In the distance a star shell would rise, and as its light dilated, wavered and failed, one saw against it shattered trunks, lunatic arms uplifted in imprecation, and as though petrified in a moment of shrieking agony.
from The Middle Parts of Fortune, a novel set on World War I battlefields
When it came to cake, Judith was emphatic in her refusal to share.
Judith just said to Joan:
a. ‘No, you can’t have a piece of my cake. It’s all mine, I tell you, mine!’
b. ‘10,000 dollars in cash or I’ll reveal to the press what Olivia told me.’
c. ‘You do know that Alfred offered the part to you only after Olivia turned it down, don’t you?’
d. ‘I know how to sharpen scissors on flesh.’
throat
danger
the marsh hen stirs
a clever foe
in hiding
takes aim
throat
pierced
No food pellet had dropped onto the tray in at least a month or less. The Jigsaw Man sat in the corner and brooded over this single fact. He twisted his fingers together in a writhing knot. The walls of the cubicle, lit a dim blue, flickered momentarily, then somehow for the first time ever died off completely, plunging the windowless cubicle into a black darkness not unlike the interior of a muted demon. Terror possessed the Jigsaw Man. Trembling violently, he dared to crawl toward the door, the door never before opened, the door of fate unknown. With a sob he grasped the cold knob, twisted it, and wrenched the door ajar. He peered outside.
The treekles gazed curiously at the last man emerging. Then they ate him.
Loon: I’m very excited to welcome to the 3 Question Interview today the very attractive ghost of a motion picture actress from the 1930s I’ve never heard of, Kay Francis. Tell me, Kay Francis, do you prefer your fried eggs with the yolks broken or unbroken?
Francis’ ghost: Bwoken.
Loon: What sort of gravy do you like on your biscuits?
Francis’ ghost: Bwown gwavy.
Loon: Final question. Were you ever worried if your car was parked on a hill, say, that the emergency brake would fail and the car would roll down and swerve up onto the curb and crash through the window of a malt shop?
Francis’ ghost: No.
Loon: Funny. I worry about that all the time. Nevertheless, thanks for sharing with us all about how it was to be a movie star in the 1930s.
(Loon bows and leaves the room. Kay Francis, a vision in her elegant gown, turns to float away.)
Harold Baffington Pendulum Steed
possessed everything he ever would need.
A bowl, a pencil, an owl, and a bead,
a long thin potato and a spiced pumpkin seed,
and a river of gold nurtured the greed
of Harold Baffington Pendulum Steed.
Henry carried a little satchel filled with earthworm millet cakes to snack on between a breakfast of millet and a dinner of hot earthworm millet stew.
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Doc's Lunacy
5 of 5 stars to The Great Train Robbery by Michael Crichton goodreads.com/review/show/55…
