Fragmented Immortality

The following pages are based on terse renditions of true stories acted out by

my ancestors. Each story flows from one to the next as if it were a singular

character acting it all out. The book concludes in a message to myself, which

is a culmination of lessons learnt and hence immortalized. The idea to write

this book came from mistrust in my current identity. In order to explore who I

am, I figured I should look to the past and assess my make up. The book aims

to inspire readers to look into their past for answers to questions such as,

“why am I like this?” The book is in essence for myself, as it contains personal

motivations and answers. In the future it would apply to my children, just with

my story added. Being a multinational with no sense of origin, I decided to

write about this particular subject because it helps me understand and clarify

my identity by polarizing my past identities. Having multinational grandparents

who are always more than willing to share my rich history inspired me to delve

into a journey of the single character and reach a wholesome conclusion about

myself.

This book is an emotional journey and helped clarify reason for my existence

– it is a bible for me.

Readers should start at the beginning and divert all attention to the body copy

on each page. It should be read in one go without pause.

Acknowledgements

Alan Staines

June Wayte-Smith

Karina Behr

Chris Staines

Emma Staines

Whilst going about my business at a parsonage’s house in Uxbridge, the

parsonage’s wife told me of a dream she had where I had risen from humble

brick-layer to Lord Mayor of London. The same dream occurred to the lady

and again I was told of it. I left the house thinking nothing of my fortune,

although it may have instilled a sense of incentive to rise through life.

SIR WILLIAM STAINES

To rise where Moshoeshoe and his hordes stand firmly at the

peak, hounding me to charge. I gave the order and took my

first step forward to find I was alone, but had already gone to

far. “You can only be celebrated for moving forward,” I assured

myself. I am immortal where as the company I keep is not.

LOUW WEPENER

It is drawn to wealth and being the charitable gentleman I

am, I implore you to keep my property in good order and you

shall be rewarded. Free beer and livelihood I tell you. My skill

set is fairly limited concerning the fast approaching modern

world, but I shall prosper.

WILLIAM COOK

I shall prosper because I can talk and understand myself out of any situation. Remember

I am immortal. When the Bolshevik’s come looking for me they will discover that they

need me and then the British will need me and then the smugglers will need to kill me.

I found that a box of cigarettes and a revolver could be very persuasive. Although, too

much persuasion can lead to a lot of distrust.

ALEXANDROVITCH BEHR

So back to humble beginnings - Trust is

earned and the best way to go about it

is with conviction. So I mustered all the

conviction I had and was last to leave the

burning hospital in Riga and the sinking

ship in Copenhagen and earned enough

trust to relax for a lifetime.

ELSA BEHR

I set sail for Bolivia on R.M.S Orduna to civilize a

country I knew nothing about and teach natives who

knew nothing about their wealth. It was mostly road

trips and tennis when higher than 3000m – I needed

more discipline.

PETER STAINES

I found it in Nigeria one night whilst driving

back to Kadune in a thunderstorm. I fell into a

trap, a leopard trap to be precise. Fear of being

struck by lightening, fear of being eaten and fear

of being stranded alone in the dark subjected

to the harsh realities of nature can easily make

or break you. In this case I never suffered from

nerves again.

EDITH COOK

I am ready to go behind enemy lines and

kill for my family and to say no to digging

my own grave. Who is the majority to tell

me what I can and can’t do? I know what is

wrong and what is right, don’t challenge my

morality! I am immortal.

PETER BEHR

I stood tall to shout my beliefs in the

trenches of WWI and was silenced by a

bullet; luckily it was a warning shot. “This

is a wake up call,” I told myself and my

injury allowed room for enlightenment.

PAUL BEHR

I have only been scared once since that frightful night and that was when

the fragility of my mind could not comprehend my physical surroundings.

Arresting Heinrich Schmoeller broke me. Kill or be killed - if someone had

only told his wife this before she began convulsing on the floor out of her

own doing.

DEREK WAYTE-SMITH

You go numb after that and Asperger’s shortly follows.

People seem inferior and I feel radically self-important.

I missed the war but still feel I need to play my part.

ALAN STAINES

I asked my partner why he had a Swastika and then spent a week in

solitary. He drinks, I love him; he smokes, I love him. So off to the

club I sail for a few toots.

JUNE WAYTE-SMITH

You can’t stop me, I am important – I’m ageless

and eternal. No one must know that I am tired,

not even myself. Please do pity me, I deserve it,

I have lost so much, where did it go?

KARINA BEHR

I have found it! Bliss! It is in South Africa. The war is over and no one has won.

Y2K presents a huge opportunity for me - if only it happened.

CHRISTOPHER STAINES

No regrets from here on out, I am free, free to do what

I want to do. I live on a beach and there is no where I

would rather be.

EMMA STAINES

My future has been foretold and I am destined for greatness, so there is no need to stress – Life is a lonely journey and only I can go at it – If I look after my self I shall be rewarded and won’t waste away – Through persuasion others will find use for me, so I must put myself out there – Through conviction I will find use for myself, so I must believe in myself – I must take time to relax and share my knowledge, there is only one me, I am unique – I mustn’t be afraid to test myself, it is the only way I can learn – I must be confident but never too confident – I live in a strange world and the people are even stranger – I must love everyone no matter who they are or what they do – It is okay to question things – I must find my bliss and be as free as everyone.