Drafts of published stories, commentary on those drafts, and patron exclusives are only available to our patrons. Please consider joining their ranks with the Patreon link at the top of the sidebar.
Unlock with PatreonNathaniel Cannon and the Lost City of Pitu No. 5
Drafts of published stories, commentary on those drafts, and patron exclusives are only available to our patrons. Please consider joining their ranks with the Patreon link at the top of the sidebar.
Commentary, Nathaniel Cannon and the Lost City of Pitu No. 5
Drafts of published stories, commentary on those drafts, and patron exclusives are only available to our patrons. Please consider joining their ranks with the Patreon link at the top of the sidebar.
Nathaniel Cannon and the Lost City of Pitu No. 4
Drafts of published stories, commentary on those drafts, and patron exclusives are only available to our patrons. Please consider joining their ranks with the Patreon link at the top of the sidebar.
Commentary, Nathaniel Cannon and the Lost City of Pitu No. 4
Drafts of published stories, commentary on those drafts, and patron exclusives are only available to our patrons. Please consider joining their ranks with the Patreon link at the top of the sidebar.
Nathaniel Cannon and the Lost City of Pitu No. 3
Drafts of published stories, commentary on those drafts, and patron exclusives are only available to our patrons. Please consider joining their ranks with the Patreon link at the top of the sidebar.
Commentary, Nathaniel Cannon and the Lost City of Pitu No. 3
Drafts of published stories, commentary on those drafts, and patron exclusives are only available to our patrons. Please consider joining their ranks with the Patreon link at the top of the sidebar.
Not-a-weekend-anymore open thread
As I sit here preparing stuff for publication here over the next two weeks, I bring you two videos from Youtube. First, a classic swing piece, because this is where my mind almost instantly goes when I’m writing in this universe:
Second, an awesome endeavor from two weekends ago:
Back to getting posts queued and proofread for the last time. If anyone out there is good1 with vector art and willing to work for really cheap (not necessarily free, but that’s certainly better for me!), I might have some cover design work for you for We Sail Off To War2. My email address is over on the About page (unless you’re reading this by RSS, in which case my email address is at the About page on Many Words).
1. Or really, just better than me.
2. It’s a novelette, not a short story! That means I can italicize!
Posted in Blather Leave a comment
Nathaniel Cannon and the Lost City of Pitu No. 2
“Magnifique,” Lachapelle said, leaning forward and setting his cigarette on the edge of the ashtray. “Ze Bureau National des Antiquités ‘as lately taken an interest in expanding ze exhibits of ze Louvre. Zey ‘ave, en fait, offaired an ‘efty bounty to zose intrepid aventuriers ‘oo can provide artifacts for le musée.
“I only ‘aird of zis per’aps two weeks ago, from ze collectair ‘oo purchased ze idol you recovered from ze Bolshevists, and it was pure chance zat I ‘aird from one of my Javanese contacts before I left ‘anoi. ‘e ‘ad ze photographs most extraordinary—photographs ‘e claimed were of ze fabled lost city of Pitu.”
“Pitu?” Cannon asked, his interest piqued. “Capital of the Medang Kingdom?”
“Precisely ze one. Ze photographs appear genuine. I propose zat we take your zeppelin to Java and see if zese claims are correct. If zey are, ze payout could be ‘undreds of sousands of francs, per’aps even millions.”
Cannon found himself with his elbow on the table and his hand propping up his chin. “Millions of francs,” he mused. “That’s some heavy sugar.”
Lachapelle regarded him quizzically. “If zat means what I sink it does,” he said, taking his cigarette in hand, “oui.”
“The Dutch won’t like it.”
“Zey do not ‘ave to know.”
“Alright,” said Cannon. Lachapelle began to speak, but Cannon cut in. “Hold on, I’m not agreeing to this. On the level, Lachapelle—what’s your angle?”
“Sink about it,” Lachapelle said, spreading his hands apart, his tone grandiose. “Ze tale of finding a legendary city lost to ze mists of time, in ze company of famed and mysterious sky pirate Nasaniel Cannon? C’est sensationnel! And it will be undair my byline.” He coughed. “Zere would also be ze mattair of a small finder’s fee of per’aps twenty percent…”
Cannon mulled it over, careful to keep his poker face on. Despite the disaster in Panama back in ’27, Lachapelle was generally reliable enough, and the swell idea of finding the lost city of Pitu was worming its way into his mind. The Pacific was too hot for an honest pirate like Cannon owing to increased French and Soviet air naval patrols, which were admittedly in response to his last raid. Either way, he wouldn’t be pirating for a few months until things cooled off again. The crew expected some down time in the Australian states, but they were pirates, too, and the promise of a payoff would sway them.
“I’ll have to ask my crew,” Cannon said, “but if they’re in, so am I.”
“Magnifique. I do not know ze exact location of ze city, but tomorrow I am taking ze flying boat to Soerebaja. Le Temps ‘as me zere for a mons. Once you ‘ave convinced your crew, find me at ze Grand ‘otel Republiek.”
Cannon stood, and Lachapelle did too. They shook hands, and Cannon said, “This had better go down better than Panama.” He took the remaining croissant, wrapped it in a napkin, and stuffed it into his pocket. “See you in Soerebaja, Lachapelle.”
Commentary, Nathaniel Cannon and the Lost City of Pitu No. 2
TVtropes doesn’t have a page for lost cities, which seems like an oversight. It probably has a page for stereotypical Frenchman and for characters that steal scenes, though.
You’ll notice that the entries have been shorter lately. This is conscious. I’m hoping that I’ll be able to deliver regular updates if they’re smaller ones.
