The Golden Age Dawns

By Gabriel Woods

The Black Marbella, a virus, is spreading across the world. Disease and death is escalating across Europe. An immortal The Protector and his army The Protectors Of The Light defend humanity. Will they be able to save humanity from extinction?

Linda is a lonely and single rich clinical psychologist who leaves her predictable life in Birmingham for adventure in Europe. Colin is escaping poverty in Dublin and backpacks across Europe. He has a passionate meeting with Linda. Their lives afterwards becomes fraught with danger and life threatening events. Susan, a happy, prosperous doctor working in Accident and Emergency in a major hospital in London faces the greatest challenge in her lifetime as patients arrive into Accident Emergency with an excruciatingly painful unrecognized disease which eventually spreads across London. Susan struggles to control her developing telekinetic powers at the same time. Will Susan save London from an epidemic?

"A classic tale of good versus evil, The Protector lending an almost Biblical dimension to the lives of an array of interesting characters as they take the reader across the globe in search of resolution." Lissa Oliver Irish Writers Union.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Gabriel Woods
• Release date: May 27, 2017
• ISBN: 9780995567245

Gabriel Woods

I am Gabriel Woods, author of The Golden age Trilogy and four other books including Easter Rising 1916 A Family Answers the Call for Ireland`s Freedom. My latest novel is The Golden Age Evolution, view Facebook Books by Gabriel Woods. I researched and described in my novel The Golden Age Dawns how a serious pandemic manifests and the proper international public health procedures used to control an outbreak such as in my novel the Black Marbella virus sweeps across London and the world. Covid international policy and how Covid has manifested differs widely from the proper public health procedures used to control virus outbreaks. I have obtained a Degree in Psychology and a Masters in Aid work Management from University College Dublin, a Certificate in Counselling from University Maynooth in Ireland and I am a fully trained life coach. I have travelled around the world and lived in Sydney and Brisbane in Australia. I explored major sacred places and the spiritual practices of aboriginal culture and the Hindu, Buddhist and Muslim ancient sites of India. I am the author of nine published books and my very popular positively reviewed The Golden Age Trilogy.   

Book preview

The Golden Age Dawns

By

Gabriel Woods

Copyright 2017 Gabriel Woods

All rights reserved. No part of this e-book may be reproduced in any form without permission in writing from the publisher.

This e-book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This e-book 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. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Author’s Note

Unless otherwise attributed, all prose examples, both good and evil, were composed by the author.

Thanks to Mam, Willie, Bridget and Garda Nathan

Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Epilogue

About the Author

Other Books by Gabriel Woods

Chapter 1

Colin began having strange dreams. He dreamt that he was in a green forest. He was talking to two women and a glowing white man was talking to him. In the dream, he felt that he was being given some training or instruction for the future. The old man asked something of him that he always forgot when he woke. He felt relaxed for the whole of the next day after he had these dreams.

In his dreams, Colin sometimes saw a bright white light. He would awaken having had a deep restful sleep when he saw this light in his dreams. The first ‘guidance’ - as he began to call his gut feelings was to trust what his heart was telling him. He began to trust his heart again when he realised he started making the right decisions. He was not sure if these changes had anything to do with these mad crazy dreams, as he called them, but they happened at the same time.

He rolled out of bed and hastily put his clothes on, a tight white t-shirt and a tight pair of blue jeans which were narrow along his lower legs. He quickly brushed his mop of black hair.

Colin was excited as it was his eighteenth birthday today. His mother was in bed, as she was most nights, even though it was only seven o`clock in the evening. He opened her bedroom door and walked through the darkness to her bed and he kissed her lightly on her forehead. His mother wished him a whispered Happy Birthday and told him to have a good night. Colin wished she would join him but understood how terrible she felt at times.

Later, Colin stared at his pint of Guinness in the dimly lit local pub, thinking about his past as he sometimes did when drinking heavily. It was his birthday, he was surrounded by friends and relations but someone dear to him was missing from the crowd. While he loved the taste and appearance of the frothy ‘black stuff’, sometimes it made him think of the past.

Colin was a happy child for the first six years of his life. His mother was very loving to him and had attended to all his needs. His father, Peter, worked as a hospital porter. Peter would often play with him. He would come home from work and, even though he was tired, he would go out into the small back garden and play with Colin. He would lift Colin high above the ground and then he would throw him into the air and catch him as Colin plummeted to the ground. Colin, on coming down into his father’s arms, would feel exhilarated and then feel his father’s embrace, his strong firm arms surrounding him. Colin felt so safe then and so loved. He remembered how his parents doted on him when he was a child. They always supported his schooling too and were never afraid to have a word with a teacher if they needed to.

Colin was happy at school as a child, but had difficulties with writing in primary school. His teacher told his parents that Colin’s spelling was poor and that he seemed to have a difficulty in learning words. He would get angry in class and throw his books off his table in frustration. Colin’s parents went to see his teacher to try to solve the puzzle of Colin’s reading difficulties. The teacher invited his parents into an office. She had a calm air about her and, as she sat down, smiled at Colin’s parents. The teacher greeted them warmly with a firm handshake. They sat down opposite her across a large brown wooden desk.

Call me Joan, Mr and Mrs O`Brien, said the teacher. Before I say anything else, I want to say that Colin’s issues are primarily due to a particularly high intelligence. He gets frustrated with reading and writing because he thinks at a higher and more sophisticated level.

I`m sorry, Joan, what do you mean by sophisticated? Colin’s mother asked. His mother had deep brown eyes and fine white skin. She always thought she would burn badly if they went on a sun holiday but, as they didn’t have the money to go, that wasn’t a problem. Her nails were badly chewed and she had a nervous twitch in her right eye, and a vein would sometimes jump involuntarily on her eyelid. Joan’s eyes looked upward toward the ceiling – she often forgot to speak in simpler words for the students’ parents.

Mrs O`Brien, what I mean is that - if Colin concentrates - with your help on his reading and writing, he probably will improve. Now I know you do help him with homework, he just needs to focus on these two things. I think then he might not get so frustrated in class, explained Joan.

They talked a bit more about Colin, and his parents were satisfied that they could help him.

You see, I have too many students in my class and Colin needs more one-to-one, sighed Joan.

Ok Joan, well we will do that, thank you for telling us about this, Colin’s mother, Aoife, said, bowing her head - she had such respect for teachers and thought they were so much more intelligent than she was.

Colin drank his fifth pint - the celebrations for his eighteenth birthday became louder and merrier. He laughed at his friend, Patrick's humour as he told jokes. In between his friend's jokes, he thought about his father. As he often did on his birthday, Colin wished his father had been with him. He smiled to himself as he thought of his father. He knew his father would love to be here tonight. He thought of how patient his father had been to him when he was alive. Each evening, except at weekends, Peter would teach Colin how to spell and teach him new words to bring him up to the same level as the rest of the class. Time passed and Peter honoured his promise to his wife. Colin liked this teaching time with his father. He would get frustrated from time to time and get angry when trying to learn. His father always successfully calmed him down. Peter would hug Colin and tell him everything was ok. Colin would feel the strength in his father’s arms and felt secure.

Colin missed his father and began to think of how his father spent so much of his time off from work teaching Colin spellings and how to read. In time, Colin did learn the words that were essential for his level of schooling and he became among the best in his class. The extra time that his father gave him, which his teacher was unable to give, had paid off. At the end of the school year, Colin’s mother was very impressed with this and bought Colin a gift to reward him for his hard work. It was a new bike, the colour blue, which was his favourite colour.

Lines of wrinkles spread across Colin’s forehead as he recalled the horror he had been exposed to when he was only nine years of age. He clenched his pint in his hand. His other friend, Jeremy, joined in with Patrick as they began to sing Molly Malone. Jeremy`s carrot red hair stuck out under the lights. He was very thin. Patrick looked younger than his age, several dimples were dotted along his cheeks. His blond hair was in a crew cut style. Colin’s perception of the pub was fading along with the people and his friends as he began to replay the scene in his mind’s eye.

Colin was living in a poor area of Dublin. His parents ensured that he was home by nine o’clock at night. They would close the curtains and there were extra locks on their door. Although it was illegal to have a gun, Peter had one hidden under the bed. The worst crimes took place at night so decent people stayed at home when darkness fell, except for Friday and Saturday nights when most of the community went out boozing in their local pub, The Golden Harp.

That night was so many years ago now yet still crystal clear in Colin’s mind. Aoife had decided that the family would go for dinner in their favourite pub. It was a dreary place, there were rips in the seats and cracks on the windows, but Colin’s parents liked it. The friendship and camaraderie made up for the dim, dreary environment. Aoife and Colin were going to meet Peter in the pub when he was finished work. As Aoife and Colin left home and walked towards the pub, they could see Peter walking along the road at the same time - he had got off work early. Colin waved excitedly at Peter, and Peter waved back. Just before they entered the pub, two men with guns burst out of the doors. Bullets were flying from their guns. At the same time, Peter fell to the ground clutching his head. Blood was pouring from a hole in his skull and bits of brain clung to his hair. He had been shot by stray gunfire as the drug dealers shot at each other. The drug dealers jumped into their cars and sped away from the scene in opposite directions.

Colin ran across the road, nearly getting knocked down by a car. Aoife ran after Colin, shouting at Peter. Aoife arrived at the bloody location where her husband lay dead. She was shouting repeatedly are you ok love? Are you ok love? Peter didn't move and the pool of blood around him grew larger.

Colin was shaking his father Wake up Dad, I know you are just tired after work, we will just go home if you like. His father didn't answer. Dad, please, please, let’s just go home!! repeated Colin.

Aoife stood by her husband unable to move. She started screaming and shouting someone get an ambulance, my husband has been shot!!!!!

People were coming out of the pub. One of them was a nurse. She tried to resuscitate Peter. She looked for a pulse but there wasn`t one.

I'm sorry Aoife but Peter is dead, she said.

Aoife started screaming. Don't leave me Peter! She didn't move from where she stood.

Colin kept shaking his father as if to wake him. Come on Dad, you’re just tired, wake up and we will go home, come on Dad, wake up!!

The nurse picked up Colin and held him. Colin realised his father wasn't going to wake up, that he wasn't coming home with him, and that they would never see him again. Colin didn't cry, he just stared at his father's body. The nurse held him closer, saying you’ll be alright. But he knew he wouldn’t be. His mother was screaming hysterically. The ambulance came and took his father’s dead body away. The local GP was called and he gave Aoife an injection to calm her down. Aoife and Colin walked home. One walk down that small stretch of road had changed their lives forever. His mother didn't touch Colin or talk to him on the way home and there were no caring words of comfort for him. When they got home, Colin and his mother sat on the couch and they fell asleep on opposite ends of it.

The house that Colin and his mother lived in was humble. Aoife had closed the curtains in all the rooms in the house after Peter died. There was barely room for a bed in Colin’s bedroom. The sitting room had a couch which looked like it had been shoved into the room. The kitchen was the only spacious room in the house. Colin had opened the curtains slightly to allow a little light in. His mother stayed in bed most of the time, her grief had smothered any happiness she had. Ten months after his father’s death, something curious happened. Colin flung open all the curtains around the house. It was a summer’s day and rays of light flooded into the house. Aoife walked down the stairs, not as slowly as usual. She had an almost vacant look in her eyes, as if her soul was no longer in her body. There were dark grey circles under her eyes. She sat down, then lifted her head and looked at Colin. There seemed to be a little light in her eyes, like a flickering candle about to go out.

The words came slowly from Aoife’s mouth and she made a deliberate attempt to smile, even though it felt so unnatural.

She said you are so dear to me, love. I have been very sick. I miss your dad so much. Thank you for your help. I’m going to try to get better. I love you, hon.

She stood up then, kissed Colin on the forehead and began to walk slowly back to bed. Aoife looked at her son from the top of the stairs and said That was a very good idea son, letting the light in. Goodnight, I’ll talk to ye tomorrow.

Colin stared at his mother as she walked up the stairs. It was like looking at an apparition, like seeing a moving statue of the Virgin Mary that some people claimed to have seen around the country. Some people thought his mother was improving. She seemed to be waking up. He might finally be able to communicate with her after such a long time.

Colin had an unusual thought, it was almost like a voice but in his mind. A cross between a voice and a thought. It said do not fear, Colin, all is well, Colin, all is well and then disappeared as quickly as it came. Colin was unsure of where the voice came from, whether it was in his own mind or outside of him. It felt reassuring and he thought yes, everything will be ok. He smiled to himself then sat down and watched football on the television.

Three years after Colin’s father’s death, Aoife was very quiet a lot of the time and spent most of the day and evening in bed, surfacing to have a cup of tea or a dinner that Colin cooked. The doctor visited her because she would not go to him herself. Although something terrible had happened those three years ago, Colin couldn’t understand what was wrong with his mother. The doctor told him he was too young to understand. Colin usually made the dinner and cleaned when he came home from school. Aoife would come downstairs. She wouldn’t move at the table and usually stared at her dinner and then ate as if ingesting poison.

Colin would try to start a conversation with Aoife. How`s it going Mam, how are you feeling today?

Colin’s mother would say, irritably the same as always Colin, what makes you think I would be anything else? She would stare at her dinner and nibble bits of it.

Colin would tell her the news of his day. His mother would stare at him blankly. It was as if her spirit had left her body, leaving only a shallow imitation of his mother behind. After eating, Aoife would slowly move towards the stairs and up to her bedroom again. Colin felt very sad about this but he didn’t know what to do for his mother, apart from the practical things. However, he was doing that much and he was satisfied that he was helping the best he could.

It was Colin’s tenth birthday, the year that his father had died. His mother had brought a fruit cake to the table. No friends or family had been invited. His mother sat at the table with a grim smile. She had been in a daze and had a continuous distant look about her since her GP had put her on tranquilizers. Colin often felt alone in her presence. When he was with her he felt like the loneliest child in the world. When his mother left the house, neighbours either went into their homes as she passed by or looked at her with pity. Aoife’s sister helped her and looked after Colin with practical things such as clothes or visits to the doctor.

Aoife wished Colin a happy birthday, his small face beaming a smile at her. She began to talk about the birthdays Colin had had when his father was alive. The fun, the laughter, so many friends and family running around.

Today there is no party, ‘cause your dad has passed away. Aoife ate a slice of cake slowly, she did everything slowly. Her hair was matted around her forehead. She neglected herself and rarely washed. Happy birthday son, today we will think of your father, he would love to be here.

Afterwards, Aoife went upstairs slowly, climbed into her bed, took a valium and fell asleep. Colin watched television for the rest of the day and at night went to bed and cried himself to sleep.

Aoife adored her son even though she was unable to express her love due to the concoction of medication her doctor had prescribed her and a disabling, crushing depression that smothered any happiness she might feel. There were times when her love could break through this prison of darkness and she could show her love for her son. She had not been able to recover from the death of her husband and each month since then she had plummeted to deeper and deeper levels of melancholy.

Colin returned to the present where he was surrounded by friends and family. He decided to join in the merriment and leave the ghosts of the past behind. The crowd began to sing ‘happy birthday’ and cake was placed in front of him. The delicious layers of cream began to slide under the weight of the frosted icing. The blue letters were encircled with candles. He blew the candles out in one breath to the cheers of all around him.

Colin’s school did not encourage its students to go to college. Learning a trade was seen as more important than a degree, and for that reason many students dropped out if someone offered them an apprenticeship before they achieved their Leaving Certificate. The people living in the area simply couldn’t afford to put their children through college.

Colin achieved his Leaving Certificate. His mother brought him out for dinner to celebrate in the River Restaurant, a popular restaurant in Dublin’s city centre. Colin and his mother rarely went out together but Aoife wanted to fuss over her son. The conversation was awkward but they both tried to talk to each other. Aoife kept smiling and doting over her son - she proudly told the waitresses of Colin’s achievement. A waiter gave them free drinks.

Colin, there is something I have for you which I hope you will like, Aoife said.

She took out a small red book. She opened it up and there were lists of words on each page.

I kept this for you, it’s your spelling book, the one that you and your dad worked on together.

Colin became a bit upset but smiled at the same time.

If you look at the back, you can see your dad wrote something. Do you want to have a look or is this too much and will I put it away for later?

Colin slid closer to Aoife and signalled her to continue. He took the spelling book and thumbed through it. At the very back, was an inscription that his father had written: ‘Son, if you really want something, you can have it. If you want to spell, you can do it but you must really want to and then you can." Colin looked incredulously at the words.

Aoife said I don’t know what he means in what he wrote. But in time, maybe a smart boy like you might find out. I just really wanted you to have the spelling book. I hope I haven't ruined our celebration?

Colin said happily oh Ma, thank you so much. This is the best gift I ever had!

Colin moved closer to Aoife and hugged her and gave her a quick kiss. Thank you Ma! Aoife smiled and said nothing because she didn’t want to spoil the beautiful moment they were having. They caught the bus home together – Colin’s perfect night.

Colin’s mother found it nearly impossible to face life since her husband died. But there were times when she wanted to express her love to Colin and, when she did, she always did it in an unforgettable, touching manner. All he knew was that his mother loved him very much and was proud of him and that was enough for now. Maybe those thoughts or that voice were right – all is well, all is well - he did have nothing to fear and his life was becoming brighter.

Colin woke up abruptly as he had had another vivid dream. He sat up in his bed, his untamed mop of black hair tousled as he stretched his muscular arms in the small bed. This dream was different to all the others. He woke from this dream and remembered it in great detail.

This dream was particularly vivid. The familiar forest that he always remembered in his waking state had become very bright, the grass and leaves a luminous green, a rich green shade. The sky above was a brilliant shade of blue. The sun sent radiant gold rays into the green clearing. In the dream, a very old man stood beside Colin. There were folds of skin around his face, deep long lines of wrinkles. He had a long white beard. He was dressed in a blue robe. To Colin, he appeared ancient, as old as time. His eyes peered out from the folds of skin, scanning Colin and the two women. Both kindness and power emanated from this man.

The old man began to fade as he spoke and white light began to glow from him until only the features of his face and the silhouette of his body remained, encapsulated by the light.

The old man smiled and said "the three of you are of great importance to mankind. You are to assist in the next stage of mankind and, provided the obstacles are overcome, the Golden Age will begin to dawn on earth. You have a message for humankind, which you must proclaim to the world. Go now and spread your message of hope. Know that you are well loved by all of us."

One of the women was tall with raven black hair. She was wearing a black dress that covered her body, leaving a small space for her long neck. She had an air of mystery about her and exuded confidence. The other woman had red hair with alabaster white skin. Colin thought about the red haired woman for the next few days, how he would love her to be real. He didn’t know if these people even existed but he wished they might. What did the old man mean by the three of them having to spread a message to humankind? Why was this old man bathed in radiant white light? Colin wondered why he was having these dreams so often. Colin was baffled by this dream. He rose, yawning, from his bed and suddenly realised what life had in store for him today. Yet another day working in a restaurant, doing what to him was meaningless work, listening to the meaningless babble of the customers and experiencing the meaninglessness of his life. He yearned for a more exciting life, a life that meant something to him. He jumped out of bed as it was time for him to go to work, the muscles of his body rippling as he quickly washed himself in the shower. He dragged his clothes on, still sleepy from the deep sleep he had had that night. He put on his red canvas jacket over his white shirt and slightly wrinkled black trousers. He slipped his feet into cheap black shoes that had a long time ago lost their shine. Colin’s mobile rang suddenly. It was Patrick, one of his best friends.

How’s it goin’ Col? We had a great night last night, me and Jeremy, and we got some nice women too. You missed a good night!

Ye but I’m working today Pat, so I didn’t go out. I have to work as much as I can to save for the holidays.

I’m really looking forward to going! In two weeks’ time we’re leaving. Oh it’s gonna be great! How about coming out tonight?

Ye, no work for a whole six months! Ok, I’ll go out tonight.

How about nine o’clock tonight? We’ll meet in the usual spot.

Ye, that’s grand.

Ok Col, talk to ye then.

Colin plodded on to his workplace with heavy steps - he had worked seven days in a row to save money. He thought of how his life was going to change radically in just two weeks.

Colin had been working in a small restaurant in the city centre for two years since he left school. He had, for a time, felt a strong desire to travel. Neither he nor his mother had any money for him to go to college. Over the years, he had seen pictures of beautiful places in Europe. He had studied details of travel in Europe and discovered that he could traverse around Europe on a shoestring budget if he was prepared to stay in low budget accommodation and eat in cheap places. His hunger for travel had become intense, as if he was being compelled in some way to do it. He began to save money from his meagre wages in the restaurant. His best friends, Jeremy and Patrick, had agreed to travel with him. Colin felt awkward telling his mother that he was leaving Ireland for six months.

On hearing this news, Aoife became very upset. It is like I am now losing you too.

Colin reassured her by saying that it would just be for six months.

Oh son, I will miss you so much. Your dad always wanted us to travel but I wouldn’t let him because it all made me so nervous. You should experience the world though, we haven’t been abroad and you’ve spent most of your life looking after me. You have my blessing son, sobbed Aoife.

Ma, I have to do this, I can’t ignore this desire to travel. I’ve asked Aunty Ann to call in on you and she will. I’ll only be gone for six months.

It was time for Colin to discover who he really was. For most of his life, he had been caring for his mother. He sometimes thought that he didn’t really know who he was, apart from being his mother’s carer. Deep inside him, he felt changes taking place that he didn’t have the words to describe. They were strong feelings that were starting like a small river that was gradually gathering momentum as it flowed, and becoming stronger and more powerful as it travelled further through the land. But he needed to leave home to discern what these