A New Book, The Mission, On the Horizon. .

Well, it is finally time to talk about my new novel; a cockcrow away from the horizon. The Mission will be number three in the Sigma Chronicles series, and it has been on the shelf for two years while I cleaned up some of my obligations. Like the previous books, it is a thriller and takes place on the world stage. There is suspense, thrills, and a fair share of humor, not to mention strong highlights and focused attention on societal problems.

There are, of course, new characters and the plot drives in a different direction than the others in the series. Which it should.

I thought I would give everyone a little taste with the first chapter. Well… maybe the second. In truth, I’m struggling to figure out which chapter to put out for a sneak peek.

Most of the book takes place in the present. The first chapter jump-starts the book with a taste of what happens during the rising action; however, the second chapter and several others take place in the winter of 1811-1812 near where the Ohio River flows into the Mississippi River. I stayed close to the actual historical events of that time, including the New Orleans steamboat, her Captain Roosevelt, and his wife. The New Orleans was the first riverboat to sail from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to New Orleans, Louisiana. The natural events of the time occur in later chapters and are factual. The second chapter sets the new character Solomon Keystone, bit of a rouge, cheat, and an observer of people.

Captain Roosevelt and his wife are historical figures, and as such they have been researched. The other new characters in the book all fiction (and any semblance of them to any people or person is purely coincidental).

Hmmm.

I will go with the second chapter. I present to you Solomon Keystone and company.

Chapter Two from The Mission.

I stretched back closer ta the potbelly. The warmth it throwed off felt great. The New Orleans only had one stove, an’ it was in the great room near the fore a the boat. We’d positioned the gambling table as close as we could ta the fire while playing.

It were her maiden voyage down the river, first the Ohio an’ then we’d go on down the Mississippi. That’s what they kept saying, “Maiden.” I chuckled every time they did, too. Ta me, that mean nobody screwed the boat yet.

What’s more, the river ain’ had no steamboat running up an’ down ’fore neither. This un be the first.

Damn weather outside was cold, not near as frozen as up near Pittsburgh, but it were still December, and sitting on my ass playing cards made the chill set right inta me. ’Sides, we was all shooed out the room every time Captain Roosevelt’s wife come in.

She didn’ object ta the gambling. It were jus’ she was in the family way an’ didn’ want nobody seeing her—stupid custom. Everybody already knowed what she done ta get tha’ way. It’s healthy. Everybody needs ta do it.

We ended up playing mostly at night. It’s harder to see the cards by lamplight, but gambling is money. I always been good at ciphering, an’ the rest is sizing up the man who is gambling with ya.

This fancy steamboat was great. Everything was fine, other’n that. I’d done a fair piece gambling since I come on board, an’ the money I had in my pocket was growin’ steady.

I picked up my card, twirled a piece a beard ta give ’em a false tell. Only had a small pair, but I merely throwed one card away ta see their faces. Levi let his eyes grow.

An’ then there was Travis. He didn’t have shit. The dealer, Ol’ Jackson, kept looking bored.

“Listen, Solomon.” It was Levi. He thumbed through his cards an’ then eyeballed me hard. “I don’t trust you, nary a bit. You been winning way too much. I can’t prove nothing, but I’m watching you careful.”

He placed his knife on the table an’ then dropped two cards. “Gimme two.”

Ol’ Jackson dealt him two.

Levi’s face was hard as a stone, an’ he rested his hand by his knife. I had a mind to let him win, but the pot was rich, with half my money. I scratched my jaw. I needed time ta figure.

Jackson fumbled with his money fer a bit an’ then shook his head. “Folding.” I was wondering ’bout him. Not ’nough cards ta cipher with an’ all. I knew ol’ Travis didn’ have nothing. I damned sure didn’, only a pair a treys, but the money was big. I was still gonna bluff.

“I’m out.” Travis shook his head, dropped his cards, an’ squirted a stream a spit at the spittoon near his foot. He stared at me like he warn’t sure ’bout me an’ then spit again.

I moved a gold piece ta the pot with my middle finger an’ leveled a look at Levi.

He stared back, dropped his eye ta the pot, an’ looked at his cards. He put his right hand onta the table next ta his knife. That blade had a fresh hone, an’ the edge glinted in the lamplight. Then he tapped his stack with his finger. Once. Twice. Three times.

He’s a bluffing. Two times he’s got it, three times fer bluff.

I kept my face quiet.

He pushed all his stacks in, grabbed his knife, an’ cleaned his nails—that warn’t no good sign.

I pushed in my two stacks a gold coins—more than ’nough. Levi didn’ have nothing close ta that ’mount. After I did, I set my feet on the side of the chair and arranged my balance so I could stand quick.

He showed his teeth like a grin, but it looked more like a angry wolf. “I figured you’d do that.” He leaned in ta the table an’ reached fer the pot with his left hand. His right hovered over his knife.

“Don’ touch my money,” I said it quiet like, jus’ me an’ him heard.

His eyes flicked ta the other two. I kept my eyes leveled on him, but no chairs screeched, so they didn’t move.

I dropped my hand, careful, an’ teased my knife, liftin’ it free a the sheath. I heard Levi’s knife scratch across the table. My eyes stayed on the bird turd before me. Levi squinted like he decided, an’ he left his hand on the pot.

He snatched it, an’ I jumped free of the table.

I felt the wind from his arm, the knife barely missing me. He landed on the table, slinging the pot ’round the room. His knife almost stabbed my foot, sticking the blade ta that floor.

I dropped on him, grabbed his hair, pulled it back, an’ moved my knife ta his neck. “What ’bout stopping right here?”

Levi shook his body like a wild animal caught in a trap. I nicked his neck while growling ’nother warning, an’ he stopped. “Boys, what say ya bag up my pot while I mind this asshole.”

Jackson an’ Travis gleaned my money from the floor an’ bagged it up while I sat on Levi.

“Hey.” Jackson fished a gold coin outta his mouth. “This thing ain’t gold nary at all. I couldn’t make a dent with my teeth.”

Ah, shit. What be the chances?

I felt Levi tensing. He growled an’ pushed up, so I pulled hard on the knife an’ blood spurted ’cross the room, and he kicked the floor several times. The other two stood there, mouths dragging the damn floor.

“Boys, lay my pot down on the floor an’ back ’way.” I stood halfway, knife forward, ready ta spring. “I’ll take my money an’ leave ya alone.”

I jumped ahead an’ grabbed the bag. Travis eased ta my right while drawing his boot knife. Jackson moved left. His knife already in his hand. They was having none a it.

They attacked, but I moved quick. I snatched the nearest lamp an’ tossed it ta the woodpile by the potbelly stove.

Flames whooshed as I run out the door. They was screamin’, “fire,” while I ran ta the boat side an’ jumped.

The freezing water sucked my breath right out, but I swam like a demon. We was close ta the riverside, an’ I swam hard fer it. I heard the yelling from the boat but paid it no mind.

I had ta swim or freeze.

A couple shots rang out, an’ jus’ after I heard the river a plopping not far away.

Close or not, my arms slowed, an’ I couldn’t stay afloat. The bag a coin was heavy, pulling me down, an’ I sank. Water sloshed over my head, my feet felt mud, but I didn’t want ta move.

It was cold, an’ I was trying ta keep from breathin’. But my body jerked, needed air. Soon I slowed, not caring, ready to drown. Then my head sparked alive, an’ I pushed against the mud. ’Nother push an’ my head broke water, sank again. Just ahead a me, my hand hit roots in the water. I bounced on the rocky river bottom, an’ this time, my head popped free from the water high ’nough ta breathe.

I grabbed for ’em an’ pulled. I kept at it ’til I worked myself up the bank. Then, I wiggled under a pile a leaves ta warm. But it warn’t enough leaves. I rolled around ta get some feeling, an’ then I crawled ’way from the river. I wiggled my way uphill and came down the other side, gathering leaves together and kindling fer a fire.

Shivering, I struck the flint and then again. I kept at it ’til I done it right.

(End of Chapter)

The Mission will be out later, and I will give plenty of notice as to the time. It still needs work needed before I publish it. The writing and editing are finished, but there is still the cover, getting all of the legal stuff together, and working with my publishing house, Indies United Publishing House, reviews, etcetera. Meanwhile, you might want to take a look at the number two novel of the Sigma Chronicles The Dao. It is a fast moving political/military thriller that has to do with North Korea. Like The Mission, it is a gritty Tom Clancy style thriller that races from beginning to end, brimming with authentic procedures and the military life I’ve lived. Don’t forget all of the action. You can pick it up on Amazon, at Indies United Publishing House, and wherever books are sold. Check out the trailer here.

I think you may find what you like to read on the Indies United website, fiction and non-fiction alike, and the quality is superb.  My colleagues are spectacular; the authors found there are brilliantly clever. Go ahead. Jump in feet first. Find something in which you can lose yourself. There are so many things to enlighten, scare, and entertain, whole worlds to discover. All waiting for you to wrap yourself in their magic. Why not indulge yourself. You will thank me.

You may also want to check out my published works, too. There are other books there besides The Dao, all the way from non-fiction through suspenseful thrillers that will hold you hostage until you finish them. Even at the endings, you will think, “Damn. It’s over? What else can I find?” Well, while you are moving around on my website, how about clicking on my Newsletter? It is free, and I will not sell your information. I give advance warning when I post a new blog, giveaways, and notify subscribers of important upcoming events. Love to have you.