Ernest Bywater: Stories

What does an old man do when confronted with a danger? He remembers what he is, he remembers his oath to "fight all enemies, foreign and domestic." The story title says it all.

A fire destroys a farm in Virginia, so the family is moving west. Except the youngest is too ill to travel when it's time to leave. The boy and his grandmother stay behind to follow later. It takes so long for him to recover the two don't go west, and find local employment. A decade later rising political problems cause the young man and his grandmother to make a decision about their future. They'll go west, but it isn't that simple, or an easy journey. Written in US English - 72,700 words.

Damsels In Distress
A new Hero is recruited to work on Chaos, and is taken as a Hero Companion on an orientation visit. Al, being the person he is, can't help but look to change how things are done, and change them for the better. Plenty of action, and no sex. The first of many stories about this Hero. The important knowledge needed about the Damsels in Distress Universe is told in the story, so don't worry.

Damsels In Distress
Al Adams makes his first visit to Chaos as a Hero. However, he must first prepare for the trip. A rescue is chosen, and plans made. But the plans must change to suit the developing situation he meets on the ground. He does push ahead in establishing himself on Chaos.

Damsels In Distress
Al Adams is on his way back to Chaos for another rescue, and to do more about setting up his base of operations. This time he has a problem, he's being asked to make a rescue that all the other Heroes have knocked back as a fancy form of suicide! The Damsels are captives of Dragons, a protected species he can't hurt. The Dragons are big, and dangerous. What can he do? He's their last hope, dare he refuse, like the others have?

Damsels In Distress
Al is asked to take on another special mission, but this time it's well into the enemy held lands where he can't get any of the Chaos helpers to go with him. He has along a few of his people from Earth who are training to be Heroes or wish to leave the Earth society for a life on Chaos. There are surprises for all on Chaos. 21,100 words - 3 parts

Damsels In Distress
The rebels on Cassandra have tricked the system into sending an important person to Chaos when they didn't want to go. Al is asked to rescue her then return her to Crossroads with two Damsels on the same island off the enemy held coast. To do so he must arrive on Chaos too far from his usual helpers to involve them in his plans to free the islands from his enemies. 27,300 words

Damsels In Distress
Some remnants of the Slaver War are rebuilding in the lands south of King Sid's area, so Al decides to stop them before they grew to big. The nearest safe entry on Chaos is the Rider Citadel well across the continent from Al's helpers, so he must again recruit help from the locals. 11,900 words

Some smart people invent a way to dispose of rubbish, and a few other things. The CIA want their technology, and they won't hand it over. Things heat up. Set in Australia.

Father's been away 3 years. His young family's meeting him at the airport. --- Bad Fred, said --- It's poignant, and you hit the right notes. If I didn't know it was your story and trust you, I would have drifted away in the first few paragraphs. It moved slowly. It was lovely, but it wasn't hitting my "what happens next?" buttons. Well, until the end when it all comes together. Readers who stick with it will be rewarded. Set in Australia.