C James

Sorry for over-doing the scene changes in this chapter. I tend to use them for time-shifts, and got a little too heavy-handed. I can't comment on much of anything, except to mention how GPS works; a GPS receiver does not transmit to the satellites, it only receives. However, many models DO have transmitters; for example, bluetooth to allow them to communicate with, and use, bluetooth enabled cell-phones. That is definitly a radio-frequency transmitter. The question is, is it enabled and transmitting, or off and silent? Some of the most brilliant people in history have been decidedly odd and childlike in some ways. Einstein is perhaps the best known example. I wonder how the Scar would have reacted if Vladimer had talked Dimitri into bringing back a live Kangaroo? Though, Dimitri might have learned the hard way that Kangaroos can be dangerous. The bit about an untrained person being unable to land a jet is true; landing is the most difficult part of flying. On my recent trip I had a chance to talk with a British Airways pilot, who confirmed this. (I'm a small-plane pilot myself, so I was already pretty sure). We'll find out what is going on with Lump, and the reason for the silence about him, in the next chapter.

Now, now, I don't really tease Shadowgod much...

The Scar does refer to Lump as "My worthless son" so i think you are right. Hey now! He defends me and I'm sweet and nice! Maybe you just aren't nice enough?

That is GREAT news!

There is indeed a Carlisle Island in the Whitsundays. And Jon, Eric, and Chase have the last name of Carlisle. I didn't know about the Aleutian one, thanks! The next chapter may be up soon. It's been sent it, but it's 2am! Lol. I don't see why y'all are assuming that The Scar is evil... Maybe he's just.. Misunderstood?

So maybe The Scar's big problem is that he's just a little unfashionconcious? Or maybe he is a self-reliant sort, who just likes to be left to his own devices, in this case nuclear devices??

Yep, there will be a special anthology this summer to celebrate GA's 5th anniversary. We're still thrashing out the details in the anthology forum, but it will be themed "anniversaries" and any kind would fit. And yep, we are getting close to 5k!

Well, "mew" could have made it about kittens. ROFL!! I'll stoke the fires a little here... The chapter after is is named "Carlisle Island."

It might be just simple stress; maybe he had a bad day at the office? Bondwriter wrote; ROFL! I love it!!!

And he did, too!!! Go read Dreams & Clipped wings, Ch 2. ! He called it "eating Crow!" BTW, a bit of story news; I've done some work on Ch 1 of the sequel, and I feel it is going ok, so ya'll should see it when LTMP wraps.

I can't comment on the speculation, but I can give the next chapter title; its called Whitsundays

I really don't know why y'all think that J/S is such a bad guy... Maybe he's just protective of his buisness ventures? Maybe he and Eric need to have more drunken chats? To clear the air?

You make him sound so evil!

I recall one hotel in Lisbon a few years ago... Talk about elevators! I'm used to doorless elevators but that one took the cake. It was about the size of a phone booth. Actually, smaller. It rattled and clanked, and the fact there was no door meant you had to keep well clear of that one side. Hauling luggage in it was darn near impossible. I ended up stuffing the suitcases in on the floor and sitting on top of them. Lol. Generally, unless I have a reason I can't, I stay in bed&breakfast type places well outiside of the cities when I'm in Europe, or for that matter anywhere overseas. The lower cost (often far, far lower) usually more than pays for my car rental, and I get to stay in the country rather than the city (I'm not fond of cities as a rule). Even in a city, I stay the heck away from big chain hotels. They usually cost the earth and you can't much difference in ';em from one country to the other. One of my favorite small hotels was in Pisa; it's gone now, and I miss it. It was within eighty feet of the base of the leaning tower, perfect location. It was also 1/4 the price of a big hotel, and it even had parking (Finding accommodations with parking is often a headache in Europe).

Good call; yes, the Toowoomba facility, and the desert compound as well, were absent. There wasn't much new from them for this chapter, so I just skipped them for this chapter. Yep, Instinct is getting more involved. Thank you VERY much for pointing out the typo! That helps me, becuase I can fix it for the nex site update (in fact, I fixed the site copy on my HD as soon as I saw your post). Please, everyone, never feel shy about pointing out my goofs and typos; I like to be able to correct them, so that helps both me, and any future readers. Also, any form of criticism is very much welcomed. That helps me too. So, if there's anything in the story (or any of my stories) that you don't like, please speak up, either here or privately, whichever you prefer.

Who? Me? Exactly! It was just a little tense! Besides, I posted it on Christmas Eve... Surely, if I was ever inclined to use cliffhangers, i wouldn't do so at Christmas. I most certainly do agree that Ch 19 was not a cliffhanger!!!!

I can't comment on the speculation, other than to say WOW! Thanks!! The Scar's car; it'e mentioned way back when Dimitri first arrived in Australia that he's left it in long-term parking. I don't say explicitly beyond that, but given that detail we can assume it is either owned or leased. And what? Ciffhangers? I never use those! I had fun with the scar's lines; he loves irony, so double entendres seemed a natural for him. I really thought the question at the end "What could Jerry do?" was very reassuring. After all, it's not like he's all that bad a guy. What's the worst he could do? And yes, that line about Eric being picked on but no one was buying... Yep, I immediately thought of me in this forum when I wrote that. And Echidna! You can't give spoilers; you're the fanatically anti-spoiler Echidna!! Come now, surely you must see the need to make a pincushion of yourself for this? Okay, now, a serious note on The Scar. The Scar isn't perfect; he's got weaknesses and failings, just lile anyone else. And yes, Vladimer is driving him crazy. So, for many reasons, he will make mistakes. Whether they will be consequential or not, though, is anyone's guess. BTW, yes, we now know where Instinct got its name; Eric's uncanny instinct regarding people. He's disliked Jerry from the day they met, even before the shopping trip. However, it only works once he gets to know a person. That's why he didn't beg Charity (the blackmailing girl) and that';s why it took him a while to be sure about Jerry, and longer still to bring the issue up again. . I think Eric and Jerry had fun drinking together. I should get them together more often, don't you think?

Chapter 25, fact finding, is up. The first thing I want to mention is a goof on my part: The chapter title, on the chapter page itself, says Chapter 24, Fact Finding. I'll fix that and it will be replaced when I upload next week's chapter.

Hrmmm, What is so suspicious about wearing sunglasses? Why do y'all think I'm hiding something?

A few years ago, I saw, not sure where (Vegas, maybe?) a near life-size reproduction of Michaelangelo's "David". However, there was a difference; this statue had acquired a rather poorly done loincloth. In fact, it was a big one, more like a pair of boardies. No bulge at all, either. However, much to my shock, the statue was still utterly shirtless! Have they no decency? I mean, allowing upper male nudity (from the waist up) in art! Shocking, I say, shocking! They haven't gotten around to banning that quite yet, I suppose. Ok, seriously, this A&F incident is nuts. However, I have on observation; there were two photois cited, and we've all seen the male one; it's everywhere in the press. However, I note that we havn't seen the fmale one (At least i haven't). Why isn't that being broadcast? My unsubstantiated hunch is that it's becuase that one is likely more provocative than the male one and they cited both just to have greater grounds. Just my wild guess, but crazy regardless.

Only sometimes. About half the time, they are the obvious choice. But really, all my chapter titles fit... Remember "The Kiss?" well, it was a kiss, and in Rome, yet! Heh, BTW, when I was there a couple of months ago (after that chapter had been written and posted) I sought out that very spot in Piazza Navona. The fountain, unfortunatly for me, is under renovations so surrounded in scaffolding, but it was fin to stand on that spot. I hadn't been there in ten years, and I was happy that there was, indeed, a small hotel in the od the ajoining buildings. Just a typical Rome dozen-room hotel, a small entry door and a tiny lobby, but it fit the story ok (even if the hotel was much smaller than I'd envisioned). I had no idea if there was really one there when i wrote "the Kiss". BTW, the numbering system they use for the few similar places I've stayed in Rome is the first diget is the floor number, and the second the room number. The layout is often just a single staircase, with a few rooms (sometimes just two or three) in each floor. That's how you have a hotel in a slice of building that might only be twenty feet wide. Anyway, I try and make about half my chapter names the obvious choice. The other half? Well, they fit, after you have read the chapter. Or at least I hope so. Not that I'd ever intentionally mislead, of course. I also don't see what everyone is so worried about.. Jerry just wants to buy Eric a few drinks. Eric will like that, and Jerry will like that. Who knows, maybe they will become friends?

Dirt? Tuesday? Aww, come now, your majesty, surely you aren't tired of your royal weekend already? Totally agreed; I'd say a very large chance, in fact. Unless, of course, we all rally behind Shadowgod, and support him in the defense of his title!

Just thought I'd halp make things a bit clearer.

I don't think I've ever dreamed of snakes... There was one time, last summer, when I opened my front door and a rattlesnake was on the other side, and I nearly stepped on it, but that wasn't a dream, and it didn't give me any nightmares (Rattlers are common hereabouts). Anyway, the best way to move a rattler is to pin its head, and then just pick it up and move it with one hand right behind the neck. I try and avoid moving venomous snakes this way but its an easy way to move king snakes into my woodpile (I like them near the house; they keep the rats ant rattlers away). Now you know what to do the next time you have a dream.

ROFL!! Ok, here's the title of the coming chapter: Fact Finding.