16:37 (ANNA)

Statistics as of chapter 39:
Wordcount: 47,613 words
Average chapter: 1,190 words
Longest chapter: 1,939 words
Shortest chapter: 711 words
Projected length: 53,550 words
Number of chapters: 45

MCM is taking a sugar break before he begins Chapter 40. He looks jittery. Also he’s trying to be funny but failing. Ha. Typical. And Jan is busy watching some cycling event…?

Here’s the chapter 39 outline:

Tuur doesn’t kill them. Unties them instead. Says Adele is right, that this is not who he is. When it comes down to it, he needs to do what HE thinks is right, not what his father would have done. The weapon is hidden in the floor of the south side of the Vooruit building, yes? Henri nods. Then they haven’t much time, because von Schiff is moving there with troops now. They run for the building, but come across American troops, a small detachment, running there too. Meet Col Anderson again. He knew who von Schiff was the whole time, but he had to let them go so he could track them and see where they’d end up. But now they’ve got him and it’s all going to be taken care of. Stay put, and he’ll call ’em if he needs ‘em. They’re stuck down the street as a firefight breaks out, von Schiff’s forces vs the Americans. Francis and Adele race through the crossfire on the way to the Vooruit building. Dash through lobby, end up in basement, find vault in floor. Francis asks for help opening, crowbar or something, but Tur is gone. Trying to open it when von Schiff arrives gun aimed at Adele’s face.

I don’t have much to say about this chapter, except it seems like the stories are starting to come together. The weapon is hidden in the Vooruit, and Valerie/Koen keep hanging out there as well and are on the hunt for a WWII artefact…. What if the Nazi gold is really the weapon or whatever that Francis et al are looking for? Hm. I still do not see how the Damascus storyline ties in.

Right MCM has gone off for a walk so I’ll be back later.

17.12

Wooo… got distracted, completely didn’t realize that MCM has finished chapter 40 BEFORE going on his walk so now I’m playing catch up while Jan goes out for a smoke (yet again!).

Here was the outline:

Citadel is under attack. Aziz climbs to the top of a wall and looks out and spots Khouri’s whole block on fire. Gets near but can’t see Jasmin or Boulos anywhere. Then they find him, Boulos dragging Jasmine along as she cries that her father will die. The crowd moves them to the gates with refugees, and Aziz looks back over his shoulder as the siege lays in.

I have to admit to being a little disappointed by the Damascus storyline. I have no idea how it relates to the rest, and I feel like MCM is just jerking our chain. The whole egg hunt for Jasmine, for example, was a waste of time. And despite all the drama about the mirrors and the sketching lessons etc, they didn’t manage to copy portions of the mosque wall nor get Khouri to leave. It seems a waste. And now after all that he gives up?

That is all I have to say for the moment. There’s only 5 more chapters left to write, in 5 hours. MCM’s bang on track although I don’t know what he’s going to do about dinner!