Torsade Literary Space 
Are You Jealous (part one)
Are You Jealous (part one) Gabriel heard Eva’s voice…her put-on voice, he called it. She spoke this way to delivery people, sing-song, thanking them, ushering them out the door. He heard the door close, whoosh into its frame followed by the thunk of the bolt. He heard […]
Story: Sympathy for the Torturer (conclusion)
Sympathy for the Torturer (part six) As soon as Anton sank into an upper-tier seat, close to the steps, he was joined by a uniformed officer. So it had…his badge, traveling on his person, signaled his violation. “If I don’t get off. If I only ride, and come back […]
Are You Haunted (part thirty-two)
Are You Haunted (part thirty-two) One electric bulb stuck in a joist-mounted socket over the steps. The rest lit by windows, or by nothing. But at the landing Tovey had cached two kerosene lanterns. He struck a match, lighting one, thrust this at Powell and lit […]
Are You Haunted (part thirty-one)
Are You Haunted (part thirty-one) He could not persuade himself he had a choice. He backed off waving, Davis Drybrook’s suits over an arm, trammeling the gesture Alfin had probably not seen. You could have insisted you do your own shopping, Powell tried. Told Alfin you’d […]
The Totem-Maker (part eighty-eight)
The Totem-Maker Chapter Nine The Recalcitrant One (part eighty-eight) Alchas fled. He settled into a shepherd’s hut, left desolate for the war that raged in his land. He made traps for birds and fashioned a fishing net, dug roots…and as the year waned, […]
Are You Haunted (part thirty)
Are You Haunted (part thirty) The kitchen door stood back on its hinges. He had not really doubted it. “I’m Powell Kenzie,” he told his uninvited guest. “Sure you are. Alfin Tovey.” A handshake, and Alfin preceded him into his house. “What you need is some […]
The Totem-Maker (part eighty-seven)
The Totem-Maker Chapter Nine The Recalcitrant One (part eighty-seven) At first his new life went well. He ordered the courtier thrown into the sea. He was highhanded with his queen, though to save herself she smiled and made obeisance to this husband. But, […]
Story: Sympathy for the Torturer (part five)
Sympathy for the Torturer (part five) Down the coast. That must be the expression. Herward used it, and Herward came from there. Down the coast they had sat on the daybed in Anton’s room, he with the sisters, talking. “Oh, poor Anton. You’re so easy. You’ve never had anything.” […]
Story: Sympathy for the Torturer (part four)
Sympathy for the Torturer (part four) “If we were to bring a confederate of hers into custody, if some resister knew where the grenade had come from… You wouldn’t expect us to be nice about letting him conceal that information?” Herward had forced this argument before, on every occasion […]
Story: Sympathy for the Torturer (part three)
Sympathy for the Torturer (part three) The guard had pantomimed at Anton. “That’s right. Take those off…you get me? You can’t hide your face indoors.” He saw his dark glasses crushed in a pocket. Tossed in a bin marked Lost and Found. “Prove those are yours.” He would have […]