Minerva, Epilogue

by Bob Murphy

Epilogue

“I guess the Chinese worked out a ceasefire,” Quinn said from behind.  Dan continued to stare at the smoking island from the deck of the Emily St. Pierre.  

“That’s good,” Dan finally said, then headed back inside the ship.  Quinn followed him.  

“Look, Danny,” he said, “I’d love to take you with me, but . . . .”

“But what?” Dan said.  “I’ve got no family to go back to.”

“Probably not,” Quinn said.  “But it’s like this—before, you were running away from your family.  But now . . . .”

“Yeah?” Dan asked.

“Now, you’d be running away from yourself.”

Dan grunted and went back outside to the deck.

Jim came in from another room.

“I heard what you said,” Jim said.  “That was some pretty deep stuff.”

“Thanks,” Quinn said and snorted.  “Poor kid.”

“He’ll be all right,” Jim said.  “You’ll see.”

A Word from the Author

             I hope you enjoyed this rough cut of Minerva.  For your convenience, the entire draft is available in PDF form here.  Please let your friends and acquaintances know about it if they might be interested.  

            And now down to business:  If any person or group PayPal’s me an advance of $50,000, then I will sign a contract promising to deliver the full-length sequel to Minerva within three years from the date of initial payment.  Upon delivery of the final manuscript, I will receive an additional $450,000.  Included with the manuscript will be all rights to the sequel, as well as a promise by me to discuss the sequel with no one except those I may consult for technical/stylistic suggestions.

                                                                                    Bob Murphy

                                                                                    April 2004