Arc of a Squire

By Michael André Fath

Arc of a Squire is the sequel to The Village Squires – Tales of Mayhem and Revenge, which was a story of rock and roll and redemption. Arc of a Squire takes place 30+ years later, with the original characters all re-appearing and focuses on the revenge of a tragic incident and the repercussions resulting, affecting everyone involved.

• Language: English
• Publisher: iUniverse
• Release date: Aug 4, 2021
• ISBN: 9781663227126

Michael André Fath

Michael Fath is an internationally acclaimed rock guitarist, composer, mandolinist, singer and producer, with hundreds of recordings to his credit. His band American Crush is signed to the European rock label Mottow Soundz, Brussels, Belgium. Their debut record, American Crush, was released July 4, 2021. American Crush II will be released in late 2023/2024. Michael’s extensive martial arts resume is reflected in several professional ventures including owning and operating The Blue Chip Academy and training American and Israeli military, police, American and British Special Forces, government agents and civilian clients in hand-to-hand combat. He is also on the motivational speaking rosters of Celebrity Speakers Associates (United Kingdom, Andorra) and Speakers, Inc. (San Diego, CA).

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Copyright © 2021 Michael André Fath.

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.

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Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Scripture quotations marked KJV are from the Holy Bible, King James Version (Authorized Version). First published in 1611. Quoted from the KJV Classic Reference Bible, Copyright © 1983 by The Zondervan Corporation.

ISBN: 978-1-6632-2711-9 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-6632-2713-3 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-6632-2712-6 (e)

iUniverse rev. date:   08/02/2021

CONTENTS

DEDICATION

REVELATION 12:7-8

PRELUDE

REVELATION 12:9

CHAPTER ONE

REVELATION 12:12

CHAPTER TWO

PRAYER TO SAINT MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL

CHAPTER THREE

ARC 1:1

CHAPTER FOUR

ARC 1:2

CHAPTER FIVE

ARC 1:3

CHAPTER SIX

EXODUS 21:23-25

CHAPTER SEVEN

HEBREWS 3:11

CHAPTER EIGHT

ROMANS 2:1-29

CHAPTER NINE

PSALM 94:3

CHAPTER TEN

ARC 1:4

CHAPTER ELEVEN

ARC 1:5

CHAPTER TWELVE

LUKE 1:37

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

ROMANS 12:17

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

ARC 1:6

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

GENESIS 9:6

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

ARC 1:7

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

PROVERBS 20:22

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

ARC 1:8

CHAPTER NINETEEN

ARC 1:9

CHAPTER TWENTY

ARC 1:10

CHAPTER TWENTY ONE

PSALM 37:4

CHAPTER TWENTY TWO

HEBREWS 13:16

CHAPTER TWENTY THREE

ARC 1:11

CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR

JOHN 3:16

EPILOGUE

THANKS TO

My daughters Jade and Sierra and sister Paris and mother Kris; Vic and mom; Russell Anderson; Tammy and Stilson Greene; Kate Reese; Rick Davis; Marla Robertson and Ocean 98; Mike Waddell; Rita Conestabile; Buck Nelligan; Dr. Keith Belote; Jim Spruell; Millie Nandedkar; Cathy and Chris Neubauer; Diane and Corey Holland; Rekha Kaula; Andy Hamburger; Sean Dibble; Candice Holdsclaw; Heidi; Susan and Cerphe Colwell; Martha and Tom McCarthy; Susan and Chris Grimes; Karen and Doug Grimes; Michael Andreski; Tom Bateman; Mitch Herndon; Jim Spruell; Georgia; Steve Fisher; Robb Foster; Rocky Lambert; Christian Scarborough; Steve Cummins; Ben Myatt; Angela Schelp and Emily Cutliff; Jerry and Sue Curran; Michael Meador; Dr. Cliff Dunning; Dion Brown; Ray Koury; Debbie and Bob Dempsey; Janet Gilman; Teresa Brodin; Doug Johnston; Angela Carchedi Wilson; Marc Cohen and Matt O’Connor; Linda Hayes; Stacy Carroll; Ginger Warder; Laura Smith; Mike Lyle; Mike Cantrell; Arada Phondet; the Laurel Brigade Law Group (Leesburg, VA); my fight coaches Toney Waldecker and Lenny Smith; my students and fans; and, my other friends and family who are too numerous to mention.

And, most primarily, to all of you that have supported my literary adventures all these years...I am forever in your debt!

As always and forever, I thank God!

CREDITS AND SPECIAL THANKS

Stilson Greene—Graphic Design

Photography—Sean Dibble

Sierra Fath—Back Cover and interior Saint Michael Sketches

Ginger Warder—Technical Editing

Dr. Keith Belote—Technical Consulting/Medical

Dr. Cliff Dunning—Technical Consulting/The Vietnam War

Legal—Paice, Mougin-Boul, Smith

ARC OF A SQUIRE

Arc of a Squire

Picture a boy

Lifelong dream of virtuosity

Embracing the heartache as he knows will come

Arc of a Squire

Best friends, childhood and then

Collective adoption

Shared equally, spiritual, lifelong flight

Arc of a Squire

One transcends the norm

Path, shocking to behold

Still, isn’t life just as tragic?

Arc of a Squire

Archangel Michael at side

Retribution, to all others that witness

In reality, the saving of future souls

Arc of a Squire

Love always at his core

Newfound alliance with one

She saves, hopefully God will also restore

CAST OF CHARACTERS

(in order of appearance)

Mickey Franz—guitarist/vocalist for the Village Squires

Rocky Reeves—bassist/vocalist for the Squires

Paulie Bayonne—lead vocalist for the Squires

Johnny Wilson—drummer/vocalist for the Squires

Georgie the Hammer Beauregard—longtime friend from Nashville

Saint Michael—the Archangel

Dr. Clifford—Mikey’s psychologist/counselor and spiritually adopted father

Charlie Reeves—Rocky’s older brother

Doctor Gabriel—Rocky’s lead physician

Stephanie Reeves—Rocky’s ex-wife

Sandy—Mickey’s first wife and mother of his son and daughter

André Emile—Mickey’s son

Docere Maconi— Mickey’s daughter

Maria Bayonne—Paul’s wife

Trisha Wilson—John’s wife

Jack Fortino—the first professional manager for the Village Squires

Dana Fortino—Jack’s wife

Sheila Blackstone—Jack’s former assistant (now deceased) who adored the Squires

Gary Blackstone—Sheila’s husband

Tommy Gun—the NYC transvestite rock promoter that had championed the Squires

Karen Anderson—the former national marketing director for Kramer Guitars

Michael Mathis—RIP Magazine’s former advertising executive director

Barbara Manning—Guitar Magazine’s former advertising director

Baltimore Glory—the Village Squires’ rivals and friends from Charm City

AJ, Scott and Shawn—the Village Squires’ beloved road crew

Barbara Greene—Nashville’s legendary club owner

Georgie the hammer Beauregard—Barbara’s notorious club manager and close friend

Mickey’s two younger brothers—who looked to Rocky as an older brother

Dusty Wells—renown radio deejay who had also championed the Squires

Michael Oz—North Carolina music promoter and agent

Master Tommy—the Squires’ beloved and former Muay Thai instructor

Colonel Dion Neal—U.S. Special Forces legend and personal instructor to Mickey

Beau McGee and Jackie Hill—the Squires’ two notable record producers

Charles Allen—the leader of the three men who killed Rocky

Buddy Blaze and Jamie Martin—Charles Allen’s two accomplices

Sheryl—waitress at the club where Rocky had run into the three men

Gunner Hagan, Matt Carroll, Eddie Lenoir and Adrian Jaager—four of the nine Naval Academy classmates of Dr. (then Captain) Clifford’s that died in Vietnam

Michael Donovan—New York City Police Captain and friend of Georgie’s

Angela Abbott—one of Georgie’s former Dixie Mafia connections

Tony Conroy—Angela’s cousin and also a member of the Dixie Mafia

Major Moshe Luftman—Israeli Special forces friend of Colonel Dion Neal

Charles Friedrich—president of the New York City publicity firm Conceptual Creations, and the under-ground leader of a high-level, white-supremacist faction

Adam Katz—one of two Jewish musician clients of Charles Friedrich

Joshua Crystal—Friedrich’s other Jewish client

Billy Poole, Travis Betts and Sid Henry—the three men that murdered Tommy Gun

Stephanie Meier—Angela Abbott’s code name for Operation Tommy Gun

Tom O’Connor—longtime friend of the Squires, who created Rocky’s tribute video

Rachel Lehman—young Jewish daughter of a family that was assaulted in Florida

Meyer Cohen—Rachel’s Rabbi and mentor of all things Israel

Carl Eicher—professor of International Studies and Law at the University of Tampa

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ORIGINAL ART BY SIERRA FATH

DEDICATION

The genesis of this dedication was actually many years ago, when my friend, Dr. Robert Keith Belote, started his most amazing and personal medical care for me.

My primary physician has treated my broken noses, cracked ribs, lacerated eyes, fractured cheekbone, stressed lower back, torn biceps, broken hand, hernia surgeries, stress fractures—the list goes on and on.

Lately, his medical care for me was even more serious…

As importantly, he has counseled me through the death of my younger brother Eddie (rest in peace), two divorces and the demise of a few serious relationships, the death of a mutual friend (rest in peace, Joe), and other tragic events that affect each and every one of us.

As well, Keith Belote has celebrated and supported my professional endeavors—music, martial arts and creative writing, all of which are continuing to succeed—thanks to my mental and physical health.

After 43 years at Catoctin Family Practice, Leesburg, VA, Keith is finally retiring, this summer. His patients are his family, and I have been fortunate enough to be included.

This novel’s release at the same time-frame of his retirement is absolutely coincidental. However, the irony is not lost with either of us.

As we both have said, God’s plan, simple as that.

Which brings me to my final thought…

Keith and I share the same spiritual beliefs. This has made all the difference in the world, for both of us.

It is with love, heart and soul that I dedicate Arc of a Squire to Doctor Robert Keith Belote.

Thanks for your wonderful care, my friend.

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ORIGINAL ART BY SIERRA FATH

ARC

OF A

SQUIRE

Michael André Fath

REVELATION 12:7-8

Now war arose in heaven,

Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon.

And the dragon and his angels fought back,

but he was defeated,

and there was no longer any place for them in heaven.

PRELUDE

He dreamed of his best friend when he was healthy and whole. When he played and sang with the thrill and unrestraint of a young teenager completely enjoying the moment and knowing/hoping that life ahead would present so many of God’s ubiquitous gifts, if he earned them.

They shared a nearly life-long brotherhood of two and then four. The former being as close as Rocky and he could possibly be; growing up together, playing bass and guitar, respectively, boxing and martial arts training with each other…then fighting mutual enemies alongside one another. And, the latter with Paulie and Johnny, when they formed and championed a fairly successful rock and roll band and career.

All had become attached at their hips in high school and through the good times and bad managed to maintain the ultimate model of respect and loyalty…and in today’s culture, a rapidly vanishing paradigm.

The Village Squires were, by now, yesterday’s news. However, and even after nearly 30 years since calling it quits from the professional ranks, still on occasion had managed to maintain a regional (and somewhat national) circuit of intermittent success and cult following despite two of them now living on the opposite west coast.

Long gone were the record deals, the corporate endorsements, the accolades in the press, the national radio play of their songs and the 5,000-10,000 seat performances, unless they happened to hook up with one of the now prevalent throwback tours, those with several other once-popular bands on the same bill— those that inevitably became a logistical (and egotistical) cluster-fuck.

All four of the Squires truly disliked these events and rarely participated. Bands, even to this day, jealously guarded their turf and the insecurities with many of them, from years before, still found their way to surface and make themselves obvious to all. One would think that a group of aging and former rock stars could cast petty differences aside, especially if given a fresh breath of notoriety, but, alas, that was the exception and not the rule.

The Village Squires were the exclusion to this tenet. They had always maintained a level of confidence and decorum, individually and collectively. Even after years and years in the trenches of the precarious and unforgiving world of the rock and roll music business, the Squires’ communal philosophy had made them extremely attractive and even seductive to so many fans, other musicians, and the powers-that-be alike.

They had enjoyed their one-off performances, though. Those special events a time or two a year where a few rehearsals would have special meaning and the vibes of old could be recaptured, if only momentarily and after so long a hiatus.

Though all members had separated years ago to create their unique projects and live their individual lives, the spiritual bond of these four never failed to entice another excursion, that is if the stars were so aligned. Each had married and started families and careers, whether music related or not. Yes, it had been decades.

Still, the music in their souls always managed to find its way to each other, regardless of everyone’s current professional status and location. God’s play, simple as that.

Today, however, was a different story. Life had assaulted them viciously without regard for human decency and their worlds had crashed. Life for each of them would and could never be the same.

Mickey always slept with a fairly large Bowie knife in its protective sheath, hanging from his bed post. This had been his tradition for many years. It was a gift presented to him years ago by Georgie Beauregard, an old friend from Nashville, and had an exceptionally sacred meaning (so did Georgie). Mickey had never used it for anything other than its virtuous presence, a reminder of the thousands of hours of his Filipino and Israeli knife training and how acutely dangerous some people in this world could be…how dangerous he could be if called upon.

From time to time, he would draw this blade, marveling at its craftsmanship, its razor-edge, its power, it’s spiritual genesis and purpose.

Unlike guns, knives were personal. Those that knew, knew. So did Mickey’s instructors and so did he.

As was his custom each morning upon awakening, yet with his eyes still sleepily closed, Mickey would gently rub his Saint Michael’s medal between his thumb and index finger, a ritual reminder of The Archangel—his divine warrior/teacher and patron Saint, asking for his help in battle if ever needed. He then would caress his crucifix in exactly the same fashion and pray for: strength, his children, family and friends in need, and one or two of those deeply-loved souls that had departed this world for the next. At times this sacrament was reversed, depending on which piece offered itself first.

He would also thank God for another day.

This particular morning, he initially found his crucifix and followed tradition—his litany for those that meant the most to him. However, in searching for his Saint Michael’s medal it was nowhere to be found. Mickey constantly wore both around his neck when he slept, always and without exception.

In a mild state of panic, he started searching within the sheets and comforter, under his pillows, everywhere. It was gone.

All of a sudden, his body and soul experienced a life-threatening awareness, as if sensing something extraordinarily evil lurking nearby. Mickey then happened to glance at his knife hanging in its usual place. Perfectly wrapped around the sheath was his Saint Michael’s medal, dangling suggestively, seductively, and wavering ever-so-slightly, almost as if it was speaking to him, beckoning him. Also, the leather-fastening piece that always secured this weapon in its place was unsnapped.

REVELATION 12:9

And the great dragon was thrown down,

that ancient serpent who is called the devil and Satan,

the deceiver of the whole world—

he was thrown down to earth,

and his angels were thrown down with him.

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CHAPTER

ONE

At some point during the last few years, something had started to crack within the deepest regions of Mickey Franz’ mind and soul. Nothing, however, that would turn this professional rock guitarist into some kind of sociopathic killing machine (well, maybe not at the present time), but at some point he had changed and the melancholy that came with this genesis, albeit infrequent, was enough to have him deeply reflect on how he had lived his life and what the future possibly held. Thing is, he had no idea of exactly when this transition had taken place or of any identifiable catalyst. It was almost as if he was evolving internally, gradually, but surely becoming something new and different, another personality, if you will. He didn’t believe he was suffering from Dissociative Identity Disorder (how would he?), but neither did his therapist, Dr. Clifford, in whom he trusted implicitly. Mickey just could sense the metamorphosis.

Dr. Clifford simply said, My son, it’s just who you are. Embrace this change and make it productive…if anyone knows how, it would be you.

After a pause, his spiritually adopted father and counselor added, God has His plan for you. Thank Him for the opportunity.

Prescient words, indeed!

Yes, there were always the road-rage events—those occurred in everyone’s lives, and the general public in the high-density area where Mickey lived seemed to be getting more and more angry with each passing