Chapter nine starts with George crossing over. This is where the player moves between levels. He also mentions that it is not possible to follow someone across. I am not sure why or where this idea came from, but it prevents any player chasing another. How it works is a bit like jumping out of a flying airplane, or jumping of a huge spinning disc, like a carousel. Later the airplane concept is played with – I think this is in book three.
Anyway, the chapter continues to explain how Creation works, with George’s chosen charity and the buying of extra survival skills. I talk about him making a pigeon call with his hands. I remember doing this as a child. My brother Tony and me, we would often play outside, down in the woods, or jumping streams. Making bird calls or catching frogs. I sometimes wonder if the beauty of my childhood was because we were poor – or maybe because there was just so many of us, Mum was happy when we got out of the house. (Probably both)
Most of the chapter is simply telling how George travels across level two in his attempt to meet Evylin. Throughout the books I have tried to keep the landscape as real as possible. In fact, everything that goes on, there is not really a lot of SF fantasy happening, at least not in the game: How George makes his bow and arrows, how he climbs down to the river, everything. The cave with the blue lava is taken from some caves in New Zealand, where apparently, they live.
This does not mean the game is in New Zealand, (smile) it’s not the hobbit, but I try to describe all the beautiful things on this planet, while holding them up as a kind of mirror to myself and my period of life. A lot of the environmental damage has occurred during my lifetime; during my adulthood. It is not a great legacy I am leaving my children.
I am not preaching in the book, just writing it in a way to make it believable. If ever the story was filmed, the actors would have to travel all around the world. (smile)
I am also beginning to develop the idea of George and Evylin being viruses, and yet part of the game. This becomes a major part of the story later. It also allows them to be able to communicate undetected. This part is definitely my own SF fantasy and is crucial to the story.
But enough for this week. I know it is a week later, and very short, but I am trying to work on chapter three of book four still, and it is causing me to sink. And when I sink, I lose all interest in everything. I am on a permanent fight to do anything, so I hope I will get the chapter finished soon to my satisfaction and maybe be able to spend a few happy hours again believing in – something.
My emotions are very labile. The other day I laughed in my car, driving to work, for no particular reason other than the song that was playing touched me. I have lived my life with music, so it is kind of part of me, and it was really nice to have this feeling.
Last night I cried. I hardly ever cry. I watched the film ‘A Good Year’ with Russel Crowe, and it’s not a particularly sad film at all. it was just at the moment when he pushed Marion Cotillard up against the door frame and kissed her that I broke. I couldn’t keep down the truth any longer. This scene was never going to happen to me again, and yet I have still got another twenty years to go. What made it worse was she looks a little bit like my very own secret Evylin.
So as you can see, my emotions are completely roller-coasting. This happens every time I have to write about something as wonderful as a kiss. Perhaps this is because I know such things have passed me by. Funny that, really. I never imagined I would end up alone. I never thought about it. I suppose you cannot always win, and my failure seems to be I have been unable to find someone to love me – long term. I think that is real magic, don’t you? To find someone who will love you a lifetime long. (smile)
