 In this compelling novel by Wilbur Smith, the story of Taita, a former slave who has risen to the status of a close advisor to the Pharaoh, continues to unfold. In this installment, Taita finds himself embroiled in a swirling storm of intrigue and danger. He hopes to successfully defeat the Hyksos, whose army have invaded the southern part of Egypt for the last one hundred years. For his plan to work and to reclaim his country, Taita must form an alliance with the powerful nation of Crete; however, he must convince the Supreme Ruler of that country that the Hyksos are not only a threat to his very Egypt, but to Crete as well. As the chaos ensues, the Pharaoh has also tasked him with travelling with the two royal Princesses, Tehuti and Bekatha, across the Arabian Desert and through Babylon to marry them off to the Supreme Minos of Crete, securing the alliance between the two nations against the Hyksos. Though he loves the Princesses dearly and it pains him to see them leave his beloved Egypt, he knows that if he does not do this then Egypt very well may not survive. It was not until after I read this book that I found out that it was the fifth book in a series. I have not read any of the others yet, but I do like the fact that it works well enough as a stand-alone novel that starting at the very beginning is not necessarily required. I found no gaps in the book that I did not understand, and the story flowed nicely without relying on previous plot points from other novels. As for the narrative, it is a fascinating mix of Egyptian mythology and historical fiction. The author transports the reader back to that point in history with vivid clarity. You can see the temples, the palaces, the people and the battles very clearly. The writing, while very mature, neither hinders nor takes you out of the story. Rather, it paints a very clear picture. In short, it’s very well done and I enjoyed it a great deal. While the author describes the culture of Egypt most often and in the most detail, he skims more lightly over the other countries Taita visits. Sometimes, in books like these, I find that the author neglects describing cultures other than the one that the story revolves around, because historical fiction does not often cover multiple cultures at once. However, the vivid imagery of Egypt is present throughout the novel. While it may seem trivial, in this particular novel it played a vital role. For example, when describing the land of Crete. It was vital to see the difference in culture that the Princesses would be marrying into. While obvious, it is something that I find is often overlooked. I absolutely love mythology, and I love learning about it, but I especially love it when mythology is woven throughout a series or novel. This is why I loved the Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel so much; not only did it have an excellent plot, it was somewhat educational in terms of the mythology, which was an integral part of that story. It seems to be the same with this book. The mythos saturates the story, which is appropriate because it was also a part of everyday life in Egypt. Their religion took a more hands on role than those that we know today. I really enjoyed the scheming and planning that Taita exhibited. There are moments when he and his friend and ally Aton play the ancient game of Bao, sort of like our modern chess. During these moments, I think we get a small glimpse into the way Taita’s mind works, in the ways he distracts Aton and leads him to believe that he is winning, and then makes his winning move. Taita is a master strategist, and I love to see the inner workings of his mind. I like seeing the logic behind the chess moves, so to speak. In summary, I really loved this book, and I definitely plan to continue reading the series, not only because I love Egypt and mythology, but also because the writing is almost addictive, in a way. The vivid imagery the author employs serves to enhance an already fantastic plot. With complex characters, political intrigue, and epic battles, I think it would be hard for anybody to find something that didn’t appeal to them.  Jarad attends Middle Tennessee State University, loves tea, and tries to spend every spare second reading. Jarad is majoring in English. Bless his heart! Let's all light a candle for him and send him happy thoughts!
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Unhooks memory keys from behind the cellar door and retrieves the wheel of gratitude from the landing of the unforgiving cellar steps, places its plug into paid electric socket his furry comfort slippers under a chair puts on molded plastic sandals of consideration opens the porch of opportunity into the garden of undelight, ravaged by weeds of disconsolation And the onset of unchecked abundance turns memory in the lock of occasional visits enters the garage of the unessential, but not urgent to collect the editor of excess. carries the cutter down steps of ill repair unreeling the calculated wire of generosity unreeling the cutters wire of restriction, connecting both and pressing the plastic button of limited destruction to start sharp blade of reinvention around the edges of wildness, Then manoeuvring in straight lines across the body of untidiness and unwanted refuges and dumping the full bucket of them in the green recycling bin of official response. Editing complete wires reeled in, a managed garden is admired by onlookers as cared for and the gardener as attentive to their design. He tidies the edges with blades of definition. Hot Jolt sight as she sips her cold prosecco watching him mow his immaculate lawn inhales cut grass like weed and sees a meadow years back, sucks a ripe corn stalk in her mouth frissons at a naked torso above her recently stripped of its flowery shirt little beads of sweat on his neck like rain droplets off the raised black umbrellas at his funeral when he overdosed on too much freedom. When She flags down the bus of forgiveness, steps on and pays the price to go the distance, and sits down next to trepidation who smells like a street full of crocodiles and iguana skins, while she sees grief and sadness holding placards on street corners advertising communication at no cost for a limited time. This is her stop where she gets off and finds herself in the recrimination market, where temporary stalls of remembrance shout discounted sweet deals with hidden sour spices. She decides not to buy as her aim is off centre and orders a meal of fear and anger cold when it arrives she complains to the wrong people who fed her to the animals.  Paul Brookes was shop assistant, security guard, postman, admin. assistant, lecturer, poetry performer, with "Rats for Love" and his work included in "Rats for Love: The Book", Bristol Broadsides, 1990. His first chapbook was "The Fabulous Invention Of Barnsley", Dearne Community Arts, 1993. He has read his work on BBC Radio Bristol and had a creative writing workshop for sixth formers broadcast on BBC Radio Five Live. Recently published in Clear Poetry, The Bees Are Dead, Live Nude Poems and others.
 Asylum By Madeleine Roux Review By Jarad Johnson Asylum was characterized as a gripping horror novel about teenager Daniel Crawford who attends a pre-college program at an asylum-turned-dormitory where students can take classes that prepare them for the major they plan to pursue. In the midst of this, he has vivid recurring nightmares and is retrieving strange, poetic messages as the weeks go by. As Daniel and two of his friends begin to uncover more about the Asylum’s grisly past, students at the dorms are being murdered, Daniel begins to wonder just who this killer is. In my experience with writing, I find that sometimes I am so struck by an idea and am in such a rush to get it written down that I find myself not paying attention to the details of the text, but rather the whole picture. This is what I feel that the Author of Asylum did. She so clearly had a great, spooky idea for a story, but I think that the book was lacking in several areas that were possibly overlooked. Firstly, the main characters themselves. The friendship between all of three felt very forced. The scenario the author presented was a two-month pre-college program that would prepare students for actual college. Daniel Crawford, from whose point of view the story is told, is a very awkward person with a history of mental illness, yet he instantly makes friends with two people the day after he arrives. I realize that they had to become friends, but this was just very unbelievable. Also, a predictable and unnecessary romance develops between Dan and Abby that I found superfluous. It didn’t really fit with the story in my mind. The writing itself in this novel is something that I found to be a little problematic. I know that this book falls under that category of, “Young Adult,” fiction (or YA), but the simplistic style of writing speaks more of middle-grade than young adult. It made for a very fast read, but I would have liked to have seen just a little more complexity in this prose. This definitely shows that the novel is meant for a younger audience, but with most YA novels, there is something in them that can appeal to everyone. Unfortunately, while it is true that anyone can enjoy this novel, I don’t think this level of writing will keep the attention of more experienced readers. There are some things that I do like about this book. One of the biggest problems in YA, and in fiction generally, is the lack of diversity and representation. I have to applaud Roux for doing the opposite of that. There were a diverse range of characters here; that is not to say, of course, that the author only included the characters to meet some sort of diversity quota, but by writing a cast of characters who are not all-white, it shows a broader world-view and more accurately represents real life. Also, keeping in mind that the book is aimed at a younger audience, I really like the inclusion of Jordan, a gay character. It is important for children to be able to see themselves, whether it be on tv or in a book. Jordan was an interesting character, full of his own flaws and demons, and the author never made his sexuality the only identifying trait about him, which is so vital when combating stereotypes. Throughout the book, the author chose to insert vintage pictures from old asylums, adding to the creepy factor of the story. The pictures were not always directly related to the scene, but they did give a visual to what was going on. The pictures also showcase a grim reality; that some of our so called medical procedures were not only cruel, but barbaric, especially where asylums were concerned. Even one of the most controversial, “treatments,” that was heavily used during the 40’s and 50’s, electroshock therapy, is still administered to nearly one hundred thousand patients per year. Roux also featured a quote by one of my favorite authors, Ray Bradbury, during the book that really stuck out at me. “Insanity is relative. It depends on who has who locked in what cage.” Overall, I think that the book was very much middle of the road for me. There were some aspects that I liked, but I do think that there are some elements that could use some work- the writing and the forced relationship between the main characters mostly. However, I think that a younger audience could potentially like it better. There is also supposed to be as sequel to Asylum, which surprised me. I do hope that the author improves with the next installment, because this had great potential.  Jarad attends Middle Tennessee State University, loves tea, and tries to spend every spare second reading. Jarad is majoring in English. Bless his heart! Let's all light a candle for him and send him happy thoughts!  The Magician (The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel) by Michael Scott Review by Jarad Johnson Who reads anymore? This is sometimes a question I find myself asking when I see English majors, who are studying English, telling me that they no longer have the time to read. I ask them why, if their passion is language in all its varied creative forms. Maybe they don’t read traditional books, maybe their passion is poetry, short stories, audiobooks, even fanfiction. Anything? Some say yes, but more than that say no. its baffling, but if recent months have taught me anything, it’s that understanding is the key to acceptance. Moreover, did you know that, according to a Smithsonian poll, at least one in four adults have not read a book in the past year? That may make you fill with despair, as it did me, but I do not think all hope is lost. In my experience, I hear more than I would like to that the print industry is dying, much like the printed newspaper. But, as much as social media seems to have taken over much of our time, more people may be reading than we realize. According to the same poll, 83 percent of people my age, that is millennials, are reported as reading for pleasure. I don’t know if I quite buy that, but of course it is rather subjective, as different areas of the country of course have different rates of literacy and reading. But this number is encouraging, because right now, the act of critical thinking is essential if we are to determine the real from the imaginary, and truth from lies. Speaking of the imaginary, most of the time, especially in regards to books, the imaginary can be brilliant. Writer and reader agree to come together in a created world. Agree is the key word. Fiction, when done properly (or at least semi-properly), draws you into a completely new realm. Albus Dumbledore says this about dreams, but I think it applies to books as well; “You can swim in the deepest oceans, or glide through the highest cloud.” Sometimes you are freed to find truth in a whole new way. The Magician by Michael Scott is one of those examples of a damn good book that pulls you into another world. I’m certain that almost anyone could love this series. This is usually an indicator that the author knows how to write. That may sound trivial, but actually it is something to be sought after. Furthermore, much like C.S Lewis, I love a lengthy novel. Most of the time, when a book is finished, I will think that it was too short. I want more, need more of a story. But, quite unexpectedly, I find that these are just the right length, in all their delectableness. In this installment, we continue to see the unfolding adventures of the twins, Sophie and Josh Newman, accompanied by the Alchemyst and Immortal Human Nicholas Flamel. After fleeing the town of Ojai, pursued by Dr. John Dee, Sophie has now been trained in one of the five Elemental Magics, and as they and the warrior Scatty travel to Paris, she and her brother are preparing to be trained in the second, Fire. And the only person who can teach her is one of Flamels’ old students, the Immortal Comte de Saint Germain, magician, alchemist, and rock star. Although Paris is the original home of the Flamels, it is now a city controlled by Niccolo Machiavelli, and in some ways he is more a dangerous enemy than Dee. He is of course continuing the mission of the Doctor, to capture them all and obtain the last two pages of the Codex, which is needed to bring the Elders, an ancient race that ruled before the humans, back into the world. In the house of Saint Germain, his wife, Joan of Arc, assists Sophie in controlling her aura and the Witch of Endor’s memories, which were imparted on her when the Witch trained her in the Magic of Air. Flamel gives Josh the sword Clarent, the twin to Excalibur. But magic is never simple. The plot thickens and the protagonists must help save Paris from destruction. This book includes in its world, such ancient creatures and Valkyries and Soul Eaters. The plot is thick and complex, but beautifully written and absorbing. It’s quite a bit of plot, which is difficult to write but awesome to read. But that’s one of the great things about the series; the detail. I personally love detail. I want to know every bit of the story, and the more detail the better. To me, it just makes the story and everything better. `one of the things that I really like is that the details are not in list form. The author does not say, “This happened, and then this happened. He was wearing this, and she was wearing that.” No, no. The author, as most do, weaves a story, a narrative. But this narrative is stunningly vivid, each page is seen very clearly. And that adds something to the novel, makes it much better than if those details are left out. I think that’s why I find many books rather wanting, because they could have said so much more. We are starting to consume media and other information in soundbites, and this is bleeding over into the book industry. This book is not afraid to create a detailed work that requires attention from the reader. At the beginning of the last semester, one of my favorite professors posed the question why literature, which translates to why do people read? Why are stories such a fundamental part of culture? I think, in part, it is because of books like these; well written, fascinating reads that grip you tight and don’t let go, take you on journeys away from everyday life. While there is a stereotype that no one reads anymore, I’m starting to disagree with it. I think that, instead of dying, books and stories will always persevere, even flourish, in the face of adversity. I look forward to reading the next installment and I’m sure that I will thoroughly devour it.  Jarad attends Middle Tennessee State University, loves tea, and tries to spend every spare second reading. Jarad is majoring in English. Bless his heart! Let's all light a candle for him and send him happy thoughts!
 The Alchemist: The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel by Michael Scott Review by Jarad Johnson Sometimes, we get into slumps: reading, writing, or whatever activity it may be. But personally, when I don’t feel like reading or writing on a particular day, I tend to experience what I call literary guilt. I’ve talked to some of my friends before about this, and they sometimes have the same experience, especially with reading. As my friend said to me on when I asked her if she got literary guilt, “Sometimes, but I must remind myself that no matter what format I consume them in, at the end of the day I’m here for the stories.” We think we know why this happens. Sometimes, with readers, there’s a need to consume every piece of writing, and as irrational as that is, that is, sometimes you may think to yourself that you’re not reading enough. At least that is sometimes my experience, especially when I find myself bogged down with papers or finals, and I don’t get the time that I want in a day to read. For those people who don’t get this anxiousness when it comes to books, I envy you very much. I’m reminded of the famous quote about dying with a pile of unread books next to your bed. I think that is the fate of all bibliophiles. Speaking of books, I’ve just finished a great one. It’s called the Alchemyst, and is based upon a fascinating idea, that Nicholas Flamel, a famous fifteenth century Alchemist and the central character of the series, is not in fact deceased but that he is alive and well. He and his wife Perenelle are what the book calls Immortal Humans, who like the Flamels have obtained eternal life through various means. Many of them are well known by history, such as Niccolo Machiavelli, John Dee, Joan of Arc, and William Shakespeare. All of the immortals mentioned are based off a real life historical figures or mythological beings, across Greek, Egyptian, and Celtic mythologies, among many others. Anyone who has a fascination with folklore and mythology will be totally swept away by this series, as I was. it clearly took a lot of thought and planning by the author to weave these mythologies together, and map out each of the characters, which range from the Egyptian Cat Goddess Bastet all the way through history to Palamedes, one of King Arthurs Knights. To combine all these characters, from ancient to modern, clearly shows the authors prowess on all things mythology. This alone makes it a compelling read. When I think of all the action packed and fascinating moments in the first book, one moment in particular stands out. Along with Flamel, there are two main other characters; the twins, Sophie and Josh, who possess extraordinary abilities. Josh worked in Flamels’ bookstore at the beginning of the novel, and his sister worked across the street. In the opening pages, Dr. John Dee, a longtime enemy of the Flamels, discovers that they are hiding there and attempts to capture the immortals and a very precious object that they are guarding. Dr. John Dee pursues the twins and Flamel throughout the series, and that pursuit takes them across the globe. At one point, they attempt to hide from him and his allies by going to the Elder Goddess Hekate, who lives in a secluded Shadow realm, a world she created that is adjacent to this one. When the twins meet her, she is a middle-aged woman, at night she is a bitter and elderly crone, and in the morning, she is a young girl. In mythology, she is often referred to as the Goddess with Three Faces, and is depicted with three heads usually. The author takes an interesting interpretation of the Witch Goddess, in that she changes forms with the passage of the day. The world Hekate lives in is beautifully described, with intricate imagery of the lush gardens and various ancient creatures that live there. But the description ageing process itself is superb. It serves to highlight both the Goddess’s power and her vulnerability at the same time. While she is older than humanity and immortal, he makes the Elder relatable, and brings the reader to understand and sympathize with her. Even an immortal, all powerful goddess straight out of myth has her flaws. One of the most interesting metaphors in the book is the race of Elders, who ruled over the Earth before the humans. They were diminished when their capitol city, called Danu Talis (commonly known as Atlantis) sank beneath the ocean after a terrible battle between two twins atop a colossal pyramid. Since they cannot die, they hide in the shadows, using immortal humans as agents to bring about the destruction of humanity and to return their dominion over the planet. Although the book has this to say about them, “The Elder Race divided into two groups: those who worked with the humani and those who regarded them as little better than slaves – and, in some cases, food. The Elders warred against one another in battles that took centuries to complete. Occasionally humani would fight on one side, and their exploits were recalled in great legends like those of Gilgamesh and Cuchulain, Atlas and Hippolytus, Beowulf and Ilya of Murom.” (from Chapter 18). The fall of the Elders very much reminds me of the Fall of Humanity, as depicted in Paradise Lost by John Milton. Of course, this is when Eve eats the apple, and gets her and Adam banished from the Garden of Eden. Much like the Elders, who lived in a lush paradise, until it was destroyed. But since they are not human, I think it is also even more similar and comparable to the Lucifer’s fall from Heaven in Paradise Lost. Among other things, like plotting dissent in the ranks of the angels, Lucifer fell because he refused to love the humans. This is very similar to the backstory of the Elders. As we learn more and more about this world, it is revealed that some Elders had already left Danu Talis to go work with the humans, because they recognized that their time was over, and that it was the humans turn to rule. The complexities and characters of the whole series could easily take up several more pages, but all in all I think that it’s a fantastic read, and a welcome distraction from all the horrors of the real world. Folklore and mythology have always fascinated me, and this just fuels it even more. Some of the creatures in this are from pretty obscure and lesser known cultures, so I’ve found myself learning about new mythologies that I was previously unaware of. But, even without that, I’m a sucker for good writing, and while the main plot is quite good if a little prone to tropes. The finely detailed world makes the book. That is where this series shines the most. To weave plotlines and prose the way the author has done is quite a talent, and I think can appeal to anyone who loves a good narrative.  Jarad attends Middle Tennessee State University, loves tea, and tries to spend every spare second reading. Jarad is majoring in English. Bless his heart! Let's all light a candle for him and send him happy thoughts!  I will be reading at The Bowery in New York on Sunday, June 11 along with some other writers from The Writer's Hotel. Drop by if you're around!
 Paul Brookes was shop assistant, security guard, postman, admin. assistant, lecturer, poetry performer, with "Rats for Love" and his work included in "Rats for Love: The Book", Bristol Broadsides, 1990. His first chapbook was "The Fabulous Invention Of Barnsley", Dearne Community Arts, 1993. He has read his work on BBC Radio Bristol and had a creative writing workshop for sixth formers broadcast on BBC Radio Five Live. Recently published in Clear Poetry, The Bees Are Dead, Live Nude Poems and others.  Jeff Weddle’s poetry is always about America – even when it’s about the guy next door or a reflective moment drinking coffee. The cover of this book is adorned with a picture of a patriotic parade float, surely brightly colored in its own spot on the timeline, but faded into memory behind a nostalgic tea stained patina. The photo is a taste of what rests between the covers, an acknowledgement that the fabled country born of the coupling of memory with patriotic optimism does not live up to the concrete reality experienced by individual humans struggling to find their place in it.
It’s a book of unsettling observations, whether in broad strokes or in the quiet distilled moments of life, but still it has its odd moments of hope. Weddle’s poetry is often deceptively unadorned, but there is depth in the simplicity. Like your favorite song, most of the poetry is so true every secret revealed is one that you already knew, if only you had thought to look for it. Weddle is superb at catching something larger in concrete and familiar details in poems like You Know Her or Glory. But he is unafraid of the surreal in poems like After Everything Else Happened, which begins the book with the lines: Sometime later the sky opened things fell upon us upon the streets and houses upon the cars and movie theaters upon the old women with canes and their idiot husbands Weddle weaves the experiences of loners, suburban fathers, the down and out, and even Faulkner and Hemingway, into the experience of the nation as a whole and even though the poems may seem unconnected at first glance, they form a surprisingly penetrating and cohesive picture of America, revealing more with each reading. The book is highly recommended.  Interred with Their Bones- Jennifer Lee Carrell Review by Jarad Johnson I flipped through this book and saw Shakespeare, murder plot, and brilliant professor. I was hooked. I picked it up immediately. This kind of book rarely disappoints me. Fortunately, this book followed that pattern and I absolutely loved it. The book read sort of like a Dan Brown novel, mimicking all the twists and turns, and a long-lost mystery now discovered. The book draws heavily on the Shakespeare Authorship Theory, namely Edwardian and Darbyite theory. These theories suggest that Shakespeare was not the author or not the only author of his plays. We begin with the main character and narrator Kate Stanley, former graduate student who wrote a dissertation on the occult Shakespeare, (something I wasn’t aware even existed, but when I stop to think of it I guess I should have expected), directing a production of Hamlet at the Globe Theatre in London shortly after giving up academia for the theatre. She has also secured a Hollywood Action Star to play the role of Hamlet, a Sir Henry Lee. During a particularly fervent rehearsal, Kate is surprised with a dramatic entrance by her former mentor and estranged teacher, Roz Howard. Roz presents her with a challenge, saying that she has found something even bigger than the Globe and Kate’s career. She then hands her a box, and tells her to guard it. What follows is a fast – paced and thrilling tale full of action, adventure, intrigue and of course and most importantly, literature and literary theory. This book is not wholly unique; it’s a well done example of its genre. Sometimes it’s okay to know what you are getting into. While meeting expectations is not a bad thing, I anticipated the plot at some points. Of course, being a thriller, it had more than its fair share of action scenes, plot intrigue, and hinted romance. That is not what makes this compelling; in fact, those aspects are fairly run of the mill. The author shows historical prowess and knowledge through the scenes she writes regarding the history and the controversy behind the life of Shakespeare. Her characters are fairly well-developed, especially Roz. She was definitely the stand out character for me, given that she was an eccentric professor I enjoyed the book, but I do think that there could have been a few improvements, starting with a hinted romance that was highly predictable from the moment we see the characters together. I was hoping that the author would not rely on sex appeal to try and make a book interesting. While most of the book was well written, the romantic angle seems to have been frivolous. It did not bear up to the focus the author placed on it. Plus some of the best characters are not carried through the entire novel. All in all, I would recommend the book with a few reservations. It’s a pleasant read that incorporates a fascinating look at literary theory.  Jarad attends Middle Tennessee State University, loves tea, and tries to spend every spare second reading. Jarad is majoring in English. Bless his heart! Let's all light a candle for him and send him happy thoughts!  The Thin Hungry Man Chapter 6 An Unwelcome Guest by Julie Carpenter Adelaide was just thinking that it would have been much better to feed him outside when the thin hungry man leaned over the table and looked Adelaide square in the eye. "You know what? You know what? I wasn't sure that when the time came I would even know how. To eat I mean. I just didn't know. But I did it, didn't I? I ate." He smiled at her, making the small clump of peanut on his nose quiver, then fall into his milk. "And something else," his voice became very quiet, "No one's ever fed me before. I mean you're the first person to ever feed me." He looked up at her with his deep brown eyes shining, almost liquid with adoration. He was quivering a little. Adelaide sunk her head into her hands. "Oh my lord, what have I done?" There was silence in the shining little kitchen for a few seconds. Adelaide just sat at the table without moving her head from her hands. The kitchen clock ticked cheerfully, as if trying to lighten the mood. When Adelaide finally looked up the Thin Hungry Man still sat staring at her, never having been taught that staring was rude. He fixed his puppy dog eyes at her and smiled through a milk and jelly mustache. He looked as though he were trying to think of the right thing to say. Nothing came to mind so he gave another long satisfied belch instead. He hoped that expressed his satisfaction. "Now what do I do with you?" said Adelaide. "I suppose a bath is the next thing I should do, but I don't even want to think about that." She was pretty certain that he would simply drown if left to his own devices and the thought of helping him…she glanced at the hot pink shorts and gave an involuntary shiver. Nope. That was not going to happen. She took his plate and glass and walked to the sink where she began compulsively washing them. After washing the Thin Hungry Man's plate and cup and wiping down the counters she took the dish rag and walked over to the table. "Look up," she said to the Thin Hungry Man. He looked up at her and she grabbed the back of his neck and roughly wiped his face and then the table. She sent him out to sit on the lawn furniture in the sun. “Wait for me she told him sternly. Right in that chair.” She couldn’t decide whether he was more like a toddler or a lap dog. She wanted neither. She walked purposefully up the stairs to her bedroom. She always preferred to be purposefully doing things than be asking herself thinking what she should do. That only tied her up in knots of indecisiveness. She packed a knapsack with several peanut butter sandwiches, some bottles of water, some cream soda…she did not like cream soda….and an old blanket. She wondered briefly what he was going to do and then reminded herself that he was on the edge of the void and that could fare pretty well by just wandering about and collecting things. After all, if those insurance selling dogs could manage to make out like bandits by selling renter’s insurance to clowns and penguins, he could find some method of keeping himself together. He was, after all, a grown man, of sorts anyway, and he’d managed to live quite a long time without even eating anything. He was tougher than she was giving him credit for. She steeled herself at the door against pity and unreasonable sentiment and went out to find him still sitting stiffly in the chair where she had placed him, as if moving even a few inches might have been defying her orders to sit in the chair and wait for her. She walked up to him with a taut smile. “Here you are,” she said. She was trying very hard to be pleasant. She handed him the knapsack full of sandwiches. After a crisis of conscience, she had included a jar of her favorite pickles and a small bag of chips, both of which were somewhat hard to find on the edge of the void. She did not say, “Get lost,” as she had often done when shooing strange sets talking furniture or flocks of wild brooms off her property. She said, “Here is some food. This should keep you from being too hungry until you find your own. And…um…there’s a blanket in there too. You can sleep in it at night until you find a house or a tent or …um…somewhere to stay.” She’d never felt guilt before when sending the lunatic travelers from the void on their way. She wondered if she were hormonal. It had to be done though. What on earth could she do with the Thin Hungry Man? He smiled and took the knapsack and continued to sit in the chair. He apparently did not understand. He looked up at her with a half smile, his eyebrows knotted as he tried to puzzle out what he was meant to do.. She stood him up and helped him hang the knapsack onto his bony shoulders, all the while chattering about how he was sure to find clothes and shoes and everything he might need on the edge of the void. She finished by whirling him round and pointing down a path that would lead him back to the void. “Now, you just go exploring and see what you can find,” she finished. “I am sure you will be fine and you will meet some new friends.” She gave him a sort of pat on his shoulder; it was meant to be a bit of a push more than a pat but she fancied he might think there was a little affection in it. He turned with a rather confused look, and she felt like she had kicked a puppy but….all in all she couldn’t fault herself. She continued to smile as he walked toward the edge of her yard and through a curved arbor covered in deep purple, bell-shaped clematis that made shivery tingling sounds when the breeze brushed against it. He disappeared behind an enormous butterfly bush, with flowers shaped like neon butterflies. Adelaide called out, “Watch yourself! That bush has teeth!” Too late, she thought, as she heard him give a little yelp. Adelaide somehow didn’t want to think about it anymore, though she wasn’t quite sure why, so she returned to the cottage. She sat in a chair in the kitchen for a while, experiencing occasional pangs of remorse about sending him away, each pang soothed by the thought of all she had done for him. After about half an hour of this circular thinking, she suddenly felt quite fatigued and went up for a nap. She woke to furious banging at her door. At first, the banging seemed to be part of her dream in which she was throwing hammers at the dwarves but they all turned out to have metal skulls and the hammers were bouncing back at her. But she woke in confusion, tangled in the blankets. She sat up and shook her head, trying to shake the dream dwarves and hammers away and hoping that whoever it was had gone away…but no such luck. The banging started again. “I’m coming,” she yelled. “Don’t knock the door down.” Blanche, the dwarves mother, and Colvin were standing on her doorstep. Colvin grinned a snide little grin, but Blanche looked very, very serious. “What the hell?” asked Adelaide? “Are you using a battering ram?” Blanche stepped aside and there he was. The Thin Hungry Man. He gave Adelaide a shy little wave. “No,” said Blanche, “Just no. I have seven, seven, at home to feed and take care of.” “I tried to send him on his way,” Adelaide said. “Just send him down the path into the forest.” “We’ve tried everything,” Blanche said. “He keeps coming back. And look at this.” She grabbed the Thin Hungry Man’s arm and held it out for Adelaide to see. It was covered in bruises. “I can’t be responsible for this,” Adelaide said, “The boys are too rambunctious for him.” “Why is he my responsibility?” Adelaide asked. “Nothing seems to be your responsibility,” said Blanche, “But I can’t take care of him. Just let him stay here for a day or two. We’ll send a carrier pigeon into the interior and someone will come for him.” “Oh for goodness sakes,” Adelaide said. “It’s the law,” Blanche said, “He has no purpose. He must be taken to the Queen.” “Maybe he just hasn’t found his purpose yet…” Adelaide started, “You know I came out here to get away from everything.” “Yeah honey, so did I,” said Blanche, “See how that worked out for me?” Adelaide moved back from the door and the Thin Hungry Man stepped in. He dropped his backpack on the floor, sat down next to it and took out a sandwich. “Fine,” said Adelaide, “But he’d better be out of here in a couple of days.” “Doesn’t make any difference to me,” Blanche said, “By the way, I’m leaving Colvin. He can help out until you get rid of that one.” She shoved Colvin into the room and turned around and walked out. “Got any beer?” Colvin asked as he walked into the kitchen, “By the way, don’t you think we should name skinny there?” THM 1 THM 2 THM 3 THM 4 THM 5 |
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