A Peace Within

By Ann Somerville

A grieving widower who can see spirits. A lonely ex-soldier, finding civilian existence unfulfilling. And a sad little soul, unable to move on to her new life. Together they will solve a mystery and bring each other the healing they need. Part of the Periter universe, a prequel to "Cold Front".

• Language: English
• Publisher: Ann Somerville
• Release date: Jun 16, 2011
• ISBN: 9781458138118

Ann Somerville

Ann Somerville is white, Australian, heterosexual, cisgendered. She/her.

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A Peace Within

Ann Somerville

‘A Peace Within’ Copyright © 2006 by Ann Somerville

Cover image © Terrance Emerson - Fotolia.com

All Rights Are Reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

For more information please visit my website at http://logophilos.net

Smashwords Edition 1, June 2011

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

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Published by Ann Somerville

A Peace Within

I’d been a soldier since I was seventeen. I’d been shot, blown up, buried alive, led men to their death, lost count of the men I’d killed. After fighting a filthy war for fifteen months, I came home, left the army, surrendered my rifle for the last time. I thought my life would never change again. A soldier should know better than to tempt the will of his god like that.

He was sitting alone on a bench at a viewpoint by the river, a well-dressed man with apparently nothing to occupy himself on a working day save staring out over the water towards West Disenko. Small brown birds pecked around his feet, and he was so still, they probably imagined him part of the bench itself. They ignored him much as he ignored them.

Good day, sir, I said pleasantly. I was new to this position, and taking every chance to reacquire the civilities of ordinary life I’d had no need of for so many years.

Hello, he said quietly, and turned his head. It was then I saw his eyes—blue, and wide, and full of weary sadness—and I wanted to apologise, absurdly, for intruding. But it was too late to undo my interruption. Was there something you wanted, officer?

Not at all, I said hastily. Lovely day. It was a little chilly, in fact, and his clothes, though well made and cut from good cloth, were rather light for the weather. I wondered if he was supposed to be at work, and had slipped away from his place of employment to enjoy the fresh air.

Yes, he said, and turned his gaze back to the river. You’re new, he added, not looking at me. Parger Joeno usually walks this path.

He’s retiring. You know him?

Not at all. A slight smile flitted across his lips. He introduced himself once, that’s all.

Was this a habitual place of rest then, I wondered. I’m Parger Teisu. I’m in charge of this sector now.

Congratulations.

He didn’t offer to reciprocate with his own name, and I could hardly ask, since he was breaking no laws. Given the lack of further information, I had no reason to