Sunday. Crowded as usual this afternoon but most of the tourists down in Egyptology. Met up with Trimalchio amongst the coin display cases, the only room you can hear yourself think. So he suggests I start writing; says that trouble’s looming and someone ought to keep a record. Says he’d do it himself but has no time, meaning he’s too busy carousing with the Assyrians. He doesn’t know what he’s talking about anyway – he gets all his news from the pale woman at reception, and I think she buys hers from a streetwalker (I saw them together last week when the moon was full). Still, the rumours are worrying, that’s true enough. I think it’s time I left this place and had another look at the city. It’s been ages since I was outside.
I don’t know what will come of this diary – I’ve never kept one before. It’s easier to write with a reader in mind so I’m picking you, Tamar – I hope that’s OK but I don’t suppose I’ll ever know. It must be getting on for three thousand years since we walked on this earth and not a day passes without my wondering where you are now.
Comments
Silver Spun Sand | November 3, 2011 - 11:49
Rob - you have surely whetted my appetite with this. I found myself asking all sorts of questions whilst reading, and am impatient to have some of the answers. Looking forward to reading on;-)
Tina
Blessing | November 3, 2011 - 12:38
Hmmm - intriguing. She's probably been back to where it all started ... at its formation ...
oldpesky | November 4, 2011 - 15:25
And we're off again. From cyberspace to Egyptology. Best of luck, Rob.
fatboy74 | November 4, 2011 - 15:36
I was about to say why are you starting another one without finishing iysmhss and then checked and of course you have - this is a brilliant opening and I can't wait for more.
MistakenMagic | November 4, 2011 - 16:55
Great to see the start of a new story from you, Rob! Getting a bit of a 'Night at the Museum' feel from this one - but in a very good way, trust me ;-)
Magic xxx
celticman | November 4, 2011 - 20:49
Trimalchio or not. I know how he feels. 3000 years seems a lot, but when you get there seems like yesterday. Nice to see a new story.
rjnewlyn | November 4, 2011 - 21:55
Many thanks Tina, Blessing, Blighters, OP, Fatboy, Magic and Celticman. And thanks very much for the cherry. We'll see where it goes. Definitely not Night at the Museum anyway (although I haven't seen it).
Rob
tcook | November 5, 2011 - 15:02
This is not only our joint Story of the Week, it's also our Facebook and Twitter pick of the day.
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Get a great reading recommendation most days.
Mazrilyn | November 6, 2011 - 12:47
An intriguing piece - had me imagining all sorts.
rjnewlyn | November 7, 2011 - 00:17
Wow - thanks very much Tony. I don't think I've had one of those before.
And thanks Mazrilyn for reading. Yes, quite a lot was going around my head at the time.
Rob
Beeme | December 7, 2011 - 21:11
There really is no excuse for being this late to catch up on your new set of prose! but I can say I really enjoyed this, and am hooked! Going to read the others now...You're so, so good at what you do, I will never know how you pack so much into these.
Beeme x
rjnewlyn | December 8, 2011 - 02:20
Thanks very much Beeme - that's really kind of you.
Rob
Sooz006 | May 12, 2012 - 22:49
I have come from the future, so have an idea of how this hots up. The imagination is fantastic. It's one of those where you think,'Damn I wish I'd thought of this,' Sometimes writing is up on idea or vice-versa but with this it's hard to chose one over the other. Great start.
I like that you've explained how the diary itself came to be.
Can we maybe have a para about the narrator too, though, in this opening bit, how he died, I suppose, who he is? Looking forward to finding out about Tamar.
rjnewlyn | May 12, 2012 - 23:00
Thanks Sooz! Yes, at some point I think that para will come up (it's been in my head for a while but hasn't felt right yet for incorporation).
Rob