It’s Sunday, and time again for Weekend Writing Warriors (click on the logo above) and snippet Sunday (click on the logo below. Both blog hops involve authors posting 8 sentences or less of their work, anywhere from first draft to published. Mine for this week is from a published work, Homecoming, available from Amazon or Barnes and Noble in a variety of formats.
Last time I quoted from Homecoming I covered Marna’s discovery of the mummified body of a plague victim and her immediate response. Here is the follow-up to that discovery. I’ve done a little creative punctuation to get it under the 8-sentence limit.
Logic said she should get away, that the person was long gone and the body might still harbor the plague.
She could not abandon the remnant.
The body refused to be composed into any semblance of rest, but she brushed away the last of the sand and carried it into the sun, now high in the sky. Deaths among the R’il’nai had been rare, and she finally had to ask the computer for the proper words.
“I do not know who you are,” she told the body finally, “so I cannot speak of your life and the joy you brought those who knew you. I can only say the final farewell. Take the goodness and joy of your life with you as you go before, and let all sorrow and evil be consumed with your body in the furnace from which it came.”
She reached out to cup her hands around the skull-like face, locking her mind on the body; then she gathered herself mentally, reached for the sun, and thrust the body into its nuclear heart.
Funeral rites of the R’il’nai.
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Very interesting that she felt so compelled to perform the ritual. Your stories are always so richly detailed, definitely feel we’re in a real place and time with your characters. Excellent excerpt!
Respect for the dead is probably one of the things that makes us human (or in her case, R’il’nian.)
I’ve always had a great deal of respect for those who care for the dead, it’s not something I could do. Your descriptions and characterizations in this snippet are amazing! Kudos!
Caring for the dead is a part of culture. In hers, it is traditional to return the body to the sun.
I’m overwhelmed by your compassion, Sue Ann. “She reached for the sun and thrust the body into it’s nuclear heart” Thank you for this image.
I’ve tried to emphasize the empathy and compassion of Marna’s character.
Sue
Love the MCs courage for not running away and for doing what she believed was right. Your great detail and description allows the reader to feel almost a participant. Well done.
She’s thinking with her emotions.
I think I’d like Marna very much. She does the right thing, even if it might be dangerous for her. Very nice!
I meant Marna to be likable.
You succeeded! 🙂
A kind tribute and a powerful end. Wonderful 8!
I admire her bravery. Not an easy thing for a woman to do in this situation. Interesting 8!
She’s been alone for two centuries.
This is very vivid and emotional. Great job. 🙂
Glad you like it.
Very, very good. This is the way I wish our remains could be handled; up, up and into the sun. The respect for the dead is so well done here. Great job.
It’s the respect that’s important. I have a bit in Tourist Trap where a war almost starts because four cultures have different (but equally respectful) ways of handling dead bodies.
This little snippet gives a good sense of character–compassion, even for a nameless person, despite the risk of infection. I like the detail of having to ask the computer for the ritual words!
Funerals (and births) were rare among the R’il’nai.
Very poignant and moving.
That’s what I was trying for.
I loved this portion of the book so much because of the emotion you pulled out of me. Great snippet from a book that held me captive. Well done, Sue Ann!
I’m glad to hear you liked the book.
I liked your excerpt so I clicked on the photo link. So glad I did. 🙂
I hope that means you at least considered getting the book.
The details you provide are amazing — we get a glimpse of both the culture and the character.
A very small glimpse of the culture.
Marna showed compassio and selflessness in performing this ritual. And such beautiful words for the send off.
She’s a very empathic person.
Wonderful selection from a book I very much enjoyed. 🙂 You did a wonderful job developing Marna’s character and this snippet was a tiny gem that added to it. Good 8! 🙂
Glad you liked the book. Marna’s in Tourist Trap, too.
A touching scene! Well done. Wonderful tribute!
Part of showing how traumatized Marna is by being the last survivor.
Hi Sue Ann. Great snippet here, it’s not easy to build a good strong emotional connection in such a short excerpt, but you did it. I love the details, really makes the scene come alive. BTW I hope everything is going well for you 🙂
It’s one of my favorite passages. I’m sloshing when I walk today (CT with contrast and I’ve had to drink 4 liters + today.)
This is a beautiful scene, emotionally compelling. So well done.
Thanks. Glad you liked it.
Nice snippet. Very full of emotion. I liked the glimpse into her personal beliefs and mindset. It was a very touching scene. Well done, Sue Ann!
Not so much her beliefs as those of her people.
Very emotional 8. Definitely felt her inner struggle. Enjoyed the details.
Marna’s a pretty important character.
Many contemporary faiths talk of respect for the deceased, Marna’s actions epitomize the ideal. Wonderful way to demonstrate the character’s CHARACTER.
She’s quite a person.