Sample Sunday--- Carpathian Shadows--Volume 2

The last several weeks I have been giving you various samples from the upcoming short story collection.  I had hoped by now I would have the book finished and ready for formatting. Unfortunately, that has not happened for a variety of reasons.

So, I thought this Sunday I would provide you a small sample from my story  “By The Light Of The Moon…” in the published anthology Carpathian Shadows--Volume 2.  My story blends elements of science fiction, mystery and horror to fill the premise set forth by the publisher.

Available in e-book direct from the publisher  http://www.booksforabuck.com/ as well as online at your favorite retailer, the book is also available in print from me for $10.00  Not only does that include postage and handling, I will gladly autograph it at your request.

By the Light Of the Moon…

"Is he here?"

"Yes, Commander."

"How is he?"

What he was asking was whether or not the suspect had made it alive into his station. He should have but sometimes accidents happened in the field. The young officer stepped a little ways into the room. New to his job, he was working hard to impress, which is why the Commander had chosen him. Things had to be contained, and he knew he could keep the man, more like a boy at twenty, in line.

"Typical American." The young officer couldn't keep the scorn out of his voice, "Very emotional. Fits of screaming and crying when we placed the cuffs on him. He's sitting quietly in Interrogation 4 now."

"Good. That will be all."

The young man saluted, swiveled in his black spit-polished boots, and strode confidently out of the office. The Commander sat back and smiled to himself while he listened to the pleasurable sound of the boots striking the floor fade away down the long hall. To be young again and so sure of righteousness, of purpose. Not that it really mattered, as fate ordained everything.  His die was cast long ago, as was my own, he thought, and the idea depressed him as it had the last few months.

He stood and stretched feeling his spine pop before he walked down the same hall. Unlike the young man before him who had turned right so that he could pass the front desk and go back out on patrol, the Commander turned left, and with a few steps, began to feel like the walls were closing in on him. The truth was they were as he journeyed deeper into the old section of the garrison. This part had been built into the mountain long ago, and the Commander secretly suspected that there had to be a tunnel from here up to the castle far above. He suspected it but had never tried to find out because he knew that in such matters, a lack of knowledge was safer than knowing the truth….