Seekers of the Scroll

By W. Blake Heitzman

This is the first two chapters of the third book of the Far Traveler series. I will start each chapter with notes about characters from The Robot's Daughter to help those who haven't read it. In any case, I'm posting this book for free. If enough interest is shown, chapters will be added. Otherwise, not. For those who are following, the cover will change each time I add a chapter. The Story: Haines Companies secrets, including the fact that they can time travel, are beginning to ooze out. Some French historians lobby Herman to send Matt back to the Crusade of Richard the Lionhearted. Stephanie is inadvertently sent back in time without a homing marker. A rescue party is formed to bring her back. Meanwhile, an intergalactic homicidal psychopath is roaming around in modern times, and its first priority is to kill Marie.

• Language: English
• Publisher: W. Blake Heitzman
• Release date: Dec 6, 2023
• ISBN: 9798215925782

W. Blake Heitzman

Blake grew up just south of Las Cruces, New Mexico, where he spent his spare time exploring the desert in his World War Two surplus jeep. Sometimes he listened to old timers’ tales of Geronimo, Pancho Villa, and Billy the Kid.Today he weaves his love and respect for the desert along with bits of what he’s heard and seen into his stories.A retired Professional Engineer in the State of California with Masters Degrees in Energy Conversion and Urban Planning as well as experience as a college math instructor, Blake's interests range from science and history to aliens and the Kaballah.Heitzman is influenced by his favorite writers: Stephen King, H.G. Wells, Bradbury, Vonnegut, Michael Crichton and Tony Hillerman.He is currently writing The Shaman Gene series, the story of Earth’s rise to join galactic society. "The Robot's Daughter", is the second in the series, although it has been designed to be read as a stand alone novel as well. Two more novels: Seekers of the Scroll and The Forceps of Sharon are in draft.You can read more and comment at Blake’s website: www.shamangene.com/BLOGBlake no longer makes his writing available at Amazon because of their treatment of authors.

Book preview

Seekers of the Scroll

By

W. Blake Heitzman

Copyright 2023 - W. Blake Heitzman

Smashwords Version

The message for Judith’s grandson:

There is the key and he who needs no key.

On right: water, azure and deep,

On left: arid and enemy,

Everywhere hoarse throats cracking for thirst,

The Rook flew on wings of wind

Not on land, nor in air.

Its red eye blank, dancing, beak yawning wide,

Sent a rock, flesh and steel to the ocean floor,

Horse and rider, sent to Poseidon’s door.

Unyielding to the sea god’s claim,

The knight kneed one last charge,

To take the shore through foaming surf and wave,

Carried on piebald mount to honeyed light,

Born to midday sun, armor sparkling bright,

All shout: Hurray-Hurrah! Hurray-Hurrah!

Chapter 1: Bernard

Note: I will give a brief background when I introduce characters from the previous two books. The characters in this chapter are all new.

March 12, 1119

The rider urged his horse forward into the shadow of the looming hillside. In the west, the underbelly of clouds darkened. Lightning flicked between their wind whipped swells. He bent his ear hard and counted slowly until the low broken rumble shook the air.

Four! Shalley, Four! He patted Shalley on his broad neck and pressed him onto the steep switchback assent. Let’s beat that storm to the monastery.

The climb was steep and longish, but the horse was young and strong. Hughes pressed him fairly, but steadily against the tough climb.

It’s easier than fighting for a foothold in the slime after the cloudburst, the knight whispered and patted his mount again.

About half way up, the lightning came again, this time it was followed by a powerful boom that ricocheted through the valley. Above them, the leading edge of the cloud closed the sky against the hillside.

Hughes popped his tongue against the roof of his mouth. Gitty up, Shalley, he said, his tone imparting urgency. The charger lurched forward into the next turn.

There before them, A portly carriage blocked the road. Hughes brought Shalley up close, impatient to pass and wondering how the vehicle would handle the clay slop that would fill the road within minutes.

The coach’s size indicated royalty, or wealth. Atop, two footmen, halberds erect in their hands, eyed him. The third footman, by the driver, cranked his head back toward Hughes, and grasped a halberd racked on the corner of the wagon.

There may be a couple of swordsmen inside as well, Hughes thought.

The road straightened yielding space for him to pass. One of the footmen bent toward the coach side portals and said something low and guttural. A hand came from behind window curtains and snapped the shutters closed.

Hughes spurred Shalley. You should hurry, he taunted as he pulled even to the coach. This will be as slick as hog’s snout once the rain hits.

The coachman furled his eyebrows and jutted his chin toward the knight.

Foreigners, Hughes thought and wondered just who Bernard had invited to this mysterious meeting.

Lightening cracked loudly with a quick cannon burst of thunder. The switchback opened onto a plateau and Shalley loped toward the monastery walls.

The storm was coming on fast now, its gray wall of falling water not more than a mile off was marching toward him like a glistening line of infantry pickets.

He brought Shalley under the tiled roof of a pilgrim’s alcove. A jagged spear of lightening ripped the air with a simultaneous explosion and cleaved through an oak on the