Chapter Ten – Meretricious “The state calls Ira McWhiggin,” said Buford triumphantly, as if he’d won something. He gleefully wrenched control of the state’s jalopy from Fawna and was riding high and proud. Probably gave her the “less important” witnesses, giving us a handy key to the proceedings. Ira McWhiggin was shorter than me. He…

Chapter Nine – Moribund “Is there anyone in this courtroom whom you recognize?” Fryssen resumed her stride.Verna looked out over all of us, her mouth pulled down at the corners, her eyes anxious, as if suddenly fearful of saying the wrong thing. Did she think it was a trick like the one played on Joan…

Chapter Eight — Malevolence Monday arrived, as Mondays will. I lay late in our new bed, allowing Trevor to bring me my coffee, luxuriating like a Jane Austen heroine conserving strength before The Big Dance. The greatest luxury was watching Trevor ‘armor-up’; sliding on his boxers, locking his French cuffs into place, buttoning the vest…

Chapter Seven — Marriage When I woke in the morning, we were stretched out side by side in my narrow bed, holding hands, the marble knight and his lady atop the tomb. Shouldering each other aside the better to spring into the afterlife. In the morning light I could give his beautiful body the attention…

Chapter Six — Monogamy When I woke it was dark. You know that moment of inchoate panic coming out of a dream, when you’ve forgotten who you are? I could be a character in a novel or the philosopher’s dreaming butterfly. Maybe Trevor’s right and my imagination’s a runaway horse – but am I the…

Chapter Four — Malfeasance It was worse than yesterday. The rule against cameras in the courtroom made the press go crazy; they didn’t seem human. They threw themselves at our vehicles like jackals, with one last chance at a meal. They wielded their orbs and proboscises like slingshots and spears. Pygmies are right about soul…