The writer gives life to a story, the reader keeps it alive.
Future Alexand finally agreed to go with her grandmother, Edith, to the place where a fierce battle would determine their existence. Heyem materialises along with Alex and Edith, onto a mountain. It’s windy and overlooks the sea. Two women, one unconscious, the other missing an eye, lay on the grass. The one-eyed woman is talking to someone over a writer.
Jarad couldn’t stand waiting and watching Alexand get sicker. He has spent the past few hours on the train from Yunnan to the Guangxi Mountains. He is now walking towards, Longsheng, where the writer full of potential cures for Alex’s illness has been hidden. All he has to do is release the containers without releasing Lord Anderson. He has brought his toy writer along too, so that he can transfer them to it.
Alexand suddenly feels very unwell, despite being very close to the factory, which she believes to hold the cure to her illness.
Alexand fights her feelings of despair, attempting to find new purpose after Katherine’s death.
It is finally the fourteenth of May, and The Guild Master’s General has been watching over Katherine as she sleeps. He fades between energy and matter, making himself invisible to Katherine’s nurse as she injects a dose of adrenaline into Katherine’s bloodstream, to wake her up.
The group has headed northeast and zigzagged around inhabited areas, to where they are about eight hundred miles away from the Amanojuko factory, near Lake Baikal. Doctor Azizi has been tasked with convincing a very stubborn Inajda to part with her writer and potentially endanger the mission.
The group prepare themselves for the journey into Amanojuko territory.
Lord Filius Anderson and Lady Helga Ritter have been following Juba Apfvarzian, taking blood samples, tracking his health. He is still completely free of the project ghost ship strain.
Inajda doesn’t need to scan the grave to realise what has happened.
The survivors bury their dead, deep in the dirt of the Red Sand Hills of Kekexili. They lost four people, including a very young, Farokh Merek.
Alexand has recovered enough to address the party. Her troops have been getting jumpy, and she needs to do something to remedy the lack of trust they have in her as leader.
Alex wakes up after falling unconscious, due to her illness.
Katherine is woken from a dream by a familiar voice.
There are some complications in their attempt to leave the pub, and get Alex safely back to the carriage. Alex is understandably weak, she’s in pain due to her broken rib and battered feet, but Farokh has given her some morphine he acquired on his meander around town.
Alexand wakes up in a field after sleepwalking out of her room in the tavern.
Whilst deep undercover on board a floating asylum ship, Inajda sits amongst a crowd of socialites, in an auditorium, which is part of the entertainment on board. She is secretly filming the events, so that she can report back to Field Marshal Panak with her findings.
The Guild Master’s General has been summonsed back from his detour to see Katherine De Somme. He knows what’s waiting for him back on the streets where he lives. Reassuring Katherine was worth the beatings he’ll get as he waits for Mr Ash to arrive. The next issue is out on 25th June to celebrate the 5 year anniversary of these stories on wordpress.
The group decided to camp for the night. They have reached the borderlands of Tibet. There is no military check point as the place is remote, so no need for them to split up as they had done earlier on in their journey. Farokh lays in his sleeping bag, watching the guards, as they tread the perimeter, hoping that the bandits can’t hear Heyem’s voice.
Ajeeta Kothari waited for Katherine to retire from her research for the evening, and is alone in the laboratory sick bay, with only the dying patients to overhear her. She takes out her writer and transmits a signal to her employer.
After the mountain becomes too hazardous for the horses, the group have to walk on foot towards the next checkpoint.
Abouna Panak has many secrets, which he must keep to himself, but as Field Marshal, he is in the unenviable position to influence the future of humankind. (Happy New Year, and please excuse my first ever experiment with coloured pencils, a bit psychedelic maybe?) CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
After leaving the army, Jarad has made a life for himself as a translator. He waves goodbye to another of his rich students, and attempts to settle down by the fire with a nice cold beer and a book. CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
Alexand has returned from the bedroom after kissing goodnight to a very sick Katherine. She joins her siblings, hoping that they can support her at this difficult time. This episode is dedicated to David Prosser, who asked me a few weeks ago if the next issue could be “a bit more hopeful.” CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
Farokh has carried Katherine to her bedroom, and retreated to the living room to join Heyem. Alex sits beside Katherine, and they attempt to enjoy their first moments alone together for five long months. However Katherine is feeling very sick, leaving Alexand no option but to inject her with the inhibitor and with a high dose of morphine. CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
Alexand wakes up in danger, after sleep walking over the edge of a cliff. CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
Katherine’s health is declining, but she is still trying to keep herself active. A letter has arrived from Alex and despite her failing eyesight, Katherine is able to read it. CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
Helga Ritter and her team of scientists have been given a new batch of test subjects to inject with ‘Plague,’ (In an attempt to spread panic and paranoia throughout the world. In preparation for the Amanojuko takeover) Juba Apfvarzian is amongst the test subjects who have been injected, but something is not quite right about him, and Helga Ritter is unsettled. CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
Juba Apfvarzian is a 16-year-old street magician. He spends his days entertaining the locals of Mogadishu with his plethora of magic acts. It’s getting late and the sun is going down, and the last of the daylight crowds are dispersing, so he begins to walk home. CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
It took Alexand’s division just under a month to reach Australia by boat. She has been there for a week and has been administering the plague victims with their own supply of injections, as part of a trial to see how much longer Katherine’s serum adds to the lifespan of this control group. Attempting to perform her duty, Alex has found it difficult imagining Katherine at home, getting sicker. CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
(It’s been 4 years since I began sharing this series of stories with you on WordPress. CLICK HERE to read the first issue. Thank you to everyone who has contributed, encouraged, commented and liked. Without you, I’d be scribbling on walls, like a socially challenged lady with too many cats and not enough wool. Thank you. You know who you are. This story is dedicated to YOU, readers past, present and future.) A month has passed and Katherine had developed an inhibitor serum, which slows down the advance of her symptoms, and successfully tested it on willing volunteers. She and Alex both take the inhibitor every day, whilst Alex continues to familiarise herself with the Project Ghost Ship plans. It’s early morning and Alex has been up most of the night. CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
Alex and Katherine discuss the enemy base plans, which Inajda has secretly given them, in an attempt to help save their lives. (CLICK HERE for next chronological story)
A few weeks have passed and Katherine has been recovering from her surgery at home. Field Marshal Panak arranged for her and Alex to have leave. She has been very fatigued but is beginning to feel a little better. (CLICK HERE for next chronological story)
Katherine and Alex went to see a research scientist involved in diagnostics for ancient (and extinct) diseases. (Her name is Dr Bhati and she is also working for Field Marshal Panak. Her laboratory is inside the secret Christmas Island hideout the resistance have acquired.) CLICK HERE for next story in the series.
After returning from infiltrating the Amanojuko base, Inajda and Alexand walk back to Professor Sumian’s transient laboratory, with Alexand full of questions. (CLICK HERE for the first story in this series) (CLICK HERE for next chronological story)
Dressed as socialites aspiring to become Amanojuko, Inajda and Alexand prepare to infiltrate an enemy base. (CLICK HERE to read the beginning of this long story) (CLICK HERE for next chronological story.)
Inajda and Alexand materialise in a forest, in Russia. Inajda leads Alexand down a pathway towards a place, which will help explain why she has been absent from Alexand’s life for so long. (CLICK HERE for the beginning of this long story) (CLICK HERE for next chronological story)
Alexand has told Inajda about Farokh joining the army. Inajda blames herself for his behaviour due to her absence. CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
After analysing samples of her own blood and that of Helga Ritter’s, Katherine attempts to translate her findings to an expectant Alex, Anesidor and Inajda. CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
Katherine treats Alex for injuries suffered during a failed attempt to find out the identity of Helga Ritter. CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
Whilst attempting to find records leading to the identity of the woman who infected Katherine with ‘plague’, Alexand has been ambushed. CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
Georges De Somme’s mansion is well guarded. One of his security guards has approached him, warning of a potential intruder. (I hope everyone has a safe and happy Christmas.) CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
Katherine lies in bed, listening to Alex and Farokh talking in the other room. She feels too tired to get up and join them. Instead she contemplates her steadily deteriorating future. (The post-human man refers to Ichitumbu Jalhavi, See Amanojuko issues 1 , 2, 3 and 4. The woman who infected Katherine is Helga Ritter, see Amanojuko Part 3) CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
Abouna Panak transports a very disorientated Juba Apfvarzian away from the Nevada Desert, (See issue 105: Post Asylum Blues Part 2) to a more comfortable place. (Alexand’s army apartment.) Hopefully, Juba will now find the help he’s been searching for. CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
Eldenath stands in the gardens, pruning rose bushes. She has been promoted to a junior National Guard and looks forward to starting her duties in the coming weeks. Her new duties will mean she gets to go outside the gates of the House of Plenitude and Mirth, to guard the public from bad things. To celebrate the 100th issue, and to thank you for your support these past three years, this story is set just before the first manuscript, which I hope one day will be available for you to read too. CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
The fabulous Ivana Cockatoo has retired for the night and left her rather underwhelming alter ego, Zero Merevija, to contemplate his life. (Also featuring Grace O’Malley) CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
Giselle Balsara remembers parts of her childhood, and that she may have been abducted. She has flashbacks to being an adult, living in a place with marble walls and grand ornaments. But these are fleeting, dreamlike memories and she doesn’t know if they are real. She has woken with a small baby in her arms, in a strange shack. Underneath a trap door she found a cellar filled with books and paintings. (Banned things) Giselle can’t remember the years leading up to this event but she knows that the things in this cellar could get her into a lot of trouble if she’s discovered. This story is dedicated to Vera Poh, from To Dad With Love, for inspiring me to write another Giselle Balsara story. Thank you, Vera. CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
After Baio-Yujia’s Ghost tried to kill Alexand, (see issue 93) Alex runs to the only person who could possibly help her. CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
After another restless night, Alexand was woken by what she believes to be the ghost of her friend Baio-Yujia Sun. Unable to sleep, she retreats to the one person (Katherine De Somme) she hopes could help her find out the cause of the apparent haunting, or at lease empathise with her nightmares. This story is dedicated to everyone who has followed, supported me, commented on, shared thoughts, liked, read this series, critiqued, re-blogged, awarded, made friends (and on occasion fallen in love) with the characters, over the past three years. Without you I’d be writing to and drawing at imaginary people. You help to keep these stories alive and encourage me to one day get the first manuscript published. Thank you, without you, my characters are ghosts inside my head, scribbled on paper. (This story follows Baio-Yujia’s Ghost Part 1.) CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
Antun and Inajda are given food by their rescuers, (Xan Medani and Edith MehXian) and although relieved to have escaped the trail which killed their parents, both are in severe shock. (CLICK HERE for next chronological story)
As the cart speeds away from the trail of Russian refugees, Antun and Inajda sit with their rescuers, Xan Medani and Edith MehXian, unable to change the past, but relieved to be safe in the warm with food and water. See part 1 here (Antun is 17 and Inajda 9 years old.) (CLICK HERE for next chronological story)
After being expelled from their homeland, Antun and Inajda Rekaya fight to stay alive, whilst being herded towards Mongolia by the military. Their parents died on the way, and the children are hungry and exhausted. (CLICK HERE for next chronological story)
Lucy Apfvarzian’s husband Juba, went missing, whilst he was out performing as a magician on the streets of Mogadishu. Lucy and their son Ayo haven’t eaten for five days and have come to The Bureau of Complaints to attempt to find out where he’s gone. (See The Floating Asylum which is the next chronological story.)
After being given the option to take a pill which stops ageing, the group of Abouna Panak’s rebels decide whether or not to take the life altering drug, SIR2HX. (Thank you so much to Pamela Spiro Wagner, a very talented poet and artist, who inspired and encouraged me to finally complete a series of stories rather than tease the reader into gouging out their (and or my) eyes. This is dedicated to you, Pam.) (CLICK HERE for next chronological story)
Toreth Rek-cho has been offered eternal youth, by the mysterious Field Marshal Panak. She has also been shown a bleak future, and has ten minutes to decide her own fate. (CLICK HERE for next chronological story)
Kavita’s husband Georges is a very wealthy man, but she is quite lonely as he spends a lot of his time overseas on various secret projects. When he’s home, things aren’t as good as they used to be, and Kavita has paid good money for a psychiatrist, to share her problems. CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
Maria Thamian, is waiting to deliver a very important message, to her sister in law, Alexand. Alex is late and Maria’s wife, Heyem is getting impatient. (The story also mentions, The Guild Master’s General and Field Marshal Abouna Panak.) CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
Anum Anzeti has never met a lunatic quite as frightening as the man who claims to be a future version of himself. CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
Juba Apfvarzian was a good magician. He woke up in an asylum ship, after performing a particularly skilful illusion. Magic can apparently get you into a lot of trouble, in an increasingly intolerant world. Alexand Merek has survived for three years inside the asylum, outliving everyone. She doesn’t know how she has survived, she just wants to be somewhere far away. (This asylum is responsible for the events leading up to issue # 1 of this series.) You can also read The Floating Asylum Parts Two, Three and Four. CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
Giselle Balsara has a secret. She hides banned books and keeps paintings in her cellar. In a world where books that don’t pop up, will get you put inside The Bad Thing Box, Giselle is taking an incredible risk, sharing her knowledge with her eleven year old daughter, Eldenath. CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
Farokh is thirteen and has just lost his father, Eric, to a heart attack. He is angry with his father for dying and longs for a different life, somewhere better than his homeland. He wants to be like his older sister, Alexand. Nothing will convince him that life in the army isn’t the great adventure he dreams about. The mandarin in the second drawing reads, “Beloved Father.” It was placed there by Heyem in his honour. This story is set a few weeks after issue # 9: The Guild Master’s General. CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
Rachel is no damsel, but sometimes people need help. She has survived an abusive marriage, divorced her husband, and is trying to rebuild her life and her sense of self worth. However, Donald isn’t the most reasonable of wife beaters. He didn’t bargain on meeting The Guild Master’s General, the night he tried to claim back his wife. A dubious Knight in dark sunglasses and a balaclava, intercepted Donald’s plans. CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
In the years before the arts were put inside “The Bad Thing Box,” there were artists and dreamers, musicians and opera singers. Edith MehXian was one of those artists. From the age of seventeen she sang amongst the finest opera singers in The Chinese Hall of Excellence. She came from a poor family, but her skill was so great that she won a scholarship and became one of the most loved singers in the whole of China. This is the story of her final performance. The day her dream ended. Edith was a perfectionist. She wanted people to remember her, flawlessly. (This story is dedicated to one of my childhood heroes, Elizabeth Sladen, who will be missed by many people, some of whom didn’t even know her, but grew up loving Sarah Jane Smith.) Edith MehXian is Alexand and Heyem’s paternal grandmother. CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
