[Cthulhu]

Have been a neglectful squid.

The last time that I read from my E-book (SONY PRS-500)was on a flight from back home to Charleston, SC. That was close to a month ago. Nearly took it took the beach last week, till I thought better of it.

Today, after getting back into the swing of the forum, pulled the trusty ol' thing out of bag, and nearly entered cardiac arrest.

When I finally got past the "Starting up" screen, everything was all chopped and slanty, with the battery box absolutely empty.

I tried to reset the device (by poking the power LED). Then I released it from its creepy faux leather case, & hit the real reset button.

Still all crazy screen issues at the main menu page. The display was normal at the "Starting Up," so the screen was intact. Must be a battery issue.

Connected it to my laptop to charge the accursed thing. After, say, oh, six hours, I discovered to my absolute horror the the CHARGE light had never illuminated! Had evil spirits interrupted the USB power field? Had I crushed the LED in my ignorant haste? Had no idea, though a feeling of dread, as something from man's ancient, fearsome past, swept over me; what if my device no longer functioned? What if it had somehow passed beyond, and returned a twisted, wretched thing?

I removed the slender black box from its plastic, now useless tether, and awaiting the results of that now mocking, maudlin "Starting Up" Screen.

Like the face of an unimaginable demon, the menu screen yet showed jagged, jumbled, and of no use to any but those mournful souls to be found half-alive in Arkham Asylum.

Turned to my learned electronic messenger, and searched its pages for "Hard Reset."

As I desperately read the instructions left by learned elders & shaman, hoping to glean an end, if not a cause of my consternation, tried in fain to resurrect my erstwhile friend and companion.

The power slide sprung to, lifeless and ineffectual. Again and again, with an exquisite paroxysm of hatred, fear, and acrimony before unknown by man or beast, stabbed into its metal posterior with a slender blade.

Nothing could be read upon my dear one's face save a madman's kaleidoscope.




Then I realised it, beyond all certainty.

"Remember the power back" whispered through my tormented soul as I scavenged my mind for recourse to this sordid, heart-wrenching adventure.

From the depths of papers and detritus of months past, I whisked the SONY AC adapter, and plunged its yellow-tinged shaft home.



Nevermind.



Someone once posted that a PRS-500 will not charge via USB past a certain level. Thank you Mobile Read.

(with apologies to the dear, departed Mr. Lovecraft)