Beyond the Shadow of Death

Kyle Keysor – Grows up to become a self-proclaimed soldier of God.

 …Kyle picked up his staff. God could change sticks into snakes. If need be, Kyle would smite the old man. Shit, the boy might even get one of his father’s guns. Kyle had already shot a deer, a couple of wild hogs, bunches of squirrels, and a kzillion birds. Killing’s easy once you get the hang of it. He sneaked his staff back into its hiding place. Humming Onward Christian Soldiers, Kyle scrubbed his hands real good.

Adam Eden – A combative humanist author with more guts than body.

 …Desperate to save Clarence, and equally desperate to ruin Huntley, Adam felt helpless. He forced himself to remember that the lives of a mother and her three children were also at stake. Sometimes in spite of all you can do, life sucks, or at least your available choice do.

 …Adam handed her a brandy, walked behind the sofa, and started slowly massaging Kelly’s temples and neck and shoulders. His fingers were strong and experienced. She moaned and began to relax. “It’s a religious thing,” Adam said. “In His infinite wisdom, God decreed that all souls must meet and learn to deal with at least fourteen and one-half assholes during their sojourn on earth. Like exercise builds the muscles, friction shapes the soul, that sort of thing, you see. However, God being all good, He began to feel a little guilty about what Eve referred to as His tendency to overreact. ‘Cruel and unjust punishment,’ I believe she said after her disastrous encounter with the grand dragon of assholes, Lucifer. As an incentive to keep man from switching allegiance to a golden calf, God decreed that in the end, all assholes would be wiped out.”
            Kelly shook her head as if disgusted, then reached up and took his hand. She enjoyed another sip of brandy and closed her eyes to savor the sweet, thick taste. As soothing warmth accompanied the liquid to her stomach, she got up and led Adam to the bedroom.

…Adam stared. He was certain that he had seen Franci, but the person eyeing him now was a wrinkled white-haired Native American. The deep facial furrows that marked his weathered face suggested a past of great struggle while his knowing eyes testified that wisdom and love lay within. “Who are you?” said Adam.

Many Faces – Native American holy man and spirit guide.

…This is the true fall of man, the belief that he is separate from God. However it is not the physical man who falls but rather your spiritual self that succumbs to the body’s egocentric point of view. Instead of using the body as a tool, you, the spiritual self, become wrapped in chains. Unlike physical man, a caterpillar willingly becomes the butterfly.

…You can do anything you wish once you free yourself from the belief in limitation.

…To alter a familiar phrase, people think therefore they pray. All the time, they just don’t realize it. Analyze your beliefs, Adam. Consider what thoughts you produce in abundance. You are today what your habitual thoughts have made you.

Dr. Luther Huntley – An elitist madman

Dr. Huntley stroked his chin, and with unblinking eyes, briefly considered Adam. He leaned forward, clasped his hands, and rested his forearms on his desk. His face a mask, only a slight upward tilt of the man's head revealed an inner contempt. Adam didn't trust him. Dr. Huntley said, "Consider the implications, man. What if X pulls it off and confirms the absence of annihilation? What if the claptrap debates over the morality of capital punishment and abortion could be laid to rest? What if he shows the old, the ill, the crippled, and the failures that death brings relief?  What if he proves that suicide is conquest over the miseries of life? Would you continue to sleep in a refrigerator box after Mr. X opens the door to Nirvana?"