Trial by Combat (Page 5): Thanks, Carla. Afraid I'm luteless at the moment, lol. And just as well, as you don't want to hear my singing! I go to many sporting events and am handsomely...

Treepusher Loc: Kingston, Massachusetts

carlysue wrote:

I see no cause to doubt this strong and beautiful ... (show quote)

Thanks, Carla. Afraid I'm luteless at the moment, lol. And just as well, as you don't want to hear my singing! I go to many sporting events and am handsomely paid NOT to sing the National Anthem... ; )

And no, not a shrinking violet by any means. She's quite formidable, but will she be strong enough to defeat this monstrous thing she's facing?

As Guinevere might have asked--

She'll give him trouble? He will be rubble! LOL

We'll hope it's that easy, tho as I recall, none of the bragging thugs was able to defeat Lancelot. Perhaps she'll have better luck than they did.

Thanks for the laugh and your visit, they're always much appreciated!

Treepusher Loc: Kingston, Massachusetts

Hal81 wrote:

Great photo and story. I started to write a crime story but this is all the farther I got. It went like this.--- Ok there copper this is a rod you feel in your back. Make one false move and it's curtains. It's a curtain rod. I know, sometimes I even hate myself.

Needs work, Hal, lol... But that's how great writers get started. ; )

Glad you're enjoying this one. Getting pretty tense, and I'm all agog to see what happens! I'm rooting for our young wicked witch, but she'll need more than my rooting if she's to defeat the Ripper...

Thanks for the kind words and visit, they're very much appreciated!

Treepusher Loc: Kingston, Massachusetts

nanaval wrote:

All I can say is that The Dark Lady knows what she wants to do, plus she is a WOMAN!!!!!! with a lot more years of experience than he has. He has no chance against her...

One would like to think that, of course. But we have a wise saying here (well, several of them, actually, such as 'Don't count your chickens...'). But I was thinking of one in particular, quoted from a very wise and highly respected old Yankee: "It ain't over till it's over." And this one ain't over!

; )

Treepusher Loc: Kingston, Massachusetts

carlysue wrote:

My brain just goes off uncontrolled sometimes,Jeff.

LOL!!!

raymondh Loc: Walker, MI

I'm betting she's up to the task.
Interesting treatment you've given her. Kind of a robotic, metallic look. I like it!

Treepusher Loc: Kingston, Massachusetts

raymondh wrote:

I'm betting she's up to the task.
Interesting treatment you've given her. Kind of a robotic, metallic look. I like it!

Thanks, Ray. I have faith in her, but this may get messy.

There are multiple steps to processing this one, but the major metallic-type effect (she's supposed to be under a gas light in the fog, lol) is from Topaz ReStyle. It does some really fun things with the photos.

Thanks for stopping by and your kind comments, always much appreciated!

RobertW Loc: Breezy Point, New York

TP---- You're allowing doubt to creep in! The Dark Lady has Madame P and the whole Ministry to call into play here!!.........
Murgatroyd even says he'll gather up a Legion of Frogs for backup if needed (although with their powers, those two witches could probably command a whole ARMY of frogs for assistance if needed!
Waiting with serious concern for the outcome!!

Treepusher Loc: Kingston, Massachusetts

Thanks, Robert. Remember, the year here in our story is 1888, the Martian isn't even a gleam in his great-great-great granddaddy's eye, and the Ministry of Mayhem is far away in North America. Madame P has not yet associated herself with it, and our prospective Dark Lady hasn't yet joined that august company, not being certified yet. So they're really without any back-up. And by the rules of the Test, the wicked witch candidate isn't allowed any help anyway!

So she's in trouble...

RobertW Loc: Breezy Point, New York

Sorry didn't think of all those conditions in the heat of the moment!-----Still, I can't believe anyone with that devious mind could be in trouble----As I recall, the only genius that "Jack" ever displayed lended themselves to avoiding the "Bobby's" collective attempts at encirclement and capture------This witch MUST be -------Well-----I guess I'll wait for the conclusion!!

CathyAnn Loc: Apache Junction, AZ

Treepusher wrote:

Thanks, Robert. Remember, the year here in our story is 1888, the Martian isn't even a gleam in his great-great-great granddaddy's eye, and the Ministry of Mayhem is far away in North America. Madame P has not yet associated herself with it, and our prospective Dark Lady hasn't yet joined that august company, not being certified yet. So they're really without any back-up. And by the rules of the Test, the wicked witch candidate isn't allowed any help anyway!

So she's in trouble...

Now you've shot all my theories as to the sources of help to smithereens! Now what!?

As for the picture, it's stunning as usual!

Treepusher Loc: Kingston, Massachusetts

RobertW wrote:

Sorry didn't think of all those conditions in the heat of the moment!-----Still, I can't believe anyone with that devious mind could be in trouble----As I recall, the only genius that "Jack" ever displayed lended themselves to avoiding the "Bobby's" collective attempts at encirclement and capture------This witch MUST be -------Well-----I guess I'll wait for the conclusion!!

Being in trouble is relative, as we shall see, lol. I hope you'll find the conclusion satisfying.

I did see an interesting show on the Ripper a year or two back. Seems they're reasonably certain he was a seaman on a German merchant ship, which left London and sailed to North America, where he once again began killing women in the same manner as in Whitechapel. The New York (I believe it was NYC, but could be wrong) police caught him, he was convicted and sent to prison, where he eventually died. Which accounts for the end of his murderous spree in London. DNA ties him to the crimes, as does his ship's log.

But much more fun to believe the Dark Lady won her spurs by ridding the world of him and sending him back where he belonged.

Treepusher Loc: Kingston, Massachusetts

CathyAnn wrote:

Now you've shot all my theories as to the sources of help to smithereens! Now what!?

As for the picture, it's stunning as usual!

Thank you, CathyAnn. This could be very bad for our ladies. If Madame P dithers too long, any aid she might have given may be moot, as it will be too late. And if she does do something, will she alienate her sister forever? No wonder she's caught between a rock and a hard place here. And there's no help to be given from any other quarter, at least none that we know of.

So it's all up to them, do or die. But the 'exciting' conclusion will be up shortly...

Thanks for your very kind words and visit, they're very much appreciated!

RobertW Loc: Breezy Point, New York

Hey TP---Not at all cognizant of how to communicate on UHH, but wanted to say have an emergency trip to Booth Bay to testify in Civil Action re Bridge---in any case will try to go to your neighborhood for clams/Lobster before going post-haste to
Logan thence Amsterdam---
Any chance you would be there???

RobertW Loc: Breezy Point, New York

Hey TP---Not at all cognizant of how to communicate on UHH, but wanted to say have an emergency trip to Booth Bay to testify in Civil Action re Bridge---in any case will try to go to your neighborhood for clams/Lobster before going post-haste to
Logan thence Amsterdam---
Any chance you would be there???

Treepusher Loc: Kingston, Massachusetts

RobertW wrote:

Hey TP---Not at all cognizant of how to communicate on UHH, but wanted to say have an emergency trip to Booth Bay to testify in Civil Action re Bridge---in any case will try to go to your neighborhood for clams/Lobster before going post-haste to
Logan thence Amsterdam---
Any chance you would be there???

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