Photo by Sue Vincent

This is now the 18th chapter of “Of Wind and Wings”.  See the table of contents here.

Note – I posted three chapters that did not follow one of Sue’s prompts.  here is a brief overview in case you don’t have time or inclination to read them (or you can skip to today’s chapter):

Chapter 15, Mr. Brown – Ed and The Grubb have lunch with Mr. Brown, who seems down.  Ed discovers that an ancestor wrote a book of philosophy in the 1780s.  It was in the form of a dialog between a person and a supernatural being and dealt with freedom and equality for all people, no matter sex, race or religion.  Ed also discovers that not only had Mr. Brown been separated from his wife for a long time, but she had finally left for good the night before.

Chapter 16, With the Grubbs – Ed has dinner with the Grubb family.  The father, just called ‘Grubb’, is similar to his son, but more practical.  The mother is much more learned, but also very attuned to the different side.  She gives some philosophy on “value” and death.  She also tells Ed about “The Others”, with the many names, from Elf, to Faery to Hob to Sith.   She tells Ed that his family has “Sith” blood and he needs to become more attuned to the land.  The Grubb can help, as can Elisabeth Smyth, but the former is stuck in a rut, looking for a sign that has always been there.

Chapter 17, Dreams and Ghosts – Ed has the “pillar” dream, but it changes to his bedroom.  Liza’s mother talks to her about destiny, they Ed can only see the mother.  He also realizes that Liza’s “destiny” was something she was supposed to create herself.  She had control of her life.  Did she misread her mother?  Ed wakes, not knowing it it were a ghost or a dream.  he thinks of Gothic novels, but the ghost was not his true love.  Who was?  He hears Lauren’s voice in answer.

***

Now to the story!

***

“Hello, Mr. Pulman, can you hear me?”

Ed jerked his mind back to the present.  Mr. Brown had a big grin and gave him an over exaggerated, giant eyebrowed wink.

“Good to see you back on Planet Earth, Mr. Pulman.”

Ed smiled.  “I’m sorry.  I’m a little lost in thought today.”

“Thinking, eh?  That’s a dangerous habit, you know.  You start thinking and you never know where you will wind up.”