Blake Bailey
Edge of the Cave is a multi-layered book. Ostensively, it’s a story of a Type A lawyer who receives a special assignment to debate to an elite tribunal. It explores the witty, sometimes sarcastic, relationship between the protagonist, John Yates, and those people he meets.
Yet, on a deeper level, it is a story of a man seeking and reaching inspirational wisdom from the points of view of various religions and philosophies. He eventually reaches such a high level of enlightenment that he is committed to the Rusk County Psychiatric Hospital.
Additionally, those readers who have historical knowledge of various characters prominent in religion and philosophy should be able to enjoy a treasure hunt as clues are given of the significance of the various characters who are introduced throughout the saga.
The intent of this book is to create an interesting and entertaining read and yet, at the same time, prick the minds and intellect of its readers to inspire discussions and debates and a re-exploration of the readers approach to life.
Blake Bailey is a trial lawyer who practices in Tyler, Texas. He is a pilot, scuba diver, Harley rider, trekker of the Himalayas, and occasionally writes prose.
PROLOG
John Yates, a man of mystical powers and insight, sat quietly in a small, dirty-green holding area adjoining the office of the Rusk County Judge. Wearing a light blue denim shirt, faded jeans, and hiking boots, he sat on a bench, legs folded yoga style under him. His salt and pepper hair was pulled back into a ponytail. His dark skin evidenced a history of exposure to the sun and the elements, yet his complexion was remarkably smooth and free of wrinkles.
A naked, forty-watt light bulb hung from the ceiling. Its luminance combined with faint rays of outside light filtering through a small barred window. John's lean body sat upright yet relaxed.
He listened patiently, intently to an overweight bailiff in his late seventies who was revealing personal problems that he had never felt comfortable disclosing even to his closest friends. The bailiff stood casually, leaning and pressing one hand against the wall. A brown leather gun belt holstering a .38 caliber double action Smith and Wesson revolver matched his cowboy boots and bordered the old man's khaki shirt and pants. His face occasionally broke out in a distinctive crooked smile. The atmosphere in the room was more one of a priest hearing confession or a psychologist conducting counseling than one of a prisoner being guarded by an officer of the court, in sharp contrast to what was about to occur: John Yates was to be afforded a trial to determine whether his involuntary commitment to Rusk State Mental Hospital should be continued for ninety days.
The brown, wooden, windowless door of John's ten-by- twelve-room lead to the reception area for the office of Judge William Clark. The reception area housed three gray, four-drawer filing cabinets, an orange Naugahyde couch, and a desk for Minnie Broom, the Judge's secretary. A cotton print dress covered her slightly plump body. A bright, costume jewelry clip held her curly brown hair up, but for wisps escaping her efforts, which cascaded down her neck. Minnie was filling in the blanks of the various forms that must accompany a habeas corpus commitment hearing. John Yates had asserted his right to a jury trial. The Judge then carried out his obligatory duty by impaneling a six-person jury to determine whether the statutory provisions allowing the State to commit John were met. John had no money or visible means of support, and was waiting for the young lawyer appointed to represent him.
