So what about Eurydice ( not me, the one in the story) Should there be a twist in the myth and a different ending? If so, what would that ending be? Reunion with Orpheus or a life with Tony ? Having re-read some of the Orpheus myth, thanks to the Wikipedia link, it looks like, other than being one of the Argonauts, where he out-sang the sirens, he was gay - at least after her, anyway. Various endings have him being killed by women for different reasons - either to do with religion or sexuality.
So the alternative plots relate to Tony finding out that his mistress (Aphrodite) had got it in for Calliope (Orpheus's mum) because of her judgement about Tony's time - and hired someone to bump Eurydice off, using a poisoned dart. This is against the rules ( Mortal Rights Act) so Tony tells the top gods and Eurydice is allowed to go back regardless. Who she ends up with is open to debate, I guess. Alternatively, there is a plot between Aphrodite and Hades about Calliope (again) to mess with Eurydice so Hades sets the wasp trap ( not in the myth, that one) which is against the rules, so she's allowed back.
Third option is that Hades did it alone to keep her down there either because he fancies her or our of revenge on Calliope (again) because he wanted Persephone all to himself. Also against the rules. Tony finds out and once again, she's allowed back.
Please tell me what you think - or should I just let her die and move on ?
Comments are always welcome. This assumes someone is actually reading this though...
Wednesday, November 30, 2005
Nearly There - so close and yet
So there we are, on the ferry. His family cabaret deal with the ferryman seems to have held - they exchange contact details so that he can set it up for later- and after a little while we're on the opposite bank. Because we're going the opposite way out, you have to push through the crowds of people waiting to go in, who all seem to be saying that they thought the road only went one way, and they do have a point, I suppose. But if you ignore the one-way and no entry signs, and start walking uphill, you can just about catch a glimpse of something real, something that ripples on the walls and shimmers - daylight, sunshine, the real world, a place dead people don't live ( yes I know that doesn't make sense as a phrase, but you know what I mean) and that's where I want to get back to - I don't belong down here at all.
He's walking about four or five steps ahead of me, facing the front, making it very obvious that he's not looking any way but ahead.
One problem for me - seeing as how I haven't actually got my body back yet, I'm kind of taking it on trust that I will look the same as I did before I died - not after that post-mortem - there would be really visible scars that just wouldn't look right up there. Then there's the question of what I'm wearing. When I asked, they said it was the clothes you wore at your funeral, but these things I've got on my feet don't feel like Jimmy Choos at all - I'd better have them on when I do finally get up there or someone's going to pay big style. Same with the hairstyle and makeup. I hated how I looked at my funeral, so I asked about it and they said I could request a specialist pre-return to life session to get those bits right. Let's just hope they did - I certainly wouldn't want to re-enter the world of the living looking like a hag or worse.
You're probably wondering who I asked - it wasn't the Guardians of Death, it was a little organisation called "Getting Your LIfe Back" - they don't have many clients, about one every thousand years they reckon, so it's probably a good job that they're dead - they wouldn't live long enough to do more than one client otherwise. If you'll pardon me, a real dead-end job, waiting all that time for someone to show up and then after a couple of sessions, its all done and dusted.
So you can see what my priorities are - I want to be drop-dead gorgeous when I get back up there- and there are a few people I wouldn't mind seeing drop dead when I get back there. I won't give you any clues, but you probably get my drift....is it that obvious ?
So there we are, half way up the slope, that glow getting a bit brighter all the time and I can feel my body coming back - just a bit at a time. It's kind of hard to describe - one minute you can't feel anything, the next there's a sort of pins and needles tingle starting deep inside and you know it's working. When I move my arm, I can feel the air - so I reach up and touch my own face and I can feel something - this is really amazing. It's the best feeling I think I've ever had - bar none - well, coming back from the dead must kind of overshadow most experiences, mustn't it ?
I look down and I can see my own feet and the shoes start feeling like the real thing - and they look right too.
He's walking just ahead of me, keeping his eyes straight ahead, and he's ignoring all the noises behind him - the roars of demons, the screeches of harpies - and not looking back to check that I'm OK at all.
We're getting even closer now, and I can feel the breeze on my face and in my hair, and the sunlight's beginning to feel warm too. Not much further now and I'm back.
Then it happens.
The nightmare.
The end of all my hopes.
The bastards. Them and him down here.
I've just gone past this rock on the right hand side of the tunnel when there's this horrible whining, buzzing sound. I have a horrible feeling that I know what it is - and what's worse, who put them there. I can't prove it, but I don't honestly think wasps would normally make a nest in the tunnel that leads to the underworld. At least, not off their own bat, that is - someone must have put them up to it. Can't think who that could be - other than someone who knows a lot about me and what I hate !
So as he goes past, a couple of them fly out and whizz round his head a few times. He tries to whack them with his hands, to knock them out of the way, but he misses. Don't know whether they sting him or not, he carries on regardless. So far, so good.
But then it's my turn - only it's not a couple, it's the whole f****ing nest of them. They come out of there like an express train and within seconds they're in my hair, all over my face, on my arms - you name it, they're there.
I'm trying my hardest not to freak out, because, as you know, I hate them so much - so I'm trying not to yell and scream and attract attention - trying not to give him any reason to turn and look back. Please don't let that happen, please- I can hear myself saying it - we're so close now
It wouldn't be so bad if I hadn't got most of my body and my feelings back - they wouldn't be able to touch me, or, if they did, I wouldn't notice, but I'm nearly all together again. So when one of them stings me, I can feel it. It hurts. Then when the other fifty or so all sting me at once, I don't really have any choice - I scream really loud. "Ow, Get away from me"
And that's when it happened. Like a slow-motion replay, you could see the scream register- he froze, paused, then, an inch at a time, you could see his head turn to look - I was fighting with the wasps too, so I didn't have the chance to shout to him not to do it, but when I did it was hopeless - he just kep turning and then I could see his eyes and I knew it was too late. All over. Finished.
The gentle breeze I could feel on my skin, the breeze that had promised so much, suddenly turned into a hurricane and blew me back down the tunnel so fast my feet didn't touch the ground until I was across the river. The light, that glow from the world above the ground, that hope for a future, grew ragged and turned into grey and black shadows, shrieking and wailing on the wind as it span into a web of darkness. All I could remember was the look on his face as I disappeared - he looked so lost, so beaten, so despairing, in fact he looked the same as quite a few of the people down here - the really dead ones, that is.
And then there was blackness, just like the first time, only this time it felt like a relief, like it was all over, like it was time to give up and be dead.
That's it. the end
Well maybe
He's walking about four or five steps ahead of me, facing the front, making it very obvious that he's not looking any way but ahead.
One problem for me - seeing as how I haven't actually got my body back yet, I'm kind of taking it on trust that I will look the same as I did before I died - not after that post-mortem - there would be really visible scars that just wouldn't look right up there. Then there's the question of what I'm wearing. When I asked, they said it was the clothes you wore at your funeral, but these things I've got on my feet don't feel like Jimmy Choos at all - I'd better have them on when I do finally get up there or someone's going to pay big style. Same with the hairstyle and makeup. I hated how I looked at my funeral, so I asked about it and they said I could request a specialist pre-return to life session to get those bits right. Let's just hope they did - I certainly wouldn't want to re-enter the world of the living looking like a hag or worse.
You're probably wondering who I asked - it wasn't the Guardians of Death, it was a little organisation called "Getting Your LIfe Back" - they don't have many clients, about one every thousand years they reckon, so it's probably a good job that they're dead - they wouldn't live long enough to do more than one client otherwise. If you'll pardon me, a real dead-end job, waiting all that time for someone to show up and then after a couple of sessions, its all done and dusted.
So you can see what my priorities are - I want to be drop-dead gorgeous when I get back up there- and there are a few people I wouldn't mind seeing drop dead when I get back there. I won't give you any clues, but you probably get my drift....is it that obvious ?
So there we are, half way up the slope, that glow getting a bit brighter all the time and I can feel my body coming back - just a bit at a time. It's kind of hard to describe - one minute you can't feel anything, the next there's a sort of pins and needles tingle starting deep inside and you know it's working. When I move my arm, I can feel the air - so I reach up and touch my own face and I can feel something - this is really amazing. It's the best feeling I think I've ever had - bar none - well, coming back from the dead must kind of overshadow most experiences, mustn't it ?
I look down and I can see my own feet and the shoes start feeling like the real thing - and they look right too.
He's walking just ahead of me, keeping his eyes straight ahead, and he's ignoring all the noises behind him - the roars of demons, the screeches of harpies - and not looking back to check that I'm OK at all.
We're getting even closer now, and I can feel the breeze on my face and in my hair, and the sunlight's beginning to feel warm too. Not much further now and I'm back.
Then it happens.
The nightmare.
The end of all my hopes.
The bastards. Them and him down here.
I've just gone past this rock on the right hand side of the tunnel when there's this horrible whining, buzzing sound. I have a horrible feeling that I know what it is - and what's worse, who put them there. I can't prove it, but I don't honestly think wasps would normally make a nest in the tunnel that leads to the underworld. At least, not off their own bat, that is - someone must have put them up to it. Can't think who that could be - other than someone who knows a lot about me and what I hate !
So as he goes past, a couple of them fly out and whizz round his head a few times. He tries to whack them with his hands, to knock them out of the way, but he misses. Don't know whether they sting him or not, he carries on regardless. So far, so good.
But then it's my turn - only it's not a couple, it's the whole f****ing nest of them. They come out of there like an express train and within seconds they're in my hair, all over my face, on my arms - you name it, they're there.
I'm trying my hardest not to freak out, because, as you know, I hate them so much - so I'm trying not to yell and scream and attract attention - trying not to give him any reason to turn and look back. Please don't let that happen, please- I can hear myself saying it - we're so close now
It wouldn't be so bad if I hadn't got most of my body and my feelings back - they wouldn't be able to touch me, or, if they did, I wouldn't notice, but I'm nearly all together again. So when one of them stings me, I can feel it. It hurts. Then when the other fifty or so all sting me at once, I don't really have any choice - I scream really loud. "Ow, Get away from me"
And that's when it happened. Like a slow-motion replay, you could see the scream register- he froze, paused, then, an inch at a time, you could see his head turn to look - I was fighting with the wasps too, so I didn't have the chance to shout to him not to do it, but when I did it was hopeless - he just kep turning and then I could see his eyes and I knew it was too late. All over. Finished.
The gentle breeze I could feel on my skin, the breeze that had promised so much, suddenly turned into a hurricane and blew me back down the tunnel so fast my feet didn't touch the ground until I was across the river. The light, that glow from the world above the ground, that hope for a future, grew ragged and turned into grey and black shadows, shrieking and wailing on the wind as it span into a web of darkness. All I could remember was the look on his face as I disappeared - he looked so lost, so beaten, so despairing, in fact he looked the same as quite a few of the people down here - the really dead ones, that is.
And then there was blackness, just like the first time, only this time it felt like a relief, like it was all over, like it was time to give up and be dead.
That's it. the end
Well maybe
Monday, November 28, 2005
The Way Back
So we're about to set off. There's a few goodbyes I've got to say - Tony for a start - he's been a really big help in getting this sorted out, so I go and see him, tell him how I feel and say thanks. He's obviously a bit surprised about how I feel - maybe he didn't realise quite what an impression he made. What I told him was that if my hero hadn't turned up to rescue me, that I would have quite happily let him do whatever he wanted - well, within reason- and I think he appreciated that. Anyway, we parted on pretty good terms.
On my way back to the ferry, who should I bump into but Mr H, who was not happy at all. I told him that we had done a deal way back then, and that we had shaken hands on it , so he should be honest enough to let me go now I'd made my point. What he said to me didn't exactly fill me with hope though - he said that the deal was that he wouldn't look back before you both get out of here. and that that hasn't happened yet, has it, so I would suggest you don't count your chickens just yet, Mmm?
Like I said, not promising.
I reminded him that he'd promised not to interfere - not to do the "Look behind you" pantomime stuff - that he'd agreed to play it straight. He reminded me that he was the God down here, and that although he might have promised personally not to do anything, there were loads of things that could happen on the last bit of the journey that could make it all go wrong, and that he had no control of things like that. Or no responsibility, anyway. Then he reminded me about the snakes, and how they had got it a bit wrong.
So I'm now more than a bit worried that something bad is going to happen on the way up - that no matter what, I'm ending up back down here on a permanent basis, so I go back in to see Tony. He's packing. Says Mr H has told him he can go up top a week or so early this year - apparently the crops up there need a bit of a boost - so he won't be around for three or four months anyway. He says he'll send me a postcard - just in case I don't make it. Thanks, just what I need. So now what ? Looks like I've go to just go for it and hope, so I make my way to the ferry - hoping against hope it all works out ok and that he just keeps on walking and doesn't turn back. Me? I just need to make sure I don't do, say ( or scream) anything that might make him.
I'd like to warn him about things - but apparently I can't - against the rules. You don't need to ask who made up these rules, do you.
So I get to the ferry, and there he is , waiting to start the journey. We still can't touch or talk, but we can look.
So I do.
Lots.
Let's hope he can read my mind through my eyes!!
I'll tell you what happens very soon.
On my way back to the ferry, who should I bump into but Mr H, who was not happy at all. I told him that we had done a deal way back then, and that we had shaken hands on it , so he should be honest enough to let me go now I'd made my point. What he said to me didn't exactly fill me with hope though - he said that the deal was that he wouldn't look back before you both get out of here. and that that hasn't happened yet, has it, so I would suggest you don't count your chickens just yet, Mmm?
Like I said, not promising.
I reminded him that he'd promised not to interfere - not to do the "Look behind you" pantomime stuff - that he'd agreed to play it straight. He reminded me that he was the God down here, and that although he might have promised personally not to do anything, there were loads of things that could happen on the last bit of the journey that could make it all go wrong, and that he had no control of things like that. Or no responsibility, anyway. Then he reminded me about the snakes, and how they had got it a bit wrong.
So I'm now more than a bit worried that something bad is going to happen on the way up - that no matter what, I'm ending up back down here on a permanent basis, so I go back in to see Tony. He's packing. Says Mr H has told him he can go up top a week or so early this year - apparently the crops up there need a bit of a boost - so he won't be around for three or four months anyway. He says he'll send me a postcard - just in case I don't make it. Thanks, just what I need. So now what ? Looks like I've go to just go for it and hope, so I make my way to the ferry - hoping against hope it all works out ok and that he just keeps on walking and doesn't turn back. Me? I just need to make sure I don't do, say ( or scream) anything that might make him.
I'd like to warn him about things - but apparently I can't - against the rules. You don't need to ask who made up these rules, do you.
So I get to the ferry, and there he is , waiting to start the journey. We still can't touch or talk, but we can look.
So I do.
Lots.
Let's hope he can read my mind through my eyes!!
I'll tell you what happens very soon.
Sunday, November 27, 2005
Absolutely nothing to do with history
So who do I quote from? Anyone who uses words I want to use, when the meaning is right. I know lots of words, but sometimes somebody else said what I wanted to say really well, and it makes sense to let them say it. Sometimes it's songs, sometimes it's poetry - check back on what I think about when they are the same - or not. I've quoted from lots of different people all the way through this - but not in the story - that's all mine ( for better or worse) no point in quoting if you're trying to be original - let's face it, I've borrowed the plot, up to a point, so I need to use my own words - otherwise it's not remotely original.
So where have I borrowed the plots from ? Myths perhaps - I know what they are - but some of them I've twisted a bit to fit a story. The myths are stuff I read when I was a kid - plus stuff I've checked on later - research, maybe. This bit may spoil it all for you - or is it just me showing off again ? Check the myths about Orpheus, Odysseus and Adonis. If you can't find them, try Wikipedia - I've tried to use them to make up a story - they are not actually connected that way, but it seemed like fun. Maybe it works sometimes.
I've always wanted to buy a Greece national football top with the number 0 and the name "Kanenas" on the back - it means "nobody". Check Odysseus's myth and you'll get the joke.
Orpheus's myth doesn't end well for him - but I'm not sure I'll tell it all - but his mum was the nymph that made the decision about Adonis, so it's quite possible she pissed off some of the gods at that time - and that they wanted to get their own back. It's worth a try.
You can tell me if it adds up. Feel free.
Just in case, I'll put a link to Wikipedia on the site so you can find them - just type the names in.
So where have I borrowed the plots from ? Myths perhaps - I know what they are - but some of them I've twisted a bit to fit a story. The myths are stuff I read when I was a kid - plus stuff I've checked on later - research, maybe. This bit may spoil it all for you - or is it just me showing off again ? Check the myths about Orpheus, Odysseus and Adonis. If you can't find them, try Wikipedia - I've tried to use them to make up a story - they are not actually connected that way, but it seemed like fun. Maybe it works sometimes.
I've always wanted to buy a Greece national football top with the number 0 and the name "Kanenas" on the back - it means "nobody". Check Odysseus's myth and you'll get the joke.
Orpheus's myth doesn't end well for him - but I'm not sure I'll tell it all - but his mum was the nymph that made the decision about Adonis, so it's quite possible she pissed off some of the gods at that time - and that they wanted to get their own back. It's worth a try.
You can tell me if it adds up. Feel free.
Just in case, I'll put a link to Wikipedia on the site so you can find them - just type the names in.
Friday, November 25, 2005
Almost there - on the way, anyway
So how good is he ? I've told you before how he could charm the birds and all - well, he is that good - even down here. You would honestly think his life depended on it. He even has me going more than a bit.
When he's about half way through ( I know how his songs go, usually) I look across at the two who matter - she's so obviously in tears that I know it's OK - him? well he's trying his best not to let anything show, but I can detect a little lump in his throat - he's kind of breathing a bit more heavily than usual, but I guess he'll deny it all at the end, just to make the point and keep me down here. He really isn't playing fair at all. Looking across at Tony, you can see he's on the verge of tears himself, and he's giving Mr H dirty looks - he knows what he's up to !
Anyway, the song finishes and he stands there waiting for an answer. Before Mr H can say anything, the others say how much it moved them and kind of make it difficult for him to say it didn't. Mind you, he is in charge, so his word goes -let's just hope he listens to what they say and agrres to let me go after all.
You can see him thinking very hard about it - like when he was going to say "No" before - then his other half comes up to him and whispers in his ear and the look on his face changes. Just like that. Looks like Tony's done his bit like I asked him to, and she's sussed his plan - and she's not about to let him get away with it. Now you can see him looking more than a little pissed off with it - he can't get what he wants, because she won't let him ( I wouldn't have, anyway, but she doesn't know that - I'd be much more likely to head off with Tony - she certainly doesn't need to know that !!) so his only thing now is whether he screws things up for me just because he can - I don't think he'll dare do it out in the open, she'd never speak to him again - but I do know he's more than a bit sneaky when he wants to be. We'd better watch out, I think.
I look across to my hero and he's looking back at me, with the sort of look I used to die for ( before I did, that is) and it just makes me turn over inside and go all soppy... don't ask
Anyway, after a minute or two ( must have been that quick , but it seemed like eternity to me) Mr H makes his mind up. He says that the song's good enough to make him let me go back - says he's earned the right to take me with him, but that he's got to make sure he doesn't look back, not even once, or the deal's off for ever and no second chance. Sounds fair enough to me, it's in line with what we agreed all the way back then, but I've got a bad feeling about him - I don't trust him at all.
He knows he can't have me, but that doesn't mean he won't try and mess things up for me, just out of spite - well, you don't get to be king of the dead without that sort of thing...
At this point, me and my hero ought to be in each other's arms, but since I haven't got any, and he can't actually hold me, we have to make do with looks. I know how he feels, and I think he knows the same about me. Now it's just ( as if it was that easy) a matter of getting up to the sunshine without him turning back to look at me. I just hope he can do it- that he's strong and confident enough not to worry about things. It's time to start that journey - let's go !
When he's about half way through ( I know how his songs go, usually) I look across at the two who matter - she's so obviously in tears that I know it's OK - him? well he's trying his best not to let anything show, but I can detect a little lump in his throat - he's kind of breathing a bit more heavily than usual, but I guess he'll deny it all at the end, just to make the point and keep me down here. He really isn't playing fair at all. Looking across at Tony, you can see he's on the verge of tears himself, and he's giving Mr H dirty looks - he knows what he's up to !
Anyway, the song finishes and he stands there waiting for an answer. Before Mr H can say anything, the others say how much it moved them and kind of make it difficult for him to say it didn't. Mind you, he is in charge, so his word goes -let's just hope he listens to what they say and agrres to let me go after all.
You can see him thinking very hard about it - like when he was going to say "No" before - then his other half comes up to him and whispers in his ear and the look on his face changes. Just like that. Looks like Tony's done his bit like I asked him to, and she's sussed his plan - and she's not about to let him get away with it. Now you can see him looking more than a little pissed off with it - he can't get what he wants, because she won't let him ( I wouldn't have, anyway, but she doesn't know that - I'd be much more likely to head off with Tony - she certainly doesn't need to know that !!) so his only thing now is whether he screws things up for me just because he can - I don't think he'll dare do it out in the open, she'd never speak to him again - but I do know he's more than a bit sneaky when he wants to be. We'd better watch out, I think.
I look across to my hero and he's looking back at me, with the sort of look I used to die for ( before I did, that is) and it just makes me turn over inside and go all soppy... don't ask
Anyway, after a minute or two ( must have been that quick , but it seemed like eternity to me) Mr H makes his mind up. He says that the song's good enough to make him let me go back - says he's earned the right to take me with him, but that he's got to make sure he doesn't look back, not even once, or the deal's off for ever and no second chance. Sounds fair enough to me, it's in line with what we agreed all the way back then, but I've got a bad feeling about him - I don't trust him at all.
He knows he can't have me, but that doesn't mean he won't try and mess things up for me, just out of spite - well, you don't get to be king of the dead without that sort of thing...
At this point, me and my hero ought to be in each other's arms, but since I haven't got any, and he can't actually hold me, we have to make do with looks. I know how he feels, and I think he knows the same about me. Now it's just ( as if it was that easy) a matter of getting up to the sunshine without him turning back to look at me. I just hope he can do it- that he's strong and confident enough not to worry about things. It's time to start that journey - let's go !
Thursday, November 24, 2005
Now Where Were We ?
So the last time we spoke, I was just getting myself ready for his big moment - the bit where he has to really strut his musical stuff in front of kings and queens so that I can escape with him.
So you're going to want to know what happened, aren't you.
Do you want to know all of it - do you want me to tell you how it all ended, or just the next bit for now ? I
t's no big secret about the ending, I told you right at the beginning - but I can't help thinking you might not have quite remembered that without going back and checking - you just did, didn't you!
I knew you would. So is there any point telling you what happened next, now you know the end ? You could try skipping forward now to the real ending and see if it's still the same -
well, is it ?
You did it again, didn't you - only this time there isn't one yet. You'll just have to read the rest of it now and find out.
So I'm looking my best - which has been a bit of an effort, given that I've been dead for quite a few days now and, if I'm being brutally honest, death doesn't do a lot for your looks after a while, and what's worse, you stop caring about it too - so it was a struggle - as you haven't got a body you can't really use mirrors to see how you look - they just stay blank - so you have to guess - or ask someone and hope they tell the truth. Good job I've made a few friends down here now.
On my way down there, I hope that Tony's managed to get hold of herself and pass on my message - at least she might be on my side when it comes to decision time.
So in I go - there's this big space with seats all around - a bit like a concert hall - except there's no-one there except the king and queen of the dead, Tony, me and him.
Now he's seen me, and I'm really touched - he looks like he's seen a ghost, which I guess he has, but he looks so sad and cute and he so obviously wants to reach out to me - he even stretches out a hand, but there's nothing he can touch ( well, not yet, anyway) and he seems to realise this and pulls it back. Then Mr H asks the big question ( I know he already knows the answer, but he's supposed to ask it anyway) "Why are you here" and himself tells him the story ( which Mr H listens to as if he didn't know) and says he can't manage without me by his side, and that he wants to take me back up there. Is there any chance ?
Mr H is about to say "No" - you can tell by the way he shapes his mouth - which is certainly not what I thought he'd agreed, the git, when his other half gives him a sharp kick just under the ankle and he winces and says " One Chance" and then, after a short pause, tells him that there is a chance.
He's got to play and sing a song.
It's got to be so good it makes them both cry.
Then, and only then, I can go back with him, just as long as he doesn't look back once to make sure I'm there me behind him. He's got to trust me.
So now he knows. He gives me a longing look ( it's really sweet, actually, I'd forgotten quite how it made me feel when he did that) and he starts off his song.
That's the point I think I'll leave it for now - you're going to have to wait for the next bit....
So you're going to want to know what happened, aren't you.
Do you want to know all of it - do you want me to tell you how it all ended, or just the next bit for now ? I
t's no big secret about the ending, I told you right at the beginning - but I can't help thinking you might not have quite remembered that without going back and checking - you just did, didn't you!
I knew you would. So is there any point telling you what happened next, now you know the end ? You could try skipping forward now to the real ending and see if it's still the same -
well, is it ?
You did it again, didn't you - only this time there isn't one yet. You'll just have to read the rest of it now and find out.
So I'm looking my best - which has been a bit of an effort, given that I've been dead for quite a few days now and, if I'm being brutally honest, death doesn't do a lot for your looks after a while, and what's worse, you stop caring about it too - so it was a struggle - as you haven't got a body you can't really use mirrors to see how you look - they just stay blank - so you have to guess - or ask someone and hope they tell the truth. Good job I've made a few friends down here now.
On my way down there, I hope that Tony's managed to get hold of herself and pass on my message - at least she might be on my side when it comes to decision time.
So in I go - there's this big space with seats all around - a bit like a concert hall - except there's no-one there except the king and queen of the dead, Tony, me and him.
Now he's seen me, and I'm really touched - he looks like he's seen a ghost, which I guess he has, but he looks so sad and cute and he so obviously wants to reach out to me - he even stretches out a hand, but there's nothing he can touch ( well, not yet, anyway) and he seems to realise this and pulls it back. Then Mr H asks the big question ( I know he already knows the answer, but he's supposed to ask it anyway) "Why are you here" and himself tells him the story ( which Mr H listens to as if he didn't know) and says he can't manage without me by his side, and that he wants to take me back up there. Is there any chance ?
Mr H is about to say "No" - you can tell by the way he shapes his mouth - which is certainly not what I thought he'd agreed, the git, when his other half gives him a sharp kick just under the ankle and he winces and says " One Chance" and then, after a short pause, tells him that there is a chance.
He's got to play and sing a song.
It's got to be so good it makes them both cry.
Then, and only then, I can go back with him, just as long as he doesn't look back once to make sure I'm there me behind him. He's got to trust me.
So now he knows. He gives me a longing look ( it's really sweet, actually, I'd forgotten quite how it made me feel when he did that) and he starts off his song.
That's the point I think I'll leave it for now - you're going to have to wait for the next bit....
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