I’ve been kicking this idea around for a while, but it didn’t take shape until this project was announced. Originally, the protagonist was out to avenge the death of his daughter, and it ended in a “Cast Away” moment where he returns to his wife after years in jail, only to find she’s moved on.

The structure, with a backstory paralleling the main story and ending where the main story begins, was used most famously in Ursula K. LeGuin’s The Dispossed. I think Pat Lambe used a similar structure in his excellent story “My Throw Down Piece”. I had intended to use more of Pennywell’s background but it ended up on the cutting room floor.

The story Pennywell refers to - about the fake identities - was intended to be “Where’s Harry Beal?” by John Lutz, but that took too long to explain, so I kept the method but switched the reference to The Day Of The Jackal.

I’m not totally satisfied with the story. I didn’t explore all the characters as well as I could have (especially James Bentley), the main conflict comes up rather late, etc. Still, I’d have to say I like it. Let me know what you think - honest opinions only.

A few more story notes:

* Anyone who’s read Stephen King’s On Writing will recognize the commercial laundry King worked at in the 1970s. I didn’t remember all the details so I made up the rest.

* The “English Bob” reference is to a character in the film UNFORGIVEN, played by Richard Harris. Isn’t he Irish?

* Parts of this were undoubtedly inspired by the story “Angel” from Crime Scene Scotland. Read it, and weep.

* And, of course, the bad guy’s name is Lester H. Iverson, a play on the alleged writer we all know as L’hiver.

Oh, and that’s how I dealt with the 3,000 word limit - I ignored it. Just like last time.

-z