Thursday. Delegations arriving at the museum most of the day so things must be getting serious. Most fighting’s in the west, with the tedious rivalries between the cemeteries erupting yet again. Kensal Green and Highgate are bitter old enemies and already scrapping enthusiastically, their battle lines drawn up along old Watling Street through Kilburn and Cricklewood. Brompton looks like joining Kensal but Paddington’s wavering and might stay neutral this time.
One of our visitors is that Clerkenwell zombie who drank me under the table on Tuesday – turns out he’s representing the noble dissenters of Bunhill Fields and various City crypt-dweller societies. They’re thinking of opening a second front, pushing up through Islington and Holloway against the posh folk of Highgate who seem to have even fewer friends than usual.
I really can’t be bothered with it all. I’ve seen so many of these flare-ups before and they always come banging on our doors because of the Assyrians (who will thrash all comers if only they could be persuaded to stay sober for a night). Needless to say someone suggests a fact-finding mission and needless to say I’ve been fingered for the job. Still, anything to get out for a while.
Comments
insertponceyfre... | December 7, 2011 - 08:45
read all these in one go just now, and I really like the drip drip of the plot - also the everyday slightly complaining tone, and the london references, which I think you're enjoying - I know I would be!
shep5377 | December 7, 2011 - 14:19
I was looking forward to the next installment and I haven't been let down!
I completely agree with IPFN as well, the complaining tone of the narrator makes it all seem so common place that it stands out even more.
Alex
oldpesky | December 7, 2011 - 14:42
I hope they don't push up through Islington. My brother lives there.
Beeme | December 7, 2011 - 21:23
I'm with insert, just caught up and read them all in one go. The plot is very compelling and intriguing. I'm waiting for the next.
Beeme x
maddan | December 8, 2011 - 15:08
This is great stuff.
I often eat my lunch among the noble dissenters.
fatboy74 | December 8, 2011 - 21:24
Yes it is, maddan's right. :-)
rjnewlyn | December 12, 2011 - 00:29
Thanks very much Maddan and Fatboy. Good to know that they've equally noble company ...
Rob
MistakenMagic | December 12, 2011 - 16:36
Another great piece, Rob. Though a lot of the place references have flown over my northern head I greatly enjoyed this :) Keep 'em coming!
Magic xxx
rjnewlyn | December 18, 2011 - 01:17
Hi Magic - many thanks! Yes, they've poured out a bit in this one and I was aware they'd be gobbledegook to some. I'll try to keep them reined in a bit from now on.
Rob
Sooz006 | May 8, 2012 - 17:15
I'm another one who doesn't understand the geography and mapping of the wars, but it doesn't matter because although I might not get as much from it as somebody who lives on the doorstep and looks out of their window at night to see if the graves are disturbing, I don't need to know what is where, because the narrator's voice just does it for me.
The bored tone is really strong, it should bore the reader, (if he can't be arsed, I can't be arsed,) but it doesn't. Still liking them.
rjnewlyn | May 12, 2012 - 13:12
Yes, sorry about the geography. I wanted to write about a specific place for a while but it didn't fit with the narrator to have him explaining locations. I'm aware it's a bit parochial but it's the way it came out ...
Rob