Chapter 12 – Storming Hanover After the meeting with the local powers of Siemens, Lars walked me to the car. I had the Mercedes, with Russell driving. Loaning me Russell was the sort of generous gesture I learned to expect from Sheila. I was also glad she sent Christine, who makes a great human comforter. It was good that I did not yet know about Lars' tran...
***This is one of those chapters which need to happen now and again. I'm not overly fond of writing "meanwhile, back at the ranch" chapters, but there are a few logistics issues which will need tying up in the next chapter or so. Then again, I've just had the thought that some might like this sort of thing, so if you're one of those who like a tale with far...
The hotel's pre-dinner free yoga class was only sparsely attended - one stunning redhead, one older-but-not-elderly woman, plus two brunettes and a couple of men obviously paired with them. Plus Herman, of course. The instructor was a slender blond young woman, pretty, well-trained, a good teacher. Nice sequences of poses, good corrections. She was also a...
A momentary frisson of fear ran along my spine as I sprawled in the small tent, my arms lashed above my head with leather bindings and my eyes covered with a thick binding of cloth. I wriggled upon a fur mattress and strained my ears, but all I could hear was the heavy footfalls of Sally Mead Mug as she walked about me in the small tent. I swore I could hear...
The following day, the group of nerds was gathered in the university cafeteria and Sheldon brought up the discussion about Valentine's Day. He was streaming live an episode of "Fun with Flags. No one was impressed. Leonard had dinner reservations with Penny. Howard and Bernie were going to break in their new hot tub, while Raj was having a date with Emily,...
Jeanette sat stiffly at her vanity as her servants prepared her for the coronation. Because the dress for the occasion had been specially made, the seamstress joined with her usual servants to assist in putting it on the soon to be Queen. Jeanette's own servants braided and styled her hair, then applied red lipstick and blue eyeliner to her face. Her cheeks...
Notes from the Author: No, this is not the area where I warn you about ages and fakeness. That is inferred. --This story is a direct follow-up to "Heather Jenkins." You should read that first or you'll be lost. I have no idea how that story ended up in Sci-Fi & Fantasy. I blame the wheel mouse. --This story is long! (So is "Heather Jenkins.") --This...
ELENA I peered through the brush, the pine needles tickling my face. The morning sun cast speckled rays through the green canopy, and bathed my target in a golden aura. I supposed the man was beautiful. His face was chiseled with elegant features, his hair was a mess of blond, and his body was bronze and lean, toned to perfection. His ears came to points i...
It's another return to those so-called thrilling days of yesteryear, this time to June of 1971. Nixon sat in the Oval Office, the Rolling Stones' Brown Sugar topped the Top 40 charts and Summer of '42 and Billy Jack played at the box office. Hot pants were all the rage and leisure suits were on the horizon. What we later took for granted, cell phones, person...
Part Ten: Adrianna's Story Author's note I decided to introduce the character of Adrianna (formerly Thomas Adarian) gradually throughout the story. At first, you only hear accounts of him, then you only see him through the eyes of other characters. It is only at the beginning chapter 20 that I let the story play through Adarian's eyes. I wanted to give the...