Ursula arrives back at Foti Lane and is reunited with Tyra's family. Later she attends a meeting of those in charge and learns disturbing news.

The Voyage of the Visund

A tale of Anmar by Penny Lane

111 - Luthan's Tale

Nancy was still lying in bed when I went to start my shower, but she got up and showered when I was done. Once I had breakfast set up, she came to the table, dressed plainly in a T-shirt and shorts.

“Jody, I want to apologize for what the group did yesterday.”

“You don’t need to apologize.”

“I do. I think we all do. You gave us permission to do that, but it wasn’t reasonable for all of your fiancées to get together and have an orgy that went on for hours.”

“OK. Apology accepted.”

Chapter 5

Part 7 Penny in a Spin

We took it slowly from then on. We were to meet all the others at an Italian Restaurant for a meal before we went to the club. The owner knew Andrew and we would meet up with the sound guys to get our mics fitted there before we ate as the filming would start with our meal.

Before we left, I was told to strip off completely and then was totally taken by surprise when Tanya pulled out an enema kit and squeezed the contents up my arse.

“So, you don’t get a sudden desire to have a crap once you are dressed.”

CHAPTER 24
Our next shifts were lates, and we decided, after the delights of New Year’s Eve, we deserved a bit of a break, so we parked up in Splott once more.

“What’s got you so bouncy, Jen?”

“Um, stuff”

“What sort of stuff?”

“Sort of personal stuff”

“Ah! You rang that woman, didn’t you?”

“Er, might have done”

While Paula searched for a suitable date for Faye and dealt with other clients, Stephanie continued to work on Faye’s behaviour and appearance. When Steph mentioned ‘behaviour’, Faye went a little mad.

“My behaviour is very good, isn’t it?”

Part 6 A Penny in the Slot

After finishing our filming on Thursday, I was walking out of the place in my black outfit, fully made up with red nails and great hair.

Paula laughed.

“Hey, we all look fabulous. Why don’t we all get ahead of tomorrow nights’ filming by going out on the town? I know a little dance club where we can relax.”

So, we were all driven into town and dropped off outside a restaurant, the drivers saying they would pick us up on Saturday evening for the club scene.

CHAPTER 8
“Yeah, they’re camped down at Watlington, just along from Lewknor”

“Ooh! It’s pretty round there. I’d just prefer it a bit warmer, and drier. Did you want those drinks?”

“Oh, sorry. Pint of Abbot for me. Mary?”

“The pinot grigio, Jules, please”

“In five, then”

She looked quickly at Lynn.

“This one can give you the low-down on who’s been talking”

CHAPTER 7
I had no answer for that, so fell back on the one Jacky herself had given me.

“Options open. That’s what you and Carly told me, Jacky. And you have Clarice there. Look: I’d normally be thinking all sorts of rubbish about canteen culture, but from what you say it’s sort of your sister’s canteen. You’ve got support there”

Mary asked, “I have something, if you don’t mind. I know I don’t know you like Ellie does, but it’s a more general thing. Game theory. Each of you, you and Jerome, has a choice. Try or don’t try. If neither of you tries, you both lose. If you both try, then there’s a chance of winning for each of you. How old were you when you married, Jacky?”

Mark Lansing never wanted to stand out. He was perfectly happy disappearing into a football huddle with the rest of the team until one play made him the talk of the town. Thrust into a spotlight he never wanted, every choice can reshape his future, and every decision could transform him in ways he never believed possible. Mark’s destiny will be determined on the field … assuming he can figure out how to dress the part.

Chapter 4

CHAPTER 21
I ran the idea past Tom on our next shift. He was as pragmatic as ever.

“Sounds like a sensible idea, Jen, but the politics will be well above our pay grade. We really need to run it past the bosses before we do anything at all. I’m still thinking of that arsehole Sammy Patel was talking about, if you get me. What exactly did you have in mind?”

“To be honest, butt, not just the sharps box. A proper exchange scheme, if we can, plus a bit of outreach”

Part 5 My Tuppence Worth

I sat back and thought about that.

“If I am to be a she-male, I expect that you will want me to go with men in future episodes?”

He nodded, so I went on.

“I will need more money if I’m going to do that. I’m not gay and what you are asking is a long way from the original concept that you put to me.”

CHAPTER 6
I woke the next morning with Mary in that same position, spooning me, one hand cupping my breast. This time, she woke as I tried to slip out of bed.

“Oh… Sorry”

I abandoned my exit, turning to face her.

“It’s okay, love. You did that the night before as well. It’s… It’s actually rather comforting. Please don’t worry about it”

CHAPTER 5
“Thanks, love”

“Never a problem, er, woman, if I have that right. I set up this meeting, by the way, so I am keeping people out until I’m sure you’re sound. Whose top?”

“Mary’s. So’s the pendant and, er, the skirt, but the rest is all me and mine”

“You need some T-shirt bras; that one’s showing through. Ready?”

“Do it”

I go to her apartment that evening.

She opens the door and reads my face immediately — she always reads my face immediately, this has been true since the first week — and she steps back and lets me in without asking anything.

Her apartment is warm. The laptop is on the kitchen table from last night, the whiskey bottle still there, most of it gone. She closes the laptop. She stands at the kitchen counter and waits.

"I talked to her," I say.

Seo-yeon is still.