Bondwriter

Exactly the type of things that you're always guaranteed will never happen when video cameras are set up for "security". These expensive devices come in handy when you want to fight a war on lunch trays left on tables or on cheek-pecking girls. I feel much better living in a world where such devious behaviors can be exposed and punished. And seeing that brave people in charge use the technology very wisely, respecting other people's liberties. And not turning the youth into sheep cowed into having "ordinary behavior".

Verses from the Bible? Ummh... Now that you say it... In biblical verses there are numbers, but we'll have to wait for Dex to come and explain what's going on. Come back from Cali, Dex! We need you here!

I think the kind (and smart) readers in this thread didn't want to spoil the fun by emphasizing the critical piece of information Eric gave away because his nasty habits make him lose his mind: So now we know he's interested in poetry. One more point in his favor. Who could have he been reading? Fran

Damn right, and killing two people (one being a sibling) to ruthlessly protect your business is just good corporate governance. I'm thinking of moving to Arizona. O Wild Wild West!

I'm not 100% sure that it'd be the most environmentally correct way to do so. Any Sierra Club members to back your point of view? But good things can be said about Eric's entrepreneurial skills indeed. Someone willing to kill his own brother to save his unlawful business can't be all bad, can he? I doubt people who can cover their trail for an illegal porn site would have lots of trouble laying their hands on some anonymous weapons that could even be linked to a poor innocent sap they'd then pin it on.

Nice way to have the boys escape. The most plausible too. I

No. OK, I've put a number of computer security experts on this one, and I'm eventually able to decipher Emoe's cryptic message. So, be warned, THIS IS A SPOILER!!! "Enjoying the sun tan, guys? Wood wasn't enough, I thought a little gasoline could help to make a really nice bonfire! Mwah! Ha! Ha! I bet Thaddeus and my lover the sheriff will be pleased..."

Same as Graeme and Steve. Do not bother with (very) small details too much. Chris is tipsy, so there's no obligation for him to notice what's going on. Or is your question a way to tease us poor readers who just want to know what is to happen? (eg Ethan just above) If Eric is shaky, could he be suffering from some withdrawal symptome? What drug is he hooked to anyway?

OK: first, what do we learn about Eric? He has superpowers to find them in the desert without owning a vehicle (apparently, since we can't know if he didn't park next to the Jeep.) Or he got a ride from his cronies. In any case, how has he gone on performing criminal activities such as drug dealing (actually, this is the first time we hear about him peddling drugs, though by now if he was selling radioactive waste to terrorists, we wouldn't be too surprised, would we?) He's nervous, as CJames pointed out by highlighting the added line. So he could be frightened of his accomplices; in which case, if they gave him a ride, why don't they help him out in disposing of Steve and Chris? If they need the password, they'd all be there, with a laptop to make sure they get the good one... And once they get it, make sure they'll never be bothered anymore. Maybe he's in a hurry: some deadline (drug delivery?) is coming up, and Eric needs to clean things up before he beats it. The most puzzling thing, and maybe where we've been misled by CJ's relentless "industrious tyke" chanting, is Eric's possible number one position in the crime ring. What if when he was in the "custody" of the Piedmont sheriff, he actually managed to get control of the guy (he might know a few dirty little secrets about him). So there is no doubt left as to Eric's evil side. I can't believe he's being watched by Thaddeus/ PS as he 's taking care of Steve and Chris, and he's willing to let them die. Were he watched from far away, there's always a way to let a little slack in the rope so they might escape after a while. But apparently, he's willing to have the boys grill in the sun. With CJ's gloating over reality not being what it seems, we should really try to outwit him by drafting a possible scenario of what's going on behind the scenes. A secret passage in the bookstore; Thaddeus hijacking the LVPD computer (or is there a mole in the LVPD?); Eric putting up a porn website hosted overseas; Eric in the drug business; the Piedmont sheriff willing to kill Chris (and Steve). How does this all tie up together?

A Happy Birthday to You!

I'm glad villains in fiction screw up, otherwise they'd win. You're right, he blew it and was careless. And though he avoided the clich

Happy Birthday, Kurt!

I think the first mention was in the credits you gave me over beta-reading Moving On. But of course, I could have remained the anonymous beta-reader... Yeah, plus they didn't take any guns. Bug repellant cannot help much when facing a bobcat, can it?

I just hope you will not out my last name as you did with my first one. And yes, my last name ends with an -e. But there are many other elements making it worthy of lots of respect. Case closed. (If you ever escape once you've been made into my personal servant, this new free man status will allow you to release it to the world. Wait until then though Talking cats, besides releasing toxic waste, and getting arrested by British superheroes in pink tights, can scratch your legs too. Or give you allergies. OK, call for new blood. Your first name is not Jack. You are in no way acquainted with CJames' gang of beta readers (acknowledged or anonymous)/ editors/ zeta readers. You're in no manner on CJames' (lucrative) payroll. You're not a goat. You're not an echidna. You have never posted in this thread. You think it's intimidating, since the same people seem to be talking with a huge knowledge of the subject. You may easily get at their level! It's easy and it's fun! Join the gang! You'll be more than welcome. Read For the Love (best and most entertaining method) or read the thread (hope you've got aspirin or any substitute under hand) and leave your comments. It will bring good things in your life, bring back your loved one and the wheels of fortune will turn your way. If you have answered "Yes, it is", "Yes, I am"or "Yes I have" to any of the questions above, keep giving your precious input, and lobby hard to get more people to post into this thread.

This calls for a cross-over with Nexis's superheroes.: (...)Beelzebub was laughing in his evil high-pitched shriek. He stopped all of a sudden. "What the f...?" He felt some shift in the balance of the truck load. The radiactive waste was being put back in! He started pushing the pump switch frantically. Then he felt waves circling around his head. 'Good kitty, nice, nice Kitty' a soft voice was echoing through his head. No, this couldn't be! Not again these darn Brit superheroes he'd been warned about on evilvillainsforum.org! He tried with all his feline might to struggle against the goodness overpowering him. As he looked into the rearview mirror, knowing full well the object was closer than it appeared, he saw a hunk in pink tights and a similarly hugging nylon costume pushing the radioactive waste back into a tank by just using his hands as if they were a magnet. Hanging out from a Mini Cooper's passenger window, on the vehicle's right, he was also intently looking at the truck's cabin. "The Brighton Rock! He's for real!" Then his mind got lost in visions of piles of fish. His foot left the gas pedal as the truck came to a stop.

(...)"You guys are in deep trouble now!" I turned around, puzzled that I couldn't link the voice I heard with any of the goons in the mob that had cornered Steve and me and were apparently planning to use their carving knives on us. Then I saw him. Beelzebub! Beelzebub was an evil talking cat! "Yup guys, you're right I'm an evil talking cat, and a mind-reading one at that. How do you like them apples?" The snarl was ghastly. An evil cat's snarl is very, VERY scary. " You know Eric comes from ehre meaning honor and rik meaning king, don't you? So how do you think he could have been anything but an industrious, honest and benevolent young man? I've pulled the strings from the very beginning, and you dimwits have never suspected me. Slice them, guys, and please mix their meat with tuna before you can it, I'll have food for a few months! Mwah! Ha! Ha" (...) Good luck keeping your credibility with this one, CJames.

I actually enjoyed Winnipeg. I see what you mean, Jacques, but it may be cool too to be stuck in the middle of nowhere. Maybe a matter of how long you're there. And the city does look like Chicago (outside the Loop). Only drawback: it's full of Manitobans, and these people are Canadians.

In Icelandic,? My friend Fjalar Sigur

Thanks for all the personal info, Jack. It will make the abductor's job much easier. And New-Worlders VS. Old-Worlders? Trying to bring dissent again? No, I'm just waiting for a moderator to bring things back on topic. From my experience, being random doesn't have to do with which side of the Atlantic you're on. BTW, thanks for dedicating 5% of your post to FTL. That's more than this one.

The show so far: Kingman, Az Walmart Walmart moving to Australia Traffic in small towns Traffic in small towns near a Walmart. It's only Thursday! This type of silliness is Monday stuff. Please, other readers, drop in and leave a comment about the story. I think as Jan pointed out, Steve and Chris are being watched. The author's devious mind must have hatched some peril they're going to fall into. Not to disappoint you, Conner, but they're more likely to run around the hills dodging bullets than frolicking in the sun. Naked. Though they might be running around naked dodging bullets.

So, you'll make sure no one bullies me or stuff? Cool! Thanks, Drewbie.

I heard on the radio Kurt Vonnegut died yesterday. I laughed out loud reading his novels, and they are among the few I may read over and over with interest. Just reread Jailbird a couple months ago. That's both hilarious and quite disturbing. It was a decade last week Allen Ginsberg died. Though they don't have too much in common, they were some sort of heroes for me. Always strange to feel really bad over someone you didn't know, but that's the case. So it goes.

Yeah, Shdowgod has been listed for two hours and he's never in when I get there. I went there this morning (last night for you people GMT -5 to 8), and though it's fun (there were 6 people, Andy being one, he he!), it's very difficult to carry out a meaningful conversation. From my very small experience in chat rooms it seems you always end up having people carrying out different conversations, so the dynamics are difficult to get. By the time you type a 2-line reply, the topic or the focus has already changed twice. Is there an instruction manual for good chats?