The Impossible Dream
by
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John slowly began to stir, his consciousness clawing its way back from the deep dark depths of its involuntary incarceration in the recess of its own mind. And as the mists cleared away, and his senses began to resurface he heard an overwhelming roaring and the memory returned instantly of the crashing blow that had sent him into the sanctuary of deep unconsciousness. Then his eye sight detected light, a myriad of small multi-coloured pinpricks destroying the blackness before him as each tiny dot of light exploded rapidly to form a kaleidoscope of blinding coloured brightness. He could feel his limbs moving but had no control over their actions and then his vision cleared. He was still in the ring, and there was Elwyn. He realised he was still on his feet and fighting, `But how?' His body moved and danced punched and kicked, moving so fast and using techniques that seemed totally alien to him. John new it was not him controlling them. Panic descended upon him and he summoned all his will to regain the feelings and control of his body. Chen had sensed deep within his spirit that John somehow was growing so strong in spirit that he was capable of some type of communication. John's comment in the changing room earlier had convinced Chen of that. And now as he used the physical body of John to further his quest in competition his suspicions proved themselves correct. Chen delivered the final flurry of punches as the round drew to a close, it was then a new battle within the body of John took precedence. Chen realized instantly that John's spirit had surfaced in its rightful place and was attempting to dislodge him, the invader. Chen backed away from the scene of the battle with Elwyn. He sought a moment's respite from his physical endeavours to concentrate on the more important problem within his spirit. Then as he summoned his stronger will to gain superiority over John's spirit he spoke from his soul, and for the first time consciously communicated with his host. John could feel his will buckling and weakening as he once more fell deep into unconsciousness, but as he relinquished his claim for his rightful place, he heard with an alarming clarity the voice pleading with him. `Please John just a little more time, soon all will he explained.' And as he heard these words darkness once more engulfed his spirit, and Chen now had an extra problem to contend with. He pushed his worries and thoughts to the back of his mind as the timekeeper brought the strangest exhibition he'd ever seen to a close. The pandemonium in the opposite corner brought a smile from Chen as the final bell sounded. Desforge was the first man through the ropes followed closely by Elwyn's corner men, all three fussed around the bemused heavyweight. The whole audience stood and applauded, cheered and whistled their appreciation for their lad, the local boy who'd just sorted the yank out. Desforge raced across to Mark as he and Dennis climbed through the ropes to congratulate John, his face contorted in rage and anger. `You slimey Bastard! You fuckin' well set me up, that boy of yours in no novice. But I'll find out who he is. Mark my words, and you're all finished, no limey fucks me about. Especially fuckin' nobody's like you.' He shoved past and climbed through the ropes still mouthing obscenities and threats as he left. Dennis was highly amused calling as Desforge disappeared out of the ring. `No chance of your autograph then?' Mark and Dennis were then stopped dead in their tracks as was Desforge who was at this time hurrying down the aisle away from the most embarrassing moment of his career. It was the booming voice of `John' bursting through the P.A. system as he spoke into the liberated microphone of the M.C. `I would like to take this opportunity to thank you all for your support especially Mr Desforge for supplying an opponent for me even though he was not quite as much of a challenge as I had hoped.' The effect his words had on the American's manager was devastating, he shook with rage as he stared incredulously in `John's' direction. And as `John' continued, Desforge's outraged reply was drowned in the sea of sound as the audience roared in appreciation. Mark hurried across to cut short his lads speech before he could utter any more damaging remarks but arrived too late. It was then the challenge John made, in front of the officials of the British and American kick-boxing associations made the hairs on Mark's neck stand on end. `And I would like to take this opportunity to challenge the current world champion, Brad Lewis to fight me in a catch weight contest. Either for the title or not, that is his choice if and when he accepts my challenge.' Then adding, `And I'm willing to travel anywhere in the world to meet him, thank you.' `John' handed the microphone hack to the M.C. as Mark and Dennis ushered him out of the ring, and as they moved toward the changing room Chen relinquished his hold over John and returned the still confused spirit to the control of his own body. Dennis had a good hold of John's arm as he hustled him through the throng of well wisher's reaching to slap his back and to offer their best wishes and congratulations. Mark said nothing as he walked on the opposite side as he too guided John through the crowd, they both felt the body slump and go
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About the Book
The Impossible Dream takes you on a journey over fourteen years as we chart two separate life forces. Both longing for what the other has. One craves a return to mortal life, the other the refuge of` death. We begin our journey in Hollywood in the early nineteen seventies, at the death of Chen Li the legendary Kung-Fu and film superstar, as he interrupts his journey to the afterlife. Confused and angry he has quests unfulfilled, a debt of honour outstanding. We then cross to the story of young John Bentley. He is the eleven year old son of a fishing family from the port of Hull in England, as he makes his annual trip to the `Hull Fair'. It is here we meet the blind old gypsy `Zena', as she foresees the terrible tragedies that await John and his family as he passes from boy to manhood. As the two stories unfold we witness the turmoil Chen suffers as he pleads for `another chance' in life and the price he pays for his refusal to complete his journey. When contact is made by the Devil as Chen sleeps the `Sleep of the Ancients', it galvanises the `Council of Light' to make Chen an offer, one he could have never have imagined. John's life begins its descent into spiritual death at the age of sixteen with the death of his father, the same day John achieved the coveted black-belt in Karate. Anger and violence ruling his life until his mind goes completely, caused by the death of his mother a few years later. After John is almost killed by an infamous drug dealer his life hangs in the balance. His spirit broken, in the blackness of coma he longs for death . . . then comes the `Joining'.
About the Author
Jim Dunn was born in 1950 on Hessle road in Hull into a working class family, the son of Dennis Dunn a `fish filleter' and Nellie Gallagher, a `fairground traveller'. He is a writer who `writes it as he sees it' and `pulls no punches'. You get what you see, warts and all! Jim was educated in the state system and became an engineer on leaving school, working in this field for forty years. He started writing seriously when he reached the age of fifty. Though `The Impossible Dream' is his first novel, Jim has tasted success as an amateur `writer' for the stage, having several 'shorts' performed at theatres in and around Yorkshire. He has taught the martial art of Wado-Ryu Karate for 28 years and is a 4
This knowledge is evident in his writing of the novel as he describes the competition and combat scenes in brutal breathtaking detail, while at the same time making it easily understandable and readable.
While Jim writes with an `iron gauntlet' as he fabricates the action scenes, he's as equally assured when he dons his `velvet glove' to describe the family and emotional traumas that unfold in tandem within `The Impossible Dream'.
Jim describes himself as `A man who's lived a long time, and seen a lot of water pass under the bridge', adding, `When life speaks, if you can be bothered to listen you can answer the questions you've never even asked.'