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geoffrey zimmerman
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Category:
Historical Fiction
This is a tale of Alexi Kowalski – the unknown son of a cattle trader, who against all odds brings about the downfall of one of the most relentless rulers his country has ever seen.
This adventure follows Alexi across the sea as he is pulled farther and farther from the country of his birth- and the girl who has his heart.
LOVE NEVER DIES
Synopsis
By
Geoffrey Zimmerman
Soviet ruled Poland during the 1850’s was scattered with peace-loving tribes. Farmers, small cattle ranchers and hunters made up the majority of the settlers. But through the forests and over the plains, Russian- conscripted Cossacks rode – doing the bidding of the Czar. Simple and quiet lives of peasants gradually became wrought with uncertainty and fear.
Alexi Kowalski, a 16 year-old and Katia Denesovich, a 15 year-old live in Terraminsku – within a small settled tribe of Polish Kashubians numbering ninety five people. Alexi and Katia are sweethearts – having grown up just one mile apart – and find themselves telepathic.
Alexi’s father sees the influx of Cossacks as a threat. Katia’s father hopes the Kashubian freedom - fighters will turn them away. And, so, Alexi must inevitably say good-bye to his beloved sweetheart. He and his family embark on a journey that will take them 3,800 miles to New York City – to the land of peace and opportunity.
Within New York swarm gangs, prostitutes, danger, debauchery, prejudice. In order to contribute and augment his sweat-shop factory earnings, Alexi decides to join a gang. He becomes a runner – a bagman. During the heated reprisal of his sister’s rape, Alexi’s gang inadvertently kills a man. Alexi feels implicated and decides to flee, not even alerting his family to what he’s done.
He wanders for days, and out of desperation, knocks on the front door of a desolate farmhouse in bucolic Hoboken, New Jersey. He’s taken in by Edward and Joan Barrett, two lonely old people – who find great solace in Alexi’s company. His summer with the Barrett’s reminds him of the power of love and acceptance – and after three months, Edward pays Alexi 100 dollars – payment for the work he’s done over the summer. Now, Alexi can buy passage back to Poland, and reunite with Katia. He sends out telepathic images alerting her to his return.
But, during the 15 months he’s been away, the forest of Terraminsku has become more and more deadly. A young, zealous prince has ridden into the forest and abducted Katia. Alexi has disturbing dreams on his return voyage that cause him to fear the worst. Upon returning to Terraminsku, Alexi comes upon Katia’s burned down cabin.
Alexi seeks out his uncle, a Kashubian freedom-fighter, to try to discover the fate of his beloved. He learns that a Kashubian girl was indeed abducted months ago, and that the prince has chosen this girl to be his bride.
“It would be suicide to attempt a rescue,” Alexi’s uncle warns him. But Alexi’s heart is stronger than his head, and he decides to risk everything to save Katia.
With the aid of a friend he made on the return voyage home, Alexi and his new cohort scale city walls beside the castle, and are able to do battle with the prince and his guards.
But, their troubles have just started. Alexi, his new friend and Katia must now escape the castle and the oncoming throng of soldiers. Peril seems imminent.
Alexi’s uncle has rallied his battle-weary freedom-fighters and is on his way – charging through the forest to rescue his brave nephew and friends.
Battle ensues. Blood is spilled. Alexi and Katia finally find safety in a small rowboat in a lake by the prince’s castle. They have finally reunited. They relive past adventures and catch up on the last 18 months.
But, one adversary remains, hidden in the grass on shore. As Alexi and Katia embrace, he takes aim and fires a fatal shot at the two lovers in the rowboat. The two succumb, held together, their last words those of dedication and undying love. This ends book 1 and begins book 2 as Alexi and Katia must retreat temporarily to the gentle realm of heaven – and are born once again – in Hoboken, New Jersey – to once again begin their own journeys to reunite – to become one.
Excerpt
LOVE NEVER DIES EXCERPT
By
Geoffrey Zimmerman
“My men — I'm got. He's bit me, the son of a whale. Quick, Raymond, or he'll have all of me.” Raymond plunged the dagger into the shark's neck, and brought it around, releasing gushing quarts of blood into the dingy.
“He's still got me, Raymond. He's taking my leg.” The shark held fast to Billy's leg, even in death.
None aboard knew what to do. Billy grasped his leg with both hands, and tried to pry it loose, but only sliced his leg deeper.
***
The sailors aboard ship had witnessed the shark's capture, seen Billy haul it aboard the dingy, and now commanded Alexi, Bertram and Raymond to row the dingy back. Spry, wiry sailors stood atop the yardarm, tested the block and tackle, and threw ropes into the sea, ready to hoist the dingy.
Bertram and Raymond took the oars, and feverishly rowed against the choppy sea toward the ship, fifty yards distant. Alexi moved across the center bench, placed his feet atop the quivering shark, and surveyed the injury done to Billy's leg. “Is it bad, my son? It feels like he's decided to eat my leg for lunch.”
“Give me your sash,” Alexi commanded. Billy laid back, unwound the sash from around his waist, and handed it to Alexi.
Alexi placed his hands directly alongside the shark's enormous mouth and bloody teeth – he saw clumps of Billy's leg held in the animal's mouth, dripping blood – one open gash pumped blood at regular intervals into the shark's mouth.
Alexi wrapped the sash around Billy's thigh, and cinched it tight. “This will keep you from bleeding to death,” he said. “It's bad then?” Billy said, becoming lethargic and pale. “Yes, but when we get aboard, they'll do more.”
“The ship's surgeon is a drunkard,” Billy said.
“I'll be with you,” Alexi said.
“My dear boy, you'll see me to the end, won't you?” Alexi nodded.
***
The sailors hoisted the dingy in minutes, and dropped it to the deck. The ship's surgeon, Walter Riley, a sailor himself and experienced with birth, death and all matters medical, hovered outside the mob. The sailors crowded the dingy, gawking. Some shouted, “Get him off the boat,” “watch that leg,” “beware the shark's teeth.” A few sailors helped Alexi, Bertram, and Raymond pour the shark and Billy onto the deck. Billy said little; only cursed when he was moved. The circle of sailors opened, allowing Riley to approach. His eyes were riveted on Billy's leg. He set down his bag, knelt at Billy's side, and inspected the wound. “Let me have your knife,” he commanded Bertram. The sailors stepped back a few feet as Bertram handed the bloodied twelve-inch knife to the surgeon. The sailor's eyes widened as Riley hefted the knife, and moved toward Billy.
Some sailors were fascinated, others turned away, and some newcomers were moments from throwing up. They believed the surgeon was preparing to remove Billy's leg on deck, and would toss it over the ship's bulwarks to the circling sharks below.
Riley instead pointed the long knife like a needle at an area just beneath the shark's milky eye. He placed both hands on the knife's handle, settled and braced himself – and pushed. The knife sounded as if it were penetrating dense wet sand. He twisted the knife, blood ran from the gash, and spread across the deck to the sailor's boots.
“Come here, boy,” he commanded to a nearby sailor. The wide-eyed boy knelt on the deck. “Put your hand in that gash I just made, and spread the hole.” The sailor secured himself on the deck, and did as the surgeon asked. Riley placed a hand on the shark's upper jaw, the other on the lower, and as the sailor's hand disappeared beneath the shark's eye, Riley spread the shark's jaws.
“Take Mister Bang from that shark,” he shouted. Bertram and Alexi grabbed Billy under the arms, and slid him across the deck.
“Onto the litter, boys,” he said, and the ring of sailors opened so Billy could be propped onto the cloth and pole litter. Alexi grabbed one pole, Bertram beside him had the other, and Raymond and another sailor held the other two.
“To his quarters,” Riley said. Riley pulled himself to his feet, and staggered behind the loaded litter, wiping his bloodied hands on his pants.
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