Oh man. There is some majorly scary stuff happening down there underground. I mean I get creeped out pretty easy so I don't watch a lot of horror movies (the last one I saw was What Lies Beneath with Harrison Ford, if that gives you an idea.) But still, this is pretty creepy stuff!
Basically Hogwild gets possessed by the ghost of someone named Emily Allers. They meet a young girl in overalls and headlamp who explains what has happened to Hogwild. We don't learn the girl's name. Then she gives Hugo the eye and pulls out a picture of Allison! And then she asks Hugo is he knows The Hand!
What the frak is going on, as they say! I hope there's another chapter soon!!!
Fort Black
by Cherrie Ziad
April 23, 2008
April 21, 2008
Chapter 138
OK I'm getting a bit excited, it seems like some neat things are going to start to happen soon.
Hugo and Hogwild find the entrance to Old La Garra/Fort Black. Hugo has brought a bag filled with some supplies. They head down the stairway and through a tunnel. It's very scary and creepy and then the lights go out and they hear screaming.
OK I know that doesn't sound like much happened, but I liked how the author described it. You got creeped out like you would in real life, or like if you were watching it in a movie. I guess that just shows that he's doing a good job of being a writer, when chapters are kind of long but then afterwards you can't think of much that happened.
Hugo and Hogwild find the entrance to Old La Garra/Fort Black. Hugo has brought a bag filled with some supplies. They head down the stairway and through a tunnel. It's very scary and creepy and then the lights go out and they hear screaming.
OK I know that doesn't sound like much happened, but I liked how the author described it. You got creeped out like you would in real life, or like if you were watching it in a movie. I guess that just shows that he's doing a good job of being a writer, when chapters are kind of long but then afterwards you can't think of much that happened.
April 13, 2008
Chapter 137
Hey everybody, over a month since the last chapter, but who's counting. If you recall what happened last time, Hugo gathered up Hogwild to set off to rescue Allison and get the magical piece of paper. The part that got me turned around was that we know that Hugo is going to the city buried under the other city (Fort Black), but Hogwild is just realizing it in this chapter, and I thought we'd all already talked about that in some previous chapter, but I guess it hasn't actually been mentioned at all specifically that that's where the action is taking us? If anyone else has any ideas, feel free to chime in in the comments.
Anyways in this chapter they are trying to hail a taxicab. A girl comes up to Hogwild and asks for money, but the money slips through her fingers and she disappears, so I guess she's a ghost. Then in the end no cabs stop and they decide to hoof it.
Anyways in this chapter they are trying to hail a taxicab. A girl comes up to Hogwild and asks for money, but the money slips through her fingers and she disappears, so I guess she's a ghost. Then in the end no cabs stop and they decide to hoof it.
March 04, 2008
Chapter 136
This is an all-dialogue chapter. There some code at the top, so it's probably what was recorded by the female cubicle robot while Hugo and Hogwild were talking.
Hugo explains to Hogwild the situation about Allison and Margaret Ball and the piece of paper. Hugo says that if they get the Document, then Hogwild can have it and use it to get a leg up in the company. They kind of have a nice little moment, then it's over.
Hugo explains to Hogwild the situation about Allison and Margaret Ball and the piece of paper. Hugo says that if they get the Document, then Hogwild can have it and use it to get a leg up in the company. They kind of have a nice little moment, then it's over.
February 28, 2008
Chapter 135
I keep writing the chapter numbers wrong. Like I just did "153" and before that I did "143". What???
Hugo goes down and finds Hogwild. There's some kind of weird but attractive woman in a cubicle near his. It turns out she's a robot for spying on the employees. Hugo tells Hogwild that he wants his help in getting the document back.
Hugo goes down and finds Hogwild. There's some kind of weird but attractive woman in a cubicle near his. It turns out she's a robot for spying on the employees. Hugo tells Hogwild that he wants his help in getting the document back.
Chapter 134
So Hugo is in Glendenning's office now. This chapter is mostly conversation. As you know that is the main good stuff in this book, but unfortunately I can't quote it so it'll just have to a quick summary.
Hugo says he knows where the document is, he just needs a few supplies and then he can go get it. He's not going to just TELL Glendenning where it is, because that would probably be a dumb thing to do and he might end up dead. He needs leverage, you know? So Glendenning eventually agrees after much back and forth, and Hugo says maybe I can get a job here full-time if I do this job right.
(Also Hugo knows where Allison is b/c she used his equipment from the trunk to record the message, and in that way she was able to give him a secret hidden message with her address. Pretty neat.)
I thought it would be funny if at the end instead of saying "Serious benefits" Glendenning said "401k with company matching." Like actually listed the benefits. I don't know, maybe it's just the current political climate making me say that.
Hugo says he knows where the document is, he just needs a few supplies and then he can go get it. He's not going to just TELL Glendenning where it is, because that would probably be a dumb thing to do and he might end up dead. He needs leverage, you know? So Glendenning eventually agrees after much back and forth, and Hugo says maybe I can get a job here full-time if I do this job right.
(Also Hugo knows where Allison is b/c she used his equipment from the trunk to record the message, and in that way she was able to give him a secret hidden message with her address. Pretty neat.)
I thought it would be funny if at the end instead of saying "Serious benefits" Glendenning said "401k with company matching." Like actually listed the benefits. I don't know, maybe it's just the current political climate making me say that.
February 26, 2008
Chapter 133
OK so now we go waaay back to where we left off at the end of Part 1 of the story. Hugo is chained up in a hotel room by China Sweet and the Valkyrie. The last thing that happened in that chapter was that they played a tape recording of a voice and Hugo recognized the voice as Allison! We continue on now.
There's some general talking and threats, then they listen tot he tape again. Allison represents Margaret Ball, they want Glendennig to release her sisters (the hidden secretary girls) with no funny business, or she'll release copies of the paper (the one Hugo is supposed to looking for!). She also uses the word "chokeville" which is the first time it's appeared in the story I believe. Although we're not quite sure what she means.
Then they listen to it again, Hugo says he can tell from the tape where Allison/Margaret are located, and they head out to Glendenig's.
There's some general talking and threats, then they listen tot he tape again. Allison represents Margaret Ball, they want Glendennig to release her sisters (the hidden secretary girls) with no funny business, or she'll release copies of the paper (the one Hugo is supposed to looking for!). She also uses the word "chokeville" which is the first time it's appeared in the story I believe. Although we're not quite sure what she means.
Then they listen to it again, Hugo says he can tell from the tape where Allison/Margaret are located, and they head out to Glendenig's.
January 24, 2008
Chapter 132
Allison is trying to make her way towards Old La Garra. She finds herself at The Embers, where we've been before (Chs. 21-22), and our old friend Estra Maxie is apparently still slinging beverages behind the counter.
Some creeped out old man tries to convince her not to go, blah blah whatever. She's going, get over it, Gramps. The waitress tells her where to find an entrance. But it does sound like a creepy place, for real, and nothing good ever happens there. So it's a little worrisome. But Allison finds the entrance and heads down.
And that's the end of part two, wow. I wonder how many parts there are going to end up being? Part of me wants it to go on forever and part of me wants it to be done already.
But overall I like chapters like this, I really like it best when Allison is sad but determined. That is how I feel a lot of times.
Some creeped out old man tries to convince her not to go, blah blah whatever. She's going, get over it, Gramps. The waitress tells her where to find an entrance. But it does sound like a creepy place, for real, and nothing good ever happens there. So it's a little worrisome. But Allison finds the entrance and heads down.
And that's the end of part two, wow. I wonder how many parts there are going to end up being? Part of me wants it to go on forever and part of me wants it to be done already.
But overall I like chapters like this, I really like it best when Allison is sad but determined. That is how I feel a lot of times.
January 17, 2008
Chapter 131
Allison is going to look for Nia Baako. Capital Sam has cold feet and won't be going with her.
Kind of weird because one scene (aka 6 chapters) ago it seemed like he was all up in her stuff. Guess he had a change of heart while she was chatting with Dr Manz.
*shrugs*
Kind of weird because one scene (aka 6 chapters) ago it seemed like he was all up in her stuff. Guess he had a change of heart while she was chatting with Dr Manz.
*shrugs*
January 10, 2008
Chapter 130
Ch 130.
This chapter was pretty good but confusing. Here Allison is in Dr KLF Manz's office. She delivers the news that The Hand is blackmailing him into helping Allison.
The blackmail situation in question is a bit complicated, having to do with a book Dr Manz wrote, which I guess only The Hand plus certain people who work at the La Garra Public Library know about, and it would be bad if everyone knew about? That was my take, anyway. Don't most libraries have their databases online now, so anyone can search through what books they have.
Then he touches her forehead and it burns and he says he's taken something from her. I feel like this was a reference to something that was mentioned earlier, but I can't find it. Probably back from Leona's time.
Anyways doesn't matter, he'll help. He explains that he works for Glendennig, and that one of his staff people had this paper and came to visit him and he helped her. Her name was Margaret Ball, and she's staying with a person named NIA BAAKO.
Then at the end he gives her a hug?
This chapter was pretty good but confusing. Here Allison is in Dr KLF Manz's office. She delivers the news that The Hand is blackmailing him into helping Allison.
The blackmail situation in question is a bit complicated, having to do with a book Dr Manz wrote, which I guess only The Hand plus certain people who work at the La Garra Public Library know about, and it would be bad if everyone knew about? That was my take, anyway. Don't most libraries have their databases online now, so anyone can search through what books they have.
Then he touches her forehead and it burns and he says he's taken something from her. I feel like this was a reference to something that was mentioned earlier, but I can't find it. Probably back from Leona's time.
Anyways doesn't matter, he'll help. He explains that he works for Glendennig, and that one of his staff people had this paper and came to visit him and he helped her. Her name was Margaret Ball, and she's staying with a person named NIA BAAKO.
Then at the end he gives her a hug?
January 09, 2008
Chapter 129
This was a totally good chapter. I feel like we are really cooking. Like maybe we are entering into the final act of the story, and everything will come rushing to a conclusion!
This chapter is mainly Allison talking with The Hand and his assistant Delfina. The Hand tells her how Hugo is special and important to the future of Fort Black. And also that he knows where Hugo is, but she has to do something for him first. (Of course!) He wants her to find the piece of paper that Hugo is looking for (Remember? The whole reason for the story???) and to find out more info he sends her to see "the doctor" which of course will be Dr KLF MANZ.
Contributing to this chapter was the fact that it even had some actual jokes in it, which is rare. Well maybe not jokes, but Allison had her old zazz back, you know?
Also note to self: Hillers is Son Hillers is The Fisherman is The Hand. For some reason I thought Hillers was not The Hand, just someone else at the game of Carrick way back when. No offense guy, but 4 names is a lot of names for just one hand.
This chapter is mainly Allison talking with The Hand and his assistant Delfina. The Hand tells her how Hugo is special and important to the future of Fort Black. And also that he knows where Hugo is, but she has to do something for him first. (Of course!) He wants her to find the piece of paper that Hugo is looking for (Remember? The whole reason for the story???) and to find out more info he sends her to see "the doctor" which of course will be Dr KLF MANZ.
Contributing to this chapter was the fact that it even had some actual jokes in it, which is rare. Well maybe not jokes, but Allison had her old zazz back, you know?
Also note to self: Hillers is Son Hillers is The Fisherman is The Hand. For some reason I thought Hillers was not The Hand, just someone else at the game of Carrick way back when. No offense guy, but 4 names is a lot of names for just one hand.
December 09, 2007
Chapter 128
So Aeo falls down from the sky and crashes onto Fort Black. This is noticed by ELLIS DOMINGUEZ, who is like a Brownie or Cubscout Girl, but they're called The Orienteers. While she's exploring around the city she finds a freaky severed hand that is still alive! It had been part of a body that got smooshed by a mermaid sculpture.
The writer doesn't just come out and say it, but we can tell that this is the hand of The Fisherman, who we also of course know as "The Hand" from when Hugo played Carrick. Probably the next chapter will be about what I just said, and I can skip an update for once. I could use the extra time to be honest, I haven't even started my Christmas shopping!
The writer doesn't just come out and say it, but we can tell that this is the hand of The Fisherman, who we also of course know as "The Hand" from when Hugo played Carrick. Probably the next chapter will be about what I just said, and I can skip an update for once. I could use the extra time to be honest, I haven't even started my Christmas shopping!
December 05, 2007
Chapter 127
More about the history of Fort Black. The town keeps growing, under the guidance of The Fisherman. He's the total man in charge and he never dies or gets too old. Eventually it becomes a pretty fancy city, pretty big. And as Fort Black gets better, the sky city (which is called Aeo) gets crummier. Then, just as Fort Black is about to get larger than Aeo, Aeo falls down from the sky and a lot of people get killed. (We don't actually learn if something in particular caused the city to fall.) We also don't learn what was keeping it up in the first place!!!
Some notes: There's a reference here to a Maia Hilliers who gets killed up in Aeo. This is probably not the same Maia who is one of the archivist girls at the Fedema Global building, but again just guessing.
Some notes: There's a reference here to a Maia Hilliers who gets killed up in Aeo. This is probably not the same Maia who is one of the archivist girls at the Fedema Global building, but again just guessing.
December 04, 2007
Chapter 126
This is a long one, so if you're in a hurry bookmark it to read later.
First in this chapter there's a description of what La Garra city looked like when it was up in the sky, but it's all the speculation of a book known as The Aeo Atlas by E.L. Eng, who tried to piece it all together. Basically the city was pretty fancy, is all.
Then there's a story about The Mayor's Wife, who cheated on the mayor, got pregnant with twins, a boy and a girl. They mayor killed her and took the babies, put the girl in a giant terrarium??? and drop the boy down a hole called the Orifex. The boy dies from falling so far down and his body lands underwater on a statue of a giant hand of the God of the sea. Then he is ALIVE again, gets washed up on shore, and grew up to become someone known as The Fisherman. Can I just say WTF, pardon my language. There's more stuff about him, but I'm running out of room. Basically he becomes the main person in town, kills some pirates, and then his town is known as Fort Black.
A couple things to mention: the terrarium sounds like a place that was described in Glendang's office building. The place above where all the girls lived who took transcripts? I have to dig up what chapter that was. Also "Orifex" is a name that the author uses for some music that he records. I don't know if the music is actually related to this though. The statue of the giant hand gets mentioned when May goes underwater to find Hugo's trunk. And there's a restaurant called "Maxine's" mentioned, which I think might be a reference to a song called Maxine recorded by the author under his alter ego of whygodwhy.com. What the hell does that mean though, you got me.
This chapter is the kind of thing where you know you need to pay good attention because it's probably important later, but it's kind of lot to wrap your brains around. That happens a lot in movies, where you have to watch it a second time to understand everything. Not that I'm reading this book again! *sighs*
First in this chapter there's a description of what La Garra city looked like when it was up in the sky, but it's all the speculation of a book known as The Aeo Atlas by E.L. Eng, who tried to piece it all together. Basically the city was pretty fancy, is all.
Then there's a story about The Mayor's Wife, who cheated on the mayor, got pregnant with twins, a boy and a girl. They mayor killed her and took the babies, put the girl in a giant terrarium??? and drop the boy down a hole called the Orifex. The boy dies from falling so far down and his body lands underwater on a statue of a giant hand of the God of the sea. Then he is ALIVE again, gets washed up on shore, and grew up to become someone known as The Fisherman. Can I just say WTF, pardon my language. There's more stuff about him, but I'm running out of room. Basically he becomes the main person in town, kills some pirates, and then his town is known as Fort Black.
A couple things to mention: the terrarium sounds like a place that was described in Glendang's office building. The place above where all the girls lived who took transcripts? I have to dig up what chapter that was. Also "Orifex" is a name that the author uses for some music that he records. I don't know if the music is actually related to this though. The statue of the giant hand gets mentioned when May goes underwater to find Hugo's trunk. And there's a restaurant called "Maxine's" mentioned, which I think might be a reference to a song called Maxine recorded by the author under his alter ego of whygodwhy.com. What the hell does that mean though, you got me.
This chapter is the kind of thing where you know you need to pay good attention because it's probably important later, but it's kind of lot to wrap your brains around. That happens a lot in movies, where you have to watch it a second time to understand everything. Not that I'm reading this book again! *sighs*
November 10, 2007
Chapter 125
Allison and Sam catch a cab to The Hand's place. They chit-chat along the way. He says a little bit about how La Garra used to be a city in the sky, and Fort Black was down on the ground below it. That's about it.
The author has been hinting here and there for a WHILE now about La Garra being up the sky, and I still have no idea how the heck that would even be possible.
The author has been hinting here and there for a WHILE now about La Garra being up the sky, and I still have no idea how the heck that would even be possible.
November 03, 2007
Chapter 124
Sam takes everyone around La Garra trying to find the whereabouts of Hugo, to no avail. They end up at a gross place called The Ching Shih, where we meet Dezzetti, who Sam knows from playing Carrick with back in the days. They have a pretty funny conversation that I won't go in to here. (If you're ONLY reading these updates, and not the story itself, this is one chapter I'd recommend you head over and actually read.)
While they're there, guess who they meet. Blue Eye! You remember he was playing Carrick with the robot Hand guy and Hugo way back. They got into a whole fight about the Garrotte card and Hugo got beat up pretty badly? Well now Blue Eye is pretty spooked by Hugo, and afraid to run into him. And it's interesting that Allison now has two black eyes b/c so did Hugo at that point. So neat, I like it when writers do cool things like that.
So Blue Eye tells them where The Hand operates, so presumably they're all going to head there next, but first Blue Eye tries to beat up Allison. People save her, but ugh, she must be getting so depressed by now.
While they're there, guess who they meet. Blue Eye! You remember he was playing Carrick with the robot Hand guy and Hugo way back. They got into a whole fight about the Garrotte card and Hugo got beat up pretty badly? Well now Blue Eye is pretty spooked by Hugo, and afraid to run into him. And it's interesting that Allison now has two black eyes b/c so did Hugo at that point. So neat, I like it when writers do cool things like that.
So Blue Eye tells them where The Hand operates, so presumably they're all going to head there next, but first Blue Eye tries to beat up Allison. People save her, but ugh, she must be getting so depressed by now.
Chapter 123
Kiepper Frico is back! Did I call it or did I not call it. (I called it.) That guy is still hanging out on the beach. Then May comes up out of the ocean, carrying the sword that he threw in. Allison and them follow close behind by boat. Kiepper tells them the story of Hugo and the chain, and now they all know that Hugo is alive, which is big news for Allison as you can well imagine. Everybody heads towards La Garra.
October 11, 2007
Chapter 122
May dives down to search for Hugo and his trunk. Don't forget that Allison doesn't know Hugo is alive, she thinks he drowned. Although I thought they had some kind of psychic twin connection where she knew he was still alive. Maybe I'm remembering it wrong. Anyways May dives down. She finds a giant statue of a hand! And there's chain wrapped around the fingers. At the end of the chain is the trunk. And there's a black sword stuck into the trunk! What the??? Weird on top of weird.
There was a black sword mentioned earlier, see in Ch. 13-15. The Harmattan, Kiepper Frico etc. I wonder if it's the same sword because the guy threw that one into the ocean! I bet it is, it's crazy how everything in this story is connected. It's good, it's like a song where you hear different things when you listen to it a few times?
There was a black sword mentioned earlier, see in Ch. 13-15. The Harmattan, Kiepper Frico etc. I wonder if it's the same sword because the guy threw that one into the ocean! I bet it is, it's crazy how everything in this story is connected. It's good, it's like a song where you hear different things when you listen to it a few times?
Chapter 121
Everyone's back on the boat. May fixes Allison's broken nose. It's mainly character development, not so much plot. It's good though. The author uses the broken nose as a metaphor for Allison's soul/spirit.
September 25, 2007
Chapter 120
Good chapter. The heavies are really leaning into Sam. And then all of a sudden Allison and a bunch of ladies from the Spire show up. And they're like superhero type women, like a ninja and a samurai and such. (I'm not telling you the exact types of people b/c I don't know if they're copyrighted.) But a lot of bad-ass chick show up and have the drop on the thugs.
But then it turns out they're most just for show and Mister Horn starts pounding on Allison. Then May Petroski helps her out a little and then Allison goes totally berserk and completely breaks Horn's face, basically.
This was a pretty violent chapter, but it felt tasteful, not gratuitous, the way it is with some some online novels.
But then it turns out they're most just for show and Mister Horn starts pounding on Allison. Then May Petroski helps her out a little and then Allison goes totally berserk and completely breaks Horn's face, basically.
This was a pretty violent chapter, but it felt tasteful, not gratuitous, the way it is with some some online novels.
September 22, 2007
Chapter 119
OK this was a long chapter so let's get serious.
Sam and Mister Horn have words. Horn tells him that Frank Muto wants the kid who took his boat (Billy). Sam tries to wrangle some kind of deal (i.e. I give you the kid you give me X), but Horn's not having it and shoots Sam in the knee. And then all the hoodlums are about to beat him up.
OK, well it IS a long chapter, but it's mostly funny dialogue.
My main question about this chapter was why they were firing the cannon at the Spire of Ice? How did they know that Sam knew where Billy was? Was it just a lucky guess? Also I need to go back and read about Sam again, because why would he protect Billy? At first I was thinking he was kind of an every-man-for-himself type of pirate, but I guess he's pretty sentimental about some stuff? Maybe Allison softened him up somehow, you know how we women are.
Sam and Mister Horn have words. Horn tells him that Frank Muto wants the kid who took his boat (Billy). Sam tries to wrangle some kind of deal (i.e. I give you the kid you give me X), but Horn's not having it and shoots Sam in the knee. And then all the hoodlums are about to beat him up.
OK, well it IS a long chapter, but it's mostly funny dialogue.
My main question about this chapter was why they were firing the cannon at the Spire of Ice? How did they know that Sam knew where Billy was? Was it just a lucky guess? Also I need to go back and read about Sam again, because why would he protect Billy? At first I was thinking he was kind of an every-man-for-himself type of pirate, but I guess he's pretty sentimental about some stuff? Maybe Allison softened him up somehow, you know how we women are.
September 11, 2007
Chapter 118
It's Frank Muto firing the cannon! Or at least Master Billy says as much when he finds Capital Sam in the chaos. For a minute Sam is like "Ugh, how did I get dragged into this mess?" because Frank Muto and Sam don't have any particular quarrel.
Then the next part is a bit confusing. It's not Frank Muto firing the cannon. Someone named AL MACDONALD starts talking through a megaphone, telling everyone about a boat called the DREAM CATCHER which is available for rentals. Then someone named MISTER HORN takes the megaphone away from Al and talks about how the Dream Catcher is owned by Frank Muto, and Frank has loaned it to him (Horn) for the afternoon in order to track down the people who commandeered the Spire of Ice.
Basically he's saying he wants to see Capital Sam and Allison Hugo front and center, pronto. But not in so many words. And he's the one firing the cannon, OK? (I was wondering how well Frank Muto could really fire a cannon if he didn't have feet to stand on.)
Sam tells Billy to get back on board quietly* and have Allison prepare for departure. May is not really perturbed by any of this, she's got brass.
This story is actually getting pretty interesting, I wish the chapters were forthcoming a bit more fast and furiously.
*This part got LOLs out of me. There is something about secret disguises that is so funny. If you saw the movie Shanghai Knights then you know what I mean.
Then the next part is a bit confusing. It's not Frank Muto firing the cannon. Someone named AL MACDONALD starts talking through a megaphone, telling everyone about a boat called the DREAM CATCHER which is available for rentals. Then someone named MISTER HORN takes the megaphone away from Al and talks about how the Dream Catcher is owned by Frank Muto, and Frank has loaned it to him (Horn) for the afternoon in order to track down the people who commandeered the Spire of Ice.
Basically he's saying he wants to see Capital Sam and Allison Hugo front and center, pronto. But not in so many words. And he's the one firing the cannon, OK? (I was wondering how well Frank Muto could really fire a cannon if he didn't have feet to stand on.)
Sam tells Billy to get back on board quietly* and have Allison prepare for departure. May is not really perturbed by any of this, she's got brass.
This story is actually getting pretty interesting, I wish the chapters were forthcoming a bit more fast and furiously.
*This part got LOLs out of me. There is something about secret disguises that is so funny. If you saw the movie Shanghai Knights then you know what I mean.
August 24, 2007
Chapter 117
They dock the Spire at the Radio Tower (basically a radio tower in the middle of the ocean, surrounded by some wrecked ships tied together, like a little island town in Waterworld if you can imagine) to get some supplies and find a diver.
There he gets hooked up with a diver named MAY PETROSKI. (The scene where Sam announces he needs a diver made me LOL.) As they are heading back to the Spire and haggling a bit over money, someone starts shooting a cannon at the Spire. Then Capital Sam is trying to figure out who would do such a thing.
There he gets hooked up with a diver named MAY PETROSKI. (The scene where Sam announces he needs a diver made me LOL.) As they are heading back to the Spire and haggling a bit over money, someone starts shooting a cannon at the Spire. Then Capital Sam is trying to figure out who would do such a thing.
August 16, 2007
Chapter 116
Allison is pretty sad (throwing up and crying) about Hugo being dead and figures her parents will blame her for it, so she's not going to go home ever, just stay on the Spire of Ice.
Chapter 115
(Ugh! Recently my friend Meg told me about how she was reading some comic books and it was really difficult to keep up with all the histories and revisions and various universes, so she "was reading with one hand on Wikipedia." Now I now know exactly what she means!!!)
This chapter included all kinds of references to stuff from waaaay back when, that I only barely remember. Most of the time I was just like Wah? Master Billy? Huh? But thank heavens for this website because I think I've got it all under control now and hopefully this will make some sense to people in the future who read this.
Here are the things you need to remember in order for this chapter to make ANY SENSE:
The Black Bee -- See Chapter 106. This is Frank Muto's boat. Allison is hoping to find the Black Bee because she thinks it will give her clues to finding her brother Hugo. Her quest for the Black Bee is what got her hooked up with Capital Sam and why she's now driving the Spire of Ice.
Master Billy -- See also Chapter 106. As near as I can tell/recall, Master Billy was Frank Muto's 2nd in command. Or his Gilligan, or whatever. Back in Ch. 106, some guys confused Hugo with Billy, but the Billy in Ch. 115 is NOT Hugo.
Frank Muto/Mutt - Frank is more of a major character who you probably remember, but just in case, he's the guy whose feet got cut off after he tried to kill Hugo by throwing him off the Black Bee, which is what caused Hugo to wash up on shore with a chain wrapped around his leg (Ch. 1), and which Frank did because Hugo had put Frank's daughter Delia into a coma. More refresher on this in Ch. 105.
SO keeping all that in mind, here's what happens in this chapter:
They find the shipwreck of the Black Bee (in the middle of the ocean???) and rescue Master Billy. He now refers to himself as Cap'n William Smith, great. There was a mutiny on the Black Bee, Billy I guess threw Frank overboard but then all the other sailors got scared and took off leaving him alone. He's scared of running into Frank Muto, so he becomes the Spire's new captain. He's not actually able to confirm that the person Frank threw off the boat was Hugo, but Allison gets enough details to confirm it. So now I guess they're off to go find where the exact spot is that they went overboard.
This chapter included all kinds of references to stuff from waaaay back when, that I only barely remember. Most of the time I was just like Wah? Master Billy? Huh? But thank heavens for this website because I think I've got it all under control now and hopefully this will make some sense to people in the future who read this.
Here are the things you need to remember in order for this chapter to make ANY SENSE:
The Black Bee -- See Chapter 106. This is Frank Muto's boat. Allison is hoping to find the Black Bee because she thinks it will give her clues to finding her brother Hugo. Her quest for the Black Bee is what got her hooked up with Capital Sam and why she's now driving the Spire of Ice.
Master Billy -- See also Chapter 106. As near as I can tell/recall, Master Billy was Frank Muto's 2nd in command. Or his Gilligan, or whatever. Back in Ch. 106, some guys confused Hugo with Billy, but the Billy in Ch. 115 is NOT Hugo.
Frank Muto/Mutt - Frank is more of a major character who you probably remember, but just in case, he's the guy whose feet got cut off after he tried to kill Hugo by throwing him off the Black Bee, which is what caused Hugo to wash up on shore with a chain wrapped around his leg (Ch. 1), and which Frank did because Hugo had put Frank's daughter Delia into a coma. More refresher on this in Ch. 105.
SO keeping all that in mind, here's what happens in this chapter:
They find the shipwreck of the Black Bee (in the middle of the ocean???) and rescue Master Billy. He now refers to himself as Cap'n William Smith, great. There was a mutiny on the Black Bee, Billy I guess threw Frank overboard but then all the other sailors got scared and took off leaving him alone. He's scared of running into Frank Muto, so he becomes the Spire's new captain. He's not actually able to confirm that the person Frank threw off the boat was Hugo, but Allison gets enough details to confirm it. So now I guess they're off to go find where the exact spot is that they went overboard.
August 01, 2007
Chapter 114
Ok. Well you guys, this chapter delves really deep into violence. It was pretty shocking I have to say. In this chapter Allison is driving the boat while Capital Sam is throwing members of the crew over board. He doesn't care if they drown or anything! I guess it's a good reminder about how mean pirates were in olden times. In our culture a lot of people like to dress up as pirates (or zombies) for fun but really they don't get how scary those guys really were in real life! (Zombies too.)
Then Capital Sam gets into a fight with the Chef, (DEAF CHEF GEOFF), who didn't hear the lullaby b/c he was deaf. It's a really bloody battle, gross and not to my taste, with Sam killing Geoff. I was surprised it all happened so fast, I didn't think the chef would really care who's driving the boat as long as he gets to make good food? That's how all chefs are, at heart. Always really dedicated to the task at hand. But oh well, he's dead and there's blood everywhere. And soon Capital Sam realizes his mistake because now who's going to feed all the guests???
I wonder if this chapter was a critique of violent movies and violence on TV? Like a commentary about our society? The fight in the kitchen is violence on TV, and then the chef is like that part of all of us that's good? Something like that. I need to think about it more. The writer seems pretty smart so I wouldn't put it past him.
Then Capital Sam gets into a fight with the Chef, (DEAF CHEF GEOFF), who didn't hear the lullaby b/c he was deaf. It's a really bloody battle, gross and not to my taste, with Sam killing Geoff. I was surprised it all happened so fast, I didn't think the chef would really care who's driving the boat as long as he gets to make good food? That's how all chefs are, at heart. Always really dedicated to the task at hand. But oh well, he's dead and there's blood everywhere. And soon Capital Sam realizes his mistake because now who's going to feed all the guests???
I wonder if this chapter was a critique of violent movies and violence on TV? Like a commentary about our society? The fight in the kitchen is violence on TV, and then the chef is like that part of all of us that's good? Something like that. I need to think about it more. The writer seems pretty smart so I wouldn't put it past him.
July 11, 2007
Chapter 113
Ah hah! This chapter is all about the Lullaby. I can basically read the author's mind at this point, did I call it or what about that possibly being important later. Read my last post if you don't know what I mean. Leona owes me a McDonald's chocolate shake.
This chapter takes us back to "the present" I guess, back with Allison on the ship, taking it over. The Lullaby turns out to be an actual lullaby, taught by Capital Sam, Allison sings it over the loudspeaker and puts everyone to sleep. I think this is the first instance in the whole book where something was named what it actually was. Normally you'd expect a lullaby to be named The Baby Muzzler, or Bespeckled Ralph's Aural Pacifier. And then maybe "The Lullaby" would turn out to be a very quiet fax machine.
So after everyone's asleep, Sam climbs aboard through the toilet and Allison asks him where he learned the song. He says that he learned it from someone (possibly a mermaid) named Muirin, who I am mentioning even though I bet (strawberry this time?) that it turns out to not be important.
This chapter takes us back to "the present" I guess, back with Allison on the ship, taking it over. The Lullaby turns out to be an actual lullaby, taught by Capital Sam, Allison sings it over the loudspeaker and puts everyone to sleep. I think this is the first instance in the whole book where something was named what it actually was. Normally you'd expect a lullaby to be named The Baby Muzzler, or Bespeckled Ralph's Aural Pacifier. And then maybe "The Lullaby" would turn out to be a very quiet fax machine.
So after everyone's asleep, Sam climbs aboard through the toilet and Allison asks him where he learned the song. He says that he learned it from someone (possibly a mermaid) named Muirin, who I am mentioning even though I bet (strawberry this time?) that it turns out to not be important.
July 05, 2007
Chapter 112
This chapter is told from the perspective of Capital Sam. It is basically his general thoughts on how to commandeer a boat or other seafaring vessel. His whole thing is: don't over-plan it, just be ready to take advantage of a situation when one is presented, and don't be afraid to improvise. Kind of a good way to think about life in general if you think about it.
He mentions something about it being time to give Lullaby a try, which is probably foreshadowing. Unless it's referring to something that already happened that I forgot about. Maybe Leona can weigh in after lunch, she's here today.
He mentions something about it being time to give Lullaby a try, which is probably foreshadowing. Unless it's referring to something that already happened that I forgot about. Maybe Leona can weigh in after lunch, she's here today.
June 15, 2007
Chapter 111
WHOA I really liked this one! At first when it started off I wasn't sure where it was going. Allison is in this secret back room with 3 other women, including the wedding dress lady. And then a woman named SUNSHOWER starts asking them very weird sexual questions. And then Sunshower determines if she likes their answers or not, and if not they get kicked out of the room. But then Allison makes it to the end with some other girls and what they achieve is getting to be prostitutes on the boat I guess? But with full benefits, so I guess they treat their employees with some dignity.
So that is all well and good but then the awesome part happens suddenly at the end. I wish I could just quote it all here Leona! Basically Allison catches everyone off guard and throws down a smoke bomb and is like "I'm taking over your ship!"
OK reading it here makes it sound like it's not very amazing, so go read it over there because seriously it felt like watching a James Bond movie for a brief second there.
So that is all well and good but then the awesome part happens suddenly at the end. I wish I could just quote it all here Leona! Basically Allison catches everyone off guard and throws down a smoke bomb and is like "I'm taking over your ship!"
OK reading it here makes it sound like it's not very amazing, so go read it over there because seriously it felt like watching a James Bond movie for a brief second there.
May 30, 2007
Chapter 110
Allison is now on the boat, the Spire of Ice. The boat is crowded, with what sounds like CEOs and business professional types. There's reference to someone named Sunshower, I only mention it in case it turns out to be mission critical 50 chapters from now.
Allison is nervous but makes her way down into the bottom of the ship. She bribes a waitress to get into I guess a secret room. Inside she meets a woman wearing a wedding dress. The woman checks Allison out and basically says she has her pegged as a troublemaker.
Allison is nervous but makes her way down into the bottom of the ship. She bribes a waitress to get into I guess a secret room. Inside she meets a woman wearing a wedding dress. The woman checks Allison out and basically says she has her pegged as a troublemaker.
April 27, 2007
Chapter 109
In this chapter, Capital Sam basically smooth talks his way on to the Spire of Ice. Well, he smooth talks Allison's way on, they won't let Capital Sam on, he's got some history of troublemaking and the guy who's guarding the way is really not wanting any of it. They jabber at length, like sword fighting but with words. Eventually the guy agrees to let Allison on. It happens after C.S. mentions taking the man to "The Curtain." I guess this is sort of like the seafaring people's version of The Big Rock Candy Mountain.
I really liked the part where Capital Sam looks around at some phantom audience, baffled. You could totally see someone doing that, you know? I like writing where you can picture what is happening in the scene.
I really liked the part where Capital Sam looks around at some phantom audience, baffled. You could totally see someone doing that, you know? I like writing where you can picture what is happening in the scene.
April 20, 2007
Chapter 108
This chapter is all back story about the boat they are going to try and steal. It's pretty long and I bet not much of it will end up being major to the storyline, so I'll just give you the highlights:
* The Spire of Ice used to be called the Astrolabe
* For a while early on, the boat was infested with a parasite called Strain 17 that killed anyone on board. But not anymore.
* The boat has been around for a while, changed hands a few times. First Eleanor Jickett, then a group called the Kalaallit, then someone we don't know, then James Diamond, who turned it into a "pleasure barge." (Hooker boat).
Interesting side note for scholars: Strain 17 was also the name of a short story by this same author. You can Google for it. It was about a test tube baby who got thrown in the ocean. I don't think the two things are meant to be specifically related though, it's probably just that he only has room in his head for but so many ideas.
* The Spire of Ice used to be called the Astrolabe
* For a while early on, the boat was infested with a parasite called Strain 17 that killed anyone on board. But not anymore.
* The boat has been around for a while, changed hands a few times. First Eleanor Jickett, then a group called the Kalaallit, then someone we don't know, then James Diamond, who turned it into a "pleasure barge." (Hooker boat).
Interesting side note for scholars: Strain 17 was also the name of a short story by this same author. You can Google for it. It was about a test tube baby who got thrown in the ocean. I don't think the two things are meant to be specifically related though, it's probably just that he only has room in his head for but so many ideas.
Chapter 107
Allison then meets a fisherman named Capital Sam. (Make sure you read that right, the first few times I was reading that as CAPTAIN Sam.) The rest of the fisherpeople are scared of Allison at this point, but I think he sees her as a kind of project or challenge. He offers his assistance in helping her locate The Black Bee. He says they should try to steal and commandeer a boat called The Spire of Ice, and then they can use that to go find the Black Bee.
Captain Sam is not exactly what you'd call With The Times, he refers to people as darky or pansies. Not cool, IMHO.
Captain Sam is not exactly what you'd call With The Times, he refers to people as darky or pansies. Not cool, IMHO.
April 19, 2007
Chapter 106
OK, interesting: the local fishermen seem to have developed some sort of mythology around Hugo and Frank Muto and what happened out there on the boat.
Allison talks to some more fishermen to find out what the Bee is. It's the Black Bee, Frank Muto's boat. A bunch of dialogue between the fishermen ensues. They refer to Frank as "Mutt" and Hugo as "Master Billy" and they talk a bunch of gobbledygook about mutiny and the cold, deadly embrace of the sea. At which point Allison starts freaking out and stomping on one of their necks and screaming at them to tell her where Hugo is.
Only slightly confusing thing for Chokeville experts to write their doctoral theses on: The Black Bee was also the name of the dirigible that little girl, Junie Woolford, flew around town. (Ch. 58-60)
Allison talks to some more fishermen to find out what the Bee is. It's the Black Bee, Frank Muto's boat. A bunch of dialogue between the fishermen ensues. They refer to Frank as "Mutt" and Hugo as "Master Billy" and they talk a bunch of gobbledygook about mutiny and the cold, deadly embrace of the sea. At which point Allison starts freaking out and stomping on one of their necks and screaming at them to tell her where Hugo is.
Only slightly confusing thing for Chokeville experts to write their doctoral theses on: The Black Bee was also the name of the dirigible that little girl, Junie Woolford, flew around town. (Ch. 58-60)
Chapter 105
Hi everyone! It turns out that shape we saw coming out of the ocean was FRANK MUTO (If you remember, Delia's dad, the girl who Hugo put in a coma, so her dad wanted to kill Hugo, which is pretty much what put the whole adventure in motion in the first place.), and Frank Muto is carrying his own foot, and he has hooks and fishing poles all stuck in his body. Bleh.
Allison asks him where Hugo is. Frank says that he tried to kill Hugo but they fought and Hugo overpowered him and threw him overboard. And he must be lying, because that goes against what we read in Chapter 80. (Back then what we read was that the chain got caught around Frank's foot and that is why his foot came off, as Hugo was going overboard.) Well I guess he's not really lying, just not telling her the whole deal.
Allison asks him where Hugo is. Frank says that he tried to kill Hugo but they fought and Hugo overpowered him and threw him overboard. And he must be lying, because that goes against what we read in Chapter 80. (Back then what we read was that the chain got caught around Frank's foot and that is why his foot came off, as Hugo was going overboard.) Well I guess he's not really lying, just not telling her the whole deal.
October 23, 2006
Chapter 104
Allison talks to a drunk person who has no pants on. It's possible that he remembered seeing Hugo, but it's hard to get a good answer out of him. He mentions "THE UNKILLABLE" and that makes Allison think of an old Hull Family trick, but who knows what that refers to.
And then they get distracted because something, a wierd-shaped person?, walks out of the ocean and starts beating up the fishermen. Everyone is spooked and runs except Allison. She follows him/it into a restaurant and knocks on the door. She hears someone use the name "Dr Manz" and then she opens up the door. That is the end of the chapter.
(If you remember, we met Dr Manz before. He was that doctor with the robots who lived underwater and who tried to heal that fish bite that Hugo got. And he helps people who want to hide from Glenedig. And Hugo had a crush on his voluptous secretary.
And then they get distracted because something, a wierd-shaped person?, walks out of the ocean and starts beating up the fishermen. Everyone is spooked and runs except Allison. She follows him/it into a restaurant and knocks on the door. She hears someone use the name "Dr Manz" and then she opens up the door. That is the end of the chapter.
(If you remember, we met Dr Manz before. He was that doctor with the robots who lived underwater and who tried to heal that fish bite that Hugo got. And he helps people who want to hide from Glenedig. And Hugo had a crush on his voluptous secretary.
October 21, 2006
Chapter 103
OK this chapter made me a little uncomfortable. Allison decides that she's not going to go home, she's going to keep searching for Hugo. She didn't leave a note for the parents or anything, but it's like punishing them for kicking Hugo out. She gets the feeling that he's in the ocean, or something, so she goes down to the beach. She remembers the time that she almost drowned and Hugo saved her.
She goes and talks to a bunch of crusty pirate-types to try to find info if they've seen Hugo. They give her very bad sass of a sexual nature, and then she does something pornographic that I will not mention. Not sure why she does it. Then she leaves and finds some other guy to talk to.
She goes and talks to a bunch of crusty pirate-types to try to find info if they've seen Hugo. They give her very bad sass of a sexual nature, and then she does something pornographic that I will not mention. Not sure why she does it. Then she leaves and finds some other guy to talk to.
October 18, 2006
Chapter 102
In the middle of the night, Allison gets into her car, called THE GORGON, and goes out searching for Hugo around town, at the usual spots where he hangs out. [Obviously she doesn't find him, since we know he's in the other town.]
Then when she's going through the drive-thru to order some chicken, she realizes that this is the first time ever that Hugo is wrapped up in something that she's in no way involved in, and it causes her to shed a few solitary tears.
It's just like George Lazenby at the end of "On Her Majesty's Secret Service." Sorry, I don't know why but I have James Bond on the brain today.
Then when she's going through the drive-thru to order some chicken, she realizes that this is the first time ever that Hugo is wrapped up in something that she's in no way involved in, and it causes her to shed a few solitary tears.
It's just like George Lazenby at the end of "On Her Majesty's Secret Service." Sorry, I don't know why but I have James Bond on the brain today.
September 18, 2006
Chapter 101
Well, not sure what the hold up was but we're back. This chapter is told from the perspective of Allison Hull, Hugo's sister. She's pretty annoyed that Hugo took off and is basically just in a huff about it. And then that night she has a dream about pirates and she wakes up thinking that Hugo is dead.
August 09, 2006
May 23, 2006
Chapter 100
Whoa Chapter 100 and WHAT A DOOZY!!!
We're back at the present time in the hotel room with China & Hugo. We learn that Glending wants China to see what the current status of Hugo's investigation is, and keep him off the streets for a few days. So I guess that's why he's chained up, but I wonder why they want him off the streets. I guess just to stay out of the way while the real people work their magic or something. Anyways there's a knock and some big huge woman walks in. Friend of China's, we don't learn her name (probably the author's mistake) but there's intimations that they might be lesbians together or something. She brings a recorded message for them to lesson to. It's a message that was sent to Glending from someone who purports to be working with Margaret Ball. The deal is that she wants all her sister stenographers released unharmed or else she will spread copies of the paper far and wide.
1) So Margaret had the document the whole time and Hugo has been on a wild goose chase! Figures.
2) And furthermore Hugo recognizes the voice of the woman on the recording as his sister! Allison! I was like Whoa, wah?!?
So that's the end of part 1. Which is kind of scary, there's probably at least 100 or 200 more chapters, that means. This is definitely the longest thing I have ever read. Too bad I'm not getting a school credit or something.
We're back at the present time in the hotel room with China & Hugo. We learn that Glending wants China to see what the current status of Hugo's investigation is, and keep him off the streets for a few days. So I guess that's why he's chained up, but I wonder why they want him off the streets. I guess just to stay out of the way while the real people work their magic or something. Anyways there's a knock and some big huge woman walks in. Friend of China's, we don't learn her name (probably the author's mistake) but there's intimations that they might be lesbians together or something. She brings a recorded message for them to lesson to. It's a message that was sent to Glending from someone who purports to be working with Margaret Ball. The deal is that she wants all her sister stenographers released unharmed or else she will spread copies of the paper far and wide.
1) So Margaret had the document the whole time and Hugo has been on a wild goose chase! Figures.
2) And furthermore Hugo recognizes the voice of the woman on the recording as his sister! Allison! I was like Whoa, wah?!?
So that's the end of part 1. Which is kind of scary, there's probably at least 100 or 200 more chapters, that means. This is definitely the longest thing I have ever read. Too bad I'm not getting a school credit or something.
May 18, 2006
Chapter 99
The names of the girls are: ANABEL, CHANDRA, KAREN, LILY, MAIA, MARGARET, PENNY, and they will each be in charge of taking notes on a certain subject. They learn the ropes and basically the system works perfectly, just like Glenending had hoped. But because the girls are isolated from the rest of the world, they sort of have some weird ideas about how the world works. They develop this idea of a person named ROSA, who they think of as their mom, out in the world, someone who cares about them. Sort of like their God or Mary in a way, I guess. (Just interpreting.)
So the girls grow up, and along the way Anabel commits suicide, and then the girls start developing The Plan. We don't know what that is yet.
(I tried rearranging the girl's first initials into an anagram of some kind, but it did not work out as anything in English. I figure this book must have some secret codes in it somewhere, but I don't know.)
So the girls grow up, and along the way Anabel commits suicide, and then the girls start developing The Plan. We don't know what that is yet.
(I tried rearranging the girl's first initials into an anagram of some kind, but it did not work out as anything in English. I figure this book must have some secret codes in it somewhere, but I don't know.)
Chapter 98
So the girls go through training and learn what they're going to do. They're given very fancy digs in the building, told they can never leave, but can basically have anything else they'd ever want. Two girls decide to leave, but the rest stay. If you remember that glassed-in fancy room with the tree that was mentioned earlier, their rooms are below that.
Also we learn that the girls will each get a penpal out in the regular office with whom they can correspond. Hogwild is one of the girl's penpals at some point.
It occurs to me that an easy way to summarize these chapters is to just read the first paragraph, skim for anything in blockquotes, and then read the last paragraph and boom there you go. But I am reading the whole thing.
Also we learn that the girls will each get a penpal out in the regular office with whom they can correspond. Hogwild is one of the girl's penpals at some point.
It occurs to me that an easy way to summarize these chapters is to just read the first paragraph, skim for anything in blockquotes, and then read the last paragraph and boom there you go. But I am reading the whole thing.
Chapter 97
China is stressed about where she's going to find these stenographer chippies. Two paragraphs later she's figured it out and is rounding them up. She brings in 18 girls to interview with Glendenining and DR. ELEANOR MATHIAS, the staff psychologist. They do some tests, teach the girls the code they'll be writing in. The code is taught to them by someone named JERRY. A couple of the girls steal away during the night but the ones who are left the following morning are ready for work.
May 16, 2006
Chapter 96
We now travel back in time. To a place when Glendenning has a meeting that goes horribly wrong. He's all embarrassed. The secretary suggests and he agrees that he should have a paperless office. Everything he says will be automatically recorded and transcribed, so he never has to remember anything or search through papers to find something ever again.
So they set up a bunch of microphones, but then he wasn't sure who to entrust with the recording of everything. So an employee named SEAN BITTMAN recommended he talk to China Sweet. Apparently she had procured underage girls for the company in the past? Um hello creepy. But basically the idea is to staff the recording booth with young underpriveledged girls, a completely child labor kind of situation.
Hugo, what kind of nonsense are you mixed up in, I wonder!
Also we learn that China Sweet's real name is MAXINE ESTRA. Which is semi-confusing, because we already met a character named Estra Maxie. Coincidence I think not? Or did the author just forget and is running out of ideas. I don't know.
So they set up a bunch of microphones, but then he wasn't sure who to entrust with the recording of everything. So an employee named SEAN BITTMAN recommended he talk to China Sweet. Apparently she had procured underage girls for the company in the past? Um hello creepy. But basically the idea is to staff the recording booth with young underpriveledged girls, a completely child labor kind of situation.
Hugo, what kind of nonsense are you mixed up in, I wonder!
Also we learn that China Sweet's real name is MAXINE ESTRA. Which is semi-confusing, because we already met a character named Estra Maxie. Coincidence I think not? Or did the author just forget and is running out of ideas. I don't know.
May 11, 2006
Chapter 95
So then China & Hugo are at a old sea-side hotel called The Ballast. Hugo is chained to the radiator, I'm not sure why. China washes her face (sorry, I have no clue what is important and what isn't, and what will be important later, so I'll just mention the random details) but Hugo does not see her face, and then she talks about how she was hired to find Margaret Ball. If you remember she was the window-paper-dropper. China has been looking for Margaret for longer than Hugo has been on the scene. And it seems that China originally introduced Margaret to Glendenig, or got her hired, or something. I don't know.
Chapter 94
Great, I'm officially behind. Curse the day ere I ridiculed Leona! Ha. I'm from jolly old london. ANyways.
in Chapter 94 China Sweet is driving Hugo somewhere. They talk about fate, which Hugo calls "ghostfamily." And they talk about whether or not we each have ONE significant thing that we have to to do during our life. It's basically a philosophical debate that I think China wins, Hugo never really has much of an opinion on anything.
We find out that China got the message that Hugo had sent to Mr Glendenning. She works for him too. She was worried that Hugo was going to spill secrets to the Rustic people with the spider, so she ran off to save him. Of course I'm not sure Hugo has any actual secrets to spill, but whatev.
in Chapter 94 China Sweet is driving Hugo somewhere. They talk about fate, which Hugo calls "ghostfamily." And they talk about whether or not we each have ONE significant thing that we have to to do during our life. It's basically a philosophical debate that I think China wins, Hugo never really has much of an opinion on anything.
We find out that China got the message that Hugo had sent to Mr Glendenning. She works for him too. She was worried that Hugo was going to spill secrets to the Rustic people with the spider, so she ran off to save him. Of course I'm not sure Hugo has any actual secrets to spill, but whatev.
May 08, 2006
Chapter 93
This is a very short chapter in which China Sweet briefly comforts Hugo and then orders him into her truck. She takes him somewhere and then has him handcuff himself to the radiator. You have to read it a few times before you're sure that's what really happened.
April 26, 2006
Chapter 92
Hugo and Hogwild agree to meet up later. Hugo sits on a bench in the park and all of a sudden there is a big SPIDER on his hand! And then there is a woman sitting on one side of him and a man on the other. They tell him not to touch it or it will basically maim him for life. Through clever banter between the man and the woman we learn that it's something they created in a lab. These are the same people who sent that thing, whatever it was, to bite his stomach earlier. They will get the lab spider off him but only if he tells them something about the missing piece of paper. But Hugo is in a tight spot because he doesn't really no much more than they do. It looks like curtains...
But then! Suddenly! The spider is gone, and it's on the throat of the man sitting next to him, biting him his neck! It's CHINA SWEET! If you remember she's the one who makes the really sharp ninja stars out of regular, lined notebook paper. She saved the day and comes over and tells the guy to go to the hospital. Very exciting! I believe this is the third appearance of China Sweet.
But then! Suddenly! The spider is gone, and it's on the throat of the man sitting next to him, biting him his neck! It's CHINA SWEET! If you remember she's the one who makes the really sharp ninja stars out of regular, lined notebook paper. She saved the day and comes over and tells the guy to go to the hospital. Very exciting! I believe this is the third appearance of China Sweet.
April 12, 2006
Chapter 91
Phew, low whistle. There was a lot of monologues in this chapter. VERY BASICALLY, Hogwild is bummed and hurt that he didn't know about the secret stuff Hugo is in on. Then there's an extended metaphor of them talking about sports trophies, and that goes into them talking about how they want to feel important/immortal, and by the end I guess it's decided that Hogwild should help Hugo find the document, and it'll be an important thing for them to go together so they can be men, or whatever.
That is the way slim overview, right there.
Also the urchin gets sick on ice cream and wanders off, which is good b/c everytime I read the word "urchin" I had "Paradise City" by Guns & Roses in my head for the rest of the day. Just an urchin living under the street, I'm a tough case that's hard to beat, I'm your charity case so buy me something to eat. WHOA maybe that song was the inspiration for this whole chapter. Leona, would back me up but she's on the riverboat playing Keno this week.
That is the way slim overview, right there.
Also the urchin gets sick on ice cream and wanders off, which is good b/c everytime I read the word "urchin" I had "Paradise City" by Guns & Roses in my head for the rest of the day. Just an urchin living under the street, I'm a tough case that's hard to beat, I'm your charity case so buy me something to eat. WHOA maybe that song was the inspiration for this whole chapter. Leona, would back me up but she's on the riverboat playing Keno this week.
Chapter 90
OK, this was a pretty cool chapter. Hogwild takes Hugo and the urchin to a secret restaurant. It's hidden inside a department store. It's pretty cool how they get into the place but I won't go into it. Just know that it was complicated and I liked it. When they get there Hogwild orders the fanciest sundae possible for the urchin, and only a small non-alcoholic beverage for Hugo. Should have been the other way around if you ask me.
March 31, 2006
Chapter 89
In this chapter Hugo leaves Sal's and is threatened by a nameless young punk. It quickly becomes clear that Hogwild has hired this kid to find out what Hugo is working on. I guess his interest was piqued on account of an article in the newspaper where Fedemma Global denied that they'd lost a paper and had no idea who Hugo was or why he was saying that. So maybe Hogwild is mad that Hugo is working on the d/l and wants to feel privvy to that information. Hugo's hungry and they agree to get something to eat, and they have to bring the kid. And Hugo will explain about the Fish House.
Does that explanation make sense? It was kind of a confusing chapter. And yet not much happened. That's probably the sign of a good author at work.
Does that explanation make sense? It was kind of a confusing chapter. And yet not much happened. That's probably the sign of a good author at work.
March 28, 2006
Chapter 88
Goodness, that Hugo sure has a crush on Jane, the receptionist. In this episode he comes out to her about his sound recording project that he's working on, and says that he'd like to include her voice as part of it. All the while he's just thinking about how he'd like to make time with her. Aww. Since everything related to Fedema Global is already being recorded all the time, she says it won't be a problem for her to get him 5 minutes of their conversation, so he can have Jane saying 3 certain words on his recording. I won't say which 3 words exactly b/c that would be a quote from the story. Jane also says that she'll help get Hugo's belongings up off the bottom of the ocean, and she certainly didn't need to do that, so I wonder if she's down?? If you feel me. And then finally he gives her a message to get to Mr Glendennig that basically says "I'm making some progress on the case even though you told me not to work on it. (Total paraphrasing.)
March 16, 2006
Chapter 87
I guess the conversation from Chapter 86 just ended, and then a robot (ERNINE) shows Hugo out. Hugo is well chuffed that he has a new lead on the case. He runs back through the underwater hallway and then back up the ladder and when he emerges in the bathroom there is a woman on the toilet. She (MAGGIE SUWANNAKINTHO) pitches a fit and Herman Kim almost beats Hugo up by accident but then realizes who he is. He teaches Hugo the secret knock so that won't happen again. Hugo then asks Herman Kim if he knows Margaret Ball. He doesn't answer but the bartender tells Hugo not to ask about Archivists. If you don't remember who Margaret Ball is (I sure did not!), she's mentioned later on down this page, just do a search.
And along those same lines, just in case it's important later I'll describe about Maggie: she's kind of down on her luck and working as a sort of highly specialized call girl, employed by Fedema. She's sad.
It's interesting that we don't learn the bartender's name. Is she the only person I can think of who we haven't learned their name? We met another bartender before, Estra Maxie if you remember.
And along those same lines, just in case it's important later I'll describe about Maggie: she's kind of down on her luck and working as a sort of highly specialized call girl, employed by Fedema. She's sad.
It's interesting that we don't learn the bartender's name. Is she the only person I can think of who we haven't learned their name? We met another bartender before, Estra Maxie if you remember.
March 10, 2006
Intermission: New Story!
Since there's been a bit of a lag lately in new chapters (not hating, merely stating), I decided to post some of my own writing that I've been working on! For this story I am combining two of my favorite passions: Chokeville and Newsradio. For those of you that don't know, Newsradio was basically the funniest show ever, until Phil Hartman died. In fact most of my writing tends to be about Newsradio in some way. So right now I'm working on a story about what if WNYX was in La Garra, and Hugo gets a tip about the missing page that leads him to the radio station offices. Anyways, I hope you like the story, I'm taking a big risk by posting it! And it goes a little something like this:
--
[SCENE: Dave's office. DAVE is working busily at something.]
DAVE (calling loudly): Beth? Can you come in here?
[BETH leans into the room, hanging from the door jamb]
BETH: Yeah Dave?
DAVE: Were you able to make those copies I needed? I have 20 more minutes to get this financial report done.
BETH: Almost, Dave. Matthew's really tying up the copier today.
Dave (gives Beth a look): I thought we agreed Matthew wasn't allowed near the office equipment anymore.
Beth: Well remember how you said you didn't want Matthew to spend all day drawing unicorns when he should be working?
Dave: Yeah?
Beth: Well instead he drew just one really awesome unicorn and is photocopying it like five hundred times.
Dave: ...
Beth: I think he wants to wallpaper the break room with them. Anyway, that guy is still outside, waiting to talk to you.
Dave: What guy?
Beth: Hugo.
Dave: Hugo who?
Beth: Dave this really isn't a good time for knock-knock jokes, he's been waiting for like an hour. Should I send him in?
Dave: Well, despite the fact that this is the first I've heard of it and I'm incredibly busy, sure, why not.
Beth: I'll get him.
Dave: And in the future, if there's a visitor here to see me, could you make sure to actually tell me about it?
Beth: Mmm, pretty sure that's not in my job description, Dave, but I'm happy to let it slide this time. Let's try not make a habit of it though.
[BETH exits. HUGO enters]
Dave (standing up to shake Hugo's hand): Hi, Hugo, is it? Dave Nelson, news director.
Hugo: Hugo Hull, sir. Icewater to my friends. Problem-solver extraordinaire.
Dave: Well what can I do for you...Icewater?
Hugo: Maybe some coffee. I'm here because--
[MATTHEW rushes into the office, holding a large stack of papers, a few of which cascade of onto the floor.]
Matthew: David, I cannot work in these conditions!
Dave (momentarily flummoxed as he struggles to switch gears): Uh, what conditions would those be?
[In the background, BILL strolls casually into Dave's office dangling a piece of paper distastefully between two fingers. It has a picture of a unicorn on it.]
Matthew: David, our office is too sterile, too blah, officey, and I am not the only who who feels stifled by the corporate--
Bill (oblivious to the fact that Matthew is speaking): Dave, are we just going to let Spaz here turn our place of business into a 3rd-grader's bedroom? No offense, Matthew. Should I start wearing ponytails and writing my name in capital letters, or are we going to deliver the news here? I for one cannot work in these conditions.
Dave (Looking down at the report on his desk): Well, apparently no one can.
--
Anyways, that's all I've got so far. I'll probably add more later if I get some good comments in the comments section. Thanks for reading! Leona, do you like Newsradio?
--
[SCENE: Dave's office. DAVE is working busily at something.]
DAVE (calling loudly): Beth? Can you come in here?
[BETH leans into the room, hanging from the door jamb]
BETH: Yeah Dave?
DAVE: Were you able to make those copies I needed? I have 20 more minutes to get this financial report done.
BETH: Almost, Dave. Matthew's really tying up the copier today.
Dave (gives Beth a look): I thought we agreed Matthew wasn't allowed near the office equipment anymore.
Beth: Well remember how you said you didn't want Matthew to spend all day drawing unicorns when he should be working?
Dave: Yeah?
Beth: Well instead he drew just one really awesome unicorn and is photocopying it like five hundred times.
Dave: ...
Beth: I think he wants to wallpaper the break room with them. Anyway, that guy is still outside, waiting to talk to you.
Dave: What guy?
Beth: Hugo.
Dave: Hugo who?
Beth: Dave this really isn't a good time for knock-knock jokes, he's been waiting for like an hour. Should I send him in?
Dave: Well, despite the fact that this is the first I've heard of it and I'm incredibly busy, sure, why not.
Beth: I'll get him.
Dave: And in the future, if there's a visitor here to see me, could you make sure to actually tell me about it?
Beth: Mmm, pretty sure that's not in my job description, Dave, but I'm happy to let it slide this time. Let's try not make a habit of it though.
[BETH exits. HUGO enters]
Dave (standing up to shake Hugo's hand): Hi, Hugo, is it? Dave Nelson, news director.
Hugo: Hugo Hull, sir. Icewater to my friends. Problem-solver extraordinaire.
Dave: Well what can I do for you...Icewater?
Hugo: Maybe some coffee. I'm here because--
[MATTHEW rushes into the office, holding a large stack of papers, a few of which cascade of onto the floor.]
Matthew: David, I cannot work in these conditions!
Dave (momentarily flummoxed as he struggles to switch gears): Uh, what conditions would those be?
[In the background, BILL strolls casually into Dave's office dangling a piece of paper distastefully between two fingers. It has a picture of a unicorn on it.]
Matthew: David, our office is too sterile, too blah, officey, and I am not the only who who feels stifled by the corporate--
Bill (oblivious to the fact that Matthew is speaking): Dave, are we just going to let Spaz here turn our place of business into a 3rd-grader's bedroom? No offense, Matthew. Should I start wearing ponytails and writing my name in capital letters, or are we going to deliver the news here? I for one cannot work in these conditions.
Dave (Looking down at the report on his desk): Well, apparently no one can.
--
Anyways, that's all I've got so far. I'll probably add more later if I get some good comments in the comments section. Thanks for reading! Leona, do you like Newsradio?
February 22, 2006
Chapter 86
Big breakthrough in the case! I feel like we are back in hot pursuit!
Dr Manz isn't really friendly with Glendennig, and he mentions to Hugo that he has helped people in past who want to hide out from Glendennig. Such as the file-thrower!!! And he calls the file-thrower a "her." So Hugo wants to explore that information and find out from the doctor, but the doctor wants to hear more about the fish that bit Hugo when he was drowning. Apparently the fish had a note attached to it, from Rustic Industries, a competitor of Feddema Globals'. So here we are: Hugo wants more info about the file-thrower-outer, Dr M wants more info about the biting note fish. A regular Mexican stand-off.
Dr Manz isn't really friendly with Glendennig, and he mentions to Hugo that he has helped people in past who want to hide out from Glendennig. Such as the file-thrower!!! And he calls the file-thrower a "her." So Hugo wants to explore that information and find out from the doctor, but the doctor wants to hear more about the fish that bit Hugo when he was drowning. Apparently the fish had a note attached to it, from Rustic Industries, a competitor of Feddema Globals'. So here we are: Hugo wants more info about the file-thrower-outer, Dr M wants more info about the biting note fish. A regular Mexican stand-off.
February 15, 2006
Chapter 85
So now we're inside Dr Manz's room/house/laboratory/whatever. It's very messy. They go to a ballroom filled with just a ton of crap. Hugo asks the good doc to take off the metal cuff that is still attached to his leg. Dr M uses a special saw to cut it, then a robot named NUMBER EIGHT actually bends it back and pulls it off. Then Hugo reminds the doc that he also has the fish bite that needs looking at. Dr Manz stabs it with a knife. Gently, I guess. then gives him two things to drink, whiskey and something yellow. Hugo has to take a sip but make sure not to swallow. Hugo asks where he should spit it out. Dr Manz is not specific but tells him not to spit on any books or papers. I guess we should stay tuned to the exciting conclusion in Chapter 86: Where Hugo Decides To Spit, After Carefully Weighing All The Options.
And might I add there was NOTHING in this chapter about Hugo having to find that lost piece of paper which I thought was the whole point of the story! WTH!
And might I add there was NOTHING in this chapter about Hugo having to find that lost piece of paper which I thought was the whole point of the story! WTH!
Chapter 84
A robot answers the door! His name is CHAMP. Then we quickly meet KARL MANZ, who has Hugo come in. The end!
So, yeah.
So, yeah.
February 14, 2006
Chapter 83
Well it sure did not take me long to fall completely behind. No wonder it stills says that this website is by Leona Pankey up above. I'm sure she'll give me what-for if she sobers up at all today.
Now we meet JANE, the receptionist. Hugo tells her that he got bit by something in the ocean (did we already learn this? or is it new? I admit I'm getting a bit confused on account of the dribs and drabs nature of this endeavour).
Jane sends Hugo directs him to the office of Dr Manz. To get there you go down through a trap door and then through a glass tunnel under the ocean. Hugo seems to enjoy this and just stays there for a while and fantasizes about taking Jane on a date there. Keep dreaming, buddy, even in this briefest of character sketches we can tell she's out of your league! Then he continues on and comes to a metal door with a,I'll just quote it and click the "i" button: NEVER MIND! basically there's a design on the door of a few triangles :
I have nothing else to say about this chapter. Wait not true. The title of this chapter is "Door Four." and in college I worked at an off-brand sub shop called Door Four Subs. Because it was in a round building that had 7 doors, and our store was located inside the fourth door. So that reminded me of that. A special closeness with this chapter, I guess.
Now we meet JANE, the receptionist. Hugo tells her that he got bit by something in the ocean (did we already learn this? or is it new? I admit I'm getting a bit confused on account of the dribs and drabs nature of this endeavour).
Jane sends Hugo directs him to the office of Dr Manz. To get there you go down through a trap door and then through a glass tunnel under the ocean. Hugo seems to enjoy this and just stays there for a while and fantasizes about taking Jane on a date there. Keep dreaming, buddy, even in this briefest of character sketches we can tell she's out of your league! Then he continues on and comes to a metal door with a,
I have nothing else to say about this chapter. Wait not true. The title of this chapter is "Door Four." and in college I worked at an off-brand sub shop called Door Four Subs. Because it was in a round building that had 7 doors, and our store was located inside the fourth door. So that reminded me of that. A special closeness with this chapter, I guess.
February 02, 2006
Chapter 82
Oooooooh, ok! I get it now. So all the last however many flashback chapters were all part of what Hugo was telling Herman Kim, the guy in the fish store. That all makes sense now. Not too shab!
So now we're back to the present, and Hugo wraps it all up, and Herman seems to buy it. There's some notes about parts of the story that Hugo may have exaggerated or not actually told to Herman. And then Herman presses his thumb on Hugo's head and says "I took something from you." Uh? Back into weirds-ville with that one, but we're back on track with the story. Phew! And I'm all caught up! I'm not purposefully trying to make any other writers on this website look bad, but goodness that is was sure seems to be happening! j/k
So now we're back to the present, and Hugo wraps it all up, and Herman seems to buy it. There's some notes about parts of the story that Hugo may have exaggerated or not actually told to Herman. And then Herman presses his thumb on Hugo's head and says "I took something from you." Uh? Back into weirds-ville with that one, but we're back on track with the story. Phew! And I'm all caught up! I'm not purposefully trying to make any other writers on this website look bad, but goodness that is was sure seems to be happening! j/k
February 01, 2006
Chapter 81
This chapter has a talking fish that saves Hugo from drowning. And there's a sentence in the first chapter that's highly grammatically suspect. It goes gerund, past-tense, past-tense, gerund when talking about the chain. It was confusing and I know I'm not a writer but I'm pretty sure you can't do that.
Um what else. The fish tells a long story about how a statue of a hand came to exist at the bottom of the ocean. Not sure it's that important.
Also I looked up pitures of oarfish on Google and can I just say gross?!?!
Um what else. The fish tells a long story about how a statue of a hand came to exist at the bottom of the ocean. Not sure it's that important.
Also I looked up pitures of oarfish on Google and can I just say gross?!?!
January 30, 2006
Chapter 80
This is the chaper where Hugo gets dumped in the ocean by Frank Muto. There is also some details about the city that fell from the sky, which has been mentioned a few times before. I still don't understand the physics of all that.
Since this whole book starts with Hugo getting out of the ocean, and now he just got dumped in, it's like we came full circle. I wonder if the story is about over? *shrug* That would be good, I guess. Oh but what ever happened with him having to find that special document??? I thought that was going to be important.
Since this whole book starts with Hugo getting out of the ocean, and now he just got dumped in, it's like we came full circle. I wonder if the story is about over? *shrug* That would be good, I guess. Oh but what ever happened with him having to find that special document??? I thought that was going to be important.
January 24, 2006
Chapter 79
No time for love Doctor JOnes, new chapter! This one's a pretty maudlin affair where Hugo goes to visit Delia Muto in the hospital. You wonder what kind of loose visitation rights this place has. He's all bummed and cries a bunch. Is he sad for what he did to her? Or sad that it got him kicked out of the family? Both? I don't know!
Also I want to note that it's still not clear who the actual narrator is. I mention it b/c there's one part where it says "I'm so sorry." but it's not in quotes, so is Hugo just thinking it? Or was it coming from the narrator? Do you know what I mean? I feel like there's been some stuff earlier where the narrator said the word "I." I'm just throwing some strange ideas out there.
But anyways this chapter really picks up at the end when Hugo gets mysteriously grabbed and thrown in a cab! Correction a Cadillac! Do not email me Leona.
Also I want to note that it's still not clear who the actual narrator is. I mention it b/c there's one part where it says "I'm so sorry." but it's not in quotes, so is Hugo just thinking it? Or was it coming from the narrator? Do you know what I mean? I feel like there's been some stuff earlier where the narrator said the word "I." I'm just throwing some strange ideas out there.
But anyways this chapter really picks up at the end when Hugo gets mysteriously grabbed and thrown in a cab! Correction a Cadillac! Do not email me Leona.
January 20, 2006
Chapter 78
Wow, kind of an emotional chapter. It's all about Hugo packing his bags and leaving the house. At the end he's basically waiting for his sister Allison to leave with him, liked they'd discussed. But she decides not to for some reason, and it doesn't go into too much details but you can tell Hugo is bummed. What is her deal? we wonder.
One inside joke that readers might not get: Hugo packs a copy of something called "Fireland" in his bag. That's also the name of a website that used to be written by the guy writing this story. Little inside reference there. I felt like the bottle filled with something unknown is also a reference to something I saw on Fireland, but I can't find it now. Stayed tuned to FORT BLACK for the behind-the-scenes info.
One inside joke that readers might not get: Hugo packs a copy of something called "Fireland" in his bag. That's also the name of a website that used to be written by the guy writing this story. Little inside reference there. I felt like the bottle filled with something unknown is also a reference to something I saw on Fireland, but I can't find it now. Stayed tuned to FORT BLACK for the behind-the-scenes info.
January 10, 2006
Chapter 77
The last few chapters have all been a lot of flashbacks right in a row, I guess. This chapter is a family meeting with Hugo's family. I can't remember if we ever learned their last name or not. Either way, the upshot of this chapter is that Hugo gets kicked out of the family because of his science experiment, which caused DELIA MUTO to get put in the hospital and his parents to have to bail him out of jail. Basically they've had it with him. Hugo and his sister Allison have an interesting relationship, because they're sort of antagonistic like regular siblings, but also they seem to understand each other and have an "us vs them relationship" with their parents. That's what I got out of this chapter, ayways. I like the chapters that are all dialogue like this one is. Thumbs up Fonzie style. I wonder how many more chapters are left?
January 05, 2006
Chapter 76
It's CherrIE, actually. Nice. Anyways am I supposed to introduce myself. I like Pachinko and anything else Japanese-related. My favorite juice is Kagome Orange Carrot Blossom. I used to drink a ton of juice and it was like my favorite thing but now I'm worried about high fructose corn syrup and scared of juices that aren't 100% juice so that limits things. Anyways let's get back to reviewing the next chapter, shall we?
This is a chapter about the girl Hugo mentioned in the previous chapter, the one who ended up in the hospital because of the science experiment. I guess she got really screwed up pretty bad somehow. Actually this chapter is mostly about that girl's father (FRANK MUTO) and how he never dies (!?) and he wants to kill Hugo. But he wants to kill him respectfully and bury him at sea? If I recall correctly, the whole story starts with Hugo washing up on the beach, so maybe we'll be seeing more of Mr Muto later! Just my guess. If Leona says to cool it with my opinions, I will say YOU cool it with YOUR opinions!
This is a chapter about the girl Hugo mentioned in the previous chapter, the one who ended up in the hospital because of the science experiment. I guess she got really screwed up pretty bad somehow. Actually this chapter is mostly about that girl's father (FRANK MUTO) and how he never dies (!?) and he wants to kill Hugo. But he wants to kill him respectfully and bury him at sea? If I recall correctly, the whole story starts with Hugo washing up on the beach, so maybe we'll be seeing more of Mr Muto later! Just my guess. If Leona says to cool it with my opinions, I will say YOU cool it with YOUR opinions!
January 04, 2006
Welcome Cherry Ziad
Well I was going to introduce my new contibutor to this site and give you some of the back ground but then she went ahead and already posted so I guess I'll just let her introduce herself. Cherry has been writing me alot over the few months and making corrections to some of my summaries and then lately gettin gpretty upset that I haven't been updating here even though the thing last time where I forgot to write a summary and then one of the chapters on the CHokeville site disappeared before I could write a summary hasn't happened since! But it is so long between new chapters over there that I sometimes forget or sometimes don't even care!! :) So when Cherry said she would be happy to help out if I just "stayed out of her way!!! LOL" that I said OK so now she can put things here too. Welcome Cherry.
Chapter 75
Leona took a powder I guess? Maybe she's tired from doing such a bang-up job. (Sarcasm.) Anyways someone better hurry and update this before the next chapter disappears. So I guess this is all dialogue from Hugo. He’s telling Herman Kim some background information about a science experiment he (Hugo) did in Fortalia. ANd how he can’t go back there anymore. I think he’s saying that this will be helpful b/c now it’s like he’s a dead person, which would maybe be of use to Glendennig’s company, I forget the name. Are we supposed to give our impressions? I felt like there was a piece missing that explained why just b/c he can’t go home it’s the same as him being dead, but I liked the addendum or footnote at the end, whatever it was. And overall you get some details about Hugo’s mysterious past that make you wonder.
October 24, 2005
Chapter 74
I will type this one and then be caught up again. Herman Kim takes Hugo into his little office and starts to undress?? (and there are porn magazines in the room) He says he does not know who Hugo is and is having trouble figuring out who he is. Hugo gets nervous but says he would like to tell Herman Kim a story that he might like, adn Herman Kim seems about to do something scary if he does not like the story.
Chapter 73
Now Herman Kim takes Hugo upstairs in the fish shop where the secret things go on. He shows Hugo around and there are curtains and a bar and a pretty receptionist/secretary. Herman tells him this is where Feddema Global does all its secret things. Hugo gets excited to be there but first Herman wants to question him because he does not know enough about HUgo.
Chapter 72
O.K. this chapter is still on the page so I don't have to resort to memory......whcih I guess is awful, I learned! In this one Hugo arrives at the fish house as instructed by Alberta in HR. We learn that on his way there he was bitten by some kind of insect or worm?? And on it is a note from somebody or something called RUSTIC INDUSTRIES which I don't remember seeing before but now I do not trust myself! It is a warning note from Rustic Industries.
At the fish shop Hugo says the code word and talks to HERMAN KIM who says he will orientate him about working at the fish house.
At the fish shop Hugo says the code word and talks to HERMAN KIM who says he will orientate him about working at the fish house.
Chapter 71
Ack!!! They changed the Chokeville site so now there is three chapters on the page at once but I forgot to type up one (this one, Chapter 71) and it went off the site before I could!! I thought I would have lots of time but did not. I'll try to remember what happens in this one but it was a while ago that I read it so if anyone remembers it better please just comment me or email me and I will update this section. I am sorry!
I remember that is is about SAL'S FISH HOUSE and lcukily nothing much big happens (I think??) and its just history or details about the Fish House. And how it is just a front for illegal things for Feddema Global? And one guy (Sal) gets really into pretending he runs a fish house and then after actually DOES run a fish shop because he is so good at it? Folks I do not know what else happens in this chapter.
I remember that is is about SAL'S FISH HOUSE and lcukily nothing much big happens (I think??) and its just history or details about the Fish House. And how it is just a front for illegal things for Feddema Global? And one guy (Sal) gets really into pretending he runs a fish house and then after actually DOES run a fish shop because he is so good at it? Folks I do not know what else happens in this chapter.
September 05, 2005
Chapter 70
Hugo has to go see ALBERTA in Human Resources. She tells him that he is not an employee of Feddema Global anymore but now works at SAL'S FISH HOUSE and he is supposed to go report there to someone named HERMAN at the piers and to not come back here. She gives him this information by handing him pre-printed cards when she then burns up in a little incinerator. We also learn that Alberta also works at the library as a library clown.
Chapter 69
Hugo and Hogwild meet Glenndenning in his office. Glenndenning is still dealing with problems that Hugo caused the day before. Hogwild apologizes for the whole thing but Glenndenning says it's his fault and he never should have taken Hogwild's advice in the first place. Then he says he wanted Hugo to quietly look for the paper and not cause a big commotion, but now he sees that causing commotions is what Hugo is good at. So now that everyone is trying to find the Document because they know GLendenning wants it, Glenndenning wants Hugo to distract them by causing commotions while Glenndenning has another person quietly looking for the document. I think??? But then Glenndenning tells him he no longer works for Feddema Global??
Chapter 68
While on the train, somebody tries to pick Hugo's pocket. Hugo knows all the tricks and avoids losing anything, but when he tries to ID the pickpocket the man is too anonymous to remember, and he gets away. Meanwhile we hear about how Hugo's family was always traveling when he was little, and he learned all kinds of survival skills along the way. Then there is a little scene describing Hugo's family being trapped in a jungle pit but it is written like a Hardy Boys story?
Chapter 67
Hugo and Hogwild are taking the train to work. We get a lot of details about the train system, the murals painted on the trains, and how some trains are scheduled to be on the same track at around the same time, which scares the commuters.
Chapter 66
Back at Hogwild's apartment, Hugo explains that his dream vision was telling him to look for the person who threw the Document out the window instead of the actual document. Hugo asks Hogwild who it was that threw the paper but he doesn't want to talk about it. Finally Hugo wears him down and he says her name was MARGARET BALL.
Chapter 65
Now we're with Allison, who is on an airstrip in Texas. She has been chasing all over trying to find Hugo, and has been checking unidentified bodies because she figures he is dead by now. She followed a lead to this landing strip where a plane brings frozen dead bodies to be delivered to medical schools and whatnot. The men working there give her a hard time. She checks the bodies but does not find Hugo.
Chapter 64
Hugo wakes up in Hogwild's apartment. I think he and Hogwild got drunk again at The Embers the night before but this scene is not in the book or I missed it. We hear about Hugo's dream where he's listening to music with the topless girl-who-will-remain-nameless. He sees a woman's hand throwing the Document out the window and Hugo decides this dream was an important vision.
Chapter 63
It is the next morning, and Hogwild is waking up in his apartment. We hear about the dream he was having and his morning routine. Hugo is asleep on his floor and he thinks about how Hugo wasn't fired and regretting ever bringing Hugo to his job because he bets Glenndenning has something special for him to do.
Chapter 62
This whole chapter is just James GLenndenning ranting and raving about all the problems Hugo caused by going on the radio and putting the flyers up with the reward. And how nobody's found the Document yet and now the whole city knows that he's looking for something valuable. Hugo and Hogwild assume Hugo is fired, but then Glenndenning says that he'll see Hugo at work the next morning.
Chapter 61
There is chaos at Feddema Global, where a lot of people have shown up to claim the reward for finding the paper. Hugo comes in and Hogwild grabs him, taking him to see Mr. Glenndenning. Hugo wants to know if he is in trouble for causing a commotion and Hogwild says he's not sure but to be careful because he heard that Glenndenning shot the person who threw the file out the window.
Chapter 60
Hugo gets off the airship and heads back to Feddema Global. Then it starts raining at 4:30, like Birch predicted. A huge storm comes in and all of Hugo's flyers go flying everywhere and Hugo feels defeated.
Chapter 59
More airship touring. We learn a little about the city that was crushed when La Garra fell out of the sky on top of it. Hugo feels dumb because he thought getting a bird'seye-view of the city would help him find the Document. He is mad at himself for thinking he could find the paper, which is impossible to find.
Chapter 58
Hugo takes an air tour around the city on an airship, which is a kind of boat attached to a blimp. The pilot is a girl named JUNIE WOOLFORD who is working on a comic book about a woman who has the power to kill everything on the planet in an instant, but chooses not to.
Chapter 57
Hugo talks to Tom Mott about making a flyer asking if people have seen the missing document. Tom Mott tells Hugo he better put a specific reward on the flyer or noone will care, so Hugo says the reward is $12,000. They make up a bunch of copies and Tom Mott shows Hugo the secret back exit. Hugo leaves. He puts his flyers all over town and we learn some more about the different parts of the city.
Chapter 56
Hugo comes running into a print shop, being chased by a local gang (did I miss a chapter???). The print shop is owned by TOM MOTT who stands up to the gang, led by a man named BOX. Tom Mott seems to know Box and has told him before to not come around here. Evidently Tom Mott slept with Box's ladyfriend and scared her off in the past?? So Box and his gang leave. This chapter is confusing.
Chapter 55
The police throw Hugo out of the radio building, and he takes a bus to the part of town where Birch thought the wind would blow the Document. This is a scary part of town called BUTTERFLY. Hugo walks around and checks every piece of paper he can find. A truck pulls over and a woman wearing a black mask talks to him. This is CHINA SWEET (who was mentioned before in the scene where Allison is attacked by throwing stars) who says if he's searching for something, she might be able to help because she searches for lost girls. Hugo says he is looking for a piece of paper and she says she'll look for it. Then she shows him how to make a deadly throwing star out of a piece of paper.
Chapter 54
Hugo goes back downstairs to where they broadcast the news over the radio. Hugo asks if he can make an announcement over the radio and the weatherman pins him down and calls for security. The weatherman gets in a fight with another radio announcer. In the commotion Hugo sneaks into the radio booth and makes his announcement about a document missing that is very important and everyone should keep an eye out for it because there is a big reward.
Chapter 53
Back to the scene with Hugo talking to the radio weather man, who tells him to talk to BIRCH if he wants to know about weather stuff. Hugo is directed to the roof of the radio building where he encounters Birch. Birch tells him it is going to rain at 4:30 but Hugo is more interested in the weather on the day when the file was thrown out of James Glendenning's window. Birch tells him what direction the wind would've blown the papers that day. The point (I think) is that Birch controls the weather? He again says that it's going to rain this afternoon because he doesn't want to go to his son's soccer game.
Chapter 52
There are several mentions of someone called "the girl who shall remain nameless" who is I think an old girlfriend of Hugo. This chapter is a conversation between them from a few years ago. He is talking about an album that he is making by recording all sorts of sounds and editing them together to tell a story about nomads looking for a sound they can't identify. But he has been working on it for two years and only has 10 minutes done so far.
Chapter 51
Hugo decides to listen to Hogwild and make a detailed plan for looking for the "document". He gets shoes and medication for his hand and face, and then makes phone calls. He wonders for a second if there was a funeral for him back in his hometown. Then he goes to the radio station to talk to a weatherman.
Chapter 50
This is a flashback to when Hugo and his sister Allison were six. They stay at their grandparents house which gets flooded all the time and the ocean is now right off the back porch. Offshore there is a big tree that seems mystical and unreachable. But Allison decides to swim out to it. Hugo tries to talk her out of it but she goes anyway, and then disappears under the water. Hugo swims after her but can't find her and decides to just float and let fate carry him where it will. He finds her and drags her back to the house. We hear some about the special twin language they speak in each otehr's minds.
Chapter 49
Hogwild and Hugo eat breakfast, and Hugo explains what happened at The Clutch. Hugo explains that he tried to let the universe guide him to the missing paper and that didn't work. Hogwild says you should always have a detailed plan and not let fate make decisions for you or else you will get beaten by life.
Chapter 48
It is morning. The city is described as looking ugly in the morning. We hear about CHA-CHA'S, the cafeteria in the building where Hogwild (and Hugo now?) work, and the owner PAULO BARRETTO and how Cha-Cha was the woman he loved back in Chile even though she was trouble for sleeping with prisoners and having some kind of surgical attachment installed on her private parts. Hogwild is in the restaurant eating breakfast when he sees Hugo come in, all beat up and bandaged.
Chapter 47
Hugo stays the night in The Clutch, taken care of by the woman with the slow talk who is DELFINA. They are staying in "The Holler" where they keep a mechanical bull-type machine which has some sort of sexual function for the patrons. Delfina tells Hugo that it's not good being in debt to Son Hillers, and that Son Hillers knew Hugo was coming today. Then someone named SENOR DEUCE comes in and has sex with the machine.
Chapter 46
Hugo comes to on the card table. Everyone is gone but the hand, who talks to him through Morse code. Hugo finds he can't see. The hand tells him he took all of Hugo's debts from the card game and now Hugo owes him $12,000. Hugo panics because he doesn't have any money but the hand says it is OK, he just wants Hugo in his debt. The hand says that he is from "Fort Black" and that Hugo will help save Fort Black.
Chapter 45
Hugo is playing cards at random and somehow winning money. Blue Eye gets mad and stabs a knife down between Hugo's fingers. Blue Eye says he has the "garrotte" card. Hugo doesn't know what that means and Blue Eye sees that as Hugo challenging him. Blue Eye tells a story about another game when someone challenged his garrotte card and he stabbed him with broken glass and then showed him a picture of his son with his eyes cut up. Then he cuts up Hugo's hand and jumps on him and punches him in the eyes.
Chapter 44
Finally we are back to the card game. Hugo is given $500 to play with by Son Hillers. Hugo tries to explain that he doesn't know how to play but everyone thinks he is trying to trick them. THe players threaten each other. It is revealed that Blue Eye had a detective follow Malquiades to learn about her weaknesses so he could beat her at the card game. But it turns out that Malquiades knew about it and threatened him and told him to tell Blue Eye bad information. Hugo tries to lose the game so he can leave.
Chapter 43
More about the card game, this time talking about a special card called the "garrotte card". This card is a wild card that lets you change any rule in the game. But the card is only imaginary and if you play it, you have to convince the other players that you really have it. In olden days this meant telling a nice story about where you got it, but nowadays is about scaring the other players with violence. The invention of this card is told in a pirate flashback.
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