Clear Up

We cleared the garden to the flat yesterday, nasty business. My cheap plastic gloves kept snapping.

Met some of the family I hadn't seen in ages. Suffered from smoke inhalation.

I am going to try to plan the last 5 chapters of RTD. The problem that I have at the moment is that the characters have turned up at the Skull Island base to rescue the drone and have basically done it by chapter 7.

Chunk

Managed to type in over 1,000 words of Kendra and 1,000 words of RTD yesterday. Also put on a bit of War in the Precincts. Toady I need to take some rubbish to the dump. Chinoiserie is a mixture of Chinese and European stylised art on pottery etc.

Managed to fix the bath plug with a small metal clip costing a couple of pence. My daughter washed the dog that doesn't mind being washed. Had to walk to Morrisons to get some passport photos. The woman on the counter gave me some 50p pieces and 3 pound coins. She said "Sometimes the pound coins don't work in the machine."
What she should have said is that they never work in the machine.
I had to ask the assistant manager to guard the booth for me while I got some more 50p's.

Chinoiserie

A word I heard on Youtube today, the actress got the definition wrong. I spelled definition definitoon which is much funnier.

Wrote and finished chapter 7 of RTD today, it is all typed in, just need to catch up on the typing for chapter 5 and 6. Typed in 1,000 words of Kendra, I must get it done before I run out of the free bits I'm giving away on Wattpad.

Aek gave me some advice yesterday. He told me to put my serialised work on in bigger parts and not to have too many. I think that's why Kendra can't get above the top 40 on Wattpad.

Da da da da da da da da Batman!!!

TheBatman put my short story for his mini competition onto Wattpad yesterday. It's called Wakey Wakey. I Tweeted it for him and he got 50 extra reads!

Wrote 550 words of RTD yesterday (chapter 7) typed in the rest of chapter 4. Did a little bit of War in the Precincts, that one is nearly finished. Have written about 200 words of RTD today. My wife is poorly so no coffee at her pupil's house today :(  .

Will try to to 1,000 words of RTD today to free Friday up. Going to see Uncle David and Grandad today as well.

26 Marth

The above is a mis-spelling but I decided to keep it because it looks funny. Will try to update my blog every day, even if it's just a sentence.

Starting chapter 7 of RTD today, Sid and Arthur need to get captured (in fact they did at the end of chapter 6). Then Biggs and the others need to rescue them. I wonder how they get there? The Arthmobile is still broken. IWT's are too easy. A bus maybe?

Cut another tile for the bathroom. When I was doing the bath tiles yesterday another one fell off. I was trying to renew the grout.

Will try to type 100 words before I go to the library. Will take a flask to have a coffee there.

Stuff

On Wednesday I managed to finish the end of Kendra, just a few paragraphs before the end to finish and lots of typing. Was poorly on Thursday so didn't write any of Romancing the Drone (Did however come up with about 600 words of maybe another book called A DaVinci Code!)

Need to write about another 200 words of RTD to finish chapter 6 today. Wrote about 300 outside before breakfast on the garden table.

My wife had a shock yesterday, a friend who was with her got detained by security guards at Sainsburys, Monks Cross, York. She had done nothing wrong and was very distraught. She has been told she can take them to court over it for defamation of character.

Post

Wrote about 300 words of War in the Precincts yesterday. Wrote about 220 words of Romancing the Drone in bed this morning. Wrote about another 400 words of RTD at my daughter's. I felt tired so will have to revise it tomorrow.

Kendra next part

The Bosom of Abraham existed in the crossover point between heaven and earth. From there even could be seen the place where the damned dwell, separated by a gigantic chasm below the membrane between them. It was ever light, lit by the light of heaven. A man could live there, for the physical makeup was the same as the earth, grass, rocks, water. It was large, like a massive island ripped from the earth itself and suspended between there and heaven. Pass through the almost invisible barrier and you were in heaven. To get to the earth needed bending of the lines to travel between planes. This was a gift to some, those who are the sons of angels and the righteous men and women that populate it.

As with those on the earth, the population started off in family groups. Children were born to them and eventually the city was built. One created never to know war nor want.

Salinas was sitting in the house when Kendra appeared from the garden. She smiled winsomely to him. “I have some news my dear.”

“What is that?”

“I am with child.”

“We have waited an age for this blessing!”

Kendra’s son, Chelnuk, was an astute boy. Many a time he could be seen bartering in the city and coming back with a good deal. He preferred fruit and vegetables to meat or chicken. One of his hobbies was to collect things from the land of men. Anything his father could bring back with him. A trumpet, battered from being in battle, a short bronze sword – chipped from fighting, a hair brush (that really was his mother’s but which he kept in his collection.) His sister collected shells and even he had some, but he thought they were a bit boring. Things that were special to him were the things his father used in battle. One unusual thing was a cartwheel that his father had killed a mighty enemy warrior with. He had specifically asked his father to retrieve it from the battle scene. It was used as his bed head. To it were pinned all sorts of small keepsakes, a feather from a peacock (not native to the Bosom), a dragon’s tooth, a picture drawn on a leaf and many other things.

He would sit on his bed with his collection of coins and imagine himself as a king in charge of finances, having to pay for war or providing for the needs of his people. His sister would tease him and knock his piles of coins over then he would tease her back and hide her shells, especially the bigger ones. Sarine, Kendra’s daughter, looked under her bed. There were lots of things under her bed including many shells, but not the bright blue conch shell.

“Mum, Chelnuk has hidden one of my shells again!” she whined.

“Chelnuk, why do you tease her so?”

“She knocked my coins over!” replied Chelnuk.

“Help me find it mum?” asked Sarine.

“I am too busy. I need to prepare a meal for you father. If you still have not found it later I will help you.”

The little girl drew out a stool from her desk and stood on it to look at the topmost shelf but still could not find it.

“Now where could he have put it?” she asked herself.

Getting off the stool and skipping to her parent’s room she looked in their blanket box. Sure enough, tucked under the bottom most blanket was the blue conch shell.

This teasing was all good natured, there being no evil spiritual influence felt in the Bosom for the demons were kept out by the membrane that existed between the Blighted Land and the Bosom.

Sometimes Chelnuk would go down to look at the chasm, and across it to see if he could see any of those damned to destruction. Many a time did he see a disembodied spirit or what seemed to be a floating jellyfish throw itself at the membrane. His mother had told him never to tarry too long near it or to look into evil that was on the other side. But he was intrigued about the life that flowed back and forth over the dark part of the land that was ripped from the earth when the Bosom was created long ago.

As Chelnuk stared across the chasm, Kendra appeared by his side. “Son, why do you stare so through the membrane?”

Chelnuk jolted, as if being caught doing something wrong, “No reason Father,” he said averting his eyes.

“Oh Chelnuk, even looking at this distance into evil causes you to be deceitful.”

“Sorry Father, I just like looking at the shapes of the spirits and seeing if I can spot people, or other Nephilim.”

“Well then, the truth at last. Do not be eager to leave the Bosom my son, for if you do, and go into the world of men, you will experience all forms of temptation and sin. Thence may you also find out your heart, whether it is good or evil, and so be separated from us for ever if evil is found in you.”

“But Father, how do I know if I am good or evil?”

“Only our Lord knows who are his in this place. I pray that you are His.” He ruffled Chelnuk by the hair and said, “Let’s be home now to taste your mother’s fine meal.” Then, “did you get the peppers from the barter I told you about?”

“Yes, but they are a bit small. I think he picked them too early.” They made their way back home.

Kendra was a little distant at mealtime. “What is it with you?” asked Salinas.

“I should be with my men, we have a battle in the next day or two and I shall not return home until it is finished.”

“I worry about you. You are not like your father, an immortal. I do not wish you to visit me as a spirit, and to spend my life as a widow in this place, until the end of time.”

He smiled at her and held her hand. “Thank you for coming to this place with me, and for understanding that my heart is both angel and man, a fighter with two halves. If I am wounded badly my father’s gift will return me here to be tended by your loving hands.”

She smiled and they kissed.

Kendra Part 10

The dew dripped from the flowers, the grass was wet. His toes could feel the wetness as he turned and saw the black man staring back at him.

“What are you doing in my garden?” asked Nimr.

“I, er, I got lost!” replied Kendra.

“You are a big man. I could use you in my personal guard. Are you any good with a weapon?”

Kendra grasped the hilt of the sword strapped to his back and swung it to and fro. He expertly turned the blade in his hands and made cutting motions in the air letting out a cry as he hacked into a tree.

“Impressive,” nodded the ruler of Babylon, “but you have injured my tree.” He paused for a moment then offered Kendra a deal. “I’ll give you an ephah of gold for a year’s service, all the food and women you want.”

“I have a wife already.”

“So do I, but I still have all the women I want.” He laughed and Kendra did also, but in a kind of disbelief. The king, who took this to be a sign of acceptance, came over to Kendra put his arm around his back and led him to the palace.

The palace was large and was luxurious compared to the buildings surrounding it. Guards stood near the doors dressed in leather and red cloth. As they entered the hallway Kendra saw cloth hanging in tresses from the ceiling. In the Great Hall the throne stood at one end with two lit censors either side. Tables stood around the centre of the room in a giant square leaving a central area for entertainments and were set for a banquet, guests were already arriving.

“Come eat with us,” called the King.

Kendra sat in an empty space and picked a leg of beef.

“How do you like the new guard?” Nimr asked a courtier.

“He is a big one. I bet he could take three normal ones on!”

“Maybe I will get him to when he finishes eating,”

Wine flowed generously, served by women clothed in skimpy dresses. One guest grabbed a young woman. She did not resist, he pulled her up to his lips and they kissed. Kendra looked in disbelief.

“Come,” shouted a herald, and exotic dancers filled the floor. Their motions were erotic and Kendra, embarrassed, looked instead at his food.

“Why do not look at the women? You can take any you wish, have them here in front of us all, as we will.”

The Nephilim thought, “This is the kind of thing that was happening before the Flood.” He stood up and Nimr saw him.

“Will you show us all here your skills against my champion? The dancers stopped and withdrew to the edges of the room. A tall rugged guard stood up and threw the bone he was gnawing to the floor. He wiped his lips on his arm then made his way to the centre of the room. Kendra took up the challenge and walked towards the champion. No niceties, the champion swung and Kendra and caught him by surprise in the chest.

Romancing the Drone part 21

“Goodbye,” replied Arthur as he cancelled the call. He then put the phone back in his pocket.

“I thought that phone was in your holdall?” queried Sid

“It was,” replied Arthur, “continuity mistake maybe? Never mind it’s in my pocket now.” Arthur looked beyond the tree cover. “Where are we then?”

“In a wooded area, near some trees, by a copse.”

“I can see that, although that description is the same thing thrice. I meant are we in St. Cyrilsburg?”

“Yes, in a wooded area. Near some trees…”

Arthur stared down at Sid trying to let him know that he was being annoyed.

“By a copse?” finished Sid simperingly.

“Did you not see I was annoyed with you?”

“I thought it would be funny.”

“You thought it would be funny?” said Arthur, hands on hips.

“If you don’t stop trying to bully me I will leave you in this wooded area, near some trees by a copse.”

“Oh really, and you think the Author would allow that?”

“I don’t care about him, if I want to leave I will,” Sid left and as he did so he turned his helmet speakers up to loud.

“Great,” mumbled Arthur, “I needed him to get me into the CGB compound. I do not even know where it is.”

Arthur looked through the things in his bag. He found a map of the compound on his phone. He then used his sat nav to look for the CGB compound, but of course he couldn’t find it. “Where is the flubbing thing?” he flubbed.

Romancing the Drone 16 - 20

.” He then picked out a set of long johns, “100 Markkas please.”

“But if you are a Britannic agent should you not give them to me?”

“Strict instructions from N, you have to pay for everything. Something to do with your devastating clumsiness.”

Arthur got his credit card out.

“Ooh,” exclaimed Sid, “can I have some sweets as well? I love Finnish chocolate and I can’t get my change out, being in my battlesuit.”

“Alright,” grumbled Arthur.

“And an ‘I’ve been to Helsinki’ sticker for the back of my battlesuit.”

“you are lucky we do not have to get sponsorship deals, you would have logos all over.”

“All over logos,” thought Sid, “sounds like… “

He didn’t come up with anything.

“What’s the matter Sid?” I asked, “are you stuck for a witticism?”

“Well, I don’t know what all over logos does sound like. It sounded like you wanted a good punch line but nothing materialised.”

“You haven’t lost your mojo?” I asked, “We are near the beginning of the book, I can’t have one of the funniest characters losing his mojo.”

“That means you think…” began Arthur.

“Shut up Arthur,” I said, angrily, “this could be potentially serious.”

“You still have me,” said Arthur, who was now a little hurt.”

“I am sorry Arthur, I shouldn’t have snapped. I am just concerned about Sid.” I spoke then to Sid, “Do you need some Sid pills Sid?”

“Naw, I don’t take Sid pills anymore. That was just in a piece of flash fiction, I don’t want to get addicted to them. They may have side effects.”

“Do you want to try for that punch line again Sid?” I gently coerced.

“All over logos,” tried Sid again, “sounds like someone called Loe goes all over the place.”

We all laughed, but nervously, because it was a bit of a weak joke.

“I must get into my long johns,” said Arthur. “Is there anywhere I can change?” He inquired of the proprietor.

“You’ll have to use the loo,” replied the proprietor.

“I hate having to get changed in public lavatories,” grumbled Arthur.

“Excuse me, but are you casting aspersions on my toilet?”

“Er, of course not old chap, I would not cast aspersions on anyone’s toilet. Could you show me the way?”

“Up the stairs, turn left, follow the hall down to the end, up another flight of stairs then the last door on the right.”

“Stairs, left, hall, stairs, right,” mumbled Arthur.

“Are you sure you’ve got that? It’s just that I don’t want you seeing my wife.”

“What’s the matter with your wife?”

“Nothing, she is very beautiful.”

“Then why don’t you want me to see her?”

“In case you scare her.”

“What’s the matter with me? Am I scary?”

“Yes. No. I mean she might think it’s me using the loo and get a fright if she sees it’s you.”

“Oh. Well it’s the stairs, left, end of hall, stairs and the door on the right.”

“The last door on the right.”

“Last door,” memorised Arthur as he started up the stairs.

Sid chewed some sweets and asked the shop proprietor to stick the sticker on his back.

Arthur found his way to the lavatory without any mishaps and got changed into his long johns. As he left he heard a strange sound coming from one of the rooms. It sounded like Classic FM. He was tempted to look in but remembered the proprietor’s caveat, so he made his way back into the shop. When he got there Sid and the proprietor were nearly crying with laughter. “Did I miss anything?” he inquired.

“It was so funny,” said Sid, “those boots fell down onto that… Aww you had to be here really, it was an exceptional piece of visual comedy.”

“Visual comedy doesn’t translate well into a book,” commented the proprietor.

“Rather,” agreed Arthur, “funny how it happened when I was out of the room.”

“Yeah it was funny,” sniggered Sid.

“I suppose they will make something of it if it ever goes into film.” Arthur turned to the proprietor, “thank you for your long johns. By the way, what is your name?”

“Helstig. That means you can use it when you see me at the end of the book.”

“Do you know something I do not know?”

“I’m just guessing.”

“Well thank you again, goodbye.”

“Bye Helstig,” said Sid as both he and Arthur left the shop.

Sid didn’t allow Arthur a breath before he picked him up and began to fly again, towards Varangia.

The proprietor flipped the lid up on his counter to reveal his radar monitor and radio. “Father Christmas calling Rudolph, come in.”

“This is Rudolph,” said a voice on the other end, suspiciously like N’s.

“Arthur has just flown off from ‘The North Pole’ with Sid the dwarf. On the way to pick up the parcel.”

“Oh bother,” said Rudolph, “I didn’t want him to go with anyone else. That might muck things up.”

“I did give him a special ‘I’ve been to Helsinki’ sticker. If it comes to the worst and they look like they’re going to succeed I’ll blow the electrics on the suit.”

“Very good Santa Claus. Keep our eye in the sky on them once they get into Varangia. Over.”

“I’m Father Christmas, not Santa Claus,” blubbed Helstig.

“Same difference. Over and out.”

“Over.”

CHAPTER THREE

In a wooded area, near some trees, by a copse, landed Sid with Arthur. Sid popped his helmet open. Rock music was blaring out of his speakers. “So we’re here then,” he said.

“Can you not turn those speakers down? We do not want to draw attention.”

“Don’t you like Steamhammer?”

“It is not about my musical taste but about the covert nature of the operation.”

“Sorreeeee!” exclaimed Sid as he turned down the volume.

“That reminds me, I must send some flowers to her, to say sorreeeee.” He got his mobile phone out and dialled. “I don’t seem to be able to get a signal.”

“Here let me try,” offered Sid as he held out his gauntleted hand.

“Why?”

“I can boost the signal with my suit.”

“Okay,” relented Arthur as he handed Sid his phone.

Sid attached a wire into the phone and pressed redial. A voice answered, “Romance Flowers, can I help?”

Sid gave the phone back to Arthur.

“Erm, I would like to order some flowers please, to be delivered today.”

“Of course Sir, what is the name and the address please?”

“Arianne Pendragon, The Castle, Castle Road, Undercastleton, CAS CZ1.”

“Thank you Sir, and what would you like to send her?”

“Roses?”

“What colour?”

“Pink?”

“How many Sir?”

“A baker’s dozen in case one gets lost.”

“That is thirteen roses Sir.”

“Never mind about the spare, send her 12.”

“Alright Sir, and can I ask for your credit card details?”

“I do have an account with you, can you charge it to that?”

“Let me just check…”

Arthur put his hand over the phone, “I was going to say that sounded I was going to get lost.”

“Eh?”

“You know, when I said in case one gets lost it sounded like I might get lost.”

“Oh you mean the royal we type thing?”

“Yes that is it.”

The flower shop owner came back on the phone. “That’s fine Mr. Pendragon, I’ll see she gets them today. Can I ask what the personal message will be?”

Arthur tried to whisper into the phone with his hand over it slightly, “From Fluffy to Bunny, kiss, kiss, kiss.”

“Right Sir, is there anything else?”

“No.”

“Goodbye then.”

“Goodbye,” replied Arthur as he cancelled the call. He then put the phone back in his pocket.

“I thought that phone was in your holdall?” queried Sid

“It was,” replied Arthur, “continuity mistake maybe? Never mind it’s in my pocket now.” Arthur looked beyond the tree cover. “Where are we then?”

“In a wooded area, near some trees, by a copse.”

“I can see that, although that description is the same thing thrice. I meant are we in St. Cyrilsburg?”

Kendra 7, 8 and 9

“But they are God’s creatures how can you wipe them from the face of the earth?” inquired Medin.

At last he opened his eyes, they flashed with indignation, “Do you wish that your wives and children be mauled and slain, or that you all live in fear your whole lives?” He stood and addressed them all. “Why should we remain beholden to a God that no longer speaks or meddles in the affairs of man? Send me your best hunters, those skilled with the spear and bow. I will teach them and lead them.”

“But what do we do in the meantime?” wondered Plebin, now a little afraid of the monster he had awoken.

“Build walls of mud around the settlement, I will show you how.”

Nimr took charge of the building works. People made mud bricks and he showed them how they should build a high mud brick wall, higher than any had dared build before. Its base was thicker than the top and it rose to three times the height of a man and high enough to stop most of the taller hunting creatures.

They also sent him their good hunters, those skilled in the spear and bow. When the building works were under way, he led the hunters to destroy those beasts closest to the city. Until that time men had lived in villages or small towns or even in tents, open to the wild.

Some creatures were fast and strong and intelligent, and it was impossible to catch them in pits, with nets or with the bow. Nimr thought long and hard to try to find a way to hunt them. There were goodly creatures, ones that could be useful to men, “If we could use the speed of the horse and the leopard we could catch them easily.”

One of the hunters had befriended a group of horses, his name was Tarn. Nimr asked for his help. “Tarn, have you ever tried to sit upon one of the horses?”

“My son tried once, but they are proud and were not willing to be ridden upon. The horse threw him to the ground, he badly hurt his back.”

“I am not a man to give up so easily, I would try to succeed.”

 A horse was eating near Tarn’s house. Nimr ran up to the roof and launched himself onto the back of the animal, he grabbed onto it’s mane with his hands. The startled animal bucked and reared. It was a minute or two before Nimrod was thrown to the ground. He landed on his bottom with a bang.

Stunned at first he drawled, “I shall not be mastered by any animal,” he made for the horse again, but it soon escaped.

“You will have to catch it with a rope first, but it would be best if you tried to calm it down before you tried to ride it!”

Nimr could see another horse. He took a rope and made a noose. Tarn gently spoke to it and offered it an apple. Nimr came quietly over and slipped the looped rope over its head. It pulled back a little but was not scared. Tarn patted its neck. Nimrod leapt onto its back and pulled the rope tight. This gave him more grip as the horse bucked and jumped to try to get rid of its unwanted rider. It was only a few more minutes before Nimr had tamed it. “Now I have the speed of a horse to aid me in my hunt.” The horse walked forward, Nimr lost his balance and fell off. “Maybe there is more to sitting on a horse than I thought,” he said as Tarn laughed.

It watched its prey. The little girl knew nothing about it. As she skipped and jumped in the mud the thing watched her. It was about to pounce when something flew past its head and landed beside her. The velociraptor, startled, started to run. As it passed the girl it knocked her over and she began to cry. A black man, riding a horse with a bow and arrows and two leopards gave chase. The leopards could match the speed of the dinosaur. Nimr again raised his bow and fired it accurately at the neck of the dinosaur. The iron point was sharp enough to pierce its neck. It squealed, lurched forward and fell. Nimr reined his mount and went to check his kill. It was dead, he was victorious.

The mother of the little girl had seen what had happened and had gone to hold her child to her breast. She then ran to the settlement saying, “The rider has rescued my child.” As a crowd gathered round she related the story of the rescue to them.

Nimr skinned the creature and spread out its hide to dry in the sun. A villager approached him and spoke. “The elders of the village would like to honour you with a celebration feast tonight. You are the hero of our village.”

The village was a group of dwellings surrounding a green. There was a festive feel in the atmosphere as villagers readied the green by decorating the long tables with flowers and straw decorations. Poles were erected with strings linking them together, also hanging with decorations. Nimr was escorted to the chief elder’s house by his sons and daughters. There they had him bathe and rest then gave him a robe to wear instead of his hide armour. He chatted to the oldest of the girls, a beautiful blonde haired, blue eyed girl. As her father entered, he brought with him the child that Nimr had inadvertently rescued.

“What is your name?” asked the elder.

“My name is Nimr,” he replied.

“What does that mean?”

“It means ‘leopard tamer’.”

“My name is Drathan it means ‘cottage’.”

One of the younger daughters came in. “Father, Sharnak is here.”

Sharnak came into the room and pronounced, “We are ready for you now, warrior hero.”

Nimr was led out by the two elders, followed by the others who had been in the house. Maidens went before them adorned with flowers scattering petals over and before Nimr and the procession. The rest of the villagers lined the path to the green.

He was led to the centre of the table and sat at the head. Villagers had constructed a gazebo over his seat to protect him from the sun. Sharnak spoke, “We now welcome and honour this hero for the rescue of the child Leth.” He began to clap and cheer, the others did also. Food was brought in and they sat down to eat.

Nimr looked magnificent riding upon a horse, two leopards in his entourage. Good hunters flocked to him. The elders were weaklings so he therefore needed to be in charge. He was a mighty hunter, he should lead the people. There were not enough men from the surrounding villages who agreed that he should be their leader. His rhetoric was not good enough to convince all the villages that he should lead them so he took his young men, his hunters, into the wilderness and the mountains to show them hardship and train them in the arts of war. They became tough and brutal, good at spear and bow, disciplined and willing to follow their leader into any venture he suggested.

The closest village to his was Clem’s. His men went into the village and rounded up the adult males. When Nimr entered the village he gave them all an ultimatum. “Become my subjects, or you shall be put to death.”

The men of the village looked to Clem and his two sons. Clem stood firm and spoke up to Nimr, “Me and my sons shall never submit to an upstart who threatens murder and promises servitude.”

Nimr looked at the soldier closest to Clem and nodded. The soldier raised his spear and brought it down into Clem’s heart. His sons leapt forward too late to stop it, they too were speared to death. The rest of the male villagers knelt in submission. This is how Nimr became the ruler of the valley, usurping the natural leadership of village elders. Some of the men he took to be his soldiers, others he made to work in his fields to provide food for his growing army and to build his city and the walls around it. He gathered those from the surrounding villages into this city either by war or promising them that they would be safe from the wild creatures. 

Kendra Part 5 & 6

“I led men against the ravening hordes, they called me a hero. I long again for those days.”

“I fear for you Kendra,” she touched his side, “seeing the wound you received from Cephrasi made me realise that you could easily die, you are no good to me as a spirit.”

“You worry too much Salinas, being in the Bosom bores me. Guarding with my father is better, but I long for songs of victory over common enemies; maybe even long for the hunt of beasts gone mad.”

“That is one thing that does not enamour me to you Kendra, your violent nature.” She turned from him slightly.

“But that is how I met you, don’t you remember, on the road to Sikasin, you and your family were being attacked by brigands. There were thirty of them and your father and brother were falling beneath their blows. I drove them off with an ox goad, not a scratch on me.” In his minds eye he saw himself with an ox goad beating the brigands. He began to smile.

“Yes, and we were grateful, you were so strong and handsome. We were thought of as tall in our village, but you were taller and stronger.”

He grabbed her waist and pulled her towards himself, “As my father took a wife among the daughters of men, so his son took you to wife, and you made me glad. But I will not sit at peace while evil men roam the earth oppressing the innocent.”

“Very noble of you,” she smiled, “now peel the apples, tonight we are having pie for after tea. Anyway, I thought all the evil men had died in the flood?”

“Hrumph,” grunted Kendra as he picked up the apple knife.

Mankind again started to flourish on the earth. The land was green with vegetation and creatures again walked and crawled upon its surface.

There was a righteous man who loved God. He was extremely wealthy in cattle and flocks. His name was Job. He had seven sons and three daughters and was well respected in his community. When his children celebrated and partied, in case they had sinned, he would sacrifice a bull to God to atone for them.

One day Satan, who had been roaming throughout the earth, came into the presence of God. Kendra was watching while his father also presented himself. He also saw Cephras there.

“Have you seen my servant Job? There is no one more righteous than he. See how he loves me and honours me,” said God.

“He only honours you because you have blessed him. If you took away his wealth and his blessings then he would curse you,” replied Satan.

“Very well then you may take away his wealth and his blessings, but do not harm his body, or take away his life.”

Then Job, for no reason he could think of, was blighted. His children were celebrating together, there was a violent wind and the building fell down. They were killed. 

Sabeans came, stole his donkeys and oxen then killed the servants watching over them. Chaldeans came and took his camels and killed his servants watching over them. Fire came from heaven killed his sheep and the servants watching over them.

Job tore his robes and he made himself bald, then fell to the floor and worshipped God. He did not say that God had done him wrong.

Kendra listened to some of the conversations between Job and his friends and wondered how the Lord could have allowed such misfortune to come upon such a godly man. Then he mused to himself, “If even a godly man is not safe from the Evil One, then how is a half angel expected to fare.”

After this time Kendra took to brooding in lonely places, away from the sight of men, but never away from those that guarded him in the spiritual realm.

Men lived in family and tribal groups and they had no sojourn against the whims of the wild beasts of the land, giant lizards, crocodiles, big cats, wolves. Some were peaceful, but others hunted and killed man. Large creatures would lean on houses and crush them.

Shem was still alive, five hundred years after the flood. He was a righteous man, the leader of his people, well respected and honoured. He would judge the people with his sons at Salem.

There was a time when people were afraid to leave their houses because of the skulking pictures. So the people came to hear Shem’s pronouncement.

“We must come together,” he said, “with weapons, to drive the Leviathan and the Behemoth from our midst. Let each head of family commission weapons to be made to kill the giant beasts and drive them from our land.”

For a while the creatures were driven from their lairs, but as soon as they multiplied and outgrew their spawning grounds they hunted men again.

Similar things happened in other parts of the world. People would band together, drive the hunters away but they would eventually return.

“We need to do something else, this is an endless cycle,” said the man.

“What about asking Nimr?”

Nimr was a black man, beautiful in stature and form, but his eyes held a darkness that was more than his natural colouring. Other men enjoyed his company. He was bold and fierce and instilled loyalty in those who were held under his sway. By his side he kept a pair of leopards that he had tamed and used for the hunt.

He was resting under a willow tree when the elders came to see him. “What can we do?” asked Plebin the oldest if the elders. “We drive the beasts away but still they return and hunt us.” Looking at Nimr he was hoping for some kind of response.

Nimr continued in a restful position and spoke with his eyes closed, “We must turn the hunters into the hunted. No longer should we kill them and drive them to their homelands, but we should hunt them and destroy them completely, so they are no more.”

Kendra Part 3 & 4

Cephras looked at his son, cowering in a damp hole in the ground. They had known that God would keep His word and flood the whole planet. Cephras had wanted to save his son and his wife. They had built no Ark, but there were underground caves that could be made to be watertight, away from the raging torrents of the deep. They had food to eat and the light of glowing creatures to live by. Cephras could pass through the walls of the cave, he could travel between heaven and earth, but his son was dead to such things. His son would have to survive until the waters subsided.

“Father, how long do we have to be here?” cried his son, in anguish of spirit knowing full well that at his father’s whim he could die here.

Cephras stared at his offspring, “Maybe until the Sun has had its full cycle. Three hundred days.” The evil angel seemed to show little emotion.

“That long. I do not have enough food or water to survive that long. What are we to do?” Cephrasi hit a rock in anger breaking his skin slightly. It calmed him a little, brought clarity to his mind.

“There is enough food for one, I made sure of that.” He stood back and looked at the pile of provisions heaped near the back of the cave.

Cephrasi looked at his wife who was washing her hair in a pond. He caught her by the neck and forced her face into the water. She struggled for a minute. “Now I shall survive,” he whispered.

His father looked on. “Yes my son, you have enough food now.”

Kendra had stayed at home for a year until the waters had subsided. He decided to travel to the earth to see what it was like. He appeared in the sea and could see a mountain top with the ark on. There was still the smell of animals, but at least it was not raining. The door was open and a lot of creatures could be seen swarming around the mountain. Noah was there with his wife and one of his sons. They had just eaten a meal and were chatting, warmed by the Sun.

He swam to the mountain island, other peaks could be seen in the mountain range all popping their heads above the surface of the water. Kendra could see the remains of seeds scattered by Noah and his sons to feed those animals that ate grain. Hunters were fishing in the sea, the bear, the wild cat, and the tiger. Kendra was amazed that none of the animals had eaten each other. He could also see an altar upon which animals had been sacrificed. A cat nudged itself against his leg, he bent to stroke it. It reminded him of a cat he had many years ago. Soon, he thought, soon there will be enough men upon the earth to tend and train its wilderness, to bring to life the fruit and fauna so lacking at the moment.

He saw one of Noah’s sons, who had separated himself from the others. The son looked mean and bitter, he was using a stick to drive the animals he came across from his path. Then he sat on a stone, spitting curses.

Kendra bobbed down and listened.

“...curse me does he because I saw him in his nakedness and told my brethren. He’ll see, I’ll break the curse and make my brothers serve me instead...”

The Nephilim realised that there must have been some kind of argument and was turning to leave when he saw three angels looking at him.

“Why are you here Nephilim? What is your purpose? asked the lead angel who stood at about 7 foot, clothed in silver raiment and holding a bronze coloured spear.

“I was just seeing how Noah and his family were doing after their ordeal.” He was stunned and his lips dried a little, being put on the spot by one of his father’s own.

“You have not been assigned the duty to guard them, you do not need to be here,” said the second angel.

“It would be well with you if you stayed in the bosom, until more of the earth is revealed,” said the third angel.

Kendra looked away then back again before he concentrated and then was back in the Bosom.

Time passed. He lived happily with his wife but he was bored. He had liked the freedom he could have on the earth, he missed it. There was peace in the Bosom but no excitement. Everything was calm and ordered there was no strife. Kendra longed for the time when he was a hero, when he led men in battle. How his heart sang when he surveyed his mighty men charging at full speed towards their foe. The many footfalls forcing dust from the dry earth into the air around their feet, a storm of death.

“Why do you ponder so Kendra?” asked Salinas, she looked concerned because he was quiet and ponderous.

He splayed his hands out on the roughly hewn table and stretched slightly, “I think of fights of old and my part in them.”

“Most men would long to have what you have, peace, a wife, land to grow and produce on.”

“But I get bored Salinas. This is why I help my father with his guard duties.” He leaned back on his chair slightly to look her in the eye.

“But being a guardian is dangerous. Especially when there are others more powerful than you,” she pointed at him with her sword-like finger, “who would kill you as look at you.”

He looked away from her not wanting a confrontation and hoping for a little sympathy from the woman he loved. “I long for more time on the earth, a time of greatness and bold deeds.”

“You can take the hero out of the fight but you cannot take the fight out of the hero.” That sounded like a quote from somewhere she thought.

Romancing the Drone part 15

What can I do for you?”

“I need some long johns,” explained Arthur.

“Being up at 30,000 feet too cold for you?” asked the proprietor.

“How did you know we were up that high?” inquired Sid.

“I saw you approaching over the Baltic Sea on my radar.”

“Radar?”

“I am a Britannic agent. You’re lucky you came to me and not the fishmonger down the road, he’s a Varangian spy.”

“Does he sell long johns?” asked Arthur.

“No, fish.”

“Well I would hardly likely go to a fishmonger to buy my long johns.”

“You would do if you didn’t want to freeze at 30,000 feet,” replied the shop owner.

“I thought he was called the proprietor?” Sid wondered.

“He is both,” said I.

“ooOOoo, had too much caffeine today?” noted Sid of the Author as he burbled a little.

“Do you want some Alka Seltzer for your burbling?” asked the shop owner.

“Naw,” said Sid, “I’ll just stop taking the mickey out of the Author  and it should go soon after that.”

Sid’s burbling stopped.

Just then Arthur got a text.

“Who’s it from?” wondered Sid.

“It is from Arianne, she said she loves me.”

“Aww,” cooed Sid, “well it is the romance dimension after all and she did get a stronger prescription.”

“Something to do with him being difficult to live with,” mentioned the proprietor.

“Does everyone know about that,” grumped Arthur.

“Maybe,” said the proprietor, “I got an email with it in this morning.”