Snippet of April 8 – rough

This doesn’t give away anything you didn’t already know was happening. : 😀 

“Huhhh…” Hussein made a face to match the rough exclamation, and held the glass back up to the light. It wasn’t quite the obscene yellow it had been before. It was trending more to a buttery hue than the Slivovitz color it had in the first sample he’d tried.

“How old is it again?” he inquired of Detweiler.

“Almost a year. I didn’t mean to suggest it is mature,” he was quick to say. “Singh just gave me three hundred milliliters this time and said he had some friends who wanted to try it. Consider it more of a progress report. I personally am curious how far it will progress, and how fast of course.”

“One hopes they remain his friends,” Hussein said, “and didn’t have any unrealistic expectations.”

“It’s far from anything either of us would serve, even as cheap mix,” Detweiler admitted.

His club, The Fox and Hare, had been serving vodka based drinks from the same lunar source. They’d had a couple month advantage because their owners had a business relationship with the sovereign of central. Hussein was selling the same product from the Quiet retreat now as production increased.

“I’m thinking…just totally guessing, that it may be drinkable as mix at four years,” Hussein said.

“That sound reasonable,” Detweiler agreed. “Though the carryout trade will probably use it as a straight drink then.” They were both already selling bottles of vodka at nearly by the glass prices as take away, but to dinner guests only, not walk-ins.

“Out somewhere from eight to twelve years it may be a decent whiskey,” Hussein decided, “It’s just too early to tell.”

“One good thing is, if it does develop well, young Singh has started another batch,” Detweiler revealed. “He will keep doing that as the storage space is much cheaper on the moon, and the volume of agricultural feed stock is increasing steadily. So if it works out, we do have a decent volume of supply in process. He split this last batch in two however. Half is aging on the same schedule as this first lot, and the other half he’s keeping at seventy degrees to see if it ages more quickly.”

“Now that’s an interesting idea,” Hussein admitted. “If he were doing it in the traditional wooden barrels instead of a sealed system the evaporative losses would just kill you.”

“Undoubtedly, many traditionalists will decry the perversion of a perfected system,” Detweiler predicted. “But we’ll have to do some blind taste tests and see how it stacks up to Earth whiskey. I believe Singh already has some volunteers, but he’s aware we’ll give him a professional report. The amateurs are unlikely to say much negative since they don’t seem to be paying customers.”

“Oh they’ll pay,” Hussein said laughing. “Singh will extract all sorts of business deals and alliances over their thirst. I don’t believe he’s anywhere near the callow youth he projects when he stands up to give idealistic speeches in the Assembly.”

“The odd thing is I think he was rather disconnected, like some brilliant people seem prone to be,” Detweiler revealed, “but the Lewis girl is huge influence. She’s an owner in our club you know, and I see them come in together. She has moderated that side of him quite a bit.”

“I notice you didn’t say a bad influence. She isn’t just enchanted with all his money?”

“No, no. He needed a good grounding in social things, and he treats her as a full partner. I don’t think she’s a plaything anymore than the other one, the queen.” Detweiler said.

“Oh, the Sovereign of Central,” Hussein said. “Don’t call her Queen of the Moon to one of her subjects or you’ll get a big lecture on how she isn’t.”

“I’ll call her anything she wants as long as she sells good vodka,” Detweiler told him.

 

25 Responses to Snippet of April 8 – rough

  1. Joyce February 21, 2016 at 1:19 pm #

    Thanks! Your snippets are always a pleasure.

  2. James Davis February 21, 2016 at 1:43 pm #

    Tastes great! (No need to wait another eight years.) Looking forward to April 8.
    Jim

  3. Melvyn February 22, 2016 at 5:46 am #

    Nice one. Looks like another good vintage.

  4. Cheryl February 22, 2016 at 9:55 am #

    These just whet the appetite for more. After reading this snippet yesterday I started rereading April 7 for a quick April fix.

  5. Jørgen Gangfløt February 22, 2016 at 8:29 pm #

    I started to reread the whole series as soon as I was finished with book 7, but I also read 2-5 books between each April.. I’m at book 3 again now, so by the end of mars book 8 hopeful will be here.. But I’m not holding my breath, luckily I have a ton (I lost count a while back and I have new one incoming) of other books to read as I wait.

    Love this series.. Keep writing (please 🙂

    • Mac February 22, 2016 at 11:04 pm #

      It’s a whole new game with Amazon isn’t it? I don’t read as much now as before I started writing – but still more than I would if I had to pay $25 or $30 a book.

      • Jørgen Gangfløt February 23, 2016 at 3:15 pm #

        I love the feel of books in my hand, but I simply do not have room in my place for more books, and the price of ebooks are somewhat more easily to bear on my wallet..

        So Yes I Love my Kindle app on mobile and pc, so much that I often have 3 or more pre-order books waiting for the right date to be read or released..

        As to how much I read, well most days I finish 2 to 3 books every day, about 1/2 is books I reread because I like them (like yours, Wen Spencers Elfhome, Books abour Ell Donsaii and more), The rest is new to me and I have a list of several hundred books that I want to read so I can always find new books. And almost every month more than 5 new interesting books are released.

        I have one problem though, I tend to get stuck in wanting to read certain types of storyline. Fantasy, Sci-fy, a mix, Urban variants, mostly have the type of stories I like. But for the past 6 months or so I have been craving stories involving the first step into space variants. Two years ago I got stuck on good witches discovering they are witches. Don’t know why I get stuck like this, but when I am it is hard to read books containing other types of stories. A bit annoying actually.

        But as long as I am stuck on this fist steps into space angle please write fast 😉

        Thanks for an epically good book series for my current craving. 😀

        • Myzifer February 26, 2016 at 11:49 pm #

          You should try,
          http://www.amazon.co.uk/Ship-New-Frontiers-Book-One-ebook/dp/B019BN832I/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8
          I just finished reading it last night and it seems like a good series to come and is the exact story of the first steps into space.

          • Jørgen Gangfløt March 9, 2016 at 8:07 pm #

            Done, bought and read, not far along into space as it has no large space station, but on the way. Has potential, but April series is far better..

            Thanks for the tip though 😀

  6. Bill F February 22, 2016 at 10:34 pm #

    Great snippet. I am open to trying a shot of Lunar Lightning. As Cheryl said it whets the appetite for more. The digital bits of my April 7 are becoming worn from rereading.

  7. Chuck C February 24, 2016 at 5:49 am #

    In the first book, April was the moneybags that funded the revolution, buying things Jeff and Heather needed. Experience starting and running several businesses, inherited many more from her brother. Owns Lewis Lines, which was to operate Eddie’s ships as well as her own. I would expect that Lewis Lines also operates the earth and moon landers. There was talk like she was very busy, when Jeff joked about assigning tasks to her, but we don’t see her working. In this snippet, they talk like she’s poor. Is something being lost here?

    • Mac February 24, 2016 at 6:52 am #

      Not at all – It’s just their perception that Jeff is the money. Public opinion is often wrong.

  8. DitN February 24, 2016 at 11:38 pm #

    Nice!

    And while April is probably quite wealthy, Jeff is the “face” of Singh Enterprises, and the System Bank (name approximate). In addition, while April is known to have great influence, Jeff is the man who bombed China.

  9. Ian Titter February 25, 2016 at 11:11 am #

    With the disruption going on in the USNA, I’m expecting Armstrong Base to have supply problems in April 8.

    April has said that she should visit Heather, Jon needs a vacation and is interested in seeing the Apollo site, so I am expecting to see April influencing the beginnings of the Lunar Republic, starting with Armstrong and adding in the other Lunar bases, and possibly Camelot, as things proceed.

    Heather doesn’t like the casino and Camelot is at a distance from Central.

    Getting the Lunar Republic in motion enables Earthie immigrants options outside of Home and Central and serves as a buffer state between them and Earth as mentioned in Family Law 3.

    With Armstrong providing population to Central they may have room for new arrivals.

    The French colony has been preparing, but have they split with Earth yet? Will they join the Lunar Republic.

    In April 1 we heard of some new tech that Jeff and Heather got from the moon in exchange for services and keeping it proprietary. When do we meet these folks and where are they based?

    This series has along way to go yet.

    • Mac February 25, 2016 at 1:12 pm #

      Not exactly how I have #8 outlined but very good guesses! There will be Armstrong action in the book. But what precipitates it? I don’t want to reveal too much and spoil it.

      • Ian Titter March 9, 2016 at 8:59 am #

        Nor should you.

        I expect the establishment of the Lunar Republic and further developments in Central and Home to occupy three or more stories. April and Home already have taken 7.

        • Mac March 9, 2016 at 10:00 am #

          Yeah I can develop this quite a bit longer… And I think keep it interesting. It’s still fun to write.

    • Bill F March 6, 2016 at 12:40 pm #

      and, and, and, acquisition of a large ship adds a trading industry for folks to deliver food and supply for lift to Home and vice versa. Jobs for security teams, and flying the flag of Home.

      and meanwhile aboard the Tobiuo

      “We could, but I intend to put a couple jet drives at the rear, to the outside corners and a couple smaller maneuvering thrusters at the front, for pushing the nose around.” “Hmm, I’ll probably forget how to handle her with just sail, if we have such luxury.”

      Chandler, Mackey (2013-06-15). A Different Perspective (April series Book 4) (Kindle Locations 4563-4565). . Kindle Edition.

      what happened,,, Li change his mind?

      And what’s up with Diana and Adzusa. Did they know each other before… is Di really a North Korean spy master as the Seals think?

      Chandler, Mackey (2012-04-03). Down to Earth (April series Book 2) (Kindle Location 5234). . Kindle Edition.

      How come we’re not raising chickens or rabbits on the moon.

      Heather has to staff up her position.

      Third time through the series .. or maybe forth

      Thanks for your snippets and excellent series

      • Mac March 7, 2016 at 9:01 am #

        Just haven’t written a scene that needed to mention the docking thrusters. They are a convenience for a sail boat. I missed a chance with meeting the trawler. They could have swung the stern away when the trawler pulled off. Given him a little more room. Rabbits and chickens come latter. They require quite a bit of support. Vat meat is better for now. Yeah Heather needs to delegate. That’s all I’m saying.

      • Terry Dean March 12, 2016 at 5:39 pm #

        I agree the large cargo ship adds a new dimension, especially if it is treated as an Earthbound habitat (Home on Earth). It could have one hold for industrial use (including the deuterium processing Jeff wants), one partially flooded hold as a fish farm and processing plant, another hold as a transit cargo warehouse, and other holds used for different purposes. If the Indian connection works out, one hold could possibly have a salvaged plane elevator from a scrapped aircraft carrier to lower a shuttle into a hangar bay for servicing (convenient for rough weather). And a helicopter pad on the stern for priority transfers.

  10. mark February 25, 2016 at 4:22 pm #

    Can’t wait…Can’t Wait…Can’t Wait!!!! Series just keeps getting better every time I read it!

  11. Stew March 8, 2016 at 3:13 pm #

    Whats up with Amazon? They still don’t have “They said it would be Easy” in the series lineup yet. FL3 is also not hooked to the series on Amazon. Not sure its something you can fix at this point Mac but the titles don’t use the same wording for series connections…as in “Family Law book 3” rather than “Family Law series book 3″ as that was the title of the last two. When I search in the cloud function from kindle it really has a hard time pulling up the titles unless you type in the exact title as opposed to say just ‘Family Law”.
    Can’t wait for the #8.

  12. Ian Titter March 9, 2016 at 8:52 am #

    Jeff has expressed concerns about the supply of carbon (re heat-shields) when dropping flu detectors to Myanmar in April #8.

    Some meteors are carbonaceous chondrites so presumably there are asteroids of the stuff and as available as The Rock and various ‘snowball’ cometary water. Cheaper than shipping anthracite to space.

    The sooner the spacers can supply all minerals from accessible sources the greater their independence now that they are growing food on the moon and culturing meat.

    • Leigh S. March 11, 2016 at 3:06 am #

      Yes, web site http://spaceweather.com/ has listed asteroids as small as 2 meters. Currently lists as small 10 meters. I forget to say that the list is NEO (Near Earth Orbit), the distance is in Lunar Distance.

Leave a Reply to Ian Titter Click here to cancel reply.

CommentLuv badge

Hosting and site care by 2FishWeb LLC