A Brief Moment In Time, Time Cycle Stories, Vol 1

By T. W. Spencer

A Brief Moment In Time is the first in a three book series of short story collections that focuses on that moment when everything changes. A truth to tall tales, the vision a child, the inescapable dark room of the mind, death’s journey, religious loss, truth of oneself, a blind journey to know oneself. The over arching theme of this collection of stories is hard to bring oneself to do, it can be a very scary thing: self discovery. It’s something we all must face now, in the future, or beyond.

A Brief Moment In Time contains nine short stories of one life shattering decision, a moment when everything changes: Brother Eagle/Sister Wolf, Into the Woods, Approaching Rebirth, From His Efforts Come, An Angel’s Kiss, The Goode Student, Good Teachings, Arahant, A Brief Moment In Time, and Tenuous Freedom. A set of stories designed to make the reader contemplate what and when that defining moment might be.

The Stories:

Brother Eagle/Sister Wolf: Melvin has a story to tell. Everyone who had stayed to listen to Melvin’s stories has never been seen again. Dexter doesn’t believe in the stories he hears. But Dexter is about to discover the truth behind tall tales.

Into the Woods: When Valoosh was a child he had a vision. In his vision he saw the sky caves descend upon the world and release their virus. Now that he is older and the leader of his people it is up to him to save the Great Mother.

Approaching Rebirth: Vidor is locked in a dark inescapable room.

From His Efforts Come: Twins separated at birth, one a God King, the other of no importance. Who is worth saving?

An Angel’s Kiss: “Don’t worry lady an angel’s kissing you,” So starts Kellie’s death journey to self discovery. In order for Kellie to move-on she must first face the circumstances that brought her to death’s door.

The Goode Student: Michelle, a devote student of the Bible, a teacher who cares deeply for her students, a woman who sees the dangers of the world and doesn’t hesitate to face them. The White Pacer Man has struck fear in the hearts of the city. Michelle wants to keep her students safe and free from harm. But when one is found dead and another disappears, Michelle, blinded by her pious views of the world and how she feels things should be, loses her religion and takes matters into her hands.

Good Teachings: Nicolas learns about his true nature the hard way. In the end, he realizes he enjoys it very much.

Arahant: Blind since was child, Soon-kim deals with the pain of the past through a visible future.

A Brief Moment In Time: Sutepmi knows who he is. He is a Timewalker, warriors who maintain the time stream. But when he goes home, he finds he is not who he thought.

• Language: English
• Publisher: T. W. Spencer
• Release date: Jul 24, 2014
• ISBN: 9781310358043

Book preview

A Brief Moment In Time

A Short Story Collection: Book 1

T. W. Spencer

Copyright © 2014 Timothy W. Spencer

Published by Timothy W. Spencer

All rights reserved.

Cover art design by Timothy W. Spencer

Stock photos purchased through http://www.fotosearch.com/

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Smashwords Edition License Notes

This eBook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This eBook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your enjoyment only, then please return to Smashwords.com or your favorite retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

This book is a work of fiction and any resemblance to persons, living or dead, or places, events or locales are purely coincidental. The characters are productions of the author’s imagination and used fictitiously.

Table of Contents

1 Brother Eagle/Sister Wolf

2 Into The Woods

Prologue of Winds of Change: Book 1 of the Zephyr Series

3 Approaching Rebirth

Short story prequel to the Zephyr Series

4 From His Efforts Come

5 An Angel’s Kiss

6 The Goode Student

An Only Child short story

7 Good Teachings

An Only Child short story

8 Arahant

9 A Brief Moment in Time

Acknowledgements

Many thanks to Vance P. Hedderel, who helped me edit and revise these stories. Also, thank you to all who have offered their support and have allowed me to practice my writing skills on them.

Brother Eagle/Sister Wolf

The locals say that the old man at the end of Wallows Road is nothing but creepy. They’re afraid of him, Dexter told his twin.

So you’re out to prove them wrong? I thought you went there to gather stories and fables. Recording the stories as they are not offering your opinion, David said.

David always did that, played big brother; it irked Dexter. Hell he’s only a minute older. Yes, Dave that is what I’m supposed to do. But you know, it’s hard when all of it is such crap. I’m glad this is the final book of this contract; I can’t stand working with this publisher anymore.

Yeah, well, you’ll still have the writing tour and everything afterward to deal with, David said.

Thanks for reminding me bro.’ Now I can get on with my fabulous life, Dexter said, and then asked, How’s Cam? Initially, Dexter hadn’t taken the news of his twin being gay and moving to Massachusetts to get married very well. In fact, he had stopped talking to David for an entire year. Over the intervening years, he had gotten used to Cam. The least he could do was ask after Cameron’s health from two thousand miles away. Even though it had been two months since Nana had told him about Cam’s car accident.

"He’s doing well. He broke his leg in the accident. Nothing serious, thanks for asking. I’ll tell him that his concerned brother-in-law asked how he was doin," David said with a chuckle.

I know it’s late, but at least I inquired. Listen I should go, I need to get up at the crack of dawn to get out to this Melvin Two-Hawks’ house. It’s like a three-hour trip, so I’ll talk to you later, ok.

* * *

Next morning Dexter stepped blurry-eyed into the Wallows diner for coffee: Lots of it. It’s the worst he ever had, but it did the job. Breakfast and coffee just as he had the first two times he had made the journey out to Melvin’s place. Dexter guessed that Alice Mayo — the diners’ elderly waitress and the owner — had finally warmed up to him. She gave him her version of advice while serving his breakfast.

Be prepared to run like the dickens when he starts telling his story. Those that stay to the end, never leave, Alice had said after Dexter asked her about the screaming house story.

You’re just trying to scare me, aren’t you? Dexter said with a smile.

He knew it was all crap. He had been driving around the Southwest for two months. To date, he hadn’t found any reason to think that any of the local ghost stories and such was anything more than just that: stories. Wife’s tales and fables passed down from generation to generation to scare the kiddies to keep them in line. On occasion, he went along with the game, letting the person spinning the tale try to give him a decent scare. So far, no one had succeeded. The only thing different about this story is that it had sprung up within his lifetime. Well maybe, not in my lifetime, the last forty-five years, but at least in the lifetime of the village of Wallow, Arizona’s oldest resident, who just happened to be Melvin Two Hawks.

Am I? You must be one of those nonbelievers, one of those people who think that if’ they haven’t seen it, it ain’t true. Well, I’ll admit, I’m a hard sell myself. But you mind my words, because you seem like a nice boy, I don’t want nothin’ unseemly happenin’ ta’ ya’. Ole Melvin lives way outta’ hell and back, and that’s sayin’ somethin’ ‘round here. A lot of nice people have come ta’ nasty ends in the Arizona desert. My advice ta’ ya’ is, don’t get ta’ thinking ya’ are something special, because ya’ could end up just like ‘em. She gave Dexter a stern look, and then continued, Now I’m not sayin’ Melvin had anything ta’ do with those people disappearin’. My money is on that he didn’t. The man is as old as dirt, what could he do even ifin’ he wanted ta’. I’m just sayin’ many people have gone missing in that desert leading out to Melvin’s place. They may or may not have made it all the way out there, if that’s where they were headed, who knows. Lord knows Melvin lives out in the middle of the desert close to nothin’. It’s just that the last time anyone seen any of those people is on the road to Melvin’s place. Now we’re only talkin’ about a few people here over many, many years, but that is all it takes, ain’t it, ta’ get the lore started, Alice gave him a fleeting smile.

That’s true, Dexter said.

Now, people ‘round these parts tell their kids they’ll drop um off at the end of Melvin’s road.

Dexter gave her a perplexed look.

Yeah, now it’s Melvin’s road. Ever since they put in the new highway ten years ‘go, which if truth be told ain’t much of a highway being that it’s only two lanes. Melvin’s road used to be called Wallows Road. It’s only used now ta’ get ta’ Melvin’s. Beyond his place, they say it’s gone back to nature, though I find that kinda funny bein’ that there ain’t no nature out there, just rocks and sand. Alice stood staring down at him. She shifted from one foot to the other, swaying her wide hips gently.

Her feet must hurt. She must have worked the nightshift, and it’s coming to an end soon, being six in the morning. The sun rose, gleaming sullenly through the large plate glass window giving the patina of dust lying across the diner a faint shimmer, and lighting Alice’s wrinkled jowls with an angelic glow. Dexter returned her gaze thinking; she reminds me of Nana, looking down at me like that. Her blond hair, graying at the temples and along the hairline, was pulled back in a tight bun: except for one long wisp at the right temple falling to her shoulder. She kept whisking the unruly strands behind her ear. No sooner had she locked them there, they would fall to kiss her shoulder again. Alice’s piercing blue eyes never left him, and that too was something their grandmother would do. Nana would fix him and David with that stare, and it would hold them where they stood.

Alice slid her considerable bulk onto the dinette chair opposite Dexter. When she stood, Alice seemed large and imposing, but as she sat she lost much of her authoritative demeanor that too was a parallel to Nana. Dexter didn’t put much stock in mumbo-jumbo. It’s just a story, and if ole Melvin could tell a whopper all-the-better. What is a story without a good ending? But he could understand why the locals steered clear. That is what the publisher wanted wasn’t it, exceptional fables and ghost stories from the south and mid-west, for a book about — what else — Fables and Ghost Stories of the Mid and South West. Dexter smiled at the lack of originality that went into the title of the book. Alice thought the smile meant for her and smiled back.

Ya’ see everyone ‘round here is scared shitless over Ole Melvin. He comes ta’ town every now and again, for supplies, ya’ know. Mostly he lives off the land. Now I give him his due for that bit a magic. There ain’t many people can live off Arizona desert. See, he’s a Navajo, and his family owns most of the land from the edge of town all the way out beyond his house, some is still part of the Navajo reservation but not all, Alice said with an expression that Dexter couldn’t read. When people see him they scatter like roaches when the lights come on; Bunch of idiots.

The few customers Alice had — an elderly white man with skin like worn leather, a smallish woman with mousy brown hair, and a local policeman who had just walked through the front door and positioned himself at the counter — turned to look in Alice’s direction with palpable disdain.

Alice returned a challenging look of disdain and said, It’s the truth. So live up ta’ it. Marilyn, I saw you the other day, when Melvin was hobblin’ down to Oscar’s, crossin’ the street and lowering your eyes. Elmer how long have you been poppin’ your tent out on Clemens Street Extended — that’s another bit of hilarity to my thinkin’, like anything around here needs to be extended, she interrupted herself. You only move from that spot for three reasons hooch, food and if Melvin chooses to drive by and you notice him comin’. And Marcus how many times have you had ta’ go out Melvin’s road because some stupid kid had gone up there on a dare.

None of them, Marilyn, Elmer or even Marcus the policeman made a return comment. They just turned back to their respective business. Alice’s counterpart — a smallish woman, which Alice referred to as Sister — couldn’t have been older than twenty. Sister’s hair, the color of Arizona rock and pulled to one side of her head in a loose ponytail, flopped lazily as she reluctantly stomped over to pour Marcus the policeman a cup of coffee and take his order. Alice scowled at her, then turned back to Dexter and said, Melvin is mostly harmless. I think he plays up the mystery a bit, if’ ya’ get my meaning, gives him a good laugh.

Dexter did.

I think what gets most folks are his eyes, she scrunched up her nose and shuddered from head-to-toe. They are what give me the willies, and I think it does most folks. They’re black and beady, and when he stares at you, it’s as if he’s searching your soul, looking for something. And if he finds it, you won’t be long for God’s green Earth. Around the small diner, all heads nodded in agreement. That and for no other reason is why I believe: his eyes.

* * *

Dexter knew he was awake, had to be, but he couldn’t see. He noticed the lack of sound also. It was deafening. He blinked. Blinked again; still the blackness engulfed him. He sat up. He reached into the darkness and felt nothing.

I am not blind. But what other explanation could there be? He sat there looking down at his hands. At least he looked in the direction of his hands. I literally cannot see my hands before my face. He had placed them on his thighs ― he could feel them there, palms on skin ― but he could not see them or his legs. Slowly he became more aware of his surroundings. He realized that he sat on wet grass. With that came another realization. I’m naked.

As he slowly took that tidbit of disturbing information in something grazed his left arm. Startled, he shied away from whatever it was, scooting to the right. Dexter felt a slight tug forward, and then slid about two inches as if someone or something wanted him to move on. Dexter, determined to figure this out first, anchored himself to the spot by grabbing twin handfuls of grass. The darkness rippled before him, and then a dim light pierced the pitch.

Off in the distance Dexter saw a circle of light framed by blue fire. The light from the blue flame illuminated the dark tunnel he was in. Wait I was sitting on grass. Dexter looked down to see the ground covered with black fuzz, like moss. He slid another inch toward the opening; the pull was becoming insistent.

Elmer found you.

David’s words reverberated about the empty darkness. He recognized his was his brother’s voice, but didn’t know why the words were being said.

Yea’ you up off Clemens Street extended. Dey’ told me where to find ya’. Dey’ say you under da’ rocks. Wolf an' bird told me, Wolf an' Bird.

The words were muttered, almost incoherent. Dexter stood up, and looked around, trying to find the source. Then it came to him: Seizure, the realization turned on the lights in a dark room. With a flash he stood in a hospital room. Alice, from the diner, stood before him glaring.

For God’s sake Elmer, stop that foolishness. You’ve been babbling that nonsense for two weeks now. Ain’t nobody wants ta hear it anymore, Alice snapped.

The policeman, the one Alice had called Marcus, stood next to the hospital bed, he said, It sure looked like you were climbing up that cliff wall. I’m sorry ‘bout your car, that boulder didn’t leave much to tow away. God was on your side that day, all those rocks that fell on you. Humph, by all rights you should have been killed.

It was only then that Dexter looked at the person lying in the hospital bed: Me. He heard the words, knew that they came out of his mouth, but couldn’t understand why he would say them. It was the Wolf that saved me. The Bird it wanted me dead. Still does. They’re watching; watching us right now.

The spot where his consciousness chose for him to view this little movie, Dexter realized, was through Elmer’s eyes. Dexter looked around the room. David stood nearest the window, Cam behind him, Marcus stood over the bed, and Alice stood closest to his vantage point, glaring at him, her face a war of confusion and anger.

Dexter watched them all out the corner of his eye, because it was the window that held his attention. Actually, it was that which lay beyond that had, if not his full attention at least three-fourths of it. That bird sitting just far enough away from the window so as not to be seen by Me. He knew it to be true. Couldn’t say why he felt that truth, but it was true he knew for sure. The wolf I had seen when I stopped at the gas station. I thought that I hadn’t see it. I told myself that a wolf wouldn’t be that bold. It would stay as far away from humans unless absolutely necessary. But I did, I saw it.

Dexter remembered his last seizure. He was still in his teens. Dexter looked out the window, again. Now the Eagle — something else he was sure of, the big bird was an Eagle — leapt into the air, soaring; just a black dot in the distance at first, then growing in size as it flew. The Eagle banked to the left, and then righted itself, flying directly towards the hospital window. Dexter knew — he felt it in his soul — that the eagle was flying towards him: Coming for me. Fear flooded his senses, warm urine trickling down his leg to pool around his feet.

Dexter pressed himself further into the corner; he felt the familiar pull in his head again. Dexter knew what it was, it was the reason he didn’t believe in the nonsense his publisher had him researching. Why his heart had not been in this project from the start. Though his doctors had insisted that he had epilepsy; he knew deep in his soul that it was something else, something more, something sinister.

To keep from hurting himself, all through his childhood he wore the helmet. He had endured the torments from the other kids; had lived through the frequent seizures, only to wake to be surrounded by his classmates laughing and jeering. And with every seizure that place, the one he went to, coalescing, became more and