Until the Next Time

By Frank Weber

The mountain went about the business of its day, and the normal, expected sounds of nature surrounded them. Still, the old man noticed how little he could hear from the visitor walking with him. If he concentrated, he thought he heard footfalls into the snow and the crunchy leaves and twigs beneath it, but he couldn’t be sure. They moved in a ghostly silence. Then the thought popped into his head, “The Ghost of the Mountain” and that saying finally made perfect sense to him.

They walked up to a ridge that overlooked the knoll, and then stopped, the visitor looking down the other side of the ridge at something below. The old man stood beside him and saw, far down below them, hidden in all of the underbrush and seemingly uncrossable rocks and boulders, a clear and flowing stream. The man slipped and fell now and then, and each time he did, the visitor patiently waited for him to get up and move on. “Very strange” he thought to himself. “After all these years, I am being taught how to live on the mountain!” He felt himself to be more a part of this mountain.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Austin Macauley Publishers
• Release date: Mar 3, 2023
• ISBN: 9781685622176

Frank Weber

Frank Weber is a freelance writer based in Erie, Pennsylvania. He has written and published one book so far, his first book, The Mist of My Dreams. Frank has also been published on and in several print magazines, books, posters and advertising campaigns as both writer and model. Frank’s true passion lies in the creative process, and he finds his inspiration in the Franklin-Hemingway Thompson-Kerouac approach to writing. His work encompasses this approach through a wry witticism, coupled with firm conviction, a simple honesty in written word and enough of an edge to make people feel what they read.

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About the Author

Frank Weber is a freelance writer based in Erie, Pennsylvania. He has written and published one book so far, his first book, The Mist of My Dreams.

Frank has also been published on and in several print magazines, books, posters and advertising campaigns as both writer and model.

Frank’s true passion lies in the creative process, and he finds his inspiration in the Franklin-Hemingway Thompson-Kerouac approach to writing. His work encompasses this approach through a wry witticism, coupled with firm conviction, a simple honesty in written word and enough of an edge to make people feel what they read.

Dedication

This book is dedicated to my family for their selfless support, but also to every person that ever had a doubt about me.

I would never have found my way without any one of you.

Copyright Information ©

Frank Weber 2023

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other non-commercial uses permitted by copyright law. For permission requests, write to the publisher.

Any person who commits any unauthorized act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, locales, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

Ordering Information

Quantity sales: Special discounts are available on quantity purchases by corporations, associations, and others. For details, contact the publisher at the address below.

Publisher’s Cataloging-in-Publication data

Weber, Frank

Until the Next Time

ISBN 9781685622169 (Paperback)

ISBN 9781685622176 (ePub e-book)

Library of congress control number: 2023900990

www.austinmacauley.com/us

First Published 2023

Austin Macauley Publishers LLC

40 Wall Street, 33rd Floor, Suite 3302

New York, NY 10005

USA

[e-mail]

[phone]

Prelude…

All of the stories we hold inside our heads and hearts and dreams have a definite beginning, and even though we can never seem to recognize it, they also have a definite end. Sometimes it just takes someone unexpected to shake us up and help us see what sits directly in front of us. We don’t always like it, but we don’t always have our own best interests at heart.

Sometimes, it takes an outside influence to help us remember all that we should remember…and let us know that we are never really alone in this world.

This was one of those times.

One

Campfires and Fireflies

The deepening darkness of the surrounding woods was alive with the sounds of the coming night. Crickets chirping…owls calling and swooping to the ground…critters of all sorts scampering across the leaves and roots and grasses.

The camp was lit only with pulsating fireflies blanketed and peppered across the darkness of the woods, their luminescence flickering like Christmas lights across the white pines.

The old man stoked the embers of the campfire with the end of his cane. The wood left in the heart of the fire crumbled in its heat with a papery-crinkling sound, and the flames grew in the wake of each jab of the coals. He gently laid a few branches on top and once they had ignited, he laid a solid log across them. The flames almost instantly ignited the log and the campfire regained its blaze.

Its shimmering glow cast a sublime light against the trees that surrounded this clearing and it cast dancing shadows across the faces of the children seated around the fire.

Mr. Weber…it’s so dark out here. Are we going to be okay? The boy choked on his words as he went on, Aren’t you scared?

The old man turned to the boy, Jacob, and crouched down in front of him. Of course, we’ll be okay, boy. Why wouldn’t we be? He lit a cigar and sat down in his chair set close to the fire. He let the smoke drift out of his mouth as he spoke. You’re safer here with me than anyplace else in these woods. Why would you think otherwise?

The old man reclined deeper into his chair. You boys are my guests. You are camping at my cabin. The mountains have taken care of me and they’ll take care of all of you, too. He kicked his boots into the dirt at the edge of the fire. You boys just be sure you show the mountain the respect it’s owed. You do that, and it will return the favor to each of you.

Jacob stiffened up. But you get to sleep inside the cabin and we’re stuck out here on the ground. Sounds like you’re leaving us out here to feed to the bears!

The old man chewed into his cigar and crossed his feet on top of the fire ring. He let out a genuinely amused laugh. You really believe you’re out here all alone on this mountain, Jake? You really believe I’m leaving you out here on a dinner plate? He chuckled to himself but then his tone turned solemn. The mountain takes care of its own, boys. As soon as the mountain knew that you were my guests, you became guests of the mountain, too.

One of the other boys sat up. You talking about ghosts, Mr. Weber?

Old man Weber