For the moment, with the exams drawing near, I have searched for others diversions than those completely unproductive ones like blowing, drinking and gaming. While the violin would probably be a good choice, I have decided to translate my Kasper story into English and make an audiobook (or audioshortstory) out of it. The Dutch version is still available on the dwars site, here (the five 'Kasper; student, drinkebroer, held' ones, the lowest one being the first).
For now, however, as I continue to translate and find myself a decent mic (and learn to use it), the first chapter in what you could call an exclusive preview. Or not.
The Beginning of the End
A vague and indeterminate feeling hovered at the edge of his consciousness, like a shadow, and two voices were screaming so loudly inside his head that any attempt at coherent thought should at least have been impeded. But he wasn't at all fazed. It was simply so absurd, unhinged, that all he could think about was a song; the song that, in a way, had started it all. One of the auditorium doors at the back was swallowed by a small, functional explosion and someone screamed, but all he could hear was the song, as clearly as in the beginning; / clowns to the left of me, jokers to the right / here I am, stuck in the middle with you / His eyes found her face. A sliver of surprise passed through him and disappeared. Her curly, almost white hair – always draped around her head with great care – had lost all coherence and her otherwise roguish mouth was distorted with fear and disgust; there was blood on her sweater and face. She had screamed. He wanted to take a handkerchief from his back pocket to wipe away the blood, but his hand touched the butt of a pistol under his jacket. Suddenly, one of the voices in his head got through to him and the hovering feeling came from the back of his mind to the very front.
“Don't just stand there, boy! Do something!” He feared for his life.
But Kasper had no use for feelings or emotions at the moment. He grabbed the pistol from his belt as he pushed Sam under the desk in front of them. They could hear running footsteps, but Kasper knew what he'd see without looking. He was more intrigued by her look, than by the private militia that was entering the room; a look that spoke of a fearful faith, searching for a knight in shining armor; a deer caught in the headlights. Or perhaps he was the deer? He checked the clip of his gun. 'My gun.' A wry thought. 'The madmen have taken over the asylum.' He stared at the Glock symbol before shoving the clip back with a metallic click, thinking 'Fourteen and one in the chamber. Not that it matters.' He noticed that the hem of her skirt had crawled upwards, above her knee, and his eyes started dropping, but he shook it off. Not now. The voices in his head came back into focus.
“As if something can still save him! Or us!”
“I have every faith in this child.”
“Hmpf, we'll end up in Oblivion again, I'm sure.”
“Very well, this has lasted long enough, children.” The voices were silent. Kasper shivered at the honeyed voice, no rose, all thorns. He could imagine her standing there, in the center of the auditorium, the soldiers spread out around her in a semi-circle and that white, flowery dress that made her look more like a girl than like a woman. And the revolver, aimed upwards, her elbow on her hip, that made it impossible to mistake her for a girl. “If what we lost returns to us this instant, we will consider what to do with you. If not ...” A cocking sound augmented the ominous silence that followed. Kasper could almost feel the submachine guns trained at them through the desk, which didn't seem to offer any real protection anymore. Sam shook her head with great, pleading eyes and he only just managed to suppress a sigh, showing a look of determination instead.
“Trust me.” he whispered and extended his hand, palm upwards. She nodded sedately and handed him the USB flash drive she had been wearing beneath her clothes. Before he had even closed his fingers around it, she leaned towards him and kissed his lips.
“I trust you.” she said hoarsely.
With a flick of his thumb he switched off the safety on his Glock. He hadn't been expecting this when he'd first laid eyes on her.
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