Author: Francis Meyrick

Ch.26 THE MIRROR CRACKS   Heidi’s world went on collapsing around her. She missed her little brother more and more as time went by, with that deep seated maternal loving that knows no consolation. That perhaps feigns recovery to cope with the world. But never, ever forgets. She missed all the little things she used…

Ch.25 COME INTO MY PARLOR   “Come into my parlour, said the Spider to the Fly; the place is very comfy, the ceiling nice and high. Your wings could do with leisure, they look quite beat to me come in and fill your measure of jam and toast for tea. “ “Thank you kindly, Spider,…

Ch.24 RETURN OF THE CONQUERING HERO   Major W.A.McAllister, R.F.C., recently promoted, was thoroughly enjoying his leave. The High Society reception, the umpteenth one he had managed to get invited to, was in full swing. Surrounded by beautiful ladies, the center of doting attention, he was in his element describing his adventures. The wine and…

Ch.23 CHECK RIDE   They were at 9000 feet, and had been patrolling up and down their sector of the line for some forty five minutes. Jeremy was flying formation on Baxter’s right, whilst a funny Scotsman named Mac Robertson formated on Baxter’s left. Occasionally Baxter had waggled his wings, and pointed to principal landmarks.…

Ch.22 GOODBYE TO THE FAMILIAR It was a full three days before Jeremy was summoned once again to McAllister’s office. He used the time to rest and recuperate. The strange experience of sitting around, inactive, in a mess with a war going on, made him go deeply introspective again. He had many serious conversations, as…

Ch.21 THE CHASE   Dawn came slowly, and found Jeremy sitting on a fallen tree trunk, barely alive. He was utterly exhausted. He had tripped and fallen many times, and he was quite unsure of the direction in which he had traveled. The ground mist had thinned out a bit during the night, enabling him…

Ch.20 CRACKS IN THE GABLE   Part of the problem was that they talked and thought too much. He would listen to the conversation at mealtimes sometimes, and pretend to be lost in his own thoughts. His mind was razor sharp however, and he excelled in the quiet comment from the top of the table,…

Ch.19 STRANGE AWARENESS   First came the slow awareness that something was going on. Something… was most definitely occurring. Something which warranted his attention, only… At times it was like a dream tossed sleep. A knowledge that had not yet achieved the awareness of self. A consciousness that tried to grapple with that which seemed…

Ch.18 STRAWBERRY JAM   Mr Armstrong Senior (‘Thomas’ only to one or two old friends) was annoyed. Very annoyed. Lunch at the club was not the same. He cut at his steak with wanton ferocity, as if it personified the very devil he loathed so much. He would have to have a word with the…

Ch.17 UNREALITY   The day it happened, it couldn’t have occurred at a more unreal time. He was returning home alone from a late evening patrol which had been more or less uneventful. He had checked his guns, which had promptly jammed. Pointing in some disgust at the stupid things, he had waved at Owen,…