Charm School, Chapter 1
A lesser artist could have made it a piece of sentimental treacle, a bygone memory of a past britain perfect for your tory auntie to pine over. and yet, blackburn adds detail after detail to place it firmly in the uncanny valley.
Headstones and Heresy
Chapter 13: Headstones and HeresyJune 6, 1988 04:00 HoursWest Woodburn, Northumberland, North East England It was four o'clock in the morning, and I sat in an upstairs suit at the Duck and the Crown inn. Coalburn had been amongst the people who...
A Night in Tranquility
Chapter 11: TranquillityJune 5, 1988 20:15 HoursWest Woodburn, Northumberland, North East England The rest of the meal passed in relative silence. There was conversation, but I had the feeling that I'd let everyone know where my focus lay when I...
Unexpected Aid
Chapter 10: Unexpected AidJune 5, 1988 10:00 HoursWest Woodburn, Northumberland, North East England The day began late the next morning, despite the fact it was unheard of for me to ever sleep in. I'd even failed to so much as set foot out of my...
Funeral
Chapter 6: Funeral June 3, 1988 06:15 HoursWest Woodburn, Northumberland, North East England I suppose I should be thankful for the small mercies that God hands down to me. After the last couple of days I wouldn't have been surprised if the...
A Grand Day Out
Chapter 5: A Grand Day OutJuly 1, 1984 08:00 Hours New Forest, Hampshire, England The back of the transport van was musty and crowded, there was at least twenty five of us Dogs stuffed shoulder to shoulder, sitting on the floor. The heat alone...
The Scent of Blood
Chapter 2: The Scent of BloodJune 1, 198822:30 HoursWest Woodburn, Northumberland, North East England I had less than two hours to catch some rest that night. My daily schedule put me down for six hours of sleep split across three different breaks...
Final Exam
Chapter 8: Final ExamOctober 1, 198609:42 HoursSouth London, England The Final Exams are conducted in a room expressly designed for the purpose. As pups were born all year long, so the finals were ever running. It was a busy location, every Dog...
To Uphold the Law
Chapter 7: To Uphold the LawOctober 1, 198605:19 HoursSouth London, England It was a long time before the lights were to click on, but I couldn't sleep. There were countless reasons for it, but I chose to blame it on one of the many 'side effects'...
The Master Constable
Chapter 4: The Master ConstableJune 2, 1988 02:42 HoursWest Woodburn, Northumberland, North East England I was thankful that the 'Special Examiner' Dogs had stayed long enough to clean away even the slightest stain of Zack's blood. I wasn't sure...
The Kennel
Chapter 3: The KennelAugust 18, 1982 05:54 HoursSouth London, England I opened my eyes, as always, a few minutes before the harsh fluorescent lights above us flared to life. I was never sure what woke me. It wasn't as though there was even the...
Jonathan
Chapter 1: JonathanJune 1, 198817:47 HoursOutside of West Woodburn, Northumberland, North East EnglandI found the boy. He lay still and peaceful, skin having turned blue and begun to bloat. He was face down, floating buck naked in the River...