Alexander Monroe lives in Grasspatch, a town so small, the founders couldn’t even be bothered thinking up a proper name for it. He works at the newsagency/post office, where his duties include ordering newspapers and magazines, printing Lotto tickets, and delivering the mail. One morning he has to deliver a parcel to the mysterious Mr Christian O’Neill, who lives in an oddly-shaped mansion on the outskirts of town. Not much is known about Mr O’Neill, although there is certainly an abundance of rumours -- a faded rock star, a media-shy actor. Alexander can’t wait to find out the answers for himself. Rather than being odd, Christian turns out to be the most interesting person Alexander has ever met. In fact, he asks to come back, and with each consecutive visit, he learns more and more about Christian, and about the power of the mind and the wonders visualisation can bring. But even as Alexander learns how to get what he thinks he wants, he loses Christian. Is it too late to find him again? And if he does, will what they had still be there?

Cool Blue

“It’s a jungle,” Alexander replied. “Where’s all the furniture? Where do you sit?”


“But do you like it?” asked Christian more insistently.


“I, ah, yes. I do love it. Very tropical.”


He followed Christian along a narrow path, through ferns and palms. In the distance, he could see a small mountain which roughly corresponded to the largest of the towers on the outside of the house. The air was thick with the scent of exotic flowers and the cries and calls of unknown birds competed for Alexander’s attention. In the time it would take a host to show his guest from the front door to the kitchen, Alexander found himself atop a small cliff looking out over a vast sea of aqua marine, the beauty of which rendered him speechless for a full minute.


Chapter 4