Category: Free to Read
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The Pilot
Category: Gen, Character: Hamish MacKinnon, Character: Velma Kuroda, Rating: T, Setting: Modern Day | 2020s, Setting: Nottingham, Theme: Enchantment & Enchanted Objects, Theme: Fae & Faeries, Theme: Ghosts & Necromancy, Theme: Grief & Loss, Theme: Men Who Love Men | Homosexuality, Theme: Pilots & Flight Crew, Theme: Pixies & Brownies & Small Fae, World: Magic Beholden
A specialist in magical antiques, Velma Kuroda, is called out to help a grieving captain with the ghost of his partner. Content warnings: funerals, grief © Johannes Evans 2018 The chapel was tightly packed. The pews were all full, a sea of people dressed in black, and Guy felt awkward as he stood up at the…
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A Beginner’s Approach to Natural History
A bee collecting pollen from an osteospermum. Makrygialos, Crete. © Johannes Evans 2019 One of the exciting things about becoming an amateur naturalist — a student of natural history, and a keen observer of animal and plant life around oneself — is that the world suddenly seems to become much larger. When you go for a walk, not knowing their…
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The Photographer
© Johannes Evans 2019 He had seen much, in his time. He had seen a million sunsets, a hundred thousand ancient oaks, pretty women uncountible, and so much more. And, of course, he had captured each on film. He liked boats. He always had: he loved the slight rock of one in the water, loved the…
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The Grand Prize
A long-time thief steals his most ambitious trophy yet. Photo by Анна Рыжкова on Pexel. As the sun began to set, Tor dressed for the night’s work. Over the black fabric of his blouse, which was laced to the collar, the strings pulled tight and folded against his neck to keep them from catching on anything, he…
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The Tunnel
Written 29/09/2017. Photo credit Lee McGrath. In the Tintern valley,cut into the very side of thoserolling hills,there is a dark hole.Neatly bordered on its rounded edgeswith weathered grey bricks,the arch beckons,as if begging one to walk within. I stand on the half-rememberedghost of a railway track,my feet upon its broad plank,and I stare.The sun beams greyly…
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Garlic
Written 28/09/2017. Go to the woods in late spring.Follow your noseand stand admist that great, green carpet.Take into your lungsand nose and mouththat cloud of cleansing comfort. Feel the garlic hazeso strong it might well sting your eyesand smilebecause it means you are alive. (Pick a half a dozen leaves.Take them home.Eat what is offered…
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The Boat
Written 28/09/2017. If you walk past the bandstand,with its too-white paintand curling iron detail,an island on a manicured lawn,you might take the riverside path. Past the old inn,the pubs, the tapas bar,and the overfull car parkin miniature. It drops down to the very edgeof the water,lapping at the path’s sideat high tideand leaving the trodden…
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My Grandfather’s Greenhouse
Written 27/09/2017.For Terry C.R. Evans, 1937–2007. It is at times like theseI am reminded of my grandfather’s greenhouse. Stepping over the thresholdand feeling the warmth,Feeling the sun filter intothat cramped, glass room — if there was sun, that is.And if there was light(There almost never was.)It came through the remnants of vinestill atop the roof, The lingering evidence ofthe…