Ten Percent Mark!

Today was Day 3 of NanoWriMo. Now my math skills aren't the best, but I figure:

Day 3 = 10% of the way through November = 10% of the way through 50k words = 5,000 words

And blow me down, I've scraped in at 5,666!

Yes, I did consider writing one more word so it wouldn't end in "666," but then I reflected that my scene involved:

• A man being strangled to death;
• references to avenging angels;
• a black poodle called Iblis

So I figured that it probably was a fitting word count.

And now all that demonic bahaviour has worked up an appetite. I'm off to eat chocolate, the snack of Nano-champions.

Oh, umm, do I have favouritse bit of scribble today? Probably this:

He heard a sound, like the unfurling of a canvas sail from overhead. There was a slap as a line landed just yards from his feet. A second later a sudden winding noise and there alighted before him a young woman, dressed in men’s trousers and vest.

They gazed at one another for a moment, surprised. She was pink of cheek, as if from the exertion, and her lips were parted. Freddie could see a sheen of sweat on her top lip.

“Who the hell...?” He glanced at the man standing across from them. “What the divvil’s going on here?”

The fellow puffed on his pipe and seemed unfazed. He gave a small nod to the young woman.

She blinked at Freddie. Her right hand fumbled at her belt, releasing her from the line she’d sailed down on. Her gaze slid to the man – her master, Freddie thought, and for some reason the thought made his insides liquid.

“Come on,” the palsied fellow sighed.

“Wait. I...” Freddie experienced a moment of dreadful clarity, and realised that there were some things that were worth more than thirty guineas. He stepped backwards, darted one more look at the girl, and turned on heel.

Unfortunately, Freddie turned out not to be much of a sprinter!

PS Ten internet points to anyone who can knows where the black poodle reference comes from. I'll give you a clue: that particular furry character was suggested by my German husband.