Wednesday, October 12, 2022

Contents of the Belly

Roster
Prologue  
1.    Role Call   

The Whale as she was – In the Burnout – ‘Excellence, we have a problem’ – Damned capewalkers – Nobody’s body – Ling-ling shows her ankle– Kicking the can down the road – A pedestrian observation.   

2.    Nobody  

The captain knows which way to go – “Near as I tell, he doesn’t exist.” “Excellence, you cannot allow this.” “Dead Man get around plenty before he is dead.” There was something mighty important about that envelope. – Carpet call.  

3.    Inquiries   

Shoe leather and sit-flesh. –  One stroke each – a bluecape in splendor – the airs of Pigwhistle – The Whale as she was. – Dandi Nandi.   

4.    Sightings   

A walk through the wild side.. – Scuttlebutt in the flower market. – Were they ‘boo poles, or not? – Stars don’t grand jete. – He has the devil’s eyes. – This chicken was once a chicken. – Crazy eights.   

5.    Discoveries   

My sister is a freemartin. – an Extravagance – a liverwurst sandwich – a meeting of the Guild – nothing comes from nothing – a walk in the park   

6.    Investigations   

That’s really not his best side. – A curvaceous grandfather. – All gristle and bone. – Fort Freedom. – Let nature take its course.   

7.    Preparations   

Orders are orders – “It’s just that you worry me so.” – The answer was ‘very.’ – “Money and mouth should co-locate.”   

8.    Expeditions I   

“What this shit?” – Winsome Alabaster's superpower.– Twelve are too many. – "In Burnout, no easy routes." – Walking on wall not so easy as it looks. – A rest stop.   

9.    Consequences   

A ringularity – The bloody aftermath. – The Undine Place Massacre.   

10.    Expeditions II   

Dead body stink after four days – The tracks of her tears. – “She was our irritating little skite.” – Are there bags enough?   

11.    Expectations   

A cat among the pigeons. – A meeting of the powers. – Ling-ling eavesdrops – Chen brings a message – An empty seat.   

12.    Trials   

A death sentence concentrates the mind wonderfully. – Professional pride. – A stoatin idea   

13.    Tribulations   

Don’t go home. – Broken carrot sticks. – They were only on loan – The long farewell – “Perhaps he intended to brace her.” – “We’ll just have to go and fetch them.”   

14.    Setbacks   

Back in the nick – Through the Bubble –inter legere –– Ling-ling sits her Exams. – Mulligatawny   

15.    Searchings   

Wilderness Road – Down among the pipes – It’s hard to follow someone who knows you by sight – Recruities   

16.    Confrontations   

The tripartite oath – In Pass’ Christine – battle at Hanging Bridge   

17  Restorations   

A cry in the night – caraway – In the fo’c’sle – “Put the two propositions together.”   

18  Afflictions   

Goliad’s retreat – a parking ticket – a mathematical model – Beneath trees.   

19    Aftemaths (I)   

Perhaps he seduced an Excellent’s Woman – A surprise visit. – No words would ever do,   

20.    Promotions   

A labor of love. – With enough predictions, some are bound to come true. – Organson receives a briefing. – Lucky’s luck runs out.   

21    Commotions   

A new Number Three. – Battle honors. – Peng agreed to do me a favor. – Do you know how deep the fen-fen is that you’ve stepped in? – A humiliation. – Holy shit.   

22.    Resolutions   

At Comm Central Plaza  – A great wave of thirst  – “By the Bood, there’s another one!” – The true coriander..   

23.    Disruptions   

A trigger warning. – “What be da meaning o’ dis bustle?” – In the dark. – That can’t be good. – What the hell is going on? – A pair of eyes.   

24    Exhortations   
25    Mutinies   

Hamdu is a big boy. – Lifted out of the press - What is the difference between a surgeon’s scalpel and a sledge hammer? - “Hit the deck!”   

26    Aftermaths (II)   

Her tactics had succeeded – “What is he doing here? – No words would come. – The scalpel and the sledge. – “He’s very good at that.”   

27    Escapades   

A burnsider learns patience. – A true captain. – On the tram platform. – Justice or mercy? – Why are you smiling?.   

28    Executions   

Are you one of us?  – The curse of Winsome Alabaster, – Pale men and crossbows. - The execution of Li Son. – The Orphans – The sergeants – Regulation 18.3   

29    Incidents   

Highsteeple and Hexenplaza – The Storming of the Brig –Incident at Power House – The Siege of Undine Place – Maintenance first of all – You may need to evacuate – Only madmen.   

30    Captives   

“We must be removing ourselves from this place” – An altogether tougher nut – “He thinks we’re in the Imperial Fleet Marines.”– Lǎo dàjīngxiǎoguài. – “We can handle ourselves.”   

31    Executions (II)   

The hauteur of Sophie Masterson  - "We can defeat them in detail." – Tommi Two Stones needs a woman – Regulation 18.872 – Two brothers. – Tommi Two Stones throws a strike.   

32    Complications   

The only thing left is style. – Little Face scouts the rear – She can keep a cool head in a firefight. – The distress of Hamdu Organson.   

33    Presentations   

"Two more, and I got the whole set." – “That won’t last.” - Unleashing hell. – In the captain's cabin. – “That’s a suitably vague charge." – Heroes of the Mutiny   

34    Constitutions   

A constituent assembly. – L’envoi   

Tech notes   


1 comment:

  1. Would be great if this were out in time for the Christmas season (Christmas 2022, I mean) but the drums of publishing don't roll that quickly, do they?  Maybe Christmas 2023?  This year I have money in my pocket and it's burning hot.  Next year?  Who knows?

    ReplyDelete

The Prometheus Award, 2025

  Folks,  I know I'm late with this. I know you know. We've been updating what was Dad's childhood home (something Dad and I int...