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!
December 09, 2007
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.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)