ASPECTS OF AN AMOEBAMAN

- 1. "Belificent's Wedding" - 2. "Merry Harry Marrying" - 3. "Leandro Dies Again" - 4. "Belificent's Funeral" - 5. "Meroudys Two Too Many" - 6. "Hellion Harry Harrowing" -

2. Aspects of an Amoebaman: "Merry Harry Marrying"

Asp-2's a tidy little chapter. Fairly straight forward narrative, not too much in the way of fay-saying and, even if I do say so myself, captures an era rather well. Boomers somewhat older than me might recognize the templates for Rollicking Rolly and his back-up band. Torontonians probably won't recognize Massey Hall, though. While I was there something like seven years after the events detailed in Asp-2, I have to admit I made up its innards. Might have looked as described; more likely might not have, however. But, hey, who's quibbling? Not me, that's for sure.

Except for some brief Wayfaring in the Wild Weird way back in Moloch circa early '38, I believe this is the first time Sedon St Synne has appeared in person in any of my Web Serials thus far (February 2001). Which is odd considering Sed-son's such a pivotal character in the overall context of the PHANTACEA Mythos. It therefore behooves us, before we get into the heavy duty foreboding that permeates Asp-2, to spend some serious time with him.

And we do, -- rather, I did and you will, once you read it!

Sedon St Synne looked at his daughter by Corona Power peculiarly. "What's that you're wearing around your neck?"

Crystal fingered the black leather choker with the single ruby-like stone in its centre. "Just something my mother sent me. Why?"

He blinked, then sighed in apparent relief. "Oh, nothing. For a minute I thought it was glowing!"

Talk about foreboding. Asp-2's positively fraught with the stuff. That's just a sampler. Here's another one. Make that two or three of them all in one. Not to mention, yet again, ...

Raphael D'Angelo snatched his cane away from Herr Kopf and allowed himself to be led away by daughter Tereza. Not so willingly Crystal went with Sophia, her half-sister, Tere's mother and St Synne's eldest known, still-surviving offspring.

Was no doubt in her mind where, to whom, she was being marched. Like most Antheans, Headmistress Mannering did not believe in corporal punishment. However, having been on the receiving end of some of her more invective-inventive tongue-lashings, Crystal dreaded the next few minutes.

Would have preferred a horse-whipping, sooth said!

It's a party. Folks drink, they argue, they dance. On occasion they even get to waltz with the bride. Which, howsoever short term, sometimes leaves the groom himself looking elsewhere for a prancing partner.

Harry's treacherous brother, Demonites, determined he was overdue for another go round with Belificent. Thus momentarily detached, Harry contemplated returning the favour but his cousin, Thaddeus Hyperenor, beat him to Dem's Hiliarti and Kad's half-sister, Europa Heliopolis, next to Bel the hands down prize in the room, was immediately surrounded by prospective suitors.

He was about to follow Daddy Angelo and Uncle Alex, who had been keeping Europa company almost from the moment Rollicking Rolly struck up the band, into the bar room when his solitariness was solved. Crystal St Synne may have been only fourteen and most of a foot smaller than him but, man, she danced real close.

Let's staunch the flow of the bleeding obvious, shall we?

Belificent D'Angelo-now-Zeross was so happy the music had finally stopped she forgot all decorum and sat down in the middle of the dance floor. Harry offered his hand to help her up but she just squatted there.

"In my next life," she protested exhaustedly, "I'm not going to be born Italian. And, if weddings are just an excuse for being pawed by every randy relative I've got, especially from your side of the bed, I'll be all in favour of common law marriages."

"I doubt the Church would approve," suggested Harry. "Come up. You're looking undignified. People are staring."

Bel resolutely remained rooted to the floor. "Why don't I just stay here and strip off naked. Then the photogs'll get off my back, and you can get on it. At least for a few days."

"Days, we'll have together in plenty. Right now it's the minutes we have to endure. It'll be over soon. Come on. Get up. Smith, Smythe, or Schmidt will drive us out of here before the rest of them drive us crazy."

"Promise?"

"Promise!"

Belificent extended her hand. Harry hauled her to her feet.

Promises are easy to make, aren't they?

Hadrian Dis L'Orca gave Angelo Zeross a playful slap on the back. "Where are they off to, Mr. Ambassador?"

"Where do you think, Mr. Under-Ambassador? Niagara Falls of course."

I promise you they won't make it anywhere near long enough to need anything like Viagra!

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4. Aspects of an Amoebaman: "Belificent's Funeral"

Last time up, primarily as a public service, I went moderately out of my way to avoid too much commentary on the unfortunate, burial-plot-necessary unpleasantness contained in Asp-3. Asp-4's title pretty much let's the proverbial cat out of the rat-bag (not to mention the grave) so, this time up, I promise I'll be as Canada-candid as I dare without ruining the last half of 'Revenge' for everyone else.

(I always try to keep my promises out here in Cyberia. Usually do too. Well, virtually always anyhow. Can't promise you I won't make any more bad puns, though. Especially not when tip-top tricksters are among the main characters in Rings '60. Or Rings '55, for that matter-hatter!)

In Asp-3 we found out WORLD ['The Worldwide Order with the Right to Life and Death'] claimed credit for killing Trebleman Joan Smith. It also claimed credit for kidnapping the newlyweds, Aristotle Zeross and Belificent born D'Angelo.

In Asp-3, we also found out what WORLD, an international criminal agency that was, at least nominally, still around in late 1980 (when the now-completed, four-part 'Launching of the Cosmic Express' series of inter-connected novels took place), wanted in exchange for their release, -- namely, to funnel a great whack of illegitimately obtained ransom money in effect legitimately into various research and development laboratories, mostly of a politically suspect nature, that were already dedicated to trying to decipher the papers, etc., left behind by Jesus Mandam, the Conquering Christ.

The vast majority of this material has been in the hands of Gunther von Alptraum and the still-extant (in 1960) Soviet Supra Supreme since Mandam's death on Salvation Island in 1953. Abe Ryne dutifully paid said ransom (1-million to each of 24 different labs, 24-million in all) and, accordingly, Harry was released. Shockingly, though, Bel wasn't!

A second ransom note was grotesquely tattooed to Smith's now-headless remains, which were found alongside a heavily sedated Aristotle Zeross in the back of an abandoned Bedford Van. It had the same conditions, albeit with a million dollars each going to a different set of 24 separate labs, including one run by Aranyani Nightingale Ryne out of the Houston Academy of Man, but the Great Man couldn't, or wouldn't, cave into pressure and fork over any more big bad bucks, -- especially not to big bad, at least somewhat logically probable persons who, unlike me, did not keep their promises.

Neither would (although he probably could) Alfredo Sentalli, the incredibly obese godson of Raphael D'Angelo, Bel's father. The Fatman, as nearly everyone referred to Sentalli, controlled NCE, New Century Enterprises, from his base in Hawaii, a tiny, tri-peaked islet off the coast of Maui called Centauri Island. And where have we heard that name before?

As its implied, NCE was founded at the beginning of the Twentieth Century. Was founded, interestingly enough, by Abe's father, Charan Ryne. Ryne Senior died during the Summoning but his body was preserved and, in the late Thirties, the first Moses Callion apparently used, um, aspects of it in an effort to clone him. I say interestingly because among the labs listed in the gruesome ransom note is Moe II's in Switzerland. And, with a name like that, what might Moe II be?

Might as well tell you, here and now, that WORLD filmed Bel's execution, for that was what it was, and as you might have already assumed Abe Ryne's consequent rage was unbounded. Treblewoman was decapitated so that points to Herr Kopf, Gunther von Alptraum's mute manservant who most agree was an at least semi-successful Callion Clone. Voice on the initial tape detailing WORLD's demands sounded like that of Sedon St Synne. Von Alp works for the Soviet Supra Supreme.

Seems obvious, therefore, that all of the above are likely responsible for the Order's actions. And, guess what, chances are they are! Except, for any of them to be at all complicit in any of this evil-doing, it's just as likely they would have had to have been compelled. Because of this there's more talk of blaming the Soviet Supra Supreme but there's an even more aforementioned bleeding obvious suspect, -- the person who was filmed garotting Belificent. That person, if she is indeed a person and not some sort of malevolent possessive spirit that attaches to Anthean witches, was, is ...

The film showed Strife, a not-inexplicably faceless, flare-haired redhead strangling her with a glowing riding crop.

That's how Asp-4 begins. So, if Strife is indeed a malevolent spirit being that possesses mind-bending Ant illusionists (ergo 'not-inexplicably faceless'), which witch has she attached to this time? Ordinarily when we reach this point in a synopsis I'd say ... Won't do it this time partially because Rings '60 still has two more chapters to go. Besides, particularly if you're a lover of good old-fashioned, mayhem, madness & mainly manly mindless massacre sequences, you won't be skipping Asp-4 anyways.

When the coffin touched bottom, frantic rapping was distinctly heard coming from inside it. Harry leapt into the grave and struggled with the lid. [Bruce] Dre'Ath, Big Max [O.J. Maxwell], and John Paul [D'Angelo] jumped in after him. The lid splintered and Belificent reared to her feet. Grotesquely dressed in her wedding dress, the embalmed corpse pointed to Ramona Avar.

"Witch aunt!" it croaked, with surprising clarity. "You killed me. You're Strife!"

(How's that for burial-plot necessities? Can't say I didn't warn you about making more bad puns either.)

So, let's see, thus far this chapter we've got seriously red (two murders for starters), red-scares (the Soviet Supra Supreme), red-hands (those who bear the ultimate responsibility for all this bloodshed), red-baiters (Greygreave Translav), redheads (although Strife's hardly the only one in PHANTACEA who has red hair), and the occasional red herring (all of above, plus little doubt many a more).

We also have Kadmon Heliopolis and his Dragon's Teeth, the Trigon Spartae, the most dangerous men alive in any timeline, in their chronologically first recorded, on the Web, go-completely-crazy demonstration of what, even if they aren't supras as such, they are capable of doing. We feature the duplicitous Maxwells, -- father Jock, son Max, and mother Bonita. (Not that, as we've long known, they're actually blood or even marital relations!) We've Young Life, Young Death, ex-Superior Sorrow, the Ants' current-Superior, aka the Morrigan, and any number of potential, Worldwide Order co-conspirators.

Only thing we're really missing is Ringleader's Revenge. I guarantee that'll come in due course. Aren't missing his rings, though, -- except it isn't Harry wielding them. I'm no mystery buff, and not much of a mystery writer either, so I won't keep you wondering who does wield them. Will keep you wondering who was behind the camera filming Strife/Ramona killing Belificent, however.

(Always assuming there was a Strife in May 1960 and, as the ocular proof seems to indicate, she was indeed Ramona born Avar. Of course, as above, none of this is by any means a certainty.)

No-other-choice compulsion may well be the key to all this. Equally so, I'm here to tell you that the Miracle Key might just be one of those fishy sorts of things I mentioned earlier. A much more productive path to follow, for those of you who are mystery buffs, could be 'glowing riding crop' and 'ruby-coloured beads'!

. . . !

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6. Aspects of an Amoebaman: "Hellion Harry Harrowing"

Let's be perfectly clear at the outset of this, my final last time up for 'Ringleader's Revenge', that claiming credit is not, morally speaking, exactly the same as actually being responsible for actions for which you've claimed credit. Neither is it the same as accepting responsibility when you're called to task for the consequences of said actions.

Under the law, though, you instigate criminal activities you should be held accountable for their totality, right? With that in mind I thought I'd remind you that, although plausible deniability may be a relatively recent term, it's not a recent concept.

So, that said, who is the big bad guy behind WORLD[?] Rather, upon whom might Rings ultimately be obliged to revenge himself for Treblewoman and Bel's murders[?] Easiest way to find out is, of course, to read Asp-6. Once you've done that, have some fun and play my version of fill in the [-]. Then, if you're so inclined, enter Anheroic Fantasy's Second Non[-]Contest and score yourself some genuine non[-]prizes!

[-] is killed on [-]. However, [-] has left his [-] behind with the [-] and his uncle, [-], will go to almost any lengths to get hold of them. (Well, almost any lengths[!]) [-] also knows all about these [-]; knows more than that, -- knows where the technology behind them came from originally, [-], and figures they belong to her people as much if not more so than they do to anyone else.

What use are [-], though, if no one can make what's detailed on them work? So [-] and [-] combine forces, just as they had at least once before, and set things up such that some serious, albeit perhaps dubious in terms of their political affinities, definitely financially strapped and, all too often, distinctly whacko-scientists can get seriously to work on deciphering them. First big problem is no one reputable, not even [-], can legitimately justify funding these looney tunes. Hence, it has to be done illegitimately. Hence, again, [!]

As much as professionals can be relied upon, [-] figures [-] should be ensured in case they either somehow bugger up ([-] sort of does and sort of doesn't) or, even though they're extremely well paid from the outset, those behind [-], including [-], get even more greedy. (Which they may or not do.) [-] agrees then goes a step further and seeks to [-] their cooperation.

To do so [-] opts for using [-]-methods, a [-] no less. [-] manufactures a facsimile [-]. [-]brings it, via the [-], to [-] and in doing so may or may not have contracted [-] and passed it/her onto [-] (whom we now know is actually [-]) or, perhaps just as likely, passed it onto a deeply jealous, not to mention dangerously disturbed [-]. Whereupon things started going seriously sideways!

By the time [-] finds all this out, [-] has dispatched [-] to try to sort out [-]. Which is how [-] get involved and [-]'s precious [-] is yet again compromised. Somehow [-] finds out what's going on as well. Decisions are made, [-], such as it is, is exacted, and this is how [-] ends:

Gynosphinx: "Been a while, Superior."

Morrigan: "Ex-Superior, thanks to you. What possessed you anyhow? And don't tell me it was Strife because I know devils can't possess the likes of you any more than they can the likes of me. Yet you're the one who got me to release her. Why?"

Gynosphinx: "I'm a Pandemonium kind of gal-ghoul."

Sovereignity: "You're an abomination is what you are. And don't be too concerned about me. I'll live."

Gynosphinx: "Meaning I won't."

Morrigan: "Meaning you don't. Never have. Do her, Harry!"

At least that's how [-] ends for now[!]

If your web-browser's up to it, [-] are semi-sort-of filled in . [.] .

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