25 August 2013

Notes - 334 words on Grandma 21 / Grandma 21 completed



         You finished your walk at Pine Hill Lakes Park and Carol is still working on hers, which is much longer of course. You have a very pleasant Sunday morning, which a few others are also enjoying at the park. Not a cloud in the sky and the humidity isn't up so several small private planes have been up and about leaving engine noise wake along the way. Let's work on Grandma 21. - Amorella

         1100 hours. I am surprised that you feel I am ready for writing. I feel like I'm vegging a bit today. We do have the windows open though. The cats love sitting in the screened windows and it was very comfortable sitting, eating breakfast and reading the Sunday paper. This, it appears, will be our outdoor activity for the day as the heat and humidity are on the rise; and Carol already requested we have a stop for cold drinks at McD's on Kings Mill Road before home. A stop at Kroger's on Kings Mill before home.

         1328 hours. I have transcribed 332 on Grandma 21.
        
         Time for a break, son, and lunch, no doubt. Drop in what you have and post. - Amorella

***
Grandma’s Story - Twenty-One  ©2013, rho wkg. draft           

“Today we meet Merlyn,” announced Renaldo, “if he is at the encircled stone as we’ve been told."

"What good will he do for church stories. He's only half converted from what I understand."

"Natural religions are easily altered to Christian faith, if Merlyn is indeed half Christian then his stories may be also. Besides," said Renaldo slyly, "the stories give him an edge so we can see how it goes."

"He knows Greek and Latin. That's a plus." She paused in consideration. "If we do happen to meet him, let's begin in Greek."

"It is hard to know what manner of man he is other than he is clothed in rumors."

"Let's go with tall, lanky, unkempt and wild-like fellow," laughed Criteria, "sitting on a like minded horse."

"Sounds like most any Celt of Welsh or Scot descent one might comes across in this hill country," chuckled Renaldo.

Further along Criteria and Renaldo slowed their horses when they spied a man glancing back while running ahead on the right. “I wonder if that him,” said Renaldo. “He looks the part.”

Tall, slender with wild reddish hair and those ridiculous gray trousers. From here they look to be a hundred years old, thought Criteria. Finally, Criteria shouted, “Would you like a ride?”

To which the running man replied in Greek, “I have two legs, no need of four more.”

She slowed her horse to a walk while declaring in Greek, "You are Merlyn."

He slowed his pace, smiled politely and in Greek added, “What bee your pleasure, m’Lady?" A quick pause, then, "Who bee your Roman companion?"

            Criteria softened and as if by previous signal Renaldo came forward and speaking in Latin, "I am Renaldo a priest and this is my companion Criteria. We collect stories for Rome."

            "Celtic stories?" responded Merlyn in classical Latin.

Good naturedly, Renaldo answered, "Any stories. We understand you never tell the same tale twice. He gestured and said, "You may ride my horse and I will with Criteria ride."

334 words


***


          You had a late lunch at Smashburgers and drove about the outskirts of town looking at newer homes. Presently you are facing west, sitting in the shade at the far north lot of Pine Hill Lakes Park. Carol is on page 50 of Brown's Low Pressure. You are wondering how Grandma's 21 is going to unfold as there is a section with Vivian in the picture with Merlyn and Criteria and Renaldo.

         1509 hours. It sounds interesting to do but in the original the set up is with who Vivian is, or rather, was in the original. --  (1527) - I have pulled lines, some 1660 words from the original soul cut to add to come to a conclusion of only about 440 more. This is a lot of condensing and deleting but I feel it fits within the story, at least as of now. What do you think, Amorella?

         You are between two parallel tracks, boy, and even if condensed it would still need a 'kicker' to end the segment with. - Amorella

         I need a break then.

         First, I will go through with what you have here, these 1660 words some of which are from your soul's bones. We will complete Grandma's 21 today. Take your break. Carol is on page 77 of Low Pressure; thus showing the sense of time in another's personal setting. - Amorella

         1559 hours. We are home. Carol is watering the flowers; the recycle and waste bins are outside by the garage and I swept the garage floor. It is a beautiful and warm August day in Mason, Ohio.

         1707 hours. I am ready to continue with Grandma 21.

         Good, let's get to it.- Amorella

         You had left over stuffed peppers for supper, watched the news and a recent "Suits". Since you have been working on Grandma 21 and find yourself surprised at its completion. -Amorella

         2213 hours.  I cannot at this moment tell what it says as the words are still jumbled about my head. I am not sure it draws a straight line from beginning to end, but the concluding prophecy for Merlyn is a twist I enjoy, at least at the moment. Holistically, the segment appears to make sense but this is the story without the words attached. Surely this must sound odd, but someplace within I understand this segment without a word from memory. - rho

         Interesting, boy; but I don't know what you want me to do about it. Add Grandma 21 then post. No more tonight. - Amorella

***
Grandma’s Story 21 ©2013, rho, draft for GMG.Vol.1

            Both were surprise to find Merlyn leading them from the main road to an unobserved grassy path where the walked the horses in an awkward quietness for most of the afternoon. As they were coming upon a rise Merlyn said, "This travel has been for the comfort of the Lady. We are about to enter the grounds of the Stones where I have royal guests.

            Ever so politely Criteria asked, "How did you guess my royalty, Merlyn?"

            “The voice, m’Lady, "undresses the disguise. I know these things, as did my predecessor Taliesin-the-Bard.

            “I cannot tell where you are from Merlyn,” said Criteria in a flirtatious mood.

            “I set my dialect to match your own m’Lady, it is a part of my stock and trade.”

            In undisguised resentment Renaldo interrupted, “We are here, Sir, on behalf of Rome to transcribe and collect stories for the Bishop.”           

            "I am not one for titles, Renaldo," quipped Merlyn. "My interest here is building blood. You see the three ladies standing by the pond. They are of the House of Avallon, you two shall meet these sisters first."

            Hesitant, Criteria declared, "My uncle was King in Greece. However, my work is common within the Church of Rome."

            "Royal blood rises or falls together," grumbled Merlyn. Shortly we will be done with this.

            Should I begin with Holy Island or Merlyn, thought Criteria upon approaching the three with Merlyn at her side. The Queen, Igraine, smiling and extending her hand in kindly tone said, "I am glad Merlyn invited you, Prince Criterion of Greece."

            Having forgot who she really was, Criteria stood momentarily startled.

            "Please meet my sisters, Morgause and Viviane."

            "Did you ever meet the Bishop of Rome, himself, Prince Criterion?" asked Morgause.

            She showed them her ring, "You are charmingly social overwhelmingly friendly," commented Criteria, "I am sure we are in some ways cousins and share blood, but first you need know this is but a disguise for Rome and safer travel. No one knows of my womanhood save Renaldo my priestly companion."

            Upon the further introduction Queen Igraine modestly whispered for all to hear, "Your secret is frozen within us. What secret is it in the man that you the woman now know?"

            First, the laughter then the quiet talk, concluded Merlyn as the chat meandered into the great house for further discussion. 
           
            In due time Morgause commented, “we are envious of our sister, but it is our husbands’ fault not hers. The men do not have the ambitions we three have.”

            “You work within Columba’s league,” suggested Criteria.

            “We work within the Celtic church. We are women of the old ways because of our mother. We did not always get along with her, and we do not get along with each other. This meeting is political theatre.”

            Deciding she could put her trust in them, Criteria said, “Merlyn told me he has a plan.”

            “Merlyn always has a plan,” laughed Viviane. “He said the spirits will be here with us when he tells his story.”

            Criteria reflected aloud, “He didn’t tell me he had a story to tell.”

            In a while with Criteria and Renaldo, Morgause, seemingly alone, commented, “We are envious of our sister, but it is our husbands’ fault not hers. The men do not have the ambitions we three have.”

            With this Criteria abruptly commented, “You work within Columba’s league against Rome.”

            “We are Greek also,” replied Igraine in quick surprise to her younger sister, “Our line flows from Abraham and Sarah through Troy.”

            “I know you have Greek blood through Princess Argotta,” said Criteria. “We are no doubt cousins, but the Church feels you have a story of another notable bloodline.”

            More quietly Morgause noted, “We have the blood of Joseph of Arimathea.”

            "And," added Viviane with Merlyn at her side, "perhaps James, the brother of Jesus."

            Queen Igraine coldly eyed Merlyn while adding sarcastically, “We use the Dead as they use us."

            Suddenly standing as stone among these few, Merlyn's eyes rolled into the top of his head and he thought these unscheduled prophetic words he could not, in those days of life, come to say aloud.

In these books Grandma has the gift of gab,
For Merlyn’s crystal to send this private confab;
The Dead speak short; the Dead speak true,
This fiction, my earthy child is set in you.

724 words
***

No comments:

Post a Comment