The Folly of the World
Page 49
“And if you find yourself imagining it’s your wife or little niece under that witch-sack, and if you then find yourself imagining that maybe I won’t be quite so cross if tragedy strikes and the delivery does not transpire for any number of reasonable excuses, then, dear Manny, then I want you to remember, and you will not need to imagine because we both know that it is true, then I want you to remember that I know just where your wife and niece sleep this night, and every other.” Von Stein smiled and raised his pistol toward the tent flap as it was ripped aside, the touchhole at the base of the weapon hovering beside the candle. Manuel took three steps before he noticed the gun, and then the long blade of his sword slowly slunk back into its scabbard as the artist backed out of the tent. Von Stein smiled in the empty, bright pavilion, while outside in the damp night Manuel futilely tried to stop picturing his wife or his niece under the sackcloth and iron as he led the witch into the darkness.
BY JESSE BULLINGTON
The Sad Tale of the Brothers Grossbart
The Enterprise of Death
The Folly of the World
Praise for the novels of Jesse Bullington:
“Beautifully balancing putridity, profanity, and poignancy, Bullington renders The Enterprise of Death resonant and achingly human—even as it brims with the unhuman.”
—The Onion A.V. Club
“Striking and often funny…”
—Publishers Weekly
“Discomfiting, disgusting and at times as grotesquely pleasurable as picking at a scab.”
—Kirkus
“This debut novel is kind of like the unexpurgated versions of Grimm’s fairy tales, as imagined by Chuck Palahniuk on some seriously bad drugs. Bullington clearly has a great appreciation for the rich history of folklore, and his viscerally evocative writing is excellent.”
—Library Journal
“Bullington is definitely a promising new writer of the fantastic.”
—RT Book Reviews
“As the antithesis of conventional fantasy, this is a tour de force…”
—The Telegraph (UK)
“… A novel of great humor, deep theology and gratuitous murder and quite unlike anything I’ve read before. I absolutely loved it… one of the books of the year for sure!”
—SFRevu.com
“The wicked sense of amorality and humor will appeal to many who like their humor dark. Like its amazing cover, it is a satisfyingly clever, well-plotted book that never takes itself too seriously and a very promising debut.”
—SFFWorld.com
“Bullington paints a world appropriately dark and sinister with a confidence that makes you wonder if he knew someone who lived there.”
—Graemesfantasybookreview.com
“Darkly funny, profane, erudite, bawdy, and wickedly original… the debut of an amazing new talent.”
—Jeff VanderMeer
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Bibliography
In addition to the following texts, I am deeply in the debt of several individuals who assisted me with various aspects of this project. First among these is Ekaterina Sedia, who aided with a rare instance of non-Dutch translation, proverb hunting, and general wisdom-acquisition. Then there are the generous folk at the Erfgoedcentrum Dordrecht (the city archives and heritage center), the Nationaal Park De Biesbosch (especially Daniel—bedankt again!), and the Biesbosch Museum Werkendam, who took the time to assist a blathering Yank who barged in with a hundred esoteric questions of dubious import. I would also be remiss if I didn’t mention the youthful tutelage I received from Edgar and his mother Monique Wurfbain, Headmaster Himmel, Albert and Anika and their daughters, Michael and his family, Martin and his, a certain crew of role-playing students at the International School of the Hague, and especially my classmates in Poeldijk for all helping me along in my Dutch education. Penultimately, I must offer many, many thanks to Willem Valkenberg and Joyce Himbrecht for all of the above, as well as a thousand things besides—suffice to say, I owe them for putting up with me as an adult of suspect maturity in general as well as for their assistance with this book in particular. Finally, a rousing proost for Travis, Ari, and Riley of Amsterdam, and the staff of the Dordrecht Stayokay Hostel, for hosting me when I was researching this novel—the ability to relax and rest are crucial components of a successful investigation, and never was I so relaxed and rested as when I was in their company.
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… And sure, maybe just the once: Wikipedia (http://www.wikipedia.org/).
Contents
Welcome
Dedication
Author’s Note
Feast of the Annunciation 1422
All Saints Day 1422
Spring 1423
Chapter I.
Chapter II.
Chapter III.
Chapter IV.
Chapter V.
Chapter VI.
Chapter VII.
Chapter VIII.
Chapter IX.
Chapter X.
Chapter XI.
Walpurgisnacht 1423
Chapter I.
Chapter II.
Chapter III.
Chapter IV.
Chapter V.
Chapter VI.
Chapter VII.
Chapter VIII.
Chapter IX.
Chapter X.
Feast of Saint Servatius 1423
Feast of Saint Alberic of Utrecht 1425
Easter 1424
Chapter I.
Chapter II.
Autumn 1425
Chapter I.
Chapter II.
Chapter III.
Chapter IV.
Chapter V.
Januari 1426
Chapter I.
Chapter II.
Chapter III.
Chapter IV.
Chapter V.
Februari 1426
Chapter I.
Chapter II.
Chapter III.
Chapter IV.
Chapter V.
Chapter VI.
Chapter VII.
Shrovetide 1426
Chapter I.
Chapter II.
Chapter III.
Chapter IV.
Ash Wednesday 1426
Acknowledgments
Extras
Meet the Author
A Preview of The Enterprise of Death
By Jesse Bullington
Praise for the novels of Jesse Bullington
Newsletters
Bibliography
Copyright
Copyright
The characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author.
Copyright © 2012 by Jesse Bullington
Excerpt from The Enterprise of Death copyright © 2011 by Jesse Bullington
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ISBN 978-0-316-20171-1