Weekend Serial — Atonement Bad Bishop, Episode 6: Strange Brew, featuring Liz Gauffreau

Posted on by Teagan Riordain Geneviene

Saturday, February 3, 2024

Image courtesy Chris Graham

Welcome everyone.  Today’s soundtrack tune was offered by Liz Gauffreau.  It’s our second song by “Cream” — Strange Brew.  Be sure to click over and check out Liz’s blog.

Previously

With the sun to one side, I shielded my eyes, squinting into the distance.  As the black mist reached the ground it roiled into shapes like galloping horses.  Their hooves thundered against the ground.  The black equine shapes became more defined.  Each mount had a rider.  However, the horsemen carried their heads tucked under one arm.  The headless figures charged toward Hanlon’s Mill.

Video: Strange Brew by Cream, 1967

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Episode 6 — Strange Brew

Pepper

Inside historic grist mill, photo Dan Antion

“It’s such a strange brew,” I whispered as I gazed up at the thick gray clouds on the horizon.

Soon Hanlon’s Mill was in sight.  The upper stories of the building, which were made of wood, had collapsed.  With a gulp of fear, I wondered what kind of fool I was, to be going into such a dangerous, supernatural situation.

The land formed a U shape that extended into the lake around the mill.  A narrow inlet went up one side of the U.  That was where the water flowed to power the mill.  The millwheel still stood, rotating faster than I would have imagined, due to the inexplicably rapid flow of water.

“By the Lady!  That’s such an annoying sound!” Deme exclaimed.

“What do you mean?” Maudie asked.  “I don’t hear anything bad.”

“You mean the sirens, don’t you?” I suggested, as Spike pushed her head farther into the bend of my arm, as if she wanted to escape the unheard noise.

“Pepper, you and Maudie had better put some of that beeswax in your ears pretty soon,” Mary Sue stated.  “I don’t hear it yet myself, but Deme, Honeybell, and Spike clearly do.”

Heavily altered CGI by Teagan via GenZArt

“Isn’t it just hypnotism?  Besides, wouldn’t siren song be similar to what Cade Nix used to on Pepper?  He brought her back when she was lost between life and death, so isn’t he good?” Maudie wanted to know.  “And isn’t he like a siren?”

“Maudie Rocket, nixes and sirens may have powers that seem similar on the surface,” Honeybell started in a tone that reminded me of a professor, albeit an adorable one.  “However, their magic is not exactly the same.  Neither is their temperament.  Especially when it comes to Cadence Nix.  He’s done a lot of things that are ethically questionable,” the pig finished on a dour note.

“Oh honestly, Honeybell, you talk like Cade is some kind of demon messing in the glue.  Before Honeybell starts a lecture on magical ethics,” Deme broke in with a good-humored snort and a wink at her friend.  “Maudie Rocket, what you’re talking about is a form of compulsion, not hypnosis.  They say a person can’t be hypnotized into doing something they wouldn’t consciously do.  With compulsion, the victim has no choice.”

Deme paused and Honeybell snorted an affirmative.  Mary Sue also nodded.

“A nix has some powers that sirens don’t possess,” Mary Sue picked up the explanation.  “The two species also have different physical attributes—.”

The pixie’s words were cut off by a loud din that came from the direction of the mill.

We hurried up a rise for a better view.  I saw that our course had brought us back closer to the shore of Lake Uktena.  I felt dangerously exposed.

In the distance a large cloud rested on the ground but reached thirty feet into the air.  Mary Sue gave a soft groan and shook her head as though it was something inevitable.  The two pigs gasped, their bright blue eyes wide.

Strange brew, indeed, I thought.

The cloud was like the one I had seen above Magnolia Skies Convalescent Home on the day I encountered the strange and solicitous Dr. Wendy Goens.  A fire alarm had gone off, but there was no fire.  It was a bizarre day that I still didn’t understand.  Seeing the cloud again added another level to the anxiety I already felt.

Lexica

Maudie reached into her bag and took out the crazy-looking goggles that had been among the antiques Uncle Salty had collected.  She put them on and made a quick adjustment to the distance of the view.  She muttered a string of profanity.  Then she handed me the goggles.

Through the goggles, I realized the cloud was not ordinary fog.  Dozens of grotesque creatures milled around a black-haired man I recognized as Bheema.

The creatures were of all shapes and sizes.  Many had limbs without bones coming out of odd parts of their bodies.  They ranged from humanoid, to tortoises, roosters, dogs, hares, and huge insects.  All were distorted in one way or another.

A sound split the air.  I could only describe it as being like the roar of an angry bull elephant.

“Lord Ganapati!” the pigs exclaimed in chorus.

“Ugh,” the pixie groaned.  “Relax.  He won’t be harmed.  But there must still be a fight, because the blasted ganas have put themselves between Bheema and danger.  They won’t let him move.  Humph… he’s in bad bishop.”

“Oh, no…” Deme snuffled.  “I think that means the Siren Lord has joined the fight.”

“Lord Ganapati is the only one stronger than the Siren Lord,” Honeybell murmured.

“Maybe not,” Mary Sue remarked with a significant glance at me.  “Cade brought you back from the between.  I didn’t think it could be done, considering that deep in your heart you weren’t willing.”

At those words Maudie’s shocked expression went from the pixie to me.  I thought she might cry.

“Pepper… you.  You didn’t really want to die.  I know you didn’t,” Maudie said.  “But you were in a place that was somehow better, weren’t you?  You really wanted to stay there?”

I couldn’t meet my best friend’s gaze.  She probably saw it as a betrayal.  Plus, life was sacred to Maudie.  What could I say?

There was a crack of lightning from the opposite direction.  All eyes went to the other side of Hanlon’s Mill.  In the distance, black mist continued to imamate from the storm clouds.  It had roiled into shapes like galloping horses with headless riders.  They thundered closer to Hanlon’s Mill.  Mary Sue had called them riders of the storm.

Whenever I looked at the riders, I experienced fear that I could barely suppress.  I shivered.  Mary Sue gave me a sympathetic look.

“It’s their greatest power — Dullahans,” she began.  “The fear they can induce, especially in humans, is stronger than most magics.”

Image collage by Teagan

She looked away and seemed to make a decision.

“The lake narrows up ahead.  There’s a stone footbridge.  We can use it to cross to the mill.  The sides of the bridge will conceal us somewhat.  At least it’s better than being out in the open,” Mary Sue remarked.

“No, we can’t use the bridge!” Honeybell cried.  “Tones you couldn’t hear from the sirens’ music have destabilized the masonry.  It will break apart if we use it.”

Mary Sue grimaced.

“I really hate the sensation of water where sirens have been,” the pixie grumbled.  “Ugh!  It’s a witch of trouble.  I don’t like us being out in the open, but there’s nothing else we can do.  There’s an old fishing boat tied up, about fifty yards back along the shore.  We’ll have to use the boat to cross the lake.”

“What about the sirens?” Maudie asked.

“Sirens are at the mill and maybe in the water.  Dullahans are on the other shore,” Honeybell grunted worriedly.

“Honeybell, don’t even think about using the phrase ‘we’re doomed.’  I’m warning you,” Deme grunted.

End episode.

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…And we’re still not off that cliff.  I had hoped to take us farther with this episode, but that was as much as I could do over the past week.  Thanks for reading.  Friendly comments are encouraged.  Hugs.

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Now, the obligatory shameless self-promotion.

Atonement in Zugzwang, Book 1

Universal Purchase Link
Kindle: relinks.me/B0CHNX2X6T

Paperback  relinks.me/B0CHL7DL6Q

Have a splendid new week.  Hugs!

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The rest of the Atonement Series

Atonement kindle covers Cat eyes shelf 2023

Atonement, Tennessee

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

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

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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 © 2024 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.

52 thoughts on “Weekend Serial — Atonement Bad Bishop, Episode 6: Strange Brew, featuring Liz Gauffreau”

    1. Thanks David. Maybe I do… I don’t know. However, the tools I’ve developed for editing and writing really are powerful and detailed (if I do say so myself). They work well to help me find the minute details about each character and setting (Excel) and to find mentions in the manuscript of things to which I might have to refer back (advanced use of Word). I know most writers laud whatever software they’ve bought. My system simply works for me. Even so, thank you for this encouragement. I hope all is well in your world. I haven’t seen a new post from you lately. Hugs.

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    1. Haha! I know neither the Atonement series, nor anything I’ve written is a match for The Hobbit or any of Tolkien’s work. Although it’s got to lead up to something. The “showdown” for Atonement in Zugzwang was clearly just a test of strength, a rehearsal. I only hope I can live up to the challenge, no matter how far from Tolkien it may be. Thanks for reading and commenting. Hugs.

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  6. Well, I’m glad you didn’t take us further.

    There’s a lot going on here, Teagan, and I need to let it all digest. It feels like a massive build up, and everyone (almost) is here.

    Strange Brew is perfect for this episode. What’s next?

    Lol! It’s at the point where talking to pigs is normal, as it should be!

    HUGS!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. I appreciate that feedback, Resa, about it being enough to digest. It really is helpful.
      You cracked me up about talking pigs being normal. 😀 With each of the past four episodes, I thought I was ready for a scene at the mill… and instead I found there were other things I needed to write first. So… at this point, I don’t think I know what’s next myself. Except that Deme rises to a challenge. 😉 Hugs winging back to you.

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      Reply

    1. Haha. I admit that Riders on the Storm is still on a rotation loop with Wolf Is in the Winter Moon, both playing in my head. Some songs are just that strong. I thought Strange Brew might shake it loose…

      Deme gets some spotlight next time. Thanks for reading and commenting, Noelle. Hugs.

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  13. “Honeybell started in a tone that reminded me of a professor, albeit an adorable one.”

    This line made me smile and even laugh a little, Teagan.

    This really is a strange brew you have going on here, and that’s a perfect song for this scene. I hope these guys get across the lake, I like how you’ve tied in a few remarkable scenes from the past into this episode. I’d like to say it’s all starting to make sense, but I know better than to trust where your imagination is taking us. I can’t wait for you to take us along. I hope you have a great week.

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  17. Well, you left us at a point where just about anything can happen, so I’m not even going to try and guess. But – I do look forward to the next episode!!
    Have a fantastic weekend, Teagan!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Thanks very much, Dave. I don’t think you were around for “book-1” (Atonement in Zugzwang). I hinted at the ganas a few times, although I wasn’t ready to reveal them. However, the cloud appeared in Episode 15. (Of course, all that is in the book version, and the ebook is searchable.) Anyhow here’s a link to that episode if you’re curious.

      Weekend Serial — Atonement in Zugzwang: Episode 15, Featuring Olga Núñez Miret


      I appreciate you reading and commenting. Hugs.

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      Reply

  19. Cindy is right. I have no idea what will happen next, because it’s all getting quite scary and complicated, but I am sure you’ll come up with something amazing. Thanks, Teagan!

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