Mark Arbour

You're probably right. I appreciate your kudos. This story has largely been about petty bickering and bitchy shit, things that in the greater scheme of things aren't a big deal. 9-11 changed that for most Americans, and will change that for our CAP family too.

I think that Brad had to get over his anger at the whole situation before he could see the beauty of the thing, something not unusual for him. If you think about John's situation, he's probably mostly straight, and when he's around Will, he may just feel as if he's expected to put out, even if he doesn't want to.

What's really interesting about this place is how people tend to form, to use an academic term, cohorts. Those of you who have gone through a Master's or PhD program, or even an undergrad degree, know how you tend to bond with the people who came into the program when you did. It seems to be the case here, where clumps of people, authors/readers/editors, will find this place around the same time and form a relatively cohesive support group. I think that's a unique thing, and a good thing. I came here following after DomLuka, and I would count among my 'cohort' some pretty awesome people here at GA. Vic, Sharon, and Connor are three who come to mind right off. I find that even when the people come and go, the basic character of the place stays the same. While this is a place to post and read stories, it is also a community. Nothing burned that point into my brain more than Vic's death.

July 15, 2001 My phone rang and I noticed that it was Stef calling me. Evidently my dad was still too angry to be civil on the phone. “Hello,” I answered cheerfully. “Hello,” Stef replied. “I have been delegated to call you back and inform you that we will be leaving for Maui after dinner.” “Dad is still too pissed off at me to talk to me without yelling?” I asked. “I think he is beyond that stage now,” Stef said, trying not to chuckle as he di

And another update for you Odyssey readers. You are out there, are you not? Anyway, I've been on a bit of a writing binge with this story, so weekly publications should continue uninterrupted for at least the next month or so.

A bit of historical background on this trip through Egypt, before we make it. Mornington mentioned that Jardines was scouting this route out in case Britain had to make an incursion into Egypt as part of an attack on the Ottoman Empire. In fact, that route would be used three years later to bring Indian troops into the fight to expel the French from Egypt, so such a recon mission is not out of order. In June, 1801, General Baird would lead a force that followed the route I have outlined for Granger. He landed at Kosseir, transited the Wadi Hammamat to arrive at Kena, then took boats down the Nile. The entire trip took his army approximately three weeks in the hot summer. Baird and his force would arrive in Cairo on June 21, 1801, three days after Cairo surrendered. And while they missed that battle, his forces would participate in the final campaign against Alexandria.

It's a hijab, not a veil. Get it right. ;-) Seriously, I can't imagine anything but complications on this trek. It is quite an undertaking.

Being separated from Bacchante must be just gnawing at Granger. For a captain, at least one like Granger, his ship is like a part of him. I'm sure in Arthur Wellesley's fictional mind, as I have written it, Granger was both a welcome and confusing distraction.

"I have to wonder when Jardines is going to discuss with Granger the events leading up to his incident with Travers." Answer: Chapter 49. I think that Granger will be haunted by the fact that Chartley left him to run off to China to chase after riches. It is probably something that will lurk deep in his psyche, and cloud his feelings for Chartley at least for some time to come.

As I said below, I think Bertie is being sad and maudlin, not worried about his own mortality. Granger as an Arab woman is pretty boring: clothes that cover up everything. It would be much more fun to have him in disguise as a woman in France, with panniers and fake boobs.

And you all were worried that I'd miss the Battle of the Nile. Shame on you.

At the rate he is going, it does look probably for Granger to encounter French forces. I would imagine that any time someone like Bertie says goodbye to a relative that he has no hope of seeing in at least two years, it must seem as if it is a final goodbye. I'm not sure that is the case, but it would seem that way.

I'll start by referencing my response to (your) reviews: So while it looks like Isidore is being intransigent, she probably sees this as a fight to make sure Will grows up to be a cultured gentleman, and not a boorish oaf. That would be very important to her, and not so important to Brad, depending on how they defined those two terms. Cynic.

Different year, same results. Good thing I don't bet money on hockey.

Thanks for your kind words! A couple of thoughts: I think with the Nile you were referring to the French rear, since the British attacked the front (van) and center. The experts that think it would have made a difference are wrong. In fact, the way the fleet was moored and deployed made movement like that almost impossible, and I personally think that even if they had, those ships (as they tried to fight the Brits on the landward side) may have ended up firmly aground. But we will deal with that when we get to it. Bertie is really the ultimate pragmatist, where an opportunity is an opportunity, not something to be burdened with obtuse concepts like morals, or right vs. wrong. I think that's why he's not overly concerned about who sleeps with whom, and I think that's why he could genuinely try having sex with Chartley to see if it worked. It didn't, so he moved on to something else. If Bertie were your friend, you'd probably find him to be delightful company, but I wouldn't want to rely on him, especially where his interests and mine collided.

Nice summation. Some more info here http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/history/taxhis1.htm

Didn't happen. But nice guess, and nice try at redirecting the topic.

April 1798 Calcutta Fort William was a busy place, what with energetic British officers like Wellesley, and Generals Harris and Baird, working hard to get their troops into crack condition. Some of the soldiers drilling on the parade grounds risked censure by staring up at a lone man standing on the parapet, wearing his blue dress uniform. The sun reflected off his gold lace and the glass he was looking through, making it appear as if he were glittering. George

What a great pick! I love that song.

They're only a plane flight away, so I wouldn't get too excited about that as a safe place. I doubt that JP will leave Wade any money, especially since Wade's got more money than JP does (presumably). Wade wouldn't want it anyway. I can see JP leaving Wade an important personal item or memento, but that's it. The rest of his money and possessions he'll leave to his kids and grandkids, and to charity.

John isn't perfect. He fucked around on his boyfriend, and he hasn't really had Will's back as a friend during a lot of Will's problems. But he seems to come around. I like that. If Will is my advanced-for-his-age teen, JJ is just the opposite, so it's fun to throw his pouty and bitchy teen angst into the mix.

I'm sure that when Will was working this deal out in his mind, he knew he'd have to have his ducks in a row or he'd be sliced to pieces by his relatives. I like your observation on how Isidore's actions probably made the house a non-event for Brad and Stef. They were both probably so pissed off at her, they forgot their annoyance with him.

Wait a minute. I thought you were an attorney. How does that involve work? ;-) I love your read on Maui real estate. I haven't spent that much time there, but that's the impression I got. I can see Brad buying a place in Kapalua, only to realize later that he should have chosen Paia. Will made that call for him.

I'm glad you enjoyed the chapter!I think the issues that Isidore is having with Stef are what JP delineated in his first rumination: that Isidore is most comfortable with Claire and her family, while Stef is most comfortable with Brad and his kids. And when those two families are in conflict, it makes sense that Isidore and Stef would end up at odds. I really like how Frank manages to stay neutral in most of these spats. They could learn something from him.

I think that Brad does trust Will, he just thinks that Will's behavior was rash and impulsive. And he probably thinks that Will has no business doing something so bold as to buy a two million dollar house. And I'll bet that's part of the reason that Will decided to do it. In the end, though, I don't think it was that big of a deal to Brad; just a short-term annoyance. I thought it was good the way Jack intervened as well. It shows that he's determined to keep these battles from impacting his son, to the degree that he can. He probably also notices how important Darius is to John, and he wants to foster that relationship.