And if rain brings winds of change,
Let it rain on us forever.
I have no doubts from what I've seen
I have never wanted more. — VNV Nation, "Solitary"

The thing about the word game, the one that Spooky and I play to find new vignettes, is that sometimes it works perfectly, and other times it merely points me in a direction. As it turns out, mummification merely pointed me in a direction. I spent a good deal of yesterday trying to find a story for that word, but they all seemed like things that would run on for thousands and thousands of words, when I only need — indeed, can only use — a couple thousand to round out Tales from the Woeful Platypus. So, yesterday I wrote 1,160 words on a piece called "Still Life," which is not a mummification story, but which I came to via that subject. It has some common ground with "San Andreas" (from Tales of Pain and Wonder, 1999), but centers on Biancabella and Candida, two of the members of the Stephens Tea League and Society of Resurrectionists, first introduced in "Les Fleurs Empoisonnées" (originally In the Garden of Poisonous Flowers). I'd not expected to see them again. But there they were, regardless. "Still Life" is set some number of years after the events in "Les Fleurs Empoisonnées," and either the STL&SoR has disbanded or Biancabella and Candida have merely taken their leave; I'm not yet sure which, and it's a question that's irrelevant to the vignette. Mary Rose and Porcelina get mentions, but do not appear (Porcelina's dead, of course, but that wouldn't necessarily have kept her away). It's morbid, but in a very, very sweet sort of way; I think it will be a bit of light in a dark book.

Also, I'm thinking that maybe "Excerpt from Memoirs of a Martian Demirep" is the piece which will be exclusive to the limited edition.

I did not make it to the library yesterday, because by the time I was finished writing, about six p.m., I was just too tired to bear the thought of getting dressed and going out and facing all those human beings. Instead, Spooky and I had our evening walk. Most of the neighborhood cats were out and about, and we said our hellos. The moon was coming up large and white, slipping in and out of pinkish sunset clouds. We helped a bug across a sidewalk. It was a nice walk and much better than having to show my photo ID (my passport) to security guards to be allowed into the library.

Monday, Spooky came home with the first pumpkin of October. I think we're aiming for eight this year.

Today, I need to call Bernie Wrightson.

Last night, we watched Philippe Rousselot's The Serpent's Kiss (1997), with Ewan McGregor, Richard E. Grant, and the ever amazing Pete Postlethwaite. Very nice, with a smart sort of eroticism that took me by surprise.

Franklin, did you get my e-mail yesterday?

Time to write...