Notes - for 77 words plus 223 more on Dead 14 /

         Early afternoon. You and Carol are sitting facing southwest towards Muddy Creek and the woody hills that are a quarter of a mile or so down from the earth dam at Pine Hill Lakes Park. No longer any snow but the water is up more.

         1401 hours. Very pleasant partly cloudy early Spring day. I am ready to have Merlyn tell his story. I don't know what you are going to do with it Amorella but I'm sure I will be more than satisfied. - rho

         This is unlike you, boy. No more defiance? - Amorella

         I see myself as mostly (in life) defiant about injustice. Many pets are treated more humanely than people are treated and for that matter treat themselves. It doesn't seem to be a proper way to live, but the less injustice the better. Anyway, it is better (for me) to be a small stage of fiction. You come to this planet naked; you leave with nothing but a spirited passion at least that is how it is in these works. Merlyn has a story to tell so let him continue to go at it whether it raises hell or high water in my mind. I'm not going to drown over it. I am not angry. Most of the old seven vices are a waste of energy and ultimately appear to come to no good. I am a very lazy man on that score.

         Are you done? - Amorella

         Yes, I'm done. (1426)

         Let's go to it. - Amorella

         1454 hours. I have an opening paragraph of 77 words.

         Carol is on page 152 of American Wife. You have stepped into the water without getting your feet wet. Interesting, huh? - Amorella

         Such humor. I love your humor Amorella.

         Deposit what you have, boy, all seventy-eight words. - Amorella

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The Dead 14

         Merlyn lay in his bed, in his hut within his predominantly private spiritual environs. He is unable to sleep, as many of the Dead, at peace. When a dignified otherworldly ghostly composition rests as a slab of earthly granite sheorhe is the best spiritual peace HeavenOrHellBothOrNeither have to offer. That's what Merlyn's fellow Dead say. Merlyn grumbles, "I am no more a princely pebble than the commonest of headstones this, my black night of our most natural rest."   78 w

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         1503 hours. I would not have suspected such words in such an order.

         Nor did you, boy. - Amorella

         I find it amusing that Merlyn the dreamer cannot bring himself to sleep. 

         To a peaceful sleep. - Amorella

         I have in my life some nights awoke at two or three in the morning and stared at the ceiling until four or five. Most of this time is spent in a dimension of wondering. The origin of 'wonder' is:

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Old English wundor (noun), wundrian (verb), of Germanic origin; related to Dutch wonder and German 

Wunder, of unknown ultimate origin.

From: Oxford-American Mac software

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         My definition of 'wonder' in this 'staring at the bedroom ceiling' context is: "to be curious to know something unexpected, unfamiliar or inexplicable". - rho

         1518 hours. I remember, in humor, one of my seventh/eighth grade wonderments. If I hold both hands up towards the ceiling and move my thumbs to touch the palms of my hands, I am as alien, that is unearthly because I do not have thumbs. Then I imagine my forefingers and little fingers work as thumbs, and I become more reasonably alien with such a little change, and surely four thumbs are better than two.

         You cannot think of a better example and I am not surprised. - Amorella

         That was at the ages of 11, 12 and 13, but sometimes at night I will hold my hands up the same way and hide my thumbs and still come up with those same old thoughts that spring a mild smile to my silent lips.

         There is a time not long ago you would not have made such an honest and private confession. - Amorella

         One cannot be embarrassed by how one is. I am sure everyone has such private curiosities.

         No question about that, boy. I can assure you. - Amorella

         I am ready to take a break for so little as 77 words. (1530)

         By all means, young man. Enjoy the scene you find yourself in. Post when convenient. - Amorella

         2112 hours. I have another 222 words I added another to the first paragraph so a total of 300 words presently.

         You and Carol split a half of a large Papa John's special pizza for supper as usual. Both of you have been tossing things out for the trash and recycle cans for morning. You watched another of your shows, "Grimm".  The time has flown by today as it is an hour shorter. Drop in what you have of Dead 14; we should finish it tomorrow and move on to Brothers 14; then a break and you complete three more audio chapters for Thursday. Post. - Amorella                          

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The Dead 14 draft - © rho

          Merlyn lay in his bed, in his hut within his predominantly private spiritual environs. He is unable to sleep, as many of the Dead, at peace. When a dignified otherworldly ghostly composition rests as a slab of earthly granite sheorhe is the best spiritual peace HeavenOrHellBothOrNeither have to offer. That's what Merlyn's fellow Dead say. Merlyn grumbles, "I am no more a princely pebble than the commonest of headstones this, my black night of our most natural rest." 

         This questioning place, seemingly in my head, is no place different than it was when I was alive. In my mind one definition of character is defining one's most troubling question and then focusing until a reasonable response is forthcoming, a response one can live or be dead with. Once in life a young druidess came to my lean-to shelter deep in the oak forest and said, "I am searching for wisdom while attempting to define love. I was told to seek you out, thus here I am."

         I remember smiling, mostly of surprise. I said, "What is your name child?" I said it as if I were asking my own grandchild (of which I had none), "What is your name child?"

         She quite clearly, as clear as a mountain stream, politely and melodiously replied, "Vivian. My name is Vivian."

         In a forest of hard wooded honesty I said, "Why did you repeat your name just now? Are you not sure who you are?" She was either underwhelmed or overwhelmed, I could not be sure. I stated directly to her clearly green-rimmed dark pupils enclosed in the fair blink of healthy white as Celtic lids and long as the night dark lashes as her teacher not as a grandfather. "You have to define yourself before you can define either wisdom or love." 

300 words

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         This is coming along fine, Amorella. I always expect the worst. I remember my later muse, the one I see on occasion, usually for tea and scones, she said (paraphrased), 'Don't make me a bad person, someone who does or did terrible things.' It would have never occurred for me to do that and it was easy to quickly promise that I would not. None of these characters are actually real people as such. One or two in the first trilogy were actually yanked from Shakespeare's plays. I have read enough literature in my lifetime to be able to mix the real with the fiction so no one I have ever known who might find a splinter or two of themselves within any of these works should know that there is a splinter of myself in each one also. I love my family, my friends and my two kind muses heart-first. 

        You have read and erased a 'for your eyes only'. You understand the basic question surrounded these Merlyn books and blog. The six novels will show you the answer because when the books are completed you will know who you are so that you, like Merlyn's Vivian, can better define wisdom and love on your own terms. - Amorella

      This I can handle. Thank you, Amorella. - rho