Banamaðr

By R C Ducantlin

A vigilante finds the people that began the pain for so many. The first step is to avenge the agony and suffering he witnessed as a child.

Can he kill the evil that destroyed his family? Will he protect the others from the wicked? Leaving a young girl an orphan changes his plans.

ADVISORY: This book contains mature content, including explicit language, graphic situations, sexual references, and physical violence. This content may be difficult for some readers.

FROM THE AUTHOR: Banamaðr was adapted from a limited-series screenplay but remains faithful to the story.

P.S. Reviews are always appreciated.

• Language: English
• Publisher: R C Ducantlin, Ltd.
• Release date: Dec 12, 2022
• ISBN: 9781949211801

R C Ducantlin

Fortunately, in secondary school, my interest in reading was sparked. A close friend and an instructor, who took interest in a boy he later called ‘The rebel without a clue.,’ were instrumental in my learning the value of a good book. Both piqued my interest in reading. My lifelong friend inspired me to read J.R.R. Tolkien and I became addicted to the fantasy genre. The instructor required I read interesting historical novels for academic credit. Frank Norris, Leon Uris, and Ken Follett are inspirations and fuel my love of history. Born to a military family, it was logical that I follow the military tradition. However, after four years of “yes sirs” and scraping the wax off floors I decided there must be more fun in a corporate career. Thirty plus years of work experiences across the globe, the corporate career landed me in Colorado, where I live with my wife and I can be close to my children and grandchildren.

Book preview

Part One

Marjory

The parasite we call time relentlessly burrows into our conscience. How you grow to become all that is possible, is to embrace time, in an unforgiving grip, and demand more. – R. C. Ducantlin

Banamaðr: Old Norse.

From bani (bane) and‎ maðr (man, person)

A killer. A slayer.

Episode 1

Banamaor, late thirties, slightly tall but average in every other aspect, is folding laundry. Fastidious, loads of clothes are folded, stacked, and ready to be put away. He checks his phone while waiting for the dryer to beep at the end of the next cycle. Stopping, he recognizes the clue in the chat room stream.

BANAMAOR

This has to be it.

Turning to rush back to his search, the dryer beeps before he can reach the bedroom-turned-office.

Grimacing, he ignores the warm clothes calling to be folded.

Always alert, constantly cautious, scanning the office, his three computer screens are as he left them an hour earlier. On the left monitor is a default background. In the center, an overlay of windows that are search portals. Banamaor selects an icon on the right screen that opens the same chatroom portal he has open on his phone. Comment bubbles rise with each offering.

BRIGHT_EYES

You need to do something.

SHANEY_GRL

I know. What?

LUNA_TIQ

What happened last time you called the cops?

SHANEY_GRL

Same.

BRIGHT_EYES

Exactly. Nothing is going to change unless you do something.

SHANEY_GRL

Do what?

LARA_LANE

Hit her with a bat. She deserves it.

LUNA_TIQ

She can’t hit her stepmother. Shaney will be next for a beating. The cops.

BRIGHT_EYES

The cops are useless. How many times have you called the police?

LUNA_TIQ

Keep calling the cops.

SHANEY_GRL

Three times. The chief is her brother.

LUNA_TIQ

You need to let her know. Enough is enough.

MOMO_RIC

Violence is not the answer.

JANA_1980

Run away.

SHANEY_GRL

I told you, I can’t. We live too far. She would know I was gone before I made it to town.

LUNA_TIQ

F^*k Momma Bitch. She needs a frying pan to the side of the head.

SHANEY_GRL

What am I going to do?

Banamaor watches the conversation scroll. He is reading and thinking about the argument over hurting Momma because of what she did and what they fear she will do again.

BANAMAOR

Some people do not deserve to take another breath. We expect our laws to protect us from evil and vile humans. Law enforcement is constrained. Laws fail. Lawyers are too good at playing in the legal grey area. F’ing lawyers.

LUNA_TIQ

Shaney, let us help you.

BANAMAOR

When bad things happen to good people, everyone notices. The six o’clock talking news-heads are happy to smile while explaining the gruesome details.

BRIGHT_EYES

We are here for you girl.

LUNA_TIQ

Let us know how to help, whatever you need.

BANAMAOR

Evil is not limited to good people. When bad things happen to bad people, it goes unnoticed. People on the margin are ignored by those happily wrapped in the false comfort of civilized society. We don’t think about the problems of those who are not like us.

Slumping over his keyboard, Banamaor struggles to keep his eyes open. Frantically typing, Banamaor suddenly stops. After sitting for hours, standing behind his desk, he stretches his legs. Waking and straightening, he begins reading the new comment bubbles.

SHANEY_GRL

She killed the cats. She killed the chickens. I saved Kira.

BRIGHT_EYES

No way!

LUNA_TIQ

That bitch. Shaney, be strong.

MOMO_RIC

What can she do? She’s a girl trapped on a farm in the middle of nowhere.

The center monitor catches Banamaor’s eye with a flashing indicator of a hit in a search.

BANAMAOR

There! The ranch is in the middle of nowhere. Time for some background. What do we have in the county records?

Pushing coffee cups and dirty plates to the side, Banamaor knows he will clean the office soon. Turning his chair, he scans a collection of court documents, crime books, and high-school yearbook photos.

Stopping, looking, and rubbing his eyes, he reads the news headlines pinned to the wall. The same headlines he has read every day for almost thirty years.

LOCAL TEEN CHARGED WITH MURDER.

SECOND MISSING BOY, HENRY PRATT, FOUND ALIVE.

LOCAL RUNAWAY FOUND IN CRACK HOUSE.

BROTHERS, SAM AND RIK BRADLEY ARRESTED IN DRUG STING.

Rechecking his data, Banamaor knows he is close to finding the evil he seeks.

BANAMAOR

Momma’s history checks. I was hoping I was wrong. Momma and brother Brad have been terrorizing small towns for decades. It seems everyone is afraid of Momma and her temper. Well, look at that. They have been on trial for murder twice, and they were acquitted or got a mistrial each time. It is time for Momma to do some explaining.

Banamaor sends a text.

BANAMAOR

Found them. Not far. Be ready.

ID_ONE

Understood.

BANAMAOR

Send alert to ID_TWO.

ID_ONE

Understood.

Tuning off the phone, he begins the overdue cleaning.

Episode 2

Concealed in the vegetation he placed to create shadows, Banamaor is munching on a power bar. He is watching a ranch from a hilltop grove using a long-range spotting scope.

BANAMAOR

Day three. I can wait for as long as it takes.

Fighting the early morning sun glare, on day four, Banamaor scopes. Tracing power lines along the driveway to the house. The gravel driveway ends in a loop between the aging farmhouse and the newer barn.

BANAMAOR

This ranch is on the wrong side of the digital divide. Momma Bitch hides on the wrong side of progress. Shaney uses her phone to reach the outside world.

Banamaor rolls away to relieve himself but quickly returns to watching the farmhouse.

BANAMAOR

Five days. I can wait for as long as it takes. Momma Bitch has this family running like a clock.

Through the digitally enhanced scope, he watches the family begin their day.

06:00 – Shaney is seventeen. Tall, thin, mouse-colored hair frames a bright smile. Banamaor watches the girl feed the animals.

07:15 – Dad is forty-one, average, with close dark hair, unpressed clothes, leaves for work.

08:05 – Shaney races down the long driveway to the waiting school bus.

15:35 – Shaney sadly walks from the bus to her home.

17:30 – Shaney feeds the animals.

18:10 – Dad returns.

18:30 – Shaney puts dinner on the table.

BANAMAOR

Shaney has no friends, no after-school activities, and no social clubs. She doesn’t have time. Maybe today is the day.

On day six, Banamaor watches Shaney walking the ranch, tending to her morning chores. She is continually glancing at the upstairs window of the farmhouse. Repositioning the parabolic microphone, he points it at the upstairs window and zooms the scope into the room.

BANAMAOR

What is going on here?

Sara, Momma Bitch, is forties, thick, hair damaged from too many home dye jobs and nail polish that is six weeks old. She is arguing with Dad. The words are muted and broken.

SARA

It... you... today...

DAD

No, I won’t...

SARA

Are... break... plan...

Dad storms out. Banamaor scopes Sara, who is following Dad to his pickup truck. Momma Bitch beats him on the back as he climbs into the cab.

BANAMAOR

Today is the day.

Sara throws a rock at the departing pickup truck before eyeing Shaney on the porch.

SARA

Come here!

Banamaor repositions the microphone and tightens his earpiece. Shaney doesn’t move.

SHANEY

No.

SARA

I said, come here and bring that mutt.

SHANEY

Kira? No! You’re not going to hurt my dog.

SARA

I said, come here and bring that mutt. You and that dog are going to teach your father a lesson.

SHANEY

What did Dad do to you?

SARA

He didn’t do anything. He never does anything. I said, get over here.

SHANEY

No.

Before Shaney can retreat into the house, Sara is charging the porch. The dog is cowering, forcing Shaney to try and lift the heavy animal.

Sara grabs the dog by the collar and Shaney by the hair. Dragging both from the porch, she hauls them into the barn.

BANAMAOR

Shit. Shit. Shit.

Racing down, Banamaor stops outside the barn, assesses the situation, then steps into the opening. The barn has four horse stalls on one side and two on the other. Clean and organized, the horse and mucking gear hang correctly. The oats and hay are stacked well.

Sara is standing over the dog with a small pistol. Shaney is begging for the dog’s life.

BANAMAOR

That’s enough.

SARA

Who are you? Get off my land.

BANAMAOR

It’s not your land. It belongs to Shaney.

SARA

Get off my land before I shoot you.

BANAMAOR

Shaney, get Kira and go to the house.

SARA

Shaney, don’t you move. Mister, I’m telling you for the last time, get off my land.

BANAMAOR

Where are the other animals?

SHANEY

In the pasture.

BANAMAOR

No. Where are the animals Sara killed?

SHANEY

Sara? Her name is Beth.

BANAMAOR

Her name is Sara Grebs. She’s been lying to you and your father.

SHANEY

I knew she was a liar!

SARA

Girl, you keep your mouth shut.

SHANEY

The animals she killed are in the pit, past the tank.

BANAMAOR

Take Kira and go to the house. I’ll meet you there.

Shaney doesn’t move. Sara charges, raising the gun to fire. Banamaor sidesteps, and the bullet flies into the pasture. Slamming his sliding baton on her kneecap, Sara crumples in a heap. Picking up the pistol, his face is unreadable. Sara is writhing and screaming.

BANAMAOR

That’s just the first. Shaney, please,