Halo joins him a few moments later, holding her wrappings. She moves swiftly, as if she already knows the direction of the proposed burial site. In front of Sterling now, she stops at a rock that reaches up to her knee and circles around it. She sits, brings her legs in and lets her wrappings drape over the rock.
This spot is fine.
Sterling rests the kid on the ground and yawns. He would comment on the fact that this was the exact spot he had been thinking of when he decided to bury Bolt, but he’s getting used to Halo’s ability to know his thoughts before he gives them voice and decides to save his breath.
He breaks the hard-pack with the pick mattock and shovels the rock and soil neatly to one side. Every time he swings the pick mattock or uses the shovel, the handle of the tool abrades the shiv cut on his hand, and soon both tools are sticky with his blood. Out of the corner of his eye he catches Halo gyrating on her rock perch. He recalls the flesh giver in the South, which triggers a whole string of memories, including the first time he met Bolt in the motocart. He looks at the kid’s lifeless body and sorrow and regret wash through him yet again.
The sun is well above the horizon before Sterling finishes and climbs out. He moves Bolt to the edge of the grave, then gets back in and lifts the boy in as gently as the cramped circumstances and his waning strength will allow. Filling a grave is always easier than digging one, Sterling reflects, even though he takes the time to do it right by shoveling a quarter of the dirt in at a time and stepping each layer down before he adds more.
He whispers the Northern Prayer for The Dead as he shovels in the last of the rocky soil, and wonders who will hear it and what good, if any, it will do for Bolt.
I hear it.
“What now?” he asks just to say something rather than in any expectation of a real answer.
Now we rest. Later we will make our way to the Northern Servers.
“Won’t they know we’re here?”
I’ll take care of that. Don’t you trust me?
Sterling’s eyes drop back to Bolt’s freshly filled grave. An uneasy feeling curdles in his stomach as he says, “Yeah, I trust you. Bolt trusted you, too. Just … no more killing, okay?”
I can’t promise that.
Sterling picks up his tools and turns towards his home. “I was afraid you’d say that.”
The End
.Back of the Book Shit.
You made it.
The Zero Patient Trilogy: Book Two is out now.
More is revealed as Sterling and Halo head to the Northern Servers and Hunter tries to come to grips with his role in the Canyon and the various forces (voices) controlling him. Sterling’s sister becomes a prominent player in this book, as does Zander Damien.
This series was inspired by a number of other works. David Mitchell’s Cloud Atlas was a huge inspiration for this book. If you’ve seen the movie, or read the reviews of the movie and decided to skip the book, I highly recommend the book. Mitchell weaves a variety of narratives together through the prose, getting about as creative with the English language as one can and still remain readable. There are, of course, other authors who have experimented, but Cloud Atlas is unique in its content and story arc, much better than the Italian book that inspired it.
I based the tone on a number of things, most notably Cormac McCarthy’s The Road and Steinbeck’s East of Eden. From McCarthy, I borrowed the bleakness and from Steinbeck, an overall story that can be read on multiple layers. At least this was my intention – I was utterly moved by these two works and wanted a way to blend them into something more on the cyberpunk scale. American Psycho found its way into Hunter’s serial killer prose without the designer clothing (for designer anything, see my other series, Life is a Beautiful Thing). Towards the End of Time by John Updike was also an inspiration for this book, most notably through the metalzips. While not his most highly praised work, I took some inspiration from Chuck Klosterman’s I Wear the Black Hat: Grappling with Villains (Real and Imagined).
I worked for quite a while conceptualizing the costumes used in the Canyon. This wouldn’t have been possible without the help of my fiancé, wife if you are reading this in 2017, Sor Ganbold, a Mongolian fashion designer who worked with me on the clothing of the Canyon and painted Halo’s stunning picture in November 2015 after several early conceptual designs. Her skill is unmatched in any artist I’ve ever personally met. Further, she does her art without attachment, as if it were as simple as brushing one’s teeth before bed.
Location, location, location
I originally hoped to place the Zero Patient Trilogy in the Grand Canyon. Upon further research into the size and natural history, I decided it would be better to strip anything familiar from the book’s setting, allowing it to become universally familiar. The Canyon could be anywhere – the dividing factors of humanity unanimous.
This book was written in Texas, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, Beijing Airport, Incheon Airport and Yokohama, Japan over the course of November and December 2015, with portions of Hunter’s parts written in October (more on this later). No mile high club here – I can’t write in the sky mainly due to the economical ways in which I travel, generally crammed into a seat near the bathrooms next to a crying baby, a drunken Chinese man (possibly snoring), a techie from San Francisco pecking away at his laptop in hopes of developing an algorithm that will curb bad airplane behavior, A German man giving me stern looks and grumbling every time I have to step over him to use the restroom. The list goes on. No writing in the sky for me.
I finished this book in a McDonald’s in Motosumiyoshi, Japan. Why McDonalds? McDonalds has the cheapest coffee in Japan at 100 yen (as of 2016). The price of a tall cup of Starbucks (McStarbucks for fans of my other books) is 320 yen. Yes, triple the price for burnt water. The Japanese competitor, Doutor, is 220 yen for a small cup of coffee, so do the math. I would love to work in local Japanese coffee shops, but many of these allow cigarette smoking inside. Imagine a pack of Japanese salarymen chain-smoking and sipping coffee loudly while reading their crinkly newspapers – unpleasant to say the least.
Sound Design
I develop soundtracks for my books and use these to ‘tune’ myself into the story. Strange, I know, but I am a former Austin musician with 200 recorded songs under his belt – of which only one is on an album you’ll be able to find – so music is important to me. My favorite collaboration was with the bass player of the metal band, The Sword, which we called Atxtasy (ATX = Austin, Texas). I think he uploaded one album to Soundcloud, so if you’re ever bored, and you need to listen to something that resembles elevator music mixed with the seedy music one might hear at a diner on the outskirts of Vegas at 3AM – Google.
Sterling’s parts were written to the Her movie soundtrack as well as a single song by a New York composer named Paul Damien Hogan, who is one of the most talented musicians you’ve never heard. I had the privilege of meeting him once in 2011 in Brooklyn. He won’t remember me, but I’ve since kept an eye on the songs he posts online. The song is called “Lonely Moon” and if you Google his name and the song, you’ll surely find it. Piano Solos Vol. 2 was also on heavy rotation during Sterling’s part. The album, by pianist Dustin O”Halloran, is one of my favorites for writing. You’ve likely heard Dustin O”Halloran before if you’ve watched the show Transparent – he wrote the theme after being contacted by a producer who loved his album Piano Solos Vol. 2.
Hunter
I began work on Hunter’s voice in the spring of 2015, hoping to combine rambling, hallucinating, general fervor, poetic verse (mostly inspired by Death Grips and Kendrick Lamar), fear and devotion in a single character’s perspective. I only seem to be able to write Hunter’s parts to jarring music, such as dubstep and extreme drum and bass. Somehow, this has a way of nullifying everything around me and letting me hone in on Hunter’s voice. Hunks of time have passed writing and rewriting this character. It doesn’t feel the same as when I write other things, mainly due to the channeling nature of writing in the first
person present tense (which, if you’ve read anything else I’ve written, I’m quite fond of). My main goal with this character is for the barrage of voices coming through him to make sense in a cohesive way, as if we (yes, you and I) were existing inside his head and watching him perform his horrible deeds while catching a few passing phrases between his ears.
If at all possible, Hunter is supposed to read like the song “You Might Think He Loves You For Your Money But I Know What He Really Loves You For It’s Your Brand New Leopard Skin Pillbox Hat” by Death Grips from the album Government Plates mixed with the song “Momma” by Kendrick Lamar from the album To Pimp a Butterfly sounds. If you are familiar with both songs, you know how jarring this would be.
Which brings me to tone.
Tone
If you’ve enjoyed the dark tone of this book, you will probably like my book Boy versus Self, which is a serious work about an artist struggling with hallucinations that may kill him. I write in a variety of styles, from humorous to hallucinatory metafiction, and try to reinvent my writing style with each series I release; that, or improve upon a style I’ve already delved in. Hunter, for example, is a more psychotic version of Meme, the lead character in Life is a Beautiful Thing. For those who have read both the Zero Patient Trilogy and Life is a Beautiful Thing, you’ll see similarities.
I believe that authors should challenge themselves to create something that surprises readers and at the same time, allows the author to stretch his or her imagination to the brink of what is readable. As a reader, you will come to expect certain types of things from me. Call it ‘weird’ or ‘strange’ or ‘different’ – what I do, and what I will continue to do, is figure out the best way to verbalize the stories that I’d like to tell to you in a medium that continues to hold sway over newer mediums such as television, video gaming, social media and cinema. Whether it be the perspective of a serial killing religious fanatic or a man trapped in a virtual reality world – like Quantum from my other series, The Feedback Loop – I am keen to break genre while visiting old tropes in ways that are unpredictable yet familiar. Further, I am interested in writing what I want to write. Don’t be surprised if I publish a nonfiction piece in the future, or if I pen another collection of political satire.
My work and its clarity wouldn’t be possible without my editor, George C. Hopkins, who always finds ways to improve the manuscript and ask tough questions that require answers and modifications, all for your satisfaction, reader. He is the best editor I have ever worked with and it is a pleasure to see a manuscript after he’s finished with it. Two beta readers also gave me their thoughts on this book. Kay, who was the first to see a preview of Hunter, never fails to amaze me with her keen eye. Ben, who has read enough of my work to be clinically insane, also gave him his time and mind-space to let this story unfold. Thank you, all.
Life is too short to fit into any box, including one that you’ve made for yourself. So grow with me, reader, and keep checking the space I’ve created for my work from time to time. Your patronage keeps me going and encourages me to reach further for the next book. Knowing that right now, someone is reading this somewhere in this beautifully flawed world of ours is why I write. Thank you for letting my stories exist in your mind.
Please review this book and anything else you’ve read by me. If you need more, Book Two will be released soon. For something serious, check out my standalone novel Boy versus Self. For something that will leave your mind reeling, the Life is a Beautiful Thing series is where you’ll want to go next. Of course, a standard sci-fi adventure series is always a good way to clear one’s palate. For that, check out The Feedback Loop series. More to come.
Keep reading happy people,
Harmon Cooper Jan 3rd 2016
.Canyon Vocabulary.
Beard tails – chin dreadlocks.
Bits – currency used for trade or gambling by the North and the South.
Blackout – a wall of windblown dust that blocks out the sun.
Blasph – blasphemous thought, person, act, word or deed.
Blinders – eye cover worn by Halo, the Goddess of the South.
Bullet flinger – Sterling’s word for a projectile weapon.
Clubbing stick – offensive striking weapon similar to a riot baton or baseball bat, usually constructed from field expedient materials.
Cover cloths –full body shawl with an attached hood. Usually worn by women.
Death Prayer – Prayer for those dying but not being raptured. Open heart and open mouth, soul take the path of the Devout. Deathborn, not I, vultured soon. Rebirth comes at the next full moon. Deathborn, not I, Goddess forgive, grievances from the times I lived. Deathborn, not I, sins escape, give me the guidance of the Devout, the Stayed.
Deathborn – one who is caught in the repeating cycle of death and re-birth.
Delixer – bootleg alcohol.
Depot – official distribution point for rations, water, R boots, and other commodities.
Devout – The Priest class; the highest Canyon social group.
Dirties – variously describes impure thoughts, words, deeds and the genitalia.
Double – to engage in procreative activities.
Dusk Prayer – An evening prayer popular in the South. Let dusk settle and the Canyon rest, give thanks to the Goddess, the Stayed, the Devout and all the rest. Protect me in my moment of slumber; hold me to your breast. Grant me the faculty to become one of the blessed. Lead all those who stray away from deathborn. Heal the earth beneath the feet of the scorned. Mourn the passing of those faithful few, who have given their lives in devotion to you.
Eunuched – Castrated.
Face cover – similar to a turtle neck. Covers the mouth and nose, used as a particulate filter.
Faceless – blurred facial features, a complete psychological phenomenon. Northerners believe that facelessness is a blessing; visible proof that one has broken the cycle of death and rebirth. Southerners believe that the faceless are accursed, and doomed to repeat the cycle. Some Southerners also believe that facelessness is contagious.
Finger grazers – part of a Flesh Giver’s costume: long strips of fabric attached to the fingers.
Fleshroom – a house of prostitution.
Flesh Dealer – one who manages a fleshroom.
Flesh Giver – prostitute, generally dressed in the fashion of the local Goddess. Also known as Lover.
Food – the nutrient-rich but monotonously bland ration bars distributed by the Off Limits through the various Depots.
Great Demarcator, The – slang for the Off Limits.
Khomei – from Khomeini barriers. Waist high stone pillars spaced to deny moto vehicles an unobstructed approach to the Off Limits.
Leaks – oversized goggles/glasses.
Lottery – nominally random selection process to determine who will be sterilized; one of three methods used for population control.
Lower – someone from the second lowest class.
Lizard – a gambling game in which two lizards race on an enclosed track.
Lizard luck – unexpected or unlooked-for good luck; from good luck in a game of lizard.
Metalzip – semi-holy metallic flying insect. About the size of Specius grandus (western cicada killer) approximately 1.5 inches in length.
Mil – 100 milliliters.
Mog – Midnight smog.
Moto – motorcycle less than 50cc. Fast enough, but not powerful.
Motocart – moto with an additional cart on back.
Motopublic – public transportation vehicle generally used by Lowers.
Mush – food that has been moistened, sweetened, and cooked to a porridge-like consistency.
Northern Council – ruling body that governs the North. Less extremist than the Southern Council.
Off Limits – the massive structure that separates the North from the South. Food and other goods are distributed through here. Also known as the Great Demarcator.
OL Officer – common name for law
enforcement from the Off Limits. Professionally known as GDSF: Great Demarcator Security Forces.
Perma-parched – long term, chronic dehydration.
R Boots – Rationed Boots, worn by Uppers. Lowers usually wear sandals or cast-off R Boots.
R Box – Ration Box, contains approximately 1800 calories of food.
Rapture – the semi-mystical process by which Canyon dwellers above a certain age are euthanized. One of three methods used for population control.
Rapture Announcement – official notification from the Off Limits that one has reached vesting age and is scheduled to be raptured.
Red root – an addictive stimulant root, chewed in the South. Long-term use permanently discolors the teeth.
Registration box – fingerprint scanner.
Repeater – one who continually participates in the cycle of reeducation and reentry into society; a recidivist.
Seersucker – a type of fabric. Clothing distributed by the Off Limits is usually made of this fabric.
Shiv – any cutting or stabbing weapon, usually made from field expedient materials.
Southern Council – ruling body that governs the South, and uses a strict, fundamentalist interpretation of the Book as the foundation of its rule of law.
The First Blessing – A Southern child’s first meeting with the Goddess.
Trim – castrate.
Unikey – universal key that will start any vehicle, usually restricted to OL Officers.
Upper – someone from the high class.
Vesta – standard unit of distance equal to .66 of a mile.
Vesting Age – the age at which a person is called to be raptured. Generally falls between the ages of 48 and 50.
Vultured Few – those who handle the dead, lowest of the Lower class.
War of the Untold, The – euphemism for the war that almost extincted humankind.
War Zone – battlefield within the Off Limits where teams from the North and South fight to the death; one of three methods used for population control.
The Zero Patient Trilogy (Book One): (A Dystopian Sci-Fi Series) Page 14
