Intent

Jack

admin — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 18:14:02 +0000

There is nothing likely or unlikely. Things happen, or don’t. So, what happened to Jack was, like the whole of our world, a necessity. He left home when he was fifteen or sixteen, maybe. He left behind his mother, his two brothers, and three sisters. He would never see his mother or his sisters again, only his brothers, and only when most of his life would be behind him.

The weather was unremarkable on the day he walked away. It was a nice break from the rain and wind of the week before. It’s probably why he left like he did: straight from the dinner table, without a plan, and without finishing his plate. He just stood up with his mother still talking, went to the door, put on his coat, and left. The next oldest brother knew immediately that Jack wasn’t coming back, but the others hoped for at least a little while that their brother would return once he cooled off.

His coat was off by the end of the block. It was late in the afternoon, but it was warm, and he wanted to feel it. It didn’t take long for him to get out of town.

On the road just outside town he ran into Lev. He’d known Lev nearly his whole life, and they were as close as Jack let anyone get. Lev saw him and smiled, unsurprised- this wasn’t the first time he’d seen him walking out of town.

“You going for good this time?” Lev asked.

“I don’t know,” said Jack, “yeah, probably.”

Lev made an approving noise, and Jack just pulled his lips tight to one side. That was just the way it was.

Lev said he’d go with him as far as Sterling, but that he had to get back before morning. When they got to Sterling Lev changed his mind. He had never seen the wall, and they were nearly half way. Lev paid for a room -he said it was the least he could do- and they both fell asleep quickly with the television still on.

Lev awoke earlier than normal, probably because of the excitement, dressed and left the room to find Jack standing outside staring up at the clouds. After eating something at a diner nearby they started off again.

From the road out of Sterling they could just make out the top of the wall on the West horizon. They walked for three more days, stopping in towns when they could and sleeping in the warm night air when they couldn’t. It was late in the morning when they reached the wall and a small line had already formed.

They got in line behind a couple and their child who looked tired but still noticeably excited. Everyone in line had luggage except for Jack and Lev, but Lev wasn’t actually going anywhere. After a minute more people joined the line behind them. Lev was anxious.

“I wonder how people dress out there,” said Lev.

“We’ll find out soon enough,” said Jack.

She thinks she’s sneaky.

admin — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 04:10:48 +0000

Ninjas can’t be co-authors. You can’t reasonably give input from the shadows. And sneakiness doesn’t lend itself to cooperation. You never hear about ninja synergy do you? No, you don’t. And don’t get me started on groups of ninjas. Ninjas don’t work together, or in teams. Any multiple sighting of ninjas is either an illusion crafted by a single ninja, or a coincidence. All accounts of ninjas fighting together are actually just instances where several ninjas have the same target and are in reality racing to get the kill.

That’s why sneakily reading over my shoulder doesn’t make you a co-author.

Jazz

admin — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 03:15:58 +0000

The hi-hat comes in soft and fast. The brushes are so gentle and so smooth that the bass drops out of frame, just like it’s supposed to. Without losing the rush the snare cracks, bringing the time. Next the piano comes alive in a new key and soars. It’s crescendo, then staccato, all on the golden wings of cymbal and snare.

The jazz is beautiful and entrancing, but Bernie isn’t listening. He’s busy concentrating on swinging a particularly large mace. The same goes for the several of the other patrons of the club, except they’re more focused on avoiding Bernie’s mace.

(defun Todays-Story ()

admin — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 17:04:39 +0000

(setf (ext:long-float-digits) 1000)

(format t “Three point ~{~r ~}”

(let ((lst (list )))

(dotimes (i 99) (setf lst (append lst (list (parse-integer (subseq (write-to-string pi) (+ i 2) (+ i 3)))))))

lst)))

Ned

admin — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 05:08:54 +0000

September 10th, 2039

The reserve batteries are almost tapped, so I’m unsure whether this transmission will get sent at all. Lt. Saxon is on the exercise bike we rigged to a small turbine, but its entire output is needed to power the air filtration system. It smells like a locker room in here as is, I don’t want to imagine how it would be after just a few hours without the air filtration.

The transmission cap is nearing, but I don’t really have much to say anyhow. If you hear from me again we got the gennies back online.

Adios,
Ned