Kindle Edition Authors Web Page Amazon Barnes and Noble Category:  Science Fiction Publisher: Woodrow Swancutt ISBN-10:  B005FYG5Y6 Type: Fiction Pages: 284 Copyright: August 2000 ISBN-13: 9780615522890 A story of mysterious disappearances, miracles, an enigmatic stranger, and a military cover-up, leading to the most awesome revelation in human history. The story evokes no less than the terrifying grandeur of tantalizing secrets that are at the heart of mankind's search for meaning and challenge for survival. Hi, I'm Woodrow Swancutt, the author of The Healer (ISBN: 978-0-615-52289-0). I wrote this book drawing to some extent on my upbringing as a son of a military officer. My dad was Major General W. P. Swancutt of Operations Crossroads fame in 1946. Interestingly he was also stationed at the Army Air Field near Roswell, NM, when in 1947 the UFO incident occurred. My exposure over the years to various religious beliefs and my interest in UFOs and extraterrestrial contact made me think the convergence of ideas might make for a good story. My hope is that this book has all the ingredients to keep you up reading late at night. Start with a man that has powers of life over death, then add an encounter with the most mysterious religious relic in the world, the Shroud of Turin, sprinkle in a dash of contact with an extraterrestrial civilization and throw in the hope and fear for humanity and planet survival. Finally, stir in a predictable military response to the unknown and you have a novel that I hope will keep you guessing until the very end. It's a book with a message that stimulates the intellect and just might teach a valuable lesson. Although some of the ideas presented are quite serious I've tried to integrate a fair amount of humor throughout the dialogue. I hope you enjoy reading The Healer.   Excerpt Chapter One CONTACT Flight from Los Angeles, CA, to Phoenix, AZ Altitude 30,000 feet "Good God!" Captain George Sanders screamed with alarm as he jerked the Boeing 737 into a hard roll. Copilot Marty Roberts, battling a wave of panic, said, "Holy shit, George, what the hell was that?" Angry and frightened, Sanders fought to control his emotions and his aircraft. He immediately contacted Albuquerque ARTCC. "Albuquerque Center, this is United 352. What the hell are you guys doing? An aircraft in our sector just caused us to initiate evasive action. Are you guys asleep down there?" "United 352, you look clear. We don't show any aircraft in your sector. What did you see?" "What do you mean you don't show aircraft? This thing was about the size of Texas. Look again Albuquerque. We didn't imagine this thing." "Roger 352." After a brief pause Albuquerque Center said, "Hold on 352. We're showing something on the scope now." "United 352, we show an unidentified object coming at you on your nose at 12 o'clock. It's about fifteen miles out ... now ten ... now five. 352, emergency descend, two-niner, that's 29, NOW!" "Oh my God!" Marty Roberts screamed. At Albuquerque Center the radar showed the two objects merge into one, brighten into a large green blot on the screen, then disappear. "United 352 this is Albuquerque Center. Please report your status? 352 what is your status?" CHAPTER 2 THE STRANGER Moriarty, New Mexico 35 Miles East of Albuquerque Maria de Verano lay lifeless on the hot pavement. “Oh the poor little darling! What on earth was she doing near this busy road?” “She’s not breathing!” “Oh, I think she might be dead.” “So much blood!” “The cars go too fast on this road!” “Dear God, why does this have to happen to the little children?” the old woman cried. Only a few moments ago, Maria, with the innocence and curiosity of a seven year old child, had been happily observing a bee gathering nectar from a tiny purple flower. She had wandered away from her family’s car to the edge of the busy road while her mother was inside the store paying for her gasoline. Doctor José Blanco leaned casually against his truck, patiently waiting for the sound of the click that signalled a full fuel tank. He was gazing idly out towards the highway when he spotted the little girl. He was thinking she was dangerously close to the road, when out of the corner of his eye he noticed a car suddenly swerve onto the curb. Blanco had barely opened his mouth to scream a warning when the car slammed into little Maria’s body. He watched her tossed high into the air, as if she were weightless. Her body appeared to tumble in slow motion. A man exiting the store jerked his head towards the squealing sounds of brakes and the blaring of a car’s horn. He watched helplessly, his face twisted in horror, as Maria’s body spun wildly into the air. A young mother who had just removed her child from her car seat held her baby tightly, terror stricken as she watched Maria tumble through the air out of control. Maria’s mother glanced out the store window as she waited for the clerk to clear her cash register. She saw Maria a moment before the car struck her. Screaming in horror, she raced from the store. Even before Maria’s body had hit the ground José Blanco ran toward the injured child. “Get back! I’m a doctor! Let me through.” Already a small group of onlookers had gathered at the scene. “Doc, I think it’s too late for this one.” “Yes, Doc, she’s a goner all right.” “I sent my friend to call 911!” As Blanco took in the scene, he wondered if the child was beyond the aid a rescue team could provide. Maria was lying on her back. As Blanco studied her more closely, it was apparent to his practiced eyes that the impact had broken both her legs and her arms. Her limbs were twisted unnaturally. Her blonde hair was heavy with blood from the severe cut across the scalp. The sliding on the rough pavement had scraped her smooth face until it was raw with scratches. The deep cut on her upper torso was visible through the tear in her white blouse. As Blanco examined the wound more closely, he could see there was no blood flowing, no heart pumping, no pulse. There was no life. “Doctor, is she dead?” To confirm what he could already plainly see, Blanco checked the girl’s vital signs. Then, turning his head toward the voice, Blanco said, “Yes, she is dead. She is with the angels now.” At that moment, the few people who had gathered around the doctor and Maria suddenly, as if by divine directive, moved to the side to form an open path as a stranger approached Maria’s side. His clothing was unpretentious: faded blue jeans, a black T-shirt, and sandals. A striking figure, he was cleanly shaven, tall, broad shouldered, with sun darkened, reddish brown skin that accentuated bright, piercing blue eyes. His long coal black hair was in a braid down his back. The stranger knelt on one knee next to Maria. With hands clasped, he bowed his head as the onlookers stood in silence, watching. After a few moments, he reached out and began to lightly stroke her forehead with his fingertips. Almost immediately her body seemed to quiver slightly and a barely detectable soft glow enveloped her whole body. Then her arms and legs began to move as if guided by some unseen force. Maria slowly regained the shape and color of a healthy child. The light enfolding her body became more intense, followed, after a few seconds, by movement beneath her eyelids. Suddenly she began to blink. She raised her fists to her eyes, and rubbed them, as if she had just awakened from a deep sleep. After clearing her eyes, she looked up at the stranger and smiled. The stranger took Maria by the hand and gently raised her to a standing position. There was an audible gasp from the spectators. “She is alive!” “Oh my God!” “Did you see that?” “It was a miracle!” “Yes, it was a miracle!” Maria’s mother, crippled with grief at seeing her daughter in death, was now crying tears of joy as she reached out for Maria. “The healer has made her live!” Everyone’s attention was still riveted toward Maria and her mother, when one of the bystanders called out, “Where is he? Where is the healer?” “Yes, where did he go?” Just as quickly as he had appeared, seemingly out of nowhere, the stranger had vanished.

Cindy Miller, Charlottesville, Virginia
Love the concept. For general readership, it's a grabber. Your work is very readable, and intelligently conceived and presented. The magnetism The Healer exhibits is apparent, and I like the stone fist inside the velvet glove. The Generals are convincing, too. There's a line: "Nothing quite so much like God on earth as a general on a battlefield."

Kevin Gorman, Fairport, New York
I can honestly say that this book was a page turner! Just the right mix of drama, anticipation, and humor to keep me reading. I thought the dialog was outstanding, especially between Gloria and Jack. Furthermore, your descriptive powers really shine through in this book. I loved this story. Your ideas, your introspectiveness, your spirituality are an inspiration to me. I can't wait for the movie!

Ray Hodgdon, Boston, MA
From the opening page to the last sentence, The Healer will take you on a spellbinding journey that you will never forget. From the Shroud of Turin, to the existence of UFO's to the future of mankind, Mr. Swancutt has written a book that will both touch and astonish you. The Healer deals with the past, present and future with a very entertaining and imaginative style that will keep you on the edge of your seat till the dramatic conclusion.