Other Worlds

Category: My Fiction

  • Shipwreck — part 7

    Jiro thought that he was fortunate in one respect: no one had actually seen him leave the house and take the direction that he had. Perhaps the villagers assumed he would take either of the ways along the coast. It was a steep, exhausting path, and he saw signs that it was used for woodcutting…

  • Shipwreck — part 6

    The village huddled on the last flat ground at the foot of a steep rise toward the mountains. Jiro found a path that led upward (to where, who knew?), climbed a short distance to a vantage where he could see the nearest houses, and watched. He saw something move—away in the rain where one house…

  • Shipwreck — part 5

    Could he wring any knowledge out of this woman without making them doubt his pose as an agent of the daimyo? He felt like he was traveling in the dark, afraid to kindle a light. “Woman, how far is it to the closest town—where one would find trading establishments, or perhaps a government official in…

  • Shipwreck — part 4

    “You must bear his body to a place where it is safe from the elements,” said Jiro. When no one moved, he kicked the man closest to him. “You! Is your village near here?” “Yes—lord!” “Then go quickly and come back with what is needed. The shipwreck is not to be touched except on my…

  • Shipwreck — part 3

    Jiro looked up the beach in one direction, then in the other direction, and finally inland toward the forested hills. He decided to walk along the shoreline, and look for signs of human habitation rather than immediately striking inland. Rain continued to pour down. He walked slowly. He founds bits of wreckage, but not much. All…

  • Shipwreck — part 2

    Rocks and sand. Jiro flexed his hand, wondered why he felt grit under it, and coughed. He was seized by a spasm of coughing then, and rolled onto his side. Apparently he was alive. The sea surged up the beach and washed around his waist, and receded. Sudden fear of a great wave that could…

  • Shipwreck — part 1

    Tan-tan. Let the tale be told, honestly and artfully, to delight and enlighten those who were not there. Inari, mistress and master, lend  your servant the best words to tell the tale of how a wrong was righted, how an unhappy ghost found peace, how three lowly creatures achieved greatness, and how an actor lost…

  • The Emperor Crushes a Pearl

    “The First Censor’s Statement” was published by Copperfield Review in 2008, but when they revamped the site recently, they didn’t retain their archives. So I make the story available again here.