The Eye of the Crow - Foreword

Actually telling this story presents some unusual difficulties, primarily because it is not mine. I want to make that clear: the most I've had to do with this work is a bit of editing, a bit of cleanup. Some of the words are mine, but most are not, and I have absolutely nothing to do with the ideas.

The bizarre truth is that the permission I have received to make this all public is conditional, and the condition is secrecy. I am not allowed to describe how this story came into my hands. I am not allowed to dig into its origins, and I have been assured that the real writer, whoever that may be, would find out very quickly if I ever began to make inquiries. I have no idea what would happen next, in that case. Maybe the story would disappear from wherever I've published it. Maybe I'd be sued within an inch of my life. Maybe someone would show up at my front door. I have to admit that I am curious, but not that curious.

I am significantly more interested in why I was chosen at all. Some of you may know that I am a voracious reader of mysteries, but not a writer of them. My usual work is comprised of tales of the supernatural and paranormal and is considerably more far-fetched than what will follow. At least, more far-fetched from some perspectives. I know some bona fide Holmesians who would be far more willing to believe in ghosts than in this. I am tempted to call it a gutsy piece of fiction, except that, regardless of whether the events recounted ever actually happened, I get the disconcerting impression that the author intended a memoir rather than a novel. 

To be perfectly honest, it's possible that even this caveat may be Against the Rules, but leaving out any notice at all would have felt like plagiarism. Publishing this at all feels a bit like plagiarism, but at least any and all readers have now been duly informed.

We'll see what happens, shall we?

        ~MR Graham