Jason K. Lewis's Blog

Julian stood on the railway platform, minding his own business. It was something he was very good at, years of practice allowing him to blend in; his plain features, chocolate brown hair and eyes allowed him an anonymity that some others, he knew, would pay a fortune for.

He sensed the old man’s approach before he saw him, the shuffling steps so at odds with the rhythmic pace of the other commuters around him, striking a discordant note upon Julian’s acute senses.

It felt inevitable that the old man stopped and stood before him, his rheumy eyes peering at Julian from beneath shaggy brows. There was an air of senility about him, something in his slack-jawed expression that told Julian he was not the full ticket.

Julian attempted to ignore him, staring over the old man’s shoulder at the opposite platform, willing him to move on, but as the man shuffled forward again, giving Julian no choice but to acknowledge him.

“I used to work on the railway, you know,” said the old man, his voice cracking like shingle underfoot. “In nineteen forty-four, for the princely sum of ninety-eight pounds a year.” The old man raised a claw-like hand and scratched his sparsely stubbled jaw with yellowed nails. “That’s a year, mind you, a year,” he added insistently.

Julian stared into the bloodshot eyes before him, which told the story of a hard life filled with all the drudgery, the sheer banality of human existence. He pursed his lips in a tight smile and raised an eyebrow. There seemed no point in reply.

The old man raised his hand, poking a crooked finger toward Julian’s chest. “Do you know how much change you would get from twelve and a half pence in those days if you bought fish and chips?”

Definitely demented, Julian thought, no point trying to get away from him. “Ten pence?” he replied in a matter-of-fact tone.

The old man shuffled back, raised his shaggy eyebrows theatrically, his eyes wide under slack lids. “Aye, aye!” He shuffled forward again, his breath a fetid miasma that clouded Julian’s senses. “You could eat fish and chips for a week for fourteen pence!”

I know, I remember. “Really?” said Julian. “Must have been great in those days. Now it costs a fortune. There’s hardly any cod left, are there?”

The old man paused, the silence punctuated by a slow wheeze as his breath traversed ancient lungs. “Great?” he said finally. “No, boy, they were hard times, what with the war and all.” He stared into the distance over Julian’s shoulder for what felt like an age; the smell of old urine wafted up from his corduroy trousers as if to punish Julian for his ignorance. “I wanted to go, you know, but I was too damned young. Buggers wouldn’t let me enlist. Didn’t stop Charlie and Ed going though…” The old man sighed, then waved a hand dismissively in front of Julian’s face. His expression changed, grew intense. “You don’t want cod anyhow. What you want is a nice bit of haddock.”

Julian nodded; he had always liked haddock, more flavour. “Things were different in those days, I suppose?” There was no getting away from the man; he steeled himself for a long chat.

“Aye!” the old man proclaimed. “Things were different.” his eyes focussed properly for the first time, as if his soul was summoned back from the pit for a brief respite. He fixed Julian with a knowing stare. “I daresay that they were a lot safer too, although people wouldn’t like me to…” he paused, his eyes glazed over once more, then he slowly pivoted and walked away down the platform.

Julian had the strangest feeling that he had met the man before. Perhaps you did. But then there had been so many over the years.

Hunger gnawed at his insides. He glanced at his watch. Quarter to five, the train was arriving any minute; the platform was getting crowded, too crowded for Julian’s liking.

The noise and chatter threatened to overwhelm his senses. He longed for the quiet of home. A seat on the patio overlooking the river. A glass of syrah with which to witness the sunset. It would be a red sky tonight, he was sure of it. Red sky at night, shepherd’s delight. He smiled at the thought; it had been a long time since he had tended a flock.

“You did well there,” said a female voice.

Julian turned to see a young woman, twenty-five, perhaps younger. Somehow she had crept up on him, escaping his acute senses. She stood beside him, exuding confidence, so close that her shoulder almost touched his. He savoured the intoxicating aroma of her, the subtle mix of fragrance and pheromone; it felt like a silken caress, the faintest hint of orange leaving a sweet aftertaste at the back of his mouth. Where the old man had smelled of decay, she smelled of health and goodness.

“Thank you.” Inclining his head slightly, he subtly shifted his body to put a little distance between them.

She smiled and tilted her head to one side, her ponytail swished quietly as it passed over the collar of her jacket. “You’re shy, aren’t you?”

She looked like a student, flat shoes, black tights and a pair of hot pants that most women could not carry off.

Julian averted his eyes. “I prefer quiet…” he replied. They had called him shy in the old days, Julian the shepherd boy, off with his sheep, they would say, such a shy boy, always keeps himself to himself. Then, as he grew older, they started to call him odd; they had joked that he enjoyed the company of his sheep more than people.

“No, I don’t believe you.” she raised herself onto her tiptoes and back down again, clasping her hands before her. “I’ve seen you around before. You always stand on your own at this end of the platform.” Her eyes twinkled, her nose creased. “You always look so wise and distant, like you have the weight of the world on your shoulders.”

If only you knew. “I don’t know about that,” he answered. “Usually I’m just daydreaming… or lost in my memories.” There were so many to wander through.

“You were really nice to that old bloke just then, though. Most people our age would have just told him to eff-off.” She smiled again. Her teeth were perfect, as were so many these days, the products of years of orthodontic work, perhaps, although Julian wondered whether they might be a natural blessing.

Sarah’s teeth were perfect. This girl looked like Sarah, but then he was not sure he could even remember what Sarah looked like, really; she was the imprint of an emotion in his mind now, the ghost of a time long gone.

“I don’t like to be rude to people.” Julian shrugged. “Bad Karma, you know?”

His stomach churned, a nagging reminder he had not eaten. It had been a long day, and the new exhibition at the British museum had taken his breath away, kept the urges at bay, yet now his hunger was growing.

She crossed one foot in front of the other and leaned forward, her hands behind her back, her face turned towards his. “I think you’re a good person.”

So innocent. It pained him to think it. But so flirtatious with it.

“What’s your name?” she asked.

“Julian.” It was one of his favourite names.

She gazed at him and chewed on her bottom lip.

Julian returned the gaze. She had green eyes; they glittered in the sunlight, reflecting the dark silhouette of his soul.

“Oh,” he said after a pregnant silence, etiquette remembered. “What’s yours?”

“I’m Tina.” She flashed a megawatt smile. “Nice to meet you, Julian. It’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance.”

She held out her right hand; her fingers were slender, nails short but manicured. Julian hesitated for a moment, then took her hand and gave it a brief and perfunctory shake, careful not to grip too hard. Her hand was smooth and firm, the touch invited more.

“Wow, you’re really hot!” She blushed and took a small step back. “I mean your hand, are you ill or something?”

Julian shrugged. “I’ve always been like that.” Well, nearly always. “I guess I’m just hot blooded.”

Her pupils popped wide, inviting paradise. “I knew a guy once.” She cocked her head to one side and glanced at Julian’s chest. “He worked out a lot, he was just the same, but then he used to get cold as well, kinda weird.”

“I don’t really get cold,” Julian said. Only when I’m ravenous.

“Not much of a conversationalist, are you?” She tilted her head to one side again. “I still think you’re a bit shy.”

“And I think you’re a little blunt.” Julian smiled to soften his words, but she did not seem to need the reassurance. Don’t get dragged into a conversation. He reminded himself. You know what’s going to happen.

She tilted her head back and laughed. It had a mellow and relaxed quality. She seemed to lack all self-consciousness; youthful confidence flowing off her in waves. She reached out and stroked his arm, squeezing his bicep gently on the way down. “You’re a funny one, aren’t you?”

“So I’ve been told.” He shivered at her caress, a chill brushed his soul. Her smell was almost overpowering now, intoxicating. He felt his free will starting to crumble, his body, his subconscious, taking control, undermining his defences.

Tina looked up at him, her eyelashes fluttered. “You know,” she said softly, “I never did anything like this before.” She stroked his arm again. “I don’t know what’s come over me.”

I do.

“I mean,” she paused, looking around the platform. “You could be anyone.” She leaned in close. “I mean, you could be a weirdo or something.”

Julian shrugged. “You might be right. You know you’ve got to be careful these days.”

She tilted her head back and laughed again. “You crack me up!” she sighed and glanced at his crotch, then reddened and glanced away.

“I’m glad you find me amusing.” A part of Julian, the primal part, relaxed then. Don’t say I didn’t warn you, Tina. Years ago, the warning had been part of his ritual, absolving him of responsibility, but he did not need a ritual now. She does look like Sarah, just a little shorter. His stomach growled and a wave of mild nausea followed. He really was famished.

“What is it that you do in town?” She asked.

“I just like to come and walk in the park. Gives me time to think.” Not that he did not have enough time. “I like it by the river. I watch the mist rising off the water sometimes in the spring.” There was no point trying to stop it now, he knew; it was inevitable. An enormous weight lifted from his shoulders; there was no longer any need to hold back. His self-inflicted isolation would end, for a brief time, at least.

“What, you mean every time I’ve seen you here, you’ve just been sat in the park all day?” Tina asked.

“Not always, but mostly. I like the peace.” I like feeling that it’s okay to be surrounded by people.

The train arrived then, rumbling along the tracks before them. Julian had not even noticed the announcement, lost as he was in the bliss of her innocence.

Tina linked her arm with his and smiled as they boarded together. They stood in comfortable silence as the train pulled away from the station. Julian glanced down at her; the soft downy hair on her neck caught the light of the sun, her veins clearly visible; a crisp and natural blue.

She reminded him so much of Sarah then; it was as if he was back with his first love again, watching the sun set over the mountains as the baking heat of the day dissipated.

I could have had a perfect life with you, Sarah. We might have been married and had children and grandchildren to strengthen the tribe. It could all have been perfect, but for one chance encounter. One fateful morning…

“I cannot go out and tend the sheep today,” his cousin, Timoor, had said that morning. “I was sick last night and Grandmother says I must rest and drink goat milk and eat black bread.” His cousin had, as always, drunk too much the night before and Julian knew it, but he did not mind. Sarah was travelling to market with her father and he liked the peace in the hills with the sheep. It would shorten the time until he saw her again.

It had been a cool morning, strands of cloud drifting in from the coast, delaying the roasting heat of the sun.

The sheep had sensed it first. As Julian lay on the sparse grass with his hands behind his head, lost in thoughts of Sarah and the future they would have together. He would build a house in the village, a new house for the new family; there would be plenty of room. They would have children, many children.

The sheep had bleated in alarm, it was a sound every shepherd knew and dreaded. Julian had jumped to his feet, staff at the ready to chase off the wolves, praying that it was not a bear or a lion.

Instead of a predator, a man stood on the crest of the hill directly opposite, his gaze fixed firmly in Julian’s direction, his body silhouetted against the sun. As Julian returned his gaze, the man walked purposefully down the hill in his direction, his gait strong and confident. As the man drew closer, Julian grew wary, for he wore ornate, gold chased armour and a bronze helmet on his head. Soldiers could be as dangerous as any wolf.

“Hail, friend,” the man said, raising a hand, palm out, in the traditional greeting of peace. His voice was strong and commanding but with a hollow, haunting timbre.

Julian gripped his staff tight and eyed the man’s sword, but he had no choice but to trust; he was a long way from the village. “Hail,” he replied, fighting to appear calm.

The man took his helmet off, revealing shoulder length hair braided and bound in gold and gems in the manner of a noble. He looked around the small valley. “Your village is near?” As he turned, he revealed his profile.

Julian gasped.

The man fixed Julian with piercing blue eyes. “You know who I am?” he asked, his tone intense.

“Sir,” a tremble crept into his voice as he bowed low, “you have the look of the King, but I know you cannot be he.”

“Because he is dead?” The man took a small step forward.

“Yes, sir, he is dead last month. May the gods rest his soul.”

The man laughed, a harsh and dreadful sound that echoed off the hills. “The gods rest his soul!” he proclaimed. “In that they have failed… or been defeated.” His eyes glinted dangerously. “How do you know he is dead?”

Julian trembled. The man must be a relative of the dead king, he thought. Such men could do as they wished in the kingdom of Uruk, with no fear of reprisal. He said a silent prayer to the goddess Ninlil, invoking her protection. “Sir, I saw him buried. Many of the people gathered to dig a new course for the river. He lies now beneath holy Euphrates, giver of life.”

The man laughed again, taking another step forward. “He is not dead,” he said, spreading his arms wide, head tilted back as if to address the heavens. “He is not dead!” He lowered his arms and looked upon Julian once more. “For I am he,” he whispered. “I am mighty Gilgamesh, and even the Gods cannot command me.”

Julian stepped back, almost tripping over a rock in his haste to retreat. “Sir, that is not possible,” he insisted. “It cannot be.”

“It is.” Gilgamesh stepped forward, roughly grasping Julian’s arms. “You are full of spirit. There is strength in you.” He drew Julian towards him; there was no way to resist his ineffable strength. “I hunger.”

Then the world went black and Julian sank back into a blissful dream of Sarah.

He awoke in the depths of the night, his body wracked with pain, sweat beading on his flesh, a fierce thirst searing his throat. His fate forever altered.

He never saw Gilgamesh again; the great lord disappeared from history, but occasionally over the millennia he thought he sensed other powers nearby. He often wondered if the great king lived on as he had, endlessly traversing the world, consumed by his curse, desperate to break free of the chains of immortality.

The train lurched to a halt, snatching Julian from his reverie. His memories were so overwhelming, he could spend days lost within them. He had changed much over the years; each era he endured felt like a distinct existence, a new chapter in an endless book. He recalled them all, more or less, yet sometimes they felt detached, alien. The first life though, in the kingdom of Uruk, that one he remembered as if it was yesterday.

“I think this is our stop.” Tina said, gripping his arm tight.

“You live in the village too?” Julian’s mind was still groggy, intoxicated by his memories, beguiled by the scent of her.

“No,” she giggled, “but you do.”

It was a short walk from the little station to Julian’s house on the hillside, overlooking the sheep fields and the cricket pitch in the valley below. They walked in silence. Tina seemed content to follow his lead. They always submit once the spell is wrought, Julian remembered the savage strength of Gilgamesh. He could not have escaped if he wanted to; such had been the mighty King’s power.

Julian had never been able to control it; delay it, maybe, but it was no more conscious a decision than breathing. You are as much under her spell as she is under yours. And it was true.

He turned the key in the lock, carefully disengaging his arm from hers to swing the door open and allow her to enter. As the door closed behind them she reached down and took his hand, then, smiling gently, she led him upstairs.

“Which one?” she asked when they reached the top, finger pointing to the doors off the landing.

“Straight ahead,” he whispered. His stomach ached with the hunger, but he did not mind now, there would be plenty of time to satiate his appetite. After he had satisfied his carnal desires. I will not hurt her though, he swore to himself; his strength was prodigious, a lasting gift from Gilgamesh.

 

Julian enjoyed his morning ritual of watching the sunrise from his patio, savoring a robust cup of coffee from his favorite mug; this morning was no different. He still felt the buzz of the night’s conquest in the muscles of his back and the sweet tension in his thighs. Tina had been perfect. Sweet and gentle. Innocent and pure. She had probably never picked someone up as she did the day before with him, but such was the power of the spell that Gilgamesh’s curse had wrought. Julian stretched his arms above his head and yawned. Tina had been a tasty morsel to whet his appetite, a reminder that life might be worth living once more. Why did you deny yourself for a hundred years? He wondered idly. There had been pauses before as his conscience beat him into submission and enforced hermitage, but never this long. After the Great War he had sworn he would never let the curse control him again, but Julian, above most, knew that never was a very long time.

He reached out and grabbed another chunk of bread, slathered it with butter; then layered it with peanut butter and jam. His hunger was never truly sated, and even after all the long centuries, he could never truly deny it. He always wondered, after the spell had been cast and the curse was quiescent again – at least for a time – what had happened that day when Gilgamesh had found him. He knew deep down that it bore no relation to the curse he bore himself. Gilgamesh had hungered too, but the nature of his hunger had been different to Julian’s own, of that he was certain.

When Julian had awoken on the hillside in the kingdom of Uruk, he was older. The great King’s gift or curse had borne a price, but it had not been heavy. Ten years. That was Gilgamesh’s price. Ten years taken and three millennia given.

“You get up early, don’t you?” Tina called playfully.

Julian turned to see her approach; he couldn’t keep a smile from his face. The spell is truly wrought. She wore his shirt, the top buttons undone to reveal the tempting globes of her breasts. She was barefoot, but the summer morning was warm enough that she would not feel a chill.

She shivered as if reading his mind. “How about you share some of that heat of yours?” She sat herself firmly in his lap, then ran a finger along the bridge of his nose. “You know, I was thinking. Maybe we could go out tonight, you know?”

“Sure,” Julian smiled. There was nothing he could do to fight it; no one could break the spell.

She looked at the rising sun. “Ooh, red sky in the morning, shepherd’s warning.” She wrapped her arms around his neck and softly kissed his lips. “You know it might be a bit early, but, well. My folks are up from London this weekend and I was wondering if…”

Julian sighed at the pitiful inevitability of it all. “Sure, why not?”

She sat back, staring into his eyes. “Really?”

“Yes, really.”

“You know, I’ve never felt like this before about anyone. It feels weird, you know, do you feel it?” She twirled his hair idly through her fingers.

“I think I do.” Maybe it was the exhibition at the museum, he wondered. Perhaps that had been the trigger. Seeing the statue of Gilgamesh had brought everything back into focus, his first life back to the fore.

“Wow,” Tina hugged him, forcing his head into her chest, “I mean, wow! I think this could be the real thing.” She paused, bringing a hand up to her mouth. “Shit. Sorry. I mean… I don’t want to scare you or anything.”

I will grow to love you. It was inevitable now. I won’t be able to stop myself. He held her tight and smiled. But I won’t be able to stay forever. I won’t be able to bear it when you get old, when everyone thinks I’m your son, when you don’t remember my name anymore. “I’m not scared,” he said. “This feels right.” And it did, just like it always did. Gilgamesh’s curse was fulfilled again. This time, just like every other time, Julian vowed to make the most of the next few decades. I wish we could have children. But that was the final, bitter aspect of the curse.

Tina purred contentedly. “Somehow, I knew you would say that.” She turned to the table and snatched a slab of bread, munching on it greedily. “Bloody hell,” crumbs dropped to the ground, Julian heard each one hit the slabs, a tiny gentle sound. “three jars of peanut butter! You eat a lot…”

Julian smiled and stroked her neck. “Yes, it’s the hunger. I can’t help myself.”

Hi there, I am back to writing after a break of almost 10 years. It’s a long story… I do wonder if there is anyone left from the old days, the writing world seems to have changed so much in a relatively short time.

Anyway, I am writing as it suits me now and not pushing for publication. I’m just writing because I enjoy it. To celebrate, I am going to post a short story called ‘The Hunger’ on this site.

In the meantime, I am working on completing the story of ‘Paradise’ (several chapters drafted already) and also preparing for a return to the Adarna chronicles.

I hope that you are still out there to join me on my journey. Comments welcome!

Best wishes

JKL

So, after a very long rest (it has been almost 10 years since I published my last book!), I am back on the writing trail. This time I am going to take it at my own pace and see what happens, rather than pushing myself to write and publish as rapidly as possible.
It may come slowly, but I am determined to do two things. The first is to complete the story of 'Paradise'. The second (and much more difficult) is to complete the Adarna chronicles.
In the meantime, I am about to publish a short story entitled 'The hunger' on my website (https://jasonklewiswriter.wordpress.com/) for free. Constructive criticism welcomed, but please be aware it is a first draft!
Best wishes
JKL

It’s been a while since I posted a blog and I have to apologise for that :-) I’m back on the writing trail though and so far things are going OK. The first draft of the next instalment of the ‘Adarna Chronicles’ is complete! It will take me a very long time to whip the draft into shape, but hopefully it will be worth the wait. I guess you could say the real work is just beginning.

In the meantime, I have decided to give away the first part of the part of the Adarna Chronicles, ‘Empire Under Siege’ totally free on Amazon from the 25th to the 29th August. As if that wasn’t enough, I also have part two ‘Phoenix Rising’ and part three ‘The Great Bear’ for 99 cents (or pence if you live in the UK!) from the 25th to the 31st August.

I would be delighted if you checked them out and let me know your thoughts. Constructive criticism is always welcome. Now, back to the editing…

Pl

EMPIRE UNDER SIEGE Jason K. Lewis

Having been away for a while, I am returning with this quick post to let you know that ‘Empire Under Siege‘, the first book in the ‘Adarna chronicles’ is only 99 cents (or the equivalent in other countries- so for me in the U.K. that would be 79p!) from the 21st to the 24th December on Amazon, so why not check it out (no pressure…).

The reason why I have been flying under the radar for a while will be discussed in a forthcoming post (tentatively entitled ‘My NanowriNO!’. But in the meantime, why not check out ‘Empire Under Siege’? :-)

Just a quick note to let you all know that ‘The Great Bear’ is out today! Thanks to everyone out there who offered support, help and sage advice. This was the most difficult book I have written so far and it really took a heavy toll on my time. I really, really hope that you enjoy it :-)

Unfortunately it’s exclusive to Amazon at the moment, but why not pop over and check it out?

 

Just a quick note to let you all know that ‘The Great Bear’ is out today! Thanks to everyone out there who offered support, help and sage advice. This was the most difficult book I have written so far and it really took a heavy toll on my time. I really, really hope that you enjoy it :-)

Unfortunately it’s exclusive to Amazon at the moment, but why not pop over and check it out?

 

PARADISE Jason K. Lewis

To celebrate the upcoming release of the third book in the ‘Adarna chronicles’ I am currently offering ‘Paradise’, my science fiction novelette for FREE! Please do feel free (pardon the pun) to pop over to Amazon and pick up your copy as the offer ends on the 31st October…

Book three in the ‘Adarna Chronicles’, ‘The Great Bear’ has been a real trial for me (surprise, surprise, each book is harder than the last!). It differs from ‘Empire Under SIege’ and ‘Phoenix Rising’ in many respects, the biggest difference is its length (it’s as long as the other two put together). I am pleased to announce though, that it will be out on the 1st of November at the latest :-)

 

Thanks to everyone for all of your help, support and advice over the last three months, I couldn’t have done it without you. I hope that you enjoy ‘The Great Bear’ when it is released. In the meantime, why not grab a copy of ‘Paradise’ while you wait?

Its been a long time since I last posted and I have had a few adventures (crikey, many posts worth of stories to come…). I thought this was an opportune time to update you on my plans for November. You see I am planning to take part in a thing call NanoWriMo. Not heard of it? Well you should think about checking out their website (www.nanowrimo.org).

NanoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) is essentially a competition or a ‘call to arms’ for writers. It challenges you to write 50,000 words in the month of November. It doesn’t have to be anything special (although we all hope our own contribution will be), just a first draft really.

I first heard about NanoWriMo after I’d started writing and I was actually too late to take part in it in 2012 as I didn’t get the writing bug until early 2013. Because I thought it was a cool undertaking I did my own 50,000 words in a month writing challenge and managed to punch out the first (albeit very rough) draft of the first three episodes of the Adarna Chronicles. It felt like an amazing achievement even though it took many more months to get ‘Empire Under Siege’ and ‘Phoenix Rising’ into publishable format and ‘The Great Bear’ isn’t out until the end of the month (over a year after the first draft!).

In November 2013 I had a young baby to look after and so it just happen that November (so no ‘official’ NanoWriMo).

This year i’ve decided to go for it, my project is entitled ‘Bird of Paradise’, it’s a full length novel and the follow up to my novelette ‘Paradise’ (which was actually the first thing I published). Will I make it to 50,000 words? Who knows (I have an hour a night in which to do it!) but it will be an adventure along the way.

If you ever thought about writing or if you are seeking some motivation, why not jump in and register on the NanoWriMo website? You never know, you just might discover that best seller that you always knew you had in you…

Good luck!

Okey dokey then, it’s that time again. (drum roll please…). Here’s the book cover reveal for book 3 of ‘The Adarna Chronicles’, It’s called ‘The Great Bear’ (you can probably tell that by looking at the cover, right?). Let me know what you think. Is it as good as the covers for ‘Empire Under Siege‘ and ‘Phoenix Rising‘? Does it tie in with the image of the series so far? I’ve put a really big version at the bottom of the post so that you can have a good old look.

I think the guys over at Deranged Doctor Design have done an amazing job again (thank you guys!) and I cannot recommend them highly enough. If i’m honest though, this was the hardest one so far! 

The book itself is as long as ‘Empire Under Siege‘ and ‘Phoenix Rising‘ combined, which explains why it is giving me a bit of a headache at the moment. Preliminary structural edits are complete though, so it should be off to the editor within three weeks and then (hopefully!) out before the end of October as promised.

If you like this post, why not ‘like’ it below? :-)