The Narnia books aren't bad actually, and I think if you read them without seeing the allegory they're quite fun. But there are a lot of books to read these days and I'm sure there are equally good choices of series that I've not read :) Incidentally, once this story concludes I'll probably have a week off from writing like this, and then... any character preferences to bring back?
Binding Collins swallowed again and saw Tony’s eyes widen as he realised that his prisoner was going to refuse him a second time. “Don’t be an idi-“ he managed before Ethel’s arm came around his neck in a choke-hold. His voice cut off and then his hands came up, one reaching for Ethel’s forearm to break the hold, and the other, holding the gun, swinging to the side and round to crash into Ethel’s head. Ethel faded and Tony, off-balance on the stairs, fell over. With both hands above his head he toppled backwards like a falling tree. Halfway down he started twisting, trying to get his hands underneath him to break his fall, but he’d forgotten that he was on the jagged slope of the stairs and his arms went out to the wrong distance and then his ankles collided with each other as he twisted. His elbow struck the leading edge of the stairs and the gun was jolted out of his hand and out of his reach downwards, then his chin struck the stairs and his legs started to pull upwards into the foetal position. His knees hit the stairs as his hands finally did, and he bounced forwards, downwards, towards the gun. Which hit the stairs and went off. Ethel faded back in and Collins, seeing this for this first time, felt it was like looking at a magic eye picture: one moment there was a blur that made no sense, and then somehow there was a person – a ghost, he supposed – in front of you and the background seemed almost out of focus. Then everything resolved and his eyes felt like they were seeing things properly again. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost,” said Ethel with his usual cheerfulness. “Get down there and kick him in the kidneys a few times, soften him up a bit.” “Don’t,” said the Inspectral. His voice was sepulchral and as he slowly walked up the stairs from the bottom it looked like there was a faint white mist curling around his feet. “Police brutality was last century, Ethel, and it was frowned on even then. However, Collins, handcuffing Tony would be a good start, and though I’d like to get him out of those Robes to remove any silly ideas that might still remain about going back to the Device, that can wait for now.” Ethel snorted. “In my days we’d just use a binding; more reliable that handcuffs. No locks to pick, see.” Collins looked at Ethel. “You’re a ghost?” Ethel patted him on the back. His hand felt solid. “Yes,” he said. “Deal with Tony first, lad, then ask questions later.” “And don’t expect too many answers,” said the Inspectral. “Everyone has a right to privacy.” Collins walked down the steps to Tony, pulling the handcuffs free from his belt and wondering if there was any fight left in the man. When he turned him over to handcuff him he realised that there was no fight left at all: there was a bullet hole in the centre of his forehead. “We’re too late for the brutality,” he said, trying not to laugh and wondering where that urge came from. “And the handcuffs.” The Inspectral floated over and the chill that Collins associated with him seemed stronger than usual. “Damn,” he said softly. Collins felt the side of his head where the Inspectral was standing go cold. “I really hope William survives then. Ethel, go outside and radio the van; get them to come up to the airfield. I’d rather deal with those soldier ghosts that have Collins here try and drag a body and two invalids through the whole town.” “Sure,” said Ethel cheerily. “They’ll need to bring in something to close off the tunnel and secure the Crisis centre anyway; it’s not like we can risk anyone finding a way into that Device for the moment.”
(Did you see how I didn't just automatically say 'More Derby!' there? Do you see how much restraint I'm showing? Good.)
That's a fantastic description of Tony's fall, love the details. And Ethel's ghostly reveal was nicely done as well - the timing and reasons felt quite right.
2 comments:
The Narnia books aren't bad actually, and I think if you read them without seeing the allegory they're quite fun. But there are a lot of books to read these days and I'm sure there are equally good choices of series that I've not read :)
Incidentally, once this story concludes I'll probably have a week off from writing like this, and then... any character preferences to bring back?
Binding
Collins swallowed again and saw Tony’s eyes widen as he realised that his prisoner was going to refuse him a second time.
“Don’t be an idi-“ he managed before Ethel’s arm came around his neck in a choke-hold. His voice cut off and then his hands came up, one reaching for Ethel’s forearm to break the hold, and the other, holding the gun, swinging to the side and round to crash into Ethel’s head. Ethel faded and Tony, off-balance on the stairs, fell over. With both hands above his head he toppled backwards like a falling tree. Halfway down he started twisting, trying to get his hands underneath him to break his fall, but he’d forgotten that he was on the jagged slope of the stairs and his arms went out to the wrong distance and then his ankles collided with each other as he twisted. His elbow struck the leading edge of the stairs and the gun was jolted out of his hand and out of his reach downwards, then his chin struck the stairs and his legs started to pull upwards into the foetal position. His knees hit the stairs as his hands finally did, and he bounced forwards, downwards, towards the gun.
Which hit the stairs and went off.
Ethel faded back in and Collins, seeing this for this first time, felt it was like looking at a magic eye picture: one moment there was a blur that made no sense, and then somehow there was a person – a ghost, he supposed – in front of you and the background seemed almost out of focus. Then everything resolved and his eyes felt like they were seeing things properly again.
“You look like you’ve seen a ghost,” said Ethel with his usual cheerfulness. “Get down there and kick him in the kidneys a few times, soften him up a bit.”
“Don’t,” said the Inspectral. His voice was sepulchral and as he slowly walked up the stairs from the bottom it looked like there was a faint white mist curling around his feet. “Police brutality was last century, Ethel, and it was frowned on even then. However, Collins, handcuffing Tony would be a good start, and though I’d like to get him out of those Robes to remove any silly ideas that might still remain about going back to the Device, that can wait for now.”
Ethel snorted. “In my days we’d just use a binding; more reliable that handcuffs. No locks to pick, see.”
Collins looked at Ethel. “You’re a ghost?”
Ethel patted him on the back. His hand felt solid.
“Yes,” he said. “Deal with Tony first, lad, then ask questions later.”
“And don’t expect too many answers,” said the Inspectral. “Everyone has a right to privacy.”
Collins walked down the steps to Tony, pulling the handcuffs free from his belt and wondering if there was any fight left in the man. When he turned him over to handcuff him he realised that there was no fight left at all: there was a bullet hole in the centre of his forehead.
“We’re too late for the brutality,” he said, trying not to laugh and wondering where that urge came from. “And the handcuffs.”
The Inspectral floated over and the chill that Collins associated with him seemed stronger than usual.
“Damn,” he said softly. Collins felt the side of his head where the Inspectral was standing go cold. “I really hope William survives then. Ethel, go outside and radio the van; get them to come up to the airfield. I’d rather deal with those soldier ghosts that have Collins here try and drag a body and two invalids through the whole town.”
“Sure,” said Ethel cheerily. “They’ll need to bring in something to close off the tunnel and secure the Crisis centre anyway; it’s not like we can risk anyone finding a way into that Device for the moment.”
Greg - hmm, I'll have to think about that.
(Did you see how I didn't just automatically say 'More Derby!' there? Do you see how much restraint I'm showing? Good.)
That's a fantastic description of Tony's fall, love the details. And Ethel's ghostly reveal was nicely done as well - the timing and reasons felt quite right.
Post a Comment