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David McLeod

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  1. David McLeod
    We'll see what happens. Question: is this story (which combines three separate groups) too complex? What do you think? David
  2. David McLeod
    Chapter 10: Strike Out Paul stepped from the shower and then turned back to shut off the water. He heard a sharp report and felt a sting on his left buttock. He knew instantly what it was and who had caused it. He spun around to see Mark re-furling the towel with which he’d snapped Paul. Mark grinned, a grin that turned into a rictus of horror when Paul snapped back with his mind. Mark lost control of his urethral sphincters. Urine dribbled and then poured from his penis. His eyes closed;
  3. David McLeod
    Chapter 6: Haley—Death in Winter Winter was hard. Uncannily fierce storms brought heavy rain. Streams overflowed, and three huts were washed away. The swamp spilled into the village and contaminated some of the food supplies. The people soon forgot that Haley and Jason had kept their flock safe during the summer. The initial if grudging good will toward the two boys faded from memory. Jason’s family was not sorry when the boy left their hut and moved in with Haley and his Gram. The two boys
  4. David McLeod

    Aftermath

    David McLeod commented on David McLeod's story chapter in Aftermath

    Oops! This story came out of nowhere, one day long ago. You are right; the end is somewhat abrupt. I hope that's not the end, and that the rest of the story is lurking somewhere, just waiting for a chance to be written (or translated). Of course, wouldn't it be a happy ending if, as the only remaining male heir, P becomes the baron? One can dream! Thank you, again. David
  5. David McLeod
    This story was inspired by a painting, "The Young Beggar," I saw at the High Museum in Atlanta some years ago. You can see it athttp://www.wikipaintings.org/en/bartolome-esteban-murillo/the-young-beggar
  6. David McLeod
    Thank you for sharing your thoughts, as always. I see the idea of a "hero" being put into different situations, in which he or she learns something new, as an essential part of the hero's journey/grail cycle. The 0300 series is the most ambitious attempt I've made, I think. Let's both hope it lives up to expectations!David
  7. David McLeod
    Chapter 9: Free Republic of California The Don had told us we would go to school, and that we would help destroy the Reverends. He also said that we would use our knowledge of Las Vegas to do that. I had to tell him—I couldn’t hide behind a lie. “Don Renaldo, sir, we don’t know anything about Las Vegas. We never got outside the _____ Palace Casino except when we were brought there from the Sheriff’s station, and when we escaped.” “You may know more than you think you know,” he said. “But do
  8. David McLeod
    Both "Dragon's Treasure" and "Arthur in Eblis" are patterned on a "Grail Cycle" and the "Hero's Journey." Although both are somewhat formulaic ways of writing an adventure, they have the advantage of providing a structure that is familiar to both the writer and the reader that makes writing and reading "easier." It's not quite as easy as "fan fiction," in which someone sets a story in a familiar story (e.g., "Harry Potter"), and doesn't have to create a milieu or characters. Thank you as always. David
  9. David McLeod
    Allies in unexpected places, such is the "hero's journey."
  10. David McLeod
    Big boatload of cannabis, and small boys.
  11. David McLeod
    It's always a thrill when someone finds one of the older stories, and even more when they are so kind in their reviews. This story was inspired by a single event in another story, a paragraph that was later discarded (but saved from the trash). Somehow, it grew into a "grail cycle" (albeit a short one). As you read more of the stories of World, you will find that no one ever truly dies. Thorby and Bastian may well appear at a later time in another story. (Thorby, by the way, was inspired by a character in Robert Heinlein's "Citizen of the Galaxy." Perhaps that's where he was reborn! Thank you for reading, and for your comments. David
  12. David McLeod
    Chapter 5: Arthur’s Story—Death on the River The boatmen were neither as tired nor as unobservant as the boys had hoped. No sooner had Gonde crawled from the cannabis cave than one of the boatmen grabbed his arm and jerked him into the air. Arthur pushed past Golgi, drawing his dagger as he leapt onto the stern of the boat. The Great Moon was bright; Arthur saw the boatman’s dagger about to plunge into Gonde’s breast. Knocking the man’s arm aside with one motion, Arthur slashed the man’s thr
  13. David McLeod
    Chapter 4: Haley—The Mysteries Sweet, too, O shepherd, are thy melodies, And only Pan can wrest from thee the prize. —Theocritus, Idylls Jason fingered notes on the flute. He played an old song, the first one Haley had taught him. Beside him, Haley’s clear soprano cracked into a boy’s alto. “Ulp!” Haley said. “Can we start over?” He giggled self-consciously. “Haley,” Jason said, “your voice is changing, isn’t it? How long has it been since your testicles descended?” In the gathering dar
  14. David McLeod

    Runaway

    David McLeod commented on David McLeod's story chapter in Runaway

    Oh, oh. Not sure that was where I meant for the story to go! Pace Harry's review (below), I hope you enjoy the rest of it.David
  15. David McLeod
    Chapter 8: Flin Flon and Beyond Dmitri was a good sport about the alcohol, and after he’d short-sheeted us all one night, we called a truce. That was a good thing, too. We were too busy with classes and ice hockey for pranks. * * * * * Flin Flon is in northern Manitoba (mostly Manitoba—some of it is in Saskatchewan). It had a reputation for impressive aurora borealis and some equally impressive hockey. It also had a historic statue of Josiah Flinabbity Flonatin, for whom the first copper m
  16. David McLeod
    Chapter 7: Obedience! We had been trained in instant obedience for so long that Matthew did not hesitate, but walked quickly to the door. I jumped up, for in Deacon Jerome, I saw darkness, but it was too late. The door closed behind Matthew, and the lock snapped. The light went off as it did each day. It was the signal to be in bed and asleep. I sat up, waiting, vowing that I would be there when Matthew returned. I found that I could not stay awake, but I woke when the door opened. I had
  17. David McLeod
    Chapter 2: Mark and Kevin on World Mark and Kevin woke to find themselves in an alley. The sun was bright; the pile of garbage beside them stank. “Where are we?” Mark asked. Kevin looked around. “I hope we’re in a world with a sun that’s too yellow, but I don’t really know.” He looked at Mark. “You said, ‘As long as you are with me.’ What did you mean?” “I mean, silly, that I love you,” Mark replied. “I love you because you love me, and I know that. No one who didn’t love me would put up wi
  18. David McLeod
    Chapter 6 Supersoakers The shuttle from the Enterprise dropped us off at the spaceport. One of the tactical officers was waiting, and herded us onto the maglev for the short ride back to campus. “Report to your element leaders,” was all he said. My element leader was puzzled; I had to push before he remembered me. He didn’t seem interested in where I’d been, and just told me that I was back on duty, and to check the schedule. He didn’t notice the battle ribbon I wore on my jump suit. Someo
  19. David McLeod
    Chapter 3: Robbie’s Story—Lost Kid, and Found Mirages shimmered at the edge of visibility on a Torrid afternoon. Robbie squinted against the glare and searched in vain for the kid. His morning count of the flock had come up one short. Leaving his little brother and the dogs to watch the goats and sheep, Robbie had searched for hours. He’d been smart—at first sticking to the low spots where moisture still kept the grass green. Those places became fewer and fewer. His calves began to burn as h
  20. David McLeod
    Day 1 The boundaries which divide life from death are at best shadowy and vague. —Edgar Allen Poe Rudy shivered because he was cold, but also because he was lonely. After a decade of loving companionship, Sam was not there to cuddle him, to tell him he loved him, to share sex and exchange boy magic. Tomorrow, Rudy would become an apprentice at the College of Magic. Sam had brought Rudy to the college, and then returned to the farm where Rudy had spent most of this life. Tomorrow night, Rudy
  21. David McLeod
    Earth and World intersect; boys move from one to the other; familiar stories meet in unfamiliar ways, all ruled by magic.
  22. David McLeod
    Brendan, Just saw this review. Thank you! World is still my favorite reality, and I have a couple of things cooking, there. About to enter (Baptist) hospital for a couple of weeks (minor, but tedious rehab) and may not be able to access this site. There are several stories scheduled for release while I'm gone. Best to you.David
  23. David McLeod
    Chapter 3: Arcadia—The Pelican The caravan entered the city gate and disintegrated as wagons turned toward different destinations. The wagons that carried Andy’s cargo went south and then entered a large courtyard. “Please wait for me, here.” Andy asked. “I’ll report to Cadfael, the warehouseman—” “The Pelican?” Mark interrupted. “You work for the Pelican?” Kevin added. Andy frowned. “You should not know that.” He paused. “We have bonds of fealty. By those bonds, I charge you, say no more of
  24. David McLeod
    Chapter 2: Haley—Of What Use, a Cripple Benjamin Franklin was present when the Montgolfier brothers launched one of their hot air balloons. A Parisian turned to Franklin and asked, “Of what use is that?” Franklin replied, “Of what use is a child?” The miasma of the swamp wreathed the village in sultry closeness. The late summer sun crawled across a white sky, pressing upon the mist, driving it into the wood and thatch of the rude huts. From one of those huts on the edge of the village a
  25. David McLeod
    Chapter 1: The Fens Arthur stood and brushed at the leaves and muck that covered his trousers and shirt. Cypress knee below the water—I tripped on it. Oh well, I couldn’t possibly get much dirtier than I already am. Can’t worry about that, now. Arthur patted his belt. His dagger was in place, as was the pouch that contained a few coins. Other than the dagger, he had no weapons; other than the clothes he wore and the money in the pouch, he had no possessions. The food he had brought with him had
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