I've run into some personal and story-related problems with the novel. Because I can't devote the time necessary to solve either, I've decided that Chapter 3 will be the final posted chapter for the immediate future. (This situation hasn't been helped by an impossible work schedule on my day job, which has had me toiling more than 90 hours a week for the past month or so.)
The story's not quite "abandoned" at the moment, but it's fair to say it's on the back burner for now. If and when I have the time to get back to it in a few months, I will.
My apologies to those of you who've been following it, and my thanks go to those of you who've commented on it over the past few weeks.
--The Pecman