EVERYONE WINS in the Rabble Preorder Campaign & Giveaway

Receive the first 13 chapters of Rabble (book 2 of the Cosmic Conspiracy) AND a 50% off coupon for Babble (book 1) just for entering. When you enter the giveaway, you’ll automatically receive the option to download the excerpt and start reading right away. You’ll also be entered in a drawing for a Rabble t-shirt, mug, and autographed copy of the book.

 

 

But no need to wait. Here is the next installment of Babble

One young boy is the key to the universe.

Babble is the story of Bobbie Cagle — a teenage misdiagnosed autistic boy who is the first human to leap into a brave new world of consciousness — an evolutionary leap as great as the first fish that crawled from the sea onto land.

But unfortunately, everyone wants Bobbie for their own purposes.

Installment # 7  (If you’ve missed an installment, go HERE.)

(And if you’re enjoying the story, please share it with your friends.)

Chapter 4

Angie leaned back in her seat and glanced over at Bobbie, so tired that he had fallen asleep within minutes of reaching the relative safety of the bus. Angie felt her own numbing exhaustion contrasting with the adrenaline rush of the last hour. It’s not time for me to sleep, she thought. Not yet. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d slept a full eight hours all at one time. Catnaps and short bouts of sleep had become her way of life and vigilance her watchword.

She pulled the cell phone out of her pocket and opened it to the photo gallery. She flipped through several photos before coming to rest on the one she’d first shown to Pendra of the two men she feared the most, especially the younger one, her husband, and Bobbie’s father. She had downloaded the picture of Brian standing next to Pastor John from the internet. Since seeing her husband over fourteen years ago, Brian had managed to maintain a youthful appearance, perhaps because he continued to wear his hair in a buzz cut. Enlarging the photo she could just make out a few age lines around his blue, cold as ice, eyes.

Angie knew Brian possessed a softer side, one he kept hidden from most people for fear it showed weakness. She suspected Pastor John, the older man dressed all in black who stood erect as a statue with his arm around Brian’s shoulders in the photo, was one of the few people who knew the softer side of her estranged husband. One of the few things we share, Angie thought, is our mutual love for this angry young man. I wonder what would have happened if I’d not gone behind Brian’s back? She’d asked that question a hundred times. What ifs could make you crazy.

“It’s been three weeks since I’ve seen my son, and during that time you’ve made him suffer through dozens of tests. Enough is enough,” Brian yelled through the phone. “Bring my son home where he belongs.”

Angie held the phone away from her ear so as not to be deafened by her husband’s angry words. She half expected her mother could hear his tirade from the other room. She waited for a second to be sure he was finished before replying.

“You know where Bobbie is if you want to see him. I’m not trying to keep him from you, Brian. However, I will not take him back there just so your Charismatic Christians can treat him like some sideshow to grow Pastor John’s congregation and fame. Now, I’ve got to go. Mother is holding dinner.” She paused a moment before adding, “I love you.” She hung up the phone without waiting to hear if her husband had anything else to add.

“Tough call?” Gloria asked without looking up from washing the dishes as Angie walked into the kitchen.

“Yeah,” Angie replied going to the refrigerator and pulling out the half-empty bottle of wine, and refilling her glass. “He doesn’t understand that I’m just trying to do what’s right to take care of my son…our son.” She corrected herself. “You want a glass?”

“Sure,” Gloria replied as she dried her hands on her apron. She was one of the few people Angie knew who still insisted on wearing an apron whenever she was in the kitchen. “Let’s have something to eat before it burns to a crisp.”

The three of them sat down to dinner at the same kitchen table where Angie had eaten hundreds of meals growing up. She placed Bobbie in the old wooden high chair; the third generation to be raised in it.

“He’s right about one thing,” Angie said after she’d said the blessing and reached for the meatloaf that resembled a burnt log covered in tomato sauce.

“What’s that sweetheart?”

“Bobbie’s been through enough testing by the doctors. I know they mean well, but it’s beginning to feel like he’s just another interesting case study…hardly more than a guinea pig to them. And they still don’t really know what this foreign language is or where it’s coming from. I’m putting a stop to it. I’ll call Dr. Carter tomorrow and let him know.”

Gloria nodded but didn’t say anything. She took a sip from her wine before asking, “Then what?”

“Hmm?”

“Well, if you stop the testing yet don’t plan on going back home, what will you do? I mean, you can stay here as long as you like, but…”

“I know, Mom. It wouldn’t be long before we’d be at each other’s throats. We’re just too much alike to live together for very long. But if you could put up with me for a few more days, I’d appreciate it, just until I figure out what to do.”

“Sure, honey. You’re welcome to stay as long as you need to.” She reached over and patted her daughter’s hand. “We’ll manage, I’m sure.”

The old man watched the bus lights disappear down the road. He pushed the fedora up and reached his hand under the grubby bandage as though trying to scratch his ear. Instead, he pushed the button of the concealed Bluetooth and a moment later heard the connection being made.

As he talked his eyes flitted around. He’d already drawn more attention than was comfortable, even though he doubted anyone else was around that cared a flip what he was doing at this point.

“They took the bus headed toward Hickory,” he whispered a little louder than he’d like but knew he had to adjust for the bandage that covered the Bluetooth earpiece. “One other thing, boss. She might have made me. Not sure.”

He listened for a moment before reaching back to scratch his ear once more. It was a hell of a way to make a living, especially since Homeland paid so poorly, but work was work, and beggars couldn’t be choosers, not in a world where just about everyone was a beggar.

Anyway, he’d finished his part of the job, at least for the night. Arnez would take it from here, probably by calling someone in Hickory to pick up the trail when the bus arrived. As he shuffled down the street, his shoulders began to straighten and the shuffle turned into more of a power walk. Turning the corner he pulled out his cell phone and made his own call as he ripped off the head bandage. “Yo, babes, it’s me…you still up? Want some company?”

Stay tuned next Friday or jump ahead by joining the Rabble Preorder & Giveaway.

EVERYONE WINS in the Rabble Preorder Campaign & Giveaway

Receive the first 13 chapters of Rabble (book 2 of the Cosmic Conspiracy) AND a 50% off coupon for Babble (book 1) just for entering. When you enter the giveaway, you’ll automatically receive the option to download the excerpt and start reading right away. You’ll also be entered in a drawing for a Rabble t-shirt, mug, and autographed copy of the book.