I, the Storm: I, the Storm, #1

By Sean O'Leary

This is the story of a musician's journey to find out why he is time traveling. When he learns that he is an embodied concept of storm, his life is forever changed. He helps direct hurricanes on their correct path, travels through time and space, and battles someone that is committing genocide. Through this, he finds his meaning and the things that he can change. Through everything, we will see how much we all change and how necessary it is to do.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Anomaly Seer Publishing
• Release date: Jun 21, 2020
• ISBN: 9781393248101

Book preview

Chapter 1

Calm Before   

August 19, 2008

A Cuban man loads crates into a cargo ship in Sudan. He is distracted by the light as he is looking west; he drops a crate in the ocean.

Diego! We can’t afford to lose any of the supplies – pay attention to what you’re doing, a man yells from the upper deck.      Conversation in Spanish

Sorry sir, Diego says as he gives one more glance at the waves the crate made.

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A man swims. He gets out of the pool and notices another man approaching him. 

Mr. Rye, sir, the approaching man says.

What is it, Frank, Mr. Rye asks.

I am to inform you that the wave for Ike is in motion, sir.

You know what that means, Frank?

That you are soon able to contend for its compliance.

Cooperation, Frank, cooperation, he dries his head with a towel, but, no, that’s not it. I will win, Frank, of this I’m sure. I know that my father wanted to name me like his parents’ age and that was to be Isaac. Ike, Frank – I mean this is my Big One, I can feel it, he says while picking up his shirt. 

––––––––

A Haitian girl picks up a shirt and throws it into her bag when her phone rings,   Hello, the girl says.

Mia, is that you, the woman on the other end asks.  Conversation in French

Mom? What is it? Why are you crying?

It’s your father... he’s dead. You have to come home, Mia.

A voice calls in the background on the other end of the phone.

Mrs. Douard, the voice calls.

I have to go; I’ll talk to you soon, Mrs. Douard says over the speaker.

I love you, Mia says and starts to cry. I’ll be there soon, she says and hangs up the phone. Mia hears a car pull up in the driveway.Not now.

A boy comes in the front door calling out, Mia, what are you doing here?

He goes in the bathroom to find Mia gathering some toiletries and hiding her face with her hair.

What’s going on, the boy asks. Are you crying? Are you taking your stuff? Answer me, are you crying because of me?

You would think that wouldn’t you, Mia asks.

What’s going on, the boy asks.

I’m not crying because of you. Even after finding out about what’s-her-name, I didn’t cry. I didn’t think ‘am I not good enough?’ I even skipped the depression stage altogether.

Hanna, is that what this is about? I thought we talked about this.

We did, but you wanna’ know what we didn’t talk about?

What?

Diego. The guy I’ve been seeing since before that. See, I knew we were doomed – I saw your cloudy eyes drifting with the breeze.

What are you talking about? What does that even mean?

There’s been a storm coming and I can see you going off in it. You’re destructive to yourself and those around you get pulled in with your distressing nature. I’m done with you and the band – I’m leaving.

Is this about your father, the boy asks as Mia walks out.

What, Mia asks as stops.

Your father, being in shipping, I’m sure he saw some squalls in his time.

Goodbye, forever, Isaac.

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August 20, 2008

Hello there, good people of all galaxies, a newscaster remarks on the television that Mr. Rye is watching while he is getting dressed, and welcome to the 2008 Adeon Festival. I am Tony Trope and I am here with Geoff Armat and the rest of the Channel TNEC Team. Well, this season we will see some new games coming to us, and that means some new faces on the athlete pad. On top of that, we have a large number of rookies coming up for the established events. Busy, busy season and that makes us busy, busy too. So let’s go over to Maggie Rosen, at the athlete pad, for more on the new contenders.

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August 22, 2008

Isaac walks up to a house. A woman opens the door.

Hey sexy, what are you doing here, the girl asks.

I wanted to see you, Isaac says as they go inside.

I thought I told you it’s not a good idea to see each other without Mia present?

Mia, that’s what I want to talk to you about. Mia is M.I.A.

What, the girl asks.

She’s gone, I went to her job and they said that she went to Haiti, Isaac says.

Why?

For her father’s funeral, Isaac answers.

That’s horrible. But why did you need to go to her job to find that out?

She left three days ago; talking about some guy she’s been seeing named Diego.

That little hypocrite, blabbing about us meeting up like we’re going to do something without her, and she’s been doing it behind your back.

Yeah, well... I was supposed to go to this Radiohead concert with her and I don’t really want to go by myself, at the moment.

I’m actually leaving soon but can we get together another time?

Sure, ahh, well then... I guess I’ll be going. See you later, Hanna.

Good luck and maybe I’ll see you when the storm passes.

What did you say?

It’s just a figure of speech.

Figure of speech? Right, sorry.

––––––––

August 20, 2008

Wrong, wrong, wrong, Mr. Rye states sternly on the phone while turning off the television and walking out to his car, – that cargo ship better be in Cuba on schedule. If anything is missing, it will be the execution of that body of yours, and I’ll make sure that you feel agony before you extract. He hangs up the phone and drives off. 

––––––––

August 23, 2008

A man pulls up to Isaac’s house and knocks on the door.

Dude, Isaac, it’s Danny, man – open up.

Isaac opens the door and goes off mumbling to himself.

What’s up, man; where have you been, Danny asks. I’ve been calling for a couple of days now. When’s practice? Have you talked to Mia at all? Isaac!

There’s no practice, Isaac says.

I talked to Chris and–

Mia’s gone.

––––––––

Gone? Gone like she left you or gone like we’re down a violinist, Danny asks. Well, I guess that would happen together. I told you guys it was a bad idea to date a band mate.

Thanks for your support, man, Isaac says.

Dude, forget her, let’s go out to the bar tonight – ‘Pints for Pents Night,’ my treat.

Alright, I guess I should get out anyway. Are Chris and Michael coming?

Yeah, sure, Danny says.

Band meeting then – cool, see you around 9, Isaac says.

Be as it may, Danny says dramatically.

"You just use that anywhere you can, huh?

Constant promo mode, bro – make money like a pro. See ya’ later.

––––––––

Now what? Mr. Rye says as he answers his phone, Who’s this?

Captain Diaz, sir.

– and the good news, captain?

Sir, the ship is on course and will reach its deadline on September first, sir. 

Thank you, Captain, Mr. Rye replies as he hangs up the phone and turns to a woman sitting across from him, It seems, Awn, that things are falling into place.

Good for you darling, and may your race go swimmingly as well.

Safe travels back home, Dia.

I will, my echo, she says as she kisses him goodbye.

––––––––

August 28, 2008

Hello, Gram Graham, Hanna says.

My favorite granddaughter, Hanna, Mrs. Graham says while hugging her. It is great to see you.

I’m your only granddaughter, Gram.

You’d still be my favorite, no matter what.

So, did you come with any information on Isaac Rye?

You’re the one searching for him. I’m here for the final assessment of this zone, you know that.

I thought that my status updates made that clear and that you would give me a location to go to now.

When do you remember me personally coming to inform you where you are going next? No, I was coming with the hope that you would see past the veil and give me news of finding Isaac. I really thought that you would have recognized by now that you have been in his presence – intimately even, Mrs. Graham says.

What, Hanna asks.

You were right to think that he might not even know his father, or where he comes from. After all, he has yet to have climbed.

Isaac is...

And there it is, Rey is Rye.

I once thought that it was possible but, no, I don’t believe it, Hanna says.

Whether you believe it or not means little, Mrs. Graham says, but if you need some proof, I’m sure Sarah Bates could drudge up the short affair with Tipton for you.

You want me to get closer to Isaac Rey now? You said yourself that I was to keep looking and that I was crazy to think that my father wouldn’t have known, or even contacted, his second son.

Yes, but Helen suggested that I might have been harsh on you and suggested that she be given permission to look into Rey.

You put someone else on this? I thought this was my job?

It is, but one is so lonely, and just think, you have the advantage of guiding him in any direction you want.

That’s sick Gram, if you know our relationship then why are you asking me to intensify that – knowing that he is my blood.

I thought you knew all along and that would make you the sick one. However, no need to argue now. If you need some proof, look for it while you are steering Isaac away from me.

But, Gram

That is all, Hanna. Keep up with your status and I will see you when the time is right. 

––––––––

August 31, 2008

Right on time my dear, how wonderful. Punctuality is my favorite virtue, Mr. Rye says to a girl sitting down next to him.      Conversation in Spanish

I’ve been told I always come at the right time.

How alluring... shall we go find out if you’re truthful too, Ms. D? Mr. Rye says while motioning to go upstairs.

You can call me, Maria.

September 1, 2008

The next morning Maria wakes up to Mr. Rye folding his cuffs as he sits on a chair beside the bed.

Ah, you’re up, Mr. Rye says. I thank you for your services and I will see that my man, Mr. Berger here, will take you where you need to go.

She looks over and is startled to see a man beside the bed.

Oh my, Maria exclaims. She looks back at Mr. Rye, Okay.

He smiles then leans over to kiss her before walking to the door.

What about the money, Maria yells as he walks out. 

––––––––

A man looks out of a docked cargo ship at an approaching car. The man beside him looks on.

The money’s here, huh, the man beside him asks.  Conversation in Spanish

It would appear so, the man says.

Let’s make this deal final then.

They go down to the dock to greet Mr. Rye.

––––––––

Isaac is writing a poem and reciting it as he writes:

"It has been somewhat of a mystery to me

The things I would go down to the dock to sit and ponder on

What is this other part of me that I am looking for?

This mystery that has evaded my sight

Why must there be this journey for this ‘end-me’?

Why must I go through the motions to find Mr. Rye?

I am always-already entangled with you

So why, then, can I never seem to get closer to you?

Mr. Rye you will always be a mystery to me.

Even though I know, someday, we will meet."

––––––––

Nice, to finally meet you Captain Diaz, Mr. Rye says as he goes to shake the captain’s hand.

And you as well, sir, Captain Diaz says.

You made it here on the time that you predicted and without a moment’s delay. Punctuality is my favorite virtue – good job, captain.

Thank you, sir.

Well, let’s go look at this cargo and wrap this up just as quickly.

––––––––

And then I will unwrap you real slow, a man says over the speaker of a phone Mia is talking on.            Conversation in Spanish

Oh Diego, stop trying to turn me on unless you can do it for real, Mia says.

I am back in Cuba, come and see me.

You think I can just up and leave?

Come on, you are in Haiti. You just had your father’s funeral and I think it might be good to take some time to yourself.

By myself or with you?

Your sister is in Cuba, right?

Yeah, but I have not seen Maria for some time, I think she might be a prostitute or something.

Just tell the rest of your family that you want to go find her, to let her know of your father – they will understand, Diego says.

Okay, I will talk to you in a couple of days and let you know where we can meet. See you soon, my love, Mia says.

––––––––

Isaac stands up from writing and walks out the door. He gets in his car and drives away.

The beach is the closest thing to the lake. Why not go and wallow there? Maybe I could see that ‘end-me’ on the horizon instead of just another shoreline. 

––––––––

Sign on the line, then, if you are certain everything checks out, sir

I seem quite certain but it’s ultimately up to my confidant here. If Mr. North is sure, I’m sure, Mr. Rye says as he looks to the man behind him. The man nods his head and Mr. Rye turns back to sign the document.

Cuba thanks you for your contribution, sir

You know what? I’m just trying to make the world a better place.

––––––––

Isaac sees a sign saying, ‘I’ll see you at Lacey’s Place,’ and says, Screw wallowing in pity, I can do that later. Here I come, lust and lace.

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Mr. Berger takes notice of Maria’s lacy underwear while she is stretched out sleeping in the passenger seat. He starts driving off-course and the car shakes on some rough terrain, causing her to wake up. She opens her eyes to see an unlocked door and, in an instant, decides to open it. She jumps out and Mr. Berger slams on the breaks.

Idiot, why did you leave the door unlocked, he says and gets out of the car.

Maria bolts for the woods, swings around one tree and up another.

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Isaac admires a dancer as she swings around a pole. After her dance, he goes toward her and hears a man ask her for a personal dance.

Only if you can guess my name, baby, the dancer says.

As far as I’m concerned you could be Ms. Cuba, the only one that could cure my missile crisis, the man jokes.

Cute.

Mariah, Isaac interjects.

Actually, that is my name – and the boy wins.

––––––––

September 2, 2008

Do you think the odds are in your favor to, maybe even, win this thing, a reporter asks and moves a microphone toward Mr. Rye.

Well, you guys out there know that I’ve won this before and just as confident as I was then, I am now, Mr. Rye says.

You heard it here folks, Andrew Rye is out to, once again, overcome the odds. Thank you for speaking with us, Andrew. Before we go though, any hint as to when you might be ascending?

As a matter of fact, I have more than a hint. I will be in the eye of Ike by tomorrow.

There you have it; Andrew Rye is the one to take Ike. Let’s go back to Tony for the other racer’s commitments this season.

––––––––

Isaac wakes up and stumbles out of bed. He notices his phone.

Oh shit, I was supposed to work today, Isaac says as he looks at his phone. He reads the last text from his boss: I don’t know where your commitments are, but they’re obviously not with this company. We cannot commit to those who do not commit to us, so don’t bother coming in and we will mail you your check.

Well, I guess I have some free time on my hands. Great, what does that give me time to do? Sit and meditate?

––––––––

September 3, 2008

The meditation room is ready, sir. Is there anything else you need before you go, sir, Frank asks.

Just see to it that Mr. North keeps up with Mr. Berger but otherwise enjoy your time off, Frank – that is all.

Thank you, Mr. Rye.

Frank exits and shortly thereafter, Andrew exits and goes down a hall. He goes in a door that takes him to a narrow corridor. He comes out to a huge cylindrical room without a roof. There are paths spiraling up to the top of the building and behind the walls, on the first couple of floors, are rooms where news reporters and camera crews are broadcasting.

Andrew walks to the center of the room, slowly turns around 360 degrees, then sits down. He shuts his eyes and looks down into his lap. He breathes in deep and as he exhales, a mildly opaque version of himself rises up. He takes a dramatically deep breath in and then shoots up a spiral path, out the opening.

"Andrew Rye, of