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Patricia Reding
a book bubble about
Ephemeral and Fleeting
Science Fiction & Fantasy
Author Insight
Dark Words
Words like: "shadow," "enshroud," and even "camouflage," can set the stage suggesting some sort of darkness to come. "Foreboding," is defined as "a sense of impending evil or misfortune." In this portion of the story, my goal was to lead readers to believe something of that nature would come to pass. In my mind, even the name, "Mugger" suggests someone who is not quite right. Prior to this scene, we discovered that Mugger is addicted to chewing bibulous nut, resulting in his insobriety. The nut stains Mugger's teeth red. In certain circumstances, even reference to the color "red" can seem foreboding. What words would you use in an instance such as this?
Book Excerpt
Ephemeral and Fleeting
“You know, along my way—quite near here, actually—I made the most . . . intriguing find. I wonder if you might accompany me to take a look.” Knowing the man could not resist flattery, he added, “I could use your most profound expertise, as I have never come upon such creatures before.”
“Ah! Where are they then?”
“Just a short walk from here.”
Lumbering back to his feet, Mugger winced from the effort of lifting his own massive weight. “Well, let’s be off then, before dusk sets in,” he suggested. Tottering in his insobriety, he turned to his new student. “Come, boy.”
The three set out. After making their way through an oak grove and across a fallow field, they came upon a rocky area. In its midst stood a rounded opening, like a doorway. Long shadows enshrouded it, as the sun now neared the horizon.
“This way, master,” the man said, making an opening in the brush that partially camouflaged the path ahead. He gestured for his former instructor to proceed. “After you.”
Once they all passed the threshold, he said, “Now, just yonder is a clearing with room to venture about, in the center of which is a pond.”
The boy glanced his way, as though reading his intentions, and then followed Mugger.
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