Linking Book by KatesFriend
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I realized the moment I fell into the fissure that the book would not be destroyed as I had planned. It continued falling into that starry expanse, of which I had only a fleeting glimpse. I have tried to speculate where it might have landed, but I must admit that such conjecture is futile. Still, questions about whose hands might one day hold my Myst book are unsettling to me. I know my apprehensions might never be allayed, and so I close, realizing that perhaps the ending has not yet been written. - From the journals of Atrus, Ghen's son, D'ni scribe of Rehgehstoy (the Art).
"Begin at the beginning and end at the ending Nutmeg", my mother's advise when I had to explain difficult matters. Regrettably, this ending has not yet been written. I would take the tram home from the internet cafe at night. I avoided walking through the city forest after dusk. Though not foreboding, it was a dark place, a last refuge of the ancient world within our urban realm. The night truly holds sway within its borders and you can easily lose your bearings in there. But exiting my favourite haunt, I was struck by the uncanny brilliance of the stars above. As if angels had cleaned the windows of heaven, the air was steady and crystal clear. I was overcome with the desire to view them as far from artificial light as possible. I rushed into the woods which began just across the street from my cafe. Not even the big 'sleepy moon' could blind one to the spectacle. I found a silent circle of pine trees shimmering in the blended lights of moon and stars. Then if not enough, the most curious thing of all. At first I thought it be a meteor or a fragment of one, glowing faintly as it passed into the atmosphere. But it did not fall, it floated down as if by (unseen) parachute. Clearly no unfortunate planetary wanderer, disfigured by the fires of decent, it was oblong and smooth. It struck a grassy clearing with a blue flash like a pantagraph spark. Investigating, I found the object to be no rock of silicates, nickel or iron, but a book! Like the trees it shimmered, pages rimmed with colours that twinkled, flowed and mixed around the edges. Faint, there was the not unexpected scent of ozone clinging to its fine leather binds. But remarkably, and I thought impossibly, the definite smell of sea air. As if an unseen beach had dropped from the sky along with this tome. The jacket was marked with one word - MYST. No author, no publisher, no dates. Even through my gaunts I felt a curious electric tingle as I touched the binding and slowly opened the cover. I wondered what sensory surprise might be in store if I used my bare hand? The pages were filled with a complex cursive script, unlike anything I had ever seen in libraries, TVO, BBC, PBS or the internet. Hand written with a fine pen, no two symbols looking the same, as much works of art on their own. Page after page of, for all I knew, elegant jibberish until I came across something very different. One impossible picture. An animated picture! A 3D animated picture! No glasses, like looking through a window. How could it be? But there it was. The 'visual' soared above a vast gray, turbulent sea. There was wind in my ears and the distant piping of birds. Then out of shrouding mist, an island, rocky but green with tall trees and trimmed grasses. An island with stone and metal buildings and other rather curious structures. A rocketship? Then circling the surreal landscape, spiraling down, each pass a little lower. Until coming to a complete halt over a sun drenched, wooden dock of all things. Real, yet unreal. I felt the tense air pressure of a coming storm, I heard the lapping of water against pilons, I saw strange birds charting the shoreline. And more than ever, the tangy salt smell of the sea lifting out of the MYST book. The picture, as lifelike as my hand that might pass through this window if I just touched- - From the 'e-journal' of Reh'MÃ¥gen (Megan 'Nutmeg' Drucilla Brown), friend of Atrus and Catherine.
Comments (30)
Bossie_Boots
Very interesting story love the image to and the thumbnail is awesome !!
Wolfmanw
Wonderful Image love the pose, expression.
MagikUnicorn
SUper COOOOL Work
drifterlee
Beautiful scene!!!!!
alessimarco
Awesome image! The lighting is very fine!
necrophage
fascinating scene, pov and lighting!
stonelight
Interesting scene and beautiful light. Fantastic work!
magnus073
Magnificent work on this one Clayton, as it seems to me you brought this moment from the story to life so well. The lighting for this one had to be difficult, and it really does make the scene.
eekdog
one very beautiful image clayton.
mgtcs
A very beautiful image with a marvelous lighting Clayton, excellent story!
tennesseecowgirl
Wonderful work my friend.
2Loose2Trek
That's a fascinating narrative and what wonderful mysterious moonlit and glowing Myst book. Excellent work!
sandra46
SUPER COOL IMAGE!GREAT STORY
Faemike55
Wonderful render and great narrative! Excellent work, Both!
MOSKETON
REALMENTE FANTASTICA.
PHELINAS
Thank you for the story,Clayton.Outstanding work where the subtle harmony of the colors as the shades and the lights translate perfectly the mood.Congrats .Great work!Very great!
renecyberdoc
excellent work and composition.5+.
J5ive
Excellent scene and work!!
npauling
A super image to go with this wonderful story. I love her amazed expression and the great lighting that brings mystery to your book. A lovely work.
anitalee
Nice work
evielouise
I cannot read all the capture and story line with my eye problem but I sure love the work you've created: wow hugs
flavia49
wonderful image!!
aerrynn
A wonderful image and fantastic lighting!
SIGMAWORLD
Excellent!
mikeywilliam
WONDERFUL
SyberianFrost
Fantastic image
chimera46
Hehe, if it ain't on TVO, it ain't worth knowing about...
A_Sunbeam
Full of mystery and atmosphere!
Deane
Great story to go with the image which is suitably atmospheric. Excellent work!
myrrhluz
What a totally enjoyable read! I love stories where there is a link between different worlds, a doorway that opens unto the unfamiliar. Whether it is through a wardrobe (yes, I saw the Doctor Who Christmas special), a mirror, or by helping a girl called Door from London Below. All books are links of a sort, though some don't link to anything particularly interesting (Ann Coulter's name springs to mind). So for a book to physically link two worlds is very appealing to me. I like the reasons that Meghan went into the forest and your descriptions of the place. Called by the stars she entered a world, that while not one of extreme danger, was stepping away from the familiar and safe. Beautiful description of the book, and the land she see in the picture. Why did Atrus want to destroy it, and when will he and Meghan become friends? I hope you plan to write more of their story. Beautiful image! Wonderful light and POV. I like the light and colors on the edges of the pages and reflecting off of the book onto her clothes and face. Wonderful expression, as she is fixated on the page. I like the close proximity of the book, and her e-notebook. Beautiful scene of trees and moon behind her. Excellent work!