Monsalvarga - the novel

Chapter VIII - The last Gandhi

2009-04-07T11:49:00.006+01:00

.The silence in outer space acted as the perfect soundtrack, as if the absence of a roar lent even more status to the meteor-like event caused by the ascending rocket..-"Amazing, you can see it perfectly clear." - Roberto Galhardo stood in wonder while the GSLV Mark V stroke the atmosphere farther ahead and below the Namaste..-"Quite a bonus to be at this precise spot in our orbit." - Sameer

Chapter VII - A new bright star

2009-03-23T10:44:00.005Z

.-"Barlow lens doubler and a H12mm?"-"For starters." - Armando replied Nuno, while calibrating the telescope's position..After two reinvigorating hours reading the newspaper, always in his refuge room, came the relaxing two hour nap, never in the refuge but in his bedroom. Armando had already forgotten the watering plants' episode and had prepared everything to spend some time in the evening

Chapter VI - Space Brothers

2009-03-16T09:21:00.004Z

.The two American astronauts waited, sitting in silence, while tension - like dense cigar smoke - hoovered around them..The rain from previous days didn't stop when it was supposed to, and an even greater storm threatened to wash away any hope of making things on time, as Mission Control had decided yet another delay. Planets wouldn't alter their voyages around the Sun, thus the never ending

Chapter V - Lucius Augustus

2009-03-06T18:16:00.011Z

.Lunchtime went by rather swiftly, mainly because Armando mentally prepared the evening with Nuno and the telescope, and that helped forget the morning's visit to the doctor, or at least postponed his worries for a more suitable time; if there was a suitable time at all to be confronted by his blindness and the other problems he sensed coming his way.Coming his way were also the steps he heard

Chapter IV - Namaste

2009-03-02T11:17:00.008Z

.The low yet slightly irritating buzz was effective: Roberto woke up.As in the last three shifts, he would feel amazingly alive right after that buzz, fully awake, his senses sharp. He then vigorously flew off his sleeping bag, safely strapped onto the wall, and went for the closest window..This had become Roberto's routine since the first time he woke up on board the Namaste, and the reasons

Chapter III - Compagnon de route

2009-02-23T19:22:00.026Z

. Slowly, like following the beat of a lazy drummer, Armando was crossing the street.Everybody knew who he was but still he would walk his way alone, always quiet, no one even saying a polite "good afternoon"..Most of the people feared Armando's proverbial temper, but as time went by - and everyone gets older but only a few get wiser - many of those who feared him kept the distances just for the

Chapter II - Looking forward

2009-02-20T01:27:00.017Z

.William Steiner kept walking despite the heavy rain; he even slowed down his pace, like he meant to get completely soaked.But that wasn't quite true.He just couldn't help it but to refrain himself and admire what was destined to become his home for the next 18 months.Now standing still, hands in his pockets, already unaware of the rain pouring down on him. The perfect subject of a

Chapter I - Getting old

2009-02-17T22:59:00.017Z

.The newspaper was carefully folded and put to rest on a small table next to the sofa.This was the end of a daily ritual, where no page was left unread; typically, a two hours round..But the ritual was broken..Instead of leaving his comfortable seat, the man remained there, left hand rubbing the forehead while looking beyond the great window right in front of him.The view never ceased to amaze

Let's get started

2009-02-15T23:43:00.013Z

.My goal:To write a novel.I intend to write it here, directly, spontaneously, no safety net whatsoever.This will imply eventual revision of any given chapter, anytime the need arises.I hope some of the editing will be induced or inspired by readers of this blog; that would mean someone was actually reading it!As I'm no native to english, difficulties are big enough to scare me a little but...