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A Short, Untold Tale of an Adventure in Time. Thursday, 16-Sep-1999 05:36:08
A Short, Untold Tale of an Adventure in Time. The time is the early nineteenth century, the scene is a luxurious villa just outside the small Italian coastal town of La Spezia. Three of this era's most towering literary talents have returned to a candle and open fire lit lounge, in order to tell the stories they were sworn to devise a year past. Lord Byron has already regaled the company with a yarn of blood curdling eroticism, 'the Vampyr', Bysshe Shelly presented a rather uninspired gothic ghost story, but his soon to be wife, the young Mary, has just stunned her audience with her profoundly chilling tale story of man's challenge to God through science and the utter rejection of the resulting abomination. Now they turn to their unexpected visitor, a visitor desperately curious to witness this legendary gathering at first hand and also a visitor capable of travelling through time, with the aid of a seemingly ordinary pocket watch. "Well, Wilton." Said Byron, "Will you entertain us with a story of your own concoction, sir? Sir Mumphrey smiled, "While I am most deeply humbled in the presence of such dazzling literary luminaries, my Lord, I feel you shall not be too disappointed with the trifle I have prepared for you amusement." He opened his folio with a theatrical flourish and began to read; "It was a dark, wind swept night. The branches of the trees, silhouetted in the moonlight, waved like angry claws along the narrow dirt road, 'I think we're lost!' Said Fred, stopping the van, 'I'm sure I saw a big old house a while back, I think we should leave the Mystery Machine here and try to find it. Velma, Shag, Scoob, you go that way, Daphne and I will look over here.' 'Y-y-you mean w-w-we've got t-t-to find that b-b-big, old spooky mansion?' Asked Shaggy, fearfully. 'Awno.Uhuh.Noway.Uhuh.' groaned the cowardly hound. 'Not even for a Scooby snack?' Daphne said, temptingly." "And Fred pulled off the monster mask to reveal, 'MR HOTCHKISS' they all said in unison (although it sounded like Scooby said 'MTHUH HTHKTH'). 'Blast you all.' Said Hotchkiss as the local sheriff led him away. The end." There was a stunned silence, the crackling of the open fire the only noise to be heard in the shadow filled room, "So..." Said Byron, at last, "what you're saying is, that he'd have got away with it, if it hadn't have been for those pesky kids?" "Yes." Confirmed Sir Mumphrey, "In fact... I think I'll use that." He furiously scribbled a few extra lines at the foot of the manuscript. There was a burst of applause, each of the party standing in ovation to the masterpiece. Sir Mumphrey flushed vividly and held up the palm of his hand, in some kind of vain effort to hold off the lavish praise which threatened to overwhelm his natural humility. And so on that fateful night, near La Spezia, unbeknownst to all but a few, and now your good self, it came to pass that three seminal stories took their places in the literary canon of the horror/mystery genre. (Apologies to HH, it was a terrible liberty.) thanks to Yo, Ron, Exile, Donar, HH, spiffy and Hat - there was one character who seemed perfect for the part. Mr Pi. |
| A Short, Untold Tale of an Adventure in Time. (thanks to Yo, Ron, Exile, Donar, HH, spiffy and Hat - there was one character who seemed perfect for the part. Mr Pi.) (16-Sep-1999 05:36:08) |
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