C James

This is true; due to this being a first-person account, and Eric so often being on the run, he isn't actually present a huge amount of time. Good point. Hmmm, I think I see a new tagline for me... Stalin, Hitler and Pol Pot weren't THAT bad, if you made a little effort getting to know them. ~ Bondwriter, 05-19-07 But, aren't little brothers often precocious, and often a little annoying too? BTW, The title of the next chapter is "Unraveling".

Eric has been in quite a few chapters, playing an extensive role. He was involved a lot when Chris and Steve got together in the first few chapters, the chapter "homecoming" was about his return home, and he was featured a lot in the camera scenario, plus the camping chapters. As for his good points, you just aren't looking hard enough; he's very creative! Not only did he conceive of the hidden cameras and put that into play, he also came up with the stake-out, which was, really, ideally suited to his needs. It would have been an effective information-gathering technique, and it had the advantage of leaving the guys alive in case further questioning was needed. Oh, and don't forget his good manners and happy demeanor; he left the campsite telling the guys "Have a nice day!". Wasn't that sweet?

I've said it before and I'll say it again; Adam is one of my favorites in this story. I totally, 100% agree with you on Darren's "Jerking off" statement. Under the circumstances, that's bizzare to say the least. Given Darren's later behavior, though, I find it believable in one possible context; I think Darren is shaping up to be a psycho-stalker of some kind. He certainly reads that way to me. As for a parent getting involved, I have seen the parents of straight kids act like that, or worse, so to me that came across as believable. And yes, that was a wicked cliffie, Altimexis.

What? Me? Use red herrings?!?!? Why, I'll have you know that I'd no more use those than I would cliffhangers! As for Blackheart, think about what he's done so far; he created a keylogger to tap into a police officer's computer, and he aided in setting up hidden cameras to take pictures of minors! I see no evidence whatsoever linking him to identity theft, but I certainly see plenty of motive for him to preserve his anonymity. Now, now, let's not go leaping to unwarranted conclusions regarding Eric. The poor guy has had a rough time of it; he's has his carefully crafted industrious business ventures disrupted, and now he has either a bloody, or perhaps even a broken nose. Surely he's suffered enough? I still say he's just misunderstood... Now Blackheart, on the other hand...

Happy Anniversary!!!! I hope you both had a great day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

:2thumbs: :2thumbs: Yes indeed, Blackheart is evil to the core. He even has a bad habit for leaving people dangling over the edges of cliffs, plus a downright evil penchant for motorcycles. I think, though, that there is a veeery good chance that the various blackhearts are one and the same. BTW, there is another familiar name (purely coincidence, of course ) in FTL... Remember Reverend Thaddeus, the fire-and-brimstone fundie preacher? It's only mentioned once or twice in the text, but his full name is Thaddeus J. Emoe.

:king: Happy Birthday Myr!!!! :king: Best wishes to you on this very special day. Happy Birthday Myr!

What? You aren't Blackheart? Oh no... Now I have to make some serious changes to FTL... :wacko: And as for Motorcycles, yes, it is certainly very good that you intend no such thing for LiS. I'll make you a deal... Send me Ch 31 of FTL and I'll send you Ch 23 of LiS. ROFL! I've seen that before, and Dan's garage captures it very well indeed. Next week? NEXT WEEK?!?!? You leave us with one of your evil, wicked cliffhangers and you make us wait another week?

150 Miles per hour would be about 240 KPH. The Wankel is a rotary engine (no pistons). I was going to type something up, but Wikipedia has a better than I could do: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wankel_rotary_engine I've driven a Mazda with a wankel engine before, I love them. Better power-to-weight ratio than a piston engine, and less vibrations. One thing about a Wankel; if Hydrogen ever becomes a major auto fuel, you will see lots of wankels; they, unlike piston engines, are ideal suited for it. I've heard of the NSU; wonderful car, and very, very light! Thanks Bob!

This was wonderfully done. I really enjoyed the sermon, very well done! The father's about-face was also very believable, which frankly I would not have thought possible until I read this. Eddie's major: that was perfect, just perfect. Thanks, Dan, for a delightful story.

Great chapter, and the Hawaii trip sounds like fun! I have to admit, I'm highly surprised/suspicious that Brian's parents and Davey accepted the time/travel story. Maybe the O-rings comment that Davey related clinched the deal? Or, are they just playing along until they call in the men with nets? As in "the sky is about to fall".

I'll paste in the license agreement below, with some bits highlighted.

That's a computer limiter. Those can be hacked on many vehicles, though you need the correct interface equipment. Another way around it is to install a switch on the spedometer sensor wire on some vehicles. Hydrogen sulfide isn't used much here either, they usually use other chemicals to impart the smell. Not unscathed, though; he does now have damage to his nose, poor guy... Chapter 27 covers many of the legalities, but as for extradition, it is a cloudy thing within a state. Usually, they just hand 'em over, but the local Sheriff (at least in Arizona) has a heck of a lot of leeway. The state can be appealed to, though.

Excellent advice, but I'd like to add a caveat: One of the recommendations is posting your story to Nifty. This can indeed get you more exposure, BUT, please be aware of Nifty's licensing agreement; you grant them PERPETUAL license. That means you can't have your story taken down unless you pay them to do so. You are, in essence, giving up the right to control your work. If a writer is okay with this, then fine, but it needs to be known.

I am making no comment, one way or another, on the meth lab theory. I just discussed the gas situation. As for Eric, We don't know if his nose is broken, or just bloodied. It could be either one (per the text). I'm shocked, shocked I tell you, that no one has yet expressed worry over Eric's safety. What if he ran to the house to get something for his nose just as it went boom? That explosion was powerful enough to shake the Charger, and Eric was much closer, plus unprotected by a vehicle. Poor Eric...

Very wise words, Bob, very wise indeed.

ROFL! Thanks!!! You were lucky, the limit over there is, as I recall, about 75mph, same as here in Arizona (freeways). Incidentally, anyone following the media whinging over Paris Hilton (and I agree with GRame's post in the lounge on that: can't they find anything else to yammer about?) might notice that the sheriff of Maricopa County, Arizona, has offered to stick her in his "tent city", where inmates bake in tents in the desert summer heat. He also has the nations only female chain gangs, so she might have a non-too-fun stay. The only reason he offered to take her was for the publicity (and that I disagree with) but he's not all that unusual for Arizona sheriffs. His isn't the only tent city jail, nor are his the only chain gangs, just the best known due to Maricopa county containing most of Arizona's population (the Phoenix metro area). Unfortunately, the idea of a sheriff running a county as their own fifedom is not limited to fiction. I almost forgot this bit! Yes indeed, poor Eric has either a bloody nose, or a broken one. I suppose this is the real cliffhanger of the chapter... How bad is Eric's nose?

I think this might be a national difference; in the US, it is mandated by law that Gas must have an oderant added, and it smells like rotten eggs/sulfur. Have you ever been to the Rotorua geothermal area in NEw Zealand? That has a very strong sulphur smell, often described by visitors as "rotten eggs". Propane is simmilar in this regard, but tends to smell a little different. Huh? What? Me? Evil? You are quite right about the gas, though. Yes and no; The comment about rotten eggs was to indicate gas (a broken line). Whether it means more, it either does, or it does not. Oh, I can absolutely guarantee that 150mph is possible on a road. On the autobahn I reached about 170mph a few times. On one of those times, a Ferrari passed me, doing around 200mph. However, for a road like Chris was on, with slight undulations, about 145 would be the max.

The "standards" issue is why I feel it's bad to celebrate Falwell's death; If we do so we are, in essence, doing what we accuse him of. On the other hand, when (hopefully soon) Fred Phelps kicks the bucket, I will indeed celebrate, due to the different nature of his behavior. (Much as I'd celebrate if Osama Bin Laden ate a missile). As for rising above the hatred, that's a two-edged sword. I'm sure the friends and relatives of the thousands who died on 9-11 really appreciated Falwell using the deaths of their loved ones to blame gays and feminists. In other words, I certainly won't be doing it myself (and disagree with it) I can sure understand why so many are celebrating Falwell's death. He bought it on himself, via his own actions and words.

Actually, the only times I've driven a car over 150mph (Ok, well over) have been on the Autobahns of Germany, where there is no speed limit (well, not on the parts I did that on, anyway). Don't do it unless you know what you are doing, but it is one heck of a rush. Thanks Conner!!!! I can't comment on the rest, or even the amount of gas present, but Chris came to rest in the sheriff's kitchen, thus presumably right over a severed gas line, so he would smell something guite soon. I won't say what kind of gas (propane and natural gas being the two commonly used, as not all areas have natural gas lines.) And, I will say one more thing, hoping that it's not a spoiler:...

He's pretty well safe... The Piedmont cops are behind him, and Lonesome Valley is sending a cruiser to escort him in from the county line... I'd call that safe, except perhaps for the minor detail that he's driving at high speeds, fleeing for his life from the deputies of someone who now very much wants him dead. Well, THIS goat survives out here in the Arizona wilds quite well, and Echidnas, well, the seem to cope in a strange and bizzare land (Australia) so who knows? As far as the cliffhanger, on the "official CJames Cliffhanger" scale between 1-10, I believe it came in at a 2.5. Great job, much appreciated ACK! Oh no... Not that! The Echidna will turn me into a pincushion! Anyone want to hide a goat? Please??? I'm glad you liked it. It was a fun chapter to write. There are indeed some clues in this and prior chapters as to what is to come next, and the next chapter uncovers a whole lot of things, many of which have been ongoing mysteries. I'm not sure I should give any clues (looks around nervously for the Echidna)... Ok, he's not here, so I'll mention a few subtle hints based on what is in the posted text: There is something that connects the last chase (the one in the Jeep) with this one, and it leads to something big. There are several clues in Ch 26. There was a big dose of forshadowing in Ch 24 regarding something in Ch 27. There was also something big in Ch 25 regarding Ch 27. (the title of Ch 25 was very meaningful). And one other clue: Ch 27 will precede Ch 28. Thanks!

I would say that his comments were ignorant, but they don't justify the sick hate speech that's going around. I just can't see how we can sit on our high horses and talk about how sick and hateful he was and what he said, then turn around that laugh and celebrate in the face of his death. I mean, when you look at it, isn't that being just as sick and hateful as we claim he was? I'd like to be clear; I'm not celebrating, but I certainly am not mourning. Yes, I did say "good riddance", just as I've done to many a public figure whom I feel did far more harm than good. He manifestly stood against freedom and equality, railing against secularism, pushing for a theocratic state, and I can't see any reason to lament his passing. I certainly agree that this is no laughing matter, though.

Given that Falwell rejoiced in the deaths of so many, "AIDS is the wrath of a just God against homosexuals." And also tried to blame 9/11 on gays, feminists, etc, I won't be mourning his passing, not in the least. He was opposed to basic freedoms, including the freedoms of equality (including for women), and the separation of Church and State. I've often pointed out that many of his positions are eerily reminiscent of Osama Bin Laden The man was a vile hatemongerer. I won't rejoice in his death, but I will say good riddance.

Ouch, poor Arron! I have long suspected that Brian was adapting far too easily, and this sort of a reaction just fits. My hunch is that at least on some levels, he's trying to "do what's best for Aaron", or, what he thinks it is. That's my best guess anyway. I'm puzzled on the spinal injury issue; I thought Brain's injury was in his lower back, so I was shocked to see that it could cause quadrapalegia. I'm guessing that the pressure on the spinal column is affecting ALL of the spinal cord, hence the risk? Great chapter IMHO, in spite of (or, perhaps, in part becuase of) the traumatic (cliffhanger) ending.

"the wind noise so loud I could barely think." Uhoh, does that read wrong? If so, it's my fault, not Emoe's. It was about the noise from the airflow (wind) at that speed. For anyone who hasn't been in a car at over a hundred and forty, the roar of the airflow (wind noise) is very prevalent, even in a newer car like a Mercedes. I've never actually been in a Charger, much less at that speed, so I'm just basing this on cars I have taken past a hundred and fifty. ROFL! Thanks!!! He's doing pretty well; he's past the Piedmont cops, pulling ahead in a car that can outrun them, and almost home free. I thought I'd write a nice, quiet chapter, perfect for a bedtime read... Funny you should mention hollywood movies... Because a certain anonymous beta reader (Shadowgod) referenced this chapter in his story, "Living in Surreality" a couple of weeks ago. As she languished in the front office, the sound of the phone's shrill ring broke the sticky silence. Valerie was hesitant to answer, thinking it was the guy from Big Al's rent-a-wreck. He had called five times already this morning, asking if the shop could give an once-over to a police cruiser that was being loaned out to a production company, something about a car chase being filmed in the Arizona Desert in a few weeks. BTW, I'm surprised; no one has complained that Chris straight-armed Eric into a wall, smashing his nose? I hope I didn't make Chris look bad... "The Guns of Piedmont" was originally the title of the "thicker than water" chapter, but I decided to change the title of that chapter to highlight what the Sheriff said. But, I loved "Guns of Piedmont" and felt it fit this chapter well, so I used it. The original title was going to be "House call" in honor of Chris' visit to the sheriff's house. Thanks Altimexis! (though, me, Evil? Would I do such a thing? ) Of course, something could happen on his way to the county line... Looming out of the darkness at a hundred and fifty miles an hour, dead ahead, were creatures running across the road. Chris cranked the wheel hard over, avoiding them but losing control as he did. As he roared past them, headlong towards his destiny of a telephone pole mere yards ahead, Chris heard the Echidna grumble at the Goat he was chasing, "I told, you, no spoilers!" ROFL! Actually, I had a western movie in mind. (I usually do, for some odd reason.)