Bachmann applied the Page 69 Test to The Peculiar and reported the following:Page 69 of The Peculiar takes place in Nonsuch House, a huge, strange old place in the middle of 19th century London, hanging partway over the river, and home to the sinister faery politician, Mr. Lickerish. Mr Jelliby, the second main character, has been invited to tea together with two not-very-nice rival politicians, and something is definitely wrong.Learn more about the book and author at Stefan Bachmann's website and blog.
"It must be shot with a special sort of gun," Mr Lumbidule was saying. "...has real blood inside, real meat, and if you are tired of hunting it, it will lie down on its iron back and..."
Mr. Jelliby couldn't take it any longer. Wiping his brow he said, "Forgive me, Mr. Lickerish, but is there a water closet nearby?"
The two men stopped long enough to smirk at him. Mr. Jelliby barely noticed. He was too busy trying not to vomit.
The faery's mouth twitched. He regarded Mr. Jelliby sharply for a moment. Then he said, "Of course there is a water closet. Left of the door you'll find a bellpull. Someone will come to escort you."
"Oh..." Mr. Jelliby lurched out of his seat and stumbled away from the chairs. His head was spinning. On his way across the room he thought he might have knocked something over - he heard a clatter and felt something delicate grind to glassy shards beneath his feet - but he was too dizzy to stop.
He staggered out of the library, fumbling along the wall for the bellpull. His fingers brushed a tassel. His hand closed around a thick velvet cord and he tugged it with all his might. Somewhere deep in the house a bell tolled, long and sorrowful, like a funeral bell.
My Book, The Movie: The Peculiar.
Writers Read: Stefan Bachmann.
--Marshal Zeringue
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