Sneak Peek: Æquinoctium — Chapter Five

This Sneak Peek is maybe a little premature, as Chapter Five isn’t due till December. I might also publish something else before it, but do not want to spoil anything in that regard.

Denise groaned as she was being slammed into the leather chair. R hadn’t bothered freeing her hands from behind her back first. A wiggle to ease the strain on her arms was swiftly put to an end by that sadistic bitch’s grip on her shoulder. At least she loosened and pulled off the hood.

Æquinoctium — Chapter Four (Part 3)

ÆQUINOCTIUM

CHAPTER FOUR

Big Rig

(Part 3)

Denise looked along the semi, heartbeat tattooing on her eardrums. A pair of light cones loomed into view and headed up in her direction. As they closed in, the machinery behind them solidified into the shape of a car. With a minute to spare it rolled to a stop a couple of metres in front and to the side of the tractor unit. Even if completely dislocated from this situation, Denise would have had no trouble matching vehicle with driver: a plain mid-size saloon, in its inconspicuousness on a par with the man behind the wheel. Neither big nor small, neither old nor new, it would merge into the background noise of any given street scenery. Even whilst directly looking at it right now, Denise couldn’t tell its colour. Only the souped-up engine rumble was giving away its true abilities.

Æquinoctium — Chapter Four (Part 2)

Although the chapter is basically finished, I have to devide it into all in all three parts. Due to an eye injury I can’t currently work in front of a screen for longer stretches of time, and therefore editing and proofreading of the last paragraphs have to be postponed. I will submit the third part as soon as possible.

ÆQUINOCTIUM

CHAPTER FOUR

Big Rig

(Part 2)

Right at that magical moment when the whiskey was still burning her throat but already beginning to warm her core, the zombie phone chimed into life. Sugar Daddy was calling.

Denise hurried out of the pub to take the call, her heart beating against the calming effect of the alcohol.

“Your loyal subject awaits your orders.”

“Sarcasm does not become you, Ms Carlisle.” Gabriel’s I-want-a-pillow-made-of-it voice. “Are you ready for your grand appearance?”

“I was born ready.”

Alterations for Æquinoctium (II)

Earlier on I pondered the possibility of retrofitting the chapters I – III of Æquinoctium with individual titles and was literally buried under one reply. This being approving of my idea, I now have to come up with some witty headings – because that’s how democracy works, y’all!

CHAPTER ONE

Anomalous Materials

It is with the making-up of a super-rare element called Tristanium that our charming redhead heroine sets the whole story in motion. So of course the first title is predestined to reflect this vital plot point. “Anomalous Materials” is also the first level of the video game classic Half-Life (1998), not counting the intro.

Æquinoctium — Chapter Four (Part 1)

ÆQUINOCTIUM

CHAPTER FOUR

Big Rig

(Part 1)

For the second time this day Denise awoke with a start. For a moment she didn’t know where she was. The numbers station. Upon sneakily returning from her little excursion she had laid down to get some rest for her grand finale (to her utter relief and eternal pride the lock bypass had worked like a charm). Denise couldn’t remember many details of the weird nightmare that came to her in her sleep – only that she had been chased down a subway tunnel through many doors she could not open yet which allowed her to pass in exhausting dream logic. She’d managed to escape via a daring jump out of the truck trailer, only to find herself standing in front of the central station.

The cheap alarm clock on the table reported 20:37 in a tired red glow.

Sneak Peek: Æquinoctium — Chapter Four

With this long-overdue fourth instalment of my utter nonsense classic spy novel I have adjusted my stand on uploading chapters in parts. My general opinion remains (see Till Chaptering Do Us Part), but I will consider dividing chapters into more than one post if external factors ask for it and – far more important – if the narrative flow isn’t hampered. There will be no “write to fit”, meaning that the story won’t have any predetermined breaking points implemented. If you look at the re-uploaded third chapter – now as a single post –, you won’t be able to tell where the earlier cut had been made.

Æquinoctium — Chapter Three

ÆQUINOCTIUM

CHAPTER THREE

Paper Chase

Denise kept standing for a few moments after Gabriel’s car had turned into the main street. Finally she gave in to the undeniable truth that she had to play along in the voice-owner’s mean little scheme.

“Jerk…!”

She slung the strap of her handbag over her shoulder and got into gear, stumbling occasionally on the poorly maintained back alley tarmac. The main street came closer and would lead her directly to the city centre, if Denise chose so. She did by turning right, as mandated. On smarting feet and with an empty stomach she followed the avenue, which was living up with traffic.

Alterations for Æquinoctium (I)

It may come as a shock to even the keenest of readers, but Pony Boot Camp isn’t my only story full of bugs. So let us today expand the wonderful tradition of retroactive writing to Æquinoctium (although it’s mostly comments in this first instalment).

~

Chapter One:

The greatest extent of Celtic mystery she’d encountered so far had been a shitfaced leprechaun barfing into her handbag at Saint Patrick’s Day.

is commented as followed:

This is hands down one of my favourite lines I’ve ever brought to digital paper. It might lack a bit of cross-cultural sensitivity, but the mental picture was just too vivid to pass up.

Æquinoctium — Chapter Three (Part 2)

ÆQUINOCTIUM

CHAPTER THREE

Paper Chase

(Part 2)

The sudden change of the operator’s tone and hectic noises in the background, soundtracked by unintelligible voices going back and forth, told her that she’d guessed correctly.

“Yes, can you― would you please wait a sec…?”

Another period of time went by, its duration slightly embarrassing for an organisation with a four letter acronym.

Then a second man addressed Denise, and with far more composure.

“Good morning, Ms Carlisle. My name is John Wollny. Please tell me how I may help you.”

“Who are you, exactly?”

“I support the dialogue between parties in situations like this.”

“Then please support my dialogue with the Housekeeper.”

Æquinoctium — Chapter Three

ÆQUINOCTIUM

CHAPTER THREE

Paper Chase

(Part 1)

Denise kept standing for a few moments after Gabriel’s car had turned into the main street. Finally she gave in to the undeniable truth that she had to play along in the voice-owner’s mean little scheme.

“Jerk…!”

She slung the strap of her handbag over her shoulder and got into gear, stumbling occasionally on the poorly maintained back alley tarmac. The main street came closer and would lead her directly to the city centre, if Denise chose so. She did by turning right, as mandated. On smarting feet and with an empty stomach she followed the avenue, which was living up with traffic.