| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from The Arrow of Gold by Joseph Conrad: if the man himself hadn't been somewhat grotesque.
He must have been startled when I sent in my name, for he didn't of
course expect to see me yet - nobody expected me. He advanced
soft-footed down the room. With his jutting nose, flat-topped
skull and sable garments he recalled an obese raven, and when he
heard of the disaster he manifested his astonishment and concern in
a most plebeian manner by a low and expressive whistle. I, of
course, could not share his consternation. My feelings in that
connection were of a different order; but I was annoyed at his
unintelligent stare.
"I suppose," I said, "you will take it on yourself to advise Dona
The Arrow of Gold |
The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from Herodias by Gustave Flaubert: In the middle of the fifth cell, rows of helmets were seen, the crests
of which looked like a battalion of fiery serpents. The sixth cell
contained nothing but empty quivers; the seventh, greaves for
protecting the legs in battle; the eighth vault was filled with
bracelets and armlets; and an examination of the remaining vaults
disclosed forks, grappling-irons, ladders, cords, even catapults, and
bells for the necks of camels; and as they descended deeper into the
rocky foundation, it became evident that the whole mass was a
veritable honeycomb of cells, and that below those already seen were
many others.
Vitellius, Phineas, his interpreter, and Sisenna, chief of the
Herodias |
The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from The Faith of Men by Jack London: touch him. Once Amos grew restless and made as though to go into
the kitchen; but a quick blaze from her eyes quelled him, and after
that, save for his laboured breathing and charnel cough, he was
very quiet.
Bonner slept. The blink of light that marked the day disappeared.
Amos, followed about by the woman's eyes, lighted the kerosene
lamps. Evening came on. Through the north window the heavens were
emblazoned with an auroral display, which flamed and flared and
died down into blackness. Some time after that, Neil Bonner
roused. First he looked to see that Amos was still there, then
smiled at Jees Uck and pulled himself up. Every muscle was stiff
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