Categories
Fiction Hannah Carmichael Chronicles

SENSE OF HUMOUR | Hannah Carmichael Chronicles (SIXTY-FOUR)

Hannah Carmichael is a Super Spy, who was trying to take down CGT – the evil spy agency of which she used to be a part of. Her husband Zeke, was secretly working to take them down as well, and roped Hannah and her fellow agent (and best friend) Stephanie, into the fight. 
Hannah’s mother Evelyn was a known terrorist and CGT enemy, but now seems to have been on the same side all along. Her Father James, was believed to be dead and missing for over a decade, but has now shown up from his fight in the shadows to help take them down once and for all.
Hannah woke up without her memory, and is now relying on her family to help find her way back and stop CGT.
With a World War III event called ‘Cataclysm’ on the horizon, and Hannah trying to fight, and regain her memories, what will she and her team find out, and how will they stop CGT? 

SIXTY-FOUR

Sirens screamed through the street and Hannah whipped around, as agents from almost every department of the government aimed their weapons at the shooter. He stood in the middle of a human circle and Hannah tried to peek her head above the sea of black and grey suits. She turned to Zeke, defeated and shook her head, her own weapon by her side. “I can’t see who it is, but I think he’s surrounded.” She smiled and Zeke rolled his eyes. 

“At least you didn’t forget your sense of humour. We need a better vantage point,” he said, nodding towards the stage and walking towards the higher ground. 

After twenty minutes of static, James Carmichael’s voice finally came through their comms system. “Attack on the European and Russia area has been neutralised. Status of the Middle East?” 

“We’ve run into a small snag, report to come soon!” Stephanie Winchester replied in a frantic voice. 

Hannah stopped walking as a memory flashed through her brain. Driving in the jungle in the back of a Ute, with the woman called Stephanie yelling at the driver. She pulled out a big gun and began shooting at another truck which was following them. Hannah shook her head and pushed the memory away, moving forward towards the stage where Zeke was already climbing the steps. 

“Why did CGT send a shooter? They already had the attacks planned,” she asked as he climbed up the final step. “They’re scrambling for Plan B, just in case,” Zeke replied. 

Gunshots from the middle of the human circle sent shockwaves through the area. Shouts from agents, and shooting into the circle from behind SWAT shields erupted. Bullet casings flew into the air and Hannah moved closer to the makeshift stage. Zeke aimed his gun in the direction of the shooter, his face suddenly white. 

As Hannah reached the higher vantage point, she looked into the middle of the circle where blood soaked through the shirt of the shooter. He lay motionless, his face familiar, but Hannah couldn’t place it. 

“We have to get out of here,” Zeke said, his voice shaking as he swallowed hard. 

“Why, who is it?” Hannah let him pull her hand down the stairs, and they ran towards their car, slamming the doors and flying out of the parking lot. 

Hannah reached up, pressing the transmit button on her inner ear communications. “Shooter at the Peace Talks is neutralised, on our way back to The Palace.” Hannah exhaled and closed her eyes. “Who was that Zeke?” She opened her eyes again and looked over at the man who was her husband. “Your face went dead white when you saw him.” 

Zeke sat silently for a minute, then shifted in his seat. “That was my boss.” 

“What do you mean your boss? At the Defence Strategic Policy-“

“Yes. It was my boss. It was Oliver.”


See You in the Adventures!
Christy Grace

Categories
Life

Underground Book Dealers

“Do you have the stuff?”
“Yeah, you got the cash?”
“Wait! The cops are coming, hide it!”

I know, I know… but as cliche as the above conversation may be, it was the kind of intro I was looking for, so I ran with it.

Recently, I published a short story ‘The Last Bookstore’ (link at the end of the post) which explored the idea of the LAST EVER Bookstore in existence. But how did that happen, and why? (I guess you’ll have to read it to find out)

Even though I was limited by 500 words for the original story with #furiousfiction guidelines, my mind didn’t stop thinking about the possibilities of a world with no more printed books.

The next idea I stumbled onto, was when I realised the list of things which are illegal or hard to get hold of (like weapons, drugs, Bibles – depending where in the world you live) and I thought of something…

The world has undesirable sellers, a seedy underbelly, a black market, (again with the cliches, but who cares). Right now, there isn’t too much outrage about ebooks slowly taking over (like the machines will do one day – just you wait). Eventually though, our technology is turning towards paperless society – what with all the concern about the trees, and the convenience of technology which is slowly chipping away at our privacy rights (but that’s a rant for another day).

So, assuming there was no more printed books, and it was decided by the powers that be (you know, those influential businessmen who basically decide everything about commerce / the economy, and the world we know it – a little on the conspiracy side, but stay with me) that paper books were now illegal – what would happen?

Do you think that an outcry for books printed on paper will be loud enough to start an underground movement? It worked for alcohol in the prohibition days didn’t it?
I can just picture it now….

— She lifted her skirt above her ankles and ducked down the small set of steps, leading to the Internet Cafe. Eyeing each customer, Julia gave a slight nod to the large, muscular man who stood beside the door labelled ‘Employees Only’.
As he opened the door, Julia slipped a ten dollar note into the breast pocket of his shirt and slipped behind him, disappearing into the large, oak passageway. The customers were light tonight, but business was still booming.
“How much is it for the Sherlock Holmes first edition?” A customer in front of her asked a salesman. Books were a booming trade right now. No matter what the government or business types decided, there was always going to be a desire for that feeling of real paper flipping through your fingers, as you explored the world of spies, romance, mysteries and fantasy.—

Ok, so the example above is a little on the dramatic side, but who would have thought a Speakeasy would have operated with much the same cloak and dagger before neighbourhood pubs and bars opened on every corner?

Do you think that if printed books were extinct, there would be an underground marketplace? Would YOU miss the feel of freshly printed paper through your hands? Personally, I prefer reading with a physical book in my hand – but is it worth being arrested?

Just something to think about…

If you want to read about The Last Bookstore (and what happens to it) from my Furious Fiction Flashback, follow the link below:

https://atomic-temporary-148610121.wpcomstaging.com/2019/11/29/the-last-bookstore-furious-fiction/


See You in the Adventures!
Christy Grace