[32]“Diggleshroot” was not a common exclamation at the time. In the editor’sresearch, no words even close to this were found as Edwardian ejaculations. Itis a possibility that this chapter was written while Earhart was intoxicated,as there were more grammatical errors than in other sections, and the originalpages smelled like bathtub gin.
[33]In the original manuscript, this was typed as “Is it ham?” a directcontradiction to the earlier quotation from Martha. The editor believes thischapter was written when the intoxicated Earhart’s thoughts turned to food, aspig meat is never alluded to as a suspect prior to this point in the novel.
[34]The editor will remind the reader, at this point, that he is not that bad of aneditor. This misspelling alludes back to Crockett's mistake with Mrs. Brettwickwhen he referred to Petrarch being dead.
[35]Earhart initially inserted a long, slightly humorous incident with leeches inthis scene, but it was withdrawn due to its scientific inaccuracy.Additionally, Mr. Kentworth seemed to think leeches were actually caterpillarsas he kept describing the creatures as “long and furry, always with their eyesto their future as decorative ornaments in vegetable gardens.”
[36]The editor has no insight into the research methodology which generated thisdata.
[37]While this isn’t technically a word, the spirit of the word and its usage hereseem justified. Apologies to the editor’s sixth-grade English teacher, Mrs.Stubbs.
[38]This is a play on the old Scottish saying, “We shall see ye whither beyesterday, today, tomorrow, or evemorrow ‘til the morning mash.”
[39]The editor acknowledges the complicated humor around a red herring in a bookabout a murdered herring.
[40]It has occurred to the editor that there are a great number of storms atconvenient, atmospheric times in the novel; however, due to sheer laziness, theeditor has left them all in. It was far too much work to dig through the textand make sure weather lined up with the appearance of mud, rain on windows,clouds, etc. The reader will simply have to deal with it. Since we’re almost tothe end, the editor has faith we can get through this together.
[41]It should be noted the sock is getting an odd amount attention at this point inthe novel. In the original draft, Earhart had put much more effort into itsdescription. One of Earhart’s oddities, in addition to drinking and second-ratenovel writing, was collecting socks from varying regions of the world, not onlyto wear, but at the end of their usefulness, to turn them into delightfulpuppets.
[42]In the editor’s research this saying was never used by anyone at any point intime, although a white hip hop group out of South Dakota did release an EP Uncheezethe Rat in 1997.
[43]The penchant continued on for several generations. @badgrrlKinzay47, in addition to hoping thisnovel brings her some money, is also in talks with a TV network for a realityshow called The Aquatic Murder Kids about “the descendants of homicidalfamilies looking for love, friendship, and drama…on a boat.”
[44]The editor would agree with Crockett’s sentiment in this moment; it was, asPetrarch may say, “a true dillyfog” putting it all together.
[45]It is unclear if Earhart knew Christ was both Jewish and from the Middle East.
[46]In Earhart’s notes, he very dramatically stated that this book was “not one ofthose usual, awful detective stories.” It was, perhaps, in one of his drunkenfits (there was sherry spilled on the pages of this particular passage in hisdiary) that he referred to the book as a “Mysteridramaganza,” some sort ofportmanteau of mystery, drama, and extravaganza.
[47]As with most of the violence in earlier drafts, this scene was much moredramatic. There was nearly a page of description on the consistency of Bixby’sbrain. “The cerebellum detached itself, like a leech being removed from acommodore’s foot. It spluttered, ribbons of gore shedding outward in spools ofred and gray…”
[48]In parts of rural England, one isn’t considered a real man until he has had hislife put in danger by “a weapon of killing strength.”
[49]The editor was very torn about including this scene in the final text as itpushes the bounds of the narrative and is really implausible in a work of(supposedly) historical fiction; however, the inclusion of the baby herringtilted the scales in favor of its inclusion.
