A Reason to Hope

By A.L. Marquardt

A shuttle accident leaves Preeah so disfigured returning to her life as an assassin, and to her lover, Tara, is impossible. She's left with no money and no prospects. Quinley, a man with similar past, offers her a future beyond stealing and drug addiction. What he expects in return, however, she can't accept. Her past soon catches up to her, and she must make a choice that will result in death.

• Language: English
• Publisher: A.L. Marquardt
• Release date: Mar 26, 2009
• ISBN: 9781465931177

A.L. Marquardt

Andra is a mother of a little boy, wife of sixteen years and still happily counting, and a Professional Land Surveyor. She writes in her spare time (usually during baby naps) and is seeking an agent for her full-length novel.

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Praise for A Reason to Hope

. . . Pulled right into Preeah's journey with a hard yank that refuses to let go, a reader is opened to thoughts and ideas but left to come to her own conclusions. Right and wrong is pondered, but not settled, in the vein of John Irving. A Reason to Hope gives us a reason to stop and think. It ends softly, giving us the feeling it is not an ending, but a beginning. . .

By LK Hunsaker

Author of Finishing Touches

"Rehearsal and Off the Moon"

This novella packs a fascinating story within a few (78) pages. An assassin, horribly burned during an escape attempt, must become a common thief to support her newly-formed drug habit. Preeah, despite her horrific appearance and loss of an arm, has one useful talent: a telephathic ability that allows her to choose appropriate victims and erase memories . . .

Amy Deardon

Author of A Lever Long Enough

I am not an aficionado of science fiction literature (in fact, I think it’s called speculative fiction these days.) I wasn’t aware that there was even a genre called Christian science fiction, aside from Tim LaHaye’s Left Behind series.

So, it was with a certain amount of apprehension that I agreed to read and review my friend Andra Marquardt’s novella, A Reason to Hope. Would I have sufficient knowledge of the genre to formulate a valid opinion? Would the slim book be interesting enough to me to hold my attention?

I need not have worried on either score. Andra has produced a work that is long on story, short on difficult-to-fathom science fiction, and a thoroughly enjoyable, highly readable, and, ultimately, meaningful tale . . .

Kenneth M. Rhodes

. . . The story starts off with very intense action, but then quiets down into more of an inner battle for the main character, but we get little bursts of action later on to keep things hopping. My understanding is that this book came as a spin off from another novel or story Andra is writing. I think the well developed world, and characters reflect this. It's clear that there is a bigger story surrounding the events of this story, and we're only seeing a single crisis as part of a bigger conflict. Yet, at the end, I felt well resolved. Maybe still a little curious about other questions beyond the scope of this story, but left satisfied . . .

Kara Hartz

Author of numerous articles

and maker of children’s toys

A Reason to Hope

by

A.L. Marquardt

Smashwords Edition

Copyright © 2009 by Andra Marquardt

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1974, 1984 by International Bible Study. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage or retrieval system without permission in writing from the author.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

Cover Design by Andra Marquardt. All rights reserved.

To Dave and Thomas:

The two most important men in my life, and my greatest inspiration.

Acknowledgments

Though writing is considered a solitary activity, no book can be written well and published without the help of others. First goes to my husband, Dave, whose confidence in me never wavered. He many times kept me from laying my pen (or computer) down for good.

The people at writing.com. They encouraged me to write, and critiqued my many items with both honesty and kindness. I dare not mention individuals, because the list would be far too long. You know who you are, and you have my forever gratitude.

Mark Littleton, my mentor with the Christian Writers Guild. He held my hand, and was brutally honest with his assessments of my writing when I took their Apprentice writing course. I am a far better writer because of his tutelage.

To my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He not only saved my soul, but gave me the passion to write and share what I write with others.

And to you, Dear Reader. I pray you not only enjoy the story, but the words touch you in a positive way.

Chapter 1: Escape into Flames

Alarms blared through the darkened compound, and seconds later three searchlights switched on, exposing the intruder.

Preeah Neyshal threw her hand up to block the light and zigzagged through the manicured lawn in the hopes the lights couldn’t keep up with her. Blinded, she used her memory of the property layout and hoped she headed toward the delivery entrance of the governor’s mansion.

She ran into a thick line of bushes, and she cried out in surprise. Thorns scraped her face and hands as she fell through. She stiffened against the sharp pain and brushed aside the drops of blood trickling down her cheeks. Lying on her stomach, she squinted her eyes shut until the dark spots disappeared.

After a few seconds she opened her eyes. The black spots had turned gray, but at least she could see again. She lifted her head just enough to determine her location. The meter-tall bushes paralleled the tallest section of granite wall that bordered the property – more than a hundred meters from where she thought she was. No way could she reach the gate without being spotted.

She breathed a small sigh of relief when the searchlights meandered away from her. Perhaps she could make the gate after all—

Deep barks and shouts of men stopped her relief short.

Preeah recognized those sounds. They belonged to wrenths, four-legged, sharp-quilled animals with teeth seeming better suited to animals twice their size. People used them to protect themselves and their property, loyal to their masters alone. Once on the scent of their pray, they could not be deterred short of death or their master’s call.

Water trickled nearby. She glanced around and spied a small culvert built into the thick wall. She slithered toward it and smiled. It was large enough for her broad form to crawl through.

Trying to ignore the hungry growls coming ever closer, Preeah pushed on the thick, steel grate. It refused to budge. She swallowed her panic and studied its construction. It swiveled from the top and was set in place with a pin on both sides.

She removed the small, black-handled dagger from a sheath hooked to her belt. The rusted pins protested with a screech, but after a few grueling seconds, they popped out.

Before she could move the grate, a wrenth yelped and bit into her left foot. She cried out as the sharp teeth pierced through her