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First of all, why should we need to retire? If we are not tired in the first place, why re-tire? There is so much we can do beyond 60.
The more important question is – "Why are we so tired that we would want to be retired?"
Photo from an Arizona retirement center. Is this really worthy of a dream?
Generally we are tired because we are working too much… at something that does not sufficiently fulfill rather than having fun, doing what we love… AND earning in the process. This site focuses on ways to create micro businesses that earn but more importantly are gratifying, fun and serving the mission you feel needs to be filled.
This is the first time in recorded history when the value of life's experience at retirement age is more valuable than the the cost of obtaining it. Our best, most profitable, most enjoyable and helpful career should be after age 50, 60 or even 70.
There are numerous economic scenarios that could ruin retirement for many. Inflation, a falling greenback, another market crash or recession. Any of these could doom traditional retirement plans. The timing of these events are beyond our control.
That's okay because diversification into a business that fulfills and serves can be better than stocks and bonds, cash and gold… all put together.
Right now… cash pays nothing. Bonds are quite sure to lose purchasing power. Gold could rise or fall. Shares are at an all time high which creates a problem of timing… if you are near a time when you need the money from your stock investments.
A reader sent a note that highlighted the importance of invest timing for retirement.
"Gary, is there not one period in each person's life when market timing is very relevant? —- when they are leaving the 40-hour work force (and predictable if limited paycheck) and have to begin 401K and IRA withdrawals and pay taxes. Is a different strategy required for distribution than is required for accumulation?
On Market Timing
My reply was: "We can never tell what markets will do in the short term. No matter what the market has done, it may do more of the same…or it may not. Looking for value is a more accurate and dependable than trying to predict tops and bottoms in the long run. In the long run… only the long run is reliable."
This is why the less you have time for your investments to work… the less important market timing becomes. When you reach the distribution stage in your investments… you cannot afford to wait years for your investment to bring a profit.
If you have $500,000 in a 401K and need $20,000 per annum to retire this requires a 4% withdrawal. If the market (and your shares) drops 30% your $500,000 shrinks to $350,000 and now you have to draw almost 6% to gain your $20,000 a year. If a market stays weak for three years… the $350,000 has been depleted so there is less capital to make up the loss when the market recovers.
In addition, because of inflation each year the $20,000 is likely to buy less. So even more demand may be placed on a diminished portfolio.
What we do not know exactly is when markets will rise or fall. What we do know about market timing is that "periods of high performance are generally followed by periods of low performance".
This is especially true in today's highly leveraged world. Today, currency markets can be leveraged 100/1. Stock markets can be leveraged 10/1. This means that when panic strikes, markets can go down fast. Even the safest investments can go down very quickly.
This means that periods of high performance may be followed by periods of sudden, dramatic low performance.
As markets rise, the value of the investments in the market tend to drop.
April 2013 finance.yahoo.com chart of the Dow Jones Industrial.
The Dow, now at an all time high, is at risk of a severe and dramatic drop.
Can one depend entirely on the stock market to retire or not? So if there is retirement danger in equity markets and cash and bands and gold, where can one go?
Having your own micro business is a great approach. An April 2013 Sunday Times article "Over 50, and Under No Illusions" by Diego Ibarra Sanchez helps us see why.
Here is an excerpt: It's a baby boomer's nightmare. One moment you're 40-ish and moving up, the next you're 50-plus and suddenly, shockingly, moving out — jobless in a tough economy.
Too young to retire, too old to start over. Or at least that's the line. Comfortable jobs with comfortable salaries are scarce, after all. Almost overnight, skills honed over a lifetime seem tired, passé. Twenty- and thirty-somethings will gladly do the work you used to do, and probably for less money. Yes, businesses are hiring again, but not nearly fast enough. Many people are so disheartened that they've simply stopped looking for work. Though there is no single path, there are success stories that offer hope.
The article shares success stories about boomers without jobs who became a franchisee, a real estate renovator and a networker.
Plus the article tells of this inventor.
Photo from New York Times Magazine (link below)
The article says: Jeffrey Nash, shown with Donna Sanchez, invented the Juppy, a sling that helps children learn to walk.
After 15 years selling men's clothing for a national retailer, Jeffrey Nash, 58, was earning $90,000 a year and was often the top salesman in his company. But as the recession deepened, he began referring his customers to struggling co-workers. His sales commissions took a hit.
"I kind of softened up," he says. "My sales went down because I was sharing them."
His income fell to $65,000. And as shoppers became more cautious during the recession, he knew that it would soon fall even further.
"I was doomed," he says. "I knew I had to come up with an idea."
Mr. Nash, who lives in Las Vegas, had invented a device he called the Juppy, a sling that helps toddlers learn to walk more safely and confidently.
"I had already touched base with a patent attorney and had started the ball rolling," he says. He took three weeks of vacation to see if he could make a go of his invention, telling only a few people about his plans. Their opinions were "really negative," he recalls.
Undaunted, he drove to Los Angeles and San Diego, selling the Juppy from his trunk and on a televised sales show, and earning $12,000 in three weeks.
"I never went back to work," he says.
Investing $35,000 of his savings and an additional $9,000 from his father and a friend, Mr. Nash had the device manufactured in China.
"The transition was simple," he says. "If I'd stayed in my old job, I was going to lose in the end. I was done. I needed a massive change. I needed income of several hundred thousand dollars. I knew I had to take a risk, a massive risk."
That included selling his home — for $200,000 less than he had paid for it, because of the downturn — and renting a house instead.
"I used to drive a Lexus," he says. "I let that go. I don't need it anymore."
Mr. Nash has since sold $500,000 worth of his product, netting $200,000 in two and a half years, an annual average of $80,000. He is relieved, and proud of having successfully leapt from the familiar into the unknown.
"It's unbelievable to me that at my age I recognized a need and filled it," he says.
"We're having a hard time filling orders right now, we have so much demand."
Here are three benefits of a micro business.
First, from a timing point of view… you can start any time and work through ups and downs. Your own business can adapt more quickly to your circumstances because it is under your control… not at the whims of a market.
Secondly, a business integrates your energy with an investment so provides maximum income as well as the best tax benefits.
Third, because this is YOUR business, you can do what you love… serving, satisfying, earning and having fun all in one package. You can find and achieve your destiny with a pinnacle career
In my mind your own business is not an encore… but the real performance. The past career was just the warm up act. What many call an encore is not the end at all. This is the beginning of a pinnacle career.
Improve retirement economics through writing.
The careers we create in our 50s, 60s, 70s and even 80s benefits from our greatest experience and the growth of wisdom. These can be our pinnacle careers… the best ones that earn more… are truly fulfilling and provide a greater service to mankind.
I prefer to think of careers for those aged 50 and beyond as pinnacle careers. These careers are what we are here for. I call call them our destiny careers.
Merri and I share two passions…. writing and fixing up old things. We love seeing through the grime and neglect in old places that have a grace and solid reputation shrouded in time. There is a tasteful architecture from a passed by style that used to require individual care, pride and effort… artisans and laborers working side by side carving, painting and polishing masterpieces atop solid engineering.
Our latest fixer-upper venture… a cottage 101 years old…. and still handsome in her stately charm.
Writing is fixing up as well. There is plenty of grime and neglect in society that requires washing away with words. Whether a book, report, article, course or magazine sharing an idea or selling some product or service, their writing is an architecture in words… art and English… carving in syntax and polishing function and form.
The foundation of all writing are ideas. They support a framework of love, hate and desire and all the emotions throbbing through the heartbeat of humanity.
Writing builds shelters against the storms of stagnation and creates progressive energy that artistically leads us from the tyrannical grasp of existing thought into new dimensions and ideas.
Marco Polo photo from Wikipedia.com
Take Marco Polo and the impact he had on changing the thought process of the Western world.
Marco Polo was a merchant and an explorer. He saw wonders when he ventured into the Eastern world. When he shared these wonders it altered the entire way that mankind in Europe lived… from the introduction of gun powder to paper money. Yet Marco was able to share these innovations due to his writing!
Biography.com says of Marco Polo's exploits (bolds are mine): Just a few years after his return to Venice, Marco commanded a ship in a war against the rival city of Genoa. He was eventually captured and sentenced to a Genoese prison, where he met a fellow prisoner and writer named Rustichello. As the two men became friends, Marco told Rustichello about his time in Asia, what he'd seen, where he'd traveled and what he'd accomplished. His stories were soon committed to paper and eventually published as a book called The Description of the World,
The book made Marco, who was released from prison in 1299, a celebrity. It was printed in French, Italian and Latin, becoming the most popular read in Europe. But few readers allowed themselves to believe Marco's tale. They took it to be fiction, the construct of a man with a wild imagination. The work eventually earned another title: Il Milione ("The Million Lies"). Marco, however, stood behind his book. He also moved on with his life. After his release from prison, he returned to Venice, where he married, raised three daughters and, for some 25 years, carried on the family business. Marco died at his home in Venice on January 8, 1324. As he lay dying, friends and fans of his book paid him visits, urging him to admit that his book was fiction. Marco wouldn't relent. "I have not told half of what I saw," he said.
Marco's desire to earn more money, his travels and adventures were the foundation of his destiny, but his writing was his legacy. Here is one more excerpt from Biography.com.
In the centuries since his death, Marco Polo has received the recognition that failed to come his way during his lifetime. So much of what he claimed to have seen has been verified by researchers, academics and other explorers. Even if his accounts came from other travelers he met along the way, Marco's story has inspired countless other adventurers to set off and see the world. Two centuries after Marco's passing, Christopher Columbus set off across the Atlantic in hopes of finding a new route to the Orient. With him was a copy of Marco Polo's book.
Writing to sell is one of the most powerful forms of marketing and marketing is what we do in every aspect of life… every day.
The heart of all events requires marketing. We market ourselves, our business, our thoughts ideas and beliefs all the time. In business, marketing covers strategic planning, product design, packaging, distribution, advertising, public relations, promotions and sales. Marketing is the process by which anything and everything, product, service, idea, person is introduced and promoted. Without marketing, you may be or have something great, but no one knows it.
All marketing begins with writing… whether, a speech, picture, video, movie, advertisement, announcement, banner, jingle, song… the birth place is in the written word.
Consider writing as one part of your pinnacle career.
Pinnacle Careers are Destiny Careers
Why Write to Sell?
Writing to sell unlocks the dreams of destiny held in your heart. Writing to sell can improve your lifestyle in unbounded, exciting ways… and writing can open your heart so it leads to your destiny… and it also satisfies the financial necessities we all require.
You unlock amazing benefits: joy, service and money available when you write to sell. You gain these benefits because writing unlocks creativity.
But how do we turn on Creativity through Writing?
Julia B. Cameron, an American teacher, award winning author, artist, poet, playwright, novelist, filmmaker, composer, and journalist.
Over the past 30 years Julia Cameron has written fifteen books and countless TV, film, and theater scripts, including an episode of Miami Vice, movies including Taxi Driver, New York, New York, and The Last Waltz. She is an award-winning playwright and has had films premier at the Chicago International Film Festival, and selected by the London Film Festival, the Munich International Film Festival, and Women in Film Festival.
The title of her book "The Right to Write" hits an important chord that can help us understand how writing to sell enhances our lives and those around us.
Cameron is quoted with two important statements.
The first is "Each of us has an inner dream that we can unfold if we will just have the courage to admit what it is. And the faith to trust our own admission. The admitting is often very difficult."
This quote reveals a pain, so many suffer, from the pressure of burying the fact that they have a dream.
Her second quote shares a way to sum up courage that releases that suffering so we can admit our dreams. She wrote: "Creativity – like human life itself – begins in darkness."
Once we realize that not knowing and not seeing are natural… we are released from the tyranny of reason!
Cameron's writing certainly led her to fulfill great dreams.
She started her journalism career at the Washington Post, then moved to Rolling Stone. She met Martin Scorsese when interviewing him for Rolling Stone. They wed.
This is a clue… ordinary people can do extraordinary things… go to extraordinary places… meeting extraordinary people when they write. There is more on this prestige you gain when writing later.
Yet Cameron's charmed life shows even more about the power of writing. Success led her into alcoholism and drug abuse and psychotic episodes.
Writing saved her.
She quit drugs and booze and began using writing to unblock her destiny. She used creativity as the spiritual path to lead her back to happiness and success.
Writing can lead us to and through our destiny and when we follow a destiny, creativity just follows.
Are you developing your creativity to prepare for the modern world of work?
Most destinies lead to a material lifestyle and no destiny leaves our material needs unfilled. We write to sell because we live in a material world that is rapidly changing. Every aspect of life is being changed by technology… the very root of our thought process is becoming more virtual, but of all the changes… the one that has the biggest impact on a daily basis is how change affects our finances. This is why the selling part of writing is important.
Being childlike starts creativity because our childish dreams are mirrors reflecting our destiny and they look forward not back.
One way to keep up with change is to be childlike in our thinking.
Photo of Jean Piaget from the "Great Decide Decision making in a complex world" (See link below).
Jean Piaget, a Swiss Psychologist, pioneered studies on child intelligence, was captivated by the reasons children gave for wrong answers to logical questions. He believed they revealed important differences between the thinking of adults and children.
He is quoted as saying: "The principle goal of education is to create men who are capable of doing new things, not simply of repeating what other generations have done – men who are creative, inventive and discoverers."
Piaget developed a theory about cognition in children based on the belief that they are born with a genetically inherited mental structure that is the basis for creativity.
Writing Enhances Creativity
Writing can bring your new life into existence when you're feeling stuck, blocked, or just tired of your existing lifestyle.
We all go through lulls in our lives. The problem is that many people come out of childhood and get stuck in natural and minor dips of adult responsibility. The pressures of daily life can suck the light out of our dreams, creativity and lifestyle.
A major reason for getting stuck is the fear of change.
Rather than relying on creativity and looking forward we cling to the past.
Creativity Helps Us Live Beyond the Fence
Imagine living in a wonderful city or countryside but surrounded by a high fence.
You hear rumbles that provide suggestions of a soothing, better and exciting life beyond the fence but you are afraid to open the gate because what's in your yard might escape.
This wonderful city or countryside outside the fence is your creative talent and bright, new future.
This new lifestyle is there waiting to be lived and enjoyed, but there is a fear of venturing out because no exact, specific pathway is illuminated.
Creativity is the light that reveals the path one step at a time.
Creativity is also a Key to Business Success
An article at psychologytoday.com entitled "Working Creativity – Tapping into your Everyday Genius" by Mark Batey, a Ph.D. in Working Creativity starts by asking:
Is Creativity the Number 1 Skill for the 21st Century?
Here are excerpts from this article: Creativity is the essential skillset for the future
Against a backdrop of uncertainty, economic turmoil and unprecedented change a new picture is emerging of the skills and traits for success (and perhaps even simply survival) in the modern era. At the heart of this essential skillset for the future lies… creativity.
A raft of recent research studies demonstrates that creativity is vital from the shopfloor to the boardroom and at the level of the individual to the organization as a whole. What is more… our economic fortunes at a societal level probably rest on creativity too.
Below are 7 (magnificent!) themes and some research studies that convinced me. I wonder if they will convince you of the cruciality of creativity too.
1 – Creativity and innovation are the number 1 strategic priorities for organizations the world over
2 – Creativity is part of all our day jobs
3 – Organizational profitability rests on individual creativity
4 – Creative teams perform better and are more efficient
5 – Creative organisations are more profitable
6. Creative Leadership is fundamental
7. Successful economies and societies will need to be creative
"Creativity may be the most powerful of all the resources to be rich in. With vast numbers of people entering the workforce, huge improvements in productivity, and continued globalisation, the rewards for innovation and creativity will become even greater."
Given that for much of the western world we have exhausted our supplies of cash and commodities, creativity may be all we have left.
So there we have it. 7 themes that demonstrate that creativity is the number 1 skill for the 21st Century.
The question is…
Are you developing your creativity to prepare for the modern world of work?
Writing unlocks your creativity. Your creativity creates TRUST and FAITH in yourself and your destiny.
Creativity, trust and faith are perfectly linked.
Merri and I learned this truth in the Ecuadorian shamanic method that led us in directions and ways we did not expect.
Many years ago, Merri and I had created enough wealth to make a major change in life without thinking about the cost. We bought a farm in North Carolina and a 950+ acre hacienda, Rosapamba, deep in the Andes. We moved to the hacienda and studied with Ecuador shamans.
Here is the start of the road to Rosaspamba, Ecuador where the shamans lived.
That's the good part of the road that ends in a grassy trail.
Our home is even more remote…down that trail to this point.
We had moved from a million dollar + house in Naples, Florida to this shack. We still had the millions but chose to live this new, humble lifestyle. This did not seem logical in business terms. Did it make us…
happy? Giddy is a better word perhaps. As you'll see it also led us to a fortune… a most logical investing and business decision that came… in a most illogical way.
This land is smoky with clouds… a primary forest shrouded in mystery… energy… life and nature's beautiful way.
The Ecuadorian shaman would take us for walks on these paths. As the trails narrowed… the cliffs became steep. Then he would say…
"Look ahead… close your eyes and walk. Trust the path. You know where to go. Your eyes blind your vision."
So we would wind our way…
along the cliffs… not seeing… but feeling where we were headed instead and knowing that the path was correct.
Let me see if I can express in words this process that cannot really be expressed… because without want or need… following paths we could not see but knew were there, and this led us to happiness, fulfillment but also incredible financial success.
In a year when businesses have been dying like flies our business rose 52%. During this downturn when many investors lost half their savings or more… our wealth was up… without any special attempt to make this so.
Luck? Perhaps… except this is not the first time… by closing our eyes and following how we felt… rather than what we saw, we have stumbled upon pots of gold while trying to do something else.
Merri and I urge you to unlock your creativity so that it can lead you towards your destiny that is fulfilled in your pinnacle career.
How We Can Help
We offer an online course. Self Fulfilled – How to Write to Sell for $299. Enroll here.
Even better we offer a year long program including attendance to a Writer's Camp. You receive the online course "Self Fulfilled – How to Write to Sell" free and save $299.
Writer's Camps – Join Us & Learn to Write to SellAttend our Writer's Camp in the Blue Ridge Mountains this summer or Florida this fall. When you enroll, you start immediately with our online course "Self Fulfilled – How to be a Self Publisher" (normally $299) which we send FREE, plus a pass to our Montreal investing seminar worth $799 to $999.
See how to attend two courses for the price of one and save $799 to $999 here.
Delegates talking over books at last year's summer Writer's Camp in the Blue Ridge.
Our Writer's Camps help you learn writing to sell… the business of writing and how to publish.
Attend our Writer's Camp in the Blue Ridge Mountains this summer. When you enroll, you start immediately with our online course "Self Fulfilled – How to be a Self Publisher" (normally $299) which we send FREE.
August 30-31-September 1 Super Thinking Writer's Camp, Jefferson, NC.
November 14-15-16 Super Thinking Writer's Camp, Mt. Dora, Fl.
Our summer and autumn camps last year sold out almost immediately and due to the small numbers we accept we must accept enrollments on a first come – first served basis.
Enroll Here. Single $799 Couple $999
Please indicate which camp you'll attend in the comments section.
My wife, Merri, and I have possibly the smallest… yet one of the highest earning… self publishing company in the world.
Our high earnings come from writing, self publishing secrets we learned and refined over the past 45 years of writing to sell. These secrets have worked so well they have earned extra millions for Merri and me and we share them at our writer's camps..
Our goal at the camps are to help you "Get Started"… but to "Start Small" and maybe like us stay that way… small… tightly focus but highly profitable.
45 years ago I started writing because I was broke. These problems over 40 years ago affected me for life. In fact I am so hung up on this that that Merri and I (we are so thankful that we can) give away money to help create jobs… we have now donated close to a million dollars in our quest to reduce joblessness.
Fortunately we do not have to work for money now. In fact we kinda retired almost 20 years ago. Now we do what we love and that happens to be writing!
Merri and I are writers and self publishers. Merri and I began publishing with no money and little background. We started small! As already mentioned, I was bust and had no background in writing. I did not finish college. Yet we have earned as much as $20,000 for a single day's work… and have earned consistently year in and year out… while we do what we love… because of a few secrets.
Our self publishing business has brought us millions. We own five houses, a farmhouse, six cabins and over 1,000 acres of land. Plus more money than we can spend, in the bank… safe, secure bonds and shares… no mortgages… no credit card bills and zero debt! We always make an annual six figure income but some years we bring in seven figures…over a million dollars. That's because we figured out that the lion's share of income earned from writing goes to the publisher.
Now we write to be self fulfilled… to share what we have gained from living, working, investing and writing all over the world.
We want to share these secrets with you so you can make a strong income and follow your destiny in a way that suits you and that you love.
There is more good news than the money. The secrets we share make working fun. You are your own boss. You gain respect so your ideas are listened to.
Most important you can be self fulfilled as you make the world a better place by writing.
We want the work on your publication to begin right away…. tomorrow even. I'll explain how you can begin right away in a moment.
Now let's get to the important stuff. Our life is less stressed (not stress free – every business has stress) but Self Publishing can be a low stress business… no commuting… choose your own hours… immersed in your passions with like minded souls. Work at home. How refreshing!
Here I am at our Florida home… at work?
Here I am at work in the Blue Ridge. Better than a cubicle for sure!
You can have fun every day doing what you love as you accomplish goals that are important… to you… and are a service to your community.
What do you love? Why not make the kinds of money I've just mentioned publishing your passion and do something good for the world at the same time?
Your passion and self publishing create…magic, wealth, happiness.
Three other things you gain.
#1: Respect. If you are not a recluse like Merri and me, you'll find yourself the center of attention at social events and with your friends and in business because publishing is highly respected.
#2: Power. Everyone wants publishers to distribute good information about them. And everyone fears publishers a bit. The pen IS mightier than the sword!
#3: Protection. Writers are protected by the 1st Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. You do not need a license to publish. There is no government watchdog nor do you have bureaucratic red tape involved in publishing. Publishers enjoy almost more freedom than any other occupation because of the Freedom of the Press. This is so powerful because the first amendment is actually a part of the Bill of Rights. Just in case you missed this in school (as most students did including me) here are the exact words of this amendment: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."
You become the press and you are set free. You cannot get more protection than that.
You can enjoy this wonderful lifestyle. Married, single, rich, poor, in good and bad health, educated and not, travelers and those who want to just stay at home. This is who self publishing works for… those who want a gradual part time improvement in life and those who want to make big enhancements now.
This workshop appeals to anyone who would like to write or publish or both. We will look at how published products can include compilations, catalogues, CDS, interviews. Plus we'll look at how to develop treks, tours, visits, products and services.
For example, you'll see below how one delegate who attended the workshop used her publication to sell real estate.
This course is for individuals and couples. We include those who want their own publishing system together as a family business.
This workshop is not theory. Merri and I share our real time experiences. We start at the beginning over 40 years ago but mainly look at how we earn hundreds of thousands and even millions a year in our exciting lifestyle…right now.
We study and listen to many other self publishers as well. I invite them to our home… to see what ideas we can share and how we can learn from one another.
Self employed, retired, professionals and those who are employed who want to add extra income or who want to change their life entirely will benefit. Previous course delegates have included investors, chiropractors, doctors, dentists, lawyers, architects, other professionals and those who already own their own business and of course retirees.
Take for example this "get started" inspiration who shows that even busiest professionals can get started writing and self publishing.
Laury Dahners shows how a professional can have an active, full career and write novels and self publish in spare time. He lives in Chapel Hill, North Carolina and is an orthopedic surgeon who teaches at the University of North Carolina Medical School, Department of Orthopaedics. He became interested in writing novels and has written a great science fiction series in his spare time.
I discovered Laury's Elle Donsaii series on Amazon.com and enjoyed reading it so much that I devoted an entire lesson about this series in our online self publishing course "Self Fulfilled How To Be a Self Publisher".
See the first part of my interview with Laurance Dahners on "How to be busy yet also be a prolific writer" below.
Another example is Hugh Howey… a beginner who has enjoyed great success.
Hugh is a writer that every self publisher should meet and hear because his educational background has little to do with his writing and he only recently began selling his books. His self publishing company is already exceeding a million sales. Yet selling has not been his main goal.
Hugh's story teaches us many lessons. First he shows that you do not have to have a degree in literature to succeed in writing. He dropped out of college and moved from job to job, being a Caribbean yacht captain, doing computer repair, roofing, and finally working in a small Appalachian town as a bookstore clerk.
In 2011 while working at a book store, he typed out a short story "Wool", during his lunch breaks. Soon this publication was earning him over $100,000 a month on Amazon,
Hugh's story shows how offering free or low cost books at Amazon.com to build a list of interested readers is one of the first steps to successful self publishing. This makes financial sense because low cost books immediately earn more for self publishers than high cost print books earn for writers sold through the old, dying, traditional bookstore route.
Getting beat in chess by Hugh Howey at our home.
Which would you rather have… 6% of $10 or 70% of $3?
The math to this question brings an obvious answer and creates opportunity for those who want a writer's life.
Starting with online books allows you to lower price… increase volume and cut out a publisher, distributor and book store who normally absorb up to 88% of the income created by a book.
You can start self publishing with no printing costs, no shelf space, no inventory, no postal delivery. Most of the publishing expenses are eliminated.
The writer keeps 70%.
Amazon keeps 30%.
Another lesson from Hugh Howey's story is that you can write anywhere… even part time. Hugh wrote "Wool" in his spare time at home and in his breaks at work. Part time is how many self publishers start.
You can start anywhere as well. Hugh H0wey did all this from Boone North Carolina, a small mountain town population 17,189 people.
Not every writer by the way will do this well. Fortunately most don't need to. To see why, keep reading.
Buyers of books fall into niches. Choosing the correct niche is a first step in the elusive process of capturing the national psyche. When you tap into this phenomenon, you can earn millions just from online sales. I know. This process has netted an extra $2,072,614.89 for my business in the past several years.
Yet the income from selling ebooks… as profitable as it can be… is only a part of the earning potential.
In Hugh's case in 2011, Hugh began selling Wool through Amazon's Kindle Direct Publishing system, choosing to do so due to the freedom of self-publishing. After the series took off he began soliciting international rights in 2012, including signing a deal for Brazil.
Then Hugh's book was optioned for film by Ridley Scott, director of Blade Runner and Alien.
In 2012, Hugh signed a deal with Simon and Schuster to distribute Wool to book retailers across the US and Canada, but he turned down seven figure offers and took a mid six figure sum in return for maintaining e-book rights.
In the months ahead he'll be visiting San Francisco, Boston, Frankfurt, Paris, Madrid, Helsinki, Istanbul, Rome, Amsterdam, Milan and Taiwan… not as a tourist… but to help launch his books. As an aside this is the way to see the world… working with others rather than as a tourist. This is how to see the real part of a country… with its business people… not as a tourist.
That's just a few of the things that can happen when you tap into the national psyche.
The first step in this process is to focus on a niche and create trust with the readers in that niche.
Take Bob Gandt's story as another example. Bob speaks at some of our camps and tells about his niche…. flying and war. He published his first story at age sixteen – the same year he first soloed an airplane. Since then he has logged something over 25,000 hours, written fourteen books and published countless articles.
At age 20 he was at the time the youngest aviator in the U.S. Navy.
In 1965 he began his 26 career as a pilot for Pan American World Airways. His 1995 book, Skygods (Wm. Morrow & Co.), recounts the meteoric descent and crash of the once-great Pan Am.
His 1997 book Bogeys and Bandits (Viking Penguin) told of a training squadron at the same base where he had trained years before. This book led to and a CBS series Pensacola: Wings Of Gold. Bob worked as writer and technical consultant for this twenty-two-episodes, which starred James Brolin as the commander of a Marine F/A-18 training squadron.
When you get CBS telling your story 22 times… believe me you have tapped into the national psyche.
Now Bob's focus is on self publishing. As an author whose numerous books have been published for and sold through book stores… he sees the bookstore path filled with dinosaurs and feels one of his great accomplishments is to have kept the digital rights to his books.
We have Hugh who started with ebooks and added print. Then we have Bob who started with print and has added ebooks. They all come together and are part of the process… but ebooks makes this easier than ever before.
Bob's passion is flying and the military. His books reflect this. Learning and sharing your passion with like minded souls is just fun. There is no other way to say it. This is how life should be lived and self publishing lets you live it this way.
The lesson is that technology now provides all of us with many ways to write to fulfill our passion and create profits.
Merri and I with Bob and Anne Gandt at our home.
Author Scott Nicholson is another writer (who also beats me at chess). See below how he has had over 800 rejections and figures that he has sold 7,500 books for each one. Scott's gained such success that Amazon.com's publishing company signed him to write two books.
The eBook revolution makes this entire process easier because Amazon sales can be like prospecting tools.
Some amazing websites and businesses have been and will continue to be built using eBooks. Kindle sales act like a search engine. They are the starting point that attracts the original readers who become the nucleus of your success.
Technology especially favors small publishers today. Portable computers, the internet, wireless access, on demand printing smart phones and electronic readers all create enormous new potential for small publishers.
Laury's, Hugh's and Bob's stories show how writers can write in any type of genre. be any age. Hugh writes fiction. Bob writes both fiction and non fiction.
May I add that this workshop has done a pretty good job already? Here are a few examples of small self publishing businesses that started after attending this workshop.
One inspirational story and lesson comes from Barry and Janae Weinhold who write only non fiction. Barry and Jane were already highly successful authors when they attended our Writer's Camp. They wrote: We were successful authors before attending the Writer's Camp, with our first book published in 1989 selling over 200,000 print copies. With the tips from your course last fall, we have published six new ebooks in Kindle format that are now available at Amazon.com.
Thanks for helping us get the word out about Barry's 2-part Breaking Family Patterns series. Janae has also released her 3-part Con Job series.
We've co-authored "How To Break Free of the Drama Triangle and Victim Consciousness."
Our monthly royalty checks are now coming in and we are very pleased with the response to our new books (656 books sold and 1295 free downloads in seven months). We have six more new ebooks in the pipeline for publication. Our goal is to publish twelve new ebooks by our one-year course anniversary. We couldn't have published this quickly without the great support we received from your Writer's Camp. We highly recommend it to anybody seeking the fast track to becoming independent self-publisher.
Self Publishers can also write in more than one niches.
Nickolette Goff writes non fiction in two niches. After attending a Writer's Camp Nicki used what she had learned to help promote her first book… a Quinoa recipe cookbook with 13 recipes. She had 10,000 downloads of the book in five days and obtained dozens of good reviews!
You can get 13 more great quinoa recipes in Nicki Goff's book at the links below.
See more on Nicki's books below.
She wrote: Hi, Gary, Book sales are actually going well, and I'm having a lot of fun with this. I'm so grateful to you and Merri for pushing me to get some action going! The free promos really get things going, and seem to reignite sales. Two more in the works – both on gardening topics. Best wishes for 2013 to you and Merri. Love, Nicki
Nicki learned at the camp that getting these downloads is step three in a seven step process. We (and others) have been helping Nicki and our delegates walk through these steps so they can earn income through writing and publishing again and again.
Nicki is now well on her way to wonderful self publishing success. She just completed her fourth book in a totally different genre gardening. This book is "Under Cover Gardening".
She used the three day free Kindle marketing program again.
Nicki wrote: Gary: My book was downloaded exactly 6000 times during the 3 days, and is selling around 5 per day right now. I'm very pleased with the results – three 5* reviews so far. Nicki
The Process.
Chances are that most books you write will not tap into the national psyche. However Nicki's books show the process that you use to create a steady income as you build inventory. She is publishing numerous books in each of the genres she loves. This creates extra income and added inventory if one of your books becomes a big success.
In one of the the Hugh Howey videos you'll see at the camp… Hugh tells how he wrote an entire series (called the Bern series) and sold about 3,000 books. Then when his book Wool (part of the Silo series) took off, he sold 850,000 or so of the Silo series but the Bern series also became a best seller with sales in the 150,000 range.
Let's look at Nicki's example again to see these benefits. Imagine this. Nicki writes a half dozen books, three on organic gardening and three on quinoa.
Then imagine that Oprah is interested in quinoa, reads Nicki's book and has her on the show. Nicki's quinoa book sales will go bananas. So too will all her other quinoa books. Add further to this example and say that the national psyche just happens to be focused on better nutrition when this all happens. If so, Nicki's organic gardening book sales will skyrocket as well.
To sum this up… at the camp you'll learn the importance of writing a lot for your niche. The increased number of publications will allow you to keep your price low, but generate income that keeps you writing as you build inventory so any bigger success can grow in exponential bonds.
You can also self publish at any age. A number of our friends who have used our writers course to self publish are in their 70s and 80s. Yet college students have self published as well.
The father of the family of four wrote: Hi Gary and Merri: Just thought y'all would like to know that today Doss published his first book. It is called College Confidential and it is currently listed at number 42 on amazon. com. He would not have done it but for our experience this summer at your Writer's Camp.
So, here is thanking you both very much.
Bill Winter
This book is written by a student, for students, College Confidential: An Insider's Guide to Success written by Doss Winter is filled with practical tips and insider information addressing everything from Academics to getting your Zzzzs.
Dos Winter
See how to get Dos Winter's book below.
Small self publishers are in a win – win situation for many reasons.
Mike Herron who attended our camp loves to travel so he researched places he loved to complete two romance novels. He wrote: Hello Gary, I wanted to thank you and Merri for once again providing a wonderful and motivating experience at the Writer's Camp last month. As with your other workshops I've attended, it inspired me to return home and finish my second book and get it published.
I'm pleased to announce that Appalachian Gold is now completed and available for people to purchase and read. It is available on Amazon in either e-book format or as a print-on-demand hard copy.
If any of your readers are aspiring authors who have yet to be published I would strongly encourage them to sign up for one of your writing camps at the first opportunity. I know the experience will provide them with the skills, knowledge and perhaps more importantly, the motivation, to return home and turn their dream into reality.
If you love to travel self publishing can help make this possible and… by the way… perhaps turn your trips into a tax deductible expense.
The workshop provides a Path called the seven Ps. They provide a simple, small and easy path for starting your own publishing business.
The writer's camp refines both Merri's and my 40 years of experience into its most essential points. All of us will have to work intensely to cram everything into three days.
This workshop is conducted by Merri and me. These camps are intimate which allows us to personally work with each delegate to assure that all who attend can create their own publication.
August 30-31-September 1 Super Thinking Writer's Camp, Jefferson, NC.
November 14-15-16 Super Thinking Writer's Camp, Mt. Dora, Fl.
Our summer and autumn camps last year sold out almost immediately and due to the small numbers we accept we must accept enrollments on a first come – first served basis.
Enroll Here. Single $799 Couple $999
Please note which camp you'll attend in the comments section.
We'll send you an email giving you details and your preparatory assignments for the camp, travel, etc.
We'll set up our line of communications as well as deliver our online Self Publishing course.
We'll send you what you need to get started. We're going to be learning from the first minute, and we want you to be ready.
Get started and work with us and the online course until the camp begins.
Best regards,
P.S. This is a chance to experience the dream life of a writer and self publisher.
We are going to work hard the entire time from now until the camp but the effects of this retreat won't end on day 3. They'll just begin.
One of the finest benefits you gain will be new like-minded friends. Our previous workshop delegates have stuck together…formed support groups and helped each other develop, grow and profit. This is called an "old boys network" in some places. Every major university and educational system has one…this invisible power because "who you know", not just "what you know" works. We'll encourage this so your alumni group can enhance your efforts whenever required.
May I share three final examples of how big, your little self publishing business can become from our workshop?
A long time friend, who had just retired from a 30 year career in the oil industry joined our program. His passion was to learn more about health and looking at the deep, more spiritual aspects of life since he had ended a financially successful career. He has gone on to publishing the leading healthy living magazine where he lives.
Not only was he able to publish 20,000 copies of a 48-64 page magazine on healthy living every month, he was able to meet and work with leading health and spiritual leaders like Deepak Chopra, Dr. Wayne Dwyer and even the Dali Llama. What a thrill.
Michelle Toole, an at home mother, made a fateful decision… to attend our self publishing course.
Michelle was disabled when she took the "Self Fulfilled – How to be a Self Publisher" camp.
She took what she learned from our publishing courses and created her own successful global micro website.
Michelle wrote: "I have some great news, my web site http://healthy-holistic-living.com is now getting on average 2,000 visitors a day! Yup my little one man show web site now gets close to 60,000 visitors each month! The power of the internet is amazing as well as the opportunities. We have said it before but it deserves saying again the internet is truly the great equalizer.
"My web site is at a point now that it is growing without much effort and produces a nice passive income allowing me to continue working on my second site http://home-remedies-and-natural-cures.com and to get my third site up and running. I am also working on various joint ventures with other web sites focusing on helping others start their own web business. I am doing monthly webinars helping disabled individuals start their own business on the Internet and will be starting a coaching club in the new year. The opportunities are only limited by one's imagination.
"Again I can not thank you and Merri enough, I look forward to many great adventures and new experiences in the coming years!"
Another successful self publisher who attended our workshop wrote :
"MY HEAD IS STILL SPINNING from all of the valuable input I received. Out in the boonies, 2 + hours from the airport in Charlotte , North Carolina it was not your typical setting for a business seminar.
"It was presented by a fascinating guy with an interesting career history. Gary Scott and his wife, Merri, split their time between their idyllic farm in North Carolina and their property in the mountains of Ecuador . I first heard about Gary through my interest in Ecuador .
"By his own admission, Gary is often 'a bit ahead of the curve' which is part of what makes his material interesting. You sense the authenticity of what he is saying but it has not caught on in the mainstream media or pop-culture.
"The input is that is already affecting my life was not just from the instructor, but from other participants. The small group, less than twenty, seemed to be intimately bonded as soon as the seminar started. People from all walks of life and all parts of the country gained insights from the information that was geared to create a 'life of your choosing more so than just a successful business. A very simple but powerful concept. Why do we want the money in the first place?
"The lifestyle aspect of the course was taught by example. We, as a group, were temporarily inserted directly into the lifestyle led by Gary and Merri. No better way to learn than by doing.
"The course content suited my needs very nicely. It addressed issues pertinent to FilmTrips and my marketing company, MJ Media. New life has been injected into several FilmTrips projects that had been languishing on a back burner for quite some time. Gary talks about being open to 'connect the dots' and take advantage of distortions or discrepancies between economies and countries. I am in a very good position to do that. Telephone and Internet technology has certainly arrived to help make it happen. I will keep you posted!"
In the workshop we learn how to use the "Business Evolutionary Process." Start with a small idea. Let the idea build enthusiasm. Let the enthusiasm lead you to an education. Let the education create action. The action will bring, deeper ideas…so you can start small and grow.
This is what so many others who have accepted Merri's and my invitation have done and are doing now….as are we. A never ending process for all.
We hope you will join this growth process with us. If you do, this letter…the invitation and the workshop will be fateful and fun. Register today!
Delegates from our last camp wrote: My daughter and I had a fantastic time at the Writer's Camp this past weekend. We both felt we gained a tremendous amount of knowledge on "how to make money with our writing skills"! Thank you.
August 30-31-September 1 Super Thinking Writer's Camp, Jefferson, NC.
November 14-15-16 Super Thinking Writer's Camp, Mt. Dora, Fl.
Our summer and autumn camps last year sold out almost immediately and due to the small numbers we accept we must accept enrollments on a first come – first served basis.
Enroll Here. Single $799 Couple $999
Yours and Merri's expertise on transmitting knowledge to others is phenomenal. The warm, personal feel of being with you both along with the great people in the class was great!
Thank you again for all the added information gained in all areas of life and what I consider gourmet meals served to us all.
Another wrote: Have just returned from the writing seminar conducted at your farm in Ashe County, North Carolina, I thought I'd give you my take on what I experienced. To suggest that the location, hosts, seminar content, and accommodations were adequate would be an understatement.
This was my introductory visit to the northwestern corner of North Carolina and it appears, from looking at the map, that this area could be considered the "foothills" of the Appalachian Mountain Range. Remote? You bet! But a beautiful place for retreating when life or weather calls for relocation.
Corresponding as we have for the past two years was simply a forerunner to our one on two meeting and I am so pleased that we found this opportunity. You are both most personable with dynamic and pleasing personalities. I was extremely comfortable the entire weekend and thank you for making that possible.
The seminar itself opened a whole new world that I hope to explore in the coming months. I drove away from your farm with a well inflated right rear tire and a wealth of information that could catapult me into a whole new profession should I opt to go that route. I still have a number of professional business ideas that I intend to pursue, however, the concepts and ideas conveyed in your seminar will serve to enhance whatever I undertake going forward.
But if there was one underlying common denominator that I recognized, it was the fact that you are both so well qualified to present in this field of communication. Probably my most prolific observation was how well read and knowledgeable you are. The breadth and depth of knowledge on so many diverse yet associated subjects kept my unswerving attention. It also opened my mind to a variety of fields that, heretofore, I would not have considered relevant to my interests. And as a presenter, Gary is prolific. I drove away knowing that not only did the seminar give me my money's worth but I was introduced to some very valuable contacts.
The bottom line is your seminar was both eye opening and entertaining. I came, I saw, I learned, and I even ate healthy. Thanks for everything. John
The son of a father son team sent this note: Hi Merri! I just attended your writers camp with my dad this past weekend. I didn't get to express how much I appreciated all that you and Gary did for us this weekend because we were in a hurry to get to the airport. Letting us stay in your cottage and having us for your writers camp was an experience that I will remember for the rest of my life! Gary and Merri's stories of adventure, success, your lessons, and advice are truly priceless!!
This camp has inspired me. Writing has always come naturally for me but I never was able to view it as a business opportunity.
This camp has shown me not only that writing can be profitable, but HOW to make it profitable! Thank you so much for sharing your wisdom with me. In my lifetime, I could only hope to see the success that you and Gary have achieved.
I not have only signed up for your newsletter, but I can't stop spreading the word to my friends about my experience. Thanks again for your amazing hospitality, Mitchell
August 30-31-September 1 Super Thinking Writer's Camp, Jefferson, NC.
November 14-15-16 Super Thinking Writer's Camp, Mt. Dora, Fl.
Our summer and autumn camps last year sold out almost immediately and due to the small numbers we accept we must accept enrollments on a first come – first served basis.
Enroll Here. Single $799 Couple $999
We share David Cross videos abd Skype sessions at the camp.
David has an unparalleled, hands-on marketing experience spanning 25 years in 22 countries for companies and charities large and small. He's guided many companies and individuals to success in business and helped them achieve their marketing goals, both online and offline. He started working with the internet from the getgo and we have been lucky that he helped us start our website in the 1990s. He was also Senior Internet Consultant to Agora Inc. in Baltimore, MD. David worked closely with Agora's publishers and marketers and over an 8-year period helped to propel Agora's online revenues to over $300 Million in 2009 until he came to work with Merri and me full time.
More who have written about the Writer's Camp.
From Sandra, a restaurant owner: "Dear Gary and Merri, Yes I did it! Without you and your wonderful writing class I would not have been able to see my potential!! I THANK YOU BOTH! You told me to write about what I know and I did. Thank you for all the encouragement. Starting today, we are taking orders and I wanted you to be the first to know! So here goes…..I have some exciting news to share! I have just written my first book and very much appreciate your help. This book would make a great gift for any bride-to-be or even the parents of the bride (especially if they're paying the bill)! Please check it out. I genuinely appreciate you helping me spread the word! Thank you!! Sandra"
From Jerusha, an anthropologist: "Hello Gary and Merri. I am the first in the class to publish! I published a calendar on www.lulu.com!
From Todd, a wedding photographer: "Thanks, Gary and Merri name recognition is beginning. Here is my new photoletter that your program helped me develop. I'm getting more clear about my own marketing now, so I may be able to better advantage of it. I am planning now to send out an email once a week showcasing new photos and creating awareness for my products and services. By mid July, I will place my first greeting card order (with a printing company Merri recommended in Cotacachi). So, I will soon have an inexpensive product to offer along with the more expensive prints that I sell. So far, I've got 60 opt-on subscribers to my email list, and I am telling everyone I know about it, so it's starting to grow nicely. My first goal is to have 1000 readers. I'll see how quickly I can accomplish it. Take care, Todd"
From Micky, a real estate broker: "I want to say thank you for the inspiration and encouragement that I received through your publishing program. I recently published a 28 page booklet" Naples is Priceless ". This FREE booklet is being distributed through the Chamber of Commerce, banks, hotels, etc. With over 25 years as a Realtor I can now let potential real estate buyers gain knowledge and inside tidbits about this beautiful area. Again, thank you for helping me develop my potential. Micky"
Our online course "Self Fulfilled – How to be a Self Publisher" is normally $299. See more here.
Save the $299 and receive this online course FREE now.
August 30-31-September 1 Super Thinking Writer's Camp, Jefferson, NC.
November 14-15-16 Super Thinking Writer's Camp, Mt. Dora, Fl.
Our summer and autumn camps last year sold out almost immediately and due to the small numbers we accept we must accept enrollments on a first come – first served basis.
Enroll Here. Single $799 Couple $999
See how to attend two courses for the price of one and save $799 to $999 here.
See an eight minute video interview with Hugh Howey here.
To see the four minute video with Laurance Dahners, click here
See a four minute interview with Scott Nicholson on how he has gained from rejections
See Bob Gandt's story here.
Bob's passion is flying and the military. His books reflect this. Learning and sharing your passion with like minded souls is just fun. There is no other way to say it. This is how life should be lived and self publishing let's you live it this way.
Read about Bob Gandt's fiction here.
Dos Winter
Order College Confidential at Amazon.com here.
Appalachian Gold is now completed and available for people to purchase and read. It is available on Amazon in either e-book format or as a print-on-demand hard copy.
You can order Nicki's Goff's book at Amazon.com.
You can order Barry and Janae Weinhold's "How To Break Free of the Drama Triangle and Victim Consciousness."
What other readers have shared about us Gary & Merri Scott
More on Jean Piaget at the "Great Decide – Decision making in a complex world"
Psychology Today article Working Creativity – Tapping into your everyday genius.
New York Sunday Times Over 50, and Under No Illusions by Diego Ibarra Sanchez


text:
Look! Boston Santa flash mob, Dec. 9! Via MetaBoston.
And for you minimalists, don't forget the Santas in Speedos run on Dec. 15.
Look! Boston Santa flash mob, Dec. 9! Via MetaBoston.
And for you minimalists, don't forget the Santas in Speedos run on Dec. 15.
Steve Sherlock photographs that wire dropping into a trash basket surrounded by stanchions at South Station and explains why you should remain calm: It means they're getting ready for the annual model-train installation.
Lyss files a report from the Jamaicaway, where she visited Domenic Luberto's brighter than bright Castle and yard tonight.
Margaret and Rich take the kids to the Quincy Market tree lighting tonight, which featured Tom Menino, Wally and Santa Claus:
... And they threw the switch and the whole square lit up and they blew millions of white, swirling pieces of rectangular paper over the crowd. The effect was reminiscent of standing in a snow squall but it was quite pretty. ...... Read more
Jim Sullivan's campaign to put the thanks back in Thanksgiving, um, to hold off the Christmas stuff until, you know, the day after Thanksgiving, keeps attracting new backers. He says thanks.
Jim Sullivan has nothing against Christmas - except for before Thanksgiving. He begins a list of the worst offenders and explains:
... I'm a Christian, so I have more than an annoyance factor at work here. I think that cheapening the holiday, by expanding it beyond reasonable bounds, does a world of disservice to my religion. It gives people a false view of it,... Read more
Oh yeah, it's Veterans Day, so what better time for Oldies 103 to go all Christmas all the time?
And Greg MacKay is there.
In which Dominic Luberto discusses his light-related charity effort for Children's Hospital; what he does with his lights after Christmas and the bogus story about him and the fireworks. Oh, yes, and he shows off the 10-foot Star of David he's putting up this year.
You'll probably find this exceedingly hard to believe, but... Read more
So, of course, that means the Mad Lighter of the Jamaicaway is already hard at work on his annual neighborhood-brownout project. After all, he has 500,000 or so lights to install.
As we drove up the Jamaicaway today, we noticed that Dominic Luberto has already put up, not one, but two giant fake Christmas trees in the side yard of his castle. And instead... Read more
Miguelina grows disgusted at all the recalls of toxic Chinese stuff and vows not to buy a single made-in-China toy this Christmas:
... Non-Chinese toys too expensive? Great! We'll buy less toys - but better made ones. That way there will be less plastic crap all over the house. ...... Read more
Santa brought Jody's son a handheld electronic game - that only her husband was able to get to work with a technique that dads have used for decades.
Can't somebody do something before the guy who owns the Arborway Castle does some real damage?
In case you missed it, the Globe reported today that NStar has had to put in a new electrical main to support those 250,000 lights he has on between 4:30 and 1 a.m. - although it says it's not sure all those lights are what's causing brownouts... Read more
Sarah must have missed the circular about "All against All" Day at the mall, because when she went yesterday, it was one long struggle of kill or be killed. One example:
... [T]hen there was the woman who hit me with her bag because I had the nerve to walk quickly past her slow-moving ass. I mean literally said something along the lines of... Read more
Yesterday, Margalit and her kids helped wrap hundreds of presents for today's Christmas in the City for needy kids:
... We had 220 kids on our list. Think about that for a second. Two hundred and twenty children in just one shelter out of many. This event feeds, entertains, and hands out presents to over 2500 children in the Boston area. If they could... Read more
Jennifer Garrett tries to do some holiday shopping at Target:
... "Do you sell ashtrays?" I kindly inquired after searching high and low. "What do you use those for?" I am not kidding, people. ...
Jesse dishes on the strategies she's sometimes forced to use to get little kids to smile for Christmas photos:
Tonight at work one of the other photographers was teasing me because she overheard me proclaiming ecstaticly to a three-year-old during a sitting, "You LOVE benches!" ...
TC photographs the manger scene the McGrath Highway Stop & Shop has set up - on the meat counter:
... If PETA is right, does that mean that Stop & Shop gets smited when the Second Coming occurs? Is it an offering - should I be placing beef jerky in front of creches that I pass?... Read more
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subset: commoncrawl


text:
Categories > Anime/Manga > Full Metal Alchemist > Shamballa - Part 2 - Separate Ways
Research0 Reviews
Beregond starts investigating matters, unaware that he's closely watched.
Well, it couldn't be helped. He would just have to wait till Edward called again. It was true that Beregond intended to spend even longer periods of time in the library, what with his duties dropping almost to a minimum with Edward away. So he hoped that he would just be lucky enough to be in the office when the phone rang again - or that Edward would think to call the library next time, at least.
Besides, there was the probability that no real harm was done. When Edward would call again, Beregond would perhaps be able to give him some tangible information rather than mere speculations.
With that last thought, he checked his desk one last time to make sure that there was nothing for him to do today, then picked up his research material and walked out.
He noticed the medium-sized dog crossing his path too late. Beregond tried to avoid him but he accidentally stepped on his paw, causing the dog to yelp frantically.
"Im naer, mellon nin!" (I'm sorry, my friend!) Beregond said at once in a soft manner, checking the damage he had done on the poor animal. The black and white dog sat still, keeping his aching paw curled close to him. He whined softly on occasion; nevertheless, he trusted the man to take care of him.
Beregond smiled. It didn't seem that the dog was really hurt and he figured the pain would soon go away. "Nestatha, avo 'osto," (It will heal, don't fear) he concluded kindly, giving the dog a soft pat on his head. He chuckled when the dog rewarded him with a small nudge of his black nose.
Yet the question remained.
"O mas telich? Man eneth lin?" (Where did you come from? What's your name?) Beregond asked the dog as if he were talking to a child.
Beregond knew that it wasn't the dog who answered /that/, of course. So he turned at the direction of the voice to see Fuery hurrying towards them with a leash in his hand.
"Oh, good, you found him!" the sergeant major said with relief. "If I lost him, I would have to answer to Riza!"
"It would be difficult not to find him. I tripped on him," Beregond said.
It was then that he realised something and his eyes widened in surprise.
"Hayate? Black Hayate? That's Riza's dog?" he asked incredulously.
"Yeah," Fuery said. "You know of him then?"
"Havoc had told me this story about how the dog came to become part of the 'family' some time ago," Beregond answered. He shuddered as he recalled the rather nasty joke Havoc had pulled on the animal, saying aloud how tasty it could be. "But Havoc was talking about a pup and now I see a big dog!" He gave Hayate another light pat on the head. "How come he's with you?"
"Well, Riza lets me spend some time with him every once in a while," Fuery said. "But /he/," and at that he pointed at Hayate, "thought otherwise today."
Hayate bowed his head and made a whining sound of shame. He was quite aware that they were talking about him.
"Well, I suppose he couldn't wait to run a bit," Beregond said, this time petting the dog affectionately.
"I guess so," Fuery said, smiling. "Well, there's no point in making him wait any longer." He placed the leash around Hayate's neck. "Thanks for the help, Beregond."
"No problem."
However, when Fuery got ready to walk away with Hayate, both men noticed that the dog had planted his legs on the ground and he wouldn't budge. And they were taken aback to see Hayate looking behind Beregond, stiffened and with the hair on the back of his neck standing on end.
"Hayate?" Fuery said, unsure. "What is it?"
Hayate only made a small growling sound in answer, still looking behind Beregond.
Both Fuery and Beregond looked at the same direction, but there was nothing to be seen.
"Man cenich?" (What do you see?) the Gondorian asked Hayate, puzzled. With his hands clenched into fists and ready to fight if necessary, Beregond walked at the end of the corridor. He looked on his left and right, yet there was nothing there.
What was more, Hayate had by now calmed down.
"That's strange," Fuery noted, straightening his glasses. "This is the first time he's been acting like that."
"Well, whatever it was that unsettled him is gone now," Beregond said. "Perhaps he caught some smell that wasn't appealing to him."
"Maybe," Fuery agreed. He shook his head, ridding himself of any troubling thoughts. "Anyway, we had better go. We've already slowed your visit to the library enough."
Beregond blinked. "How did you--?" But one look at himself made him chuckle in understanding. He was holding his notebook, so it wasn't that difficult for Fuery to come to his conclusion.
"Yes, well... I had better be going then," said the Gondorian, smiling. "Till later, Fuery."
"Later," Fuery said with a smile of his own and, a brief wave of his hand later, he was gone.
It was only when Beregond had left too that there was movement again.
When an air vent on the wall was pushed out of place and Envy climbed out of it.
"Pesky animals..." he muttered under his breath. "Their noses are a pain in the neck."
And keeping in mind that he ought to be more careful next time, he changed to a female private so he could resume his stalking.
Though the library was quite busy at that time of day, there was hardly any noise to be heard. The people inside were simply too wrapped up in their studying to pay attention to their surroundings.
That was why no one cared to look at a male college student with glasses on a desk nearby. If they had, they would notice that he was doing anything but reading.
Envy dared another peek from the book he was holding up to keep up appearances and checked on his true object of observation. The sergeant was still on the desk just a few feet away from him, and Envy could see that the man's eyes were locked on the page he was currently reading, whereas his right hand was clutching a pen in order to scribble anything of importance.
Envy frowned and looked at the large clock on the other end of the wall. He was quite surprised when he read the time there and realised how long had it been since he followed the sergeant into the library.
Four hours?! How long does he plan on staying here?!
He cast another brief glance at the man, noting the way the latter's lips moved inconspicuously as he kept reading. Envy had gotten his answer.
Till he drops out of exhaustion.
Now Envy couldn't help but feel curiosity flaring within him. What was the sergeant reading with such interest anyway? They weren't in the alchemy books' section, so Envy was more than certain that the sergeant wasn't reading anything that had to do with alchemy. So what was that man up to?
Envy decided that he might as well look briefly at the book he was holding, since it would offer him a clue as to what kind of books there were in this section. He caught sight of a paragraph in which were described several artefacts that were found many feet below ground, the oldest ones so far to be found in fact - they were about 9,000 years old.
History? How dull, he thought with a roll of his eyes. After all, if anyone wanted to know about history, they could just as well ask /him/.
But in spite of his aversion to that particular genre of literature, Envy was now even more intrigued. It was strange for an alchemist that seemed almost as powerful as the Fullmetal shrimp to search history books.
On the other hand, Fullmetal was conducting research on the philosopher's stone and the sergeant was working under the pipsqueak's orders. Perhaps the guy was looking even in history books for anything concerning the philosopher's stone. That probability didn't seem all that far-fetched.
Odd place to search for clues though.
Nevertheless, the sergeant seemed really focused on what he was doing. Maybe he had found something?
Envy felt that he could just kill to find out what the man was reading.
Actually, kill twice - he wanted to have a look at the sergeant's notebook, too.
It was then that Envy saw the sergeant suddenly frown. He had obviously read something that puzzled him or something that he didn't like. Whatever it was, it made the man stand up and vanish in the maze of bookcases surrounding him in search of another book.
Envy instantly jumped at the chance. Looking around him and making sure that the sergeant wasn't coming back just yet, he walked up to the man's desk and looked at the page on which the book was open.
...It has to be noted that, in times when alchemy wasn't developed properly, a lot of the forces of nature which the common folk couldn't comprehend were attributed to entities that were always depicted dreadful in their power, yet wise and kind to virtuous people. Though those entities were deified, they were also given human characteristics so as to...
Envy raised an eyebrow as soon as he read those words. Since when did an alchemist take an interest in gods? Shaking his head, he turned his attention to the notebook.
What the...?!
There was nothing there but a series of random pen strokes and ink-blots!
Envy was still looking incredulously at the notebook, when the sound of footsteps snapped him out of his shock. He quickly hurried behind a nearby bookcase.
Not a moment too soon. A second later, the sergeant came back with another book in his hands, mumbling softly to himself while looking for something in it.
"De... Dei... Aha! Deify..."
Envy huffed under his breath.
That's what he went to look for? A dictionary?
Well, if anything, it was one more proof that the man was a foreigner. Envy was still puzzled by the strange language he heard when the sergeant spoke to the dog because, even though he was old, the homunculus was sure that he had never heard anything quite like it in his life.
The sergeant grew silent again as he resumed his reading. Envy kept his eyes on the man from his new hideout and, moments later, he saw him taking up his pen again and writing something on the notebook.
Envy narrowed his eyes, for he understood that his first assumptions were erroneous. The sergeant wasn't merely doodling in that notebook. He was clearly writing, most probably in an alchemic code.
If that were the case, Envy knew who would be able to decipher those notes. All he had to do now was get his hands on that notebook.
"May I help you, sir?"
Envy quickly turned at the sound of the voice. A young woman, a librarian from the looks of it, was now looking at him quizzically. His eyes instantly fell on the nametag on the librarian's uniform: Sarah Abbot.
"No, I was just putting back a book in its place," Envy said at once, smiling innocently. "Thank you for the offer though."
"No problem. Have a good day, sir," she said with a polite smile and turned on her heel to resume with her work.
Envy nodded, his face becoming positively murderous when the librarian vanished out of sight. He quickly turned again to spy on the sergeant.
But the man was nowhere to be seen. In that crucial moment that Envy wasn't looking, he had decided to leave.
Damn it. He quickly got out of his hiding spot and looked around, but he didn't catch any sight of the sergeant.
That is, until he heard a new set of footsteps behind him. Deciding to be discreet, Envy turned his head just enough so that he could check things from the corner of his eye.
To his good fortune, it was the sergeant.
"Have you finished already, Mr. Beregond?" the woman by the name of Abbot asked, noticing the sergeant's departure.
"Just for today, I'm afraid. It will be quite some time before I can claim my work is completely done," the sergeant said with a shake of his head. "I'll just head back to Headquarters in case there are any phone-calls for me."
"Very well," the woman answered with a nod. "Till then, Mr. Beregond."
Envy rolled his eyes and started following the sergeant back to headquarters. One thing that the homunculus did come to find out about the sergeant was that his life was numbingly boring, shared among library, office and house. Now he just hoped that, if he were to discover anything else, it would be a damn good thing to make up for the hours of the dreary watching he had to go through.
Though Beregond had said to Sarah that he intended to return to Headquarters, he didn't wish to rush matters either. His head ached after all those hours of studying and he needed his breath of fresh air. So, he walked slowly and in a carefree manner - even though his thoughts were anything but carefree. There was a puzzle lodged on his head which he couldn't get rid of before sorting it out.
In his book, Syndow was saying, more or less, that gods were a figment of the peoples' imagination. In other words, because they believed everything that moved must have had a spirit within it, they conjured up images of gods with human characteristics. As Syndow wrote on, the reason behind this was the notion that, if anything could have a power over anything, the same way Man had over animals and plants, it had to be something with the intelligence, the knowledge and wisdom that a human could have. It would just be a lot more powerful.
But then, Beregond wondered, if that were true, what was the force behind the creation of this world?
In the beginning, Eru, the One, who in the Elvish tongue is named Iluvatar, made the Ainur of his thought; and they made great Music before him. In this Music the World was begun.
That was how the story of the creation of his world started. Perhaps Syndow was right in the matter of giving names and characteristics seen among ordinary people to those forces. But could it be denied that those forces didn't exist? That those forces didn't have the power to create? Besides, as the story went: and if little is said of all that the Eldar once knew, that is as nothing compared with the Valar's - the Greatest among the spirits of the Ainur - true being, which goes back into regions and ages far beyond one's thought.
Perhaps that was the case for the Amestrian world too. Just because such forces were beyond the realm of alchemic science, it couldn't possibly mean that they weren't present. After all, it wasn't alchemy that created the trees, or the sky, or the earth - or even all the living things in this world.
On the other hand, Beregond wasn't sure that the forces behind the creation of the world of Amestris were the same as the ones behind the creation of Arda. The Valar saw Ea, the world that is, and they became enamoured by it and they wished to give breath to the vision they sang. But once in that world, they were forever bound into it and they could not leave it.
So it had to be other kinds of forces, similar ones at that; or even... one.
Suddenly, Dr. Marcoh's words sprang into Beregond's memory.
Ishbalans were people that worshipped their absolute one god of creation.
One god, one force; just like his people believed: one god to create everything else, including other gods.
It was then that another question formed in Beregond's mind. What if Iluvatar and the Ishbalan god were, in fact, two names to describe the same force of creation?
Beregond realised that he needed more information on the Ishbalan theology if he were to answer that question; first-hand information at that.
But where could he find it?
Going to Ishbal was out of the question. It was too time consuming and, more importantly, it involved travelling with train. He preferred to avoid /that/, if he could help it.
The library was the next best option, but Beregond doubted he would be able to find that kind of information at once - if he would be able to find it. Since Ishbal was an enemy country, there probably wouldn't be any authors willing to write all that much information about it. The Ishbalans would certainly not be open to give out that kind of information to a foreigner. That meant looking to other, dubious sources and bibliography. No, if he wanted that information, he wanted to be sure it was correct.
Scar would have certainly been useful right about now.
Oh, yes, Beregond pictured it even now. Please, don't think ill of me for stopping you from killing Edward and Alphonse. You see, I was just wondering if you could possibly introduce me to the basics of your peoples' theology. I'd be much obliged.
The mental image of Scar's way of saying "no" - grabbing Beregond and making his insides explode - was a rather macabre one, to say the least. Nevertheless, Beregond couldn't help but chuckle inwardly.
If anything, that settled the third option as out of the question too.
There was also Dr. Marcoh to be considered, but Beregond felt quite certain that the good doctor had already said everything he knew concerning the Ishbalans on their first meeting.
So where should he turn to?
It was when he looked up to see the gates of the Eastern Headquarters in the distance that he remembered something important. Colonel Mustang had fought in Ishbal; Beregond remembered Riza mentioning that a couple of times. That meant that the Colonel must have come across some useful information while there.
Beregond felt his heart sinking a bit. Could he possibly be so bold and ask the Colonel about that kind of knowledge? It would be considered indiscretion. Moreover, Beregond didn't wish to confide in anyone about the details of his work so far. If he asked the Colonel about Ishbal, he would have to tell him about his suspicions as well - with the risk of being dismissed as delusional.
Yet what other choice did he have, if he were ever to proceed with his research? And, if Beregond could tell Mustang that he was from a place called Middle-earth, he could also tell him why he needed to know about Ishbal, right?
That settled it. Beregond would ask. He swiftly went up the stairs to the Colonel's office to get this over with as soon as possible.
To his surprise, he didn't find any of the familiar faces he had been looking for, let alone the Colonel himself. Riza wasn't on her own desk, right outside Mustang's office; Havoc was nowhere in sight; and even Breda and Falman were absent. The only one Beregond could account for was Fuery; the Gondorian knew pretty well that he was out with Hayate.
Still, Beregond knocked on the door to the Colonel's office.
There was no answer. Not from inside the office anyway.
"He's not here."
Beregond turned to face the young private who spoke to him. "Excuse me?"
The private saluted courteously before replying: "You're looking for Colonel Mustang, aren't you, Sir?"
"Well, he's not here. He and most of his unit are searching the city for any signs of that alchemist serial killer."
Beregond cursed mentally. He had completely forgotten about that.
"Do you know when he will be back?"
"Not sure, sir."
There was nothing for it then. After saying a brief "Thanks" to the private, he turned on his heel and headed towards the exit again.
What should he do now?
Beregond's gaze drifted outside the window on his left as he still walked. And when he noticed what a beautiful, clear day it was - although it was almost the winter season by now - he stopped on his tracks.
The sky was quite blue and the sun shone brightly, though not as warmly as if it were spring or summer. It certainly didn't stop the little birds from flying restlessly in the air, doing manoeuvres and chirping loudly.
Before Beregond realised what he was doing, he had walked up to the window, his hand reaching for the glass and placing it there. It was in times like these that, when Beregond was back to his world, he would ride out and find a perfectly isolated and quiet place in order to train his body, repeating the moves he had been taught from childhood.
Beregond blinked as realisation hit him; then smiled. He knew what to do now.
Besides, he needed it after his fight with Scar.
Ten minutes later, Beregond was at the training grounds. He passed by several trainees that were already there locked in physical combat, and went up to one of the trainers. A brief glance at the man's person told Beregond at once that he was addressing a major, so he saluted. "Sir?"
Major Moser looked Beregond from head to toe and then saluted cordially as well. "Can I help you, Sergeant?" he asked.
"I was wondering if there are any swords available for training, Sir."
The major nodded. "Yes, as a matter of fact, we have several of them in the weapons' room. However..." Moser eyed Beregond, raising an eyebrow. "I don't remember seeing you here before."
"Well, I..." Beregond started explaining, but he stopped when he noticed Moser's face lit up with familiarity.
"You are that foreigner," he said knowingly. "The one under Fullmetal's command, right? Beregond, isn't it?"
Beregond's surprise must have been evident, because the major chuckled.
"Hey, in these facilities everyone gets to know about everyone eventually; especially about someone who works for a child-prodigy," Moser explained. "Not to mention that your name, Sergeant, was involved in some pretty interesting incidents rather recently." He grinned broadly. "So you feel up to some training?"
Beregond nodded. "I need to make sure my body is still in good condition."
"Well, you know where the swords are. Choose any you like."
"Thank you, Sir."
But choosing a good sword turned out to be a task easier said than done. Beregond didn't expect that the swords of Amestris would be anything like the swords in his own home, of course. Still, he never expected the Amestrian ones would be so... flimsy, either; their blades were too thin and light. Beregond understood that this was done on purpose in favour of speed. On the other hand, the Gondorian couldn't help thinking that such swords were also easier to break. How could they possibly serve in battle?
Beregond shook his head. He'd give anything for a good, sturdy sword like the one he had.
Then why not make one?
Beregond's eyes widened as the thought occurred to him. He had completely forgotten that he could perform alchemy! He looked around in search of anything that could be used as basic materials for his sword, and noticed that there were several sabres and rapiers placed aside. He wielded a couple of them, curious to see why that bunch was separated from the rest. He finally decided that the blades were either blunt or chipped after much use. They were useless in that state.
Well, I think I've just found a use for them, Beregond thought. Concentrating, he clapped his hands and placed them on the flawed swords. In a matter of seconds, the light of the transmutation reaction had subsided and there was a magnificent-looking sword in Beregond's hands. Its straight blade was gleaming as though it was made of silver and was decorated with elegant carvings. The image of Gondor's emblem could also be seen on its pommel, coloured in ebony and ivory.
Beregond couldn't help but smile, his fingers tracing the outline of the sword proudly. He swung the weapon a couple of times while his ears picked up the faint swooshing sound. The sword felt incredibly light, yet its balance was top notch and Beregond's grip on it steady as though that it was a part of himself.
In other words... it was perfect.
Grinning happily, Beregond used his alchemy again to create a leather scabbard as well. After checking himself one last time and deeming that he was ready, he walked out to start his training.
Major Moser was certainly surprised to see what kind of sword there was in the Gondorian's hands. He quickly called Beregond and asked him to show it to him.
Though slightly apprehensive at this, Beregond decided to oblige him. He drew the sword out of its scabbard.
"We don't have that kind of swords in the weapons' room," Moser commented, examining the weapon curiously. "Where did you get this one?"
"I, uh... transmuted it, Sir. I used the swords that were faulty," Beregond answered.
"Indeed?" Moser actually grinned. "Working under Fullmetal has rubbed off on you, eh?"
"You could say that, Sir," Beregond said embarrassedly.
"Well, you've done quite a good job at it. Trust me... I know," Moser said, showing Beregond the silver watch that all State Alchemists carried as identification item, smiling. He placed the silver watch back in his pocket. "However, I'm not sure why you would want to create such a sword. Though it's beautiful, it's rather difficult to handle, isn't it?"
"I'm well acquainted with that kind of weapon. It doesn't prevent my movements, Sir," said Beregond.
"I see," Moser said, nodding his understanding. "Well then, you may carry on."
Beregond bowed his head slightly as he was dismissed, and finally walked up to a secluded enough area of the training grounds. He closed his eyes and took a couple of deep breaths to empty himself of all distracting thoughts. He gripped the handle with both hands, placing himself in defensive position, and then started practising his manoeuvres.
Step two, thrust... Breathe... Step one, swing, step two, swing, upper defence... Breathe... Swirl around and strike.
As Beregond still trained, he felt his heart beating faster for more reasons than the exercise his body was going through. The feel of the sword in his hands, the fighting style and his seclusion from unfriendly eyes made him travel with his mind's eye at another place, back to the time when he was sparring with Faramir. Upon asked, Beregond would say with certainty that he was even able to hear the clanging of Faramir's sword in his; his friend's laughter and the loud whistle of a falcon, the only spectator in their mock clash.
That made his body move faster. He was getting exhilarated, and soon all thoughts had seized to be. It was only him, the sun and the earth. He couldn't stop his slashing and swishing now even if he wanted to. His manoeuvres became more complicated, more difficult and demanding; yet he performed them with flawless grace.
He only stopped when, after a mighty spring, he landed on his feet and thrust his sword deep on the ground in a finishing blow.
A series of gasps snapped him out of his fight trance and he instantly looked up.
Everyone had stopped his training and was looking at him, mouth open.
"What...?" Beregond faltered, unsure as to what to say and very self-conscious all of a sudden.
"You... you split the ground in two!" said one of the privates, his eyes widened in shock.
"And your sword didn't even get a scratch!" said another one.
Beregond blinked and looked down. There, indeed, was a large crack right where his sword had been embedded. And his sword was, truly enough, intact.
"My apologies," the Gondorian murmured. He got ready to clap his hands and fix the damage.
"Sergeant, wait!" It was Major Moser who said that. He approached Beregond and pointed at the hole. "How did you do that?"
Beregond scratched his head. "It's difficult to explain, really. It's a matter of reaching the highest of speeds at the right moment."
Moser smiled. "Now I understand why you favour that sword. One blow can prove fatal to the opponent. And, when there's more than one, you don't waste any energy by slashing three or four times each of your adversaries."
"You have it correct, sir," said Beregond, nodding. He caught sight of the crack again. "I should fix this."
Moser just laughed. "Leave it! Once I tell everyone how it was done, not only they won't mind, but they'll actually be impressed!"
"On the contrary, Major Moser, I mind and I'm not impressed!"
Everybody turned to see a very furious-looking Lieutenant Colonel Fawcette walking towards their direction and standing in front of Beregond. He pointed at him accusingly.
"Sergeant, I knew that one day you would take advantage of the military's leniency, but the way you chose to do it is appalling. Do you know the penalty for damaging state property?"
Beregond felt himself flaring, but he didn't allow his emotions to run away with him. "As I was telling Major Moser, I can fix it," he said slowly.
"With your alchemistic conjuring, no doubt," Fawcette snapped. "The same way that you broke it?"
"Sir, with all due respect," said Moser, "I am a State Alchemist and I can assure you that I would have noticed if Sergeant Beregond had used alchemy. I know the light of an alchemic reaction when I see one."
Beregond glared at Fawcette indignantly. "I didn't use Alchemy. The damage was done out of sheer force and by accident; I have already apologised for that."
Fawcette didn't bother to acknowledge Beregond this time. He smirked at Moser. "Really, Major... Did his innocent-sounding talk and his acting all noble and good get to you, too? Do you really want to know who you are actually trying to cover?"
"Cover...?" Moser started, his eyes widened.
"Yes, cover," Fawcette snapped, not allowing the major to continue. He glared at Beregond. "He is a damn liar. He always lies his way out of trouble. Did you know that he once faked a mental illness to avoid an arrest? That he claimed that he used to be a soldier before so as to take the exams to join the military? That he used the same lie to skip ranks and start as a sergeant? I still wonder how he managed to find himself in the same unit of the very people who seem to go in extreme lengths to protect him." He turned to Beregond, his eyes filled with resentment. "So, Sergeant... What lie did you use that time? I do want to know."
Beregond felt his body trembling in sheer outrage at those accusations, but Fawcette hardly paid any attention to it. He simply kept on.
"Then there's the matter of the heroics to get the people's attention he so much craves. Even getting himself injured so that his theatrics can be the more dramatic. You've heard of the Guyton incident, haven't you, Major Moser? Let me tell you something that not all that many people know. This person here, though it seemed that he could fight back his captor at any given moment, chose to do so when there was a crowd to watch the show. But things didn't go that well with Scar, did they, sergeant? Because Scar didn't feel like being part of a performance."
Beregond bit his lower lip to stop himself from lashing out, but it was useless. The only thing he could do was control his words and simply say: "You know nothing about me."
Fawcette only paused for a moment. "Oh, that's right! I don't! Then again, who does?" he said sarcastically, fake laughter escaping his lips. "I warned you that I'd make my search on you and it's interesting what I came up with. Do you want to hear it, Major Moser?"
Beregond's heart missed a beat.
"Nothing. No birthday certificates; no relations or friends; no address of residence until about nine months ago; no school certificate - nothing. All he had with him when found were plates of armour, torn clothes and some foreign ape-talk. So from which part of the sky did you exactly fall, Sergeant?" Fawcette snorted and looked at the rest of the soldiers. "And now everyone here is gawping and treating you like some damn hero. Well, hero/... Let's see this mess fixed /without you using alchemy. And it better not be here by tomorrow when I come to inspect the grounds."
Beregond didn't say anything this time. He simply bowed his head, something that didn't escape Fawcette's attention. Snorting, the lieutenant colonel walked away, muttering the word "ape".
He never saw Beregond /smiling/. But the other bystanders did.
"All right, break it up, people; you've seen enough," Moser said at that moment, clapping his hands once to get everyone's attention. As soon as he gave that command, the crowd quickly dispersed and carried on as usual. He then leant close to Beregond, his expression clearly showing his puzzlement.
"You are a strange man," he said quietly. "Lieutenant Colonel Fawcette practically insulted you in front of every one of us and you are smiling."
"In all honesty, Sir? I would prefer to show him how much better I control my hand than he controls his tongue," Beregond said boldly. "But I have thought of a more gratifying payback. May I ask for your assistance?"
"You may have it, once you explain what you have in mind."
"I want you and a private to act as witnesses in case I'm accused again for something I didn't do."
"What are you planning to do?" asked Moser.
"I'll fix the hole, of course."
Moser looked at Beregond as if the sergeant had gone crazy. It seemed that he was intrigued enough to indulge Beregond though, because he turned and called at the private closest to them. "What's your name?" he asked when the private approached them and saluted.
"Private Shane Bindle, Sir," the soldier answered.
"Well, Private Bindle, you've just been selected as witness to make sure Sergeant Beregond does his task properly. Sergeant Beregond, you may begin at your leisure."
Beregond nodded his acknowledgement. He straightened his shoulders... and turned around to fetch a bucket of water and a large sack like the one the military always used in bunkers in times of war. Pulling the cord that kept the sack closed, he emptied all the sand in the hole and then added the water. In less than fifteen minutes he was done and his work was seamless. There was nothing that betrayed were the crack was.
Moser whistled, clearly impressed. "I'll say it. I don't care what Fawcette thinks; you're too clever to be just a sergeant."
Beregond smiled broadly. It was true that he didn't like to think of himself as a person who took delight in the pain of others, yet that didn't stop him from feeling pleased with himself when he thought of Fawcette frothing from his mouth upon realising that he got outwitted by the ape yet again. And he was overjoyed when Major Moser gave him permission to could keep the sword as his.
But when Beregond walked home later that evening, the sword buckled at his side, he couldn't help but also feel concerned.
Beregond had thought he had been safe from Fawcette's scrutiny, but he now realised that it wasn't so. It didn't matter that Fawcette didn't have Edward and Alphonse's intelligence or deduction ability - or even Beregond's trust to be confided in. He insisted on digging matters and apparently he would keep looking until he found anything that would be considered suspicious.
Beregond sighed. Yes, there were several people already who knew his story and they accepted him nevertheless. That didn't mean that that was a policy that would be followed by the rest of the military as well. He was aware that the only reason his presence in the army was tolerated even without any records of historical background was his exemplary conduct. Things could still change in the blink of an eye.
I suppose I will have to worry about that when the time comes, he thought. Right now he should focus on his current studies and find further connections between Middle-earth and Amestris. That meant finding Mustang first thing in the morning so as to talk to him.
He only hoped that the Colonel would be able to help him, otherwise he would probably reach a dead end.


text:
By sky_man
via webdeveloperjuice.com
Published: Feb 05 2013 / 00:28
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