Weekend Serial — Atonement in Zugzwang: Episode 17, Featuring Anita & Jaye Marie

Posted on by Teagan Riordain Geneviene

Saturday, July 8, 2023

Deme & Sheriff Robin image collage by Teagan

Thanks for coming back to Atonement, TN.  As you know, I first wrote the Atonement “universe” back in 2012, and there are two novels and one collection of snort stories.  This serial uses several of the minor characters from the books, and a new heroine.  I’ve avoided using the main characters from the novels because I didn’t want this story or heroine to be confused with the others.

However, Deme has been determined to get the grumpy, “bardolator” sheriff, Robin Warden, to at least have a cameo appearance.  Robin’s back story predates the novels. I recommend that you read it before reading today’s serial episode (if you haven’t already). If you do, then you’ll enjoy this segment more. Read Robin’s short story here free.

My featured guests today are Anita Dawes and Jaye Marie.  They share their wonderful books on one blog.  This episode’s random reader things come from book titles (one book for each of them, combined into my three things).  From Ghost of a Chance by Jaye Marie, and Secrets by Anita Dawes, I have taken the things: Chance, Ghost, and Secrets.

If you missed the previous installment, then click here.  If you want to refresh your memory on the shenanigans of the glowing pigs, click here for their last appearance.

Atonement in Zugzwang
Episode 17

Altered CGI by Teagan
Image collage by Teagan

A steady flow of morning traffic moved along Highway 52.  Though the number of vehicles weren’t exactly what most people would think of as “traffic,” it was normal for that area.

Exiting the highway, a black and white police car pulled into the Gas-N-Go.  It was just a routine check.  The recent influx of crime had the entire sheriff’s department doing double shifts.

The ground in the wooded area behind the building was damp with morning dew.  Wild-growing Carolina rose vines and buckeye bushes rustled amid the soft sounds of a young couple in an impromptu make-out session.

“Jake, wait a sec.  What was that?  I thought I heard a horn or something,” a feminine voice stated.

“It was just a car on the highway.  Come back over here, Paula.  I need to go back to the store soon, before I get caught,” complained the male voice.

“Not that kind of horn, Jake,” Paula said, and the sound of twigs breaking accompanied her movement deeper into the woods while Jake cursed.

Altered CGI by Teagan
Altered CGI by Teagan

I told Moccus not to come so close to the building, Deme thought.  There’s too much of a chance that someone will see him and Salty Riley’s reanimated corpse!

Deme was supposed to stand guard near the building.  Not feeling the young couple was a threat, she was unsure whether she should follow them or keep watch on the building for worse trouble.

Snorting her frustration, she saw the couple head directly toward the place where Moccus was using the Brass Bugle of Waterloo to march the old seaman’s body around the boundaries of the town.  Reluctantly, Deme gave up her post to follow the couple.

The magic that protected Atonement from the evilest among the supernatural creatures of the world had lessened.  Moccus believed a unique property in the old man’s body had the power to strengthen the magic.  However, he was making slow progress with the task.  Even with the magic of the horn, the cadaver couldn’t manage more than a sluggish walk.

The bugle call, “As Skirmishers March” sounded again.  The body was not responding to it as well as it had at first.  Its feet dragged as it moved.

“There!  I heard it again,” Paula cried, running toward the sound, with Jake grumbling as he followed.

Abruptly a bloodcurdling scream sent the birds into flight.  Deme ran to catch up with the long-legged humans.  To her dismay, the girl stood directly on the boundary line, though she could not see it or even know it existed.

Salty Riley’s reanimated corpse shuffled toward Paula, following its imperative to walk the boundary.

Jake jumped between Paula and the corpse, tried to fight it.  Both of the young people screeched at the top of their lungs.  Deme thought Jake was louder and shriller than Paula.

Then one of Salty’s arms came off in Jake’s hands.

Pixabay

“Blessed Lady… the boy probably thinks he’s playing the hero,” Deme snorted, but she gasped as the arm came free of the corpse.  “What will we do if one of Salty’s legs comes off?  He’ll never finish the circle then!”

Suddenly, the underbrush rustled and Moccus bounded toward the fight.  The otherworldly pig rammed into the back of Jake’s knees, causing him to fall — and creating an additional distraction so he could get the body out of sight.

Keeping out of view, Deme stayed behind.  She intended to prevent anyone following Moccus and the body.

She heard something large crashing through the woods at the sound of Paula’s scream.  Deme had seen the Sheriff’s car pull into the parking lot.  Conflicting feelings of dread and pleasure went across her mind.  She absolutely loved to prank and tease the lawman.

Sheriff Robin Warden skidded to a stop when he saw Paula and Jake.  He relaxed visibly.

Deme felt a pang of worry when she noted the sheriff’s relief.  Robin had surely encountered fearsome and terrible things, because of the supernaturals who had gathered around just outside of town.  They were dangerous creatures and few of them had anything remotely resembling a conscience.

“What’s the trouble here?” Robin demanded gruffly.  “You two look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

Then the sheriff saw the decomposing arm Jake still held.  When Jake followed Robin’s eyes to the gruesome thing he held, the young man started screaming again.

Moments later, a deputy arrived on the scene.  The sheriff told him to take the couple back to the Gas-N-Go for a statement.

“And call for help to search for the body.  And the thumb!  There’s a thumb somewhere around here too,” Robbin added looking at the disgusting hand, but the deputy reminded him that everyone was out on calls.  “Never mind then.  I’ll take care of it myself.”

Sheriff Robin Warden

When the sheriff appeared to be alone, he began to quote Shakespeare, as was his habit.

“For night’s swift dragons cut the clouds full fast,

And yonder shines Aurora’s harbinger;

At whose approach ghosts wandring here and there

Troop home to church-yards….

For fear lest day should look their shames upon,

They willfully exile themselves from light,

And must for aye consort with black brow’d night.”

“You really such a bardolator, Robin Warden, and though you may not realize it, you are also the Warden of Atonement…  Of course, you would choose ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream.’  I’ve missed playing games with you.  Although I don’t suppose you enjoyed them as much as I did,” Deme murmured to herself.

Her moment of reminiscence was brief.  The sheriff startled her out of it.  Deme gave a strangled snort.

“Pig!” Robin shouted.  “Deme, I know you’re there.  Come out here right now.  Don’t make me come into those bushes to get you, Deme.  I can see your glow from behind that buckeye bush.”

Deme very much wanted to talk to the sheriff.  She had been fond of him since he was a young deputy and had just arrived in Atonement.  However, she wasn’t supposed to talk to him or any other humans.  She had gotten into trouble for that before.

This bedamned town and its secrets! Deme thought.

“Come out, pig!  I know you’ve got something to do with this,” Robin called in a grumpy voice that Deme knew was not how he really was.

Deciding that enough time had passed for Moccus to get Salty Riley’s body out of the way, Deme regretfully scampered away.

♣ ♣ ♣

 

 

♣ ♣ ♣

I can’t say anything except, …..

Wishing you a wonderful weekend.  I love to hear from you, so friendly comments are encouraged.  Hugs!

♣ ♣ ♣

Ghost of a Chance by Jaye Marie:  click here

Secrets by Anita Dawes:  click here

♣ ♣ ♣

The Atonement Series

The Glowing Pigs: Snort Stories, image by Teagan
The Glowing Pigs: Snort Stories, image by Teagan

Full series of e-books with one click:  relinks.me/B087JV25JT

Atonement, Tennessee

Kindle:  rxe.me/HGSVA8A

Paperback: relinks.me/1481826948

Also in Spanish, translated by Olga Núñez Miret! The title for the Spanish-speaking market is Expiación y Magia

Atonement in Bloom

Kindle:  rxe.me/5RRBLH

Paperback:  relinks.me/1726882128

The Glowing Pigs, Snort Stories of Atonement, Tennessee

Kindle   rxe.me/LTBDNH

Paperback   relinks.me/1725891972

♣ ♣ ♣

This is a work of fiction.  Characters, names, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, locales, or events is entirely coincidental.

Copyright © 2023 by Teagan Ríordáin Geneviene

All rights reserved. 

No part of this work may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission.  Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author’s rights.

All images are either the property of the author or used with permission, or from free sources.

50 thoughts on “Weekend Serial — Atonement in Zugzwang: Episode 17, Featuring Anita & Jaye Marie”

    1. You’re never late here, Robbie. I hope you’ve been having a fabulous time. I’ve enjoyed the Facebook photos.
      Haha. Not what Jake had in mind at all. I’m almost finished with this weekend’s episode. Not as fun as this one, but sometimes plot elements have to be brought together and things arranged. Have a relaxing weekend. Hugs.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

    1. Huh… I had not thought of that, Teri — but you’re right. When the CGI app gave me that one in response to my search/prompt it didn’t give me what I was asking for, but I suddenly realized that it looked exactly as I had always imagined Robin. Thanks for reading and commenting. Hugs.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

    1. I’m happy you enjoyed it, Resa. With most of the cameos made by characters from the books, the brief appearance of the character is sort of a writing tool. A situation needs someone (maybe anyone) to DO something, so it’s a good spot for a cameo. I’ve always loved that grumpy, Shakespeare-quoting sheriff, and I just couldn’t keep leaving him out.
      I hope all is well there and that the air is clear. Hugs winging back to you.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  8. OMG, I hope no more parts of that body are lost. Moccus was taking a huge chance and that boy’s probably going to have nightmares for years. Good thing it was Robin in that police car. Lots of good and sorta funny stuff in this chapter!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Thank you kindly, Jennie. I appreciate you reading the background too.
      A character is about to be in extreme danger — and I just haven’t been able to write my way to it — things that have to be set up first. Have a lovely new week. Hugs.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  16. I’m with Dan there. I hope Salty gets to complete the round, although it is getting more and more complicated. And poor Deme, she has her work cut out for her. Not easy to keep an eye on Mocus and not reveal too many things… Thanks, Teagan, for another fantastic episode. And nice to see Jaye and Anita featured as well.

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply

  17. Thanks for finding a way to include my favorite other worldly pigs. This was a wonderfully enticing episode and both explains and heightens some of the mysteries. Well deserved hugs wafting your way.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

  20. Yay! I love the glowing pigs. This was fun, Teagan. I little bit of Keystone Cops meet the supernatural. I’m curious about Salty’s body. I hope they don’t lose too many pieces.

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply

    1. Haha. I couldn’t resist doing this to those two poor teenagers, Dan.
      Moccus must feel like he’s out of options, since he’s complained a couple of times that it was talking too long to walk Salty around the boundary. Too bad he had to detach the orb from the barber pole — that could have fixed things. Hugs.

      Liked by 2 people

      Reply

Leave a comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.