The Leopard and the Red River by John Kevin McDonagh

Author:John Kevin McDonagh
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: thriller, suspense, adventure, action, paranormal
Publisher: Foundations Book Publishing Company

“Now and until the hour of our death... Amen,” the crowd chanted.

The prayer echoed in Simon’s mind, “The hour of our death.” He found it peculiar to think of death in such a limited way. Everyone would have an hour of death. That was a certainty, but it was unfair. The hour of your death should be the pinnacle of your existence, such as being with Maria, but it never was. You died and became nothing. One moment you were breathing, concerned with thirst, hate, and love, and the next you were gone.

Simon lingered on the thought during his walk home. He had delayed in the church for hours after the ceremony. He enjoyed the emptiness. The evening silver horizon was beautiful but cold. Hypnotically, he stared at the tread of his feet as he walked. Time passed immeasurably.

A gangly, misshapen creature sat on a half-barrel at the doorstep to his mother’s home. Simon recognised the man-child instantly. It was Adrian Wade. He was a pitiful creature. He had never passed his test as a hero, nor had he received his forty days in the desert. Simon’s father had said it was because he was one of God’s mistakes. His arms and legs were stick-thin and his face razor-sharp like a red diamond in a deck of cards. Long black pistols hung at his side. It was a crime to wear a hero’s weapons before the forty days in the desert, but Wade was protected by the Deacon.

He was hunched across his knees, as though in pain. His long silver hair covered his face. He looked up and his sky-blue eyes met with Simon’s.

“The Deacon wanted to speak with your mother,” he said through a forced grin. He stepped theatrically toward Simon. His footsteps were silent. Simon stood his ground. He was stiff with anger and hatred. Wade enjoyed the power he had over the younger heroes. He stared down over Simon and rested his hand on his black iron pistol. Their eyes locked in some grizzly form of understanding as Wade slowly clicked the chamber. Arthritically, he placed it against Simon’s temple. Slowly, a smile waxed onto Wade’s face. It was hideous. Simon turned smoothly and walked toward his mother’s doorway. His footsteps fell with heavy disdain into the darkness. Adrian Wade laughed.

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