Death of a Dream

This eclectic selection of literary diversity includes several short stories, poems, muses, and a moving memoir. The themes encompass ethics, and our interaction with nature. "Chris writes in a straightforward, clear style, with strong characters. A first-class story-teller." What would make a man decide to become a vigilante? How does one cope with the death of a sister? An iron-age smith's god-struck son find a purpose in life... A computer programmer with a self-indulgence for cream buns poses a threat to the world... An octogenarian takes revenge on a gold digger... A child who loses her mother is given a priceless gift by her great grandmother.. A rather unique masseur with a dubious background has his past exposed... Excerpt The slave boy lifted and pulled the stout oaken handle, longer than himself, his lean body reaching and folding with every stroke. As the leather sack of the great bellows sucked and blew, the iron in the birch charcoal fire gradually flowered to red. Echet’s apprentice had already melded the iron with bone ash, working the metal, and now it was ready for the master-smith’s own hand. He had been obliged to take on an apprentice two winters gone. At thirty-eight winters he was no longer a young man; but his years were growing heavy, his time passing more quickly than he would have ever thought possible. When the iron’s tip began to glow with a hint of yellow, Echet reached into the fire with the tongs, pulled the lump of metal out, and clanged it down onto the anvil. The slave boy stilled his labours, waiting as his master began to beat the iron rhythmically, massive biceps stretching and contracting with every stroke. Sparks flew as he muttered the old incantations which would make the iron strong. Lugh, father of all gods, bless this blade. Bang! Ruagh, hag of blood, bless this blade. Bang!