I'm half-heartedly looking for apartments on craigslist (I don't know where I'll be working next, so that limits things, somewhat), and have several times run across this one: Some one advertises a beautiful apartment for a ridiculously low price. When you ask about it they claim to have been transferred out of the country, and have the only set of keys with them. But, they're willing to use TNT as an escrow service: they'll deposit the keys and contract with TNT, and I wire TNT the first month's rent, or a deposit, or $$, in any case. Once TNT has received and verified both the keys and the money, they'll send me the keys, and the apartment owner the money.
Except that I've spoken with TNT in person - they're a shipping company, similar to FedEx, that operates in Europe and other places. They offer no escrow services.
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Sunday, June 21, 2009
STO'B 28
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GLOSSARY
Two minutes later Dr Patrick M’Mullen stood at the Viceroy’s entry port, clutching his parcel and watching two sailors muscle his trunk down to the Badger’s launch. The men reached to boat, where its crew pushed and pulled the trunk into place, and Patrick began his own laborious descent, gripping the criminally shallow steps as tightly as he could without dropping his parcel.
He held onto it until the last step, when the Viceroy, responding to a gust of wind, heeled over, tipping him far past vertical. He made a cataleptic grasp at the ladder, dropping the parcel as he did so. At the same time the launch’s cox’n, to avoid being crushed by the rolling Viceroy, pushed away from the ship’s side, and Patrick’s parcel fell into that water between the two.
Once Dr M’Mullen was safely in the boat, the ingenious use of oars and a boathook retrieved the parcel, but by then it was thoroughly soaked, and Patrick willed the boat across the water to the Badger with uncommon force of mind, not to mention the clenching of his abdominal muscles. “Rowed of all,” called the coxswain, and the crew pulled in their oars in preparation for hooking onto the Badger.
The Badger, being a de facto brig (though she was styled a sloop de jure) had no entry port, of course, and Patrick arrived on board in full view of the entire crew. Philip, recognizing Dr M’Mullen’s importance, and perhaps feeling a bit guilty over their last encounter, ordered man ropes to be draped over the Badger’s side, with white-gloved side boys holding them out to form a sort of bannister, and Patrick made it without discredit in spite of the still dripping parcel held in his teeth. He transferred his parcel to his hands, bowed to the assembled officers and crew. His trunk came aboard in a sling, hoisted by the Badger’s donkey engine, still warm after its exertions with the coal, and Captain Fitton led his guest below, placing him in the great cabin and moving himself into his dining cabin.
Once Dr M’Mullen was situated in the cabin, Philip, aware of the importance of being on good terms with a guest in such cramped quarters (to say nothing of a guest who was clearly on such good terms with the admiral), told his steward to lay the table for dinner for four, inviting Dr M’Mullen, the master, and the surgeon (a man he didn’t particularly know) to join him.
Author's Note|First Post|Previous|Next
GLOSSARY
GLOSSARY
Two minutes later Dr Patrick M’Mullen stood at the Viceroy’s entry port, clutching his parcel and watching two sailors muscle his trunk down to the Badger’s launch. The men reached to boat, where its crew pushed and pulled the trunk into place, and Patrick began his own laborious descent, gripping the criminally shallow steps as tightly as he could without dropping his parcel.
He held onto it until the last step, when the Viceroy, responding to a gust of wind, heeled over, tipping him far past vertical. He made a cataleptic grasp at the ladder, dropping the parcel as he did so. At the same time the launch’s cox’n, to avoid being crushed by the rolling Viceroy, pushed away from the ship’s side, and Patrick’s parcel fell into that water between the two.
Once Dr M’Mullen was safely in the boat, the ingenious use of oars and a boathook retrieved the parcel, but by then it was thoroughly soaked, and Patrick willed the boat across the water to the Badger with uncommon force of mind, not to mention the clenching of his abdominal muscles. “Rowed of all,” called the coxswain, and the crew pulled in their oars in preparation for hooking onto the Badger.
The Badger, being a de facto brig (though she was styled a sloop de jure) had no entry port, of course, and Patrick arrived on board in full view of the entire crew. Philip, recognizing Dr M’Mullen’s importance, and perhaps feeling a bit guilty over their last encounter, ordered man ropes to be draped over the Badger’s side, with white-gloved side boys holding them out to form a sort of bannister, and Patrick made it without discredit in spite of the still dripping parcel held in his teeth. He transferred his parcel to his hands, bowed to the assembled officers and crew. His trunk came aboard in a sling, hoisted by the Badger’s donkey engine, still warm after its exertions with the coal, and Captain Fitton led his guest below, placing him in the great cabin and moving himself into his dining cabin.
Once Dr M’Mullen was situated in the cabin, Philip, aware of the importance of being on good terms with a guest in such cramped quarters (to say nothing of a guest who was clearly on such good terms with the admiral), told his steward to lay the table for dinner for four, inviting Dr M’Mullen, the master, and the surgeon (a man he didn’t particularly know) to join him.
Author's Note|First Post|Previous|Next
GLOSSARY
Thursday, June 18, 2009
STO'B 27
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GLOSSARY
Dr M’Mullen rose, quietly excusing himself as the discussion moved to purely naval affairs. He had to pack, he explained, and wanted to be sure that he didn’t leave anything behind. The admiral stood and shook his hand; Philip stood and bowed.
“You also need coal,” said the Admiral, looking at Philip’s statement again once the door closed behind M’Mullen. “We had a collier join a day or so back, the Cranberry, and you’ll have to pick up some from her. Luckily the sea is calm, so she’ll be able to use her donkey to lift it over. Water is something else again, though, and perhaps it would be best if you picked that up when you drop off your prisoners. You have enough water for that?”
Philip paused, trying to work the figures in his head. His total crew was about 100 officers and men, less the 30 or so he had sent into the Chasseur, plus the prisoners, though the prisoners only received 2/3 of a ration each. That made - 85 rations? 75? And how long would it take him to reach Gideon’s Bay? Not to mention the convoy that he had sent the Chasseur to intercept. But the admiral was waiting for an answer. “No, sir, we’re a little short.”
“Well, Dr M’Mullen knows the area and may be able to direct you to another source, otherwise you’ll have to go on short allowance. The whole squadron is short of water, and I can’t spare you any. Now, get on over to the Cranberry and take on that coal, you’ll need to be underway by eight bells in the afternoon watch.”
* * *
While Philip returned to the Badger and took on coal, Dr M’Mullen returned to the cabin in which he had had his home these few days. He remembered Captain Fitton, of course, though for the moment it seemed that the best course would be not to mention this, and in any event his attention was already divided between his forthcoming work in Gideon’s bay and the details of packing. Essentially, the issue came dow to how long he would be away from the Viceroy, and of course he had no idea. He sorted through his books - Robbins on pathology, Scott, the collected works of Dr Maturin, essays on surgery and splinting by Randolf, a monograph on pulmonary complaints by a Frenchman whose name consistently escaped him, many others, equally valuable. And then there were his instruments, including the tourniquet that still didn’t work, though new ideas had come to him over breakfast that morning. His writing chest would have to some, and of course some clothes, and he was deep in these considerations when a midshipman knocked at his door to report the arrival of the Badger’s launch, ready to take him on board.
“Oh!” he said, “oh!” And he hurriedly stuffed his possessions pell-mell into his trunk, eventually sitting on it in order to get it closed, then turning around to find more books sitting on his cot. He stared blankly at them for a moment before hurriedly whipping off his shirt and laying it out on the cot, tossing the books on top of it and tying the sleeves around to whole, making an untidy parcel of it. “It will have to do,” he said, as the midshipman thundered on his door for the third time.
Author's Note|First Post|Previous|Next
GLOSSARY
GLOSSARY
Dr M’Mullen rose, quietly excusing himself as the discussion moved to purely naval affairs. He had to pack, he explained, and wanted to be sure that he didn’t leave anything behind. The admiral stood and shook his hand; Philip stood and bowed.
“You also need coal,” said the Admiral, looking at Philip’s statement again once the door closed behind M’Mullen. “We had a collier join a day or so back, the Cranberry, and you’ll have to pick up some from her. Luckily the sea is calm, so she’ll be able to use her donkey to lift it over. Water is something else again, though, and perhaps it would be best if you picked that up when you drop off your prisoners. You have enough water for that?”
Philip paused, trying to work the figures in his head. His total crew was about 100 officers and men, less the 30 or so he had sent into the Chasseur, plus the prisoners, though the prisoners only received 2/3 of a ration each. That made - 85 rations? 75? And how long would it take him to reach Gideon’s Bay? Not to mention the convoy that he had sent the Chasseur to intercept. But the admiral was waiting for an answer. “No, sir, we’re a little short.”
“Well, Dr M’Mullen knows the area and may be able to direct you to another source, otherwise you’ll have to go on short allowance. The whole squadron is short of water, and I can’t spare you any. Now, get on over to the Cranberry and take on that coal, you’ll need to be underway by eight bells in the afternoon watch.”
While Philip returned to the Badger and took on coal, Dr M’Mullen returned to the cabin in which he had had his home these few days. He remembered Captain Fitton, of course, though for the moment it seemed that the best course would be not to mention this, and in any event his attention was already divided between his forthcoming work in Gideon’s bay and the details of packing. Essentially, the issue came dow to how long he would be away from the Viceroy, and of course he had no idea. He sorted through his books - Robbins on pathology, Scott, the collected works of Dr Maturin, essays on surgery and splinting by Randolf, a monograph on pulmonary complaints by a Frenchman whose name consistently escaped him, many others, equally valuable. And then there were his instruments, including the tourniquet that still didn’t work, though new ideas had come to him over breakfast that morning. His writing chest would have to some, and of course some clothes, and he was deep in these considerations when a midshipman knocked at his door to report the arrival of the Badger’s launch, ready to take him on board.
“Oh!” he said, “oh!” And he hurriedly stuffed his possessions pell-mell into his trunk, eventually sitting on it in order to get it closed, then turning around to find more books sitting on his cot. He stared blankly at them for a moment before hurriedly whipping off his shirt and laying it out on the cot, tossing the books on top of it and tying the sleeves around to whole, making an untidy parcel of it. “It will have to do,” he said, as the midshipman thundered on his door for the third time.
Author's Note|First Post|Previous|Next
GLOSSARY
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Richmond Rail Heist #4
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GLOSSARY
There were several more questions, most from Jones. the bespectacled man, and all dealt with calmly and confidently by James. “We will capture the train on Friday, April 11, so we have about four days to get to Marietta. Travel in small groups until you’re well behind the front line, then the best may be to catch a train south from Chattanooga - the last train leaves at exactly five in the evening - but you may work that out for yourselves. I will be on the five o’clock train, or an earlier one.”
“What should we do if we’re stopped?” asked the bespectacled man.
“Tell as little as you need to in order to get by. Say you are on the run from the Federals in Kentucky, they’ll believe that, and you are on your way to join a unit in Georgia, where you have friends.”
“There is the Georgia 63rd, where my cousin is sergeant,” said a tall man. “His name is David Porter.”
“Say you are looking to join the Georgia 63rd, then, with David Porter as sergeant,” James continued. “If the Rebels push you to join, do so and desert at the first opportunity. The biggest difficulty will be to stay out of the Southern army. In any event, be sure to be on that train at 5:15 in the morning. Anyone not there will have to be left behind.”
First Post|Previous|Next
GLOSSARY
GLOSSARY
There were several more questions, most from Jones. the bespectacled man, and all dealt with calmly and confidently by James. “We will capture the train on Friday, April 11, so we have about four days to get to Marietta. Travel in small groups until you’re well behind the front line, then the best may be to catch a train south from Chattanooga - the last train leaves at exactly five in the evening - but you may work that out for yourselves. I will be on the five o’clock train, or an earlier one.”
“What should we do if we’re stopped?” asked the bespectacled man.
“Tell as little as you need to in order to get by. Say you are on the run from the Federals in Kentucky, they’ll believe that, and you are on your way to join a unit in Georgia, where you have friends.”
“There is the Georgia 63rd, where my cousin is sergeant,” said a tall man. “His name is David Porter.”
“Say you are looking to join the Georgia 63rd, then, with David Porter as sergeant,” James continued. “If the Rebels push you to join, do so and desert at the first opportunity. The biggest difficulty will be to stay out of the Southern army. In any event, be sure to be on that train at 5:15 in the morning. Anyone not there will have to be left behind.”
First Post|Previous|Next
GLOSSARY
Monday, June 15, 2009
Richmond Rail Heist #3
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GLOSSARY
Once the three men could no longer be seen nor heard, and once James had interrogated each man's gaze, he knelt to the ground and continued, opening his dark lantern slightly and drawing in the earth with a stick as he continued. William and the other men knelt with him, as much as to hear him as to see his drawing.
"This is Chattanooga," James said, "a major rail center. The Greybacks rely on it to run supplies up to Tennessee and Virginia - especially Virginia - from the south. This is the Western and Atlantic Railroad. It is the only run into Chattanooga from the south.”
“So we are to take the railroad?” a small bespectacled man broke in.
“We are to destroy it,” said James, patiently, once the thunder and dog dissipated enough for him to be heard.
“Cut it?” pushed the bespectacled man.
“Destroy it,” James explained. “It crosses 17 bridges, and we are to burn most of them.”
“Balderdash!” said the bespectacled man. “One bridge, maybe, but even that. Since them attempted burnings last moth they’ve doubled the guard. No way it can be done.” He continued in this vein for a while until he realized that his audience was not with him, and was waiting for him to shut up already, when he fell awkwardly silent.
“Not at all,” said James, once the man was quiet again. “We catch the 5:15 train north from Marietta, as passengers, then capture the train at Halsey Junction, when the passengers and crew get off for breakfast. There is no telegraph there, and no other locomotive there to chase us.
“Once we have the train we move north, cutting telegraph wires and burning bridges as we go.”
“It’s a single track line,” protested the bespectacled man. “You’ll hit another train for sure.”
James shook his head, waited for another roll of thunder - no answering dog this time - and still in his calm, quiet voice, explained that the single track was to their advantage. They would keep to their train’s schedule, ensuring that the track was cleared for them, and no one would be the wiser until they passed. By the time anyone realized something was wrong, the telegraph wires would be cut, preventing calls to the north to intercept them. “By late afternoon we’ll be back behind Federal lines, having left Chattanooga cut-off and vulnerable to General Mitchel’s troops, who will be marching south to take it.”
First Post|Previous|Next
GLOSSARY
GLOSSARY
Once the three men could no longer be seen nor heard, and once James had interrogated each man's gaze, he knelt to the ground and continued, opening his dark lantern slightly and drawing in the earth with a stick as he continued. William and the other men knelt with him, as much as to hear him as to see his drawing.
"This is Chattanooga," James said, "a major rail center. The Greybacks rely on it to run supplies up to Tennessee and Virginia - especially Virginia - from the south. This is the Western and Atlantic Railroad. It is the only run into Chattanooga from the south.”
“So we are to take the railroad?” a small bespectacled man broke in.
“We are to destroy it,” said James, patiently, once the thunder and dog dissipated enough for him to be heard.
“Cut it?” pushed the bespectacled man.
“Destroy it,” James explained. “It crosses 17 bridges, and we are to burn most of them.”
“Balderdash!” said the bespectacled man. “One bridge, maybe, but even that. Since them attempted burnings last moth they’ve doubled the guard. No way it can be done.” He continued in this vein for a while until he realized that his audience was not with him, and was waiting for him to shut up already, when he fell awkwardly silent.
“Not at all,” said James, once the man was quiet again. “We catch the 5:15 train north from Marietta, as passengers, then capture the train at Halsey Junction, when the passengers and crew get off for breakfast. There is no telegraph there, and no other locomotive there to chase us.
“Once we have the train we move north, cutting telegraph wires and burning bridges as we go.”
“It’s a single track line,” protested the bespectacled man. “You’ll hit another train for sure.”
James shook his head, waited for another roll of thunder - no answering dog this time - and still in his calm, quiet voice, explained that the single track was to their advantage. They would keep to their train’s schedule, ensuring that the track was cleared for them, and no one would be the wiser until they passed. By the time anyone realized something was wrong, the telegraph wires would be cut, preventing calls to the north to intercept them. “By late afternoon we’ll be back behind Federal lines, having left Chattanooga cut-off and vulnerable to General Mitchel’s troops, who will be marching south to take it.”
First Post|Previous|Next
GLOSSARY
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Richmond Rail Heist #2
The next day, William met his fellow raiders. Just after dusk, One Eye's instructions sent him to a small, wooded hill, perhaps a quarter of a mile from the road. Regular peals of thunder rumbled ominously overhead, answered each time by the baying of a dog somewhere off to the east, just as regular and just as ominous. So far the rain held off.
Surprisingly, One Eye was not there. In his place was a giant bear of a man, tall, wide, with thick black hair, a thick black beard, and a Roman nose between two dark eyes. He said his name was James, though whether this was his first or his last name did not appear. Approximately two dozen men surrounded him.
What did appear was his charisma and his calm, easy authority, in spite of a strangely high-pitched voice. "Lads," he said, pausing from time to time for the thunder and its answering dog, "you have been chosen for a most important mission which, if successful, will split the Rebels in two and throw them into considerable confusion and disarray. It will not be terribly difficult, though it will require real bravery, and if unsuccessful, they will treat us as spies."
"Spies?" asked one of the men, a thin, green-jacketed man with a prominent adam's apple.
"They will hang us up," James said, looking around at the assembled me as the thunder and dog rumbled again. "If any of you want out, now is the time."
Green Jacket and a man in a tattered slouch hat shook their heads. "I've got a wife and two kids, and another on the way," said Slouch Hat, "I wish you all good luck and all, but I can't go."
"Anyone else?" asked James, catching each man's eyes and looking into them, one by one. Another man shook his head and stepped back, muttering something, and followed Green Jacket and Slouch Hat into the trees.
Surprisingly, One Eye was not there. In his place was a giant bear of a man, tall, wide, with thick black hair, a thick black beard, and a Roman nose between two dark eyes. He said his name was James, though whether this was his first or his last name did not appear. Approximately two dozen men surrounded him.
What did appear was his charisma and his calm, easy authority, in spite of a strangely high-pitched voice. "Lads," he said, pausing from time to time for the thunder and its answering dog, "you have been chosen for a most important mission which, if successful, will split the Rebels in two and throw them into considerable confusion and disarray. It will not be terribly difficult, though it will require real bravery, and if unsuccessful, they will treat us as spies."
"Spies?" asked one of the men, a thin, green-jacketed man with a prominent adam's apple.
"They will hang us up," James said, looking around at the assembled me as the thunder and dog rumbled again. "If any of you want out, now is the time."
Green Jacket and a man in a tattered slouch hat shook their heads. "I've got a wife and two kids, and another on the way," said Slouch Hat, "I wish you all good luck and all, but I can't go."
"Anyone else?" asked James, catching each man's eyes and looking into them, one by one. Another man shook his head and stepped back, muttering something, and followed Green Jacket and Slouch Hat into the trees.
Monday, June 8, 2009
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