You-Choose-The-Way Story
With the Faery Ink Press Book Club I’ve been writing a choose-your-own-adventure story! With each newsletter, I’ll post a new thread of the story–that you, the readers, will have chosen in the previous newsletter.
So here we go! The story so far…
#1
You’re a book merchant and you’re standing at a fork in the road. To your left, there’s a lush green forest, and the road disappears between the trees. You’re not sure how large the forest is but you know that if you go down that road, it might be easy to get lost because that road is not well kept, and unknown creatures lurk in the hidden branches. Could be worth it though–folks say that you will make it to the market twice as fast on that route.
Your other option is the road to your right. It stretches across the plains and over a steep hill. This is the route you usually take to your shop, but a friend told you this morning that a smelly ogre is patrolling the road and he has a particular fondness for bound volumes–a particular fondness for eating them, that is. Your cart is filled with books and your customers will not be happy if they do not get what they’ve paid for.
What would you do? Take the left road through the creepy forest, or take a chance with the smelly, book-eating ogre on the right road through the plains?
Choice 1. I’d take the left road through the dangerous forest! (Vote: 88%)
Choice 2. I’ll take my chances with the smelly, book-eating ogre. (Vote: 12%)
#2
You decide to go left, and you get horribly lost. Yes, the road looked fine, but that was before it started disappearing into the thick greenery of the forest. The trees feel like they’re closing in on you and it’s getting harder and harder to pull your cart full of books without one of the wheels stumbling on protruding roots. Soon it’s all but impossible to pull your cart any further. Whoever said this route was the fastest way to get the market was horribly, horribly wrong.
That’s when you start to hear the cackling. It’s really more of an annoying, mouse-like tittering than a cackle, like a witch decided to inhale some helium before performing some evil deeds.
You press yourself protectively against your book cart when a shriveled-up elf-like creature appears before you. It’s wearing tattered green and brown robes and its purple eyes pop out bug-like from its leathery face. You’ve never seen anything quite like it before.
“To pass through the enchanted forest with your skin intact, you must answer me true,” says the creature. “Would you rather have a thousand lifetimes and be able to read but one book of your choosing, or live one short, meaningless life, and have access to all books ever written?”
The creature looks up at you expectantly. I don’t think it takes silence as an answer. And whatever you decide to say could have consequences. Big consequences–this creature is full of magic!
So, what would you prefer? Thousand lifetimes + only one book, or one boring lifetime, but unlimited access to books?
Choice 1. I’d rather have a thousand lifetimes and only be able to read one book (that you would be able to choose). (Vote: 29%)
Choice 2. I’d rather live only one short pointless, meaningless life and have the freedom to read whatever I want. (Vote: 71%)
