A note from the author: I begin to appreciate the scope of Christopher Tolkien’s labors, and I’m only at short forms of six chapters. Writing Chapter Four meant major reconstruction, which forced new versions of Chapters One and Two. This is essentially getting inside Sam as a character, and working out what the Delta who…
Category: Fantasy
A Staircase of Stars – Chapter I
by Silent Draco The tale in part was revealed only to Cirdan of the Havens, before he sailed with the Last Ship into the Uttermost West. He murmured hints of this to the Gardners, the hereditary Masters of the Westmarch and Mayors of the Shire. Only this brief account remains from the days of Frodo IV…
Little Red Wrapper – Part 2
by Silent Draco I felt for my cell phone and dialed 911 by touch. “Three-six-nine, Corporal Jill Jones, intruder down, one being covered. Ambulance and coroner needed. Roll a unit to …” gave her address, “… front door is kicked open. Contact Lieutenant Jackson by land-line, no radio, and have him respond also.” Then hearing a…
Little Red Wrapper – Part 1
by Silent Draco The Narcotics lieutenant, looked down at the patrolman’s grisly “find.” “That’s ten this week, so far. Jonesy, got anything besides pics? Track marks, needles, anything?” “Nothing, sir, like the others … hey, wait, take a closer look at the nose.” Shining my pocket blaster on the deceased’s face, the lieutenant crouched down…
The Beast And The God-Woman – Part 3
by Michael Kingswood Over the next week, Care-ul began acting strangely. At first, her spirits were up, buoyed high by her find, whatever it really was. But then, on the morning of the third day after the discovery, she emerged from her tent distraught. Her eyes were baggy, with dark circles beneath them as though…
The Beast And The God-Woman – Part 2
by Michael Kingswood Two days later, the God-woman awoke. The elders were not sure how long it would be, or whether she would ever awaken again. But Yili knew she would come around. It was a certainty, as far as he was concerned. The likes of her do not just roll over and die so…
To Hymn Who Waits – Part 2
by Silent Draco II Master Gunnery Sergeant Thomas F. McIntyre, USMC (ret, await. recall) took one step back from the thing it mashed into the mudhole. Espying the ranks of guards, he called in his parade-ground voice, “You! Where is your CO!” The demons looked in confusion. No one challenged them, not here! They…
To Hymn Who Waits – Part 1
by Silent Draco I Something unusual happened at the Gates of Heaven. Peter had been called for a special question, so James the Lesser was minding things for a half-eon. Outside, there appeared a burnt blood-red tumescence in the continuum. A lesser demon emerged, keeping its nether portion firmly toward the Gates. It backed…
The Beast And The God-Woman – Part 1
by Michael Kingswood The beach stretched forth as far as the eye could see, a blazing strip of white sand that returned the sun’s touch with a fire of its own as though daring the sun to burn hotter. Small crabs, barely larger than a thumbnail, dug their way up from beneath the scorching sand…
Delphinus – Part II
by Michael Kingswood Part I Sleep was impossible for the rest of the night, and not just because of the horror they’d witnessed. The creatures growled, roared, and barked, and tried endlessly to ascend the shuttle’s hulk. One got halfway up, but Stan knocked it off with a strong kick to the muzzle. Then, after…