Montag gazes at Clarisse’s empty house, and Beatty, guessing that he has fallen under her influence, berates him for it. Mildred rushes out of the house with a suitcase and is driven away in a taxi, and Montag realizes she must have called in the alarm. Beatty orders Montag to burn the house by himself with his flamethrower and warns that the Hound is on the watch for him if he tries to escape. Montag burns everything, and when he is finished, Beatty places him under arrest.Beatty sees that Montag is listening to something and strikes him on the head. The radio falls out of Montag’s ear, and Beatty picks it up, saying that he will have it traced to find the person on the other end. After Beatty eggs him on with more literary quotations, his last a quote from Julius Caesar, Montag turns his flamethrower on Beatty and burns him to a crisp. The other firemen do not move, and he knocks them out. The Mechanical Hound appears and injects Montag’s leg with anesthetic before he manages to destroy it with his flamethrower. Montag stumbles away on his numb leg.
Why it is important: These pages are important, because in a way, you lose the antagonist. Beatty stood for everything that was wrong with society, and he died as he lived: burning. Also, the Hound, which plagued him for so long, also died. In a way, everything that was holding him back - his job, his wife, his house - are gone. As Beatty said: 'fire destroys responsibility and consequences'. What an irony it burned him away, too.
Wednesday, November 19, 2014
Tuesday, November 18, 2014
Aggravate
v. to make worse or more severe; intensify, as anything evil, disorderly, or troublesome:
Capillary
adj. to make worse or more severe; intensify, as anything evil, disorderly, or troublesome:
Illuminate
v. to supply or brighten with light; light up.
Trajectory
n. the curve described by a projectile, rocket, or the like in its flight.
Jargon
n. the language, especially the vocabulary, peculiar to a particular trade, profession, or group:
Centrifuge
n. an apparatus that rotates at high speed and by centrifugal force separates substances of different densities, as milk and cream.
Exploitation
n. use or utilization, especially for profit:
Quibble
n. an instance of the use of ambiguous, prevaricating, or irrelevant language or arguments to evade a point at issue.
Torrent
n. a stream of water flowing with great rapidity and violence.
Figment
n. a mere product of mental invention; a fantastic notion
v. to make worse or more severe; intensify, as anything evil, disorderly, or troublesome:
Capillary
adj. to make worse or more severe; intensify, as anything evil, disorderly, or troublesome:
Illuminate
v. to supply or brighten with light; light up.
Trajectory
n. the curve described by a projectile, rocket, or the like in its flight.
Jargon
n. the language, especially the vocabulary, peculiar to a particular trade, profession, or group:
Centrifuge
n. an apparatus that rotates at high speed and by centrifugal force separates substances of different densities, as milk and cream.
Exploitation
n. use or utilization, especially for profit:
Quibble
n. an instance of the use of ambiguous, prevaricating, or irrelevant language or arguments to evade a point at issue.
Torrent
n. a stream of water flowing with great rapidity and violence.
Figment
n. a mere product of mental invention; a fantastic notion
Monday, November 17, 2014
Reading log 9
Synopsis: Montag drops the book into the incinerator at Faber’s prompting. He yells at Mrs. Bowles to go home and think about her empty life, and both women leave. Mildred disappears into the bedroom. Montag discovers that she has been burning the books one by one, and he rehides them in the backyard. Montag feels guilty for upsetting Mildred’s friends and wonders if they are right in focusing only on pleasure. Faber tells him that he would agree if there were no war and all was right with the world, but that those realities call for attention. Montag heads off to the fire station, and Faber both scolds and consoles him on the way. Montag hands his book over to Beatty, who throws it into the trashcan without even looking at the title and welcomes him back after his period of folly. Beatty browbeats Montag with a storm of literary quotations to confuse him and convince him that books are better burned than read. Montag is so afraid of making a mistake with Beatty that he cannot move his feet. Faber tells him not to be afraid of mistakes, as they sharpen the mind. An alarm comes through, and Beatty glances at the address and takes the wheel of the fire engine. They arrive at their destination, and Montag sees that it is his own house.
Why it is important: It is important because This is when Mildred betrays him. She was the only person who knew about all the books. It is a turning point for Montag. He can no longer know who to trust. This Is also the moment where we see how terrible Mildred really is. Sh would much rather have her televisions and 'family', than to have a husband who cares for her. She end up losing both.
Why it is important: It is important because This is when Mildred betrays him. She was the only person who knew about all the books. It is a turning point for Montag. He can no longer know who to trust. This Is also the moment where we see how terrible Mildred really is. Sh would much rather have her televisions and 'family', than to have a husband who cares for her. She end up losing both.
Reading log 8
Synopsis: Faber reads to him from the Book of Job over the two-way radio in his ear. He goes home, and two of Mildred’s friends, Mrs. Phelps and Mrs. Bowles, arrive and promptly disappear into the TV parlor. Montag turns off the TV walls and tries to engage the three women in conversation. They reluctantly oblige him, but he becomes angry when they describe how they voted in the last presidential election, based solely on the physical appearance and other superficial qualities of the candidates. Their detached and cynical references to their families and the impending war angers him further. He brings out a book of poetry and shows it to them, despite their objections and Faber’s (delivered via his ear radio). Mildred quickly concocts a lie, explaining that a fireman is allowed to bring home one book a year to show to his family and prove what nonsense books are. Faber orders Montag to take the escape route Mildred has provided by agreeing with her.Refusing to be deterred, Montag reads the women “Dover Beach”. Mrs. Phelps, who has just told everyone quite casually about her husband’s departure for the oncoming war, bursts into tears.
Importance of pages: These pages are so because because it further tells of the breakdown of Montag. He is beginning to breakdown. He is most likely to be turned to the firemen too.
Importance of pages: These pages are so because because it further tells of the breakdown of Montag. He is beginning to breakdown. He is most likely to be turned to the firemen too.
Thursday, November 13, 2014
reading log 7
Synopsis: Montag and Mildred spend the afternoon reading. Montag speculates about what it was that made Clarisse so unique. Montag feels that books must somehow be able to help him out of his ignorance, but he does not understand what he is reading and decides that he must find a teacher. He thinks back to an afternoon a year before when he met an old English professor named Faber in the park. It was apparent that Faber had been reading a book of poetry before Montag arrived. The professor had tried to hide the book and run away, but after Montag reassured him that he was safe, they talked, and Faber gave him his address and phone number. Now Montag calls the professor. He asks him how many copies of the Bible, Shakespeare, or Plato are left in the country. Faber, who thinks Montag is trying to trap him, says none are left and hangs up the phone. Montag goes back to his pile of books and realizes that he took from the old woman what may be the last copy of the Bible in existence. He considers turning in a substitute to Beatty (who knows he has at least one book), but he realizes that if Beatty knows which book he took, the chief will guess that he has a whole library if he gives him a different book. He decides to have a duplicate made before that night. Mildred tells him that some of her friends are coming over to watch TV with her. Montag, still trying to connect with her, asks her rhetorically if the “family” on TV loves her. She dismisses his question. He takes the subway to Faber’s, and on the way tries to memorize verses from the Bible.
Why it is important: It is important because it truly defines the difference between Mildred and Montag. Mildred cares more about television and her ‘family’ than her marriage to Montag (It almost makes you think that it was maybe an arranged marriage). It also asked an important question: ‘Does the white clown love you?’ I think that it is a hidden way of saying: ‘Does your government care about you?’ The last of the bibles part seems to be an inspiration for The Book of Eli.
Symbols:
The white Clown: The government
The sniffing at the door: probably the mechanical hound.
Why it is important: It is important because it truly defines the difference between Mildred and Montag. Mildred cares more about television and her ‘family’ than her marriage to Montag (It almost makes you think that it was maybe an arranged marriage). It also asked an important question: ‘Does the white clown love you?’ I think that it is a hidden way of saying: ‘Does your government care about you?’ The last of the bibles part seems to be an inspiration for The Book of Eli.
Symbols:
The white Clown: The government
The sniffing at the door: probably the mechanical hound.
Tuesday, November 11, 2014
reading log 6
Synopsis:
Montag is sick the next morning, and the omnipresent stink of kerosene makes him vomit. He thinks of all the time that was spent on writing the books he's burned, and how in a flash, they are gone forever. He tells Mildred about burning the old woman and asks her if she would mind if he gave up his job for a while. He tries to make her understand his feelings of guilt at burning the woman and at burning the books, which represent so many people’s lives and work, but she will not listen. He baits Mildred by insisting on discussing books and the last time something “bothered” her, but she resists. The argument ends when they see Captain Beatty coming up the front walk. Beatty tells Guy that he knew that Guy would call in sick, and that at some point in a fireman's career, the had a 'problem'. Beatty also talks about how books came to be outlawed, and why no one really read them in the first place. Mildred begins cleaning the room, and she finds the book. Montag yells at her to put it back, and Beatty pretends to not notice.
This section is important because Guy reveals changes he has had since the beginning of the book. Earlier, he loved burning things, and the love of kerosene; but now, the smell made him vomit, and he feels terrible for having burned the old woman and her books. He feels that no one is bothered any more, and he is right. When he asks Mildred, she can’t even answer. Everyone is wrapped up in their own, sedated minds, and Montag is beginning to finally wake up. Mildred finding the book is probably the most important part of the pages, as the story could have ended pretty quickly if Beatty found out.
Symbols
The talk of how books began to get dumbed down: this was probably a way of trying to make books that the masses would understand. It didn't really work
Describing Mildred as a praying mantis: Sometime in the future she may betray Montag, as that is what female manti do to males
Montag is sick the next morning, and the omnipresent stink of kerosene makes him vomit. He thinks of all the time that was spent on writing the books he's burned, and how in a flash, they are gone forever. He tells Mildred about burning the old woman and asks her if she would mind if he gave up his job for a while. He tries to make her understand his feelings of guilt at burning the woman and at burning the books, which represent so many people’s lives and work, but she will not listen. He baits Mildred by insisting on discussing books and the last time something “bothered” her, but she resists. The argument ends when they see Captain Beatty coming up the front walk. Beatty tells Guy that he knew that Guy would call in sick, and that at some point in a fireman's career, the had a 'problem'. Beatty also talks about how books came to be outlawed, and why no one really read them in the first place. Mildred begins cleaning the room, and she finds the book. Montag yells at her to put it back, and Beatty pretends to not notice.
This section is important because Guy reveals changes he has had since the beginning of the book. Earlier, he loved burning things, and the love of kerosene; but now, the smell made him vomit, and he feels terrible for having burned the old woman and her books. He feels that no one is bothered any more, and he is right. When he asks Mildred, she can’t even answer. Everyone is wrapped up in their own, sedated minds, and Montag is beginning to finally wake up. Mildred finding the book is probably the most important part of the pages, as the story could have ended pretty quickly if Beatty found out.
Symbols
The talk of how books began to get dumbed down: this was probably a way of trying to make books that the masses would understand. It didn't really work
Describing Mildred as a praying mantis: Sometime in the future she may betray Montag, as that is what female manti do to males
Monday, November 10, 2014
Reading log 5
Synopsis: Montag and Mildred have a ‘conversation’ about when they first met, and neither of them remembers. Mildred tells Guy that it doesn’t matter, and goes to the bathroom, swallowing pills. Guy realizes that if she died, he wouldn’t cry. Later, Mildred tells Guy that Clarisse died in a car accident and her family moved. Guy is torn about this, and questions why Mildred hadn’t told him earlier, and she say that she didn’t remember till then. They go to sleep, and in the morning, Guy is sick (or feigning sickness). He keeps asking Mildred for aspirin, but continually forgets. He wants her to call Beatty, because he knows that if he does it, Beatty will convince Montag to go to work.
Why it is important: These pages are important because it further uncovers the loveless-ness of the Montag marriage. It shows the cluelessness of Mildred, and her terrible memory. Also, Guy might be faking to read his book, and Clarisse’s death will have a profound effect on Montag.
Why it is important: These pages are important because it further uncovers the loveless-ness of the Montag marriage. It shows the cluelessness of Mildred, and her terrible memory. Also, Guy might be faking to read his book, and Clarisse’s death will have a profound effect on Montag.
Thursday, November 6, 2014
Bolivia
Named after Simon Bolivar
Largest City:
Santa Cruz
Vegetation and climate:
Humid tropical: Warm and rainy all year.
Steppe: Semiarid, hot summers with cooler winters.
Humid Subtropical: Hot, humid summers and mild humid winters; rain all year.
highland: Wide range of temperature and precipitation amounts, depending on elevation.
Tropical Savanna: Warm all year, with rain and dry seasons.
Humid tropical: Rain forest.
Steppe: Grassland and a few trees.
Humid subtropical: Mixed forest.
Highland: Forest to tundra vegetation, depending on location and elevation. Tropical savanna: Grassland with scattered trees.
Capital City: Sucre and La Paz
Big problems in Bolivia:
Water privatization is stealing water from the peolpe of Bolivia and giving it to corporations. Citizens are rioting against the government, and the government is sending out military forces to protect the corporations. The reason for the privatization is companies with Bolivia, that the companies would give them money if they paid it back, and got water rights until they paid back the money.
Everyday life in Bolivia:
Spanish is the main and official language in Bolivia. However there are 39 other languages spoken by the people of Bolivia. Some examples of the other languages are Aymara, Chiquitano, Chiriguano, and Guyara.
In Bolivia, religion is an important part of culture and customs. Bolivia has two main religions Roman Catholic and Protestant, 95% of Bolivians are Roman Catholic and 5% of the Bolivians Protestant. Most Bolivians are born into Roman Catholicism. Religion tends to be a female dominated activity in terms of attending church.
Jobs: Most Bolivians are either farmers of miners.
Resources of Bolivia:
Bolivia is well endowed with natural resources. Among the country's most valuable assets are its mineral deposits, hydrocarbons (petroleum and natural gas), and its renewable natural resources, such as agricultural and forest products, especially soybeans and Brazil nuts.
Fun Fact:
1. Bolivia is one of the least developed countries.
2. Bolivia has two capitals instead of just one. (La Paz and Sucre)
3. Bolivia's official name is Plurinational State of Bolivia.
4. Bolivia is about the size of Texas and California combined. (425,000 sq. mi)
5. Bolivia is one of the wettest countries in the world. Annual rainfall is over 5,000mm
6. The official motto of Bolivia is a spanish phrase which means "unity is strength".
7. Bolivia's currency is known as the Boliviano.
8. Punctuality is not expected. Arrive a good 20-30 minutes late.
9. There are 18 different types of dances in Bolivia.
10. La Paz is the highest capital in the world at 12,001 feet high.
Largest City:
Santa Cruz
Vegetation and climate:
Humid tropical: Warm and rainy all year.
Steppe: Semiarid, hot summers with cooler winters.
Humid Subtropical: Hot, humid summers and mild humid winters; rain all year.
highland: Wide range of temperature and precipitation amounts, depending on elevation.
Tropical Savanna: Warm all year, with rain and dry seasons.
Humid tropical: Rain forest.
Steppe: Grassland and a few trees.
Humid subtropical: Mixed forest.
Highland: Forest to tundra vegetation, depending on location and elevation. Tropical savanna: Grassland with scattered trees.
Capital City: Sucre and La Paz
Big problems in Bolivia:
Water privatization is stealing water from the peolpe of Bolivia and giving it to corporations. Citizens are rioting against the government, and the government is sending out military forces to protect the corporations. The reason for the privatization is companies with Bolivia, that the companies would give them money if they paid it back, and got water rights until they paid back the money.
Everyday life in Bolivia:
Spanish is the main and official language in Bolivia. However there are 39 other languages spoken by the people of Bolivia. Some examples of the other languages are Aymara, Chiquitano, Chiriguano, and Guyara.
In Bolivia, religion is an important part of culture and customs. Bolivia has two main religions Roman Catholic and Protestant, 95% of Bolivians are Roman Catholic and 5% of the Bolivians Protestant. Most Bolivians are born into Roman Catholicism. Religion tends to be a female dominated activity in terms of attending church.
Jobs: Most Bolivians are either farmers of miners.
Resources of Bolivia:
Bolivia is well endowed with natural resources. Among the country's most valuable assets are its mineral deposits, hydrocarbons (petroleum and natural gas), and its renewable natural resources, such as agricultural and forest products, especially soybeans and Brazil nuts.
Fun Fact:
1. Bolivia is one of the least developed countries.
2. Bolivia has two capitals instead of just one. (La Paz and Sucre)
3. Bolivia's official name is Plurinational State of Bolivia.
4. Bolivia is about the size of Texas and California combined. (425,000 sq. mi)
5. Bolivia is one of the wettest countries in the world. Annual rainfall is over 5,000mm
6. The official motto of Bolivia is a spanish phrase which means "unity is strength".
7. Bolivia's currency is known as the Boliviano.
8. Punctuality is not expected. Arrive a good 20-30 minutes late.
9. There are 18 different types of dances in Bolivia.
10. La Paz is the highest capital in the world at 12,001 feet high.
All Vocab
Pedantry: n. the character, qualities, practices, etc., of a pedant, especially undue display of learning.
Odious: Adj. deserving or causing hatred
Luxuriant: adj. abundant or lush in growth
Dictum: n. an authoritative pronouncment
Cacophony: n. harsh discordance of sound
Proclivity: n. natural inclination or tendency
Proboscis: n. the trunk of an elephant
Stratum: n. a layer of material
Mausoleum: a magnificent tomb
Marionette: n. a puppet controlled by strings
Phoenix: n. a mythical bird of great beauty fabled to live 500 or 600 years in the Arabian wilderness, to burn itself on a funeral pyre, and to rise from its ashes in the freshness of youth and live through another cycle of years
Odious: Adj. deserving or causing hatred
Luxuriant: adj. abundant or lush in growth
Dictum: n. an authoritative pronouncment
Cacophony: n. harsh discordance of sound
Proclivity: n. natural inclination or tendency
Proboscis: n. the trunk of an elephant
Stratum: n. a layer of material
Mausoleum: a magnificent tomb
Marionette: n. a puppet controlled by strings
Phoenix: n. a mythical bird of great beauty fabled to live 500 or 600 years in the Arabian wilderness, to burn itself on a funeral pyre, and to rise from its ashes in the freshness of youth and live through another cycle of years
Preclude-verb- to prevent the presence;to make impossible
Impunity -noun- exemption from punishment
Immolation-noun- a sacrifice
Abscond-verb- to depart in sudden or secret manner; to avoid/escape from capture and legal prosecution
Repose-verb- the state of being at rest, peace, tranquility
Aperture-noun- an opening
Termination-noun- elimination of a object; an issue or result
Subside-verb-to sink or lower
Inaugurate-verb- formal beginning, to introduce
Exhilarates-verb- to make cheerful, or happy; to enliven
Blandly
Pleasantly gentle or agreeable
"a bland,affable manner"
adverb
Gaunt
bleak desolate,or grim, as places or things
"a gaunt, wind swept landscape"
Adjective
Indolently
having or showing disposition to avoid exertion; slothful
"an indolent person"
Adverb
Scruples
a moral or ethical consideration or standard that acts as a restraining force
Noun
Gossamer
a fine, filmy cobweb seen n grass or bushes or floating in the air n calm weather especially in autumn
Noun
Palpable
Easily or plainly seen, heard, or perceived
Adjective
Nocturnal
Of or pertaining to the night
Adjective
Futile
Incapable of producing any result
Adjective
Furtive
Taken, done, used, in secret
adjective
Reciprocate
To feel, give, etc. in return
verb
Naïve
Having or showing unaffected simplicity of nature or absence of artificality
Adjective
Tuesday, November 4, 2014
Reading Log 4
Synopsis: Clarisse tells about how life is different since after the new government started. Everything is abstract. Kids are dropping like flies killing each other. Clarisse disappears. He begins missing her, hoping she would show up again. At the firehouse, everyone is playing cards. Montag asks Chief Beatty if firemen ever put out fires, and is laughed off. The alarm sounds, and they leave. They arrive at the house of an old lady. The police has not taken her away, so she loudly belittles them while they coat the house with kerosene. Montag takes a book, and hides it. When it is done, the woman pulls out a match and says she will burn with her books. Montag tries to convince her otherwise, but she lights her match, and burns with her books. The fire-men go back to the station.
Importance: these pages are important because it is in which Montag steals the book. This is going to have repercussions in the future for Montag. Also, Clarisse disappearing will have some value.
Symbols: Everyone in the firehouse smoking: Reflects how everyone is soldering on the inside.
Everyone in the firehouse looks like Montag: A way of saying that he is like everyone else.
Allusions: The pamphlet on the first firehouse with Benjamin Franklin: He did start the first firehouse in Philidelphia, but not a station like in the book.
Tower of Babel: Beatty say the books are like it because all of in conflicts with the rest of it. In the bible, the tower of babel is the reason we all speak different languages.
Importance: these pages are important because it is in which Montag steals the book. This is going to have repercussions in the future for Montag. Also, Clarisse disappearing will have some value.
Symbols: Everyone in the firehouse smoking: Reflects how everyone is soldering on the inside.
Everyone in the firehouse looks like Montag: A way of saying that he is like everyone else.
Allusions: The pamphlet on the first firehouse with Benjamin Franklin: He did start the first firehouse in Philidelphia, but not a station like in the book.
Tower of Babel: Beatty say the books are like it because all of in conflicts with the rest of it. In the bible, the tower of babel is the reason we all speak different languages.
1) That companies are taking water from 3rd world countries and selling it, even though it should be free. No, it should not be fair.
2) Yes, they were trying to keep the thing that keeps them alive.
3) It keeps them from settling on the west coast, since that is where the Andes are. Also, in dry places, it has stunted urbanization
4) On the west coast of South America
5) The Panara, Amazon, and Orinoco river systems
6) The Amazon
7) The Bahamas, and the greater and lesser Antilles
8) A large plain in South America
9) Mining, water, and lumber
10) Brazil, because it has the largest amount of the Amazon within its borders
11) Mountains, rivers, forest, plains
12) Argentina
2) Yes, they were trying to keep the thing that keeps them alive.
3) It keeps them from settling on the west coast, since that is where the Andes are. Also, in dry places, it has stunted urbanization
4) On the west coast of South America
5) The Panara, Amazon, and Orinoco river systems
6) The Amazon
7) The Bahamas, and the greater and lesser Antilles
8) A large plain in South America
9) Mining, water, and lumber
10) Brazil, because it has the largest amount of the Amazon within its borders
11) Mountains, rivers, forest, plains
12) Argentina
Monday, November 3, 2014
Reading Log 3
Synopsis: Guy and Clarisse meet again, in the rain. Clarisse has a dandelion and does the thing where if you rub it on your chin it says you are in love. She does this to Montag and it does not rub. Clarisse claims this as a sign Guy is not in love, and he denies profusely. At the firehouse, it talks about the mechanical hound, and how it snaps at Guy (Even though it should only do what it is programmed to do). Guy tells the chief about this and the chief says the tech people will fix him. Guy and Clarisse end up meeting on the street everyday for a week. They talk about what Guy has noticed and how every one says Clarisse is anti-social in the eyes of society.
Symbols: How Clarisse is ‘Anti-social’: its ironic, because she talks to everyone and like to be around people. In this society, it appears that ‘social’ is staring at a tv all day.
The mechanical hound acting up: could be a foreshadow of the hound attacking Guy
The dandelion: It did not rub on Guy, and it was said to be a sign of not being in love. It is another hint that he and his wife are not happy.
Symbols: How Clarisse is ‘Anti-social’: its ironic, because she talks to everyone and like to be around people. In this society, it appears that ‘social’ is staring at a tv all day.
The mechanical hound acting up: could be a foreshadow of the hound attacking Guy
The dandelion: It did not rub on Guy, and it was said to be a sign of not being in love. It is another hint that he and his wife are not happy.
Sunday, November 2, 2014
short story draft 2
Simon and the Crown
By: Micah Cook
The ice and wind swirled around Simon Fedorov. He felt the cold bite at the skin exposed to the elements. He dug frantically in the ice and snow searching for what he believed was his purpose in life. He found nothing. He lay in the snow for what felt like an eternity. The blue of hypothermia crept about him. He felt dead inside. One of his men went to him, picked him up, and carried his seeming lifeless body back to the camp. Life slowly flowed into the man’s body. Warmth returned to his fingers and his toes. Red filled his cheeks, and his breathing grew steady.
Simon Fedorov was born to a poor Russian family in St. Petersburg in 1972. He was the youngest and brightest of seven children. When he was a ten, he was adopted to a wealthy family of nobles, as their only child. He was from then on raised to be an aristocrat. The family soon realized how bright he was, and he was sent to the university of St. Petersburg. He earned a degree in archeology and history, and soon became obsessed with finding ancient ruins in Siberia. The family was his benefactor, and after they died, he was the sole heir to their fortune. He quickly used up most of it in his search for the mythic Russian ruins of a once great king. Everyone called him crazy. He slowly crept into his mind. His cheek had become pale with study and his frame emaciated with confinement. If he could not do this, he felt as though he would let his family, adopted and real, down.
He gasped as he returned to consciousness. He looked around, having no memory of this place. Then he remembered. He put his face in the table and screamed. One of his assistants rushed to him.
“Boss, what’s wrong?” Siegfried asked, mock concern in his voice.
“I failed all of you,” Simon replied, his face still on the table. “Three years of work had brought us here, and nothing. Nothing. I lost my reputation, the last of my family, and my fortune. All in pursuit of a god-damn fairytale.” He got up off the table, wiped his face with his hands, and put on his coat. “Thank you, Siegfried,” He opened the tent, and went to his office.
When he was younger, Simon and his brothers were thieves. It was terrible, but the family needed it. He was caught only once, about two months before he left. He was stealing food for his father. He was a block away from his house, when he was found. The police in his town were merciless, and they gave him a good beating. He lost sight in his left eye for two years, became partially deaf, and gained a terrible limp for the rest of his life since. That was the last time he did things like that. When the new family took him in, he did his best to hide his injuries, but they found out. He lied, told them that his father caused the damage when he was drunk, and that that was one of the reasons he volunteered to leave. The real reason fro departure was to escape his miserable life in the slums, and to unlock his true potential, which he knew would never happen while he stayed. This lie made the family feel sorry for him, and treat him more like a son. They could never have children, which is why they were keen on adopting. Simon always knew that he owed all the success that he had ever had I his life, to the Family.
Simon busied himself with pouring over his research, thinking that there must be something that he had missed. There was not. He got it right. All the legends, stories, and written accounts told him it must be somewhere around his current camp. He lay his head down, and let out a sigh of defeat. The previous dark thought entered his head again. He had had a terrible depression for years, but recently it had gotten worse, as the sense of desperation had grown on him. His work was the only thing that got it off of his mind before, but now it was the cause. But he couldn’t stop. He fell asleep looking over his work, drowning in a feeling of regret. One story was of a mad king who had made some sort of pact with Satan for power over the ice and snow. After the king died, the powers released from his body, nd cause the city to be encased. Another tale was that the town had been covered during the little ice age of the 1600s. Simon supported the latter to the former.
He first became interested in this when he was young, and had heard it from his adoptive father. The man had been telling of wonderful kings and kingdoms of old, and it was then, that Simon figured out what he wanted to do in life. The Family was always there for him. He felt they were more of a family to him than his real family was. when he was older, and was out on his own, he decided to track down him biological family. He wasn't surprised of the results. His father was executed for thievery, his mother died of a drug overdose, and his sibling had all disappeared. This was the start of his depression. A kind of survivor's guilt, he was the only one to make it.
Probably the worst part of his childhood with the family was the isolation from other kids. He became socially inept, and when he went off to college, he had a very hard time finding friends. Most didn't want him around because his intelect and reasoning made everyone feel terrible. Simon never meant t be this way, it just happened. That was when he met Sylvia. Simon loved her with all of his heart. It was when he was with her, most of his personal demons were kept at bay. I 1990, they got married, they lived in his Family’s house, and had two children: Gretchen and Vladimir. Gretchen died at the age of five, and Vlad joined the army at the age of 18 and disowned his family. In 2000, Sylvia died in a car crash on her way to Moscow, to give a presentation on Simon’s work. It was her death that sent him on the sad spiral he was down. The widower always wore a smile, to hide the slow dying of his soul. It was then that he had found the simple and illegal escape with drugs. it was his lowest point.
A shout came from his tent’s entrance. It unlocked Simon from his stupor. He walked over to the door, and unzipped it. Outside was Nikolai, a fellow archaeologist and coworker of Simon’s project.
“One of the boys found something, Simon!” He yelled, jumping up and down with joy. After all these years, they had finally discovered what they were looking for. Simon quickly grabbed his coat. Hope filled his chest more than it had in decades. He followed Nikolai out to the site, where what looked like the tip of a steeple sticking up through the ice. It was a stone obelisk in the midst of all the white powder.
“How did I miss that?” Simon asked himself out-loud, but his disappointment in himself was overwhelmed by his excitement. 20 year of being called a daft fool, and now who is it. His persistence paid off, finally.
The one person who had shared Simon’s passion for discovery was Sylvia. She was a professor, at the Moscow university. She had been one of his driving forces in finding the old city. After she had died, his passion had become an obsession. In a way, it was a way of keeping her alive. If he could fulfill her last wish, he could finally be at peace. Vladimir saw this as weakness of his father, and it was for this reason he had left. Simon was alone, again. His workers and those around him could feel the emptiness radiating off of him. It was in 2003 that he had also been arrested for possession and using heroin. This was another blow against him, as those who'd once had respect for him now did not. Simon had been clean since then. The worst thing about the bust was the detatchment Sylvia's family. They were the last link to love and hope he had left.
An excavation began. Simon got new funding for his project. He was happier than he had been in a long time. When they had cleared out enough to begin exploration, he was the first one in. It was a simple structure, with small rooms and long hallways. Symbols on the walls dated back to times when the Mongols had taken over. It was a sight to behold. All those who though he was a sad old man chasing a pipe dream were wrong. He owned the stage. He felt free, but knew deep down that it would not last. His 15 minutes would run out. So he held on as long as he could.
A week later, still at the site, Simon couldn’t sleep. He felt a strange pull toward the ruins, and decided to follow his feelings. He bundled up, and headed out. The arctic wind rushed through his bones. He walked to the ruins, trying in vain not to trip over the huge mounds of ice that now littered the area. When he made it to the largest room, the seeming pull got stronger. He found a pile of cloth. Lifting it, he discovered a chest. The air around the chest seemed even colder. Inside, there was a crown. It was golden, with three gems embedded in the front. Simon felt as though it reached out to him. As he held it in his hands, a warm feeling crept up his spine. He needed to put it on. It needed him to put it on. Mindlessly, he lowered it on his head.
The next thing he remembered was being covered in blood. He awoke with a shock. A terrible pain shot through his head. He looked at the rest of him. The crown lay at his feet. His hands were stained red. Simon felt queasy. He slowly got up, and looked around him. He had moved (or was moved) since he put on the crown, and was now in the middle of the campsite. Dragged blood marks filled the patches of snow between tents.
“Hello?!” Simon shouted, his words echoing out in the cold air. He picked up the crown subconsciously, and hooked it on his belt. He began to look around. Was there a bear attack. Some vandals. Both were known to scour these areas. He found the bodies of some of his workers. They seemed to be cut open, as though with a blade, from the pelvis, and up to the sternum. He gagged terribly. Who or what could do something like this.
Simon heard a rustling in one of the shelters. He ran away to his tent went inside, and grabbed the gun case under his bed. He took out the revolver inside, check the rounds, and went back outside. He walked to where he had heard the shaking. He turned on his flashlight, and shined it on the tent. He raised the gun.
“Hello? Anyone friendly in there?” Simon asked the dwelling, hoping to get some sort of reply. Sadly no. Simon drew a deep breath, and walked towards it. He opened the door, an instinctively jumped back. He shone his light inside. In a corner, was the wounded Nikolai. He was barely breathing. Simon stepped closer. Nikolai opened his eyes, and a look of dread was on his face when he saw Simon.
“So, you devil bastard, come to finish the job?” Nikolai spat at Simon, who was standing there, staring at him. Simon was confused. He figured anyone would b happy to see one of their only friends come to save them, but he guessed he was wrong.
“What do you mean, ‘finish the job’, Nikolai?” Simon asked, bewilderment seeping into his voice.
“I mean finish killing me, that’s what I mean, just like every one else!”
“I didn’t kill everyone, it was bandits.” Simon lowered the gun. Why would Nikolai accuse him of something like that.
“I got it all on film, you murderous twat!” Nikolai chucked a camera-phone at Simon. He opened it. On the screen was already a video. Simon started it.
Nikolai and some of the other workers were gathered around a bonfire in the middle of the encampment. They were hanging about, and one of them was about to try and perform a somersault in the air. He was just about to, when Simon, who was wearing the crown walked out of the ruins. His hair appeared to have gone completely white, and his skin was a dull, pale gray.
“Boss, you look terrible, are you alright?” asked the closest to him. Simon made a sort of growl, and lunged toward him, the flash of a knife was seen, and then the screams of deep agony emitted from the worker. He fell to the ground, and Simon stepped on to him, and began to stab into the body, again and again, until his face was splattered with blood. The others had all ran, except for Nikolai.
“What the Hell are you?” he asked Simon, fear rocking his body. Simon snarled at him, tackled Nikolai to the ground, stabbed him in the abdomen, and ran off.
The video stopped. Simon looked at Nikolai.
“What happened after that?” Simon asked softly, his voice quivering.
“You killed most everyone here, Simon,” Nikolai told darkly, “What the HELL made you do that. I mean, how?” Simon was speechless. He felt like Oedipus, everyone else knowing what he didn’t. He looked up at the Ceiling of the tent.
“I’m so sorry, Nikolai. Please forgive me.” Simon said, choking back tears.
“I don’t think I can forgive you for what you did, no matter the excuse; and for that, I’m sorry,” Nikolai said, the echo of defeat in his voice. Simon got up and out of the room. Nikolai died ten minutes later. Simon covered the place in gasoline from the cars, and lit the tents on fire. Maybe all the others would think it was a bandit attack. He looked at the crown, which was still on his belt. A small part of him told him that it was what had brought this whole thing about. It was the part that still believed in witchcraft and voodoo, which he had for so long suppressed. A voice in his head told him to put it on. He did so. Taking it off his belt, he saw it gleam with the light of the fire of the site. He lowered it onto his head, and felt his mind slip away once again.
Simon awoke panting. He looked around. He was in his bed, in the camp at the site. There was the rustling of a hand on the fabric of his tent. He got up out of his bed, and opened the door. Nikolai was at the door. Simon was bewildered. He had burned this whole place down. He killed everyone. How were they here.
“Boss, we found this for you. It’s the only ting made of wood in the whole of the ruins.” Nikolai said, with a touch of pride. Simon recognized the box. It was what the crown had been in. It had the same markings.
“Thank you, Nik,” Simon replied, Taking the box from him. “I’ll be at the sight in about an hour.” Nikolai left. Simon set the box on his desk. Part of him was afraid to open it. What if it was in there? He waved away the feeling, and began to look over the report his staff had for him. The box, however, brought back his attention. He mustered his courage, and opened it; and there it was. The same crown as in what Simon was beginning to accept as a dream. He screamed, and pushed the box out. The crown rolled out from it. The ringing that came from it did not sound like normal. It was speaking to Simon. Wear me. Wear me. I will protect you. Simon didn’t know what to think. He wrapped it in cloth and put it in his bag; but he could still hear it. Simon knew that as long as it was around, and it was unsatisfied, it would not leave him alone.
A psychological evaluation was done in 2012, the year he died. They said that after the dig, he was never the same. He attempted several suicides, finally succeeding on May, 15, 2012.The bulk of his estate and research was donated to the St. Petersburg University. Nikolai got the crown, and a warning. Simon told him everything in a letter. His dreams, his later suffering that led to his death. He was calm in the last days, and didn't seem to rattled as he had before. He knew that there was no way the crown could get him if he was dead. It would have broken its promise: I will protect you, forever. He always had the last laugh, and had made sure he would this time.
By: Micah Cook
The ice and wind swirled around Simon Fedorov. He felt the cold bite at the skin exposed to the elements. He dug frantically in the ice and snow searching for what he believed was his purpose in life. He found nothing. He lay in the snow for what felt like an eternity. The blue of hypothermia crept about him. He felt dead inside. One of his men went to him, picked him up, and carried his seeming lifeless body back to the camp. Life slowly flowed into the man’s body. Warmth returned to his fingers and his toes. Red filled his cheeks, and his breathing grew steady.
Simon Fedorov was born to a poor Russian family in St. Petersburg in 1972. He was the youngest and brightest of seven children. When he was a ten, he was adopted to a wealthy family of nobles, as their only child. He was from then on raised to be an aristocrat. The family soon realized how bright he was, and he was sent to the university of St. Petersburg. He earned a degree in archeology and history, and soon became obsessed with finding ancient ruins in Siberia. The family was his benefactor, and after they died, he was the sole heir to their fortune. He quickly used up most of it in his search for the mythic Russian ruins of a once great king. Everyone called him crazy. He slowly crept into his mind. His cheek had become pale with study and his frame emaciated with confinement. If he could not do this, he felt as though he would let his family, adopted and real, down.
He gasped as he returned to consciousness. He looked around, having no memory of this place. Then he remembered. He put his face in the table and screamed. One of his assistants rushed to him.
“Boss, what’s wrong?” Siegfried asked, mock concern in his voice.
“I failed all of you,” Simon replied, his face still on the table. “Three years of work had brought us here, and nothing. Nothing. I lost my reputation, the last of my family, and my fortune. All in pursuit of a god-damn fairytale.” He got up off the table, wiped his face with his hands, and put on his coat. “Thank you, Siegfried,” He opened the tent, and went to his office.
When he was younger, Simon and his brothers were thieves. It was terrible, but the family needed it. He was caught only once, about two months before he left. He was stealing food for his father. He was a block away from his house, when he was found. The police in his town were merciless, and they gave him a good beating. He lost sight in his left eye for two years, became partially deaf, and gained a terrible limp for the rest of his life since. That was the last time he did things like that. When the new family took him in, he did his best to hide his injuries, but they found out. He lied, told them that his father caused the damage when he was drunk, and that that was one of the reasons he volunteered to leave. The real reason fro departure was to escape his miserable life in the slums, and to unlock his true potential, which he knew would never happen while he stayed. This lie made the family feel sorry for him, and treat him more like a son. They could never have children, which is why they were keen on adopting. Simon always knew that he owed all the success that he had ever had I his life, to the Family.
Simon busied himself with pouring over his research, thinking that there must be something that he had missed. There was not. He got it right. All the legends, stories, and written accounts told him it must be somewhere around his current camp. He lay his head down, and let out a sigh of defeat. The previous dark thought entered his head again. He had had a terrible depression for years, but recently it had gotten worse, as the sense of desperation had grown on him. His work was the only thing that got it off of his mind before, but now it was the cause. But he couldn’t stop. He fell asleep looking over his work, drowning in a feeling of regret. One story was of a mad king who had made some sort of pact with Satan for power over the ice and snow. After the king died, the powers released from his body, nd cause the city to be encased. Another tale was that the town had been covered during the little ice age of the 1600s. Simon supported the latter to the former.
He first became interested in this when he was young, and had heard it from his adoptive father. The man had been telling of wonderful kings and kingdoms of old, and it was then, that Simon figured out what he wanted to do in life. The Family was always there for him. He felt they were more of a family to him than his real family was. when he was older, and was out on his own, he decided to track down him biological family. He wasn't surprised of the results. His father was executed for thievery, his mother died of a drug overdose, and his sibling had all disappeared. This was the start of his depression. A kind of survivor's guilt, he was the only one to make it.
Probably the worst part of his childhood with the family was the isolation from other kids. He became socially inept, and when he went off to college, he had a very hard time finding friends. Most didn't want him around because his intelect and reasoning made everyone feel terrible. Simon never meant t be this way, it just happened. That was when he met Sylvia. Simon loved her with all of his heart. It was when he was with her, most of his personal demons were kept at bay. I 1990, they got married, they lived in his Family’s house, and had two children: Gretchen and Vladimir. Gretchen died at the age of five, and Vlad joined the army at the age of 18 and disowned his family. In 2000, Sylvia died in a car crash on her way to Moscow, to give a presentation on Simon’s work. It was her death that sent him on the sad spiral he was down. The widower always wore a smile, to hide the slow dying of his soul. It was then that he had found the simple and illegal escape with drugs. it was his lowest point.
A shout came from his tent’s entrance. It unlocked Simon from his stupor. He walked over to the door, and unzipped it. Outside was Nikolai, a fellow archaeologist and coworker of Simon’s project.
“One of the boys found something, Simon!” He yelled, jumping up and down with joy. After all these years, they had finally discovered what they were looking for. Simon quickly grabbed his coat. Hope filled his chest more than it had in decades. He followed Nikolai out to the site, where what looked like the tip of a steeple sticking up through the ice. It was a stone obelisk in the midst of all the white powder.
“How did I miss that?” Simon asked himself out-loud, but his disappointment in himself was overwhelmed by his excitement. 20 year of being called a daft fool, and now who is it. His persistence paid off, finally.
The one person who had shared Simon’s passion for discovery was Sylvia. She was a professor, at the Moscow university. She had been one of his driving forces in finding the old city. After she had died, his passion had become an obsession. In a way, it was a way of keeping her alive. If he could fulfill her last wish, he could finally be at peace. Vladimir saw this as weakness of his father, and it was for this reason he had left. Simon was alone, again. His workers and those around him could feel the emptiness radiating off of him. It was in 2003 that he had also been arrested for possession and using heroin. This was another blow against him, as those who'd once had respect for him now did not. Simon had been clean since then. The worst thing about the bust was the detatchment Sylvia's family. They were the last link to love and hope he had left.
An excavation began. Simon got new funding for his project. He was happier than he had been in a long time. When they had cleared out enough to begin exploration, he was the first one in. It was a simple structure, with small rooms and long hallways. Symbols on the walls dated back to times when the Mongols had taken over. It was a sight to behold. All those who though he was a sad old man chasing a pipe dream were wrong. He owned the stage. He felt free, but knew deep down that it would not last. His 15 minutes would run out. So he held on as long as he could.
A week later, still at the site, Simon couldn’t sleep. He felt a strange pull toward the ruins, and decided to follow his feelings. He bundled up, and headed out. The arctic wind rushed through his bones. He walked to the ruins, trying in vain not to trip over the huge mounds of ice that now littered the area. When he made it to the largest room, the seeming pull got stronger. He found a pile of cloth. Lifting it, he discovered a chest. The air around the chest seemed even colder. Inside, there was a crown. It was golden, with three gems embedded in the front. Simon felt as though it reached out to him. As he held it in his hands, a warm feeling crept up his spine. He needed to put it on. It needed him to put it on. Mindlessly, he lowered it on his head.
The next thing he remembered was being covered in blood. He awoke with a shock. A terrible pain shot through his head. He looked at the rest of him. The crown lay at his feet. His hands were stained red. Simon felt queasy. He slowly got up, and looked around him. He had moved (or was moved) since he put on the crown, and was now in the middle of the campsite. Dragged blood marks filled the patches of snow between tents.
“Hello?!” Simon shouted, his words echoing out in the cold air. He picked up the crown subconsciously, and hooked it on his belt. He began to look around. Was there a bear attack. Some vandals. Both were known to scour these areas. He found the bodies of some of his workers. They seemed to be cut open, as though with a blade, from the pelvis, and up to the sternum. He gagged terribly. Who or what could do something like this.
Simon heard a rustling in one of the shelters. He ran away to his tent went inside, and grabbed the gun case under his bed. He took out the revolver inside, check the rounds, and went back outside. He walked to where he had heard the shaking. He turned on his flashlight, and shined it on the tent. He raised the gun.
“Hello? Anyone friendly in there?” Simon asked the dwelling, hoping to get some sort of reply. Sadly no. Simon drew a deep breath, and walked towards it. He opened the door, an instinctively jumped back. He shone his light inside. In a corner, was the wounded Nikolai. He was barely breathing. Simon stepped closer. Nikolai opened his eyes, and a look of dread was on his face when he saw Simon.
“So, you devil bastard, come to finish the job?” Nikolai spat at Simon, who was standing there, staring at him. Simon was confused. He figured anyone would b happy to see one of their only friends come to save them, but he guessed he was wrong.
“What do you mean, ‘finish the job’, Nikolai?” Simon asked, bewilderment seeping into his voice.
“I mean finish killing me, that’s what I mean, just like every one else!”
“I didn’t kill everyone, it was bandits.” Simon lowered the gun. Why would Nikolai accuse him of something like that.
“I got it all on film, you murderous twat!” Nikolai chucked a camera-phone at Simon. He opened it. On the screen was already a video. Simon started it.
Nikolai and some of the other workers were gathered around a bonfire in the middle of the encampment. They were hanging about, and one of them was about to try and perform a somersault in the air. He was just about to, when Simon, who was wearing the crown walked out of the ruins. His hair appeared to have gone completely white, and his skin was a dull, pale gray.
“Boss, you look terrible, are you alright?” asked the closest to him. Simon made a sort of growl, and lunged toward him, the flash of a knife was seen, and then the screams of deep agony emitted from the worker. He fell to the ground, and Simon stepped on to him, and began to stab into the body, again and again, until his face was splattered with blood. The others had all ran, except for Nikolai.
“What the Hell are you?” he asked Simon, fear rocking his body. Simon snarled at him, tackled Nikolai to the ground, stabbed him in the abdomen, and ran off.
The video stopped. Simon looked at Nikolai.
“What happened after that?” Simon asked softly, his voice quivering.
“You killed most everyone here, Simon,” Nikolai told darkly, “What the HELL made you do that. I mean, how?” Simon was speechless. He felt like Oedipus, everyone else knowing what he didn’t. He looked up at the Ceiling of the tent.
“I’m so sorry, Nikolai. Please forgive me.” Simon said, choking back tears.
“I don’t think I can forgive you for what you did, no matter the excuse; and for that, I’m sorry,” Nikolai said, the echo of defeat in his voice. Simon got up and out of the room. Nikolai died ten minutes later. Simon covered the place in gasoline from the cars, and lit the tents on fire. Maybe all the others would think it was a bandit attack. He looked at the crown, which was still on his belt. A small part of him told him that it was what had brought this whole thing about. It was the part that still believed in witchcraft and voodoo, which he had for so long suppressed. A voice in his head told him to put it on. He did so. Taking it off his belt, he saw it gleam with the light of the fire of the site. He lowered it onto his head, and felt his mind slip away once again.
Simon awoke panting. He looked around. He was in his bed, in the camp at the site. There was the rustling of a hand on the fabric of his tent. He got up out of his bed, and opened the door. Nikolai was at the door. Simon was bewildered. He had burned this whole place down. He killed everyone. How were they here.
“Boss, we found this for you. It’s the only ting made of wood in the whole of the ruins.” Nikolai said, with a touch of pride. Simon recognized the box. It was what the crown had been in. It had the same markings.
“Thank you, Nik,” Simon replied, Taking the box from him. “I’ll be at the sight in about an hour.” Nikolai left. Simon set the box on his desk. Part of him was afraid to open it. What if it was in there? He waved away the feeling, and began to look over the report his staff had for him. The box, however, brought back his attention. He mustered his courage, and opened it; and there it was. The same crown as in what Simon was beginning to accept as a dream. He screamed, and pushed the box out. The crown rolled out from it. The ringing that came from it did not sound like normal. It was speaking to Simon. Wear me. Wear me. I will protect you. Simon didn’t know what to think. He wrapped it in cloth and put it in his bag; but he could still hear it. Simon knew that as long as it was around, and it was unsatisfied, it would not leave him alone.
A psychological evaluation was done in 2012, the year he died. They said that after the dig, he was never the same. He attempted several suicides, finally succeeding on May, 15, 2012.The bulk of his estate and research was donated to the St. Petersburg University. Nikolai got the crown, and a warning. Simon told him everything in a letter. His dreams, his later suffering that led to his death. He was calm in the last days, and didn't seem to rattled as he had before. He knew that there was no way the crown could get him if he was dead. It would have broken its promise: I will protect you, forever. He always had the last laugh, and had made sure he would this time.
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