Low Flyer

Ain't that the truth. I haven't flown in years - it's more expensive here in Europe than in the US. The only thing in my licence that doesn't need revalidated now is the radio operator's bit. :-( As for your cross-country tale... wow... I have no idea what I'd have done! Only once did I do a genuine engine-out landing, but I had a flying instructor sitting right beside me at the time. You're lucky to be alive - a very neat bit of flying, especially for a student. I'm slightly surprised that the flaps can't be battery operated. Vague memories suggest that the battery has to provide power to run the essential services on the aircraft for 30 minutes in the absence of the engine. I'd have thought that the flaps came under that heading, though I suppose they're not stricly essential. LF

What on earth was a student pilot doing in a situation like that???? I remember my first solo landing, though. I was fine during and after the landing. I shut the aircraft down and walked into the flying club where I collapsed into a chair! And that was in a fully functioning aircraft. Incidentally, whoever asked about the fog, it's caused by the drop in air pressure and temperature. Low pressure air holds less water than higher pressure, so when the pressure drops, the water condenses out into a fog. You can see a similar effect at an airport on days when the relative humidty is approaching 100%. As aircraft take off, you can sometimes see a little cloud above the wings. Lift is created by a low pressure area above the wings, and that low pressure area also causes water to condense. CJ - I was rude about the last chapter. This one more than makes up for it - I wouldn't have predicted that in a thousand years. Many thanks. LF

I think CJ might be rather insulted that you'd sell it so cheap... ;-) LF

I'm not sure that falling from 3000' would be survivable for anyone, but who knows? LF

It was a good chapter, I just didn't like the ending (who did?). I think there's a difference between building up the tension in a movie or in a printed book and doing it in a story being serialised weekly. Then again, perhaps I'm being too picky. It's not impossible. I suppose TV series do it all the time, so why shouldn't CJ? You're absolutely right about one thing though - the story has been developed magnificently. I got sucked in by the hard-luck element of Brandon. I'm a total sucker for that kind of thing (a certain lad named Cody springs to mind here, but he seems to have vanished off the radar for the last 25 days...). But from that beginning we're into something worthy of any highly published author. LF

OK, I'm going to make myself unpopular. The tag at the end of the chapter says that feedback is welcome regardless. I didn't think it was a good chapter. It was going fine until the end. Does CJ seriously think that we won't read the next chapter if he doesn't leave us with a cliffhanger? It seems to me to be a rather cliched mechanism, and entirely unnecessary. It's the sort of thing I might expect from an inexperienced writer, but not from an author of CJ's ability, and I'm surprised that he felt the need to employ it. I'm also, I have to say, slightly surprised that people who've read the next chapter are giving it away on a public forum. OK, we can all make a guess that the heroes of the piece are likely to survive, even if we can't figure out how, but surely reading Beta chapters implies a duty of confidentiality. OK, I should probably stop there before those missiles are redirected towards me... LF

I think we may be just beyond 'a bit of a nuisance'... This is an amazing story, even if I could do you actual bodily harm for leaving us in the lurch like this! Keep up the good work, LF

Earlier rather than later is always the best option! It can't be too soon. I'm afraid I don't have any deeply insightful comments to offer, but I can tell you that I'm loving this story - I like the characters you've created, and I want (need?) to know what happens to them. Thanks for what you've written so far - keep it coming. LF

Hi Dom, Just finished the last chapter. What can I say? It was some of your best writing yet - I'll miss these guys, but you've managed to wrap it up so well, that I feel I can let go of them now. You are a seriously talented writer - you do know that don't you? I'm looking forward to rereading DD to catch up - enjoy your nap, but don't leave it too long. Thanks again Alastair

What is it with you and setting fire to things??? Couldn't agree more, truly amazing chapter that last one. I'm kinda glad there's another though, I'm not quite ready to say goodbye to these guys though. And it's definitely NOT about the sex - maybe they can make love, but a quick shag? I don't think so. Anyway, that's just my tuppence worth. Thanks again Dom. Kusjes, LF

I'm next door to Belgium in The Netherlands, and gay couples can adopt here. Actually I was surprised to hear that they can't in Belgium. In NL, gay people can do pretty much the same as straight people. It's that sort of country :-) mvg, LF

Hello AFriendlyFace, I just wanted to echo what you wrote about Dom's stories. There's something in them that makes you feel, I don't know, is optimism the right word? Maybe it's like Quinn thinks at the end of the latest chapter - it's just ordinary. I mean, I know it's ordinary, but even in Amsterdam, it still sometimes feels extra-ordinary. Probably it's just me... Anyway, that's all really. Dom, hope things improve over the weekend. I'd recommend Ben & Jerry's Phish Food Ice Cream myself, or the Oatmeal Cookie and honey, but that's just me! Take care, and thanks for TOU. LF

Many happy returns Dom. You're only 23?!?!??!?!?!?! Where the heck did you get so much experience to write such fabulous stories in 23 years? I mean, I'm assuming you did the whole baby and childhood thing, so quite a few of those years weren't really suitable for writing in. Wow. I'm in awe. I'm getting on for twice your age and couldn't string more than a few words together... Well, anyway, hope your birthday is/was/will be a great one. Groetjes uit Amsterdam Alastair

Dom, Thanks - I had a pretty good weekend (more or less over here). Some of the best bits were reading the newest chapter. I can't wait to see how you sort this lot out. Thanks A

Hey Tyler, I have to say that your tag line about phoning in sick, 'cos you're still gay is one of the best things I've read in a while (TOU aside, of course)