Last week, James Brown continued
our London chain story. Here is the eighth chapter, written by Time Out
reader Richard Sharp. Thanks to everyone who contributed.
Chapter Eight by Richard Sharp
Otto Fleisher’s sat huddled in a small ball on the black-and-white tiled floor. Christina looked at him, thinking he resembled a small and pathetic chess piece.
‘I’m amazed,’ she sighed, ‘that after five years you didn’t even think it worth taking the trouble to tell me why you actually had an affair. I always thought there must have been some deeper reason than you just fancying a quick shag. But this is beyond my wildest imaginings…’
Otto unwound himself slightly and began to explain. ‘When I left Berlin in 1976, there was nothing left for me in Germany. I felt like an orphan and so my newly adopted mother was London.
‘While studying Heidegger during World War II I had inherited a great deal of money. This made me uneasy and so I opted to hide it away for safekeeping in a Swiss bank account. The trust funds for the girls were discreetly siphoned off so as not to appear too ostentatious.’
Christina was listening so intensely, she dribbled unconsciously.
Feature continues
Otto went on: ‘My research partner Erik Schmidt learnt of my good fortune through information I had foolishly recorded in my journal and by various forms of deception has tried to wreak havoc on our family ever since. You see, in his warped world he saw that he had some claim to my inheritance as we were allies in the philosophy world.
‘So my dear Christina, while the affair was a moment of weakness, it was also a case of entrapment coordinated by Schmidt. I should have realised that a beautiful woman who pursued me with such determination must have had more sinister motives than a desire to hear my thoughts on philosophy.
Christina couldn’t believe her ears. ‘So the abduction of Bettina and the money that was swindled out of Mo were all related back to this Schmidt person and his need to learn of Heidegger’s legacy?’
Otto looked suddenly severe. ‘Erik Schmidt’s son is Franz Schmidt. Franz was acting in concert with his father by befriending and making Mo fall in love with him. And now they have Babygirl…’
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10 comments
Judging from the responses, it seems all are writers wanting to take a stab at writing the next installment. Eventhough we are now on the 13th installment, most of these responses happen to be for the first, a bit misleading in a way until you read carefully.
I'm confused - the title is "A London Story" but what's being published bears little or no relation to it. Babygirl appears to have been spirited AWAY from London; the frequent flashbacks to Germany are quite simply bizarre; thank god Howard Dorman has paid attention to the title!! This story is utterly depressing.
I think the best way to trace Franz would be to place a sheet of translucent paper over an old photograph of him and then carefully sketch his outline with a soft pencil, adding as much detail and colour for realism as possible.
It's no doubt that the piece is well written and would be a good read, but it's a genre. Toby did what he does -write well and about something he has a story in his head about. But if the TimeOut people wanted a large participation then it would have been better to start us off at a path with many possible paths.
Hmmm, nice idea, shame the first chapter is less than inspirational.
Really fun idea, but agreed the beginning doesnt leave a lot to work with at all. I guess the next chapter will really set the tone in stone. Also a deadline wld be nice for submissions (!)
Sorry to change the subject chaps,but I've just noticed that the capricious gods of the Time Out books section have once again ignored our prayers for the listing of our poetry club which they insist is finished. NO !
Y Tuesday poetry club, Tuesday 6th March 2007, 8pm, 3 Kings pub, Clerkenwell close EC1
London's cosy, candle lit club with a cat, 1 year old and going strong. Still a whopping FREE to get in.
Great idea, but a deadline when entries have to be in by each week would be useful. I couldn't see on in the mag or on the site.
Great Idea!! This would have been great fun, just wonder why you had to start us off so somberly with negativity looming in the future. It leaves us very little versatility. Hope you give us the chance again and start us off with a little lighter feeling and a chance for a diverse plot. I'll be looking forward to it.
Nice start Toby, rich with promise and all sorts of potential. It's inspired me to attempt an entry, but I'm a bit rubbish at fiction. Looking forward to the next episode folks.