[Seventh Seal] Chapter 4 - Page 56

Row 1 Box1 Pete shrieks with anger.

Pete: HEY!

Row 1 Box 2 The cop shouts at them from behind the car.

Cop: Stop where you are! The next shot won’t miss!

Row 1 Box 3 Pete looks at Jesra.

Pete: Maybe we should…

Row 2 Box 1 Vesuvius throws his hands up in the air.

Vesuvius: We don’t have time for this! If we don’t stop Horus none of this will matter. We have to find the third seal.

Row 2 Box 1 The cop shouts at the two kids.

Cop: Lay down on the ground. Now!

Row 2 Box 2 Jesra looks at the cop and at Vesuvius.

Row 2 Box 3 She nods to Vesuvius and starts to run.

Row 2 Box 4 The cop shoots the gun again.

Row 3 Box 1 Jesra falls down and the cop stands up. From the cops perspective he hit Jesra.

Row 3 Box 2 Sluice stands up and rubs his back, he is clearly standing over Jesra.

Sluice: That stings.

Row 3 Box 3 A cop car pulls around the corner where Pete and Jesra are standing opposite to the cop who is shooting behind the over turned car.

Row 4 Box 1 Another cop car turns around a third corner.

Row 4 Box 2 Pete looks very concerned.

Pete: We’re…surrounded!

[Seventh Seal] Chapter 4 - Page 55

Row 1 Box 1 Jesra looks at Vesuvius.

Jesra: I only took what I needed to survive.

Row 1 Box 2 Vesuvius uncrosses his arms and smiles wider.

Vesuvius: Well why didn't you say that? We just kind of assumed the two of you didn't really have any useful skills.

Row 1 Box 3 Jesra looks really annoyed at him.

Jesra: No useful skills? And you’re some Harry Houdini?

Row 2 Box 1 One cop car drives down the street. Siren flashing.

Row 2 Box 2 Another cop car joins the first in a different part of the city.

Row 2 Box 3 A third cop car joins the other two.

Row 3 Box 1 Vesuvius laughs.

Vesuvius: I've been training for this for centuries. And I've been fighting in this war for ninety years.

Row 3 Box 2 Sluice looks worried and looks at Vesuvius and Jesra.

Sluice: We should go. Now.

Row 3 Box 3 Vesuvius looks at Sluice smiling.

Row 3 Box 4 Close up of Sluice’s face, very unhappy.

Row 4 Box 1 Vesuvius stops smiling.

Row 4 Box 2 Vesuvius sighs.

Row 4 Box 3 Vesuvius looks at Jesra.

Vesuvius: Alright. Let’s get out of here.

Row 4 Box 4 Copy from behind the thrown car shoots and barely misses Pete.

Precyber - Chapter 19

Emily runs out of time.

Check out this episode!

[Seventh Seal] Chapter 4 - Page 54

Row 1 The cop yells and dodges out of the way.

Row 2 Box 1 Vesuvius looks at Jesra.

Vesuvius: Why are the police after you?

Row 2 Box 2 Jesra looks embarrassed and looks up with her hand behind her head.

Row 2 Box 3 Jesra looks at Vesuvius.

Jesra: Well…I’m kind of a thief.

Row 2 Box 4 Vesuvius smiles but crosses his arms.

Vesuvius: Kind of?

Row 3 Box 1 The cop yells into the radio.

Row 3 Box 2 The operator looks concerned.

Row 3 Box 3 The operator talks into the radio.

Row 4 Panel broken up of several cops in subdivided panel receiving the message, looking concerned.

Radio Message: Known Suspect. Jesra Lopolis, On Strength Enhancing Drugs. Threw a Car at Responding Officer.

One of the Officers in the Panel: Car?!

[Seventh Seal] Chapter 4 - Page 53

Row 1 Box 1 The group of heroes goes around a corner.

Row 1 Box 2 A policeman looks at them but only sees Pete and Jesra. Angle must be obvious enough to imply that the policeman can’t see Vesuvius or Sluice even though they are right in front of him.

Row 1 Box 3 Jesra spots the policeman and looks nervous.

Row 1 Box 4 The policeman looks at Jesra and begins to move towards them.

Row 2 Box 1 Jesra looks at Pete.

Jesra: Run!

Pete: Huh?!

Row 2 Box 2 Vesuvius rolls his eyes.

Row 2 Box 3 Vesuvius looks at Sluice, “We don’t have time for this. Can you take care of them?”

Row 2 Box 4 Sluice nods and starts to reach for a car.

Row 3 & Row 4 – Shown from policeman’s angle where it appears that Jesra is lifting the car because she hands in the air due to yelling at Pete. The car is upside down at an angle, held by Vesuvius, but also is an homage to the old Superman comic cover of issue 1. (If this is artistically impossible or ugly, just so an invisible car over Pete and Jesra’s head upside down heading toward the cop.)

Precyber - Chapter 18

Visit 2 to the discussion of most importance.

Check out this episode!

[Seventh Seal] Chapter 4 - Page 52

Row 1 A portal opens and Jesra, Pete, Sluice and Vesuvius walk through into a crowded area. No one seems to notice. Vesuvius is riding Jesra’s shoulder.

Row 2 Box 1 Jesra looks at Vesuvius.

Jesra: Are you sure that no one can see us?

Vesuvius: Yup.

Jesra: And they can’t see Pete or I either?

Vesuvius: Er…mabye.

Jesra: And it will wear off.

Vesuvius: Yup.

Jesra: So what do we do next?

Row 2 Box 2 Close up of Vesuvius looking sheepish.

Vesuvius: I don’t know. I mean….we need to find the third seal. But beyond what the little bright light says, this time I’m clueless. Sometimes we can learn little things that can help…but in this case…your guess is as good as mine.

Row 3 Box 1 Sluice growls and sits down in frustration on a nearby curve.

Vesuvius hops up on his shoulder.

Row 3 Box 2 Vesuvius pats Sluice’s neck.

Vesuvius: I understand big guy.

Amanda: Understand what?

Vesuvius: We’re not normally this in the dark. We normally have a lot of time to investigate this kind of thing, but now….

Amanda: You don’t know what to do.

Vesuvius: Yeah pretty much. For some reason we’re having problems finding the third seal.

New Story for Sale on Amazon.Com

Castles in the Air and Cursebreaker

Cursebreaker is about a girl who works with her father to break the fire mage lock on firearms by making a weapon that does not need fire based gunpowder. The mages don't care but she can defend herself and uses the new weapon to do so. 

Castles in the Air is about Elery, who lives in the besieged human town of Spielglase, who is tested by the elves and thinks she is to learn magic. On the way, however, she is given a rude shock and works to return home.


Other items for sale include:

The epic poem I, Odysseus.

A collection of poems: Spiders in the Sugar Factory.

The demented children's book, Billy's First Bolt Gun.

The previously published stories Waiting For the Monsters to Die and Mr. Hamburger.

The highly magical setting book, the Fate of Inglemia.

And the Poetry collection, Chaff in the Gear Box.

[Seventh Seal] Chapter 4 - Page 59

Row 1 Box 1 Slither whispers in Amanda’s ear again. Amanda looks curious.

Row 1 Box 2 Amanda looks up and then out through the window at Forsalio.

Amanda: Yes. You’re right. We can do some more things to distract him.

Row 1 Box 3 She looks over at a group of three scantily clad women.

Row 1 Box 4 Amanda gets a broad wicked grin.

Amanda: And I think I have just the thing in mind.

Row 2 Box 1 The scene shifts to Klerely who looks into a window at a music box forlornely.

Row 2 Box 2 Wider shot shows several confused police officers looking around desperately.

Cop 1: Maybe they used a helicopter?

Cop 2: Did you SEE a helicopter?

Cop 1: No.

Cop 1: Then shut up.

Row 3 Box 1 Klerely looks at the officers as they walk by, interested for a moment.

Row 3 Box 2 Klerely looks forlornly back at the music box.

Row 3 Box 3 Close up of her face, looking well worn and sad. She sighs.

Row 3 Box 4 Klerely moves on past the window.

Row 4 Box 1 Sluice lands in a small park, scattering flowers and a bit of concrete in all directions.

Row 4 Box 2 He gently sets the other three down though the looked slightly stunned.

Row 4 Box 3 Pete and Jesra slowly stand up, trying to orient themselves.

Pete: Was that really necessary?

Row 4 Box 4 Sluice looks chagrined and looks down.

[Seventh Seal] Chapter 4 - Page 51

Row 1 Box 1 Forsalio looks at Amanda. He looks down at some papers.

Forsalio: I will want to have my cousin take a look at this…

Row 1 Box 2 Amanda looks at him.

Amanda: Your cousin?

Row 1 Box 3 Forasolio tries to look impressive and fails.

Forsalio: He’s a lawyer.

Row 2 Box 1 Amanda looks surprised a moment.

Row 2 Box 2 Amanda suddenly bursts out laughing. Slither laughs in the background.

Row 2 Box 3 Forsalio looks annoyed.

Forsalio: What’s so funny?

Row 3 Box 1 Amanda laughs a bit less.

Amanda: No, nothing. I understand your concern. I was just worried you had changed your mind and was glad you didn’t.

Row 3 Box 2 Forsalio still looks dubious.

Forsalio: Oh.

Row 3 Box 3 Amanda waves to Forsalio as he walks off.

Row 3 Box 4 Amanda and Slither both look at each other again.

Row 3 Box 5 They both start laughing again.

Precyber Chapter 17

Mr. Pitts learns that his profession has hazards.  Clarke plays detective.

Check out this episode!

[Seventh Seal] Chapter 4 - Page 50

Row 1 Wide Box 1 – Police officer watching Amanda and Forsalio speak with a jack hammer in the background.

Row 1 Box 3 Forsalio frowns.

Forsalio: I don’t know…

Row 1 Box 4 Amanda puts her hand on his shoulder and smiles.

Amanda: You can trust us.

Row 1 Box 5 Forsalio looks slightly less convinced and says something.

Forsalio: That is what all of your people say.

Row 2 Box 1 Amanda looks rather annoyed.

Amanda: Of course you can. We’ve already -

Row 2 Box 2 Forsalio laughs.

Forsalio: Really?

Row 2 Box 3 Amanda puts on a fake smile and says something but is cut off.

Row 2 Box 4 Forsalio looks VERY angry.

Forsalio: Don’t you LIE to me.

Row 2 Box 5 Amanda looks innocent.

Amanda: But I’m not.

Row 3 Box 1 Wide – Jackhammer stops and guy starts to replace it.

Row 3 Box 2 Forsalio points a finger at Amanda.

Forsalio: Don’t you lie to me! I can tell you’re up to something!

Row 3 Box 3 Slither skips up Forsalio’s arm.

Row 3 Box 4 Forsalio looks terrified.

Forsalio: “What’s that?”

Row 3 Box 5 Slither moves to Forsalio’s right shoulder while Forsalio looks right.

Row 4 Box 1 Amanda puts her hand on Forsalio’s right shoulder.

Amanda: Everything is fine. Its just your imagination.

Row 4 Box 2 Forsalio looks at his shoulder only to see Amanda’s hand there.

Forsalio: I suppose…

Row 4 Box 3 Amanda puts her other hand on Forsalio’s shoulder and looks deeply into his eyes.

Amanda: So will you accept our offer?

Row 4 Box 4 Forsalio looks dejected, as if he should not be doing what he is doing but can’t understand why.

Forsalio: Of…course…I suppose.

Row 4 Box 5 Amanda smiles as her eyes glow a bit.

Amanda: Excellent.   

[Seventh Seal] Chapter 4 - Page 49

Row 1 Box 1 A toy monkey is squashed by an accordion.

Row 1 Box 2 A large cement block smashes the toy to bits, dropped from the top of the panel.

Row 1 Box 3 A tiny child looks down at the toy, water filling their eyes.

Row 2 Box 1 A construction worker looks down at the child, looks sad and shrugs.

Row 2 Box 2 Forsalio looks at them and at Amanda in the distance.

Forsalio: This hardly looks like benevolent progress to me. And besides…I like the open air. The exercise. Its good for me.

Row 2 Box 3 Amanda rolls her eyes.

Row 2 Box 4 Amanda looks down at the ground suddenly, “What in the world is that?”

Row 3 Box 1 Forsalio looks confused and looks down.

Forsalio: Huh?

Row 3 Box 2 Amanda reaches over and casts a stun bolt at the construction worker.

Row 3 Box 3 The construction worker falls down unconscious and the child giggles.

Row 4 Box 1 Amanda points at the giggling child.

Amanda: See? She’s fine.

Row 4 Box 2 Forsalio looks dubious.

Forsalio: I guess. But why me?

Row 4 Box 3 Amanda puts her arm behind Forsalio and leads him off.

Amanda: Think of how many people you’ll be employing.

[Naked City Atlanta] The Pounding of the Kazoos -"Obsession"

Author's Note: Even now, as I post this, Naked City Atlanta is going on.  The word this month is Obsession.  Even though I can't be there, I'm writing this post to appear as if I were there in spirit.

There it was, the pounding of the kazoos, throbbing in my brain; an obsession that I could not get rid of.  Some people who look at the polar vortex gain a deep insight into the weather of the world; and some go mad.  Some just start running and never stop.  I'm one of the ones that went berserk.

It started small, you must understand.  The weather department at a news station is small, usually consisting of one or two people.  KQWAK was a bit larger than most, given the major metropolitan area that was Bismark North Dakota, so we had four.  Alright, perhaps it wasn't the size of our city so much as the fact that we had weather that was chaotic...and the weather girls were all rather attractive.  Except myself. I am neither a girl nor am I attractive.

But I was here first.

I stared at the vortex as it swirled and swirled on my little screen, phantomly imposed on the green-screen as I stared at it, pointing it out with my laser pen.  I was talking about the polar bears in the air as I stood in front of a stupid screen.  I was naked, baring my soul to these people.  And they didn't think it was real...the monstrous ursine cacophony soaring up above the stratosphere, ready to turn us all into so much lunch chow.

I'm not supposed to care about this.  A polar vortex is just a weather term for air that decides to go south for the winter in a place it never should be, but I know the polar bears are angry.  I said, I said to the guy I bought my car from, I said, "I want something that looks great and gets really shitty gas millage!  Fuck the environment!"  And I did, because you wouldn't believe what you can earn standing in front of a green screen and pretending you know what the hell you're talking about.  Fine, so I paid that little pimple for the answers to every test, but have you seen the other women in the news room?

I mean seriously.

And weather groupies?  I mean, there is nothing like getting serviced with a girl just in college who goes all gushy like a fruitloop with the magical words,"Castroverius Cumulonimbus Cirrico."  Seriously.  Clouds.  Tell them you're on TV and mention a few cloud names to them and they're all over you.

So I'm driving in my new car, hot blond on the carpet content as can be, humming with the hummer, and I shit you not, there is this coca cola billboard, and this polar bear, this polar bear is staring at me, as if I have personally

The bears, their claws,
The bears, their maws
The whirling vortex of infinite doom
I spot beneath myself a white wasteland
Where none, but the most incompetent
Let the people run free
Frozen in their tracks
Frozen in their cars
Frozen in all of the ways that matter
And I know,
I know in my heart
That I have been eaten by the bears
And they have stolen my soul.

What does it mean? What does it all mean?

Not a god damn thing except that I need to finish my coffee and that I need to get somewhere considerably warmer.  I wonder what the pay is for weather men in Miami....

Precyber - Chapter 16

Clarke meets Che and Fidel.  

Check out this episode!

Seventh Seal - Chapter 3 - Page 48

Row 1 – Vesuvius, Pete, Jesra and Sluice all look at each other and smile, with confidence. A portal lies beyond them.

Row 2 Box 1

Amanda looks at Forsalio.

Amanda: I have a financial proposition for you. Have you ever considered opening a chain of restaurants?

Row 2 Box 2 Forsalio puts his hand under his chin.

Row 2 Box 3 Forsalio grins, it is clear that he loves the idea. The greed is visible in his eyes.

Forsalio: I’m listening.

Row 3 Box 1 The portal darkens and dry cracks appear over the surface.

Row 3 Box 2 (Wide) The portal pops like a soap bubble and suddenly Vesuvius, Sluice, Amanda and Pete look rather worried.

Seventh Seal - Chapter 3 - Page 47

Row 1 Box 1 Amanda and Slither step out of the portal in front of the museum. It is daylight.

Row 1 Box 2 Amanda points out Forsalio to Slither.

Amanda: There he is.

Row 1 Box 3 Slither snickers and follows behind her as it shows all but Amanda’s ankle off panel.

Row 2 Box 1 Amanda walks up to Forsalio and taps him on the shoulder.

Row 2 Box 2 Forsalio jumps and turns around.

Forsalio: Huh? Whazzat? Who? Where?

Row 2 Box 3 Forsalio calms down. A little.

Forsalio: What, did you just pop out of thin air lady? Would you like a hot dog?

Row 3 Box 1 Amanda smiles wickedly.

Amanda: You could say something like that.

Row 3 Box 2 Forsalio looks a bit confused. Slither dances on the hot dog cart waving his arms and grinning but Forsalio doesn’t see him.

Forsalio: What?

Row 3 Box 3 Amanda smiles again, ignoring Slither. She puts her hand on Forsalio’s shoulder.

Amanda: Yes, I would like a hot dog. I imaging someone like you earns quite a bit of money at the hot dog game…

Chapter 15 - Precyber

Words spreads on Clarke.  Emily gets a message.

Check out this episode!

Seventh Seal - Chapter 3 - Page 46

Row 1 Box 1 Nungo, Jesra, Pete, Vesuvius and Sluice all sit around a well stocked, candle lit dining table.

Vesuvius: So then I said to the Fairy, ‘Why no officer, I don’t know where this elephant came from.’

Row 1 Box 2 (Wide) Everyone laughs out loud.

Row 2 Box 1 Jesra and Pete look at each other romantically.

Row 2 Box 2 Vesuvius elbows Sluice knowingly and smiles.

Row 2 Box 3 Sluice smiles and elbows Vesuvius knowingly.

Row 2 Box 4 Vesuvius flies through the air.

Row 3 Box 1 Pete has a shocked and concerned look on his face.

Row 3 Box 2 Vesuvius lands in a large bowl of mashed potatoes.

Row 3 Box 3 Potatoes cover Nungo’s face. He does not look happy.

Row 4 Box 1 Jesra starts to giggle.

Row 4 Box 2 (wide) Everyone is laughing again, even Nungo.

Seventh Seal - Chapter 3 - Page 45

Horus’s Throne Room

Row 1 Box 1 – Horus looks into the pool and frowns at the sign of the seven in the sky.

Row 1 Box 2 – Slither and Amanda watch very quietly and nervously from the sidelines.

Row 1 Box 3 – Horus looks into the pool and sees a flame douse though it is vague and featureless since he cannot scry into their realm just yet.

Row 1 Box 4 – Horus frowns.

Row 2 Box 1 – Slither and Amanda look at each other nervously. There is camaraderie in doom.

Row 2 Box 2 – Power begins to build up in Horus’s hands.

Row 2 Box 3 – Slither looks nervous but Amanda looks positively terrified but she is more afraid to flee than she is to stay. For now.

Row 3 Box 1 – Horus spots an empty space at the museum and looks puzzled a moment.

Row 3 Box 2 – Time winds backwards as the sands of an hourglass in the pool flow upward.

Row 3 Box 3 – Horus spots Amanda and Pete enter the portal after Vesuvius.

Row 3 Box 4 – Horus laughs and howls at the broken moon.

Row 4 Box 1- Horus waves his hand and dismisses the images in the pool.

Row 4 Box 2 -Horus looks at Amanda and Slither. Slither has no reaction at all, Amanda looks very careful.

Row 4 Box 3 -Horus opens a portal of his own and points toward it.

Horus: There is a seal lost to them. Go and seize the advantage. While there is still time.

Row 4 Box 4 - Amanda and Slither do not hesitate, and run for the portal as fast as they can.

Precyber Chapter 14

by T.C. Ricks and Ken Lightner

Check out this episode!

Seventh Seal - Chapter 3 - Page 44

Row 1 Box 1 Wideshot of Nungo Jesra and Pete

Jesra: What do you mean –

Pete: -Never had a seal here before?

Nungo: Pete is a seal. He’s someone is key to winning the battle on your world. Actually, both of you are, but the actual magic seems to lie with Pete.

Row 1 Box 2 Pete looks very upset.

Pete: What? I don’t want to be a seal.

Row 1 Box 3 Second Wide Shot, similar to the first but Jesra looks amused and more relaxed, whilst Pete looks more tense. Nungo has moved a little closer to Pete.

Jesra: I thought you liked fish.

Pete: Not now.

Jesra: If not now, when!

Pete: Quit it Jes. This is serious.

Row 2 Box 1 Jesra rolls her eyes.

Row 2 Box 2 Jesra looks at Pete.

Jesra: This became serious when you suddenly became a hero or something. That’s when you started taking it seriously.

Row 2 Box 3 Pete doesn’t say anything and looks up at the ceiling.

Row 3 Box 1 Nungo and Jesra talk to each other.

Jesra: So why don’t we stay here and help you? If Pete’s being here helps you then I don’t see why-

Nungo: Because the battle is on your world. Pete is only one of three seals. Staying here would only make things worse.

Row 3 Box 2 Sluice puts his hand on Pete’s shoulder. It’s a very large hand and a very small shoulder.

Sluice: Running away never solves anything. Have to fight.

Row 3 Box 3 Jesra looks at Pete.

Row 3 Box 4 Jesra looks at Nungo.

Jess: Then how do we win the fight?

Seventh Seal - Chapter 3 - Page 43

Row 1 Box 1 Jesra looks at Vesuvius.

Jesra: And?

Row 1 Box 2 Vesuvius looks confused.

Vesuvius: And what?

Row 1 Box 3 Jesra puts her hands on her hips.

Jesra: And what does that have to do with what has happened to Pete and I? Why we’re here, who you guys are and what’s up with our world?

Row 1 Box 4 Nungo chuckles and picks up Vesuvius to put him on his shoulder.

Nungo: So impatient. But I suppose you have a right to be.

Row 2 Box 1 Nungo looks up at Jesra and Pete.

Nungo: Your world, Earth, is the Seventh Seal between Horym and us.

Row 2 Box 2 Jesra bends down and puts her face in Nungo’s.

Jesra: So Earth gets to be the proxy in this?

Row 2 Box 3 Nungo doesn’t looked phased in the slightest.

Nungo: It just happened. It isn’t like people on your world don’t do that with other nations all the time.

Row 2 Box 4 Jesra looks doubtful.

Jesra: So? Does that give you an excuse?

Row 3 Box 1 Nungo laughs.

Nungo: Did I ever give you the impression that we claimed to be better? We do what we must.

Row 3 Box 2 Pete looks at Nungo.

Pete: Can we go home now?

Row 3 Box 3 Nungo laughs.

Nungo: Sure you can. We’re quite grateful to you.

Row 3 Box 4 Pete and Jesra look at each other.

Row 4 Box 1 Jesra looks at Nungo

Jesra: And that is because?

Row 4 Box 2 Nungo puts Vesuvius back down on the table.

Row 4 Box 3 Nungo points out the window which shows the smoldering ruins of the flame.

Row 4 Box 4 Nungo looks back at Pete and Jesra

Nungo: We’ve never had a seal in here before. Your presence help stop the Hoyrm. You saved us. Just by being here.

Precyber - Chapter 13

By T.C. Ricks and Ken Lightner

Coconut trouble of the Mary Variety.  Right here in Peach tree city and that stands for C.

Check out this episode!

Double Down Double Dead

By Me.

Author's Note: This was written for an anthology that alas will now never take place, in the universe of Fiona Skye.  It is set in the Night of Revelations universe.   While we're at it, here's my "page" as it were.  The yellowstone, dancing and "bardic" thing are not mine.  And Micronation is kind of awful.

This, I believe...isn't.

Double Down, Double Dead
by T.C. Ricks



Harvey Squeal could not believe the day he was having. The judge, looking down at him with those beady little pig eyes pronounced judgment, "I am sorry Mr Squeal, but the state of Ohio has no choice but to reject your appeal and declare that you remain legally dead."
"What?!" Harvey couldn't believe it. Maybe he shouldn't have tried to save money by being his own lawyer.
The judge threw up his hands,"Look. I am sorry. My hands are tied. The state only allows you five years to appeal your status. You waited ten."
"But...but...I am ALIVE...how does that make any sense?" No one had cared that he still loved his kid. No one had cared about why he'd had to hide from his Ex. No one cared at all.
"You were declared dead. You are going to stay that way. Case dismissed." Down came the gavel. Down went Harvey's hopes. The judge leaned forward, black robes spilling over his raised desk like he was giving a sermon,"and on a personal note, while I do not envy you your difficulty, perhaps you should have thought of that before trying to skip out on your wife and child to save a buck. Goodbye Mr Squeal."
The walk from the plaintiff table to the steps outside were the slowest in his life. A dozen reporters swarmed in front of him, taking pictures of him, hammering him with questions he ignored. He shuffled through them, feet poorly placed bit not wanting a picture of him shoving one of the ghoulish figures.
He finally got the door open and sunlight poured in, blinding him. He recoiled in surprise, letting the doors close with a sudden awkward slam. Just as he was reaching for them a second time, one of the battering questions caught him by surprise.
Harvey turned around and asked,"what did you ask me?"
The indie radio shock jock, dangling with wires and ticker tape permed hair that made it hard to tell where the hair began and the mobile studio ended blinked in surprise. The normally rude bottom feeder reporters fell silent, hoping for that moment of personally embarrassment that might go viral (and thus go gold). She coughed and said,"I asked if you were going to use the Vamp ID act to ....you know, get an ID."
"What the hell is that?"
A slow murmur grew among the reporters. The shock jock was incredulous. "Are you joshing me?"
Harvey shook his head,"I shit you not. Never heard of it."
Another reporter, a man in suspenders and a bow tie (what..was this suddenly the music man?) clapped Harvey on the back and smiled, “Well well well. You're in for a surprise then. Vampires are real. Werewolves are real. Wizards are real.”
The first reporter smiled and took his picture. “Great! And they have rights too. The Vampire Rights Act. But I bet nobody thought of a living person trying to use it to come back from the dead. Gonna become a 'vampire' Harvey?”
Harvey really wasn't thinking when he said the words, “I just might. I just might.” Was this all serious? He didn't know but he pushed his way past them and out into the light. He needed a drink.
******
He met the vampire in a dump called “The Electric Albatross.” It was filled with photos of patrons who were probably all dead now, except the guy over in the table in the corner who was nursing the same Jack and Coke for the entire two hours that Harvey had watched him. Harvey was not normally a punctual person, but these days he had nothing but time on his hands...and he didn't want to be late for a monster. Or Undead American. Or whatever.
Harvey had tried to do a little research on the internet before he'd contacted the local duke, but he spent four hours trying to figure out how to get to a different page before he finally just gave a kid five bucks to get him a phone number. Four second later, he made the call.
The vampire did a disservice to the stereotypes of movies on the surface, but if Harvey bent his mind sideways a bit, he could see it. The man in front of him was six feet tall, a hundred and fifty pounds and blond. His hair was a mess and he wore a McDonald’s t-shirt. The vampire wore something thick underneath...bullet proof vest? With a clinking sound, he slid into the other side of the booth giving Harvey a withering look.
“Hello Mr. Squeal.” The vampire extended his hand, as if he were shaking with a talking dog that had stepped in its own excrement before washing its paws.
Harvey shook the dead hand anyway. “Pleased to meet you Mister...?”
“Sir. Call me Sir Rakish. Of the Order of the Stilted Pillar.” Every word was frosty, laid dead upon the table in sacrifice to its undead originator.
Trying to ignore the waves of disgust, Harvey ignored the unseen sneer and smiled warmly, “Pleased to meet you Sir Rakish of the Order of the Stuttered-”
“-Stilted.”
“Yes, Stilted Pillar.” Harvey considered asking about the order, but thought it was a really really bad idea. Who knew what might insult Raky? So he focused on the essentials. “So, did they tell you why I called?”
Raky lifted his hands a second, almost as if pleading with the heavens, but then changed in the middle of the gesture, setting them calmly down on the table, almost as if presenting an invisible hand of cards. “It was not clear. You want to become a vampire. You want our approval. It was enough that the Duke sent me to see you.”



“I don't want to become a vampire but yes, I would like a writ of good conduct from the Duke.”
“Why?” Raky was clearly insulted.
Harvey wondered if everything insulted him. “The Vampire Reinduction Act says that anyone who has been a citizen of the United States can get their citizenship back if the local nobility bears witness to their good behavior. I'm not a vampire, but under the qualification of what a vampire is, I might as well be. To the state of Ohio, and thus to the Federal Government, I'm legally dead. Which means if the Duke vouches for my good conduct, I can regain my citizenship.”
Raky rubbed his temples slowly, methodically, patiently, hands against his temples as if somehow the very essence of Migraines were being poured directly into his skull. “And why,” he said after a few minutes of pained silence,”would the Duke possibly want to risk his reputation with a known scoundrel such as yourself? Among our kind, when you give your word it means something. Feudal ties and bonds that are made can last centuries, so we take them very seriously indeed. What could you possibly offer that we would want?”
“The good will of the humans?”
“You are a known oath breaker and a liar. You left your family.”
“There were reasons for that” Harvey started to give his explanation.
Raky held up his hand demanding silence. “And I do not care to hear them. You are hardly a broker of good will among humans.”
“Well,” Harvey said, carefully choosing how to say the words he had rehearsed so many times in his mind, “by helping a human, I figure subconsciously, people might think vampires are more human too. They might remember that you were human and that you have human like thoughts.”
Raky shook his face back as if he had been physically slapped. He muttered slowly, “Not all of us want to be seen as human. Not all of us regard ourselves as human.”
“But the Duke does.”
There was a long pause, and Raky nodded, “Yes. That is true. The Duke does care about this. A great deal.”
“So?”
Raky was displeased. Harvey could have a dozen conversation in the silence Raky gave in reply before the vampire finally said, “Fine. I will speak with the Duke.”
Suddenly a beam of hope came down from the heavens and lit up Harvey's world. “Really? That's awesome.”
“I will speak to the Duke.” Not a promise, but hope was still good.
“Of course,” Harvey shook his hand, “When shall I hear back from you?”
“When?”
“Soon.”
“Where?”
Raky looked around and waved at the bar, “Here will do.” And then he walked out of the bar.



*************************
The bar at the Electric Albatross was full of eccentric characters in the wee hours of the night. By day, it was truly boring, but Raky wasn't going to come during the day, was he? Plus, nights in Ohio were getting colder, so if he stayed awake here, he could sleep during the day. Recently, he'd been camping out on the roof of a building next to the courthouse. Harvey enjoyed the irony.
What he did not enjoy was being a minor celebrity among a crowd of misfits, like the idiot who sat across from him.
“So I'm totally a lizard man.”
“You don't look like a Lizard Man.” He took a sip from his Jack and Coke. He had to sip at least once every five minutes or the bartender complained. He had to order at least once every 90 minutes or they notice he wasn't drinking much of anything. He wanted to look and think good for Raky when he came back. Which meant keeping cool and alert. And also not getting thrown out of the bar, which is why he was talking with the Lizard Man.
“That's part of the curse.” The guy stuck his tongue out, lizard like.
“So you want to look like a lizard?”
“Are you kidding? OF COURSE I do. You know how much preternaturals that can get on TV are making these days? Being first can make you famous, and there are no famous lizard men right now.”
“No, that's true.”
“But when we get the curse lifted, we're going to freak people out. That's why we want your help.”
“MY help?” Harvey nearly spit out his drink.
“Everyone knows you dude, and in the community, we all know you're trying to get help from the vampires. If you pull that off, you're going to be famous. We could use that kind of fame.” The lizard man patted him on the back.
“Let's pretend I'm open to the idea.” He wasn't, but this was his life right now. “Do you have any proof...any proof at all, that you're actually a lizard man?”
“Sure I do.” The lizard man handed Harvey a scale.
“What is this?”
“It's one of my scales.”
“It looks like it came from an Iguana.”
“Well its mine!” The lizard man seemed insulted.
Uh oh. Time for a distraction, “Another drink please Barkeep.”
The lizard man immediately calmed down and smiled, “Allow me friend.”
Harvey was hardly a man to turn down a free drink.
********
Another night had passed. At the awfulness of dawn (maybe he was becoming part vampire) he stumbled out of the bar. He walked toward the nearest highway bypass where he kept his gear and set to work. Cars pulled up and he stuck out a baseball cap, begging for money.
Turns out being famousish is good for the begging business. More than a few folks slipped him a twenty. He hated it though and tried to stop once he had enough money for food and another round of drinks at the Albatross.
What really alarmed him though was the fact that if he wanted he could earn more money than a regular job It was tempting...very tempting. But Harvey wanted a life now. Mexico had been bad enough. He wasn't going to restart the cycle here.
The sleek but dented muscle car that pulled up with the tinted windows once he was wrapping up. It just sat there for a minute and a half, motor running. The light changed three times, other cars honking behind it while it blocked traffic. Harvey had a chill down his spine.
He picked up his stuff and left.
********
“Did you know that Lizard Men had psychic powers?”
Harvey was glad he had more funds than usual that night. The Lizard Man had lost all his money and wasn't paying for drinks. “I did not.” Harvey sipped his Jack and Coke.
The Lizard Man nodded and patted Harvey on the back, “Like, I sense the fact that you wish I had not lost all my money on a bet.” There was much grinning.
Harvey kept a mostly straight face. No good way to answer that question. He pointed to three dudes dressed all in black and leather. Whispering quietly, he asked, “What kind of a read do you get on those guys?”
“Trouble. That stands for P and that stands for pool.”
“What?”
Crestfallen, the Lizardman excused himself to go to the bathroom. “Have you no musical education whatsoever man? Have you no soul?”
“Hey. I'm the one applying to be a vampire.”
“Touche.”
With Lizard gone, Harvey was left alone at the bar with the bartender, who made a point of ignoring him unless Harvey was paying for a drink. With Cash. He looked back through the mirror at the thugs. They weren't quite bikers and they weren't really gang like. They looked like they had enough scars that they'd been in a lot of fights but he saw no identifying tattoos. Who were they? And why did they keep looking at him.
Finally, the Lizard Man came back, but Harvey was in no mood to talk. The Lizard Man's telepathy must have been working because he kept his mouth shut. Eventually, he went home. The whole night passed like that.
Then the sun rose. Harvey was all prepared to engage in his regular routine when he noticed the three guys from the bar get up at the same time he did. They got into the car that had made him so uncomfortable before. That was too much of a coincidence for Harvey. He went right back into the bar while the muscle car just sat there.
He had left over fifteen messages before someone called back. It wasn't Raky. “Hello?”
“Yes?” Harvey tried to keep his voice calm. “I have three questionable individuals who are stalking-”
“You do realize sir that Sir Rakish is a VAMPIRE and that he sleeps during the day do you not?” The voice on the other end was cultured, female, European and highly indignant.
“Well, of course but-”
“And you do realize that, contrary to all logic, the Duke is actually hearing your ridiculous appeal?”
“Of course, and I appreciate that but-”
“Do not call here during the day again.”
“But the three guys...”
The female spoke slowly, as she would to a child. “They're probably hunters. Call the police.”
Harvey wasn't really keen to call the cops. Dead people didn't vote, and cops were not to keen to help someone who the state didn't think worth helping, especially a homeless “deadbeat dad.”
No good could come of this. So he waited. The car waited. The bartender let him sit as long as he had money. But that eventually ran out.
This gave Harvey a brilliant idea. He looked at the bartender. “I'll be honest...I'm out of money.”
“So leave.” The bar tender's voice was neutral and surly.
“There are three guys outside who want my head on a platter. Can you call the police?”
“Not my problem.”
“Report me for vagrancy?” Harvey didn't want bad blood. He could eat in jail. He slid his last five dollars to the bartender who took it, eying Harvey suspiciously the whole time. Finally, the bartender put down his dish rag and called the cops.
Harvey had never been so glad to be put in the back of a police car in his life.
**************
Six and a half hours later, while Harvey sat in the general holding pen with people who honestly didn't seem that much better than the three hunters who had been sitting outside the Albatross, a large doughnut gobbler walked up to the bars and tapped the wall with a stapler. “Hey Squeal, someone bailed you out. Comemere.”



Doughnut gobbler pulled back the door, and for a moment Harvey was sure there was going to be a mad rush for the exit by all 25 miscreants inside, but strangely nothing happened. Probably Doughnut Gobbler's gun and their own lack thereof. Harvey grabbed the towel sized blanket they had given him and headed out. After dropping the towelquet in its appropriate receptacle, Harvey followed the nice man as he waddled outside.
Behold the Great Kazoo. “My name,” the Great Kazoo said,”Is Austin Otter. I'm a wizard.” Kazoo wore a gray and brown thousand dollar suit that went with his hundred dollar haircut. From ten feet away he looked just like any other lawyer. From five feet away he looked like a Ripley's Believe it or Not refugee, with hundreds of very subtle things that bespoke weird; the lion headed can with insect compound eyes; the numbered tattoos on his wrists or the Eiffel Tower tie clip.
Doughnut Gobbler made a sign of the cross on his chest and swore to himself.
Kazoo ignored him. “I have a proposition for you Mr. Squeal.”
“Nice to meet you too Mr. Otter. I'm fine thank you. And yourself?”
Kazoo also ignored Harvey's attempts at polite conservation. “I paid your bail and I am prepared to pay more.”
“I'm glad to hear it. I hope your aunt gets better.” After Kazoo looked totally lost, Harvey decided to refocus things on the 'pay' element of the situation. “What do you want...and what are you paying?”
“Straight to business, a man after my own heart.” Kazoo grinned and wrung his hands with glee. “I want seven drops of blood. Your blood. In exchange, I will give you a charm to protect you from the hunters for ten minutes that are after you and five thousand dollars.”
Harvey wanted to ask lots of questions...like how Kazoo knew about the hunters. But instead he asked the only one that mattered. “Won't that give you power over me?”
“It would but I give you my solemn word I will not use it to harm you. A wizard's word is his bond.” Harvey had no idea on that front. If his mechanic told him his corroborator was broken, Harvey wouldn't know either. What was very real was the five thousand dollars in Kazoo's outstretched hand.
That was real enough for Harvey. “Deal.” Harvey took the cash and shook the bastard's hand.



*******
They were waiting for him at the restaurant. Once he got off of the bus, he saw the car. Now though he had more than enough money to wait until he knew if Raky was going to do him a solid. All he had to do was make it inside of the bar. He walked slowly at first, but then made a mad dash for the door.
It wasn't enough. One got in front of him and two got behind him. After a quick tackle, they held him down on the ground and despite his attempts to get away, couldn't muster the strength. He shouted for help but either no one in the bar cared or they couldn't hear. Harvey suspected it was a little of both.
Invulnerability wasn't all it was cracked up to be. To start with, the bullet still stung like a son of a bitch. It was like his skin was made of Kevlar but Harvey could still feel the inevitable bruising underneath, but the force from the impact knocked the wind out of him and knocked him flat on his ass. Worse, the lack of blood made the hunters think he really was a vampire, so they kept trying to impale him with stakes.
Ten minutes didn't turn out to be long enough. Not nearly.
One of the stakes got a splinter on his face right before the hunters plunged it through his heart.
“WAIT!”
The sight of the blood plus the plea was enough to get them to stop.
The leader, or at least the tallest finally said the first words that Harvey had heard him say. “What?”
“Five thousand dollars.”
That got their attention. They didn't stake him. They didn't try to kill him.
“I've got five thousand dollars in my back pocket.”
They checked. They took the money.
“Thanks vampire.” The leader lifted the stake again.
“I'm not a vampire! And I can get you more money....”
They paused again. “You have 24 hours.”
And they left, brave defenders of humanity that they were, one by one they slinked into the muscle car and drove away. Apparently $5000 was worth more than their convictions.

********
Harvey was waiting for the phone call, when the Lizard man walked in. He still looked human. “Any miraculous transformations today?”, Harvey said.
Lizard man smiled sardonically and shook his head.
Harvey said, “you know I know a wizard now. Maybe I could put in a good word.”
Lizardman smiled a toothy grin and could almost imagine alligator teeth there. “That would be great, motherfucker. My wife is going nuts. Got his number?”
“as a matter of fact, I motherfucking do!”
Five minutes later we called up Lord Kazoo. 15 minutes later, Lord Kazoo was there in the flesh. Same style suit, different color; red and white. Maybe he was celebrating a new baby. “Ah, Harvey. So glad to see you. That blood worked fantastically.”
Harvey nodded, “great. I was wondering if you could do a spell for my friend here. Could you help him return to his natural form?”
Lord Kazoo got a rather sour look on his face,and puckered his lips. “Perhaps I am not the man to cast this spell for you, but for the 1.2 million I am prepared to pay you for a pint of your blood, I am sure that you can find the right man for the job.”
The entire bar went silent, really really silent. Like the opposite of the lizard man being in the room kind of silent. Finally, after a minute I asked, “Umm, yeah. I can do that, sure. But jut out of curiosity, what do you need it for?”
That had been a mistake, but it was too late now. Kazoo began to babble. “I'm glad you asked. You see the sympathetic link between yourself and a weapon that I forge with your blood is absolutely deadly to living or dead alike, but due to the difficulty in true weapons quality steel that affects the undead, the material components of your blood are such that it causes an immediate thaumatalogical toxic reaction in necromanticly animated flesh, far beyond that of fire or true holy objects or even blue oriculcum, since you are both alive in the biological sense and dead by decree of the state. The spell schema normally calls for a man thought dead, but not only are you dead, you're declared so by the state. The king and the land shall be one, as shown in Morte de Arthur (they got that one right) which in turn means that-”
“Whoa whoa whoa. My blood is letting you make like....super weapons?”
“Yes.”
Harvey sighed. Curse his luck. He looked at Lizard.
Lizard nodded understandingly.
Turning back to Kazoo, Harvey said,”No dice doc.”
“Excuse me?”
“I am out of the blood market. I don't want my blood...on my hands.” It wasn't the most sophisticated metaphor, but it would do.
For a second, the room smelled of Ozone. Kazoo's nostril's flared and his eyes widened. His lips pursed and number dotted hands cracked and bent at the bone. And then he shrugged. “Your loss. The blood must be willing or not all. You could have been rich.” And just like that, Kazoo walked out of the bar.
The bartender looked at Harvey like his was an idiot.
Lizard patted him on the back and smiled, “Hey man, I think you made the right decision.”
**************
The next day, Raky finally visited the Albatross. He didn't stay any longer than he had to, handing a document to Harvey. “The Duke has decided to offer you status as a Vampire for purposes of the United States Government. You have no standing in Vampire society. You would do well to learn our laws, and he will vouch for you with no one else, but you can get your citizenship.”
Beaming, Harvey nodded. “Any other restrictions?”
“Stop calling us.”
“Can do. Thank you. I mean it.”
No clever retort came. Raky just walked out, black cloak fluttering in a wind that no one else in the bar could see.
*************
Review written on Amazon.com for “Plight of the Lizard People.”

“I have read this book and highly endorse it. While I can neither confirm nor deny the claims made in the book are actual, Lizard got me through a very dark time and bought me drinks when I needed them. He's an honest sort and a swell guy. Now that I'm a minor celebrity as the world's only living vampire, I return the favor. I cannot endorse this book enough.” -Harvey Squeal, Vampire at Large  

Seventh Seal - Chapter 3 - Page 42

Row 1 Box 1 A small bazaar with the people of both worlds trading.

Narration: The Horym mingled with them bit and learned their secrets. But they were not to be trusted.

Row 1 Box 2 Horym have several Korahygi in cages who are obviously victims of pain and torture.

Korahygi: No! Please! No more I’ll tell you what you want to know!

Narration: And what they couldn't learn through good will they learned through other means.

Row 2 Box 1 A room full of ninjas breaking into a magical puzzle looking room.

Narration: And they stole the rest. Nothing was safe.

Row 2 Box 2 Korahoyg in flames.

Narration: Plausibly deniable accidents, turned into acts of outright aggression, but the Horym had them out matched, and out gunned.

Row 3 Box 1 A magical wall going up over a city in ruins, sparkling purple and fantastically shimmering.

Narration: So to protect themselves the people of Korahoyg used the last of their magical energies to set up seven seals, woven into seven seals between them and the city. And once the Korahoyg were gone…

Row 3 Box 2 Horus sits on his throne looking at the people of Earth in chains, smiling.

Narration: Then nothing will stop them from dominating every world. Everywhere.   

Seventh Seal - Chapter 3 - Page 41

Row 1 – A fantastic city of light, and spires and towers and pennants and parades and sunlight glistens in the multicolored sky, with three suns and nine moons in the background.

[IE: Really awesome looking city of Light and Air and Fire. Use your imagination.]

Narration: Once upon a time there was a city called Korahoyg. It was beautiful. They excell at at the maths and magics and sciences. Yes. I know maths is grammatically incorrect. There was a golden age, and then one day…

Row 2 Box 1 A portal with arcane machinery.

Narration: They discovered how to open a doorway to another world. In fact, they discovered doorways to many worlds.

Row 2 Box 2 and 3: Many worlds. Many portals. A montage of people exploring.

Narration: A golden age became even more golden. And then one day they found Horym.

Row 3 A city every much the opposite of Korahoyg. Beautiful, yet dark and corrupt by design.

Narration: The people of Korahoyg trusted the Horym. They traded much knowledge with each other. At first things seemed wonderful and fine. Beauteous even.

Precyber - Chapter 12

The most important argument in history.  Clark wants no part of it.

Check out this episode!

Seventh Seal - Chapter 3 - Page 40

Row 1 Box 1 Jesra just stares at Pete.

Row 1 Box 2 Pete looks confused.

Row 1 Box 3 Jesra looks at Pete.

Jesra: No Pete. This isn’t a movie set.

Row 1 Box 4 Jesra looks at Nungo.

Jesra: This is some kind of fantasy land. Isn’t it? Well I want to go home.

Row 2 Box 1 Nungo looks guilty.

Nungo: Of course. As soon as we’ve taken care of your memories…

Row 2 Box 2 Jesra puts her hands on her hips.

Jesra: You’re not touching my memories, thank you very much.

Row 2 Box 3 Nungo holds his hands up.

Nungo: We have to! If we don’t then Horus will know you’ve been here. He can read minds you know.

Row 2 Box 4 Pete looks upset.

Pete: I’m with Jesra. You’re not messing with our memories.

Row 3 Box 1 Vesuvius sits on Sluices shoulder eating a cranberry.

Vesuvius: You know he’s right…it is rather-

Row 3 Box 2 Nungo looks angry and points at Vesuvius.

Nungo: You shut up! And where did you get that?

Row 3 Box 3 Jesra takes a deep breath.

Row 3 Box 4 Jesra looks at Nungo.

Jesra: Please tell me what is going on. From the beginning.

Row 4 Box 1 Vesuvius looks at Nungo.

Row 4 Box 2 Nungo sighs and raises a hand to Vesuvius in acquiescence.

Row 4 Box 3 Vesuivus slides down Sluice’s arm.

Vesuivus: It’s complicated.

Row 4 Box 4 Jesra folds her arms.

Jesra: Yes, I imagined it would be. Best start then.

Seventh Seal - Chapter 3 - Page 39

Row 1 Pete, Vesuvius, Sluice and Jesra all stand in Nungo’s office.

Row 2 Box 1 Nungo hangs his head, hiding it on his desk.

Row 2 Box 2 Nungo bangs his head on the desk.

Row 2 Box 3 Vesuvius looks guilty.

Row 2 Box 4 Nungo bangs his head many times on the desk.

Row 3 Box 1 Vesuvius looks REALLY guilty.

Row 3 Box 2 Jesra puts her hand on the desk.

Jesra: Would you please STOP th-

Row 3 Box 3 Nungo didn't stop in time and slams his head into Jesra’s hand.

Jesra: OW!

Row 4 Box 1 Nungo stops and looks upset.

Nungo: Oh dear! Are you OK?

Row 4 Box 2 Jesra pulls her hand back, looking annoyed.

Jesra: I would be better if you would stop doing that.

Row 4 Box 3 Pete looks confused.

Pete: What’s going on? This doesn't look like a movie set to me!

Precyber Chapter 11

Enter the mysterious Gabriel Work.  We shall learn more of him and his wisdom...later

Check out this episode!

Seventh Seal Chapter 3 - Page 38

Row 1

Jesra and Vesuvius argue.

Jesra: What’s the name of the company?

Vesuvius: Er-the Fantastic Save Creation Company.

Jesra: Who’s the Director?

Vesuvius: That would be Nungo.

Jesra: Who are the stars?

Vesuvius: That would be me, Vesuvius and Sluice over there. But everyone here is in on it.

Row 2 Box 1 Pete scratches his head.

Pete: How old are you?

Row 2 Box 2

Vesuvius looks confused.

Vesuvius: What?

Row 2 Box 3

Pete: Well are you a midget or a child? How else do you get into that suit?

Row 2 Box 4

Jesra smirks.

Row 3 Box 1

Jesra looks down at Vesuvius to offer some kind of an explanation, still smirking.

Row 3 Box 2

Vesuvius looks down at himself. Then he looks up at Jesra and Pete’s ankles.

Row 3 Box 3

Vesuvius sighs.

Row 3 Box 4

Vesuvius: “Right. You caught us. You’re having a dream. A very wonderful dream.”

Row 4 Box 1

Pete pinches himself.

Pete: Ow!

Row 4 Box 2

Jesra pinches Pete.

Pete: Ow!

Row 4 Box 3

Jesra: Right. This is not a dream. He feels pain. So what-

Row 4 Box 4

The entire box is filled with the angry capitalized letters and a very boggled Vesuvius

Nungo (off panel): VESUVIUS!

Seventh Seal Chapter 3 - Page 37

Row 1 Box 1 Jesra looks around in wonderment. Pete rubs his eyes.

Row 1 Box 2 Vesuvius rushes towards them.

Vesuvius: Well thank you very much for your help back here with the fire, but we’re all good you see.

Row 1 Box 3 A random person from the crowd shouts.

Random Person: All hail the heroes! Thanks for helping to put out the fire.

Row 2 Box 1 More random people in the crowd.

Woman: You saved my shop!

Random Man: What’s your name son?

Young Boy to Jesra: Are you single?

Small Elf Like guy, twice as large as Vesuvius with pointed ears: Holy mother of Pie! He’s a Seal!

Random Man: Nonsense, of course he’s not a seal. He’s a human being.

Row 2 Box 2 (Top) Vesuvius begins to shove Jesra and Pete back through the portal which is closing.

Vesuvius: Well folks, thanks for your help back here. We appreciate it. Really. But time to be getting you guys back.

Row 2 Box 2 (Bottom) Sluice arrives, looks unhappy.

Elf in Crowd: No you idiot. A SEAL. As in a human from the other world. You know, the IMPORTANT ones?”

Random Man looks at Pete: Really? Are you a seal?

Pete: No, I’m a human being.

Row 3 Box 1

Small elf looks really annoyed.

Row 3 Box 2

Jesra looks at Vesuvius suspiciously.

Jesra: What are you talking about? What is this place?

Row 3 Box 3

Vesuvius sweats a bit.

Vesuvius: This is a er…theatrical production. You’ve gotten back stage. We’ll give you two free tickets when we open the show.

Row 3 Box 4

Pete looks happy.

Pete: You hear that Jesra? We’re getting tickets to a show! This one looks great too!

Row 4 Box 1

Jesra puts her hands on her hips and looks down at Vesuvius.

Jesra: “You expect me to believe that?”

Row 4 Box 2

Vesuvius looks embarrassed.

Row 4 Box 3

Vesuvius: Er….yes?

Row 4 Box 4

Everyone in the crowd is silent and looking at Vesuvius. Sluice hides his face in his hands.

Precyber - Chapter 10

Emily gets a follow up visit from the Npigs.  Clarke is given a quest.

Check out this episode!

Seventh Seal Chapter 3 - Page 36

Row 1 Box 1 Horus is sitting on his throne, pleased.

Horus: So. Now that that has been taken care of, I think it is time that I gave you your last-

Row 1 Box 2 The room starts to shake a little.

Row 1 Box 3 The room starts to shake a lot.

Horus: What is going on?!

Row 2 A mighty roman numeral seven appears in the sky in red above the throne room and the pool.

Row 3 Box 1 Horus is furious.

Horus: That is not possible! NOT. POSSIBLE.

Row 3 Box 2 Horus draws power from the pool and the captive spirits in it. A nimbus of light surrounds him.

Row 3 Box 3 He shoots lightning into the sky at the number in the air.

Row 4 The night sky above the numeral is clear.

Seventh Seal Chapter 3 - Page 35

Row 1 Box 1 Art Museum. Vesuvius leaps up onto Sluice’s shoulder.

Vesuvius: Go!Go! Gogogogo!

Row1 Box2 Sluice nods, looking worried.

Row 1 Box 3 A portal opens up.

Row 2 Box 1 Jesra, looking over Pete’s shoulder spots the portal and looks surprised.

Jesra: What the…

Row 2 Box 2 Reflection of the portal n Jesra’s right eye, open in wonder. A small amount of blood can be seen mixing in.

Row 2 Box 3 Vesuvius and Sluice rush through the portal.

Vesuvius: Hurry! I can smell the smoke from here.

Row 2 Box 4 Jesra looks at Pete and points.

Jesra: Can you see that?

Row 3 Box 1 Pete looks clueless. He is looking right AT the portal.

Pete: See what?

Row 3 Box 2 Jesra gets a look of determination on her face.

Jesra: Come with me. Don’t ask questions. No time to explain.

Row 3 Box 3: Jesra grabs Pete by the hand and the two of them run towards the portal.

Precyber - Chapter 9

By T. C. Ricks and Ken Lightner

Clarke and Paul come under increasing scrutiny in their investigations...corp scrutiny, government scrutiny...and creepy creepy creepy scrutiny.

Check out this episode!

Seventh Seal Chapter 3 - Page 34

Page 2

Row 1 Box 1 The seed flies down toward a roof.

Row 1 Box 2 The seed catches on fire,turning to ash.

Row 1 Box 3 The ash falls down.

Row 2 A picture of the former market place on fire that Sluice and Vesuvius walked through on fire, with people scrambling to put out the fire.

Row 3 Box 1 A distorted reflection of the art museum through water.

Off Panel: “Excellent.

Row 3 Box 2 A distorted though slightly clearer view of the art museum.

Off Panel: “Slither always knows how to salvage a difficult situation.”

Row 3 Box 3 Horus looks down from his throne at Amanda.

Horus: “Your new partner is arriving.”

Row 3 Box 4 Reflective Pool

A portal opens up in front of the pool and Slither emerges,cackling gleefully.

Slither: Heheheheheheheheh.

Seventh Seal Chapter 3 - Page 33

Page 1

Row 1 Box 1 (tiny box within a box) Sun rising over trees

Row 1 Box 2 (Larger Box) Focus on a dandelion single seed.

Narration: Seeds are fascinating things. They’re the focus of symbols about small things becoming big things. It’s a good symbol. Seeds can often grow thousands of times larger than their original size.

Row 1 Box 3 The wind blows on a field of dandelions.

Narration: All of civilization depends on them. Agriculture,the taming of seeds, lead to every single other advancement in one form or another.

Row 2 Box 1

The seed breaks loose from the dandelion and flies in the wind.

Narration: Tools are useful for good or destruction. That includes seeds. That includes choices. That’s why little things matter. And when you understand the little things, you understand the big things.

Row 2 Box 2

The seed flies over a village on fire.

Narration: The philosophers have always argued and probably always will argue about what free will really means. The universe might care, or it doesn't. But *I* care. And that’s what matters to me.

Precyber - Chapter 8

Someone has killed Barfman, Clarke's online friend, and Clarke is determined to solve his murder. Of course, despite the fact that Clarke is a member of the FBAI, Clarke is probably the least qualified person in the world to solve Barfman's murder. But that doesn't stop him. Clarke is a determined, if not slacker protagonist.

The world is dystopic and dark, but its a more realistic version than most.  Which is to say, sure its grim and corporations own almost everything, but it has its upsides to, like improved medical technology.  And games.  Did we mention games? Giant immersive games which take MMO's and merge them with Reality TV to create whole sets of augmented reality that merge in on docudrama extravaganza in which to drown the sorrows of the ignorant masses.  Revolution? What Revolution?

Clarke had questions, questions that needed answering like....would Superman become a werewolf if a a werewolf bit him? What if there was Krytponite involved? Who killed Barfman? Why were they trying to kill him? Who were the good guys? Who were the bad guys? Who the hell was the crazy lady making such a big deal about the god damned coconuts? What did the writing on the ring say? Wait...no...scratch that last. But definitely the first six.

Clarke's love life isn't going as well as it could either. Clarke is merely a poor government employee, a member of the FBAI gaming division that is supposed to monitor games for criminal behavior but is so underfunded its employees are more concerned about their paychecks than doing their job. Unless their job consists of filling out paper work that is. It doesn't help that Emily (his girlfriend) is being asked to spy on him for the Revolution. It definitely doesn't help that she has begun to question Clarke's sanity, ethics and integrity. Clarke can't blame her. He's begun to question these things himself.

The question of the novel ultimately is....what kind of society do you want to live in, and what price are you willing to pay to get it? For Clarke, these are not abstract questions. There are real consequences. At his lowest point, Clarke has absolutely everything he loves stripped away from him; his life, his love, his job, his friends and most important...his computer.

There are high stakes involved, but Clarke is prepared to pay the price to risk them. And when he can't afford the loss himself, he's more than happy to place the fall on some other guy in the process. Even if that guy happens to be a hacker who hates snitches and arranges to have the local terrorist cell try to kidnap him for ransom or, failing that, blow him to smithereens. Just a day in the life...

But Clarke Yossarian is not a man to take such indignity's lying down (well truth be told he would if he could but he knows he'd never get away with it) and so he fights tooth and claw and fist and maw to get back what was taken from him. Even if he has to join the Revolution to do it. Even if he has to take on the most powerful man in the world again and again and win. Even if he has to save (shudder) the most popular game in the world (Drama!) to do it.  

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Copyright 2013 - Red Anvil Amalgamated LLC and Ken Lightner 

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