Conner

Yes, indeed, this chapter had everything! And here I thought that a trip to India and back would be a trifle boring. Personally, I don't give up my bedroom to anybody. I can be talked into sharing...even though I never attended kindergarten. However, I do understand Granger's reasoning. Enric - interesting analysis of what's to come of the Spanish treasure. The "fantasy" scenario that pops into my head is to dump the Spanish overboard and head for Tahiti where Granger and Calvert start up a slave trade business.

Happy B-Day, Francois!! J'imagine que ce n'est plus ta fete en France. Toutefois, je celebre toujours ici! Chapeau!!

It's gotta be General Bradson! He's not gay, but he is into all that techie stuff, flying and very well travelled. I understand that there are goats on his Christmas card list. The kind of goats that don't live near cliffs, of course. Do you have a son in the military??? :wacko: So long as it's not Jane.

Great love scenes in that chapter! I definitely had to smoke a cigarette after that chapter. Exquisitely satisfying! I enjoyed Granger's machinations in discharging his guilt around cheating on Travers. I hope that doesn't come back to bite him in the ass. If he were to find out that Travers kept himself chaste throughout their "separation", he'd be feeling more than guilt. If I had to take a guess as to whether Travers wiil remain true to Granger, it would definitely be "he gave it his best shot, but ended up giving Robbie his best shot." I also believe Granger will fall in love with Calvert. Calvert will fall in love too, if he hasn't already. Sure makes for some interesting chapters when Granger returns fron India.

Too funny!

I believe this statement can aptly be described as self-serving logic. Mind you, there is some merit in what you say, especially given that the impugned cliffhangers are not overly intense. An author must be free to utilize the tools available to him. Seeing that both Mark Twain and Charles Dickens both used cliffhangers in their newspaper published serial stories, you're in good company.

Yes, nothing like a battle to clear the mind! I wish Granger had said something like, "I love the smell of gunpowder in the morning"! Coitus interruptus is worse than a cliffhanger! That was just plain nasty. Excellent chapter, Mark!

A momentous chapter for sure! The ending was just so perfect - a flying lesson. I loved the way CJ stretched it out, too. So wonderfully satisfying!

It was easy to sense Granger's pride as he led his ship from the harbour onto the open seas. Really a fascinating chapter! So it was Humphreys seeking an appointment with Granger. Another victim of navel politics, or more accurately in this case, a vindictive captain. Well, he's going to remain a midshipman for at least another year it would seem. I'm wondering if Humphreys took Fitzwilliam aside after his poor behaviour upon first meeting his captain. Might have nipped Fitzwilliam in the bud and saved him an ass whipping. Given the chapter ending, it would appear that Fitzwilliam's bud might be getting well nipped as it is. < Did you ever hear of the two English gays? Gerald Fitzwilliam and William Fitzgerald. > I'm sorry. The devil made me say that. Granger was quite inconsolable after reading Travers' letter. That was sad. I had forgotten about Jeffers - was his assistance a variation on a "stiff upper lip"? Ok, stop teasing us, Mark. Bring on Granger and Calvert!!!

A great opening chapter! I hope Poulin and his privateers are successful. Sounds like Granger needs his purse replenished. I'm hoping Ranger isn't the type to bring his "catch" back to his master for praise. I'm thinking Winkler and Ranger may provide some comic relief on this long voyage. Speaking of long voyages, there's no way Granger will survive that long trip without some man-love. The menu seems to be shaping up nicely. So who is this senior midshipman? I trust Granger will express his expectations very clearly before allowing the young lad to join his ship.

I want to stalk the person who voted for Robbie to die. Kindly identify yourself so I may do so!

Well, Tiger, you most certainly did call it. But, think of all the disappointed gay men out there. Superb story, Mark!

I'm not opposed to Cody and Brian hooking up but I don't think it's in the cards. Needless to say, though, Cody will sleep with Brian. It seems that's what gay men in this story do; they sleep with Cody. I think I'd enjoy a Cody-narrated story, but again, it's not in the cards. Although Cody will likely continue to be in the story. Brian is a good bet, though. My preference would be Brad or Robbie. Given Ace's reaction to the re-made Brian in chap 24, I could see him taking a walk on the wild side. His biological dad did! Then again, he's married and stuff. Chapter 24 saw things calm down; everyone seems happy. What's up with that??? I know we're close to the end here; but there's room for a little more drama!

So, if Felicia is there, then the other 4 must also be "her" men. I'm hoping the General is one of those 4. He can fly the plane if it comes to that. The ruse used to get them on the Scar's plane was absolute genious. Seeing that the only events I have predicted so far involve pool parties, I'm going to go all out here and predict that the good guys will beat the bad guys! Not bad, eh? I'm also going to predict that there will be a happy ending! Not only that, but the ending will involve certain characters performing erotic dancing in a brand new dance club. I'm hoping the dancers will be wet, one way or another.

Happy B-Day, Your Froginess!!

I absolutely roared laughing throughout that chapter! Stef was in fine form! Excellent, Mark!

I'm thinking old bob would just like some acknowledgement from the site management for riding in on his white steed and chastising the would be pronographer sending him running for the hills with his porn tale between his legs. I propose that for the next annual GA Author Awards that there be created a special category called, "Best Performance by a GA member in a Censorship role." Bob will certainly get my nomination.

So, you call this an interesting twist, do you? Tell that to JP! A slight understatement, I must say. More like "twister" - you know, that interesting breeze that got Dorothy out of Kanas for a while. So if Bill Hendrickson were to have a nickname, it would be Billy "Spread-my-seed-far-and-wide" Hendrickson! Billy obviously never learned how to wrap his whopper. The first question that comes to mind is why didn't Brian's mom slap a paternity suit on Bill? The man had money and no doubt would have paid up, if only to avoid a scandal. I'm glad that JP wants to acknowledge his brother and come out of the closet over all this. Secrets always suck, I say. I believe JP's "kids" should know. When it comes to being a bastard, shame is the real killer I really enjoy having Brad in this story.

This is a clue, right? I don't get it. ...and my head is hurting again. :wacko:

Before making a judgement, I want to know if the sex was consensual and safe. Did you ever hear the one about the Great Dane and his scantily clad mistress? The folks at Sesame Street can now add a new verse to their song, "People in our Neighbourhood".

Ok, Nephylim, tell us what you really think! Sounds like you've spent some time in the trenches. I don't see Maslow's hierarchy of needs as "truth". It's simply one model for understanding human behaviour. There are a multitude of such models. Some will work for us, others won't. In my view, a model that works is one that causes you to act. It helps to have a goal in mind. Asking esoteric questions such as, "Who am I?" are not really helpful. It's just a lot of belly button gazing. Who we are lies in how we act. Plain and simple. There are for more useful questions to ask. Like, "What makes me happy?" Too many of us spend our time reacting. Even more of us spend our time standing still. Fear is the killer. I accept that there's darkness within me. Me and the seven deadly sins are not strangers. Sock it to me, Lust! However, I have no intention of embracing it. My goal is to do good. To forgive myself (quickly) when I mess up and get back to doing good. I like to spend a good chunk of time being "wild". It's good for my soul. It's energizing. Wildness, of course, comes in many forms. I don't think "self-actualization" is ever achieved. It's a moving target. If you actually get there, then what would you do?

That was a happy chapter. I believe the burden of proof carried by the prosection in any criminal proceeding is "beyond a reasonable doubt". "Beyond the shadow of a doubt" would simply be too onerous. The same standard exists here in Canada. Who should I bill for this legal opinion?

While brave, Eric's rescue mission seems rather foolhardy. What's really sad though is that Jim, Linda and the Private are already dead. Only the nukes remain to be be rescued. Jerry will not part with the nukes; that's a given. The only possibility I see here for any success would be Jerry's men, who aren't overly loyal to begin with, deciding that Jerry's not worth it anymore and hand over the nukes. Maybe even hand over Jerry. They would still have the plane for a possible escape. Maybe Jerry's men will dig a big hole, fill it with ash, and then kick Jerry in the ash-hole. I'm sorry, the devil made me say that. When Eric said, "Tell Jansen that I love him...." I melted.

I have, but that was back in the bad old days when there was light and dark. It was alledged that I was rude to someone. They don't supply lawyers around here, only jailors and probation officers. You're right, though, it works.

Steve's in a Calgary hospital. I must say that "gunshot and stabbing wounds" does seem odd. There certainly hasn't been anything like that in the news. If the Calgary Stampede is on, that may explain it. Chuck wagon races can get ugly quickly. No one gets shot or stabbed though. Maybe someone was making a movie in the hospital's OR that takes place in Detroit. :wacko: