Wall Walker: Book 1 of the Mortal Perception Series

By Janice E. Eberhardt

A genetic discovery links humankind to knowable mortality. The choice whether to know or refuse to know one’s death-date divides society into Presents and Gnons. Those who know, strive to live in the Present and insist on making the most of their finite lifetimes. Some zealously impose those beliefs upon others, creating a tense atmosphere for moderate Presents and Gnons.

Wall Walkers’ World offers refuge from the New Present Order. Atheist Jasper Wilkinson ventures there for proof of what, if anything, happens after his known death-date. He encounters an array of bizarre characters thriving within the freedom of chaos, where no one’s safety is guaranteed. He meets and cheers on a tragically beautiful witchy wrestler. He convinces a Present woman to accompany him, wherein they share an alternative experience of reality. Finally, he walks the wall of death alone, deep into the most mysterious level of Walkers’ World.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Janice E. Eberhardt
• Release date: Sep 3, 2014
• ISBN: 9781310197758

Janice E. Eberhardt

Living on a small farm in Idaho has provided Janice Eberhardt a fertile setting in which to contemplate, among other things, the possibilities of new genetic discoveries. Those thoughts have yielded the Mortal Perception Series.Janice’s professional writing experience is predominantly marketing and promotional. She owned, edited, and published a monthly women’s magazine for two years in Salt Lake City, Utah. She has also copyrighted a collection of songs and one screenplay. Wall Walker is her debut into eBook publishing.You can connect with Janice at:[e-mail] series updates at:www.mortalperception.com

Book preview

Wall Walker

Book 1 of the Mortal Perception Series

Janice E. Eberhardt

Published by Janice E. Eberhardt

Copyright 2014 Janice E. Eberhardt

Smashwords Edition

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Acknowledgements

I’m learning that the seemingly solitary craft of writing is definitely a matter of teamwork.

I am grateful for the friends and family who believe in me and cheered on my efforts in sharing this story with the world. Thanks to my patient and supportive readers: Athina Koumarela, Eileen Hilton, and my partner, Vicki Nelson. Thanks also to my cover designer, Renee Barratt and to all of my keen editors.

This book is dedicated in memory of my golden cat, Footie.

In the Possible Near Future

If you could find out the date of your date of death, would you want to?

The Mortal Perception Series unfolds in the wake of a genetic discovery that allows people the option of doing just that. Consequently, society is divided into those who know and those who refuse to know their death-dates.

Despite the well-intentioned societal accommodations created by the megacorporation (GLI) claiming responsibly for this Great Discovery, it is not easy for people to adjust to their new society.

Wall Walker takes you through the geneticist’s revelation and negotiation with GLI. It then describes the forays of atheist, Jasper Wilkinson, as he searches for evidence of an afterlife within the anarchic Wall Walkers' World.

The second book in this series, Happy Deathday, will pick up with the megacorporation’s introduction of the new social structures. It delves deeper into the feelings, reactions, and choices of individuals and families dealing with their known and unknown death-dates.

Table of Contents

The Nexus

Viola’s Proposal

Dawn of Perceivable Mortality

Jasper’s First Visit

Jasper and Cloe’s Date

Sennica

The Atheist’s Quest

Viola

About Janice Eberhardt

The Nexus

Viola Rasmussen gazed transfixed into her electron microscope, counting softly to herself, …fifty-six, fifty-seven, fifty-eight. Hmm.

She looked over at the geneticist working nearby. Hey Jackson, how old was this person before he died?

Jackson checked the background screen on his computer, Um, looks like he was fifty-eight. Are you onto anything with that?

Viola looked back into her microscope to verify the sample gene bearing fifty-eight concentric circles. Holy moly! she whispered to herself. Not particularly, she lied. It’s just nice to know a little bit more about the body one’s slicing and dicing in the name of science, you know? she continued in a slightly distracted but conversational tone as she rapidly copied the research data onto her com device.

Whatever keeps things interesting here in this rat lab, I say. Jackson chuckled as he turned back to his work, checked his com then added, Looks like it’s almost quitting time for the day.

Sounds good to me, Viola said as she completed her gathering.

Jackson was tidying his workstation when Viola walked past him as nonchalantly as she could manage.

Well, that’s about as much fun as I can stand here for one day, she said, then abruptly halted to give her coworker a thoughtful, comradely look. Salute to our contribution to science, Jackson.

Jackson looked at her with slight amusement, Yeah, we’re rock stars, Viola. Good-night.

Viola gave a slight departing wave as she made her way down the rows of white-cloaked scientists to the exit of Global Life Incorporated’s Eastern Genetic lab.

In her home lab later that night, Viola counted the rings present within that particular gene from several of the samples she had copied at work. She matched each one to the cadavers’ age-at-death statistics. Epstein, her beloved gray parrot was perched on her shoulder, keeping her company as she worked.

Every one of these genes’ annual ring counts are matching up with its body’s death-date, Epstein. Every single one!

She looked up from her microscope, which sent enlarged images to the adjoining computer screen. She stood and let her pet step onto his nearby perch, then fed him a treat.

Do you have any idea how powerful this information is? Knowable mortality? This could be humankind’s greatest blessing or greatest curse! It could be both, she realized with clarity.

She blinked her dark brown eyes in astonishment as she faced the yellow-eyed bird.

The parrot’s shrill squawk echoed in Viola’s ears like a scream.

Viola’s Proposal

Global Life Incorporated was the primary sponsor for the majority of ongoing genetic research throughout the world. Thousands of scientists, including Viola Rasmussen, worked in a multitude of the company’s divisions.

Viola found the most expedient way through GLI’s convoluted scheduling to get