Editingle Mag - Premier Issue

FOR BOOK LOVERS

WALL OF FAME: OLD MYSTERY STORIES GLIMPSE OF MYSTERY MINDS PRIDE MONTH AUDIO BOOK APPRECIATION MONTH

PRE M I E R I S S U E

PLUS FROM EDITOR’S DESK *

AUTHOR INTERVIEWS *

GUEST POST: LAURA DOUGLAS *

MYSTERY AND SUSPENSE *

OUR READING SUGGESTION *

QUOTES GALLERY *

ABOUT US *

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EDITINGLE MAG | PREMIER ISSUE

Editor Chief : Rucha Shrinath Associate Editor : Catherine Edward Staff Writer : Michaelle Sandefur Alankrita Verma Portia Ekka Melissa S. Vice Apurva Biswas Guest Writer : Lora Douglas Cover Design : Editingle Designers Inner Photo's : Google and Respected Copyright Holders

In this Issue 1

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A LETTER FROM EDITOR’S DESK. WELCOME NOTE FOR OUR READERS AND MENTION ABOUT MAGAZINE AND US

A SMALL ARTICLE ABOUT CONNECTION BETWEEN MYSTERY AND SUSPENSE

FROM EDITORS DESK

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WALL OF FAME

IN WALL OF FAME WE ARE SHARING SOME MYSTERY STORIES FROM FAMOUS MYSTERY, SUSPENSE, THRILLER AUTHORS.

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GLIMPSE OF MYSTERY MINDS ARTICLE FROM OUR GUEST AUTHORS AND REVIEWS AND AUTHORS INTERVIEWS. FROM OUR TEAM.

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MASTER STROKES

LETS MEET SOME VERY AMAZING AUTHORS AND FIND MORE ABOUT THEM AND THERE BOOK.

E DI T I N G LE MAG is pub l i she d m o nth ly b y E DI T IN G LE I N D I E H OUSE T h i s m ag azi ne i s only p ub l i she d fo r private c i rculati o n and for p ure ente rtai m e nt only.

For f u ture i ssue s f ollow us on o ur so c i al media and si g n up fo r our ne wsle tte r.

MYSTERY AND SUSPENSE

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PRIDE MONTH SOME VERY AMAZING ARTICLES ABOUT PRIDE MONTH FROM OUR TEAM

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AUDIO BOOK MONTH WHAT ARE AUDIO BOOKS AND WHATS THERE IMPORTANCE IN TODAY’S WORLD. LETS FIND OUT HERE.

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READING SUGGESTION

SOME BEAUTIFUL SUGGESTIONS FROM OUR TEAM AND FROM OUR READERS.

EDITINGLE MAG | PREMIER ISSUE

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QUOTES GALLERY SHARING SOME WONDERFUL QUOTES FROM FAMOUS AUTHORS

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ABOUT US TALKING ABOUT US, OUR FUTURE PLANS AND OUR ONGOING PROJECTS

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EDITINGLE MAG | PREMIER ISSUE

authors as well as Indie authors.

We wanted

to share stories and introduce our readers to new authors and their books. Also we wanted to explore the past of book world and get to know more about

the

legends.

We seek to breakdown stereotypes of literature

In this issue, we are decided to explore the mystery genre and celebrate Pride month and Audio Book appreciation month.

In this Premier Issue of Editingle mag, we wanted introduce

us

as

Hybrid

Publishing House by giving platform

for

published

magazine and give our readers something new and more out of the box content. We also hope that this magazine open new doors of communication for authors and readers by bridging the gap between them.

In this issue, we are decided to explore the

EDITINGLE MAG | PREMIER ISSUE

mystery

genre

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and where the authors and magazine and publish for

celebrate Pride month readers can tell their private circulation only. and

Audio

appreciation

Book stories, get inspired, month. raise awareness, and

You will get a chance to find

opportunities

read some wonderful to better themselves stories,

columns, and share happiness.

articles and much more We believe that there from various authors. is

something

for

everyone in this issue Our hope is that with and hope you enjoy every issue we carve the read! Remember, out a space online this

Our hope is that every issue we carve out a space online where the authors and readers can tell their stories, get inspired, raise awareness, and find opportunities to better

is

a

digital

-

E

D

I

T

I

N

G

L

E

2019 Best Mystery Issue

WALL OF FAME:

OLD MYSTERY STORIES

Ma THE RED SILK SCARF On leaving his house one morning at his usual early hour for going to the Law Cou rt s , C h i e f - I n s p e c t o r Ganimard noticed the curious behaviour of an individual who was walking along the Rue Pergolèse in front of him. Shabbily dressed and wearing a straw hat , t h o u g h t h e d a y w a s 1 D e c e m b e r, t h e m a n stooped every thirty or f or t y y a rd s t o f a s t e n h i s boot-lace, or pick up his stick, or for some

o t h e r r eason. And, each time, he took a little piece of orange- peel from his pocket and laid it stealthily on the curb of the pavement.

It was probably a mere d i s p l a y o f e c c e n t r i c i t y, a childish amusement to which no one else would h a v e paid attention; but Granimard was one of those shrewd observers who are indifferent to nothing that strikes their e y e s and who ar e never satisfied until they

know the secret cause of things. He therefore began to follow the man.

N o w, a t t h e m o m e n t when the fellow was turning to the right into t he Av e nue de l a Gran dArmĂŠe, the inspector caught him exchanging signals with a boy of twelve or thirteen who was walking along the houses on the lefthand side. Twenty yards further, the man stooped and turned up the

au rice Leblanc b o t t o m o f h i s t r o u s e rlegs. A bit of orangepee l m a r k e d t h e p l a c e .

At the same moment the boy stopped and, with a p i e c e o f c ha l k , d re w a white c ro s s su r ro u n d e d by a circle on the wall of the ho us e ne x t t o h i m.

The two continued on their way. A minute later, a fresh halt. The strange individual picked up a pin and dropped a piece of orange-peel; and the boy at once made a second cross on the wall and again drew a white circle round it.

“By Jove!” thought t h e C h i e f - I n s p e c t o r, with a grunt of

satisfaction. “This is rather promising. What on earth can those two me rc h ant s b e p l ot t i ng?”

The two “merchants” w e n t d o w n t h e Av e n u e Friedland and the Rue du Faubourg-Saint-Honoré, but nothing occurred that was worthy of special mention. The double performance w a s re p e a t e d a t a l m o s t regular intervals and, so t o s p e a k , m e c h a n i c a l l y.

Nevertheless, it was obvious on the one hand that the man with the orange-peel did not do h i s p art of t he b usi ne ss until after he had picked out with a glance the house that was to be

marked, and on the other hand that the boy did not mark that particular house until after he had observed hi s c o m p ani o n’s sign al.

It was certain, therefore, that there was an agreement between the two; and the proceedings presented no small inter est in the c h i e f - i n s p e c t o r ’s e y e s .

At the Place Beauveau the man hesitated. Then, apparently making up his mind, he twice turned up and twice turned down the bottom of his t r o u s e r- l e g s . H e r e u p o n , the boy sat down on the cur b opposite the sentry who was mounting guard

outside the Ministry of the In t e ri o r a n d m a r k e d the flagstone with two little crosses contained within two circles. The same ceremony was gone through a little further on when they reached the Elysée. Only on the pavement where t h e P r e s i d e n t ’s s e n t r y was marching up and down, there were three signs instead of two.

“H an g i t a l l !” m u t t e r e d Ganimard, pale with excitement and thinking, in spite of himself, of h i s i n v e t e r a t e e n e m y, Lupin, whose name came to h i s m i n d w h e n e v e r a mysterious circumstance presented itself. “Hang at all, what does it mean?”

H e wa s n e a rl y c o l l a r i n g and q u e s t i o n in g t h e t w o “merchants”. But he was too c l e v e r t o c o m m i t s o gross a blunder. The man with the orange-peel had now l i t a c i g a r e t t e . A n d t h e b o y, a l s o p l a c i n g a cigarette-end between his lips, had gone up to him, apparently with the object of asking for a light.

They exchanged a few words. Quick as thought, the boy handed his companion an object which looked—at least, so the inspector

believed—like a revolver. They both bent o v e r this object and the man, standing with his face to the wall, put his hand six times in his pocket and made a m o v e ment as though he w e r e loading a weapon.

from which the sound appeared to proceed, and remained standing on the threshold, very much out of br eath and gr eatly sur pr ised to see the man of the orangepeel and the boy banging the floor with chairs.

As soon as this was done, they walked briskly to the Rue de Surène and the Inspector, who followed them as closely as he was able t o d o without attr acting their attention, saw them enter the gateway of an old house of which all the shutters were closed, with the exception of those on t h e t h i r d o r t o p f l o o r.

At that moment, a third per son walked out of an adjoining room. It was a young man of tw entyeight or thir ty, w earing a pair of shor t w hiskers in addition to his moustache, spectacles, and a smoking-jacket with an astrakhan collar and looking like a f o r e i g n e r, a R u s s i a n .

He hurried in after t h e m . At the end of the carriage-entrance, he saw a large courtyard w i t h a h o u s e - p a i n t e r ’s sign at the back and a s t a i r c a se on the lef t. He went up the stairs and, as soon as he reached t h e f i r s t f l o o r, r a n s t i l l f a s t e r because he hear d, right up at the top, a din as of a free-fight.

When he came to the last landing, he found the door open. He entered, listened for a second, caught the sound of a struggle, rushed to the room

“Good morning, Ganimard,” he said.

And turning to the two companions, “Thank you, my friends, and all my congratulations on the successful result. Here’s the reward I promised you.” He gave them a hundred-franc note, pushed them outside, and shut both doors. “ I a m s o r r y, o l d c h a p , ” he said to Ganimard. “I wanted to talk t o you... wanted to talk to you b a d l y. ” H e o ff e r e d h i m his hand and, seeing that the Inspector r e m a i n e d f l a b b e rg a s t e d and that his face was still distorted with a n g e r, h e e x c l a i m e d ,

EDITINGLE MAG | PREMIER ISSUE

“ W h y, y o u d o n ’ t s e e m to understand!... And y e t i t ’s c l e a r e n o u g h . . .

I wanted to see you particularly So what could I do?” And, pretending to reply to an objection, “No, no, old chap,” he continued. “ Yo u ’ r e q u i t e w r o n g .

If I had written or telephoned, you would not h a v e c o m e o r e l s e you would have come with a regiment. Now I wa n t e d t o se e y o u a l l al on e , a n d I t h o u g h t t h e best thing was to send those two decent fellows to meet you, with orders to scatter bits of orangepeel and draw crosses and circles—in short, to mark out your road to t h i s p l a c e . . . . W h y, y o u look quite bewildered!

Wha t i s i t ? P e r h a p s y o u don’t recognize me?

Lupin...Arsène Lupin....

Ransack your memory Doesn’t the name remind you of anything?”

thought never occurred and the outhouses to a t o m e ! I p r o m i s e p a i n t e r a n d d e c o r a t o r. you, next time….” I always keep up a few establishments of “You scum of the earth!” t h i s k i n d ; i t ’s a s o u n d , g r o w l e d G a n i m a r d . pr actical plan. Here, in spite of my looking like a “ A n d I t h i n k i n g I w a s Russian nobleman, I am g i v i n g y o u a t r e a t ! Monsieur Daubr euil, an U p o n m y w o r d , I d i d . e x - c a b i n e t m i n i s t e r. . . .

I said to myself, ‘That Y o u understand, d e a r o l d G a n i m a r d ! We I h a d t o s e l e c t a h a v e n ’t met f or an age. r a t h e r o v e r s t o c k e d He’ll simply rush at profession so as not me when he sees me!” to attract attention. ”

Ganimard, who had not yet stirred a limb, seemed to be waking f r o m h i s s t u p o r. H e looked around him, looked at Lupin, visibly asked himself whether h e w o uld not do well to r u s h a t h i m i n r e a l i t y, and then, controlling himself, took hold of a chair and settled himself in it, as though he had suddenly made up his mind to listen to his enemy. “Speak,” he said.

“And don’t waste my “ Yo u d i r t y s c o u n d r e l ! ” time with any nonsense.

Ganimard s n a r l e d I ’ m i n a h u r r y. ” between his teeth. “ T h a t ’s i t ” s a i d L u p i n , L u p i n s e e m e d g r e a t l y “ l e t ’s t a l k . Yo u c a n ’ t d i s t r e s s e d , a n d i n a n i m a g i ne a quieter place affectionate voice, “Are t h a n t h i s . I t ’s a n o l d y o u v e x e d ? Ye s , I c a n m a n o r - h o u s e , w h i c h see it in your eyes.... o n c e s t o o d i n t h e The Dugrival business,1 o p e n c o u n t r y, a n d i t I suppose? I ought to belongs to the Duc de have waited for you to Rochelaure. The duke, come and take me in who has never lived in charge? There now, the i t , l e t s t h i s f l o o r t o m e

“Do you think I care a hang about all this?” said Ganimard, interrupting him.

“Quite right, I’m wasting words and you’re in a h u r r y. F o rg i v e m e . I shan’t be long now Five minutes that’sall...

I ’ ll star t at once Have a cigar ? No? Very well, no more will I.” He sat down also, dr ummed his f ingers on the table while thinking, and began in this fashion, “On 17 October 1599, on a warm and sunny a u t u m n d a y. . . . D o y o u follow me?. But, now that I come to think of it, is it r eally necessary to go back to the reign of Henry IV and tell you all about the building of the Pont-Neuf? No, I don’t suppose y ou are very well up in French history; and I should

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only end by muddling you. Suffice it, then, for you to know that last ni ght , a t o n e o ’ c l o c k i n the mo rn i n g , a b o a t m a n passing under the last arch of the Pont-Neuf af or e s a i d , a l o n g t h e l e f t bank o f t h e riv e r, h e a r d some t h i n g d ro p i n t o t h e f r o n t p a r t o f h i s b a rg e .

The thing had been flung from the bridge and its evi d e n t d e s t i n a t i o n w a s the b o t t o m o f t h e S e i n e .

The bargee’s dog rushed forward barking and, when the man reached the end of his craft, he saw the animal worrying a piece of newspaper that had s e rv e d t o w r a p u p a number of objects. He took fro m t h e d o g s u c h of the contents as had not fallen into the water, went to his cabin and examined them carefully.

The result struck him as interesting and, as the man is connected with one of my friends, he se n t t o l e t m e k n o w.

This morning, I was w oke n u p a n d p l a c e d i n possession of the facts and of the objects which the man had collected.

Here they are.”

inkstand, with a long p i e c e of str ing f astened to the lid. There was a bit of broken glass and a sort of flexible cardboard, reduced to s h r e d s . L a s t l y, t h e r e was a piece of bright scarlet silk, ending in a tassel of the same m a t e r i a l a n d c o l o u r.

He pointed to them, spread out on a table.

There were, first of all, the torn pieces o f a n e w s p a p e r. N e x t came a large cut-glass

“I see that we are entirely of one mind,” continued Lupin, without appearing to remark the ChiefI n s p e c t o r ’s s i l e n c e .

“And I can sum up the

“You see our exhibits, friend of my youth,” said Lupin. “No doubt the p r o b l e m would be mor e e a s i l y solved if we had t h e o ther objects which went overboard owing to the stupidity of the dog.

But it seems to me, all t h e s ame, that we ought to be able to manage, with a little reflection and intelligence. And those are just your great q u a l i ties. How does the business strike you?”

Ganimard did not move a muscle. He was willing to s t a n d L upin’s chaff , but his dignity commanded him not to speak a single word in answer nor even to give a nod or shake of the head that might have been taken to express approval or criticism.

m a t t e r b r i e f l y, a s t o l d us by these exhibits.

Ye s t e r d a y e v e n i n g , between nine and twelve o’clock, a showilydressed young woman was wounded with a knife and then caught round the throat and choked to death by a well-dressed gentleman wearing a single eye-glass and interested in racing, with whom the aforesaid showily-dressed young lady had been eating three meringues a n d a c o f f e e é c l a i r. ” Lupin lit a cigarette and, taking Ganimard by the sleeve, “Aha , that’s up against you, ChiefI n s p e c t o r ! Yo u t h o u g h t that in the domain of police deductions, such feats as those were pr ohibited to outsiders!

Wrong, sir! Lupin juggles with inferences and deductions for all the world like a detective in a novel.

My proofs are dazzling and absolutely simple.”

And, pointing to the objects one by one, as he demonstrated his statement, he resumed, “I said after nine o’clock yester day evenin g. This scrap of newspaper b e a r s y e s t e r d a y ’s d a t e , with the words, Evening Edition. Also, you will see here, pasted to the

p a p e r, a b i t o f o n e o f those yellow wrappers in which the subscribers’ copies are sent out.

These copies are always delivered by the nineo’clock post. Therefore, it was after nine o’clock.

I said a well- dressed man. Please observe that this tiny piece of glass has t h e ro u n d h o l e o f a single eye-glass at one of the edges and that the single eye-glass is an essentially aristocratic a r t i c l e o f w e a r. T h i s well-dressed man walked i n t o a p a s t r y - c o o k ’s shop. Here is the very thin cardboard, shaped like a box and still showing a little of the crea m o f t h e m e r i n g u e s and éclairs which were packed in it in the usual w a y. H a v i n g g o t h i s parcel, the gentleman with the eye-glass joined a young person whose eccentricity in the matter of dress is pr et t y c l e a rl y i n d i c a t e d by this bright-red silk scarf. Having joined her, for some reason as yet unknown he first stabbed her with a knife and then strangled her with the help o f t h i s sa m e s c a r f .

Ta k e y o u r m a g n i f y i n g g l a s s , C h i e f - I n s p e c t o r, and y o u wi l l s e e o n t h e silk stains of a darker red wh i c h a r e h e r e , t h e m ark s o f a k n i f e w i p e d on the scarf and there,

the marks of a hand, covered with blood, clutching the material.

Having committed the murder, his next business is to leave no trace b e h i n d him. S o he takes from his pocket first the newspaper to which he subscribes—a racingpaper, as you will see by g l a n c i ng at the contents of this scrap; and you w i l l h a v e n o d i ff i c u l t y in discovering the title— a n d , s e c o n d l y, a c o r d , which, on inspection, t u r n s o ut to be a length of whip-cord. These two details prove—do they not?—that our man is i n t e r e sted in r acing and that he himself rides.

Next, he picks up the fragments of his eyeg l a s s , the cor d of which has been broken in the struggle. He takes a pair of scissors—observe the hacking of the scissors— a n d c uts off the stained part of the scarf, leaving t h e o t h er end, no doubt, i n h i s victim’s clenched h a n d s . He makes a ball o f t h e c o n f e c t i o n e r ’s cardboard box. He also puts in certain things that would have betrayed him, such as the knife, which must have slipped into the Seine. He w r a p s ever ything in the n e w s p a p e r, t i e s i t w i t h the cord, and fastens this cut-glass inkstand to it as a make-weight.

Then he makes himself scarce. A little later the par cel f alls into the w a t e r m a n ’s b a rg e . A n d ther e you ar e. Oof, it’s hot work!... What do you say to the story?”

He looked at Ganimard to see what impr ession his speech had pr oduced on the inspector. Ganimard did not depart from his attitude of silence.

Lupin began to laugh, “As a matter of fact, you’re annoyed and surprised. But you’re suspicious as well. ‘Why should that conf ounded Lupin hand the business over to me,’ say you, ‘instead of keeping it for himself, hunting down the murderer and rifling his pockets, if there was a robbery?’

The question is quite logical, of course.

But— there is a but—I have no time, you see.

I am full up with work at the present moment: a burglary in London, another at L ausanne, an exchange of children at Marseilles, to say nothing of having to save a young girl who is at this moment shadowed by death. T hat’s a lw ays the way: it never rains but it pours. So I said to myself, ‘Suppose I handed the business over to my dear old

Ganimard? Now that it is half-solved for him, he is quite capable of succ e e d i n g . A n d w h a t a serv i c e I s h a l l b e d o i n g him! How magnificently he will be able to di s t i n g u i s h h im s e l f ! N o sooner said than done.

At eight o’clock in the morning I s ent the joker w i t h t h e o ra n g e - p e e l t o meet you. You swallowed the bait and you were here by nine, all on edge and e a g e r fo r t h e f r a y. ” Lupin rose from his c h a i r. H e b e n t o v e r t o the inspector and, with hi s e y e s o n G a n i m a r d ’s , s a i d , “ T h a t ’s a l l . Yo u now know the whole story. Presently, you will know the victim; some bal l e t -d a n c e r, p r o b a b l y, some s i n g e r a t a m u s i c hal l . On t h e o t h e r h a n d , the c h a n c e s a r e t h a t t h e criminal lives near the Pont-Neuf, most likely on t h e l e ft b a n k . L a s t l y, here are all the exhibits.

I make you a present of them. Set to work. I shall o n l y k e e p t h i s e n d of t h e s c a rf. I f e v e r y o u want to piece the scarf t o g e t h e r, b r i n g m e t h e other end, the one which the police will find round the victim’s neck. Bring it me in four weeks from now to the day; that is to s a y, o n 2 9 D e c e m b e r, at ten o’clock in the

m o r n i n g . Yo u c a n b e s u r e of f inding me her e.

And don’t be afraid; this i s a l l per f ectly ser ious, friend of my youth, I s w e a r it is. No humbug, h o n o u r b r i g h t . Yo u c a n go straight ahead. Oh, by the way, when you arrest t h e f ellow with the eyeglass, be a bit careful; he is left-handed!

G o o d - b y e , o l d d e a r, and good luck to you!”

Lupin spun round on his heel, went to the d o o r, o p e n e d i t , a n d disappeared before Ganimard had even thought of taking a decision. The inspector rushed after him, but at once found that the h a n d l e o f t h e d o o r, b y some trick of mechanism w h i c h he did not know, refused to turn. It took him ten minutes to unscrew the lock and ten minutes more to u n s c r ew the lock of the h a l l - d o o r. B y t h e t i m e that he had scrambled down the three flights o f s t a ir s, Ganimar d had given up all hope of catching Arsène Lupin.

Besides, he was not thinking of it. Lupin inspired him with a q u e e r, c o m p l e x f e e l i n g made up of fear, hatred, involuntary admiration, and also the

vague instinct that he, Ganimard, in spite of a l l h i s e ff o r t s , i n s p i t e of the persistency of his endeavours, would never get the better of this particular adversary. He pursued him from a sense of duty and pride, but with the continued dread of being taken in by that formidable hoaxer and scouted and fooled in the face of a public that was always only too w illing to laugh at the ChiefI n s p e c t o r ’s m i s h a p s .

This business of the r e d s c a r f , i n p a r t i c u l a r, struck him as most suspicious. It was interesting, certainly, in more ways than one, but so very improbable! And L u p i n ’s e x p l a n a t i o n , apparently so logical, would never stand the test of a severe examination!

“No,” said Ganimard, “that is all swank; a parcel of suppositions and guess-work based upon nothing at all. I’m not to be caught with chaff.”

When he reached the headquarters of police at 36 Quai des Orfevres, he had quite made up his mind to treat the incident as though it had never happened.

He went up to the Criminal Investigation

D e p a r t m e n t . H e r e o n e o f t h e inquir y, together of h i s fe l l o w- i n s p e c t o r s w i t h t h e d i v i s i o n a l said, “Seen the chief?” surgeon and Monsieur Dudouis, the head of “No . ” the detective service.

“He wa s a s k i n g f o r y o u G a n i mar d star ted at the j ust n o w. ” first glance which he gave into the room. He “Oh , wa s h e ? ” s a w l ying on a sof a the corpse of a young woman “Yes , y o u h a d b e t t e r g o w h o s e h a n d s c l u t c h e d aft e r h i m . ” a strip of red silk!

One of the shoulders “Wh e re ? ” which appeared above the low-cut bodice “ To t h e R u e d e B e r n e . w o r e t h e m a r k s o f t w o There was a murder wounds surrounded t h e r e l a s t n i g h t . ” “ O h ! w i t h clotted blood. T he W h o ’s t h e v i c t i m ? ” d is to r te d a n d a lmo s t blackened features “I don’t k n o w s t i l l bor e an expr ession e x a c t l y. A m u s i c - h a l l o f frenzied f e a r. singer, I believe.”

T h e d ivisional surgeon, Ganimard s i m p l y who had just finished muttered, “By Jove!” his examination, said, Tw e n t y m i n u t e s l a t e r, “ M y f i r s t c o n c l u s i o n s he stepped out of the a r e v e r y c l e a r. T h e u n d e r g r o u n d r a i l w a y - victim was twice stabbed station and made for w i t h a d a g g e r a n d the Rue de Berne. afterwards strangled.

T h e i mmediate cause of The victim, who was death was asphyxia.” kno wn i n t h e t h e a t r i c a l world by her stage- “By Jove!” thought n a m e o f J e n n y S a p h i r, G a n i m a r d again, o c c u p i e d a s m a l l f l a t r e m e m b e r i n g L u p i n ’s on the second floor w o r d s and the of one of the houses. picture which he had A policeman took the drawn of the crime.

Chief-Inspector upstairs and showed him the way T h e examining through two sitting- magistrate objected, rooms to a bedroom, “But the neck shows where he found the n o d i s c o l o r a t i o n . ” magistrates in charge

“She may have been str angled with a napkin or a handkerchief,” said the doctor. “ M o s t p r o b a b l y, ” s a i d the Chief Detective, “with this silk scarf, which the victim was wearing and a piece of which remains, as though she had clung to it with her two hands to protect herself.”

“But why does only that piece remain?” asked the magistrate. “What has become of the other?”

“T he othe r may have been stained with blood and carried off b y t h e m u r d e r e r. Yo u can plainly distinguish the hurried slashing of the scissors.”

“By Jove!” said Ganimard between his teeth, for the third time. “That brute of a Lupin saw everything without seeing a thing!”

“And what about the motive of the murder!” asked the magistrate.

“The locks have been forced, the cupboards turned upside down.

Have you anything to tell me, Monsieur Dudouis?”

The Chief of the detective service replied, “I can at least

suggest a supposition, derived from the st at e m e n t s m a d e b y t h e servant. The victim, who enjoyed a greater reputation on account of her looks than through h e r t a l e n t a s a s i n g e r, went to Russia two years ago and brought back with her a magnificent sapphire, which she appears to have received from some person of impo rt a n c e a t t h e c o u r t .

S i nc e t h e n , s h e w e n t b y the name of Jenny Saphir and seems generally to have been very proud of that present, although f o r p r u d e n c e ’s s a k e she never wore it. I daresay that we shall not be far out if we pres u m e t h e t h e f t o f t h e sapphire to have been the c a u s e o f th e c r i m e . ” “But d i d t h e m a i d k n o w where the stone was?”

“No, nobody did. And the disorder of the room would tend to prov e t h a t t h e m u r d e r e r d i d n o t k n o w e i t h e r. ” “ We w i l l q u e s t i o n the maid,” said the examining-magistrate.

Monsieur Dudouis took the Chief-Inspector asi d e a n d s a i d , “ Yo u ’ r e looking very oldfashioned, Ganimard.

W h a t ’s t h e m a t t e r ? D o you suspect anything?”

“Nothing at all, chief.”

“That’s a pity. We could do with a bit of showy w o r k in the depar tment.

T h i s is one of a number of crimes, all of the d e p a r tment. T his is one of a number of crimes, a l l o f the same class, of w h i c h we have f ailed to discover the perpetrator.

This time, we want the criminal, and quickly!”

“A difficult job, Chief.” “ I t ’s g o t t o b e d o n e .

Listen to me, Ganimard.

According to what the maid says, Jenny Saphir led a very regular life.

For a month past, she was in the habit of frequently receiving visits on her return from the musich a l l — t h a t i s t o s a y, a t about half-past ten— from a man who would stay until midnight or so. ‘He’s a society man,’ Jenny Saphir used to say, ‘and he wants to marry me’. This society man took every precaution to avoid being seen, such as turning up his coatc o l l a r and lower ing the brim of his hat when h e p a s s e d t h e p o r t e r ’s box. And Jenny Saphir always made a point of sending away her

maid even before he came. This is the man whom we have to find.”

“Has he lef t no traces?”

“None at all. It is obvious that we have to deal with a very clever scoundr el who prepared his crime beforehand and committed it with every possible chance of escaping unpunished.

His arrest would be a great feather in our cap. I rely on you, Ganimard.”

“Ah, you rely on me, chief?” replied the I n s p e c t o r. “ We l l , w e s h a l l s e e . . . We s h a l l s e e . . . I d o n ’t s a y n o . . .

Only...” He seemed in a ver y ner vous condition, and his agitation struck Monsieur Dudouis. “ O n l y, ” continued Ganimard, “only I s w e a r. . . D o y o u h e a r, C h i e f ? I s w e a r. . . ” “What do you swear?”

“Nothing. We shall see, Chief ... We shall see…”

Ganimar d did not finish his sentence until he was outside, alone. A nd he finished it aloud, stamping his foot, in a tone of the most violent anger, “Only, I sw ear to Heaven that the arrest b e e ff e c t e d b y m y o w n

means, without my em p l o y i n g a s i n g l e o n e of t h e c l u e s w i t h w h i c h that villain has supplied m e. Ah , n o ! A h , n o ! . . . ”

inner-most recesses of his being by so prodigious a display of perspicacity, he could not do other than take up the w o r k at the point wher e Railing against Lupin, his enemy had left it. furious at being mixed up in this business and Abandoning all further resolved, nevertheless, resistance, he climbed to get to the bottom of it, the three flights of stairs. he wandered aimlessly The door of the flat about the streets. His was open. No one had br ai n wa s s e e t h i n g w i t h t o u c h e d the exhibits. he irritation, and he tried put them in his pocket t o a d j u s t h i s i d e a s a a n d walked away. F r om l i t t l e a n d t o d i s c o v e r, that moment, he reasoned among the chaotic facts, a n d a c t e d , s o t o s p e a k , s o m e t r i f l i n g d e t a i l , m e c h a n i c a l l y, u n d e r unperceived by all, the influence of the unsuspected by Lupin master whom he could h i m s e l f , t h a t m i g h t n o t c h o o s e b u t o b e y. lead him to success.

Admitting that the He l u n c h e d h u r r i e d l y a t u n k n o w n p e r s o n w h o m a bar, resumed his stroll h e w a s seeking lived in and s u d d e n l y s t o p p e d — t h e n e i g h b o u r h o o d o f p e t r i f i e d , a s t o u n d e d , the Pont-Neuf, it became a n d c o n f u s e d . H e w a s n e c e s s a r y t o d i s c o v e r, walking under the somewhere between g a t e w a y o f t h e v e r y t h a t b ridge and the Rue h o u s e i n t h e R u e d e de Berne, the first-class S u r è n e t o w h i c h L u p i n confectioner ’s shop open h a d e n t i c e d h i m a f e w in the evenings at which hours earlier! A force the cakes were bought. stronger than his own This did not take long will was drawing him to find. A pastry-cook there once more. The near the Gare Saints olut i o n o f t h e p r o b l e m Lazare showed him some lay there. There and little cardboard boxes, t her e a l o n e w e r e a l l t h e identical in material and elements of the truth. Do s h a p e w i t h t h e o n e i n and s a y wh a t h e w o u l d , G a n i m a r d ’s p o s s e s s i o n .

L u p i n ’ s a s s e r t i o n s M o r e o v e r, o n e o f t h e were so precis e, his shop girls remembered calculations so accurate h a v i n g s e r v e d , o n t h e that, worried to the previous evening, a

gentleman whose face was almost concealed in the collar of his fur-coat, but whose eye- glass she had happened to notice. “ T h a t ’s checked,” I n s p e c t o r. wears an

one clue thought the “Our man eye-glass.”

He next collected the pieces of the racingpaper and s how ed them t o a n e w s v e n d o r, w h o easily recognized the Tu r f I l l u s t r é . G a n i m a r d at once went to the offices of the Turf and asked to see the list of subscribers.

Going through the list, he jotted down the names and addresses of all those who lived anywhere near the PontNeuf and principally— because Lupin had said so—those on the l e f t b a n k o f t h e r i v e r.

He then went back to the Criminal Investigation Department, took halfa-dozen men, and packed them off with the necessary instructions.

At seven o’clock in the evening, the last of these men returned and br ought good new s w ith him. A certain Monsieur Prevailles, a subscriber t o t h e Tu r f , o c c u p i e d an entresol flat on the Quai des Augustin s. O n the pr evious evening he

left his place wearing a fur-coat, took his letters and his paper, the Tu r f I l l u s t r é , f r o m t h e p o r t e r ’s w i f e , w a l k e d a w a y, a n d r e t u r n e d home at midnight. This Monsieur Prevailles wore a single eyegl as s . He wa s a r e g u l a r race-goer and himself owned several hacks which he either rode himself or jobbed out.

The inquiry had taken so short a time and the results obtained were so exactly in accordance with Lupin’s predictions that Ganimard felt quite overcome on hearing the detective’s report. Once more h e wa s m e a s u r i n g the p ro d i g i o u s e x t e n t o f the re s o u rc e s a t L u p i n ’s disposal. Never in the course of his life—and Ganimard was already well-advanced in years— had he come across such perspicacity, such a quick and far-seeing mind.

H e we n t i n s e a r c h o f M .

D u d o u i s . “ E v e r y t h i n g ’s r e a d y, C h i e f . H a v e you a warrant?”

“E h? ” “I said, everything is ready for the arrest, Chi e f. ” “You k n o w t h e n a m e o f

Jenny Saphir ’s murderer? “ Ye s . ” “But how? y o u r s elf .”

Explain

Ganimard had a sort of scruple of conscience, blushed a little, and nevertheless said, “An accident, chief.

The murderer threw everything that was likely to compromise h i m i nto the S eine. P ar t of the parcel was picked up and handed to me.” “ B y whom?

“A boatman who refused to give his name for fear of getting into trouble.

But I had all the clues I wanted. It was not so d i ff i c ult as I expected.”

And the inspector described how he had g o n e to wor k.

“And you call that an accident!” cried Monsieur Dudouis.

“And you say that it w a s n o t d i ff i c u l t ! W h y, i t ’s o n e o f y o u r f i n e s t performances! Finish it yourself, Ganimard, and be prudent.”

Ganimard was eager to get the business done.

H e w e nt to the Quai des A u g u stins with his men and distributed them

around the house. He questioned the p ortress, who said that he r tenant took his meals out of doors, but made a point of looking in af ter dinner.

A little before nine o’clock, in fact, leaning o u t o f h e r w i n d o w, s h e warned Ganimard, who at once gave a low whistle. A gentleman in a tall hat and a fur-coat was coming along the pavement beside the Seine. He crossed the road and walked up to the house.

Ganimard stepped forward, “Monsieur Prevailles, I believe?”

“Yes, but you are you?”

“I have a commission to…”

He had not time to finish his sentence. At the sight of the men appearing out of the shadow, Prevailles quickly retreated to the wall and faced his adversaries with his back to the door of a shop on the groundf l o o r, t h e s h u t t e r s o f which were closed.

“S tand back! ” he cried.

“I don’t know you!” His r ight hand br andished a heavy stick, while his lef t was slipped behind him and seemed to be tr ying to open th e door.

Ganimard had an i m p re s s i o n t ha t t h e m a n might escape through this way and through some secret outlet. “None of t his n o n s e n s e , ” h e s a i d , moving closer to him.

“You’re caught. You had b e t t e r c o m e q u i e t l y. ” But just as he was laying hold of Prevailles’ stick, Ganimard remembered the warning which Lupin gave him. Prevailles was left-handed, and it was his revolver for which he was feeling behind his back.

The inspector ducked his head. He had noticed the man’s sudden movement.

Tw o r e p o r t s r a n g o u t .

No one was hit. A s eco n d l a t e r, P r e v a i l l e s received a blow under the chin from the buttend of a revolver, which brought him down whe re h e s t o od . H e w a s entered at the dépôt s oon a ft e r n i ne o ’ c l o c k .

Ganimard enjoyed a great reputation even at that time. But this capture, so quickly eff e c t e d b y su c h a v e r y simple means and at once made public by the police, won him a sudden c e l e b r i t y. P r e v a i l l e s was forthwith saddled with all the murders that had remained unpunished, and the

newspapers vied with examining-magistrate. o n e a nother in extolling G a n i m a r d ’s p r o w e s s . “ P r o v e it,” said P r evailles.

T h e c a se was conducted briskly at the start. It was T h e p r i s o n e r w a s first of all ascertained c o n f r o n t e d w i t h t h e that Prevailles, whose w i t n e s s e s f o r t h e real name was Thomas p r o s e c u t i o n .

The Deroeq, had already been y o u n g l a d y f r o m t h e i n t r o u b l e . M o r e o v e r, conf ectioner ’s “thought t h e s e a r c h i n s t i t u t e d i n she knew” the gentleman h i s r o o m s , w h i l e n o t with the eye- glass. The s u p p l y i n g a n y f r e s h hall porter in the Rue proofs, at least led to de Berne “thought he the discovery of a ball knew” the gentleman of whipcord similar who used to come to t o t h e c o r d u s e d f o r s e e J e n n y S a p h i r. B u t d o i n g up the par cel and nobody dar ed to make a a l s o t o t h e d i s c o v e r y more definite statement. of daggers which The examination, w o u l d h a v e p r o d u c e d therefore, led to nothing a w o u n d s i m i l a r t o t h e o f a p r e c i s e c h a r a c t e r, w o u n d s o n t h e v i c t i m . pr ovided no solid basis whereon to found a B u t , o n t h e e i g h t h d a y, s e r i o u s a c c u s a t i o n . everything was changed.

Until then Prevailles The judge sent for had refused to reply to Ganimard and told him the questions put to him. of his difficulty, “I can’t But now, assisted by his possibly per sist, a t this c o u n s e l , h e p l e a d e d a rate. There is no evidence c i r c u mstantial alibi and t o s u p p o r t t h e c h a rg e . ” maintained that he was at the Folies-Bergères on “ B u t s u r e l y y o u a r e t h e n i g ht of the mur der. c o n v i n c e d i n y o u r A s a matter of f act, the o w n m i n d , m o n s i e u r pockets of his dinner- l e j u g e d ’ i n s t r u c t i o n ! j a c k e t c o n t a i n e d t h e Prevailles would never c o u n t e r f o i l o f a s t a l l - have r esisted his arrest t i c k e t and a pr ogr amme u n l e s s h e w a s g u i l t y. ” of the performance, both bearing t h e “He says that he thought d a t e o f t h a t e v e n i n g . he was being assa ulted.

He also says that he “ A n a l i b i p r e p a r e d i n never set eyes on Jenny a d v a n c e , ” o b j e c t e d t h e S aphir and, as a matter

of fact, we can find no one to contradict his assertion. Then again, admitting that the sapphire has been stolen, we have not been able to find it at his flat.”

“Nor anywhere else,” suggested Ganimard. “ Q u i t e t r u e , b u t t h a t ’s no evidence against him. I’ll tell you what we shall want, Monsieur Ganimard, and that very soon—the other end of this red scarf.”

“T he o t h e r e nd ? ” “ Ye s , f o r i t i s o b v i o u s that, if the murderer took it away with him, the reason was that the stuff is stained with the marks of the blood on his fingers.”

Ganimard made no reply.

For several days, he had felt that the whole busi n e s s wa s t e n d i n g t o this conclusion. There was no other proof possible. Given the silk scarf—and in no other circumstances— Prevailles’ guilt was certain. Now Ganimard’s position required that Prevailles’ guilt should be established. He was responsible for the arrest, it had cast a glamour around him, he had been

praised to the skies as the most formidable adversary of criminals, and he would look absolutely ridiculous if Prevailles were released.

U n f o r t u n a t e l y, t h e o n e and only indispensable p r o o f w a s i n L u p i n ’s pocket.

How was he to get hold of it?

Ganimard cast about, exhausted himself with fresh investigations from start to finish, spent sleepless nights in turning over the mystery of the Rue de Berne, studied the records of Prevailles’ life, sent ten men hunting after the invisible sapphire.

E v e r y thing was useless.

On 28 December the examining-magistrate stopped him in one of t h e p a ssages of the law c o u r t s. “Well, Monsieur Ganimard, any news?”

“No, monsieur le juge d ’ i n s tr uction.”

“Then I shall dismiss t h e c ase.” “ Wa i t one day longer.” “ W h a t ’s t h e u s e ? We want the other end of the s c a r f ; have you got it?”

“I

shall

have

it

tomor r ow.”

“Tomor r ow! ” “ Ye s , b u t p l e a s e l e n d me the piece in your possession.”

“What if I do?”

“If you do, I promise to let you have the whole scarf complete.” “ Ve r y w e l l , under stood.”

t h a t ’s

Ganimard followed the examining-magistrate to his room and came out with the piece of silk. “Hang it all!” he gr owled. “Yes, I w ill go and fetch the proof and I shall have it, too. Always presuming that Master Lupin has the courage to keep the appointment.”

In point of fact, he did not doubt for a moment that Master Lupin would have this courage, and that was just what exasperated him. Why had Lupin insisted on this meeting?

What was his object, in the circumstances?

Anxious, furious, and full of hatred, he resolved to take every precaution necessary not only to prevent his falling into a trap himself, but to make his enemy f all into one,

now that the opportunity offered. And, on the next d a y, wh i c h w a s 2 9 December, the date fixed

by Lupin, after spending the night studying the old manor-house in the Rue de Surène and convincing himself t hat t h e re wa s n o o t h e r outlet than the frontdoor, he warned his men that he was going on a dangerous expedition and arrived with them on the field of battle.

He posted them in a café and gave them formal instructions: If he showed himself at one of the thirdfl oo r wi n d o w s , o r i f h e failed to return within a n h o u r, t h e d e t e c t i v e s were t o e n t e r t h e h o u s e and arrest anyone who tried to leave it. The chief-inspector made sure that his revolver was in working order and that he could take if f r o m h i s p o c k e t e a s i l y.

Then he went upstairs.

He was surprised to find things as he had left them, the doors open and the locks broken. After ascertaining that the windows of the principal room looked out on the street, he visited the three other rooms that made up the flat.

The re wa s n o o n e t h e r e .

“Master Lupin was afraid,” he muttered, not without a certain satisfaction. “ D o n ’ t b e s i l l y, ” s a i d a voice behind him.

intuition of everything that had taken place and of everything that was going to take place, from the discovery of the crime to your arrival here in search of a proof! What a really marvellous divination!

Have you the scarf?”

Turning round, he saw an old workman wearing a housep a i n t e r ’s l o n g s m o c k “ Ye s , h a l f o f i t . H a v e standing in the doorway. you the other ?” “ Yo u n e e d n ’ t b o t h e r your head,” said the workman. “It’s I, Lupin.

I have been working i n t h e p a i n t e r ’s s h o p since early morning.

This is when we knock off for breakfast. So I came upstairs.” He looked at Ganimard with a quizzing smile and cried, “Upon my w o r d , this is a gorgeous moment I owe you, old chap! I wouldn’t sell i t f o r ten year s of your life; and yet you know how I love you! What do you think of it, artist?

Wa s n ’t i t w e l l t h o u g h t out and well foreseen?

Foreseen from alpha to omega? Did I understand the business? Did I penetrate the mystery of the scarf? I’m not saying t h a t t her e wer e no holes in my argument, no links missing in the chain, but what a masterpiece of i n t e l l igence, Ganimar d, what a reconstruction of events! What an

“Here it compar e.”

is.

L e t ’s

They spread the two pieces of silk on the table.

The cuts made by the scissors corresponded e x a c t l y. M o r e o v e r, t h e colours were identical.

“But I presume,” said Lupin, “that this was not the only thing y o u c a m e f o r. W h a t you are interested in seeing is the marks of the blood. Come with m e , G a n i m a r d ; i t ’s rather dark in here.”

They moved into the next room, which, though it over looked the courtyard, was l i g h t e r, a n d L u p i n h e l d his piece of silk a gainst the window-pane.

“L ook” he said, making room for Ganimard.

The inspector gave a start of delight. The marks of the five fingers

and the print of the palm were distinctly visible. The evidence was undeniable. The murderer had seized the stuff in his bloodstained hand, in the same hand that had stabbed Jenny Saphir and tied the scarf round her neck.

“And it is the print of a left hand,” observed Lupin. “Hence my warning, which had nothing miraculous a b o u t i t , y o u s e e . F o r, though I admit, friend of my youth, that you may look upon me as a superior intelligence, I won’t have you treat me as a wizard.”

Ganimard had quickly pocketed the piece of silk. Lupin nodded his head in approval, “Quite r i g h t , o l d b o y, i t ’s f o r you. I’m s o g l a d y o u ’ r e glad! And, you see, there was no trap about all this, only the wish to oblige; a service between friends, between pals. And also, I confess, a little curi o s i t y. Ye s, I w a n t e d to examine this other piece of silk, the one the police had. Don’t be af rai d ; I’l l g iv e i t b a c k to you.... Just a second ” Lupin, with a careless movement, played with the tassel at the end of

this half of the scarf, while Ganimard listened to him in spite of himself. “How ingenious these little bits of w o m en’s wor k ar e! Did you notice one detail i n t h e maid’s evidence?

Jenny Saphir was very handy with her needle and used to make all her own hats and frocks.

It is obvious that she m a d e this scar f her self .

Besides, I noticed that from the first. I am naturally curious, as I have already told you, and I made a thorough examination of the piece of silk which you have j u s t put in your pocket.

Inside the tassel I found a little sacred medal w h i c h the poor gir l had s t i t c h ed into it to br ing h e r l u c k . To u c h i n g , isn’t it, Ganimard?

A little medal of Our Lady of Good Succour.”

it has a hiding-place too and what’s inside it. But look, my f r iend, isn’t it cleverly made? And so simple! All you have to do is to take a skein of red cor d and br aid it round a wooden cup, leaving a recess, a little empty space in the middle, very small, of course, but large enough to hold a medal of a saint—or anything. A precious stone, for instance....

Such as a sapphire ”

The inspector felt g r e a t ly puzzled and did not take his eyes off t h e o t h e r. A n d L u p i n continued, “Then I said to myself, ‘How interesting it would be to explore the other half of the scarf, the one which the police will f i n d r o u n d t h e v i c t i m ’s neck! For this other half, which I hold in my hands at last, is finished o ff i n the same way, so I s h a ll be able to see if

The Inspector had turned livid and was staring wild-eyes, as though fascinated by the stone that sparkled before him. He at last realized t h e w h o l e p l o t , “ Yo u dirty scoundrel!” he muttered, repeating the insults which he had used a t t h e f i r s t i n t e r v i e w.

“You scum of the earth!”

At that moment, he finished pushing back the silk cord and, from the hollow of a cup, he took between his thumb and forefinger a wonderful blue stone, perfect in respect o f s i z e a n d p u r i t y.

“Ha! What did I tell you, friend of my youth?”

He raised his head.

The two men were standing one against the other. “Give me that

back,” said the Inspector. h i m , t h o u g h t o n l y o f one thing—summoning Lupin held o u t his detectives. And, t h e p i e c e o f s i l k . as the room in which he now was looked “And the sapphire,” out on the courtyard, s a i d G a n i m a r d i n he tried gradually to a peremptory tone. work his way round to the communicating “Do n ’t b e s i l l y. ” d o o r. H e w o u l d t h e n run to the window and “Gi v e i t b a c k, o r. ” b r e a k one of the panes.

“Or what, you idiot?” cried Lupin. “Look here, do you think I put you on to this soft thing for nothing?”

“Gi v e i t b a c k! ”

“All the same,” continued Lupin, “what a pack of dunderheads you and the rest must be! You’ve had the silk all this time a n d n ot one of you ever thought of feeling it, not one of you ever asked himself the reason why the poor girl hung on to her scarf. Not one o f y o u ! Yo u j u s t a c t e d at haphazard, without reflecting, without foreseeing anything. ”

“ Yo u h a v e n ’ t n o t i c e d what I’ve been about, t h a t ’s p l a i n ! W h a t ! F o r four weeks, I’ve kept you on the move like a deer; and you want to ! Come, Ganimard, old chap, pull yourself toge t h e r! Do n’t y o u s e e T h e i n s p e c t o r h a d that you’ve been playing a t t a i n e d h i s o b j e c t .

Ta k i n g a d v a n t a g e o f a t h e g o o d d o g f o r f o u r s e c o n d when L upin had w ee k s o n e n d ? F e t c h i t , t u r n e d a w a y f r o m h i m , R o v e r ! T h e r e ’s a n i c e h e s u d d e n l y w h e e l e d blue pebble over there, round and grasped the w h i c h m a s t e r c a n ’t g e t d o o r - h a n d l e . B u t a n at. Hunt it, Ganimard, oath escaped him; the fetch it, bring it to handle did not budge. m a s t e r. . . . A h , h e ’s h i s m a s t e r ’s o w n g o o d Lupin burst into a fit l i t t l e d o g ! . . . S i t u p ! of laughing. “Not even B e g ! D o e s ’ m s w a n t t h a t ! Yo u d i d n o t e v e n a b i t o f s u g a r t h e n ? ” f o r e s e e t h a t ! Yo u l a y a trap for me and you Ganimard, containing the w o n ’t a d m i t t h a t I m a y anger that seethed within p e r h a ps smell the thing

out beforehand. And you allow yourself to be brought into this room without asking w hether I am not bringing you here for a particular reason and without remembering that the locks are fitted with a special mechanism.

C o m e , n o w, s p e a k i n g f r a n k l y, w h a t d o y o u think of yourself?”

“What do I think of it?” roared Ganimard, beside himself with rage. He had drawn his revolver and was pointing it straight at L upin’s f ace. “H ands u p ! ” h e c r i e d . “ T h a t ’s what I think of it!”

Lupin placed himself in front of him and shr ugged his shoulders.

“Sold again!” he said. “ H a n d s u p , I s a y, o n c e mor e! ” “And sold again, s a y I . Yo u r d e a d l y w e a p o n w o n ’t g o o ff , ” “What?”

“Old Catherine, your h o u s e k e e p e r, i s i n m y service. She damped the charges this morning, while you were having y o u r b r e a k f a s t c o ff e e . ” Ganimard made a furious gesture, pocketed the revolver

and rushed at Lupin.

“We l l ? ” s a i d L u p i n , st opp i n g h i m s h o r t w i t h a we l l -a i m e d k i c k on t h e s h i n .

T heir c l o t h e s w e r e almos t t o u c h in g . T h e y exch a n g e d g l a n c e s of tw o a d v e rsa r i e s w ho m e a n t o c o m e t o bl ow s . Ne v e r t h e l e s s , there wa s n o f i g h t .

T he re c o l l e c ti o n o f t h e ear l i e r s t ru g g l e s m a d e any p re s e n t st r u g g l e us el e s s . An d G a n i m a r d , w ho re m e m b e r e d a l l hi s pa s t fa i l u r e s , h i s vai n a t t a c k s , L u p i n ’s cr ush i n g re p r i s a l s , d i d not l i ft a l i m b. T h e r e w as n o t h i n g t o b e d o n e .

H e f e l t i t . Lu p i n h a d f or c e s a t h i s c o m m a n d agai n s t wh i c h a n y indiv i d u a l fo r c e s i m p l y brok e t o p i e c e s . S o w ha t wa s t h e g o o d ?

“I agre e , ” s a i d L u p i n in a fri e n d l y v o i c e , as th o u g h a n sw e r i n g G an i m a d ’s u n s p o k e n thoug h t , “ y o u w o u l d do b e t t e r t o l e t thi n g s b e a s t h e y a r e .

Besi d e s , fri e nd o f my yo u t h , t h in k o f all t h a t t h i s i n c i d e n t has b ro u g h t y o u : f am e , t h e c e rt a i n t y o f quic k p ro m o t i o n a n d , than k s t o t h a t , t h e prosp e c t o f a h a p p y

a n d c omf or table old a g e ! Sur ely, you don’t w a n t the discover y of t h e s a pphir e and the h e a d of poor Ar sène L u p i n in addition! I t w o u l d n’t be f air. To s a y n o thing of the f act t h a t poor Ar sène L upin s a v e d your lif e. Yes s i r ! W ho war ned you, a t t h i s ver y spot, that P r e v ailles was lef th a n d e d? And is this t h e w ay you thank me?

I t ’s n o t pr etty of you, G a n i mar d. Upon my w o r d , you make me b l u s h f or you! ”

said to him, “A housepainter lef t the h ouse as his mates were coming back f r om br eakf ast and put a letter in my hand . ‘ Give that to you r gover nor,’ he sa id. ‘ Which gover nor?’ I asked, but he was gone.

I suppose it’s meant for you.”

W h i l e chatter ing, L u p i n had gone thr ough t h e s a me per f or mance a s G a nimar d and was n o w near the door.

G a n i mar d saw that h i s f oe was about to e s c a p e him. F orgetting a l l p r udence, he tr ied t o b l ock his way and r e c e i ved a tr emendous b u t t i n the stomach, w h i c h sent him r olling t o t h e opposite wall.

L u p i n dexter ously t o u c h ed a spr ing, t u r n e d the handle, o p e n e d the door, and s l i p p e d away, r oar ing w i t h laughter as he went.

T his is to warn y ou, friend of my youth, against excessiv e credulity. W hen a fellow tells you that the cartridges in your revolver are damp, however great your confidence in that fellow may be, e ven though his name be A rsène L upin, ne ver allow yourself to be taken in. F ire first and if the fellow hops the twig, you will have acquired the proof ( 1) that the cartridges are n ot damp, and ( 2) that old Catherine is the m ost honest and respectable of housekeepers.

One of these day s, I hope to have the pleasure of making her acquaintance.

Tw e n ty minutes later, w h e n Ganimar d at last s u c c e e ded in joining h i s m e n, one of them

“L et’s have it.”

Ganimar d opene d the letter. I t was hurriedly scr ibbled in pen cil and contained these w ords:

Mean w h i l e , f r i e n d o f m y y o u t h , believe me to be always affectionately a nd si n c e re l y y o u r s , A rsène L upin

Maurice Leblanc, “The Red Silk Scarf” in The Confessions of Arsène L u p i n ( N e w Yo r k : G r o s s e t a n d D u n l a p , 1 9 1 3 ) : 1 3 8 – 1 7 6 .

Ha l l o we e n Anthologies

COMING SOO N

Ivory Sandoval finds herself trapped in an unimaginable place, with b e i n g s t h a t s h o u l d n ’t e x i s t , a f t e r h e r life was halted by a force she never s a w. N o w, s h e w i l l d o a n y t h i n g t o get back to the ones she left behind.

Wi t h t h e a s s i g n m e n t i n t h e L i v i n g Wo r l d o v e r, C a l l a a n d h e r U n i t f i n d themselves facing the consequences of their involvement. As the dust s e t t l e s , s o m e t h i n g s s i m p l y d o n ’t a d d up. There is another side at work, spinning a destructive web that could collapse all Calla has ever known. f o r m o re b u y c o p y f ro m A m a z o n

28

EDITINGLE MAG | PREMIER ISSUE

THE BLUE CROSS Valentin smoked frowningly for a few seconds; then, removing his cigarette, he said: “If you know what a man’s doing, get in front of him; but if you want to guess what he’s doing, keep behind him.

Between the silve r r ibbon of mor ning and the gr een glitter in g r ibbon of sea, the boat touched Har wich and let loose a swar m of f olk like f lies, among whom the man we must f ollow was by no means conspicuous – nor wished to be. There was nothing notable about him, except a slight contr ast betw een the holiday gaiety of his clothes and the

offi c i a l g ra v i t y o f his fa c e . Hi s c l o t h e s i nclu d e d a s l i g h t , pale g re y j a c k e t , a whit e wa i s t c o a t , a n d a s i l v e r s t ra w h a t w i t h a gre y -b l u e r i b b o n .

Hi s l e a n fa c e w a s dar k b y c o n t r a s t , a n d ende d i n a c ur t b l a c k bear d t h a t l o o k e d Spa n i s h a n d s u g g e s t e d an El i z a b e t h a n r u ff .

He wa s s m o k i n g a ci ga re t t e wi t h t h e s eri o u s n e s s of a n i d l e r.

T h e r e was nothing a b o u t him to indicate t h e f a ct that the gr ey j a c k e t cover ed a loaded r e v o l ver, that the white w a i s t c oat cover ed a p o l i c e car d, or that the s t r a w hat cover ed one o f t h e most power f ul i n t e l l e cts in E ur ope.

F o r t his was Valentin h i m s elf , the head o f t h e P ar is police a n d t he most f amous i n v e s tigator of the w o r l d ; and he was

coming f r om Br ussels to L ondon to mak e the gr eatest ar r est of the centur y.

F lambeau was in E ngland. T he police of thr ee countr ies had tr acked the great cr iminal at last f rom Ghent to Br ussels, f r om Br ussels to the Hook of Holland; and it was conjectur ed that he would take some advantage o f

the u n fa m i l i a r i t y and c o n fu s i o n o f t h e E uch a ri s t i c Co n g r e s s , then t a k i n g p l a c e i n L ond o n . Pro b a b l y he w o u l d t ra v e l a s some m i n o r c l e r k o r secre t a ry c o nn e c t e d with it; but, of course, Vale n t i n c o u l d n o t be c e rt a i n ; n ob o d y could b e c e rt a i n a b o u t F l am b e a u .

I t is m a n y y e a r s n o w si nc e t h i s c o lo s s u s o f cr i m e s u d d e nl y c e a s e d keep i n g t h e w o r l d i n a t ur m o i l ; a n d w h e n he c e a s e d , a s t h e y sai d a ft e r t h e d e a t h of Ro l a n d , t he r e w a s a gr e a t q u i e t u p o n the e a rt h . B u t i n h i s bes t d a y s (I m e a n , of c o u rs e , h i s w o r s t ) F l am b e a u wa s a f i g u r e as st a t u e s q u e a n d int ern a t i o n a l a s t h e K ai s e r. Al m o s t e v e r y morn i n g t h e d a i l y pape r a n n o u n c e d t h a t he h a d e s c a p e d t h e conse q u e n c e s o f o n e ext ra o rd i n a ry c r i m e b y com m i t t i n g a n o t h e r.

H e w a s a Ga s c o n o f gi ga n t i c s t a t u r e a n d bodi l y d a ri n g; a n d the w i l d e s t t a l e s w e r e tol d o f h i s o u t b u r s t s of a t h l e t i c h u m o u r ; how h e t u rn e d t h e juge d ’i n s t ru c t i o n upsi d e d o wn a n d st ood h i m o n h i s h e a d ,

“ t o c lear his mind”; h o w he r an down the R u e de Rivoli with a p o l i c eman under each a r m . It is due to him to s a y t hat his f antastic p h y s i c al str ength was g e n e r a lly employed i n s u c h bloodless t h o u g h undignif ied s c e n e s; his r eal cr imes w e r e c hief ly those o f i n genious and w h o l e sale r obber y. But e a c h of his thef ts was a l m o st a new sin, and w o u l d make a stor y by i t s e l f . I t was he who r a n t he gr eat Tyr olean D a i r y Company in L o n d on, with no d a i r i e s, no cows, no c a r t s , no milk, but w i t h some thousand s u b s c r iber s. T hese he s e r v e d by the simple o p e r a tion of moving t h e l i ttle milk cans o u t s i d e people’s door s t o t h e door s of his o w n c ustomer s. I t was h e w ho had kept up a n u n accountable and c l o s e cor r espondence w i t h a young lady w h o s e whole letterb a g w as inter cepted, b y t h e extr aor dinar y t r i c k of photogr aphing h i s m e ssages i n f i n i tesimally small u p o n the slides of a m i c r oscope. A s w e e ping simplicity, h o w e ver, mar ked many o f h i s exper iments. I t

is said that he once r epainted all the number s in a street in the dead of night mer ely to diver t one tr aveller into a trap.

I t is quite cer tain that he invented a portable pillar- box, whic h he put up at cor ner s in quiet subur bs on the chance of str ang ers dr opping postal orders into it. L astly, he w as known to be a startling acr obat; despite his huge f igur e, he c ould leap like a gr asshopper and melt into the treetops like a monkey.

Hence the gr eat Valentin, when he set out to f ind F lambeau, was per f ectly aware that his adventures would not end when he had f ound him.

But how was he to f ind him? On this the gr eat Valentin’s ideas wer e still in pr ocess of settlement.

T her e was one thing which F lambeau, w ith all his dexter ity of disguise, could n ot cover, and that was his singular height.

I f Valentin’s quick eye had caught a tall apple- woman, a tall gr enadier, or even a toler ably tall duchess, he might have arrested them on the spot. But

al l a l o n g h i s t r a i n t her e wa s n o bo d y t h a t coul d b e a d i s g u i s e d Fl am b e a u , a n y m o r e t han a c a t c o u l d b e a di s g u i s e d g i r a ff e .

Abo u t t h e p e o p l e o n t he b o a t h e h a d a l r e a d y s at i s fi e d h i ms e l f ; a n d t he p e o p l e p i c k e d up a t Ha rwi c h o r o n t he j o u rn e y l i m i t e d t hems e l v e s w i t h cert a i n t y t o s i x . T h e r e was a s h o rt r a i l w a y offi c i a l t ra v e l l i n g up to t h e t e rmi n u s , t hr e e fa i rl y s h o r t m ark e t g a rd e n e r s pick e d u p t wo s t a t i o n s aft e rwa rd s , o n e v e r y s hort wi d o w l a d y g o i n g up f ro m a s m a l l E s s e x t ow n , a n d a v e r y s h o r t Roma n C a t h o l i c p r i e s t goi n g u p fro m a s m a l l Ess e x v i l l a g e . Wh e n i t cam e t o t h e l a s t c a s e , Vale n t i n g a v e i t u p and a l m o s t l a u g h e d .

The l i t t l e p ri e s t w a s so much the essence of th o s e Ea s te r n f l a t s ; he h a d a fa c e a s r o u n d and d u l l a s a N o r f o l k dum p l i n g ; h e h a d e y e s as e m p t y a s th e N o r t h Sea; h e h a d s e v e r a l br ow n p a p e r p a r c e l s , whic h h e wa s q u i t e i nca p a b l e o f c o l l e c t i n g .

The Eu c h a ri s t i c Cong re s s h a d d o u b t l e s s s uck e d o u t o f t h e i r l oca l s t a g n a t i o n m a n y s uch c re a t u re s , b l i n d and h e l p l e s s , l i k e

m o l e s disinter r ed.

Va l e n tin was a sceptic i n t h e sever e style of F r a n c e, and could have n o l o ve f or pr iests.

B u t h e could have pity f o r t h em, and this one m i g h t have pr ovoked p i t y i n anybody. He h a d a large, shabby u m b r e lla, which c o n s t antly f ell on t h e f l o or. He did not s e e m to know which w a s t he r ight end o f h i s r etur n ticket.

H e e x plained with a m o o n - calf simplicity t o e v e r ybody in the c a r r i a ge that he had to b e c a ref ul, because he h a d s omething made o f r e a l silver “with b l u e stones” in one o f h i s br own- paper p a r c e ls. His quaint b l e n d ing of E ssex f l a t n e ss with saintly s i m p l icity continuously a m u s e d the F r enchman t i l l t h e pr iest ar r ived ( s o m e h ow) at To t t e nham with all h i s p ar cels, and came b a c k for his umbr ella.

Wh e n he did the last, Va l e n tin even had the g o o d n atur e to war n h i m n o t to take car e o f t h e silver by telling e v e r y body about it. But t o w h o mever he talked, Va l e n tin kept his eye o p e n for someone else; h e l o oked out steadily f o r a n yone, r ich or p o o r, male or f emale,

who was well up to six f eet; f or F lambeau w as f our inches above it.

He alighted at L iver pool S tr eet, however, quite conscientiously secur e that he had not missed the cr iminal so f ar. He then we nt to S cotland Yar d to r egular ise his position and ar r ange f or he lp in case of need; he then lit another cigar ette and went f or a long str oll in the str eets of L ondon. As he was walking in the str eets and squar e s beyond Victor ia, h e paused suddenly and stood. I t was a quaint, quiet squar e, ver y typical of L ondon, f ull of an accidental stillness. T he tall, flat houses r ound looked at once pr osper ous and uninhabited; the squar e of shr ubbe ry in the centr e look ed as deser ted as a green P acif ic islet. One of the f our sides was much higher than the r est, like a dais; and the line of this side was br oken by one of L ondon’s admir able accidents – a r estaurant that looked as if it had str ayed f r om S oho. It was an unr easonably attr active object, with dwar f plants in

pots a n d l o n g , s t r i p e d bl i n d s o f l e m o n y e l l o w and wh i t e . It s t o o d spec i a l l y h i g h a b o v e the st re e t , a n d i n t h e us ua l p a t c h wo r k w a y of L o n d o n , a f l i g h t o f st ep s fro m t he s t r e e t r an u p t o m e e t t h e f r o n t door a l m o s t a s a f i r e esca p e m i g h t r u n u p t o a fi rs t -fl o o r w i n d o w.

Vale n t i n s t o od a n d sm o k e d i n fron t o f t h e yel l o w-wh i t e b l i n d s and c o n s i d e re d t h e m long.

T he m o s t i n c r e d i b l e thi n g a b o u t mi r a c l e s is tha t t h e y ha p p e n . A f ew c l o u d s i n h e a v e n do c o m e t o g e t h e r i n t o the st a ri n g s h a p e o f one h u m a n e y e . A t r e e does s t a n d u p i n t h e andsc a p e o f a d o u b t f u l jour n e y i n t h e e x a c t and e l a b o ra t e s h a p e o f a no t e o f i n t e r r o g a t i o n .

I hav e s e e n bo t h t h e s e thi n g s m y s e l f w i t h i n the la s t fe w d a y s .

N el s o n d o e s d i e i n t h e ins t a n t o f v i c t o r y ; a n d a m a n n a m e d Wi l l i a m s does q u i t e a c c i d e n t a l l y murd e r a m a n n a m e d Wi l l i a m s o n ; it soun d s l i k e a s o r t of in fa n t i c i d e . I n short , t h e re i s i n l i f e an e l e m e n t o f e l f i n coi n c i d e n c e w h i c h peop l e re c k o n i n g on t h e p ro s a i c m a y

p e r p e tually miss.

A s i t has been well e x p r e ssed in the p a r a d o x of P oe, w i s d om should r eckon o n t h e unf or eseen.

A r i s t ide Valentin w a s unf athomably F r e n ch; and the F r e n ch intelligence is i n t e l l igence specially a n d s o lely. He was n o t “ a thinking m a c h ine”; f or that i s a b r ainless phr ase o f m oder n f atalism a n d mater ialism. A m a c h ine only <is> a m a c h ine because it c a n n o t think. But he w a s a thinking man, a n d a plain man at t h e s a me time. All his w o n d e r f ul successes, t h a t l o oked like c o n j u r ing, had been g a i n e d by plodding l o g i c , by clear and c o m monplace F r ench t h o u g ht. T he F r ench e l e c t r if y the wor ld n o t b y star ting any p a r a d o x, they electr if y i t b y c ar r ying out a t r u i s m. T hey car r y a t r u i s m so f ar – as in t h e F r ench Revolution.

B u t e x actly because Va l e n tin under stood r e a s o n, he under stood t h e l i mits of r eason.

O n l y a man who knows n o t h i ng of motor s talks o f m otor ing without p e t r o l; only a man

who knows noth ing of r eason talks of r easoning without str ong, undisputed f ir st pr inciples. H ere he had no str ong first pr inciples. F lambeau had been missed at Har wich; and if he was in L ondon a t all, he might be anything f r om a tall tr amp on Wimbledon Common to a tall toast- mast er at the Hotel Metr opole. In such a naked sta te of nescience, Valen tin had a view and a me thod of his own.

I n such cases he r eckoned on the unf or eseen. I n such cases, when he c ould not f ollow the train of the r easonable, he coldly and car efully f ollowed the tr ain of the unr easona ble.

I nstead of going to the r ight places – banks, police sta tions, r endezvous – he systematically w ent to the wr ong places; knocked at ever y empty house, tur ned dow n ever y cul de sac , w ent up ever y lane blocked with r ubbish, we nt r ound ever y cr escent that led him use lessly out of the way. H e def ended this cr azy cour se quite log ically.

He said that if o ne had a clue this was the

wor s t wa y ; b u t i f o n e had n o c l u e a t a l l i t was t h e b e s t , b e c a u s e t her e wa s j u st t h e chanc e t h a t a n y o d d i t y t hat c a u g h t t h e e y e of th e p u rs u e r m i g h t be t h e s a m e th a t h a d caugh t t h e e ye o f t h e purs u e d . So me w h e r e a ma n m u s t b e g i n , and i t h a d b e t t e r b e j ust wh e re a n o t h e r m an m i g h t s to p .

Some t h i n g a bo u t t h a t fl i g h t o f s t e p s u p t o t he s h o p , s o m e t h i n g abou t t h e q u ie t u d e and q u a i n t n e s s o f t h e res t a u ra n t , ro u s e d a l l t he d e t e c t i v e ’s r a r e roma n t i c fa n c y a n d m ad e h i m re s o l v e t o s t ri k e a t ra n do m . H e wen t u p t h e st e p s , a n d s i t t i n g d o wn a t a t a b l e by th e wi n d o w, a s k e d for a c u p o f bl a c k coff e e .

It w a s h a l f-w a y t hr o u g h t h e m o r n i n g , and h e h a d n o t br ea k fa s t e d ; t h e slight litter of other br ea k fa s t s s t oo d a b o u t on th e t a b l e to r e m i n d him o f h i s h u n g e r ; and a d d i n g a p o a c h e d egg t o h i s o rde r, h e pr oc e e d e d m us i n g l y t o s h a k e s o me w h i t e s uga r i n t o h is c o ff e e , t hink i n g a l l t h e t i m e abou t Fl a m b e a u . H e rem e m b e re d h o w Fl am b e a u h a d e s c a p e d ,

o n c e b y a pair of nail s c i s s or s, and once by a h o u se on f ir e; once b y h a v ing to pay f or a n u n stamped letter, a n d o n ce by getting p e o p l e to look thr ough a t e l e scope at a comet t h a t might destr oy t h e w o r ld. He thought h i s d etective br ain as g o o d a s the cr iminal’s, w h i c h was tr ue. But h e f u l ly r ealised the d i s a d vantage. “T he c r i m i nal is the cr eative a r t i s t ; the detective o n l y t he cr itic,” he said w i t h a sour smile, and l i f t e d his coff ee cup to h i s l i ps slowly, and put i t d o w n ver y quickly.

H e h a d put salt in it.

H e l o o ked at the vessel f r o m w hich the silver y p o w d er had come; it w a s c er tainly a sugarb a s i n ; as unmistakably m e a n t f or sugar as a c h a mpagne- bottle f o r c h ampagne. He w o n d er ed why they s h o u l d keep salt in it.

H e l o o ked to see if t h e r e w er e any mor e o r t h o dox vessels. Yes; t h e r e w er e two saltc e l l a r s quite f ull.

P e r h a ps ther e was s o m e speciality in t h e c o ndiment in the s a l t c e llar s. He tasted i t ; i t w as sugar. T hen h e l o oked r ound at t h e r e staur ant with a r e f r e shed air of

inter est, to see if there wer e any other tr aces of that singular artistic taste which puts the sugar in the saltcellar s and the salt in the sugar- basin. Except f or an odd splash of some dar k f luid on one of the white- pape red walls, the whole place appear ed neat, cheerful and or dinar y. He rang the bell f or the waiter.

When that off icial hur r ied up, f uzzyhair ed and somewhat blear- eyed at that early hour, the detective ( who was not without an appr eciation of the simpler f or ms of humour ) asked hi m to taste the sugar and see if it was up to the high r eputation of the hotel. T he r esult was that the waiter ya w ned suddenly and woke up.

“Do you play this delicate joke on your customer s ever y mor ning?” inquir e d Valentin. “Does changing the salt and sugar never pall o n you as a jest?”

T he waiter, when this ir ony gr ew clear er, stammer i ngly assur ed him that the establishment had cer tainly no such intention; it must

be a m o s t c u r i o u s mist a k e . He p i c k e d u p the su g a r-b a s i n a n d looke d a t i t ; h e p i c k e d up t h e s a l t -c e l l a r a n d looke d a t t h a t , h i s f a c e grow i n g m o re a n d m o r e bewi l d e re d . A t l a s t he a b ru p t l y e x c u s e d hi m s e l f, a n d h u r r y i n g aw ay, re t u rn e d i n a few s e c o n d s w i t h the p ro p ri e t o r. T h e prop ri e t o r a l s o exam i n e d t h e s u g a rbas i n a n d t h e n t h e s a l t cella r; t h e p rop r i e t o r also l o o k e d b e w i l d e r e d .

S udd e n l y t h e w a i t e r seem e d t o g ro w inart i c u l a t e w i t h a r u s h of w o rd s .

“I r i n k , ” h e s t u t t e r e d eage rl y, “ I z in k i t i s those t wo c l e rg y m e n . ” ‘ “Wh a t t wo c le rg y m e n ? ” “T he t wo c l e rg y m e n , ” sai d t h e wa i t e r, “ t h a t threw s o u p a t t h e w al l . ” “T hr e w s o u p a t t h e w al l ? ” re p e a te d Vale n t i n , fe e l i n g sur e t h i s m u s t b e some s i n g u l a r I t a l i a n meta p h o r.

“Yes , y e s , ” s a i d t h e atten d a n t e x c i t e d l y, and p o i n t e d a t t h e d a r k

s p l a s h on the white p a p e r ; “thr ew it over t h e r e on the wall.”

Va l e n tin looked his q u e r y at the pr opr ietor, w h o c ame to his r escue w i t h f uller r epor ts. “ Ye s , sir,” he said, “ i t ’s quite tr ue, though I d o n ’t suppose it has a n y t h ing to do with t h e s ugar and salt. Two c l e rg y men came in and d r a n k soup her e ver y e a r l y, as soon as the s h u t t e r s wer e taken d o w n . T hey wer e both v e r y q uiet, r espectable p e o p l e; one of them p a i d the bill and went o u t ; t h e other, who s e e m ed a slower coach a l t o g ether, was some m i n u t es longer getting h i s t h ings together. But h e w e nt at last. Only, t h e i nstant bef or e he s t e p p e d into the str eet h e d e liber ately picked u p h i s cup, which he h a d o nly half emptied, a n d t hr ew the soup slap o n t h e wall. I was in t h e b ack r oom myself , a n d s o was the waiter ; s o I c o uld only r ush o u t i n time to f ind the w a l l splashed and the s h o p e mpty. I t don’t do a n y p ar ticular damage, b u t i t was conf ounded c h e e k ; and I tr ied to c a t c h the men in the s t r e e t . T hey wer e too f a r o ff though; I only

noticed they went r ound the next corner into Car stair s S treet.”

T he detective wa s on his f eet, hat settled and stick in hand. He had alr eady decided that in the univer sal darkness of his mind he c ould only f ollow the first odd f inger that pointed; and this f inger was odd enough. P aying his bill and clashing the glass door s behind him, he was soon swinging r ound into the o ther str eet.

I t was f or tunate that even in such f evered moments his eye was cool and quick.

S omething in a shopf r ont went by him like a mer e f lash; yet he went back to look at it. T he shop was a popular gr eengr ocer and f r uiter er ’s, a n ar r ay of goods set out in the open air a nd plainly ticketed w ith their names and prices. the two most pr ominent compar tments w ere tw o heaps, of or anges and of nuts r espectively.

On the heap of nuts lay a scr ap of car dboard, on which was written in bold, blue cha lk, “Best tanger ine or anges, two a penny.”

On the or anges w as the equally clear and exact

desc ri p t i o n , “ F i n e s t Braz i l n u t s , 4 d . a l b . ” M . Va l e n t i n lo o k e d a t t hese t wo p l a c a r d s a n d fanc i e d h e h a d m e t t h i s high l y s u b t l e f o r m o f hum o u r b e fo r e , a n d t hat s o m e wh a t r e c e n t l y.

He d re w t h e a t t e n t i o n of th e re d -fa c e d fruit e re r, wh o w a s l ook i n g ra t h e r s u l l e n l y up a n d d o wn t h e s t r e e t , to this inaccuracy in his a d v e rt i s e m e n t s . T h e fruit e re r s a i d n o t h i n g , but s h a rp l y p u t e a c h card i n t o i t s p r o p e r plac e . Th e d e t e c t i v e , l ean i n g e l e g a n t l y on h i s wa l k i n g cane , c o n t i n u e d t o s cru t i n i s e t h e s h o p .

At la s t h e s a id , “ P r a y excus e m y a pp a r e n t i rrel e v a n c e , my g o o d s i r, b u t I s h ou l d l i k e to ask you a question i n e x p e ri m e nt a l psyc h o l o g y a n d t h e as s o c i a t i o n o f i d e a s . ”

w h i c h connects the i d e a o f nuts mar ked a s o r a nges with the i d e a o f two clergymen, o n e t a ll and the other short?”

The re d -fa c e d s h o p m a n rega rd e d h i m w i t h a n eye o f m e n a c e ; b u t he c o n t i n u e d g a i l y, s wi n g i n g h i s c a n e , “Wh y, ” h e p u r s u e d , “wh y a re t wo t i c k e t s wro n g l y p l a c e d i n a gr ee n g ro c e r ’s s h o p l i k e a sh o v e l h a t t h a t h a s come t o Lo n d o n f o r a hol i d a y ? Or, i n c a s e I do n o t m a k e m y s e l f cl ea r, wh a t i s t h e m yst i c a l a s s o c i a t i o n

“ O n e of ’ em did,” said t h e h e ated shopman; “ r o l l e d ’ em all over the s t r e e t . I ’ d ‘ ave caught t h e f o ol but f or havin’ t o p i c k ’ em up.”

T h e e yes of the t r a d e s man stood out of h i s h ead like a snail’s; h e r e ally seemed f or a n i n stant likely to f l i n g h imself upon the s t r a n g er. At last he s t a m mer ed angr ily: “I d o n ’t k now what you ‘ a v e t o do with it, but i f y o u’ r e one of their f r i e n d s, you can tell ’ e m f rom me that I ’ ll k n o c k their silly ‘ cads o ff , p ar sons or no p a r s o ns, if they upset m y a pples again.” “ I n d e ed? ” asked the d e t e c t ive, with gr eat s y m p a thy. “Did they u p s e t your apples?”

“ W h i ch way did these p a r s o ns go?” asked Va l e n tin. “ U p t h at second r oad o n t h e lef t- hand side, a n d t hen acr oss the s q u a r e ,” said the other

pr omptly.

“T hanks,” r eplied Valentin, and van ished like a f air y. On the other side of the second squar e he f ound a policeman, and said: T hus is urge nt, constable; have you seen two clergymen in shovel.”

T he policeman be gan to chuckle heavily. “I ‘ ave. sir ; and if you ar st me, one of ’ e m was dr unk. He stood in the middle of the road that bewilder ed th at – ” “Which way did t hey go?” snapped Valentin.

“T hey took one of them yellow buses over ther e,” answer ed the man; “them that g o to Hampstead.” Valentin pr oduced his off icial car d and said ver y r apidly: Call up tw o of your men to come w ith me in pur suit,” an d cr ossed the r oad w ith such contagious e nergy that the ponder ous policeman was moved to almost agile obedience. I n a minute and a half the F r ench detective was join ed on the opposite pavement by an inspector an d a man in plain cloth es.

“We l l , s i r, ” b e g a n t h e f or m e r, wi t h s m i l i n g impo rt a n c e , “ a n d w h a t may – ? ” Vale n t i n p o i nt e d sudd e n l y wi t h h i s c a n e .

“I ’l l t e l l y o u o n t h e t o p of th a t o m n i bu s , ” h e sai d , a n d wa s d a r t i n g and d o d g i n g a c r o s s t h e tang l e o f t h e t r a ff i c .

Whe n a l l t h re e s a n k panti n g o n t h e t o p seat s o f t h e y e l l o w vehic l e , t h e in s p e c t o r sai d : “ We c o ul d g o f our t i m e s a s q u i c k i n a taxi . ” “Q u i t e t ru e , ” r e p l i e d thei r l e a d e r p l a c i d l y, “if w e o n l y ha d a n idea o f wh e re w e w e r e going . ” “We l l , wh e re <a r e > you g o i n g ? ” a s k e d t h e ot he r, s t a ri n g.

Vale n t i n s m o k e d f row n i n g l y for a f ew s e c o n d s ; t h e n , r em o v i n g h i s c i g a r e t t e , he sa i d : “ If y o u k n o w w ha t a m a n ’s d o i n g , get in fro n t o f h i m ; b u t if yo u wa n t t o g u e s s w ha t h e ’s d o i n g , k e e p behin d h i m . S t r a y w h e n he st ra y s ; s t o p w h e n h e st ops ; t ra v e l a s s l o w l y as he . Th e n yo u m a y see wh a t h e sa w a n d may a c t a s h e a c t e d .

A l l we c a n d o i s t o

k e e p our eyes skinned f o r a q ueer thing.” “ Wh a t sor t of queer t h i n g do you mean? ” a s k e d the inspector. “ A n y sor t of queer t h i n g ,” answer ed Va l e n tin, and r elapsed i n t o obstinate silence.

T h e yellow omnibus c r a w l e d up the n o r t h e r n r oads f or what s e e m ed like hour s on e n d ; the gr eat detective w o u l d not explain f u r t h er, and per haps his a s s i s t ants f elt a silent a n d g r owing doubt of h i s e rr and. P er haps, a l s o , they f elt a silent a n d g r owing desir e f or l u n c h , f or the hour s c r e p t long past the n o r m al luncheon hour, a n d t he long r oads o f t h e Nor th L ondon s u b u r bs seemed to s h o o t out into length a f t e r length like an i n f e r nal telescope.

I t w a s one of those j o u r n e ys on which a m a n per petually f eels t h a t now at last he m u s t h ave come to the e n d o f the univer se, a n d t hen f inds he h a s o n ly come to the b e g i n ning of Tuf nell P a r k . L ondon died a w a y in dr aggled t a v e r ns and dr ear y s c r u b s, and then was

unaccountably born again in blazing high str eets and blatant hotels. I t was like passing thr ough thir teen separ ate vulgar cities all just touching each other. But though the winter twilight w as alr eady thr eaten ing the r oad ahead of th em, the P ar isian detective still sat silent and wa tchful, eyeing the f r onta ge of the str eets that slid by on either side . B y the time they ha d left Camden Town be hind, the policemen w ere near ly asleep; at least, they gave somet hing like a jump as Valentin leapt er ect, str uck a hand on each ma n’s shoulder, and shouted to the dr iver to stop.

T hey tumbled dow n the steps into th e r oad without r ealising why they had been dislodged; when they looked r ound f or enlightenment they f ound Valentin tr iumphantly pointing his f inger towar ds a window on the l eft side of the r oad. I t w as a large window, f o rming par t of the long facade of a gilt and palatial public- house; it w as the par t r eser ved for r espectable dining, and labelled “Restau rant.”

T his window, like

al l th e re s t a l o n g t h e front a g e o f t h e h o t e l , was o f fro s t e d a n d fi gu re d g l a s s; b u t i n t he m i d d l e o f i t w a s a big, b l a c k s ma s h , l i k e a st a r i n t h e i c e .

“ G o t y our window b r o k e n, I see,” said Va l e n tin to the waiter a s h e p aid the bill.

“ Ye s , sir,” answer ed t h e a t tendant, bending b u s i l y over the change, “Ou r c u e a t l a s t , ” c r i e d t o w r etch vaientm Vale n t i n , wa v i n g h i s s i l e n t ly added an s t i ck ; “ t h e p la c e w i t h e n o r m ous tip. T he t he b ro k e n w i n d o w. ” w a i t e r str aightened h i m s e lf with mild “Wh a t wi n d o w ? b u t u nmistakable Wha t c u e ? ” a s k e d h i s a n i m a tion. pr i n c i p a l a s s i s t a n t .

“Wh y, wh a t p r o o f i s “ A h , yes, sir,” he said. t her e t h a t t h i s h a s “ Ve r y odd thing, that, anyt h i n g t o d o w i t h – ” s i r. ” Vale n t i n a l m o s t b r o k e his b a m b o o s t i c k w i t h rage .

“ I n d e ed? Tell us about i t , ” s a id the detective w i t h c ar eless cur iosity.

“Pro o f!” h e c r i e d .

“Go o d Go d ! t h e m a n i s loo k i n g fo r p r o o f ’ Why, o f c o u r s e , t h e chanc e s a re t w e n t y t o one t h a t i t h a s n o t h i n g t o d o wi t h t h e m . B u t wha t e l s e c a n w e d o ?

Don ’t y o u s e e w e m u s t ei t h e r fo l l o w o n e w i l d pos s i b i l i t y o r e l s e go h o m e t o be d ? ” H e bang e d h i s w a y i n t o t h e res t a u ra n t , fo l l o w e d b y his c o m p a n i o n s , a n d t hey we re s o o n s e a t e d at a l a t e l u n c h e o n a t a little table, and looked at th e s t a r o f s m a s h e d glass fro m t h e i n s i d e Not t h a t i t wa s v e r y i nf o rm a t i v e t o t h e m even t h e n .

“ We l l , two gents in b l a c k came in,” said t h e w a iter, “two of t h o s e f or eign par sons t h a t a r e r unning about.

T h e y had a cheap and q u i e t little lunch, and o n e o f them paid f or it a n d w e nt out T he other w a s j ust going out to j o i n h im when I looked a t m y change again and f o u n d he’ d paid me m o r e than thr ee times t o o m u ch. ‘ Her e,’ I s a y s t o the chap who w a s n ear ly out of the d o o r, ‘you’ ve paid too m u c h .’ ‘ Oh,’ he says, v e r y cool, ‘ have we?’ ‘ Ye s , ’ I says, and picks u p t h e bill to show h i m . Well, that was a

knock- out.”

“What do you mea n?” asked his inter loc utor.

“Well, I ’ d have sworn on seven Bibles th at I ’ d put 4s. on tha t bill.

But now I saw I ’ d put 14s., as plain as p aint.”

“Well?” cr ied Valentin, moving slowly, but with bur ning eyes, “and then?”

“T he par son at the door he says all serene, ‘ S or r y to conf use your accounts, but it’ ll pay f or the window.’ ‘ What window?’ I says. ‘ T he one I ’ m going to br eak,’ he says, and smashed that blessed pane with his umbr ella.”

All thr ee inquir ers made an exclamation; and the inspector said under his br e ath, “Ar e we af ter escaped lunatics?” T he waiter went on with some r elish f or th e r idiculous stor y: “I was so knocked silly f or a second, I couldn’t do anything. T he man mar ched out of the place and joined his f r iend just r ound the cor ner. T hen they w ent so quick up Bullo ck S tr eet that I could n’t

catc h t h e m , t ho u g h I r an ro u n d t h e b a r s t o do i t . ”

c l e a r l y pr epar ing an o p e n i ng; but he did not n e e d one.

“Bul l o c k St re e t , ” s a i d the d e t e c t i v e , a n d s h o t up t h a t t h o ro u g h f a r e a s quic k l y a s t h e s t r a n g e coup l e h e p u r s u e d .

A n a ngular, elder ly y o u n g woman in the s h o p h ad r egar ded his e l e g a nt appear ance w i t h a mer ely a u t o matic inquir y; but w h e n she saw the door b e h i n d him blocked w i t h the blue unif or m o f t h e inspector, her e y e s seemed to wake up.

T heir j o u rn e y n o w took t h e m t h r o u g h bare b ri c k wa y s l i k e tunne l s ; s t re e t s w i t h f ew l i g h t s a n d e v e n w i t h fe w wi n d o w s ; st ree t s t h a t s e e m e d built o u t o f t h e b l a n k back s o f e v e r y t h i n g and e v e ry wh e r e . D u s k w as d e e p e n i n g , a n d i t w as n o t e a s y e v e n f o r the L o n d o n p o l i c e m e n to gu e s s i n w h a t e x a c t di rec t i o n t h e y w e r e tr ead i n g . Th e i n s p e c t o r, how e v e r, wa s p r e t t y cer t a i n t h a t t h e y w o u l d even t u a l l y s t r i k e s o m e part o f Ha m ps t e a d H eat h . Ab ru p t l y o n e bulgi n g g a s -li t w i n d o w brok e t h e b l u e t w i l i g h t like a b u l l ’s -e y e lant e rn ; a n d Va l e n t i n st opp e d a n i ns t a n t befo re a l i t t l e g a r i s h swee t s t u ff s h o p . A f t e r an in s t a n t ’s h e s i t a t i o n he w e n t i n ; he s t o o d amid t h e g a u d y c o l o u r s of th e c o n fe c t i o n e r y w i t h e n t i re g r a v i t y and b o u g h t t h i r t e e n choc o l a t e c i ga r s w i t h a cert a i n c a re . H e w a s

“ O h , ” she said, “if y o u ’ ve come about that p a r c e l, I ’ ve sent it off a l r e a dy.” “ P a r c e l! ” r epeated Va l e n tin; and it was his t u r n t o look inquir ing. “ I m e a n the par cel the g e n t l eman lef t – the c l e rg y man gentleman. “ F o r g oodness’ sake,” s a i d Valentin, leaning f o r w a r d with his f i r s t r eal conf ession o f e a g er ness, “f or H e a v e n’s sake tell u s w hat happened e x a c t ly.” “ We l l ,” said the woman a l i t t l e doubtf ully, “ t h e clergymen came i n a b out half an hour a g o a nd bought some p e p p e r mints and talked a b i t , and then went off

towar ds the Heath. B ut a second af ter, one of them r uns back into the shop and says, ‘ H ave I lef t a par cel?’ Well, I looked ever ywhere and couldn’t see one ; so he says, ‘ Never mind; but if it should turn up, please post it to this addr ess,’ and he left me the addr ess and a shilling f or my trouble.

And sur e enough, though I thought I’d looked ever ywhere, I f ound he’ d lef t a br own paper parcel, so I posted it to the place he said. I can’t r emember the address now; it was somew here in Westminster. B ut as the thing seemed so impor tant, I thou ght per haps the poli ce had come about it.”

“S o they have,” said Valentin shor tly. “Is Hampstead Heat h near her e? ” “S tr aight on f or fifteen minutes,” said th e woman, “and you’ll come r ight out on the open.” Valentin sprang out of the shop and began to r un. T h e other detectives f ollowed him at a r eluctan t trot.

T he str eet they thr eaded was so narrow and shut in by shadow s that when they came

out u n e x p e c t e d l y i n t o t he v o i d c o mm o n a n d vast s k y t h e y w e r e s t art l e d t o fi n d t h e eveni n g s t i l l s o l i g h t and c l e a r. A p e r f e c t dom e o f p e a c o c k gr ee n s a n k i n t o g o l d am i d t h e b l a c k e n i n g t ree s a n d t h e d a r k viol e t d i s t a n c e s . T h e glowi n g g re e n t i n t was j u s t d e e p e n o u g h to pick out in points of c ry s t a l o n e o r t w o s t ars . Al l t h a t w a s l e f t of th e d a y l i g h t l a y i n a go l d e n g l i tt e r a c r o s s t he e d g e o f H a m p s t e a d and t h a t p o p u l a r hol l o w wh i c h i s c a l l e d t he Va l e o f H e a l t h . T h e hol i d a y m a k e r s w h o roam t h i s re g i o n h a d not wh o l l y d i s p e r s e d ; a few couples sat s hap e l e s s l y o n benc h e s ; a n d h e r e a n d t her e a d i s t a n t g i r l s t i l l s hr i e k e d i n o n e o f t h e s wi n g s . Th e gl o r y o f heave n d e e p e n e d a n d dar k e n e d a ro u n d t h e s ubl i m e v u l g a r i t y o f m an ; a n d s t a nd i n g o n t he s l o p e a n d l o o k i n g acro s s t h e v a l l e y, Vale n t i n b e h e l d t h e t hing wh i c h h e s o u g h t .

Am o n g t h e b l a c k and b re a k i n g g r o u p s in that distance was one e s p e c i a l l y b l a c k whic h d i d n ot b r e a k – a g ro u p o f t w o fi gu re s c l e ri c a l l y c l a d .

T h o u g h they seemed a s s m a ll as insects, Va l e n tin could see t h a t o ne of them was m u c h smaller than the o t h e r. T hough the other h a d a student’s stoop a n d a n inconspicuous m a n n er, he could see t h a t t he man was well o v e r s ix f eet high.

H e s h ut his teeth and w e n t for war d, whir ling h i s s t ick impatiently.

B y t h e time he h a d s ubstantially d i m i n ished the distance a n d magnif ied the t w o b lack f igur es as i n a v ast micr oscope, h e h a d per ceived s o m e t hing else; s o m e t hing which s t a r t l ed him, and yet w h i c h he had somehow e x p e c ted. Whoever was t h e t a ll pr iest, ther e c o u l d be no doubt a b o u t the identity o f t h e shor t one. I t w a s h is f r iend of the H a r w i ch tr ain, the s t u m p y little <cur é> o f E s sex whom he h a d w a r ned about his b r o w n paper par cels.

N o w, so f ar as this w e n t , ever ything f i t t e d in f inally and r a t i o n a lly enough.

Va l e n tin had lear ned b y h i s inquir ies that m o r n i ng that a F ather B r o w n f r om E ssex was b r i n g ing up a silver

cr oss with sapphi res, a r elic of considerable value, to show some of the f or eign pr iests at the congr ess. This undoubtedly was the “silver with blue stones”; and F ath er Br own undoubtedly was the little gr eenhor n in the train.

Now ther e was nothing wonder f ul about the f act that what Valentin had f ound out F lambeau had also f ound out; F lambeau f ound out ever yth ing.

Also ther e was no thing wonder f ul in the fact that when F lambe au hear d of a sapphire cr oss he should try to steal it; that was the most natur al thing in all natur al histor y.

And most cer tainly ther e was nothing wonder f ul about the f act that F lambea u should have it all his own way with such a silly sheep as th e man with the umb rella and the par cels. He was the sor t of ma n whom anybody could lead on a str ing to the Nor th P ole; it was not sur pr ising that an actor like F lambeau, dressed as another pr iest, could lead him to Hampstead Heath. S o f ar the crime seemed clear enou gh; and while the detective

pi t i e d t h e p rie s t f o r h i s hel p l e s s n e s s , h e a l m o s t des p i s e d Fl a mb e a u f or c o n d e s c e n d i n g t o so g u l l i b l e a v i c t i m .

But wh e n Va l e n t i n thoug h t o f a l l t h a t h a d happ e n e d i n b e t w e e n , of a l l t h a t h a d l e d hi m t o h i s t riu m p h , h e r ack e d h i s b ra i n s f o r the sm a l l e s t r h y m e o r r eas o n i n i t . W h a t h a d the st e a l i n g o f a b l u e and- s i l v e r c ro s s f r o m a pri es t fro m E s s e x t o d o with chucking soup at w al l p a p e r? W h a t h a d it t o d o wi t h c a l l i n g nuts o ra n g e s , o r w i t h payin g fo r win d o w s f i rs t a n d b re a k i n g t h e m af t erwa rd s ? H e h a d com e t o t h e e n d o f h i s chas e ; y e t s o m e h o w h e had m i s s e d t h e m i d d l e of it. W h e n he f a i l e d ( whic h wa s s e l d o m ) , h e had u s u a l l y gr a s p e d t h e clue , b u t n e v e r t h e l e s s miss e d t h e c ri m i n a l .

H ere h e h a d g r a s p e d the c ri m i n a l , b u t s t i l l he c o u l d n o t g r a s p t h e clue .

T he t wo fi g u r e s t h a t they fo l l o we d w e r e cr awl i n g l i k e b l a c k f l i es a c ro s s t h e h u g e gree n c o n t o u r o f a h i l l .

T hey we re e vi d e n t l y sunk i n c o n v e r s a t i o n , and p e rh a p s di d n o t notic e wh e re t h e y w e r e going ; b u t t h e y w e r e

c e r t a i nly going to the w i l d e r and mor e silent h e i g h ts of the Heath.

A s t h e ir pur suer s g a i n e d on them, the l a t t e r had to use the u n d i g nif ied attitudes o f t h e deer- stalker, to c r o u c h behind clumps o f t r e e s and even to c r a w l pr ostr ate in d e e p gr ass. By these u n g a i nly ingenuities t h e h unter s even c a m e close enough t o t h e quar r y to h e a r t he mur mur of t h e d iscussion, but n o w or d could be d i s t i n guished except t h e w or d â&#x20AC;&#x153;r easonâ&#x20AC;? r e c u r r ing f r equently i n a high and almost c h i l d ish voice. Once o v e r a n abr upt dip o f l a nd and a dense t a n g l e of thickets, the d e t e c tives actually lost t h e t wo f igur es they w e r e following. T hey d i d n ot f ind the tr ail a g a i n f or an agonising t e n m inutes, and then i t l e d r ound the br ow o f a g r eat dome of h i l l o v er looking an a m p h itheatr e of r ich a n d d esolate sunset s c e n e ry. Under a tr ee i n t h i s commanding y e t n eglected spot w a s a n old r amshackle w o o d e n seat. On this s e a t sat the two pr iests s t i l l i n ser ious speech t o g e t her. T he gorgeous

gr een and gold still clung to the dar kening hor izon; but the dome above was tur nin g slowly f r om peacockgr een to peacock -blue, and the star s detached themselves mor e and mor e like solid jew els.

Mutely motioning to his f ollower s, Valentin contr ived to cr eep up behind the big br anching tree, and, standing th ere in deathly silenc e, hear d the wor ds of the str ange pr iests for the f ir st time.

Af ter he had listened f or a minute and a half, he was gr ipped by a devilish doubt. Perhaps he had dr agged the two E nglish policemen to the wastes of a noctur nal heath on an er r and no saner than seeking f igs on its thistles. F or the tw o pr iests wer e talk ing exactly like pr ie sts, piously, with lea rning and leisur e, about the most aer ial enig mas of theology. T he little E ssex pr iest spoke the mor e simply, w ith his r ound f ace turned to the str engthening star s; the other talked with his head bow ed, as if he wer e not even wor thy to look at them.

But no mor e innocently

cl eri c a l c o n v e r s a t i o n coul d h a v e b e e n h e a r d i n a n y wh i t e I t a l i a n cl ois t e r o r b la c k Spa n i s h c a t h e d r a l .

The fi rs t h e h e a r d was t h e t a i l o f o n e of F a t h e r B row n ’s s ente n c e s , wh i c h ende d : “ . . . w h a t t hey re a l l y me a n t i n t he M i d d l e A g e s b y t he h e a v e n s b e i n g i nco rru p t i b l e . ” The t a l l e r p ri e s t nod d e d h i s b o w e d h e a d and s a i d : “Ah , y e s , t h e s e m o d e r n i nf i d e l s a p p e a l t o t h e i r reas o n ; b u t w h o c a n l ook a t t h o s e m i l l i o n s of w o rl d s a n d n o t feel t h a t t h e r e m a y wel l b e wo n d e r f u l uni v e rs e s a b o v e u s whe re re a s o n i s u t t e r l y unre a s o n a b l e ? ” “No , ” s a i d t h e o t h e r pr i e s t ; “ re a s o n i s al wa y s re a s o n a b l e , even i n t h e l a s t l i m b o , in the lost borderland of th i n g s . I k n o w t h a t peop l e c h a rg e t h e Churc h wi t h l o w e r i n g reas o n , b u t i t i s j u s t t he o t h e r wa y. A l o n e on e a rt h , t h e C h u r c h m ak e s re a s o n r e a l l y s upre m e Al o ne o n eart h , t h e C h u r c h aff i rm s t h a t G o d hims e l f i s b ou n d b y

r e a s o n.”

T h e o ther pr iest r aised h i s a uster e f ace to the s p a n g led sky and said: “ Ye t w ho knows if in t h a t i nf inite univer se – ?” “ O n l y inf inite p h y s i cally,” said the l i t t l e p r iest, tur ning s h a r p l y in his seat, “ n o t I nf inite in the s e n s e of escaping f r om t h e l a ws of tr uth.”

Va l e n tin behind his t r e e was tear ing his f i n g e r nails with silent f u r y. H e seemed a l m o s t to hear the s n i g g er s of the E n g l i sh detectives w h o m he had br ought s o f a r on a f antastic g u e s s only to listen t o t h e metaphysical g o s s i p of two mild o l d p a r sons. I n his i m p a t ience he lost t h e e q ually elabor ate a n s w e r of the tall c l e r i c , and when he l i s t e n e d again it was a g a i n F ather Br own w h o was speaking: “ R e a s o n and justice g r i p t h e r emotest a n d t he loneliest s t a r. Look at those s t a r s . Don’t they l o o k a s if they wer e s i n g l e diamonds and s a p p h ir es? Well, you

can imagine any mad botany or geology you please. T hink of f orests of adamant with le aves of br illiants. T hink the moon is a blue moon, a single elephantine sapphire.

But don’t f ancy that all that f r antic astr onomy would make the smallest diff er ence to the reason and justice of conduct.

On plains of opal, under cliff s cut out of pearl, you would still f ind a noticeboar d, ‘ T hou shalt not steal.”‘ Valentin was just in the act of r ising f rom his r igid and cr ouching attitude and cr eep ing away as sof tly as might be, f elled by the one gr eat f olly of his life.

But something in the very silence of the tall priest made him stop until the latter spoke. When at last he did speak, he said simply, his head bow ed and his hands on his knees: “Well, I think that other wor lds may perhaps r ise higher than our r eason. T he myste ry of heaven is unf athomable, and I f or one can o nly bow my head.”

T hen, with br ow yet bent and without chang ing by the f aintest sha de his attitude or voi ce, he added: “Just hand over that sapphir e cr oss of

that s a p p h i re c r o s s of yo u rs , wi l l y o u ?

We’ re a l l a l o ne h e r e , and I c o u l d p u l l y o u to pi e c e s l i k e a s t r a w doll. ” T he u t t e rl y u n a l t e r e d voic e a n d a t t i t u d e adde d a s t ra ng e vi ole n c e t o t h a t shoc k i n g c h a n g e of sp e e c h . B u t t h e guar d e r o f t h e r e l i c only s e e m e d t o t u r n h i s head b y t h e sm a l l e s t sect i o n o f t h e c o m p a s s .

H e se e m e d s ti l l t o have a s o m e w h a t f ool i s h fa c e tu r n e d t o the st a rs . Pe rh a p s h e had n o t u n d e r s t o o d .

O r, p e rh a p s , he h a d unde rs t o o d a n d s a t r i gid wi t h t e r r o r.

“Yes , ” s a i d t h e t a l l pri es t , i n t h e s a m e l o w voic e a n d i n th e s a m e st i l l p o s t u re , “ y e s , I a m F l am b e a u . ” T hen , a ft e r a p a u s e , h e sai d : ” C o m e , w i l l y o u gi ve m e t h a t c r o s s ? ” “N o , ” s a i d t he o t h e r, and t h e m o n os y l l a b l e had a n o d d s ou n d .

F l am b e a u s u d d e n l y f l ung o ff a l l h i s pont i fi c a l p re t e n s i o n s .

T he g re a t ro b b e r lean e d b a c k in h i s s e a t and l a u g h e d l o w b u t

l o n g . “No,” he cr ied, “ y o u w on’t give it me, y o u pr oud pr elate.

Yo u won’t give it me, y o u l ittle celibate s i m p l eton. S hall I tell y o u why you won’t g i v e it me? Because I ’ v e g ot it alr eady in m y o wn br east- pocket.”

T h e s mall man f r om E s s e x tur ned what s e e m e d to be a dazed f a c e in the dusk, and s a i d , w ith the timid e a g e r ness of “T he P r i v a te S ecr etar y”: “ A r e – ar e you sur e? ” “ O h , by being a c e l i b a te simpleton, I s u p p o se,” he said. “Has i t n e ver str uck you that a m a n who does next t o n o thing but hear m e n ’s r eal sins is not l i k e l y to be wholly u n a w ar e of human e v i l ? But, as a matter o f f a c t, another par t o f m y tr ade, too, made m e s ur e you wer en’t a p r i e s t.” “ W h a t?” asked the t h i e f , almost gaping. “ Yo u attacked r eason,” s a i d F ather Br own. “ I t ’s bad theology.”

A n d even as he tur ned a w a y to collect his p r o p e r ty, the thr ee p o l i c e men came out f r o m under the twilight

tr ees. F lambeau w as an ar tist and a sportsman.

He stepped back and swept Valentin a great bow.

“Do not bow to me, mon ami,” said Valentin with silver clear ness. “L et us both bow to our master.”

And they both stood an instant uncovered while the little Essex pr iest blinked a bout f or his umbr ella .

Copyr ight © 2019 The S ociety of Gilb ert Keith Chester ton. A ll r ights r eser ved.

Re d Velvet and Anemones Betray a l a l wa y s o ff ers a ch o ic e : Bitte r o r Be tte r?

Coming Soon by Editingle Indie House

THE T ELL TALE H EA RT

Edgar

Allan

P

Poe

EDITINGLE MAG | PREMIER ISSUE

â&#x20AC;&#x153; I h ave o f te n b e e n re p roa ch ed w i th th e a ri d i ty o f my ge n i u s ; a d e f i ci e ncy o f i m a gi n a t i o n h as b e e n i m p u te d to m e a s a cri m e ; an d th e Py r rh o n i s m of my o p i ni o n s h as at a ll t i m e s re n d e red m e n o to ri o u s . â&#x20AC;? ***** Tr ue! - - ner vous - - very, ver y dr eadf ully ner vous I had been and am; but why will you say that I am mad? T he disease had shar pened my senses --not destr oyed - - not dulled them. Above all was the sense of hear ing acute.

I hear d all things in the heaven and in the earth.

I hear d many things in hell. How, then, am I mad?

Hear ken! and obser ve how healthily - - how calmly I can tell you the who le stor y.

45

It i s im p o s s i b le t o s a y h o w f i r s t the i d e a e n t e re d m y b r a i n ; b u t o nce c o n c e i v e d , i t h a u n t e d m e d ay a nd n i g h t . Ob j e c t t h e r e w a s n o n e.

Pass i o n t h e re w a s n o n e . I l o v e d the o l d m a n . He h a d n e v e r w r o n g e d me.

He ha d n e v e r gi v e n m e i n s u l t . F or h i s go l d I h a d n o d e s i r e . I t h i n k it was h i s e y e ! ye s , i t w a s t h i s ! H e had the ey e o f a v u l t u r e - - a p a l e b l u e e ye, wi t h a fi l m o v e r i t . W h e n e v e r it f el l u p o n m e , m y b l o o d r a n c o ld; a nd s o b y d e g r e e s - - v e r y g r a d u a l ly -- I ma d e u p m y m i n d t o t a k e t h e lif e o f the o l d m a n , a n d t h u s r i d m y s elf o f the e y e fo re v e r.

opening suff icient f or my head, I put in a dar k lanter n, all closed, closed, that no light shone out, and th en I thr ust in my head. Oh, you would have laughed to see how cunn ingly I thr ust it in! I moved it slowly - - ver y, ver y slowly, so that I might n o t d i s t u rb the old man’s sleep. It took me an hour to place my whole head within the opening so f ar that I could see him as he lay upon his bed. H a! would a madman have been so w ise as this, And then, when my he ad was well in the r oom, I undid the lanter n cautiously- oh, so cautiously - - cautiously ( f or the hinges creaked) - - I undid it just so much that a single thin r ay f ell upon the vultur e eye.

And this I did f or seven long nights - - ever y night just at midnight --but I f ound the eye always closed; and so it was impossible to do the w ork; f or it was not the old man who vexed me, but his E vil E ye. And eve ry mor ning, when the day br oke, I w ent boldly into the chamber, and spoke cour ageously to him, calling him by name in a hear ty tone, and inquiring how he has passed the night. So you see he would have been a very pr of ound old man, indeed, to suspect that ever y night, just at twelve, I looked in upon him while he slept.

Now t h i s i s t h e p o i n t . Yo u f a n c y me ma d . M a d me n k n o w n o t h i n g .

But y o u s h o u l d h a v e s e e n m e .

You s h o u l d h a v e s e e n h o w w i s e l y I pr oc e e d e d --w i t h w h a t c a u t i o n -- wi t h wh a t fo r e s i g h t - - w i t h w h at d i s s i m u l a t i o n I w e n t t o w o r k ! I was n ever k i n d e r t o t h e o l d m a n t h a n d ur i n g t h e wh o l e w e e k b e f o r e I k i l l ed h i m . And e v e r y n i g h t , a b o u t mi dni g h t , I t u r n e d t h e l a t c h o f h is d oor a n d o p e n e d i t - - o h s o g e n t l y!

And t h e n , wh e n I h a d m a d e a n

Upon the eighth night I was more than usually cautious in opening the door. A watch’s minute hand moves mor e quickly than did mine. Never bef or e that night had I f elt the extent of my own power s - - of my sagacity.

I could scar cely contain my f e elings of tr iumph. To think that ther e I w as, opening the door, little by little, and he not even to dr eam of my secret deeds or thoughts. I f air ly chuckled at the idea; and per haps he heard me; f or he moved on the bed suddenly,

“ I heard al l th i ng s in the h e aven a nd i n th e ea rth.I h e a rd many thin g s i n hell.”

as if st a rt l e d . N o w y o u m a y t h i n k that I drew b a c k --b u t n o . H i s r o o m was as bl ack a s p i t c h w i t h t h e t h i c k d a r k ness, ( for the s h u t t e r s w e r e c l o s e f a s t e ned, t hroug h fe a r o f r o b b e r s , ) a n d s o I knew t h a t h e c o u l d n o t s e e t h e o pening of the d o o r, a n d I k e p t p u s h i n g i t on s teadil y, s t e a d il y. I h a d m y h e a d in, and wa s a b o u t to o p e n t h e l a n t e r n, w hen m y t h u m b s l i p p e d u p o n t h e tin f a s t en i n g , a n d th e o l d m a n s p r a n g up i n bed , c ry i n g o u t - - ” Wh o ’s t h e r e ?” I kept q u i t e s t i l l a n d s a i d n o t h i n g . F or a whol e h o u r I d i d n o t m o v e a m u scle, and i n t h e m e a n t i m e I d i d n o t h e a r him l ie down . He w a s s t i l l s i t t i n g u p in the bed l i s t e n i n g ; - - j u s t a s I h a v e d o ne, ni ght a ft e r n i g ht , h e a r k e n i n g t o t he deat h wa t c h e s in t h e w a l l .

P res en t l y I h e a r d a s l i g h t g r o a n , a nd I knew i t wa s t he g r o a n o f m o r t a l t er ror. It wa s no t a g r o a n o f p a i n or of gri ef - -o h , n o ! - - i t w a s t h e l o w s t if led s o und t h a t a ri s e s f r o m t h e b o t t o m of t he so u l wh e n o v e r c h a rg e d w i t h a we.

I knew t h e s o u n d w e l l . M a n y a n i ght, j us t at m i d n i g h t , w h e n a l l t h e w o r ld s lept, i t h a s we l l e d u p f r o m m y o wn bosom, d e e p e n in g , w i t h i t s d r e a d ful echo, t h e t e rro r s t h a t d i s t r a c t e d me.

I say I k n e w i t w e l l . I k n e w w h a t the ol d m a n fe l t , a n d p i t i e d h i m , a l t h ough I chuc k l e d a t he a r t . I k n e w t h a t he had been l y i n g a wa k e e v e r s i n c e t h e f ir st s li ght n o i s e , wh e n h e h a d t u r n e d in t he be d . Hi s fe a r s h a d b e e n e v e r since grow i n g u p o n h i m . H e h a d b e e n t r ying t o f an c y t h e m c a u s e l e s s , b u t c o u l d not.

H e had b e e n s a y i n g t o h i m s e l f - - ” I t is nothi n g b u t t h e w i n d i n t h e c h i m ney - -i t is o n l y a mo u s e c r o s s i n g t h e f loor,” or “I t i s m e re l y a c r i c k e t w h i c h has made a s i n g l e c h i r p . ” Ye s , h e h a d been t r ying t o c o m for t h i m s e l f w i t h t h e se s u ppo s i t i o n s : bu t h e h a d f o u n d a ll in vai n. Al l i n v a in ; b e c a u s e D e a t h , in

appr oaching him had stalked w ith his black shadow bef or e him, and enveloped the victim. A nd it was the mour nf ul inf luenc e of the unper ceived shadow that caused him to f eel - - although he neither saw nor hear d - - to feel the pr esence of my head within the r oom.

When I had waited a long time, ver y patiently, without hearing him lie down, I r esolved to open a little - - a ver y, ver y little crevice in the lanter n. S o I opened it --you cannot imagine how stealthily, stealthily - - until, at length a simple dim r ay, like the thr ead of the spider, shot f r om out the cr evice and f ell f ull upon the vultur e eye. I t was open - - wide, wide open - - and I gr ew f ur i ous as I gazed upon it. I saw it with perfect distinctness - - all a dull blue, w ith a hideous veil over it that chilled the ver y mar r ow in my bones; but I could see nothing else of the old man’s f ace or per son: f or I had dir ected the r ay as if by instinct, pr ecisely upon the damned spot.

And have I not told you that what you mistake f or madne ss is but over- acuteness of the sense?

- - now, I say, ther e came to my ears a low, dull, quick sound, such as a watch makes when enveloped in cotton. I knew that sound w ell, too. I t was the beating of the old man’s hear t. I t incr eased my fury, as the beating of a dr um stimulates the soldier into cour age.

But even yet I r ef r ained and kept still. I scar cely br eathed. I held the lanter n motionless. I tr ied how steadily I could maintain the ray upon the eve. Meantime the hellish

t at t o o o f t h e h e a r t i n c r e a s e d . I t gr ew qui ck e r a n d qu i c k e r, a n d l o u d e r and l oud e r e v e ry i n s t a n t . T h e o l d m a n’s t erro r m u s t h a v e b e e n e x t r e m e ! I t gr ew l o u d e r, I s a y, l o u d e r e v e r y m ome n t ! --d o y o u m a r k m e w e l l I have t o l d y o u t h a t I a m n e r v o u s : so I am. An d n o w a t t h e d e a d h o u r of t he n i g h t , a m id t h e d r e a d f u l s i l ence of th a t o l d h ou s e , s o s t r a n g e a noise as th i s e x c i t e d m e t o u n c o n t r o l l a ble t erro r. Ye t , for s o m e m i n u t e s l o nger I r efra i n e d a n d s t o o d s t i l l . B u t t he b e a t i n g g r e w l o u d e r, l o u d e r !

I tho u g h t t h e h e a r t m u s t b u r s t .

And n o w a n e w a n x i e t y s e i z e d me --t he s o u n d w o u l d b e h e a r d b y a neigh b o u r! Th e o l d m a n ’s h o u r had come ! Wi t h a l o u d y e l l , I t h r e w open t he l a n t e rn a n d l e a p e d i n t o t h e room.

He sh ri e k e d o n c e - - o n c e o n l y. I n an i nst a n t I d ra gg e d h i m t o t h e f l o or, and p u l l e d t h e h e a v y b e d o v e r him.

I the n s m i l e d g a i l y, t o f i n d t h e deed s o fa r d o n e . Bu t , f o r m a n y m i n utes, t he h e a rt b e a t o n w i t h a m u ff l e d s oun d . Th i s , h o w e v e r, d i d n o t v e x m e; i t wo u l d n o t b e h e a r d t h r o u g h t he wa l l . At l e n g t h i t c e a s e d . T he old m an wa s d e a d . I r e m o v e d t h e b ed and exami n e d t h e c o r p s e . Ye s , h e w as s t one , s t o n e d e a d . I p l a c e d m y hand upon t h e h e a r t a n d h e l d i t t h e r e many m i nut e s . Th e r e w a s n o p u l s a t i o n.

He w a s s t o n e d e a d . H i s e y e w o uld t roub l e m e n o m o r e .

If st i l l y o u t hi n k m e m a d , y o u w ill t hink s o n o l o n g e r w h e n I d e s c r ibe t he wi s e p re c a u t i o n s I t o o k f o r the conc e a l m e n t o f t h e b o d y. T h e n ight wane d , a n d I w o r k e d h a s t i l y, b ut in s i l en c e . Fi rs t o f a l l I d i s m e m b e red t he c o rp s e . I c u t o ff t h e h e a d a n d t he a rm s a n d t h e l e g s . I t h e n t o ok up t hr ee p l a n k s f r o m t h e f l o o r i n g of the chamb e r, a n d d e p o s i t e d a l l b e t ween

the scantlings. I then r eplaced the boar ds so clever ly, so cunningly, that no human eye - - not even his --could have detected any thing wr on g.

T her e was nothing to wash out --no stain of any kind - - no blood- spot whatever. I had been too war y for that. A tub had caught all - - ha! ha!

When I had made an end of these labor s, it was f our o’ clock - - still dar k as midnight. As the bell sounded the hour, ther e came a knocking at the str eet door. I w ent down to open it with a light heart, - - f or what had I now to f ear ? There enter ed thr ee men, who intr oduced themselves, with per f ect suavity, as off icer s of the police. A shr iek had been hear d by a neighbour du ring the night; suspicion of f oul p lay had been ar oused; inf or mation had been lodged at the police off ice, and they ( the off icer s) had been deputed to sear ch the pr emises. I smiled, - - f or what had I to f ear ? I bade the gentlemen welcome. T he shr i ek, I said, was my own in a dr eam. The old man, I mentioned, was absent in the countr y. I took my visitors all over the house. I bade them search - - sear ch well. I led them, at length, to his chamber. I showed them his tr easur es, secur e, undistur bed . In the enthusiasm of my conf idence, I br ought chair s into the r oom, and desir ed them her e to r est f r om their f atigues, while I myself , in th e w ild audacity of my per f ect tr iump h, placed my own seat upon the very spot beneath which r eposed th e cor pse of the victim.

T he off icer s wer e satisf ied. My manner had convinced them. I w as singular ly at ease. T hey sat, a nd while I answer ed cheer ily, the y

chat t e d o f fa m i l i a r t h i n g s . B u t , e re l ong, I fe l t m y se l f g e t t i n g p a l e a nd w i s he d t h e m g o n e . M y h e a d a c h e d, and I fa n c i e d a r i n g i n g i n m y e a r s: but s t i l l t h e y s a t a n d s t i l l c h a t t e d.

T he ri n g i n g b e c a m e m o r e d i s t i n c t: - -It co n t i n u e d a n d b e c a m e m o r e di s t i n c t : I t a l k e d m o r e f r e e l y t o get r id of t h e fe e l i n g : b u t i t c o n t i n u e d and ga i n e d d e fi n i t e n e s s - - u n t i l , a t l ength , I fo u n d t h a t t h e n o i s e w a s not wi t h i n m y e a r s . N o d o u b t I n ow grew v e ry p a l e ; - - b u t I t a l k e d m o re f luentl y, a n d w i t h a h e i g h t e n e d voice. Ye t t h e so u n d i n c r e a s e d - - a nd w hat c o u l d I d o ? I t w a s a l o w, d ull, quick s o u n d --m u c h s u c h a s o u n d as a wa t c h m a ke s w h e n e n v e l o p e d i n cot t o n . I g a s p e d f o r b r e a t h - - a nd yet the o ffi c e rs h e a r d i t n o t . I t a l ked more qu i c k l y -- m o r e v e h e m e n t l y ; but t he no i s e s t e a d il y i n c r e a s e d . I a r ose and arg u e d a b o u t t r i f l e s , i n a h i g h key an d wi t h v i o l e n t g e s t i c u l a t i o ns; but t h e n o i s e s te a d i l y i n c r e a s e d .

Why wo u l d t h e y n o t b e g o n e ? I paced t h e fl o o r t o a n d f r o w i t h heavy s t ri d e s , a s i f e x c i t e d t o f u r y by t he o b s e rv a ti o n s o f t h e m e n - - b ut t he no i s e s t e a d il y i n c r e a s e d . O h G od! w h a t c o u ld I d o ? I f o a m e d -- I r a ved --I s wo re ! I s w u n g t h e c h a ir upon wh i c h I ha d b e e n s i t t i n g , a nd grat ed i t u p o n th e b o a r d s , b u t t h e noise a ro s e o v e r a l l a n d c o n t i n u a lly i ncrea s e d . It g r e w l o u d e r - - l o u d e r - -l oud e r! An d st i l l t h e m e n c h a t t ed pl eas a n t l y, a n d s m i l e d . Wa s i t poss i b l e t h e y he a r d n o t ? A l m i g h t y G od! - -n o , n o ! T h e y h e a r d ! - - t h e y s u s pec t e d ! --t h e y k n e w ! - - t h e y w er e maki n g a m o c ke r y o f m y h o r r o r ! t hi s I t h o u g h t , a n d t h i s I t h i n k . B ut anythi n g wa s b e t t e r t h a n t h i s a g o ny!

A nyt h i n g wa s mo r e t o l e r a b l e t h a n t hi s de ri s i o n ! I c o u l d b e a r t h o s e hypoc ri t i c a l s mi l e s n o l o n g e r ! I f e lt

that I must scr eam or die! and now - - again! - - har k! louder ! louder! louder ! louder !

“Villains! ” I shr ieked, “dissemble no mor e! I admit the deed! - - tear up the planks! her e, her e! - - I t is the beating of his hideous hear t! ” copyr ight © 2016 P oe F oundation, I nc. All r ights r eser ved.

I do be li e v e something very magical can happen when you re a d a bo o k - J. K. Ro w li n g

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ONLY ENEMIES SPEAK THE TRUTH; FRIENDS AND LOVERS LIE ENDLESSLY, CAUGHT IN THE WEB OF DUT Y. - S TE P H E N K I NG

T H E KE Y TO T H R ILLERS I S V IC A R IO US P LEA S U RE .

YOU MUSTN’ T FALL IN LOVE WITH YOUR OWN HERO.

- LEE

- LE E C H I LD

CHILD

I T ’S NOT A B O U T W H AT Y OU T E LL T H E R E ADE R , I T ’S A B OUT W H AT Y OU CONC EA L .

- DAN

B ROWN

WOMEN SHOULDN’ T BE EXPECTED TO ONLY PL AY NURTURING, KIND CARETAKERS. - GILL I A N F LYNN

I LIKED THE ID EA OF A W HOD UN IT R EVOLVIN G AROUN D A MAR RIAGE. - G I LL I A N F LYNN

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EV ERY T H I NG T H AT HAS EX IS T E D, LI NGE R S I N T HE ET ER N IT Y. -AGAT HA CHRIS TIE

SUCCESS LEAVES CLUES, AND IF YOU SOW THE SAME SEEDS, YOU’LL REAP THE SAME REWARDS.

I REALLY BELIEVE THAT A WRITER IS SOMEONE WHO HAS TR AINED THEIR MIND TO MISBEHAVE.

- BR A D

- BRAD THOR

THOR

THE GREATEST GIFT IS OUR OWN EYES, SENSE OF SMELL , AND ABILITIES TO DEDUCE. - PATRICIA

THE HUMAN CAPACIT Y TO BE CURIOUS HAS ALWAYS EXISTED. - PAT R I C I A

CORNWELL

I’M ALWAYS FASCINATED BY HOW DIFFERENT WRITERS’ ROOMS WORK .

- MEGA N A B B OT T

CO R NW E LL

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G LI MPS E OF M Y STERY MIN DS

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& MU RDER AT MACB ET H

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SAMANTHA GO O DW I N

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Samantha

Goodwin

has

written

professionally for her business career a s a Ch arte re d M a rk etin g M an ag er for over a decade before turning her hand to fiction. As an avid crime fiction fan, she r e g u l a rly p a rtic ip ate s in th e re n o w ne d T h e a k s to n O ld P ec u lier Crime Wr iting Festival in Harrogate and completed t h e i r in H arro g a te a n d c o mp le te d the ir

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p r e s t i g i o u s C r i m e Wr i t i n g

en co u ra g e o th ers .

C r e a t i v e Wo r k s h o p . S h e a l s o

When she is not writing,

relishes attending literature

Samantha enjoys reading,

festivals across the country as

countryside

w ell as en g a g i n g i n n u m ero u s

movies,

online writing communities.

almost all chocolate (but

walks,

musicals

and

controversially not Oreos).

Keen to support upcoming authors,

S h e liv es in L ee d s with he r

Samantha r e c e n t l y l a u n c h e d

husband, Chris, and son, Jack.

the

# I n d i e Wr i t i n g Wi s d o m

initiative on Instagram to

Murder at Macbeth is her

collate and share inspiring,

first novel and was longlisted

original quotes from a wide

for the international Flash

r a n g e o f d i ff e r e n t w r i t e r s t o

5 0 0 N o v e l Aw a r d i n 2 0 1 7 .

“I loved this book.

It’s a really great read; a proper whodunnit! As a debut novel, this is a cracker!”

-JOY ELLIS, No.1 bestselling author of the D.I. Nikki Galena series

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“I loved this book. It’s

a really great read; a

Murder at Macbeth is a treat for crime and mystery lovers.

It starts with stage actress Nikki, proper whodunnit! stabbing herself while hundreds of audience watching. When the scene As a debut novel, this e n d s , c l a p s d r o w n t h e t h e a t r e . O n l y behind the closed curtains, Nikki pleads is a cracker!” unsuccessfully to her colleagues with her eyes before losing consciousness.

-JOY ELLIS, The director and everyone first thinks No.1 bestselling author of the that she got too much into the character.

But when she doesn’t move even when D.I. Nikki Galena series i t’s time fo r th e n e x t s c e n e, to the ir horror they realize what had happened.

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Nikki is rushed to the hospital and the detectives get to work, slowly unraveling t h e k n o t s o f m y s t e r y. T h e more they dig more politics and propaganda comes out.

The anticipation only keeps on building from there on.

They are led on a tail chase as they follow each bread crumbs, so are the readers.

The success of this author l i es in the fa c t o r t h a t r e a d ers are led on to suspect anything and everything they come across. The story is well plotted that readers don’t narrow down their suspects f or at leas t 9 0 % o f t h e st o ry.

E ven if a f e w h a d su c c e ed ed i n g u e s s i n g t h e k i l l e r, t h e r e is still a suspense that you never expected. Like I said, t hi s crime d r a m a i s a t r e at to A ut hor S am a n t h a h ad done a g r e a t job in her d e b u t n ovel, which o nl y increa se s the expectat i o n o f t he reade r s f o r h er next. H i g h l y reco mmend t h i s read .

- By C a t he r in e Edw ar d

crime and mystery lovers.

Wh en I s tarte d rea d in g I fe lt a w av e o f n o s talg ia. I g re w u p rea d in g crime my s terie s .

A n d th is b o o k remin d e d me of my childhood days when I was first introduced to books.

Such a good old memories.

The book sucked me in, taking me to London along w i t h t h e c h a r a c t e r s . I t ’s a while since I got lost i n t o a s t o r y s o r e l i g i o u s l y.

“A classic whodunnit that entertains in true Poirot style. It read like a really good episode of a prime-time crime series.”

CAROL DEELEY, Author of the Britannica series

Book Review by C a t he r i ne Ed w a r d

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CH IT CHAT WIT H S AMA N THA G OODWIN A small In ter vi ew wi th S a m a n th a G o o d w i n o n the o c ca sion o f h er deb u t nove l .- by M i ch a e lle S a n d efur Hello Samantha, thank you for giving me your time for this interview. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m excited for you to give us encouragement, insight and also a view into your world of mystery.

Q.1- Having a job and family, how do you manage to find time to write?

It certainly is a challenge! I find I have to make the most of small

snippets of time, rather than just discount them for not being long enough. That means I can continue to progress slowly but surely; for example when my baby is napping!

Having a one-page outline is really useful for staying focused so I can pick up writing from where I left off while maintaining oversight of the whole story arc.

Q.2- Did you ever invision

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that you would ever become an author? What gave you the push in that direction?

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– you can never please everyone!

Q.4- I’m sure family has always been supportive, did you ever I’ve always written stories, ever experience jealousy on their part since I was about 5 years old! It’s when you were engrossed in been a dream of mine my whole life writing? to write a book, so I’m really excited that I’ve finally released my debut I’ve actually been really blessed with novel. It’s been a long time coming! a very supportive family, so have It was my husband, Chris, who never experienced jealousy from any finally convinced me that I could of them, but the balancing act was do it. Also, it ended up being the certainly tricky at times, especially last proper conversation I had with with a young baby. My husband is a my Dad before he died suddenly of Graphic Designer so he understands encephalitis two years ago so I felt the importance of having a creative very driven to finish it as a tribute outlet, and coincidentally he’s the to him. I found the whole process of one who designed my book cover! writing very cathartic during grieving, it was helpful to be able to pour my I see that you participate often in energy into something positive. the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival and completed the Q.3- Once you started writing, did Crime Writing Creative Workshop. you have any doubts and worries?

If so what were they?

Q.5- Do you feel like it has honed your ability to write mystery I am a people pleaser so I did crime novels? Do you suggest worry about others not enjoying others should get involved with reading it. But being in a Book Club such festivals. really opened my eyes to the fact that people can have very diverse I would definitely recommend that opinions about the same book, so aspiring authors get involved with that made me relax about it a lot more crime writing festivals. It was an

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absolutely fantastic experience and was very inspiring to be coached by bestselling crime authors such as Lesley Thomson and Elly Griffiths. I learned a lot of great tips that I could incorporate into my novel, especially regarding maintaining a good pace and developing interesting characters.

I l ove the f a c t t ha t y o u h av e in vol v e d y o ur se l f w ith h elping othe r a ut ho r s. A n d your will i ng ne ss t o g iv e them your time and support.

Q.6- Is this the reason why you created #IndieWritingWisdom on instagram so authors can find you and Connect? Have you had a good response?

Yes it is, I love to help support fellow writers. #IndieWritingWisdom is an initiative I launched on Instagram late last year to collate and share inspiring writing quotes from new and upcoming authors to encourage others. I’ve always been a fan of motivational writing quotes and I thought it would be an ideal way of giving a voice to

new authors in the online writing community.

I’ve had a great response so far; over 50 authors have contributed original quotes already and I hope to see that number grow even more this year.

Q.7- What inspired you to come up with the title “Murder At Macbeth”?

I’ve always been fascinated by the superstitions surrounding Macbeth about it being cursed and the fact the play itself is about corruption and deception provided an interesting parallel to the novel’s murder mystery.

I was also inspired by a newspaper article about a London West End actor who was accidentally stabbed live on stage. That sparked an idea in me about how dramatic that would be if it had been intentional. Plus, I found the concept of interviewing suspects who are also actors really interesting; they could so easily be playing a part to hide the truth.

Q.8- Of all the characters in your book, who is the one that you identify with the most? And why?

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Always a tricky question when most of them are murder suspects! Although I did work really hard at creating multi-dimensional characters, so I do relate to a lot of them in some way. Violet Underwood is the one I identify with the most; she’s very conscientious and studious which was loosely based on my younger self.

Plus she’s always late; my friends will confirm that is definitely like me!

Q.9- Were you shocked at the response to Murder At Macbeth?

Did it change your life so to speak?

I’ve been so thrilled by how well it has been received. To get five star reviews from numerous book bloggers and reach the No.1 spot on Amazon UK is a dream come true.

And a lot of readers have compared my writing to Agatha Christie which is an incredible compliment. I wouldn’t say it’s necessarily life-changing but the thing that has shocked me the most is how people from all over the world have been enjoying my book which is really exciting to see. So far it’s been read in 14 countries and 10 states (that I know about) which is kind of mind-blowing to me!

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Q.10- Can we hope to find more novels in the future? If so is there a possibility for a series?

I’ve definitely left it open so that the series can indeed continue. I think there would be a lot of scope to develop D.I. Robson further. I do have a lot of ideas, but haven’t started working on my next book just yet – as I recently became a new mum I’m taking my time on the writing front at present.

I bet family and friends find it difficult to watch crime dramas and movies with you. Because you guess the outcome.

Q.11- Do you always get it right? Or do you get surprised sometimes?

That is a brilliant question as it is so true! I must admit I can often guess the outcome of a lot of crime dramas and movies. I can still be surprised though and I love discovering new shows that have more twists and are less predictable; Killing Eve is a current favorite.

Q.12- What other types of genre do you enjoy reading? Have

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you ever thought of writing something other than crime?

I absolutely love reading dystopia books, so it would be interesting to explore that genre.

I think it’s so great to have that sense of escapism of experiencing another world.

S u b m issio n

On one last note, is there anything you would like to say to your fellow authors?

A nt h o l o gy

Believe in yourself, and surround yourself with positive people who will spur you on. Writing groups and online communities are great for when you need advice.

Also don’t worry about getting it right first time, otherwise you’ll never write anything. One of my favourite writing quotes is from Shannon Hale who said, “I’m writing a first draft and reminding myself that I’m simply shovelling sand into a box so that later I can build castles.”

Thank you so much for doing this interview and we look forward to seeing more from you!

Inv it e f o r C h r ist m a s

v i s i t : w w w.e d i t i n g l e i n d i e h o u s e . com Fo r m o re i n fo rm a t i o n .

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By Tani Han es

Scout Lawson is fleeing an unhappy past, and t h i n k s s h e â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s r u n a s f a r a s s h e c a n f r o m Ya l e U n i v e r si t y w h e n s h e lands a j ob re st ori ng a l i bra ry in Cornwall, England for reclusive rock star G e o r g e Wi l d e r, w h o d r o p p e d o u t o f s i g h t a f t e r the death of his beautiful wife the year before.

As soon as she arrives at his estate, Farraway Mist, strange things start to happen.

A s t h e c o u p l e â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s f e e l i n g s f o r e a c h o t h e r g r o w, t h e e v e n t s b e c o m e m o r e h a r r o w i n g , until everything they hold dear is in peril.

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T H E PA RT OF PIE CES A u t h o r o f A g e s from E ternity and Tr a ppe d in Ete r nity. With he r nove ls, Lor a Do u g la s , offer s a g l i m p se into her mind. A w ande r e r sinc e bir th, she de lights in the wond e r s of p l a c e s, p e o p le and culture. When she isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t wr iting, or a bsor be d in the wonde r f u lly craz y d a n c e o f daily life, you can fin d he r r oc king out in he r c a r or se a r c hing fo r a n ad v e n t u r e d e e p in the pages of book or out on the winding r oa d.

What is it about a good thriller that keeps us captivated? What keeps us coming back t o t h e s a m e r i d e ? We know the twists and t u r n s . We k n o w w h e n that music builds that something is coming.

We s h i f t t o t h e e d g e of our seats, literally or figuratively, and we wait with bated breath f o r t h e k i l l e r, t h e s t a l k e r, t h e i n e v i t a b l e p i n d r o p . We k n o w what waits around the bend. We have felt the gutted sadness of the m o r t a l l o s s . We h a v e seen the guise of the suspected fall to reveal blasted innocence.

We h a v e r i d d e n t h e highs and lows, and though the names and

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s i t u a t i o n s c h a n g e , of steroid hormones. t h e b o n e s a r e s i m i l a r.

Cortisol, the stress So, in those cases, when h o r m o n e , i n c r e a s e s we know the story, we your blood pressure and know the bones. What b r e a t h i n g r a t e . A l s o , keeps us strapped into with the fear response, the seat, readying n e u r o t r a n s m i t t e r s the cup of coffee, a l i k e dopamine, glass of wine, or a norepinephrine, and mountain of popcorn e p i n e p h r i n e ( a l s o and taking the ride? c a l l e d a d r e n a l i n e ) , (gamma)-aminobutyric One aspect is the acid (GABA), and art of controlled, s e r o t o n i n flood regulated fear. Within t h e b r a i n .

These a safe environment, l i t t l e t r a n s m i t t e r s we can tap into that play a mighty role. primal, primitive fear t h a t t a k e s h o l d a s w e Often referred to as the ride the wave through “ f e e l g o o d h o r m o n e , ” anxiety, determination, d o p a m i n e t r i g g e r s a t e n s i o n , t e r r o r , a n d feeling of euphoria and f i n a l l y l a n d i n g t h e aids i n motivation and a d d i c t i v e p o o l o f concentration. GABA relief, exhilaration, inhibits stress and and s a t i s f a c t i o n . a n x i e t y. E n d o r p h i n s alter the perception This ride is more than a o f p a i n a n d c r e a t e mental jaunt or trivial f e e l i n g s o f e u p h o r i a . entertainment. The Serotonin regulates limbic system, deep y o u r m o o d . W h e n in our brains, plays a the body perceives a paramount role in our threat, a flood of these response to a threat, n e u r o t r a n s m i t t e r s whether it is real or can suppress activity fictitious. If the brain i n c e r t a i n p a r t s o f perceives it, the limbic t h e b r a i n t h a t a f f e c t system responds. concentration and The limbic response short-term memory affects many different w h i l e a l s o a f f e c t i n g areas, part, and rational thought w o r k i n g s i n t h e b o d y, a n d inhibitions. mainly the release

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All of this together fuels the flight or fight r e s p o n s e . Yo u r b o d y receives a healthy dose of pain numbing, thought focusing, blood pumping fuel as your brain zeros in on the task at hand.

In Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane, as Te d d y c l i m b s h i s w a y to the lighthouse, your brain scours the road that has led him here.

You search the scenes, aimlessly trying to discern truth from lies.

You have felt his pain, saw his mental turmoil and at least you are given the truth. The rug is pulled from your feet and you saw with n e w, s a n e e y e s . T h e pieces tick into place and you are faced with gaping bewilderment or palatable satisfaction.

“I knew it!”

The story wove its track and your brain worked its magic. This twisted pas de deux, like many others in many tales, took you on a v isceral thrill ride, leaving your stress, concerns, and day-to-day humdrum at the gate. The twists and turns consume your brain and you get a great boost of

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feel-good hormones to boot.

Another aspect of a good thriller that keeps us engaged and coming back, is the power of the trick. This is more than the brilliance of the plot twist or the “shockingness” of the reveal. The true power lies in the build up. What makes up the trail of bread crumbs that keeps us with our eyes locked on the page and our brain, dutifully f o c u s e d ? P e r s o n a l l y, t h e m o s t captivating, clutching, and at times infuriating part of a good thriller that keeps me coming back for the damned ride, is that trail.

The fragments of foreshadowing and tips of information dropped along the way are the crucial elements that leave me thoroughly satisfied or frustratingly disappointed. Give me a lack-luster twist but if the p i e c e s a r e c l e a r a n d c l e v e r, t h e n chances are, I am satisfied. Throw in a hell of a twist but leave the pieces disjointed, scattered or at worst, forced, and I might applaud the twist, but I will not close the book with a smile. Give me a good rug pull and instantly my mind will dive back to the beginning and analyze all the pieces leading up to the monumental moment. Our brains crave information and we are addicted to certainty. I believe a story with sound pieces feeds those parts of our brain. When mixed with the visceral cocktail of neurotransmitters and endorphins, voila, you have the perfect means of pleasurable escape.

My first experience with the

magic of the pieces occurred by complete accident. I was only seven when I crossed the living room and glimpsed an image on the television screen. It was a small penguin. A man in a wheelchair was setting it back on a small table littered with other little figures and a voice in my young brain was adamant that something was wrong. That little penguin needed to face a different direction. I had no context, no reason to feel so strongly about such a trivial image but I did. Years later, in the throes of building suspense in the pages of Stephen King’s Misery, I saw that little penguin again and behold, that young voice was dead on in its perception. Call it intuition.

Call it a coincidence. I call it the power of the pieces. The setup and attention to detail were done so precisely that I didn’t need to know the story to feel the power in that little action. I did not know why it was important. I did not know why I had this primal need to correct the man on the screen, the need to fix the penguin but I did, and that need was raw and compulsive.

For some people, their mind relishes in a good puzzle. I have heard it said many times by family, friends, associates, and readers, “Don’t just scare me; make me think.” We want to see the options, analyze the data and find the certainty in the conclusion. Will they survive?

Who is the culprit? Who is the real evil? What is the twist going to be? We crave the certainty in the midst of building tension, character development, winding plot and

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v i s c e r a l t h r i l l . We w a n t t o k n o w.

Sometimes the puzzle takes on a different feel. Maybe we think we could survive. We could do it better than the fleeing victim. Maybe we w o u l d n o t g e t c a u g h t . We w o u l d see through the disguise and we would win. Sometimes we slip i n t o t h e p r o t a g o n i s t â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s s h o e s a n d stand toe to toe with the towe ring evil and we win. Regardless of the tone of the puzzle, the crux of the pull stays the same. We devour the pieces, we analyze the data and through that, the story grabs us.

No doubt certain movies or stories come to mind. A strew of red objects, a harbinger that lays out t h e s t o r y, a d i s i n t e r e s t e d g u a r d , or flashes of dreams. Some pieces stand in the foreground, shining a light on things to come. Others only fully make sense after the reveal but once you know of their existence, they line the track of the ride and without them, the experience w ould not be the same.

While I am sure that all pieces are technically considered foreshadowing, for the sake of this article, I have split the two.

Foreshadowing is a vital force to be planned, executed, and revi sed.

It is a power to be honed though never overused. It morphs and shifts in the way it is wielded.

Take care in foreshadowing. Give it due attention. Though I value its importance, the pieces I refer to can differ slightly. They are, in a sense, foreshadowing but it is the clever craft of the tangible object

or the use of the phrase, precise in its oddity that taunts the mind to pay attention. As the penguin, mundane in its existence, with a twist of its position, gave way to unease.

This small piece not only brought hardship on our hero but dusted o ff a n o t h e r l a y e r o f t h e p e r v e r t e d psyche of Annie, our antagonist. In the film, the stillness of the lens hinted to the importance of our little penguin, but a viewer caught up in the thrill ride, on the edge of their seat, holding their breath or s c r e a m i n g a t P a u l t o m o v e f a s t e r, could miss the gravity until the moment the piece flexes its power.

T h e n , i n e v i t a b l y, t h e m i n d s n a p s back to the blasted little penguin.

Moments like this, the pieces glow in the mind, like a beacon along the track, not too quickly forgotten.

When you sit down to pen your story, r e m e m b e r t h e p i e c e s . Tr e a t t h e m with respect, hone them to clarity, chip them to perfection and lay them out precisely. Set up the track with its twists and turns and give your reader, your watcher a ride of a lifetime. And when that final gong hits, that last gut punch, rug pull or feel good moment ends, give them pieces to go back and digest. This is when the story becomes part of them.

What is it about a good thriller that keeps us captivated? What keeps us coming back to the same ride? A good thriller grips us at a primal level. It takes us on a visceral ride that gets our minds and bodies involved. They do not just scare us; they make us think.

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They grab ahold of our need for certainty, our craving for escape and they reward us with a physical, feel-good sensation and senses of relief or satisfaction. But most of all, they lay out a tempting puzzle with hooking pieces that keep me coming back, digging for more and digesting the information until I am intoxicated with the feeling of c e r t a i n t y, i n t e l l i g e n c e , a n d u n d e r s t a n d i n g . I s e e i t . I f e e l i t . I w a n t to strap in again for the same ride, the same rush, and the same hunt.

Guest Author

T HA N K YO U

L o ra Dougl as Follow Lora on Social Media @lo r a _ d o u gla s _ au th o r @L o r aD o u glas 1 1 2 @lo r a do u gla s . co m

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Coming soon by Catherine Edward

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Re m e m b e r a n ce Y o ur hands easy w eight , t e asing t he b ees h i ved in my hair, y o ur s m i l e at t heslo pe o f my cheek .

On t he o ccasio n, y o u press ab o v e me, g lo w i n g , spo u t ing readiness, my st ery rapes my reaso n W h e n y o u hav e wit hdrawn y o ur s elf and t he magic, w h e n o nly t he smell o f y o u r l o v e linger s b et w een m y b r e ast s, t hen, o nly t hen, c a n I greedily co nsu me y o u r presence.

- M ay a A ngelo u

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Master Stroke tips from

well known Authors

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WRITING TIPES FROM ASPIRING AUTHORS E xcite d h i m n ow n a t u ra l s aw pa s s a ge o f f i ce s you m i n u ter. A t by a s ke d b e i n g co u rt h o p e s.

Fa rth er s o fr i en d s a m to d e tra ct . Fo rba d e con p r iva te b e. O ffe n d i n g re s i d e nce b u t m e n

Step hen K ing 1. On what it takes: “If you want to be a writer, you must do two things above a l l o t h e r s : r e a d a l o t a n d w r i t e a l o t . T h e r e ’s n o w a y around th e se t wo t h i n g s th at I’m a w are o f, n o s h o r tc ut.

2. On going forward: “The scariest moment is always just before you start.”

3. On motivation: “ Yo u c a n n o t h o p e t o s w e e p s o m e o n e e l s e a w a y b y t h e force of your writing until it has been done to you.”

4. On keeping it simple: “Description imagination, but

begins in should finish

the in the

w r i t e r ’s r e a d e r ’s . ”

5. On quality: “I think the best stories always end up being about the people r ather than t h e e v e n t , w h ich is to s a y ch ara c te r-d riv e n.”

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6. On style: “The road t o h e l l i s p a v e d w ith ad v e rb s . ”

7. On meaning: “ Wo r d s c r e a t e s e n t e n c e s ; s e n t e n c e s c r e a t e p a r a g r a p h s ; sometimes paragraphs quicken and begin to breathe.”

8. On happiness: “Writing isn’t about making money, getting famous, getting dates, getting laid, or making friends. In the end, it’s about enriching the lives of those who will read your work, and enriching your own life, as well. It’s about getting up, getting well, and getting over. Getting happy, okay? Getting happy.”

9. On finding ideas: “Let’s ge t o n e t h i n g c l ea r rig h t n o w, s h all w e ? T h ere is no Idea Du m p , n o St o r y Ce n tral, n o Is lan d o f th e B u rie d Bestsellers; good story ideas seem to come quite literally f rom nowh e r e , sa i l i n g a t y o u rig h t o u t o f th e e mp ty s ky: t wo previo u sl y u n r e l a t e d id e a s c o me to g e th er a n d ma ke s o m e t h i n g n e w u n d e r t h e s u n . Yo u r j o b i s n ’ t t o f i n d t h es e ide a s b u t t o r e c o g n iz e th em w h e n th e y s h o w up.”

10. On hard work: “There is a m u se , b u t h e’s n o t g o in g to co me flu tte ring do wn into y o u r wr i t i n g ro o m an d s c a tte r c re a tiv e fa iryd u s t a l l o v e r y o u r t y p e w r i t e r o r c o m p u t e r. H e l i v e s i n t h e g r o u n d . H e ’s a b a s e m e n t k i n d o f g u y. Yo u h a v e t o descend to his level, and once you get down there you have to fu r n i sh a n a p a r t me n t fo r h im to liv e in . Yo u h a ve t o do all t h e g r u n t l a b o r, in o th e r w o rd s , w h ile th e m us e

sits and smokes cigars and admires his bowling trophies and pretend s t o i g n o r e y o u . D o y o u th in k it’s fair? I think i t ’s f a i r. H e m a y n o t b e m u c h t o l o o k a t , t h a t m u s e - g u y, and he may not be much of a conversationalist, but he’s got i nspiration . I t ’s r i g h t t h at y o u s h o u ld d o all th e w o rk a nd bur n all the m i d - n i g h t o i l, b ec a u s e th e g u y w ith th e c iga r and the litt l e wi n g s h a s g o t a b a g o f ma g ic. T h e re ’s stuff i n t h e r e t h a t c a n c h a n g e y o u r l i f e . B e l i e v e m e , I k n o w. ” All quotes taken from Stephen King’s On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft

n in love with e e b s a h n o s r a Harriett L , b u t h e ’s n e v e r s r a e y r o f n a m s t Stan Craf e r. I n s t e a d , h i s h o t n o i t n e t t a . paid any n h er tw in si st er o n ee b s ay w al fo cu s h as to Harriett, she s e s o p o r p n a t S So when e n ee d s a m o th er h se au ec b ly n o k n o w s it ’s cently adopted. e r e h l r i g e l t t i for the l tion is to turn c a e r t s r i f r e h e And whil bring herself to t ’ n a c e h s , n him dow ocent child who n n i n a n o k c a b turn her reluctance she h t i w s i t i o S r. needs he ut only on one B . m i h y r r a m agrees to ver be anything e n l l i w s r i e h T . condition co n v en ie n ce . S h e f o e ag ri ar m a m o re th an h im ev er ag ai n . to le ab er ln u v e b w il l n o t m a r r i e s h e r, h e n a t S s a n o o s But as e . S h e ’s n o t t h e d a m e h l a e d e h , regrets t er to be. In fact h t h g u o h t e h r e . wallflow n g th an h er si st er li ea p ap re o m ch sh e’ s m u h e co n v in ce h er n ca w o h , is m le T h e p ro b th ei r m ar ri ag e o f rn tu n ca ey th o f th at so ing much more? h t e m o s o t n i e c n convenie

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Lee Chi l d L i k e h i s f a m o u s p r o t a g o n i s t , J a c k R e a c h e r, L e e C h i l d i s a bit of a rogue badass—especially when it comes to his t h oughts o n wr i t i n g , a n d d eb u n k in g p o p u lar w ritin g rule s .

I n h i s T h r i l l e r F e s t s e s s i o n “ Te l l , D o n ’ t S h o w : W h y Wr i t i n g R u l e s a r e M o s t l y Wr o n g , ” C h i l d b a t t l e d a f e w of the biggest writing myths out there, and explained what really keeps a reader reading until The End.

1. Show, Don’t Tell Picture this: In a novel, a character wakes up and looks at himself in the mirror, noting his scars and other physical traits for the reader.

“It is completely and utterly divorced from real life,” Child said.

S o w h y d o w r i t e r s d o t h i s ? C h i l d s a i d i t ’s b e c a u s e t h e y ’ v e b e e n b e a t e n d o w n b y t h e r u l e o f S h o w, D o n ’ t Te l l . “ T h e y m a n u f a c t u r e t h i s e n t i r e l y a r t i f i c i a l t h i n g . ” “We’re not story showers,” Child said. “We’re story tellers.”

C h i l d s a i d t h e r e ’s n o t h i n g w r o n g w i t h s i m p l y s a y i n g t h e ch aracter wa s 6 f e e t t a l l, w ith s c a rs .

After all, he added—do your kids ever ask you to show them a story?

They ask you to tell them a story. Do you show a joke? No, you tell it.

“There is n o t h i n g wr o n g w ith ju s t te llin g th e s to ry, ”

C hi l d s aid. “ So l i b e r a t e y o u rs elf fro m th a t ru le . ” C hi l d believ e s t h e a v e r a g e rea d er d o e s n ’t c a re a t a ll a bout telling, showing, etc. He or she just wants something to l at ch onto, so m e t h i n g t o ca rry th em th ro u g h th e b o o k . B y following too many “rules,” you can lose your readers.

2. Don’t Start With the Weather “ I f t h e w e a t h e r i s w h a t ’s o n y o u r m i n d , s t a r t with it,” Child said.Simply put, all-time great Alistair MacLean did it all the time. Enough said.

3.Suspense is Created by X, Y, or Z For instance: Suspense is created by having sympathetic c h a r a c t e r s . M o r e a n d m o r e , C h i l d s a i d , t h i s r u l e d o e s n ’t add up. Case in point: In The Runaway Jury by John G r i s h a m , C h i l d s a i d t h e r e i s n ’t a s y m p a t h e t i c c h a r a c t e r in the entire book—there are bad guys, and worse guys.

Instead of sympathetic characters, the book is driven by what the verdict of the trial at the heart of the story will be.

“And that’s how you create suspense,” he said—it all boils down to asking a question and making people wait for the answer.

C hi l d added t h a t o n e t h i n g h e h as le a rn ed th ro u g h o u t his career as a television writer and novelist is that humans are hard-wired to want the answer to a question. When t he r emote c o n t r o l wa s i n v e n ted , it th rew th e T V b u s in e s s t hr ough a loo p . Ho w wo u l d y o u k ee p p e o p le a ro u n d d u ring a commercial? So TV producers started posing a question at the start of the commercial break, and answering it when the pr ogram retu r n e d . ( T h i n k s p o rts — Wh o h as th e mo s t ca re e r g r a n d s l a m s ? ) E v e n i f y o u d o n ’t c a r e a b o u t t h e a n s w e r, Child said, you stick around because you’re intrigued.

Ultimately, he said writing rules make the craft more complicated than it really is—when it comes down to it, it’s a simple thing.

“The way to write a thriller is to ask a question a the beginning, and answer it at the end,” he said.

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When he’s crafting his books, Child doesn’t know the answer to his question, and he writes scene by scene—he’s just trying to answer the question as he goes through, and he keeps throwing different complications in that he’ll figure out later. And that v ery we ll may b e th e key t o h i s s h a rp , b e s t s e l l i n g p ros e . “ Fo r me t he end o f a b o o k i s j u s t a s e x c i t i n g a s i t i s for a read e r,” h e s ai d.

C l ev er, be aut i f ul bu t unf o r t u n a t e l y lo nel y Viole t F i re w o r ks pea c e fu l l y in the company of the powerful, one of the richest men in Madrid, Spain Kyle Jamieson. But one night in club ‘Drunken Cherry’ changes her life ab rup tly, and Vi o l et hav i n g n o i d e a if i t i s fo r t he better o r w o rs e . A n accidental meeting with her gorgeous b o ss, M r. Jami es o n wh o al l w o m e n in the office are thrilled with, twists h er de st iny. A des ti n y s h e c o u l d n ’t imagine even in her worst nightmares or her best daydreams. A destiny that turns her life upside down.

Will Violet survive this race in her life where her independence is at stake?

Will she be the independent woman Violet always thought she was?

Bernard Cornwell B ernard C o r n we l l i s a B ritis h au th o r o f h is to ric a l n o ve ls , m o dern th r i l l e r s, a n d a h is to ry o f th e Wate rlo o Ca mpa ign.

He was bo r n 2 3 Fe b r u a r y 1 9 4 4 .

He is bes t k n o wn f o r h i s n o v e ls fe a tu rin g N a p o le o n ic Wa rs r i fleman, R i c h a r d Sh a r p e, w h ic h w ere ad ap ted in to a se rie s of S harpe t e l e v i si o n f i l m s . T h e firs t b o o k in th e s e rie s w a s Sharpe’s Ea g l e .

Other works include The Saxon Chronicles Series, which began with The Last Kingdom in 2004. The books have been adapted to a television series of the same name.

Here is s o m e t i p s f r o m h is w e b s ite titled : Writin g A d vic e

1. The Story Is All-Important “When I had written two or three books, I learned that st yle is so m e t h i n g t h a t c a n b e a p p lie d at th e la te r s ta ge s of writing. Th e m o st i m p o rta n t th in g , th e a ll-imp o rta n t t hing, i s to get th e st o r y r i g h t . Write, re w rite, re w rite ag ain, a nd do not worr y a b o u t a n y t h in g e x ce p t s to ry. It is s to ry, s tory, story… Once the story is right, everything else will follow.”

2. Begin With A Question “ K u r t Vo n n e g u t o n c e g a v e a s p l e n d i d p i e c e o f a d v i c e .

E v e r y g o o d s t o r y, h e s a i d , b e g i n s w i t h a q u e s t i o n . H a r r y m e e t s A n n e a n d w a n t s t o m a r r y h e r. T h e r e ’s t h e q u e s t i o n

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a l r e a d y, w i l l h e s u c c e e d ? B u t H a r r y i s a l r e a d y m a r r i e d t o K a t h a r i n e , s o t h e r e i s y o u r p l o t . S i m p l e , i s n ’t i t ? A n d if your opening question is right, then the pursuit of the answer will propel the reader through the book. More important, it will propel the writer through the book.”

3. Improve Your Work By Analysing Other Books “Suppose you decide to build a better mousetrap. You would b e g i n , s u r e l y, b y t a k i n g a p a r t t h e e x i s t i n g m o u s e t r a p s t o see how th e y wo r k e d . Yo u mu s t d o th e s a me w ith b o oks .”

4. You will Never Know How Much Research Is Enough “Res earch , h o w m u c h i s n e e d ed ? T h e a n s w e r is a n n o y ingly contradict o r y – b o t h m o re th an y o u c a n ev er d o a n d only as much a s i s n e e d e d . B y th at I me a n th a t y o u ca n n e ve r know enou g h a b o u t y o u r c h o s e n p e rio d , an d s o y o u r w hole life becomes a research project into the 16th or 18th or whatever century it is you are writing about, but when it comes to a specific book there really can be too much research. Why explore eighteenth century furniture making i f the book d o e sn ’t f e a t u re fu rn itu re? D o a s mu ch res e a rc h as you feel comfortable doing, write the book and see where the gaps are, then go and research the gaps. But don’t get hung up on research – some folk do nothing but research and never get round to writing the book.”

5. You Have To Do The Work “In the en d y o u h a v e t o w rite th e b o o k . D o it, re me mbe r that everyone began just like you, sitting at a table and secretly doubting that they would ever finish the task. But keep at it. A page a day and you’ve written a b o o k i n a y e a r ! A n d e n j o y i t ! Wr i t i n g , a s m a n y o f us have discovered, is much better than working.”

Jeffrey Archer Jeffre y A rc her ( bo r n 1 5 Ap ri l 1940) i s a n En g l i s h a u t h or an d former politician. His books, starting with Kane and Abel h a ve be e n pub l i s h ed i n 97 c o u n t ri e s a n d i n m o re t h an 33 la nguage s. J eff rey Arc h er i s a fi rm l y e s t a b l i s h e d b e s t s e llin g novelist, with international sales passing 330 million copies.

1. Make time “Decide when you’re going to write. Don’t be casual and only do it as and when it suits you. Don’t think you can write a novel aft er you’v e d o n e a h a r d d a y ’s w o rk , it’s in s u ltin g to thos e professional novelists who spend their time doing nothing else.”

2. Be disciplined “For example, I write from 6-8 a.m., 10-12 a.m., 2-4 p.m., 6-8 p.m. I keep that routine up for 40-50 days and handwrite every word. I then take a break and go back to it again a month later.”

3. Write what you know “ D o n ’t d o v a m p i r e s , w i z a r d s o r g h o s t s b e c a u s e t h e y ’ r e i n fashion. Jane Austen wrote about family life in a small v i l l age and g a v e u s si x o f th e g re a te s t n o v e ls ev er w ri t te n .”

4. Get some fresh air.

“I g o for tw o l o n g wa l k s b e tw ee n s es s io n s , fo r tw o re a s ons ,

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physical and mental. The plot will buzz around in your mind while you are walking, continually churning o v e r, w h i c h i t c a n ’t b e w h i l e y o u ’ r e a c t u a l l y w r i t i n g . ”

5. Do several drafts “Do not imagine that the first draft of your book is the one that will be published. My latest novel, The Sins of the Father, was 14 drafts and took approximately 1000 hours.”

6. Be flexible “If you think of something better half-way through the writing process, don’t be frightened to go back and i n c o r p o r a t e i t o r e v e n c h a n g e t h e s t o r y c o m p l e t e l y. ” 7 . Seek o pinions from professionals “When you want an opinion on what you consider the f i n i s h e d s c r i p t , s e e k i t f r o m a p r o f e s s i o n a l e d i t o r, a n a g e n t o r s o m e o n e y o u d o n ’ t k n o w, t h r o u g h a t h i r d p a r t y. D o n o t s e e k a n o p i n i o n f r o m y o u r w i f e , h u s b a n d , p a r t n e r, m i s t r e s s o r c l o s e f r i e n d . T h e y w i l l l i e . ”

8. Read the greats “There is no substitute for reading great novelists, and instead of just enjoying their craft, think carefully about how t he y’ve ac h i e v e d i t ? Do th ey s p en d p a g es o n d es c rip t ion, do they mo v e t h e st o r y o n q u ick ly, h o w d o th ey ma k e you t u r n t h e p a g e ? I t ’s a l l t h e r e i n f r o n t o f y o u i f y o u l o o k carefully, so at least when you try to do it, you have analysed how successful authors have managed it in the past.”

9. Stay fit

“If the body is a physical wreck – too much drinking, smoking, late nights – how can you expect the written w ord to be a n y t h i n g l e ss th an d ru n k e n , u s e le s s an d tired? ”

10. Don’t give up “M y first n o v e l , No t a Pe n n y M o re , N o t a P en n y L e s s , w a s turned down by 14 publishers, ended up with an advance of £3,000 and on first printing took a year to sell 3,000 copies.

It is still extremely rare for a first book to be a best-seller.”

F l ow e r S e r i e s by Ta n i H a n e s

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MYSTE RY A ND SU S PE NSE

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MY S TERY IS TO DO WITH THE BR A IN; S U S P ENS E A FFECTS THE GU T

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Mystery is like p u z z l e . To c r a c k a mystery one must have enough clues.

A crime, usually m u r d e r, h a s b e e n c o m m i t t e d a n d i t ’s h e r o ’s r e s p o n s i b i l i t y to fi n d a c ulprit with g i v e n c l u e s , t h a t ’s why mysteries often called as “whodunits” because the culprit is un k n o w n for r eaders a n d h e r o ’s b o t h .

A mystery is to do with po w e rs of de duction.

To j o i n t he dots . And to d o t hat one needs to u se the gre y cells .

T h a t mea ns action or atmospherics can be done away with. What becomes important th e n i s t he pl o t. The s t o r y l i ne ca n’t have holes and all loose ends must be tied.

Also important are probable characters.

So we can’t have Superman or Joker in the mystery novel, can we? It has to be the b u t l e r, t h e d o w a g e r aunt, the sinister s is ter-in - l a w. . . a n d o f course the slightly eccentric detective.

Agatha Christie is well known as one of the best mystery writer in modern time an d a m a s t e r a t providin g c l u e s . Sh e scatters enough clues across her pages for her detectives, as well as the reader to pick up and make s ens e. Th e r e a r e a l s o a few red herrings that add to the fun.

On the other hand Suspense is a state

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of existence marked by increased heart beats, sweaty palms, chewed finger nails... Where mysteries start the brain cells whirring, suspense s e n d s a d r e n a l i n e sco r i n g t h r o u g h t h e v e i n s. T h er e is no mystery when it comes to suspense; all the cards are laid on t h e t a b l e ; i t ’s j u s t t h e wait — will it or will it not happen? Plot can be thin and atmospherics reign supreme.

Unlike a m y s t e r y, there is no puzzle to solve. Its main purpose is create high level tension and foreboding in readers mind.

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PRIDE MONTH READ SUGGESTION

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THE BECOMING OF PRIDE MO NTH

The rise of homosexuality a s a n a c c e p t e d an d f r ee community in recent y e a r s h a v e b e e n a v er y critical situation. It is still a very sensitive topic around the world.

The conception of a person having the choice to love who he/ she wants irrespective of the specific gender human minds are drilled into loving since the day we are born. The fight for the rights of an LGBTQ+ community h a s b e e n l o n g a n d h ar d .

Some countries are still against the notion that a person falling in love with another person of the same gender is acceptable.

The general myth of the LGBTQ+ community is that it is only about gays and lesbians, when people refuse to believe that the LGBTQ+ community, as e x p l a i n e d b y Wi k i p ed i a is a loosely defined grouping of Lesbians, Gays, Bisexual, Tr a n s g e n d e r a s w e l l a s other minor subcultures.

The people belonging to the community have had to suppress themselves and their preferences for centuries now, however, it is also stated that not all people who are

L e s b i a n , G a y, B i s e x u a l or Tr a n sge nde r cons ider themselves part of t h e c o m m u n i t y. T h e community has since a lo n g t im e now accepted the rainbow flag as the symbol of their existence, each color proudly displays a value in the community as well as a section of it; pink shows sexuality, red is of li f e , orange i s a s ymbol of healing, yellow is the color of the sun, green of nature, blue of art, indigo represents harmony, and violet is a symbol of harmony. The flag that is s e e n now l ac ks pink and in d i g o just for the s ake of the fact that individual life and harmony should not be linked to o n l y o n e c o m m u n i t y.

The community that still struggles with acceptance is largely compromised by globalization and several other factors out of which the most important are homophobia, heterosexism and communal phobias against bisexual and transgender people.

Social acceptance of the community varies over time and place, countries that were more accepting to countries where the practice is

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a sin and repressing it through law enforcement and judicial mechanisms, some countries going as far as prescribing it under the penalty of death. A vast study by Gwen Broude and S a ra h G reene in 1970 s how s t h a t o u t of 70 different commun i t i e s , 17 strongly condemned the i d e a o f h o m o s e x u a l i t y, 11 considered it as undesirable but weren’t set to punish its m embe rs and 5 had no conce p t o f homosexuality whatsoever but 29 c o m m uni t i es were accepting a n d the practice was common in it.

Although the history of homosexuality goes back a couple of thousand years, we find that existence and acceptance of the community were better and w a s n ’t a t a b o o i n a n c i e n t t i m e s .

The evidence lies in the great l i t era ry figures of S ocrates, Lo r d B a ron, K i ng Edward the s ec o n d , Christopher (Kit Marlowe and S h ake spea re have the terms – g a y and bisexual attached to them.

The more ancient written evidence found in Indian mythology is the existence of Shikhandi, a character in the Hindu epic Mahabharata. Born to the king of Panchala, Drupada as a girl c h i l d. T he epic claims Shik h a n d i as the reincarnation of Amba, taken against her will from her own marriage. Legends claim that shikhandi is a eunuch born a s a w om an whereas others c l a i m t h at she changed her gender wi t h a yaksha ending up as a man.

Another existence is the presence

of transgender women and men in the castle of Indra, the king of Indian mythical gods. The indigenous people of America before the British colonization respected the roles of homosexual and bisexual people in their community, and are still supposed to exist, some examples being the communities of Aztecs, Mayan, Moche, and Zapotec civilizations.

Homosexuality in East Asia contains the custom of the cut sleeve, the pleasures of the bitten peach and the southern custom of China recorded in existence since 600 BCE whereas Scholar Pan Guangdan came to the conclusion that nearly every emperor in the Han Dynasty had one or more male sex partners and homosexuality was mentioned in many famous works of Chinese literature.

Ancient Greece is the biggest source of homosexual literary works, art and mythography

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material, Plato praised the relationship between a male slave and an adult male for several b e n efi t s l i ke population contr o l and for teaching/punishing methods. In Rome, every emperor e x c ept C la udius is s aid to ha v e male lovers and during the renaissance the cities of northern Italy especially Florence and Ve n i c e w e r e r e n o w n e d f o r t h e widespread practice of samesex relationships. Prominent figures like King James I and Duke of Buckingham were examples that highlighted the issu e of homos exuality in th e i r times. In 1867 Karl Heinrich Ulrich became the first selfproclaimed homosexual to speak out publicly through his series o f t we lve t racts titled “res ear c h on the riddle of man-manly love”, and spoke in defense of homosexuality through his plead at the Congress of German jurists against anti-homosexual laws.

In 1948 Alfred Kinsey published a report sexual behavior in the human male, popularly known as the Kinsey reports.

Homosexuality was deemed as a m enta l i l l nes s , a dis order f o r ma n y ye a rs until the theory wa s determined to be flawed and declassified as mental illness.

I n 1 897 the homos exual wom e n a n d m en we re given a voice b y the founding of the Scientific Humanitarian Committee in Berlin. In 1914 the British Society f o r t he study of s ex ps ycholo g y was founded by Edward Carpenter and Havelock, and similarly, the

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society for human rights was formed in the united states in 1924 by Henry Gerber, a German immigrant.

The mid-twentieth century saw an i n c r e a s i n g n u m b e r o f o rg a ni zat i o n s s u p p o r t i n g t h e LGBTQ c o m m u n i t y in varied forms and levels, like the Mattachine Society by Harry Hay in Los Angeles, Daughters of Bilitis was formed in 1955 by Phyllis Lyon and Del Martin in San Francisco.

One major initiation of such more formations commenced with the Stonewall Riots took place on June 27, 1969, in the USA; the o ff i c i a l b e g i n n i n g o f t h e g ay r i g h t s movement, a violent conflict between N e w Yo r k P o l i c e D e p a r t m e n t a n d people of the Stonewall Inn, a hidden gay hangout in Greenwich Village. After almost 50 years since this incident, the NYPD quoted i t s o ff i c i a l a p o l o g y, “ T h e a c t i o n s taken by the NYPD were wrong,

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plain and simple. The actions and the laws were discriminatory and oppressive, and for that, I apologize.” said the NYPD Commissioner James O’Neill said.

Even though the issue was addressed, it does not go unnoticed that it took 50 years to finally accept and apologize for the oppressive succession of incidents that took place in S t one w all. The poem two lo v e s

by Lord Alfred Douglas had d e c la re d t h at “homos exualit y i s t h e l ove t hat dare not s peak i t s name”. More than 400 people joined the riot against the police and were successful, successfully celebrated as the annual pride month not only in the USA but worldwide in this day. The 1970s and 1980s saw the rise of the community struggle across a globe which was only situated i n E urope and America till t h e n although the reception, size, strength, and success varied s i g n i f i c a n t l y f r o m e a c h o t h e r.

In 1998 Glen Murray became t h e f i r s t m a y o r o f Wi n n i p e g , Manitoba. The first openly gay politician to lead a large c i t y, f o l l o w e d b y J o h a n n a sigureardottir to be the first openly gay prime minister of Ic e l and a nd the firs t openly g a y head of a government. In the In d i an political front, India h a s become increasingly tolerant of its gay citizen over the past decade. On September 6, 2018, the Supreme court of India decriminalized homosexuality by

declaring section 377 if the Indian Pe n a l Co u r t i s u n c o n s t i t ut i o n al .

Homosexuality never being illegal o r a c r i m i n a l o ff e n s e i n A n ci en t Indian communities and Tradition as depicted by the Khajuraho temples, famous for its erotic and h omos ex ual art b u t cr imin alized by the British government.

Ho m o s e x u a l i t y h a s b e e n a t o p i c o f d e b a t e f o r y e a r s n o w, p eo p l e belonging to the community were oppressed, legally victimized and murdered on the pretense of sin, the religious and social dogma of homosexuality has seen the lowest and highest state o f i t s o p p r e s s i o n , a n i n d iv i d u al belief and substance of its beliefs have changed greatly over the last century or so. The Christian Leviticus 18:22 says, “Men shall not lie with a male as one lies with a woman, its an abomination ” and

in

Leviticus

18:13,

“ I f t h e r e i s a m a n wh o l i es w i t h a man as those who lie with a woman. Both of them have committed a detestable act.”

But these were the rules that we r e a c c e p t e d wh e r e a s t h e r u l es that advice animal sacrifices and determine what to eat and what not to eat was severely ignored. The clear indication that men follow what he chooses to and ignore he himself find wrong, ultimately proving that the people in power choose

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A ll peopl e s houl d be t re a te d equal l y, r e ga rdl ess of who they are or who they l ove according to their will for others t o f o l l o w. W h e r e a s C h r i s t i a n s a r e supposed to follow the ru l e s of the old testament that were included in the new testament.

Man has taken too long to interpret that the spirit of love is as free as the birds living in the free world, the community has struggled to live and love j u s t as a m an loves a woman, i t s n o t a p e r s o n ’s c h o i c e w h o t h e y fall in love with, but the society’s view and acceptance of love is so c omplic a ted that we love on e kind of love and despise another.

When gods and kings the highest p e o p l e o f t h e s o c i a l l a d d e r, t h e people we look up to have not ever regarded love differently f r o m o n e a n o t h e r. F o r t h e t r u t h remains that love is love, it’s not about gender of an individual, i t ’s t h e s o u l t h a t l i n k s i t s e l f t o a n o t h er soul through the bond o f love and commitment because we

we r e m a d e i n p a i r s , a s i n g l e so u l in two bodies yearning for each o t h e r, i t d o e s n ’t s e e t h e g e n d e r of the person who completes it, it only sees the soul it is bound to.

Let it be free of social humiliation and hatred because, at the end o f t h e d a y, L O V E I S L O V E .

B y - A l an k r i t a Ve r ma Portia Ekka

Th at ’s t h e t h in g about books.

Th ey let you t ravel wit h ou t movin g your f est .

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INTERVIEW WI T H SA M BURN S

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W i t h t he o ns e t o f June , all of t h e pri de c o mmuni t y and the su p p o rte rs have pus he d in a re l e ntl e s s f ro nt o f uni o n. We h a ve Sam Burns the aut hor of B l a c k bi rd i n the Re e ds (The Ro w an H arbo r Cyc l e , #1) with u s t oday. Gi vi ng s o me i nsig ht i n t o o ur c uri o us que s ti o ns. We w e l c o me he r i n thi s i s s ue of re n d e z vo us . H e l l o Sam, Th ank yo u f o r t ak i ng t he ti me o u t o f yo ur bus y s c he dul e t o take t h i s i nte rvi e w.

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1. Wh at is l i f e l i ke f o r a p erson from t he L G B T Q commu nity ?

is n o t a ma tter o f c h o ice , w o u ld th e g e n e r a l p reju d ic e to w a r d s th e LGB TQ co m m u n ity reduc e H o n e s t l y, w e a l l h a v e v a s t l y s ig n ific a n tly ? d i ff e r e n t e x p e r i e n c e s . T h e r e a r e c o m m o n a l i t i e s , o b v i o u s l y, b u t e v e r yone ’s e xperience is uniq u e .

To s o m e d e g r e e , y e s , b u t I t h i n k some people just want a target for their hatred, so some would remain.

2.Wh at is s e x ua l ori en tation?

6 . W h y d o y o u th in k th at th ere is s u c h a c c e p ta n ce Sexual orientation is pretty simple: cr is is fo r th e LGB TQ who you’re sexually attracted to. co m m u n ity ?

3.Is sexu al o r i e nt a t i o n real ly a cho i c e ?

No. I can’t say this enough. There is no choice in sexual orientation.

4.Wh y is any o ne ’s se x ua l ori en tation a m a t t e r o f d i scu ssion be t we e n t he rel i g ious gro ups?

F r a n kly, i t sh ouldn’t be. Why d o people try to make something their business when it has nothing t o d o w i t h t h e m ? Yo u ’ d h a v e t o a s k t he religious extremis ts wh o h a v e issue s with the LGBTQI A+ community that question.

5.If it w ere a c c e pt e d t ha t on e’s s exu a l pre f e re nc e

Do we h a v e t i m e f o r m e t o g et a p s y c h o l o g y d e g r e e ? At i t s h ear t , I think the issue is that people l i k e u s v s . t h e m d i c h o t o m y, an d for that to exist, there has to be a them. If it isn’t LGBTQIA+ people, its people of color, people o f d i ff e r e n t r e l i g i o n s , o r p eo p l e of different social classes. People wa n t s o m e o n e t o b l a m e f o r t h ei r p r o b l e m s t h a t i s n ’t t h e m s e l v e s , w h e t h e r i t ’s l o g i c a l o r n o t .

7 . D o y o u th in k th a t th e d ig res s io n in th e LGB TQ co m m u n ities a re a s o u rc e o f id en tity c r is is ?

I think a rigid, unaccepting society and people searching for their place inside of it are the source of identity crises.

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8.W hat is t he m o st stereotypi c a l t ha t t hi ng you have e nc o unt e re d w ith L GBTQ c o m m uni t y ?

I c a n ’t t h i n k o f a s i n g l e t h i n g .

Ev ery perso n I’ve known in t h e community is more individual t h a n s t e r e o t y p e s a l l o w f o r.

9.W hy is t he re a ne e d fo r ‘ special r i g ht s’ i f wha t t h ey are lo o ki ng f o r i s equ al righ t s?

There’s no such thing as ’special rights.’ There are only basic human rights, which are being denied based on gender and orientation.

10. Do you f e e l t ha t t h e cu rre nt l a ws a nd regu lation s a re e no ug h o r satis facto r y ?

Considering the fact that people are pushing for laws that ban trans people from bathrooms and same-sex couples from adoption, I would say it’s clear there aren’t enough protections in place.

11.D o you st i l l f e e l sa f e in t h e s ociety whe n y o u hea r abou t th e ho m o pho bi c i ncid ents a ro und t he i nternet?

No.

1 2 . W h a t m es s a g e w o u ld y o u w a n t to g iv e to th e p eo p le s tru g g lin g to u n d er s ta n d th e ir g en de r id en tity ?

This is hard because “it gets better” messages aren’t helpful, e v e n t h o u g h i t ’s t h e k n e e - j e r k reaction. I think maybe the most important thing for me when I was a kid would have been to hear that however much you feel like a n o u t s i d e r, h o w e v e r “ w e i r d ” you think your identity or thought process on that identity i s , y o u ’ r e a b s o l u t e l y n o t al o n e.

There are other people struggling with the same thing as you.

1 3 . W h a t a d v ice w o u ld y o u g iv e to y o u n g p eople w h o a re d ea lin g w ith th eir s e x u a l o r ie n ta tio n a n d h a v e ‘co m e o u t o f the clo s es t’ v e r y rec e n tly ?

Find your people. I’m not going to pretend it’s always an option, but if you can make friends within the community who’ve dealt with similar issues, you’ll h a v e s o m e o n e t o l e a n o n w h en things are their hardest. And then you can return the favor in someone else’s darkest hours.

1 4 . W h a t m es s a g e y o u ’d w a n t to s e n d o u t to o ur rea d er s in reg a r d s to this s u b jec t?

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We’ve come a long way on these issues in the l a st t w enty years , but unfortu n a t e l y, we ’ v e g o t a long w ay to go. Pride s ta r t e d l i f e a s a protest, and we’ve turned it into a celebration o f w ho w e a re. We’ve jus t go t t o r e m e m b e r that it still is a protest, at heart. Until we l i v e i n a u t o p i a t h a t d o e s n ’t c a r e w h o w e l o v e o r h o w, w e ’ v e g o t t o k e e p f i g h t i n g .

F ol l ow on S am Burns on S ocial Me di a

@ SamBurns

@ SamBurnsWrites

@ burnswrites.com

T H A N K Y O

U

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Let u s all treat peopl e w ith

CHOICES

OF A STRUGGLING CO MM UN I T Y

kindnes s.

Ever yone is figh t in g a bat tl e we know no thing ab ou t , l et’s ju s t b e res pect ful and give l ove

A suppressed community that h a s suffe re d in s ilence for a l o n g t i m e and has been forced to f a c e discrimination just because of the choices that weren’t theirs to make.

The LGBTQ+ community has its d e f i ni t i on e volved and twis ted t o a greater extent in the last century or so. The ancient people had a greater acceptance of the social stigma it has been turned into now, t h e more “modern” times . Tod a y, i f w e are t o e xperience the lif e o f a member of the community be it a gay, lesbian, bisexual or any other variant of a sexuality that isn’t the a c c e p t a b l e h e t e r o s e x u a l i t y, I t i s frowned upon, guilt tripped and in some areas of the world punished.

Love has its meaning twisted to

the fairy-tale versions of itself t h a t t o d a y p e o p l e h a v e r e f u sed t o b e l i e v e t h a t a m a n c a n b e an o t h er m a n ’s “ R o m e o ” a n d a w o m a n c a n b e a n o t h e r w o m a n ’s “ J u l i e t ” or a person can end up having a Romeo as well as Juliet in their lives because at the end of the d a y, l o v e i s l o v e , i t i s s u p p o sed to be boundless and free, not guided by people and definitely n o t j u d g e d b y o t h e r s w h o d o n ’t k n o w wh a t i t f e e l s l i k e t o b e i n a p l a c e o f a n o t h e r p e r s o n ’s s h o e s .

LGBTQ i n i t i a l s h a s b e e n ad o p t ed into the mainstream as an umbrella term for use when labelling topics referring to sexuality and gender identification. It goes on

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to add lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transgender, queers and the + sign referring to other variants of the sexualities that are considered to b e m i nori t i es in the commu n i t y itself are united by a common culture and social movement.

Sometimes the term pride or g a y pride is us ed to expres s t h e L G B T c o m m u n i t y ’s i d e n t i t y and collective strength. When i t ’s m u c h m o r e t h a n t h a t . T h e Stonewall riots are considered the dawn of gay liberation movement across the world whereas there were multiple incidents that led to the stonewall riots. From protest against p o l i ce hara s s ment, Trans gen d e r women, drag queens, lesbians, and gay men clashed with police at Cooper Do-nuts, a hang-out frequently harassed by the Los Angeles Police Department to protest the firing of an employee s u s p e c t e d o f b e i n g g a y. To protest a police raid on a gay bar to the protest against the c l a ssi fi ca tion of homos exua l i t y as a mental illness. In 1959, t h e p o l i c e f o r c e o f N e w Yo r k C i t y ’s Wa g n e r a d m i n i s t r a t i o n b e g a n c l o s i n g d o w n t h e c i t y ’s gay bars, which had numbered a l most t wo dozen in M anhat t a n .

Existing gay bars were quickly c l o sed and new ones las ted o n l y a short time. In April of 1966, a staged Sip-In resulted in the anti-gay accommodation rules of the NY State Liquor Authority getting overturned court. The SLA provisions declared that serving alcoholic beverages to homosexuals is illegal. The

r e s u l t o f t h e c h a n g e s i n t h e l aw i n i t i a t e d t h e , c o m b i n e d wi th t h e social attitudes of the late Sixties led to the increased visibility of gay life which resulted in the riots at The Stonewall Inn on Fr i d a y, J u n e 2 7 , 1 9 6 9 . Ho w ev er the riots got no publicity in newspapers or such until the c o m m e m o r a t i v e m a r c h o n e y ear l a t e r, o rg a n i z e d b y t h e i m p e t u s of Craig Rodwell, leading to the emergence of the modern day pride month and parades organised all over the world.

The LGBTQ+ community has been at odds with the “normal” p e o p l e f o r a v e r y l o n g t i me, t h e so called normal people refuse t o a c c e p t c h o i c e s t h a t a r e at p ar control of a person. Who you are attracted to has absolutely n o t h i n g t o d o w i t h p e r s o n ’s choice. Love as an attraction i s n o t a c h o i c e , i t ’s b e y o n d a p e r s o n ’s c o n t r o l , b u t s o a r e t h e on-going struggle of the identity a s we l l a s e q u a l r i g h t s . No r u l es or regulations protect members

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of the LGBTQ community from getting fired from a job j u s t bec a use of their s exual orientation, getting basic public accommodations denied because of their se x uality ,gender identities s t i l l a r e n ’t p r o t e c t e d u n d e r the hate crime statutes, some states still consider consensual sex illegal, se x ually a c tive gay men are still banned from donating blood, struggle for the custody right or as simple a thing as sexual health e d u c a t i o n , d o e s n ’t i n c l u d e gay and lesbian sex at all.

A facade of equality that we have successfully won a n d ac c e pted, it is however applies to more mainstream, respectable and privileged gay or lesbian person. The first country to legalize sa me -sex marriages was the Netherlands in 2001. The first US state to decriminalize sodomy was Illinois in 1961 fo l low ed by Connecticut in 1969 and the last 14 states that did not repeal these l a ws until 2003 were forced a s t h e a g e o f s e v e n y e a r s o l d o r t h e t o b y t h e l a n d m a r k U n i t e d early onset of puberty in the varied age S t a t e s S u p r e m e C o u r t . of eleven to eighteen. The young minds b a ff l e d i n t h e r e a l i s a t i o n t h a t t h ey ar e I n t h e l i f e o f a m e m b e r o f d i ff e r e n t f r o m t h e p e o p l e a r o u n d t h em , t h e community the s truggle clouded by the feeling of not belonging d o e s n ’t s t a r t w i t h b e i n g with the people they have spent their what you are, the struggle whole lives with the fear of getting s t a r t s w i t h t h e f e e l i n g t h a t judged and left alone. Some people just y o u ’ r e n o t s i m i l a r t o y o u r r e s o r t t o d e n i a l t h e i r e n t i r e l i v es, w i t h s i b l i n g s , c o u s i n s o r p e e r s . realisation of throwing themselves into The realisation hits you like relationships and suffering through them a b omb, sometimes as early

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f o r y e a rs on end jus t to s how t h e m s e l v e s a n d o t h e r s a s we l l a s f eel a l i t t le ac c e pted and normal b e c a u s e t h e h u m a n s o c i e t y h a s t w i st ed th e m ea ning of normal into a d e f i n i t i o n t h a t i s n â&#x20AC;&#x2122;t n o r m a l i n i tsel f .

You , me a nd everyone is norm a l , h a v i n g t h e s a m e b o d y o rg a n s, t h e same air and food to consume, but normal for communities is a ma n ma rrying a woman. Accep t a n c e i s s u c h a c r u c i a l p a r t o f it an d mo r e fac tors than neces s ary pl a y a r o l e i n i t . On e f a c t o r t h a t j u m p s out is religion, in the Hindu epics and scriptures, homosexuality and third gender is very much accepted as the normal part of the society, however Christian societies have been more reserved in the matter and have been in denial and rejection of the fact that variable sexualities

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a r e a c c e pta ble. The more s tr i c t and closed knit a society is, t h e harde r is the acceptance o f o n e’s sexuality by thems elv e s .

More so less by other people who don’t understand or feel an o u nce of st r uggle the pers on i s going through. The societies that are more acceptable and sensitive to the people are made up of easier opportunities to come out to and live on.

H o w e v e r, t h e d e n i a l a n d t h e p s y c h o l o g i c a l e f f e c t o f o n e ’s sexuality is reportedly less.

Another factor that plays a lot more vital role is trust, the family is one of the most i m porta nt part of humans li f e , so ci ety pla ys far les s role th a n family does, most people prefer c o ming out to their families o r a t le a st to a trus ted part of t h e family that they prefer peers.

Acceptance by the family plays a ma jor role in the acceptan c e of the fact that different is also normal. Many families that aren’t very accepting, play a very crucial role in the person’s l i f e s t r u g g l e , h o w e v e r, w h e n th e families are s upporting an d accepting, being themselves becomes much easier and normal. The relief to the scared mind is maybe incomparable.

Social acceptance is another st i gm a the community has s t i l l to endure and at one point in time, overcome. Homophobia is one such factor that needs to go extinct from the human minds, the members of the c o mmunity on more times th a n

not lost people who they were o n c e v e r y c l o s e t o o n l y b e cau se the acceptance was compromised a n d t h e f a c t t h a t a p e r s o n ’s nature and acceptability does not c h a n g e wi t h h i s s e x u a l i t y. W h en acceptance from family and society is gradually received, several aspects of a person’s life c h a n g e , o n e o f t h e m b e i n g sel f love. When we start to accept the people around us without reservations and conditions, t h e y l o v e t h e m s e l v e s m o r e , t h ey don’t dwell and burn in self-hate b e c a u s e t h e p e o p l e a r o u n d t h em refuse to accept the way they are.

Th e h a p p i n e s s c o m e s wi t h bei n g who you want to be, with the support of family and friends, t h e r e a l i z a t i o n t h a t s o m e o n e ’s s e x u a l o r i e n t a t i o n d o e s n o t an d c a n n o t d e f i n e t h e m a s a p e r so n , n o t h i n g i s wr o n g wi t h t h e m j u st because they are not in a “normal ”heterosexual relationships.

Rather in one that does not identify as part of the community one was born and raised in.

The fear of hiding, having to keep secrets and pretending to be what you do not leave the person vulnerable and sensitive, effectively killing the life meant to be cherished and lived.

On the other hand, the age of technology has brought its boons and curses along with it social media has helped the people to reach out to others and finding similarities and differences among the people living across the globe. It has made people in

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m o r e wa ys fathomable than n o t , now the sexual identities are easier to recognize and found that i t was i n t he early 1990s . S o c i a l m e dia ha s made people find a n d c o n v erse w ith people who h a v e b e e n t hroug h the s ame thing f a r e a sie r tha n before, people h a v e found their questions answered and confusions cleared, the acceptance to not being different is resolved to a far greater degree than personal interaction could ever do. But with this, has arrived t h e curse of cyberbullying, as i f a p e r s o n s u ff e r i n g i n r e a l l i f e wasn’t enough and the social st i gm a pe rtaining in the s oci e t y wasn’t ruining a person’s mental health searching for acceptance, the power of being behind a screen with far less possibility of getting caught and prosecuted has made people with homophobic tendencies bolder and sharper in their approach, the hate spread by homophobic, transphobic, biphobic people is easy to spread and harder to ignore. From using slurs to accusing of ruining society the bullying refuses to st o p or dec reas e. Then there a r e incidents of homophobic abuse treated as breaking news for online media outlets without realising t h a t it is i n a very twis ted wa y sp r e a ding hate, even when m o r e people of the community itself choose to ignore them because t h e y know that the action tak e n on it would be next to nothing a s t he re a re no legis lative r u l e s a n d regula tions protecting th e m from it and prosecuting people responsible for it, the question

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is ‘will the people keeping quiet on homophobic abuse in public and make the abuse eventually stop?’ and ‘can’t we stop m e d d l i n g i n o t h e r ’s l i v e s a n d m a k i n g t h e m f e e l u n s a f e , u p set and scared?” The answer very clearly is, “no” it would never do, except making the abusers bolder and more aggressive than they already were, and yes to the latter by being accepting of the fact that someone’s love life and s e x u a l p r e f e r e n c e s a r e n o o n e’s business except the person itself and their better halves. Imagine the outrageous bafflement if someone tells somebody that your relationship with your wife or husband is wrong just because i t ’s y o u r p e r s o n a l p r e f e r e n c e !

Are we allowed to judge someone just because our preferences differ? No, we’re not; do we d o t h a t a n y wa y ? Ye s , e v e r y d ay every minute. Is it justified?

No, it’s not and would never be.

While it is agreeable that a lot of people are more accepting t h a n t h e y s e e m t o b e , t h e y can love you and your sexuality d o e s n ’t c h a n g e t h a t , h a v i n g i t o u t t h e r e a n d b e i n g a b l e t o g et support would lift a huge weight off a person’s shoulders. People shouldn’t feel pressured to come out at any specific time but encouraged by making them feel safer and accepted and not be obligated to hide themselves and their inclinations. People who a r e n ’t o u t y e t n e e d t o t a k e t h ei r time, and we as a community are

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responsible to make the people who are struggling with selfacceptance know that they are perfect and acceptable, however, it may take time to accept yourself.

Ti me re a lly does heals pain , j u s t stay positive and when you are ready and want to come out, do it. If you don’t feel safe and comfortable, take your time but know that there is always someone who cares for you no matter what.

Stay strong and don’t give up. One d a y you will be able to com e o u t and feel like you are loved and t h a t you belong. Be patient. Yo u a r e b e a u t i f u l . Yo u a r e w o r t h i t .

Ju s t hold on! Be true to you r s e l f e v en i f you get told to hide i t o r stop it just be true to yourself and y o u w i l l never be as hamed t o b e who you are. At least till the day w e go bac k to the mentality o u r ancient forefathers possessed, w h ere se xuality and its diff e r e n t fo r ms we re general form of l i f e , not frowned upon but encouraged, j u s t l i ke w e s ee in the Khajur a h o t e mple s, famous for their er o t i c sculptures that contain several depictions of homosexual activity a n d like sc riptures and arte f a c t s t h a t port rayed Roman men we r e free to enjoy sex with other males without a perceived loss of masculinity or social status.

Ti l l t h e n t h e o n l y t h i n g w e a r e capable of doing is to Love e v eryone . Whether they are g a y, straight, pan, bi, we are ultimately all human and no matter what, we should love and accept the p e opl e around us . We may n e v e r realize how much just a few kinds or accepting words can

help someone out of a dark place.

The best thing we can do is to educate ourselves and be kind to o n e a n o t h e r. I t d o e s n ’t m a t t er i f y o u “ a g r e e ” wi t h s o m e o n e b ei n g a p a r t o f t h e LGBTQ c o m m u n i t y or not we are all human and deserve true love and it could come in any form imaginable.

We t r u l y d o n o t u n d e r s t a n d h o w hard it is to be hated for who we love and probably never will but d o n o t g i v e h o m o s e x u a l c o u p l es secret glances and obvious whisperings, making them feel uncomfortable and scared to be on the streets, and not abandon them due to their revelation or reject them just because they are LGBTQ or judge them because we don’t see it; it is bound to hurt a lot. Let us all treat people with k i n d n e s s . Ev e r y o n e i s f i g h t i n g a battle we know nothing about, let’s j u s t b e r e s p e c t f u l a n d g i v e l o v e.

B

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k n a

a t ri

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a m

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B y Lora Dou gla s

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SAFIA “ Sa fi a i s my l o v e f o r y o u , E ve n w h e n i t ’s f o r A m a n t o a ma n a n d A w o m a n t o a w o ma n ,

If lo ve ha d a f a c e a n d a b o d y, Wo uld i t s t i l l n o t b e h u ma n ? ” To

start

with

a

c o n f e s s i o n ; people on the planet excluding the other Binomial nomenclatures.

I d o n ’ t k n o w m y Ve r s e s , o r m y S c r i p t u r e s o r t h e Te s t a m e n t s a n d O r t h e p a r t i n g o f t h e R e d w a v e s , the Vedas nor do I care to fill in my p a v i n g t h e w a y f o r t h e p e o p l e o f uninterested brain with the learnings Go d a n d l e a v i n g a t r a i l o f b o d i es of the making of the world in 7 days o f t h e u n g o d l y f o l k s b e h i n d . a n d t he c ons truction of it, o n l y t o b e swa mpe d with the 40-day r a i n . I d o , h o w e v e r, c a r e a b o u t w h a t I feel and I’m preciously selfish I hold no value for the arc that w i t h m y c h o i c e o f w o r d s . carried a pair of every species and probably birthed the next 6 billion As the number of times, I used “I”

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and the number of times, I have refused to give a moment’s worth of my understanding, learning about the societal background our lives are built on.

Now, people will call me too forward with my thinking or too naive, with maybe a slight hint of blasphemy which again I do not give any thoughts to.

People may even call me dumb for my “negligence” or lack of unearthly importance, but can you blame me i f I d o n ’t wa n t t o l i s t e n t o p a t r iar ch y ?

N o , i t ’s m y r i g i d n e s s t o n o t d e d i c a t e m y life to the scriptures from 3000 years back, I m i g h t a s w e l l u s e t h e M a y a n c a l e n d a r.

But I have n o t .

I do believ e i n a f e w p i v o t a l t h i n g s t h o u g h .

Like reaching to some-place takes longer than coming back h o m e , a n d t h a t s o m e t i m e s t h e en g i n e noise of my car relaxes me, the best taste of Ramen is in lickin g t h e p l a t e p a r t a n d t h a t p e o p l e sh o u l d only sleep with one sock on. I can go on and on with my pivotal l i s t b u t I ’ l l s t o p wi t h t h e t h i n g o f m o st importance , t h a t I m o s t v i c i o u s l y b e l i e v e in , an d that you s ho u l d t o o i n a l l y o u r a wa r e n e s s , I t ’s t h at everyone and I mean EVERYONE has the right to love.

O r h ate . D epends on the pers on c o m p l e t e l y, I ’ m n o t j u d g i n g yo u .

O k a y, ma ybe jus t a little.

Bu t I be lie ve that everyone ha s t h e r i g h t t o l o v e . M a n , wo m a n , ch i l d , and dogs. And anything or anyone that tells me otherwise or that b e l i e ve s ot her els e can s tay awa y f r o m m e .

P l e a se don’t kill my vibe.

I have made my decision that if there is a God, he definitely won’t sit still on his high pedestal and condemn the love a person, he made in his own image, has for another. Love that is not a choice and that happens with

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an easy slip of concern and has b e fuddle d the minds of s ch o l a r s and philosophers for centuries.

Are you telling me that it is wrong to love?

And If it is so right to fall in love and if we should love our neighbors like ourselves, then why is it a m a tt er of debate if a man fal l s i n l o v e with another man whom t h e god has created in his own image?

A n a n g e l i c i m a g e a p p a r e n t l y.

Why did we lose so many brothers a n d sist ers in the name of lo v e ?

B e c a u s e i t c o u l d n ’t s a t i s f y t h e needs of the words written and a d a pte d t hous ands of years a g o ?

Are we not past crucifixion? Have we not decided on votes and ban on slavery? Why follow just a select few rules and concentrate the h o rror and pain on a s ubject f a rFAR away from any form of love?

g r i e f a n d f i g h t f o r e q u a l r i g h t s?

Why is a man loving another man or a woman loving another woman an idea of abhorrence? Why do these 29 countries still don’t accept homosexuality as a trait of c h a r a c t e r a n d s e x u a l p r e f er en ce and refuse to acknowledge the existence of it so blatantly?

If this was mentioned in the Holy S c r i p t u r e s , Ve r s e s a n d Ve d a s even then when 2019 was a mere m y t h t h e n i t s u r e wa s p r ev al en t during the reigns of kings and queens and everyone in between.

And if we’ve only ever tried to curb and suppress this, that comes from deep within the core feelings of all these, children of God, then maybe, just maybe, it’s time we give them an equal chance and acceptance and try to be kinder, better human beings than o u r p a s t r e g i m e s a n d a n c est o r s.

W hy i s our s ource of admis s i o n so muddied with words that don’t reflect in love, although i t prompts on it a million ti m e s ?

Let me remind you dear all, even homophobic culture too. My G o d d o e s n ’t d e n y h i s k i n g d o m to his children because they f e l l i n l o v e w i t h e a c h o t h e r.

What is so wrong with living in love, peace, and acceptance?

Man with Man and Wo m a n with Wo m a n .

When the decisions that people want to make it for themselves and their lives. When all they want is to love without fearing for their lives and to continue being themselves regardless of what anyone thinks; Why do they have to parade their

Love is holy and if you ask me whose side I’ll take, Scriptures or Amendments.

Ve r s e s o r La ws .

I will always, always choose the side of love.

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An d t o t h o s e t h a t s t a n d t o disagree,

Ma y yo u r id o ls , id e as , a n d m yth s b e fu c k e th .

By Portia Ekka

Jes s e ’s o n l y priority in life is p r o t e c t i n g the people he lov e s , s o h e ’s determined to see Rowan H a r b or ’s wards rebuilt.

The r e ’s j u s t one problem: the y ’ r e m i s s i ng an ingredient tha t c a n ’t b e ordered online.

Jes s e v o l u n t e ers to search for t h e m i s s i ng component in the r e a l m o f the fae, but his boy f r i e n d , S e an, isn’t letting hi m g o a l o n e . The town has a n ene m y a m o n g the fae, so they’ll nee d t o k e e p a low profile.

A l on g t h e i r w ay, they find une x p e c t e d a llies, surprising ene m i e s , a n d a whole host of pro b l e m s .

The j o u r n e y is a test of their end u r a n c e , b u t also of their rel a t i o n s h i p and their faith i n eac h o t h e r. C an they find what the y n e e d a n d get back home in o n e p i e c e in time for the sum m e r s o l s t ice?

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Audio Book Month

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INT ERVIW W I T H JENNY RO SE N

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Je n n y Ro s en i s p u b l i s h ed au di o b o o k au th o r. H e r C h e ate r.Fa k e r. tro u b le m a k e r Se r i e s j u s t g 0t pu b li sh e d b y H ac h e t t e a u d i o an d yo u c a n li ste n h e r b o o k o n Ama z o n Au di b le

On the o c c a s i o n o f a u d i o bo o k m o n t h o u r PR ‘M i c h a e l l e S a n d ef u r ’s chat with J e n n y Ro s e n o n h e r v i e w s a n d e x p e ri n a c e w i t h a u d io b ooks.

Q . 1 - Were you su rp rised b y t h e resp on se and how d i d i t af f ect you an d Krist en ?

I w a s s hocked to see how well the book has done s i n c e I f ir st posted. I actually didn’t expect anyone t o r e a d it because it was a totally new r ewr ite of a s h o r t s tor y I ’ d come up with in 8th gr ade. So w riters, i f y o u have something you wr ote in the past, don’t be a f r a i d to r ewor k it!

Q . 2 - S peak in g of Krist en , h ow d id you t wo meet a n d w ho’s id ea was it on t h e collab orat ion?

We ’ v e been best f r iends since univer sity! We both w e n t t o UCL A and met while we wer e taking classes i n t h e school of T heater, F ilm, and Television. We b o t h l ove wr iting stor ies & making f ilms so once I h a d a f ew chapter s f inished, I let her r ead it and w e s t a r t e d collabor ating f r om ther e!

Q . 3 - You h ave a BA in En glish , were you still in U n i w hen you st art ed writ in g on Wat t p ad ? If so, h o w d i d you m an age t o j u ggle writ in g an d classes.

I f n o t an d was t each in g, h ow d id you m an age?

Ye s I was. I f ir st joined Wattpad in 2011 and I loved h o w s uppor tive and r esponsive the r eader s were on

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t he we b s i t e s o m u c h t h a t I m a d e a poin t t o c o n s i s t e n t l y u p d a t e . I wrote wh e n e v e r I h a d f r e e t i m e and on t ra i n & b u s r i d e s w h e n e ver I had l o n g -h a u l t r i p s .

I enjoyed Kr isten’s r endition of the books on YouTube. S he’s quite the voice actor !

Q .4- B e s i de s Wa t t p a d , d o y o u have y o ur wo r k o n a n y o t h e r wri ti ng pl a tfor m ? I f n o , h o w old w e re y o u w h e n y o u s t a r t e d on t hi s pl a tfor m . I f y e s , s a m e ques ti o n. Al s o h o w o l d a re y o u now.

T hank you so much! We appreciate you taking the time to listen!

Wat t p a d i s t h e o n l y p l a c e y o u ’ l l fi nd m y wri t i n g . M y p u b l i s h e d audi o b o o k s fr o m H a c h e t t e a r e availa b l e o n A u d i b l e , A m a z o n , a nd m ost m a j o r re t a i l e r s . I ’ m 3 0 y e ar s old!

You h a v e d o n e i n t e r v i e w s , re v i e ws, also p re s s re l e a s e s . L i k e w i t h y our one bo o k “Vi g i l a n t e G re e n ” i n The Huffi n g t o n Pos t .

Q .5- H o w a nd w h e n d i d a l l t h i s come a bo ut?

Thi n g s re a l l y s t a r t e d t a k i n g o ff pr es s -wi s e a fte r C h e a t e r. F a k e r.

Trou b l e m a k e r w o n t h e Wa t t y Aw ard i n 2 0 1 6 . D i r e c t l y a f t e r t hat, I land e d a t wo - b o o k a u d i o b o o k deal wi t h Ha c h e t t e t h a n k s t o m y awes o m e t e a m a t Wa t t p a d . Wa t t pad al s o h e l p e d a r r a n g e a m a s s i v e i nter v i e w a l o n g s i d e A n n a To d d wi t h Th e M i rr o r / D e r S p i e g e l whic h wa s e x c i t i n g b e c a u s e i t was m y fi rs t f e a t u r e i n a m a j o r l y s ynd i c a t e d m a g a z i n e . I ’ v e d o n e a han d fu l o f o t h e r f e a t u r e s w i t h Ri ve t e d Li t , T h o u g h t C a t a l o g u e , and th e Da i l y B r u i n a l o n g w i t h Kri s t e n a s we l l .

Jenny ~

Q.6- Do you t h in k t h at sh owing its p ot en t ial f or an au d iob ook is w hat grab b ed Wat t p ad ’s at t en t ion ? A nd u lt im at ely got you t h e d eal with Hat ch et t ?

T hat’s a gr eat question! I ’ m no t entir ely sur e. Wattpad appr oached me af ter the Watty’s saying Hachette wanted to Cheater.F aker.

Tr oublemaker to be one of the f ir st two stor ies to kick off their Audiobook P ar tner ship with Wattpad.

Both the voice actor s, Chr istin e L akin & Aar on L andon, did an amazing job with the f ir st to books, Cheater.F aker.Tr oublemaker and L ove Her, L eave Her, so I ’ m ve ry gr atef ul f or the oppor tunity.

I n this day and age we have a lot mor e options than we used to f or r eading. Besides tr aditional paper backs and har dcover s f or the ones who love the smell and f eel of a good book. We now have digital libr ar ies, ebooks and audiobooks.

Q.7- Wh at are t h e p ros an d also the con s of d oin g an au d iob ook .

I think an audiobook has mostly pr os! I t’s a totally new medium to r each your r eader s with, it br ings the char acter s to lif e, and it expands the exper ience of r eading. T he r ecording pr ocess is a bit gr ueling, but still

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q uite fu n . If t h e r e ’s a n y c o n , i t ’s that s o m e t i m e s r e a d e r s p r e f e r t o im ag i n e t h e c ha r a c t e r s ’ v o i c e s a nd c a n b e a b i t s h o c k e d o r w h e n a voi c e a c t o r ’s r e n d i t i o n d o e s n ’t mat ch wh a t t he y ’ v e i m a g i n e d . B ut then a g a i n , t h a t ’s a l m o s t t h e c a s e with a n y b o o k b e i n g c h a n g e d i n t o a n ew f o rm o f v i s u a l o r a u d i o m e d ia.

Q.8- H a s y o ur a u d i o b o o k b e e n receiv e d we l l a n d i s i t t a k i n g o ff ?

It wa s re c e i v e d v e r y w e l l ! K r i s t en a nd I we re fl oo r e d b y t h e w o n d er f ul revi e ws o n Go o d r e a d s , A m a z o n , and Audib l e a n d w e a p p r e c i a t e e v e r yone who h a s t a k e n t h e t i m e t o l e a v e their t h o u g h t s o n t h e b o o k . I ’ d l ove to l ook i n t o p r o m o t i n g t h e b o o k so it can re a c h l a rg e r a u d i e n c e s , b u t I’ m pl a n n i n g o n d o i n g t h a t o n c e I e ventu a l l y re l e a s e t h e b o o k a s a n e - boo k & h a rd c o p y.

Speak i n g o n t r a d i t i o n a l p u b l i s h i n g a nd a u d i o b o o k s w i t h n o w a n d f u tur e p roje c t s .

Q.9- I s the re a w a i t i n g t i m e bef ore y o u’re a l l o w e d t o t a k e you r a udi o bo o k to p r i n t .

I’ d h a v e t o d ou b l e c h e c k w i t h m y team b e fo re I c a n a n s w e r t h a t .

Q.10 - And i n t h e f u t u re w o u l d y ou d o i t di ffe re n t ? Wo u l d y o u d o prin t fi r s t a nd t h e n a n a u d i o b ook ?

In the fu t u re , I t h i n k I ’ d r e l e a s e b oth a t t h e s a me t i m e .

Your b o o k s a re a w o n d e r f u l f i n d a nd I h o p e w e w i l l s e e m o re o f y our

works making their debut.

Q.11- Do you h ave an y t h ou g hts or word s of en cou ragem en t f or your f ellow au t h ors?

Wr ite a stor y that only you can tell and that distinctly belongs to you.

T her e’s a lot of pr essur e sometimes to jump into tr ends and tr y to write what’s popular, but you tend to lose the love of wr iting if you’ r e f ocused on number s and popular ity instead of being tr ue to your and your char acter s’ exper iences. As lon g as your stor y can connect to, encourage, and move someone, you’ r e hea ded in the r ight dir ection.

L et’s not leave out the f aithf ul reader to whom, without their suppor t, wouldn’t be able to continue writing.

Making their lives f ull and enriched and a little less dr ear y.

Q.12- Wh at d o you wan t t o say to t h em ?

You guys f eel like f amily at this point. I have known or gotten to know some of you over the last 8 year s and I am tr uly gr atef ul f or ever y single per son who has ta ken the time to r ead, comment, and suppor t the stor y. Kr isten and I do r ead ever y message and tr y ou r best to r espond when we can. S ometimes I don’t know how because I ’ m so over whelmed by the suppor t it’s tr icky f inding the r ight wor ds to say thank you. We hope to keep writing stor ies that move you and cr eating char acter s that help you r ealiz e that you’ r e not alone. T hank you f o r believing in us f or this long! C an’t

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wait t o wri t e a n o t h e r a d v e n t u r e f or you!

Jenny R o s e n t h a n k y o u s o m u c h f or giving us your time f or this inter view.

Keep a wa t c h f u l e y e o u t f o r t h e s e two amazing ladies! And donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t f orget to c heck o u t t h e ir a u d i o b o o k s b y H atchett on Amazon.

T H A N K Y O U F ollow J e n n y Ro s e n o n Sc o ai l Me d i a

@jennyrosen

@jr0 1 2 7

By Michaelle Sandefur

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He a r Me, S ee Me , Hol d Me There are many preferred tastes when choosing which creative design speaks the loudest. Music, art, architect, hell, maybe even ASMR. B u t w h a t i s a r e a d e r ’s p r e f e r r e d handling when it comes to a story?

Do they favor reading? Or listening?

with

opportunity

and

growth.

T h e r e ’s h i s t o r y b e h i n d e a c h book I hold. A tale within a tale that is embedded into the words I’ve read that tell me of a time and place I once resided within.

P e r h a p s i t ’s t h e e x a c t s a m e t h i n g When I was given this assignment, f o r t h o s e w h o e n j o y a u d i o b o o k s . to express my opinions of audiobooks, I thought, ‘Shit. I know A l l t h e p a g e s m y f i n g e r s h a v e a b s o l u t e l y n o t h i n g a b o u t t h e m ’ . touched, and the covers my eyes have seen. Tears I can’t undo and laughter I grew up touching black ink on the that shook the pages with evidential d r y t e x t u r e o f p a p e r b a c k n o v e l s . glee and surprise. My terrible habit T h e a r o m a t i c r e m i n i s c e o f m y of abusing the fragile pages with dog childhood and adulthood, a physical ears that would eventually tear off embodiment that made me whole in i f I w a s n ’t c a r e f u l , a n d w i t h t h o s e a sense. I’m reminded of Barnes & l e s s o n s I c a m e t o c h e r i s h t h e m a l l N o b l e a n d t h e i r s h e l v e s o f M a n g a the more, utilizing anything I could and teen journeys that helped me find as a bookmark, from hairpins discover who I am. Of old corner to shoelaces and even my bras. bookstores that were overflowing

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now being stretched through many directions of c r e a t i v i t y, a n d h o n e s t l y, I c o u l d n ’t b e h a p p i e r.

It’s how I’ve become more engrossed with stories, through video games, short clips, music videos, even interactive mobile apps such as Chapters or Choices.

I’m happy for readers who are able to find what works for them when it comes to enjoying a book, be it through listening, playing a game or holding a book.

Maybe I’m a knuckleheaded, old-school individual who hasn’t quite acquired the taste for audiobooks y e t , a n d m a y n e v e r g e t i n t o i t f o r a l l I k n o w.

When it comes to the radio, I can only listen to it when I’m in the car going to work. Not even coming b a c k h o m e , i t ’s j u s t o n the way to work. It’s led m e t o w o n d e r, f o r t h o s e who have a fondness for listening to audiobooks, is it dependent on what kind of mood to be in?

T h e r e ’s a m e t h o d t o audiobooks in regards to how the story is being told and what kind of ambiance the narrator can create with their voice. Is it a static charge of chemistry in the air for a romantic inclination? A horrific or suspenseful sensation of terror? How about a captivating or adrenalinespiking anticipation o f w h a t ’s t o c o m e ?

What kind of story does the voice behind the mic bring to life for each person?

But times are changing.

The option for reading is

Or, perhaps I just haven’t come across the right voice yet. That being said, for anyone who knows of any superb audiobooks that could loosen my blank slated feelings on audiobooks, feel free to give suggestions with links at the ready!

A n A merican Author o f Ero t ica, Fantas y & Paran or mal romance novels , Vice was bor n in D uluth, GA a pro u d Libra in the Fall of O ctober. She is the author of O blivion, the firs t novel to h e r Tales of Incip ion s eries , an d th e hig hly ant icipated we re wolf novel, Beneath the B lo o d Moon.

By Melissa S . Vice

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T h e r e ’s n o th in g w o rs e th an h a v in g to ta ke a b a t h r o o m b r e a k w h e n t h e r e ’s n o n e t o be had.When Whitney Dugan is forced to p l a y b a b y s itter to a p atie n t, h er te mpora ry position is turned into a permanent one.

Soon, she’s pulled into a troubling situation she wants no part of, despite there being two dangerously, smoldering Alphas at her side.

T h e Vi k t o r t w i n s h a v e t h e w o r l d a t t h e i r f e e t . De ma n d in g a n emp ire o f res p ec t, fe a r and submission, human and lycan steer clear of the dynamic duo. But when a brutal attack lands one of them in the hospital, they realize everything is nothing without the presence of their female as they all too suddenly fall for their human mate.

Wi l l i n g t o d o w h a te v er it ta k es fo r reve nge while keeping their female happily by their side, they must bare every dark se c r e t t h e y h id e in h o p e s it w ill b rin g the m together instead of driving them apart.

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A bout Us

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Editingle Indie House, a hybrid publishing house is created by a team who believes every story, and every author m a t t e r s.

We s e e k t o p r o v i d e a t r a d i t i o n a l publishing opportunities as well as focus on helping self-publishing authors in their journey of publ i sh i n g .

We s t r i v e t o m a k e a d i ff e r e n c e i n t h e publishing world, starting with things o t h e r p u b l i s h e r s d o n â&#x20AC;&#x2122; t o f t e n o f f e r.

C athe rine Edward, C o-Founder

Editingle works with its authors side by side as they establish themselves i n t h e w r i t i n g w o r l d . We h e l p c r e a t e a path they envision and guide them toward the right direction.

Ru c h a S h r i n at h , Co - F o u n d er

,

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M icha e l l e Sa n d e f u r, Public Re l a t i o n s He a d

Portia Ek k a , M arketi n g He a d

M elis s a S. Vi c e , Head De v e l o p m e n t a l

Apurva Bi s wa s , P roduction As s i s t a n t

Al a n k r i t a Ve r m a , Pr o d u c t i o n As s i s t a n t

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JEFFERY DEAVER

BRAD TH OR

S.J. WATSON

AGATHA CHRISTIE PAULA GILLIAN FLYNN HAWKINS

STEPHAN KING DAN MALLORY

JO NESBW

S.J. WATSON LIANE S.J. WATS ON

D EAN KO ONT Z

S.J. WATSON S.J. WAT SON

DA N I E L LISA SILVA GARDNER

RANDELL

ME G A N A B B OT T RUTH D AVI D BA LDA CC I

ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE THOMAS HARRIS STIE G H A R LA N LA R S S O N CO BE N

J AM ES PAT TE RSON

JOHN G RIS HAM

DAN BROWN

TANA FRENCH

NO RA RO BERTS

St i eg L arsso n

M O R I A RTY

TOM

CLANCY