• “The smartest historical sci-fi adventure-romance story ever written by a science Ph.D. with a background in scripting 'Scrooge McDuck' comics.”—Salon.com
  • A time-hopping, continent-spanning salmagundi of genres.”
    —ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY
  • “These books have to be word-of-mouth books because they're too weird to describe to anybody.”
    —Jackie Cantor, Diana's first editor

“Inquiries” (Book Nine)


This is an excerpt from Book Nine in my OUTLANDER series of major novels, which I am working on now. I originally posted this as one of my Daily Lines on my Facebook page on November 15, 2015. Note that this excerpt may contain SPOILERS…

Facebook Hashtags: #DailyLines, #BookNine, #NoItsNotFinished, #Maybe2017, #MaybeNot, #WhoKnows, #Inquiries

William had been half-hoping that his inquiries for Lord John Grey would meet either with total ignorance, or with the news that his lordship had returned to England. No such luck, though. Sir Archibald Campbell’s clerk had been able to direct him at once to a house in Garden Street, and it was with thumping heart and a ball of lead in his stomach that he came down the steps of Campbell’s headquarters to meet Cinnamon, waiting in the street.

His anxiety was dispersed the next instant, though, as Sir Archibald himself came up the walk, two aides beside him. William’s impulse was to put his hat on, pull it over his face and scuttle past in hopes of being unrecognized. His pride, already raw, was having none of this, and instead, he marched straight down the walk, head high, and nodded regally to Sir Archibald as he passed.

"Good day to you, sir," he said. Campbell, who had been saying something to one of the aides, looked up absently, then halted abruptly, stiffening.

"What the devil are you doing here?" he said, broad face darkening like a seared chop.

"My business, sir, is none of your concern," William said politely, and made to pass.

"Coward," Campbell said contemptuously behind him. "Coward and whore-monger. Get out of my sight before I have you arrested."

William’s logical mind was telling him that it was Campbell’s relations with Uncle Hal that lay behind this insult and he ought not to take it personally. He must walk straight on as though he hadn’t heard.

He turned, gravel grinding under his heel, and only the fact that the expression on his face made Sir Archibald go white and leap backward allowed John Cinnamon time to take three huge strides and grab William’s arms from behind.

"[Come on, you idiot — French]," he hissed in William’s ear. "Vite!" Cinnamon outweighed William by forty pounds, and he got his way—though in fact, William didn’t fight him. He didn’t turn round, though, but backed—under Cinnamon’s compulsion—slowly toward the gate, burning eyes fixed on Campbell’s mottled countenance.

"What’s wrong with you, gonze?" Cinnamon inquired, once they were safely out the gate and out of sight of the clapboard mansion. The simple curiosity in his voice calmed William a little, and he wiped a hand hard down his face before replying.

"Sorry," he said, and drew breath. "That—he—that man is responsible for the death of a—a young lady. That I knew."

"Merde," Cinnamon said, turning to glare back at the house. "Jane?"

"Wh—how—where did you get that name?" William demanded. The lead in his belly had caught fire and melted, leaving a seared hollow behind. He could still see her hands, long-fingered and white, as he’d laid them on her breast—crossed, the torn wrists neatly bound in black.

"You say it in your sleep sometimes," Cinnamon said with an apologetic shrug.


8 Responses »

  1. Wow. Thank you. These peaks into bk 9 our wonderful. It’s gracious of you to allow us to have little wonderful sneak peaks as you work so hard on completing the novel. Enjoy your holidays!

  2. These excerpts are a great peek for what’s to come. I can’t wait… But alas we have no choice! Thanks Diana for sharing while you write.

  3. I am so pleased to see William coming back. I saw an interview with Diana Gabaldon & the two main actors in Starz’s Outlander movie about a year ago; since them have reread the book a number of times. I am looking forward to the 9th & 10th books. The characters are alive for me. Thank you so much for sharing the little paragraphs. I know the book will be much more than these small accounts.

  4. I am so pleased to see William coming back. I saw an interview with Diana Gabaldon & the two main actors in Starz’s Outlander movie about a year ago; since them have reread the books a number of times. I am looking forward to the 9th & 10th books. The characters are alive for me. Thank you so much for sharing the little paragraphs. I know the book will be much more than these small accounts.

  5. Hi, Diana. Happy New Year!
    Just finished reading the excerpt about William and his lost love, Jane (posted 12/1/15). When I read your writing, I find that I hang on every word. I practice slowing my self down, especially during suspenseful scenes, so that I can appreciate the whole moment with all of its landscape, smells, feelings, etc. I have loved every book you have written and eagerly anticipate book nine. Thank you for sharing excerpts. Thank you for all you put into your writing.
    Cheryl Leatherbarrow

  6. Hello,

    I don’t have a website and may be approaching this blog incorrectly. Of course I am a huge fan of the series. And this comment may be coming too late. With all due respect (and I do mean it sincerely) I don’t understand Ms. Gabaldon’s penchant for including nearly in all her books rape and forced sexual deviancy. I know that this was a common occurrence at the time but no more than it is now. It’s just out in the open more. Please, please write a book without rape this time. I can just see Jenny as a prime candidate. And I’ve noticed that generally writers resort to a rape plot to move the story along when hitting writer’s block or running out of creative ideas. Certainly this is not the case with Ms. Gabaldon who doesn’t lack for riveting story lines. However, she did get a good mileage out of the Briana and Boonet rape plot. I know that this review is contradictory. I guess what I am saying is that I LOVE the series but respective request that there be a more judicious use of rape in the next books.

    Thank you.
    Sery

    • Dear Sery–

      That’s a complex question, and while I agree that some writers may indeed resort to rape as a plot device or merely something to shock the reader…that’s kind of not my purpose. What I _am_ doing with it is somewhat complex, though, and not something I can address reasonably here. I did write a fairly long essay about the issue, though, that appears in THE OUTLANDISH COMPANION, Volume Two–it’s titled, “Isn’t That Kind of Rapey?” I think that might help clarify the issue.

      Best,

      –Diana

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