The Hunt

By G. R. Carter

Compelled by voices, a professor is driven to seek what he knows to be. What he seeks lies in wait beneath the earth. The path to its lair is buried in ancient texts. In his pursuit, the professor was warned, Arrogance is the mother of tears. He was forewarned and failed to heed those foreboding word:

The truth is the lie The lie is the truth To know the truth Face the lie The truth is unmoved

• Language: English
• Publisher: iUniverse
• Release date: Dec 16, 2015
• ISBN: 9781491783016

G. R. Carter

Mystery writer

Book preview

Copyright © 2015 G. R. Carter.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, names, incidents, organizations, and dialogue in this novel are either the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

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ISBN: 978-1-4917-8302-3 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4917-8301-6 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2015920671

iUniverse rev. date: 08/03/2016

Contents

Chapter I

Chapter II

Chapter III

Chapter IV

Chapter V

Chapter I

I hunt not beast or man. I hunt for what I know to be. It lies in wait for those who dare … to enter its lair. They who had dared lie in repose beneath the earth. In a restless sleep one night, I heard the stillness of their forms below the earth whisper, The path to its lair lie buried in ancient scripts. I tried to learn what they had learned to no avail. Over the years, I had made inquiries only to learn ignorance had thrown away what were believed and said to be, Those damned cursed books! Betrayed by ignorance, I now stand alone amidst scripted voices hidden below the marble floor that beckon me. I dare not give voice to what I seek for fear of more than ridicule.

Below the marble floor leafing through layers of ancient dusty scripts, I heard that cursed bell toll, ‘You’re late! Your family waits.’ I cursed that bell. I cursed the time. I quickly gathered up my things and rushed out of the building across the campus grounds into that augural night divining my fate. Hurrying home, I sensed the presence of something gaining … gaining on me. Unnerved, I quickened my pace. I reached my house, and ran up the steps to escape the haunting chill. With shivering hands, I unlocked the door, rushed inside, and slammed the door shut.

Once inside, I took a moment to compose myself and reasoned the event away. I heard the patter of little feet racing yelling, Daddy, Daddy! I knelt with open arms and gobbled up their warm embraces. With a stern face and folded arms, she came into the room. I stood up to face my wife. Before I could explain or say a word, she spun around and said as she walked away, You’re late! Your supper is cold. I told my little coconspirators, Go up to bed, I will come up later and read to you. With smiling faces, they raced up the winding stairs to their beds.

My wife spoke not a word to me, and I remained silent. The night went quick and a new day began. My sad little eyes waited at the door. I hugged them, kissed my wife, and went off to school where I teach. Sacrifice, sacrifice, I hated that word. I will not! I repeated to myself, I will not lose all that is dear in seeking something I know to be.

I arrived at the campus grounds where I have taught for several years. Walled within these ancient grounds are parchment and scrolls of centuries past. I entered the building where I held my classes. After briefly conferring with some of my colleagues, I went to my classroom and stood at my desk waiting for my students to settle down. Chatter filled the room. I picked up a book and slammed it down onto my desk. A rush of silence filled the room. I said, Gentlemen! Now that I have your undivided attention, let us proceed.

After the lecture, I dismissed the class. A student approached my desk to speak