The Unbroken Circle
by
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"And speaking of Dame Priscilla," he said aloud, "here she is." She was indeed coming into the courtyard, looking this way and that, wobbling along on her two canes. "Oh, there you are, and the Princess Gertrude," she said. "You will have the court gossips talking altogether." He watched Mariba let out her breath, and he felt a little better. If they had fooled Dame Priscilla, perhaps they could fool others. But then, he didn't know how good the old lady's eyesight was anyhow. "Are you looking for me, Dame Priscilla?" he asked, trying to assume a formal, courteous manner. "Indeed I am." She wagged a finger at him. "I have a bone to pick with you, sir." "What's the matter now?" he asked. "What have I done this time?" "You should be really strict with your men," she said. "You should not let them bring all kinds of equipment and gear into the palace. Such a scene I never saw in my life! Went upstairs to clean the south wing, and what do I see but all kinds of equipment in their rooms." "My men lodged in the south wing? I don't understand." "Some kind of soldiers are up there, with armor and swords and battering rams and whatnot, all stacked up in their rooms. I didn't know what to do when the serving woman came in and said she couldn't clean. I thought she was being lazy. So I went to see for myself, and see I did!" "And then what happened?" "Well, when I went to try to find the men, they were nowhere to be seen, and when I came back, they had locked their doors and gone. I don't know whether they took the gear with them or not." That was serious. He didn't know what was afoot, but something was going on. He remembered what the funny fellow that looked like a monk had said: "If you're looking for an ally, do not forget Dame Priscilla." "Well, Dame Priscilla," he said, "I shall remember this, and I shall certainly speak to my men. And if they are not my men, I shall speak to the duke." "I can't think what the duke would want with fellows like that about. And right below the king's chambers!" she returned. "We're not being invaded or anything."
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About the Book
This story is about a young princess named Gertrude, three different kings who each reign over a part of a Pacific Ocean island, and a unicorn. It opens on Gertrude’s seventeenth birthday in May of the early 1890’s covers about a year in the lives of its many characters, and closes with the death of Gertrude as an old lady of 100 years in her home in upstate New York in the mid 1970’s. As her idea of a birthday present, Gertrude’s eccentric but sensitive maternal Aunt Susie tries to help Gertrude capture and tame a unicorn Susie has seen on the island. Although Gertrude firmly reflects this idea, she does become friends with the mysterious unicorn, named Shanta. Also on her birthday, the family first learns of the deteriorating eyesight of Gertrude’s father, King Gunter, who rules over one part of the island. Her father has been valiantly trying to cope with the help of /Wing-Dings, angelic creatures who have been waiting on his family, and now he also seeks the help of a kind middle-aged physician named Damian, who also arrives on Gertrude’s birthday. During the following summer, Damian falls hopelessly in love with Gertrude, King Gunter re-establishes his relationship with his wife Queen Willie and becomes reconciled to his blindness, and Gertrude’s friendship with the unicorn Shanta grows and deepens. In the fall, Gertrude receives and determines to respond to an appeal from young Desmond, the second king, who feels threatened by a regent uncle with reedy eyes on his throne. Damian takes the occasion to openly declare his love for Gertrude, and he learns she cannot return it. Thus, the stage is set for a visit to Desmond’s kingdom by Gertrude accompanied by Damian, who there performs his last great act to love by laying down his life for Gertrude and his kingdom Thunder Mountain. Gertrude and Desmont must flee across the island to Thunder Mountain where Gertrude meets and learns to love Gideon, its shy but brave king. Together, they prepare for the coming invasion of thunder mountain by Desmond’s usurping uncle Reginald. Yet, even more foreboding than the invasion, the shadow of nautral volcanic disaster hangs over Thunder Mountain and its people. If I have aroused your curiosity, then please read the book! This story was born ultimately out of painful experiences I have had, and it represents an attempt to make sense out of reality, which often seems too ephemeral.
About the Author
Linda A. M. Schneider was born in Washington, D.C., and has lived in Arlington, Virginia all her life, so she teasingly says she is "one of the natives". After graduating from Trinity College (Michigan Avenue, Washington, D.C.) with a B.A. in English literature in 1974, she received her J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center in 1977. At present, she works for the SEC as an attorney. In addition to this present book, Ms. Schneider has published some poems in Catholic newspapers. Besides her poetry, she has compiled a collection of short stories, Slice of Life, and she has written one other shorter science fiction novel, Diary of an Unwitting Explorer. Her other avocations in spare time include knitting and sculpture. Ms. Schneider lives in either a one or two-dog household depending on whether she has a retired guide dog, as well as the working one. Her present guide is an Australian Cattle Dog/German Shepherd female named Remus, as in the Roman twins.