♠ Welcome home (sanitarium) ♠

“I haven’t got the virus. I’ve been tested.”

“Then you’ll die from something else. Suffocated in your sleep, most probably. If you live that long.” Connor walked the three paces to the door and pulled on the handle.

“You’re funny. I like you. I’m Dale. Did I mention that?”

“You mentioned that you were going to tie the sheet around your neck and hang yourself from the top bunk.” Connor sat down again.

“I did not.” Dale started laughing.

“What are you, Dale? Black ops? The Drop? Or just another lab rat?”

Dale giggled into his hands. With his Cheshire cat grin removed, Connor noticed his eyes for the first time. One was blue, the other brown. They weren’t both on the same page. One looked at Connor – in fact, seemed to look straight through him – while the other one roamed the cell.

“I’m the saviour of humanity.”

Right. That explained everything. Connor had finally been thrown into a padded cell. A cheap one, with no actual padding.

Debbie spoke from the allegedly sane side of the bars. “Imagine. You’re finally doing something positive with your life.”

Connor approached the bars. Not the kind of bars he was used to approaching. And not the kind of reception he was used to receiving.

“Alright. You’ve made your point. Now let me out. Or get your top off. Or both.”

Connor grinned at her through the bars, hoping they hadn’t installed some kind of shock collar while he was out. He reached a hand towards his neck, to check.

But she smiled back sweetly. “All in good time. We’ll be moving out shortly. This place has seen too much movement over the past few days. Somebody must have noticed. Once we’re in the new safehouse, we can get down to business.”

“And save humanity?” Dale was on the edge of his bunk, bouncing up and down with unrestrained excitement.

“Yes, Dale.” She looked over Connor’s shoulder, smiling even more sweetly. “Now you get to save us all.”

⛥

Read Big Day Out in weekly installments on FaceBook or WordPress. Receive notifications via Instagram, Twitter, Tumblr, GoodReads, or Amazon, where you’ll find the whole mad mercenary romp through the dystopian nightmare that Covid-19 might have become. Might still become, if we don’t keep our self-appointed leaders on a very short leash.

Download FREE sampler previews of all my books – and some complete short stories – from PCloud at www.bit.ly/FreeBurning. Or read them on Kindle Unlimited.

No charge. No obligation. No sign-in. Read for free. Share with your friends.

⛥

Anyone in Johannesburg who would like a signed copy (of any of my books) can have one delivered to their door by Big Bad Wolf Motorcycle Maniac Deliveries. No charge for delivery.

Or have them delivered anywhere in South Africa via Bakgat Books. https://bakgatbooks.co.za/all-stores/burning-books/

Also available in Edenvale from Inner Journeys bookstore.
www.facebook.com/InnerJourneysdnr

Or from Profound Books in Bramley.
www.facebook.com/Profoundbooks

And they’ll always be available on Amazon.

www.amazon.com/author/burning

www.amazon.co.uk/John-West/e/B072833D7Q

⛥

For a different experience, listen to these weekly episodes as Spotify podcasts, Apple podcasts, or Google podcasts.

⛥

If you have a book you’d like to publish, contact me to claim your 15 minutes of bestselling fame at No.1 on Amazon. Find all the above details and links at www.amazon.com/author/burning.

In case you missed the link while listening to the podcast, that’s www.amazon.com/author/burning.

⛥

Cheers.

♠ Enter Sandman ♠

Connor woke with a searing headache and blurred vision on the bottom bunk in another small room. At least he wasn’t tied up this time. He sat on the flimsy mattress and rubbed his head, trying to make sense of everything that had happened. He looked around the room. Harsh fluorescent tube lights tried to penetrate his skull.

He stood, groggily, and ran his fingers through his hair. Mouth dry, head pounding, bars on the door. This wasn’t the first time he’d ended up in jail after a bender. He went to the stainless-steel sink and ran the tap. He drank and washed his face and couldn’t help but feel disappointed that he wasn’t hungover and he was still trapped in the same nightmare.

“You’ve been out for hours,” came a voice from the top bunk. A voice so cheery and full of optimism, Connor wanted to punch its owner.

“Shut up,” he growled.

“You were snoring.” A face peered from the top bunk. Wide eyed and smiling. “Debbie brought you in.” The face formed a leering grin. “You must be special for her to be involved. I’m Dale, by the way.” He held out a bony hand.

“Tell me Dale, were you dropped on your head a lot as a baby?” Connor scanned the room for anything he could use to hit him with.

“I don’t think so. I don’t remember so well. I’m Dale, by the way.” Dale’s hand was still extended in greeting. Connor ignored it and Dale waved instead.

“Since when do we shake hands, Dick?”

“It’s Dale.”

“I haven’t shaken anyone’s hand in greeting since lockdown. Grabbed a boob or two.” Connor grinned. “That’s how the virus spreads. Morons like you shaking hands.”

⛥

Read Big Day Out in weekly installments on FaceBook or WordPress. Receive notifications via Instagram, Twitter, Tumblr, GoodReads, or Amazon, where you’ll find the whole mad mercenary romp through the dystopian nightmare that Covid-19 might have become. Might still become, if we don’t keep our self-appointed leaders on a very short leash.

Download FREE sampler previews of all my books – and some complete short stories – from PCloud at www.bit.ly/FreeBurning. Or read them on Kindle Unlimited.

No charge. No obligation. No sign-in. Read for free. Share with your friends.

⛥

Anyone in Johannesburg who would like a signed copy (of any of my books) can have one delivered to their door by Big Bad Wolf Motorcycle Maniac Deliveries. No charge for delivery.

Or have them delivered anywhere in South Africa via Bakgat Books. https://bakgatbooks.co.za/all-stores/burning-books/

Also available in Edenvale from Inner Journeys bookstore.
www.facebook.com/InnerJourneysdnr

Or from Profound Books in Bramley.
www.facebook.com/Profoundbooks

And they’ll always be available on Amazon.

www.amazon.com/author/burning

www.amazon.co.uk/John-West/e/B072833D7Q

⛥

For a different experience, listen to these weekly episodes as Spotify podcasts, Apple podcasts, or Google podcasts.

⛥

If you have a book you’d like to publish, contact me to claim your 15 minutes of bestselling fame at No.1 on Amazon. Find all the above details and links at www.amazon.com/author/burning.

In case you missed the link while listening to the podcast, that’s www.amazon.com/author/burning.

⛥

Cheers.

($) The final cut ($)

If you save regularly, in a disciplined manner, prioritize your savings goals and control your monthly expenses, you have a good chance of building wealth over your working career.

At the very least, you should be able to avoid the worst financial pitfalls that affect even the rich and famous.

Take control of your money. Make it work as hard as you did to earn it. Stop living from paycheck to paycheck.

With hard work, and a little luck, you can escape the rat race and live your dreams.

But remember. It’s just a game.

In the words of singer, novelist and politician Kinky Friedman – “Money can buy you a fine dog, but only love can make him wag his tail.”

($)

This is the last extract from Hard Money. It’s a short book, because basic financial principles are simple. Despite being hard.

The book has just been picked up by the Department of Education, who bought a large batch for their libraries. Hopefully this will contribute towards financially-savvy learners, who will go on to become financially-savvy parents, workers, entrepreneurs and leaders.

Only time will tell.

Cheers.

($)

Get your ebook copy of Hard Money for only 99c until Monday. Anywhere except Amazon. Also available in paperback. https://books2read.com/b/Hard

($)

Stop living from salary to salary. Achieve Financial Independence. Retire Early. Join the FIRE movement igniting the world.

Follow these weekly posts for solid advice on how to escape the rat race, covering material contained in Hard Money.

This is no get-rich-quick scheme. It won’t be easy. That’s why it’s called Hard Money.

Work while they sleep. Learn while they party. Save while they spend. Then live like they dream.

($)

Anyone in Johannesburg who would like a signed copy (of any of my books, or Shorty’s Poems) can have one delivered to their door by Big Bad Wolf Motorcycle Maniac Deliveries. No charge for delivery.

Or have them delivered anywhere in South Africa via Bakgat Books. https://bakgatbooks.co.za/all-stores/burning-books/

Also available in Edenvale from Inner Journeys bookstore.

www.facebook.com/InnerJourneysdnr

Or from Profound Books in Bramley.

www.facebook.com/Profoundbooks

And they’ll always be available on Amazon.

www.amazon.com/author/burning

www.amazon.co.uk/John-West/e/B072833D7Q

♠ Needled 24/7 ♠

“Remind me. Are we now the good guys or the bad guys? Are we on our way to overthrow the government, or is today the day we unleash a mutated strain of virus on innocent women and children?”

“Does it matter? You’re a hired gun. People used to offer you cash. Now I’m offering your life. But it’s not open-ended. We need an answer now.”

Connor tried to think. This was no longer black and white. Hell, he’d lost track of who was who years ago. Sometimes he felt as if he’d died during the initial years of lockdown, and was now burning in eternal damnation for his sins. Nothing around but death and misery and violence. Gertie had been a potential ray of sunshine in the darkness of his cursed existence. But even that had gone pear-shaped.

Or had it?

Debbie raised her gun, pointing it straight at his head. “Time’s up. There goes your inspirational future.”

Connor weighed his options as he stared down the barrel of the gun. They were few. It boiled down to redecorating the back wall of the cell with his brains, or helping whoever these people were. Was it an animal survival instinct? His opportunity to do good and set his country free of tyranny? Or the opposite, cleanse it of everyone? Partly. Although these people had denied him the chance to kill Noecker, which meant the longer he stayed alive, the more chance he would have to kill them.

“Alright then, Debs, I’m in. Now get your top off.”

He braced himself for the slap, which came immediately.

Debbie looked at the man to Connor’s right and nodded. Connor felt the needle puncture the skin of his upper arm, then he blacked out.

⛥

Read Big Day Out in weekly installments on FaceBook or WordPress. Receive notifications via Instagram, Twitter, Tumblr, GoodReads, or Amazon, where you’ll find the whole mad mercenary romp through the dystopian nightmare that Covid-19 might have become. Might still become, if we don’t keep our self-appointed leaders on a very short leash.

Download FREE sampler previews of all my books – and some complete short stories – from PCloud at www.bit.ly/FreeBurning. Or read them on Kindle Unlimited.

No charge. No obligation. No sign-in. Read for free. Share with your friends.

⛥

Anyone in Johannesburg who would like a signed copy (of any of my books) can have one delivered to their door by Big Bad Wolf Motorcycle Maniac Deliveries. No charge for delivery.

Or have them delivered anywhere in South Africa via Bakgat Books. https://bakgatbooks.co.za/all-stores/burning-books/

Also available in Edenvale from Inner Journeys bookstore.
www.facebook.com/InnerJourneysdnr

Or from Profound Books in Bramley.
www.facebook.com/Profoundbooks

And they’ll always be available on Amazon.

www.amazon.com/author/burning

www.amazon.co.uk/John-West/e/B072833D7Q

⛥

For a different experience, listen to these weekly episodes as Spotify podcasts, Apple podcasts, or Google podcasts.

⛥

If you have a book you’d like to publish, contact me to claim your 15 minutes of bestselling fame at No.1 on Amazon. Find all the above details and links at www.amazon.com/author/burning.

In case you missed the link while listening to the podcast, that’s www.amazon.com/author/burning.

⛥

Cheers.

($) Tattooed millionaire ($)

Building wealth – delayed gratification – is just as hard as exercising or playing guitar. Hence the title of this book.

It might even be the hardest thing you ever do. There are few tangible benefits early on. Quite the opposite, in fact. Everyone around you will have better things than you.

They will seem to live better lives. People can’t help themselves. They judge what car you drive, where your kids go to school, where you live, what clothes you wear. Nobody sits around at dinner parties comparing bank balances or statements of net asset value.

Will Rogers, America’s cowboy philosopher, said that too many people spend money they haven’t earned, to buy things they don’t want, to impress people they don’t like.

($)

Stop living from salary to salary. Achieve Financial Independence. Retire Early. Join the FIRE movement igniting the world.

Follow these weekly posts for solid advice on how to escape the rat race, covering material contained in Hard Money.

This is no get-rich-quick scheme. It won’t be easy. That’s why it’s called Hard Money.

Work while they sleep. Learn while they party. Save while they spend. Then live like they dream.

($)

Anyone in Johannesburg who would like a signed copy (of any of my books, or Shorty’s Poems) can have one delivered to their door by Big Bad Wolf Motorcycle Maniac Deliveries. No charge for delivery.

Or have them delivered anywhere in South Africa via Bakgat Books. https://bakgatbooks.co.za/all-stores/burning-books/

Also available in Edenvale from Inner Journeys bookstore.

www.facebook.com/InnerJourneysdnr

Or from Profound Books in Bramley.

www.facebook.com/Profoundbooks

And they’ll always be available on Amazon.

www.amazon.com/author/burning

www.amazon.co.uk/John-West/e/B072833D7Q

♠ Bandaged knees ♠

“I see you haven’t changed at all.”

Connor wasn’t used to being smacked around by women he didn’t know. Not before dinner, maybe a couple of drinks. He peered up at this one, but the halo of the naked bulb behind her head obscured his vision. “Have we met? Do I still owe you money? Is that what this is about?”

She leaned forward, gazing at Connor from a couple of inches away. “You have never earned enough money, old man.”

Ah. That cleared things up. She was obviously Justin’s sister.

“Let me talk to him, Debbie.”

Speak of the devil…

The blonde stepped aside. Justin approached from the open doorway. His arms and shoulders, and one thigh, were wrapped in bandages. His face was a smorgasbord of blue and purple. But he still managed to smile as he stretched out a foot and poked Connor’s leg.

Connor gritted his teeth.

“That’s for the van. Gertie loved that thing.” Justin had dragged a wooden chair in with him. He turned it around and sat with his arms resting across the back, wincing slightly as he raised his right arm.

“Now look. We don’t have time to waste. So let me lay it out for you. Noecker’s dead. Francina is with us. And you’re tied to a chair.” He smiled up at Debbie, who drew a rather large handgun from her boot holster. “Your friend here wants to put a bullet through your thick skull. I haven’t asked why, because I don’t care. The only reason.” He held up a finger, wincing again. “Only reason you’re still alive, is that I think you might be able to help us. But even that’s only because you’ve gone through so many of our men today that we need any help we can get.”

Connor looked him straight in the eye. He’d never liked the snot-nosed bunny-hugger, but he was beginning to have a grudging respect for him.

⛥

Read Big Day Out in weekly installments on FaceBook or WordPress. Receive notifications via Instagram, Twitter, Tumblr, GoodReads, or Amazon, where you’ll find the whole mad mercenary romp through the dystopian nightmare that Covid-19 might have become. Might still become, if we don’t keep our self-appointed leaders on a very short leash.

Download FREE sampler previews of all my books – and some complete short stories – from PCloud at www.bit.ly/FreeBurning. Or read them on Kindle Unlimited.

No charge. No obligation. No sign-in. Read for free. Share with your friends.

⛥

Anyone in Johannesburg who would like a signed copy (of any of my books) can have one delivered to their door by Big Bad Wolf Motorcycle Maniac Deliveries. No charge for delivery.

Or have them delivered anywhere in South Africa via Bakgat Books. https://bakgatbooks.co.za/all-stores/burning-books/

Also available in Edenvale from Inner Journeys bookstore.
www.facebook.com/InnerJourneysdnr

Or from Profound Books in Bramley.
www.facebook.com/Profoundbooks

And they’ll always be available on Amazon.

www.amazon.com/author/burning

www.amazon.co.uk/John-West/e/B072833D7Q

⛥

For a different experience, listen to these weekly episodes as Spotify podcasts, Apple podcasts, or Google podcasts.

⛥

If you have a book you’d like to publish, contact me to claim your 15 minutes of bestselling fame at No.1 on Amazon. Find all the above details and links at www.amazon.com/author/burning.

In case you missed the link while listening to the podcast, that’s www.amazon.com/author/burning.

⛥

Cheers.

($) Are you experienced? ($)

This book is not exhaustive. There are many ways to make more money and to cut costs. Babysitting. Walking dogs. Clipping coupons. Carpooling. Running weekly writers meetings. It would be impossible to cover them all.

And we haven’t even touched on starting your own business, where you assume all the risk as compensation for potentially huge rewards. The principles we’ve discussed here apply to business owners as much as salaried employees.

The most important factor is your mindset. Your attitude. If you focus on building wealth as your number one priority, it will happen. If you lose focus, if you allow yourself to be distracted, it won’t.

Even Warren Buffet, perhaps the most successful investor of our time, gets it wrong sometimes. His investment in Conoco Phillips lost him over $1 billion by 2012 when the oil price dropped and the company’s stock fell accordingly.

Warren Buffet’s number 1 rule was never to lose money.

His number 2 rule was never to forget rule number 1.

Of course, not everybody can be like Warren Buffet.

Some people will be better than others at building wealth. We can’t all be champion bodybuilders. Or award winning musicians. But we can all be better at whatever we put our minds to. We can become the best we can be in any field, through years of dedication and practice.

Those who stay the course see the results. If you stop going to gym because your muscles hurt, you will never be Arnold Schwarzenegger. If you give up guitar lessons the first time your fingers blister, you will never be Jimi Hendrix.

($)

Stop living from salary to salary. Achieve Financial Independence. Retire Early. Join the FIRE movement igniting the world.

Follow these weekly posts for solid advice on how to escape the rat race, covering material contained in Hard Money.

This is no get-rich-quick scheme. It won’t be easy. That’s why it’s called Hard Money.

Work while they sleep. Learn while they party. Save while they spend. Then live like they dream.

($)

Anyone in Johannesburg who would like a signed copy (of any of my books, or Shorty’s Poems) can have one delivered to their door by Big Bad Wolf Motorcycle Maniac Deliveries. No charge for delivery.

Or have them delivered anywhere in South Africa via Bakgat Books. https://bakgatbooks.co.za/all-stores/burning-books/

Also available in Edenvale from Inner Journeys bookstore.

www.facebook.com/InnerJourneysdnr

Or from Profound Books in Bramley.

www.facebook.com/Profoundbooks

And they’ll always be available on Amazon.

www.amazon.com/author/burning

www.amazon.co.uk/John-West/e/B072833D7Q