The writer gives life to a story, the reader keeps it alive.
Helga Ritter was not on the lower deck when Alexand chased her footsteps. But Alexand knew Helga would escape, because the Amanojuko Lady had always escaped, and would forever in an endless cycle escape from this ship, on this day. She could not change this, no matter how much she wanted to.(Unbound Boxes Limping Gods is back after a break. Thank you to everyone for your support. The writer gives life to a story, the reader keeps it alive.)
Inajda watches helplessly and with quiet fascination as Professor Sumian conducts a procedure to determine whether Alexand’s baby is also immune to the ageing process.
Alexand is nervous to reveal what she learnt about her father’s death to Inajda, especially in front of Anesidor Sumian, but she takes courage in the fact they are both senior members of the resistance.
Professor Sumian analyses the bugs found inside Alexand’s house and metal finger.
With the disturbing news that Lord Filius Anderson is interested in the genetics of her late husband’s family, Inajda’s thoughts immediately settled on the safety of her daughters, Heyem and Alexand. She left the Prison of Souls, reached the base of the mountain in Antarctica and transported herself to Saskatoon, to meet Alexand, to speak with and warn her daughter about the Amanojuko threat.
Alexand, on her way to see her uncle Antun, dropped by Heyem’s apartment in Hong Kong, as she wanted her sister to be present when she shares intelligence with her uncle. She has been given the profiles of all known Amanojuko agents, has memorised the faces and the names of the Chinese and Indian agents, and mapped them inside her head, like musical notes attached to songs. She realises that this may not be possible for Heyem or Antun to do, but she needs them both to tell her if they recognise any of the agents. She and Heyem materialise outside their uncle’s village.
Alex has been rather secretive since she returned back from Georges De Somme’s mansion, but Jarad is pleasantly surprised as she has invited him up onto the flat roof of their house. There is a table and a candlelit dinner, (which he believes she has had delivered from a nearby takeaway as she is an appalling cook.)
The Guild Master’s General wants to show Katherine something important, as he knows she will try to contact Alexand now she has her writer back. He takes her to Saskatoon, just before dawn, to the military graveyard, where Katherine’s fake corpse is buried.
After a month of overseeing Katherine’s rehabilitation, Inajda has been left behind, wondering where future Anesidor has taken her friend. She has been accompanied by the mysterious future version of Katherine, who seems to have an agenda for her as well.
The Guild Master’s General takes Abouna Panak forward in time to the year 4002, where Alexand has discharged herself from the military due to alcoholism, and is heading for Goa to lead a healthier lifestyle, along with her husband, Jarad and their three children, Samuel, Ancille and Anastasia. To make money, Alexand plays in music bars, along the way. The Guild Master’s General has taken Abouna Panak into a crowded nightclub; Alexand is playing. 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.
Samuel Merevija is tempted to escape from The House of Plenitude and Mirth, along with Eldenath Balsara, but they are both afraid of what could happen in the world outside. (CLICK HERE for next chronological story)
Eldenath uses chores as cover for time with her own memories. Something she would get in trouble for if anyone else in the House of Plenitude and Mirth, could read her mind. (Apart from her friend Samuel Merevija, who is also an inmate) (CLICK HERE for 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)
(HAPPY NEW YEAR everyone!) Alexand Merek has been unable to return to the army, due to her asylum record. She spends most of her time very isolated and alone, as her husband, Jarad teaches English to rich Indian families and often spends day’s away working. She is not accepted in her community and cannot get a job teaching music because of her conviction. Her son Samuel is unable to go to school, due to the stigma attached to her imprisonment. Alexand spends a lot of time teaching him at home, but is sinking deeper into depression and alcoholism. One day a knock at the door changes her family’s prospects. (Note: The ‘writer’ is a transportation and storage device common amongst the resistance, and was created by Anesidor Sumian.) CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
After waking from a catatonic state, (due to her imprisonment in The Floating Asylum) Alexand is recovering at home with her family. Unfortunately for Alexand, her identical twin sister, Heyem has arrived, eager to ‘help’ Alexand recover from her trauma. 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.
Heyem Merek has run away from her former life. Her childhood, spent in poverty and her teenaged years in military correction. She is well educated and proud of her achievements. If only her identical twin sister, Alexand would allow her to forget about her past, completely. Things would be a lot less complicated and painful. (Artwork on the wall in drawing 2: by Frida Kahlo, “My Nurse and I.” 1937) This story also features Samuel, Ancille and Anastasia Merevija. CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
This story is set seven months before issue # 1: Alexand Merek, (a week after her release from an asylum). Samuel Merevija is only four years old. His mother was taken from him and his father when he was a baby, but now she has been brought back to their family home, after spending four years in a floating asylum ship. Samuel doesn’t understand why his mother won’t speak. He has made some special things for her to try and bring her back to his world. (Characters from left to right are: Samuel Merevija, Jarad Vijay and Alexand Merek). (A Spanish translation is now available, by Hernán Jara Droguett.) CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
Images, story and characters, © Cheryl Moore
