>She stayed here and became my mentee.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>She left and we stayed in touch, non-verbally.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I tried to send her off with some creature comforts, but she refused.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I understand that she stayed at Dickinsheet, as she’s been telling me, then Honest Oahusha.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>That’s when you came into the picture.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>You’re one lucky man.”</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">Terah knew that, but he wanted to explain that he and Lindsey weren’t lovers or anything like that.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>They’d been living raw and facing hard times.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Instead he finished his supper in silence.</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“What I propose is that the two of you stay here a little while.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>After you both left society some strange developments have taken place.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>There’s been a global pandemic.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>A highly contagious virus with an unusually high mortality rate.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Really, we’ve seen nothing like it.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Businesses are shutting down.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Some supplies are running short.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>The government, treating it like business as usual, has been dropping the ball.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Still, conditions are unlike either of you have ever seen them before.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>People are staying at home.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Sheltering in place.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>It’ll be hard for the two of you to continue to restock supplies as you have been doing.</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“Don’t look at me as if I can tell the future in any detail.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Yes, I knew where to find you this afternoon, and I have worked on developing my abilities without the distractions of having to make money, but I don’t pretend to be some guru or messiah.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I’m just a lucky man who pays attention to what actually happens, without prejudice.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>There’s more of it than you’re likely comfortable to admit.”</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“We should wait until tomorrow to take him to the circle,” Lindsey put in.</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“Indeed.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>It’s already beginning to get dark.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I imagine Dr. Economy has questions that will while away the evening.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>It’s written all over your face—you don’t need to be psychic to see that!<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>In case you’re worried, I regularly host retreats here so my home is well stocked with supplies.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Retreats, of course, have been cancelled due to the pandemic.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Large gatherings of people are currently illegal.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I’m not sure how this will play out down the road, but I don’t require the modest income from the retreats to stay solvent.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I do miss not being able to buy books in person, however.”</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“Speakin’ of books, why don’t we show Terah your library?<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>That’d be a good place to talk.”</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">Terah felt that familiar stab of jealousy.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Here was yet another man who know Lindsey better than he did.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Why could he not know her?<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Still, the prospect of seeing books again was appealing.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>He wasn’t prepared, however, for what he saw next.</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRyOkI6aMmt8a68L-uhnnOPVJI1Ggmm4dpquW3V2ZO_nBRE6Q2md-Ls7Bz4sNfCJM0A_RiASZmBKvry_NSI1ro-vHL_T-Ecp49sCK0rXspL4Mtq3LIghYiLj8k9PsErljcY9PMFAO2fIIw/s2048/IMG_3854+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRyOkI6aMmt8a68L-uhnnOPVJI1Ggmm4dpquW3V2ZO_nBRE6Q2md-Ls7Bz4sNfCJM0A_RiASZmBKvry_NSI1ro-vHL_T-Ecp49sCK0rXspL4Mtq3LIghYiLj8k9PsErljcY9PMFAO2fIIw/s320/IMG_3854+%25281%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;"><br /></p>K. Marvin Brucehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13189602248843707089noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-354645148003232768.post-46987551486211580542021-10-16T08:31:00.000-07:002021-10-16T08:31:01.864-07:00The Space between Atoms 58<p> <span style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;">Lindsey listened with sharp attention.</span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;"> </span><span style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;">“She just left ya, without an explanation?”</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">Terah nodded even though she was walking in front of him.</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“I had a boyfriend once, in high school.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>It didn’t end well.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Some of us just aren’t cut out for relationships, I guess.”<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>She stopped walking.</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“Are you okay?” Terah wondered.</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“It’s Calum,” she said.</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">Terah looked ahead.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Coming at them through the trees was a tall, balding man with white hair falling from his tonsure to his shoulders.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>His beard was neatly trimmed like a man who had a mirror and a good pair of scissors.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>He wore faded jeans and a plaid shirt under a jacket not dissimilar from Lindsey’s.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Terah realized they were very nearly identically dressed.</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“Lindsey!<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I knew it was you.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>God, you look awful.”</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“Thanks, Calum.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>You know how to make a girl feel good.”<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>She was smiling.</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“And this must be Dr. Terah Economy.”<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>He didn’t offer his hand.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>“I don’t mean to be rude, but with the current situation it’s best we keep a little distance.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>The good news is you don’t have far to go.”<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>With that cryptic introduction, he turned and led them the way from which he’d come.</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“How’d you know my name?” Terah asked.</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“There’ll be time for talk later,” Calum called back over his shoulder.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>“Conversation isn’t easy when there’s no trail.”</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">Twenty more minutes of walking brought them to a clearing in which stood a remarkably large stone house.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>“Welcome to Rothochtaid,” he said with a bow.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>“Of course, Lindsey, you’ve been here before.”</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“Thanks for comin’ to meet us,” she said.</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“Still dropping your g’s?”<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>He smiled.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>“A mentor is always glad to see his mentees again.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I have to say I’ve never had another like you.”</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">Terah’s confusion was reaching the danger level.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>“What’s this all about?”</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“First come away inside and get comfortable.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Kjell will take your packs.”<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>The front door was large and oaken, studded with antique door nails.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>The handle was a wrought iron ring.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Calum turned it and stepped back to let them enter.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Kjell, Terah assumed, met them at the door.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>He was a younger man, obviously not a formal butler, but he was wearing latex gloves and what looked like highland Scottish attire.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>He gave Lindsey a shy smile.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Terah hadn’t seen a man in a kilt for years.</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“Before I send you two off to the showers, I have to ask you if you’ve had any close interaction with anyone within the last two weeks.”</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“We’ve gone to stores to get supplies, but that’s about it,” Lindsey replied.</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“Where, and how long ago?”</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“We were in Scotrun, and Terah picked up supplies about a week ago.”</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">Calum nodded.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>“Lindsey, you remember where the guest rooms are.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Pick one for yourself and Terah.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>When you’re done showering dinner will be ready.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>We’ve got much to discuss.”</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">Terah followed Lindsey like a puppy, hoping against hope that they’d share a room.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>The interior of the house was modern and comfortable with incongruous anachronisms.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Clearly Calum didn’t play at being some Merlin or Gandalf, but the sensibly redone interior favored the weighty over the light, insubstantial materials of just about every apartment in which Terah had lived.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>The choices spoke of authenticity.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>The stairs, for example, were polished red granite.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Their framework was heavy wrought iron, but each tread had a center carpeted with a woolen rug the color of heather.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Terah had the impression that Calum had designed it himself.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>It was eclectic but it worked together.</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">At the top of the stairs—or rather second floor, as the stair continued upward—Lindsey led him down a corridor.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>“These two,” she said.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>She opened one of the doors, slipped inside, and shut it.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Although disappointed, Terah was curious and he stepped to the next door down.</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMptobo1lAN2oc7I9cnGb2KRyuCLbjRxvN_-AKSTotiunqCsIxk-s5zlX3EVokpDw_Q4F4iSIy6tMid2EHlLPIBJrrSIMOgw-84h5Tne0sdt5EFcxZzcfNIbCn50VMphOMwddrnMN_lkpD/s2048/DSCN1671.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMptobo1lAN2oc7I9cnGb2KRyuCLbjRxvN_-AKSTotiunqCsIxk-s5zlX3EVokpDw_Q4F4iSIy6tMid2EHlLPIBJrrSIMOgw-84h5Tne0sdt5EFcxZzcfNIbCn50VMphOMwddrnMN_lkpD/s320/DSCN1671.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">During his early teaching days, before losing his full-time job, Terah had attended the annual meeting of the American Academy of Religion.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Attendees were housed in four-star hotels with the occasional, coveted fifth star in the mix.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>This had been the only time he’d seen bedrooms as impressive as this.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Calum’s rooms were more noteworthy for their gothic touches.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>The four-poster bed, for example, had a full canopy of rich brocade, so that it could be made practically a room within a room.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>The floor was carpeted in a pattern that clearly took inspiration from tartans from Scotland.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>The paintings on the walls were authentic—not old masters, but not hotel prints either.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>The fact that it had a private bathroom almost made up for not sharing a room with Lindsey.</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">Tiled in actual marble the bathroom boasted elegant and stylish antique bronze fixtures.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>It felt as if Terah had never had a shower before.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>He luxuriated in hot water and scented soap.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>It was like a mother’s hug.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Reluctantly he stepped out and dried off with towels softer than kittens.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Back in his room were clean clothes roughly his size.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Nothing fancy and wizardish, but what a professor might wear at home.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Lingering in the doorway lest the room disappear, he finally followed his hunger down the stairs.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Kjell led him to a paneled dining room with dark English oak and hand-carved chairs. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">Lindsey, who was wearing clean jeans and a new blouse, was already in conversation with Calum.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>He spoke up, “Please, help yourself to the buffet and join us.”<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Terah was inclined to take too much, but he reasoned that he’d better go easy after so long living on granola bars and air.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Pasta was on offer with several sauces from which to choose.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>A variety of breads and sides of vegetables—actual vegetables!—almost made him weep.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>A tapped cask offered ale.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Moderation had never been so difficult.</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">Tankard and plate in hand, Terah made his way to the table.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Calum and Lindsey were side-by-side and Terah took a seat across from them.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>He took a sip of the amber ale and glanced around the surreal surroundings.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>The warm food barely had a chance to be chewed as he realized that there was, incredibly, more than he could eat.</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“You’ve been through a lot,” Calum remarked, looking from Lindsey to Terah.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>“But I suppose Dr. Economy has many questions.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>We mustn’t keep him waiting.”</p>K. Marvin Brucehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13189602248843707089noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-354645148003232768.post-19087360739477627972021-10-09T08:37:00.000-07:002021-10-09T08:37:05.485-07:00The Space between Atoms 57<p> <span style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;">His face was peering in the crevice of the cave.</span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;"> </span><span style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;">Terah started, sitting upright and rising in defense of his friend.</span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;"> </span><span style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;">Demons must sense human weakness.</span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;"> </span><span style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;">They attack when you need recovery time.</span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;"> </span><span style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;">He didn’t know how to fight, but he would.</span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;"> </span><span style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;">Then the face was gone. </span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;"> </span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">Terah added some fuel to the fire and tried to let sleep take him.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>The fears that defined him, that stitched him together, had culminated in the threat to Lindsey.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Struck by lightning—his heart had stopped when he saw her on the forest floor.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>She was younger, and she should survive longer, more easily than a guy his age.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>He knew he had much to offer that they world had already rejected.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>He just wanted to settle down with Lindsey, protect her.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>But he knew this couldn’t be.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Still, he could be the best partner he could.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>She’d shown herself to him without a speck of self-consciousness.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>There were married couples who didn’t know each other as well.</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">Sleep was what he needed, but it was the thing being kept from him.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>The storm continued outside, although the thunder had faded once again to mere brontide.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>It was deep, deep in the night.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Sleep seemed afraid of weariness.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>He was playing hide-and-seek with it.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>It couldn’t find him.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Eventually, inevitably, it did.</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">Once, when he was employed, Terah had a medical procedure that required anesthesia.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>He was as worried as patients in such situations always are, and he was talking to the anesthesiologist.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>He asked about a bubble he saw in the tubing.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Assuring him that it was okay, the anesthesiologist had him start counting.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>He never made it to four.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Upon suddenly awaking after it was over, Terah wondered where his consciousness had been.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>It wasn’t like sleep.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>It was like someone turned off a light switch and his awakening was mere seconds later.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>It was like missing time.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>This was that kind of sleep.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>An intense loss of consciousness with no dreaming.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>His eyes butterflied open.</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">Lindsey was staring at him when he awoke.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>She’d dressed and, obviously, had not eaten.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>The morning—who knew what time it ever was?—was sunny after the storm, as streamers came, ruler straight, into the cave.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>“Are you okay?” he asked.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>His clothes, reasonably dry, were next to his blanket.</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“I’m fine.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Why don’t you get dressed and we’ll make our way to Bangor.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>We can’t be too far.”<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>She turned her back.</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">The woods were damp underfoot but the air was pleasantly warm.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>“So, you’ve been hit by lightning before.”</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“The saying about lightning not strikin’ twice is wrong.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>It happened not far from here.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Calum found me after it happened.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I should warn ya, he’s unconventional.”</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“Nothing about our lives has been conventional for the past several weeks.”</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“Now you’re beginnin’ to understand.”</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">He struggled about whether to tell her that Wednesday had visited.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>He decided not to.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>“All of this has been like another education,” he mused.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>“You don’t get credit for it, but you learn far more than graduate school.”</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“If yer not A-list you get treated different and spend all yer time tryin’ to get on that list.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>If ya fall into the poorest class, yer screwed.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>The poorest folks are often the smartest, though.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>They know more about how the world works than most.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>You suppose professors and lawyers and such know how to shit in the woods?<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Build a fire, even?<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Or find shelter?<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>So much for the A-list.”</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">The trees had not leafed out but buds were shading from rose to green, ready to burst forth.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>The trunks were spaced such that making a trail wasn’t too difficult.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Undergrowth, especially of the thorny variety, required some rerouting, but the rocky soil was carpeted with last autumn’s leaves, a neutral beige to go with any decor.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Terah breathed deeply.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>The damp, earthy scent of the woods was intoxicating.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>He’d not really experienced it since he was a college student out in the forested church camp with Wendy.</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">With no background noise they could easily tell when nearing a road.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Cars were just about as rare here as they had been back in Scotrun.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>They’d covered some miles.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>“Will you know how to find Calum’s place?” Terah asked.</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“He’ll know we’re comin’.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>He’ll be out lookin’ for us.”</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“Sounds kind of mystical.”</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“Unconventional, as I said.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>We just keep headin’ southeast.”<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>The pleasant air felt wonderful, but the damp seams of his clothes still chafed.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>His apparel had become part of him.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Removing his clothes was an act of violence to his person, like an insect bursting from its chrysalis, or a snake shedding its skin.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>And he’d bought everything off the discount rack.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>He looked at Lindsey.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>She was serene.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Her face, although not conventionally pretty, was attractive in its determination.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Having seen her undressed, he now knew she was indeed a nicely formed young lady.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Her clothes were as utilitarian as she was.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Her jeans, which didn’t fit snugly, were durable and mostly intact.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Her jacket, which he’d seen all winter long, was army surplus olive drab.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>She wore old boots and a button-down flannel shirt that looked like it’d been cut for a man.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Everything about her spoke of her self-possession and strength.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>She really didn’t need him as much as he needed her.</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJlVhO5NgdjsqeKVEAh4D4ZQQVJWXvEtDAq4vjiimDweYNxJxL1gdtcR66bYD-7ruyWTPDZrJKVB0OcuCP8j_Qu97wtqaHHmkrfFGWo2kwKFiTskM-UT-tMm0pG6EAspQZyJl9dPO9N2ax/s2048/DSCN5008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJlVhO5NgdjsqeKVEAh4D4ZQQVJWXvEtDAq4vjiimDweYNxJxL1gdtcR66bYD-7ruyWTPDZrJKVB0OcuCP8j_Qu97wtqaHHmkrfFGWo2kwKFiTskM-UT-tMm0pG6EAspQZyJl9dPO9N2ax/s320/DSCN5008.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">Terah eventually noticed the of bird song.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>The strident shriek of jays and the chatter of robins.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Squirrels shuttling through the leaf litter made papery punctuations.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>The blue of the sky was almost surreal.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Although they’d been together for months now, Terah had millions of questions that Lindsey only answered cryptically.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Most people, he knew, had at least one defining secret.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Something so deep and wounding that only the most intimate of lovers would know it.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>It was the chisel that had sheared off pieces of their soul that had made them who they were.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Carefully hidden, fiercely protected, this secret was their essence.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>He decided to tell her the story of Wendy, his wounding chisel.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p>K. Marvin Brucehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13189602248843707089noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-354645148003232768.post-4494312735175464102021-10-02T13:36:00.000-07:002021-10-02T13:36:53.447-07:00The Space between Atoms 56<p> <span style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;">Terah cursed his lack of agility as he struggled to get out.</span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;"> </span><span style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;">His body felt as wedged as his heart was in his throat.</span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;"> </span><span style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;">Panic and anger combined as he pushed and finally found himself stumbling in the rain.</span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;"> </span><span style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;">“Lindsey!”</span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;"> </span><span style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;">He had no idea where she’d been.</span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;"> </span><span style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;">Another bolt and immediate explosion fell.</span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;"> </span><span style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;">Ducking instinctively, he glanced all around, eyes dazzled by the brightness.</span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;"> </span><span style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 18px;">He had to find her.</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">Momentary lightning within the cloud bank revealed the whiteness of a newly split tree.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Hunched over, he scrambled in that direction.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>He found one of her shoes and scooped it up.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>She’d been here.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Another flickering flash behind him revealed a body before the bang.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Unsure if she was alive or not, he gathered her up and ran toward the rock pile.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>He couldn’t simply feed her in through the crevice—she might fall into the fire.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>He’d have to get in first and pull her down.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>His wet clothes snagged at him as more lightning struck.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Frantically wriggling, he finally managed to scrape through.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>He felt outside for her hand.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Landing on it, he pulled as gently as he could, until he could find her second hand.</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">Weighing urgency against necessity, he pulled until her head and shoulders were in, birthed by a rock mother.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Shifting his grip to her armpits, he lifted and tugged.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Like a newborn, her body followed his urging, falling on top of him.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Terah moved her close to the fire and felt her wrist for a pulse.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>His cold fingers felt nothing.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>He put his ear to her chest.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>She was breathing.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>She began to moan.</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">Terah had no training in this.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>He wasn’t sure what to do.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Her wet clothes couldn’t be helping, but he knew better than to remove them.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>He rummaged for he emergency blanket and wrapped it around her.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>He found his as well, adding another layer.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Anxiously he sat, wondering what to do.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Water?<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>They both carried water bottles they filled whenever they could.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Where in her pack did she keep it?<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>He ransacked it.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>The crinkling of the blanket behind him informed him she was moving.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>A good sign.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>At last his fingers felt the bottle and he jerked it out.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Whipping around he found her sitting, staring into the fire.</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“What happened?”<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Her eyes were glazed, half shut.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Half open, if he was an optimist.</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">He brought her the water.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>“I think you were struck by lightning.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>How do you feel?”</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“Again?” she asked, taking the water.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>“Turn around.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I gotta get these wet clothes off.”</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">Terah retreated, kept his back to her.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>He heard her stripping off her soaked layers.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>The crinkling of the blanket.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>“Where’s my other shoe?”</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“Is it okay to turn around?”</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“Of course.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Did you find it?”</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“Actually, yes.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>It’s over there in the corner.”<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>He crept next to the fire, damp himself.</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“I only used one blanket,” she said.</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“Your turn not to look, then.”<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Terah stripped down, leaving his underwear on.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>He wrapped in the blanket.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>“You can open now.”</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">She blinked.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>“This is just too weird.”</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“You mean both of us undressed like this?<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I’m not going back out in this storm.”</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“No, not that.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Being struck again like this.”</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“You mean it’s not your first time?”</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">She took her time answering, eyes drooping.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>“It was when I first met Calum.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Something bad had happened, and I’d just escaped.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I found Bangor accidentally, but I was out in Calum’s field when it happened.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>He knew just what to do.”</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“I wish I did.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Do you need to see a doctor?”</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“What could a doctor do?<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Take the lightning back out?”<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>She stood up and shrugged off the blanket.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>“Do you see any burn marks?”<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>She slowly turned around.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>All Terah could do was shake his head.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>“Then I’ll recover.”<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>She pulled the foil blanket up.</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">Terah wished he had better control of his urges.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Some responses are hardwired, and he was experiencing one of them now.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>He didn’t make the connections.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>“I wish I could give you something to eat.”</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">“What I need is sleep.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Maybe you could try to find a way to hang our clothes up to dry.”<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>She pulled her pack under her head and was out instantly.</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">Terah left his own blanket where it was, fearful of the sound awaking her.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>His underwear was tented in an embarrassing way, but she was asleep.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>He had string in his pack.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>The tumble of rocks offered a places to wind the line and stretch it across.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>The clothes had to be draped over without clothespins, and their weight pulled down on the string.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>When he came to her underwear he paused.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>She’d asked him to do this.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>He draped them over the line.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>He had to engineer some further webs to fit all the wet articles, leaving the cave looking like an alley between tenements.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>When he finished he picked up his own blanket.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>His desire hadn’t dissipated; but he knew there was nothing he could do about it, beyond praying for a wet dream.</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">The sudden terror of losing Lindsey had jolted other fears from his mind.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Now as he lay sleeplessly by the fire, mere feet away from where she was naked under her blanket, he tried to calm his thoughts down.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Would she be okay in the morning?<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>What if he did have to get her to a doctor?<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Would it be worth revealing who he was, and potentially being arrested?<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Yes.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>It would be worth it to make sure she was okay.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Life, he reflected, was like a treasure hunt.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Every once in a great while you find something worth more than everything else you’ve found, all put together.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>For him that thing lay sleeping across the fire from him.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Only, although he found her she wasn’t his.</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">He lay listening to the rain, smelling the damp earth aroma of the half-buried hovel.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Watching the orange of the fire slowly turn to red embers.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>In his mind, her lithe, naked body stood, slowly turning around.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>He could be strangely happy this way.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Then he saw Wednesday.</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbXGkCIwpIxh4vjO5i9VCRRP0h1gyvaFh_B0he0-TCk6RIcoF7cwKZdDmPRTbPVusCLtMMFa1CzqIBMof_prPIPsnXCBS8PfdoowjNJJx94ZGgSvhgzk6ddughyphenhyphenv2Rg0RXKXuzK5KGdlkg/s2048/IMG_0435.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbXGkCIwpIxh4vjO5i9VCRRP0h1gyvaFh_B0he0-TCk6RIcoF7cwKZdDmPRTbPVusCLtMMFa1CzqIBMof_prPIPsnXCBS8PfdoowjNJJx94ZGgSvhgzk6ddughyphenhyphenv2Rg0RXKXuzK5KGdlkg/s320/IMG_0435.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p class="p1" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;"><br /></p>K. Marvin Brucehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13189602248843707089noreply@blogger.com0