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www.patriciaadonahue.com
Category:
Literary Fiction
Publisher: Borealis Press, Ottawa
ISBN-10: 088887510X
Type: Fiction
Pages: 256
Copyright: July 1, 2013
ISBN-13: 9780888875105
Price: $19.95 (eBook)
Mighty Orion - Secrets, the second in the series, continues with old Percy and his family's struggle with secrets that have formed relationship barriers. When these threaten to spill over into the next generation, a major taboo secret is revealed.
The saga of the Kilkenny family headed by Percy, an old tall ship sailor, continues to unfold. In Mighty Orion - Fate, the “waters were calmed” following Percy’s unwilling placement in a nursing home by his wife, Clara. Joe, the youngest of five Kilkenny children, has a viable relationship with his father and was made privy to the story of Percy’s painful beginnings; an abusive home, and his escape to sea as a cabin boy. Meanwhile, Joe wrestled with his own difficulties as he re-united with his high school sweetheart, a now-married, Jocelyn.
As father and son grow closer, the crack in Percy’s protective wall widens. Encouraged by Joe’s sincerity, and by the force of his own desire to re-unite with his grown children, Percy notches up his courage in breaking his silence even more. He is willing to share his seaman’s journals which he had kept hidden under lock and key. But the young Kilkenny is not prepared when his father pulls all the stops and opens his “Pandora’s Box” of secrets; one being of a taboo nature. The disclosure effectively launches Joe into an emotional tailspin where he struggles to accommodate his father’s experience.
Meanwhile, at his peril, Joe pursues his liaison with Jocelyn leading to a dangerous confrontation with her supposed husband, T’Guy. When that happens, Joe witnesses the real sinew of Percy, the old sailor. This critical incident spawns further opportunity for family unity where Clara plays a pivotal role.
Excerpt
Chapter 8
Instantly, he felt the warning. It was an automatic response—a tightness in his chest gripped as though his heart would seize up. With his eye still on the vehicle’s silhouette, even the salty tang in the air felt like it had frozen up, as did he, and he blurted a silent expletive, Holy merde! It was a truck, a pick-up, and he saw smatterings of its paint. Blue. The hair on the back of his neck stiffened. His penetrating stare switched back to the newcomer and focused on his gait. He had seen this one before and could almost smell the man’s foulness. Then his thoughts immediately flew to his father, who was still hunched over cutting weed.
Okay, this is gonna be it! A spurt of adrenaline shot into his veins just like a rod of lightning and primed every muscle. His heart pounded and a tremble coursed through his body. He knew for certain T’Guy would relish squaring-off with him, his competition, as the scrapper saw it.
Percy must have attuned to Joe’s tension because he stood up. “What’s the matter?” he queried.
Joe gave no answer. His scope on the man revealed him altering direction. He was walking toward them now and, instantly, Joe surged with an overwhelming protectiveness toward his ol’ man.
Although the scrapper was out of earshot, Joe’s voice lowered and he whispered to his father. “T’Guy Cordeau.”
“What did you say?”
He lifted Percy’s earflap and repeated, more firmly this time, “T’Guy Cordeau is coming down the beach.”
Percy’s eyes widened, his expression stiffened, and out came a snort of disgust. “Jippers jumpin’ crippers!” he exclaimed aloud. “That miserable rascal! What’s he doin’ here?” His words bristled in the cold. “Let’s get off these slippery rocks,” he went on. “Get ourselves over to the packed sand yonder.”
As swift and as cautiously as they could, they left the isthmus.
“Stand your ground, son,” Percy said, as he dropped the plastic bag of seaweed on the ice-marbled ground and watched the bow-legged man draw nearer. As before, T’Guy was dressed completely in black. As he approached closer, Joe saw him halt as though in recognition, after which he slowed his pace. Again, with hand to brow, he shaded his eyes and, unabashed, stared … this time at the two of them. Joe kept a riveted focus on T’Guy’s slightest movement and, over the narrowed space between them, caught the look of surprise on his face. He gave a quiver-like shake to his head—clearing his vision, Joe guessed. Then he saw him fold the rim of his black toque and shove it above his hairline. It was serendipitous. Meeting here? Joe surmised that their timelines had intersected and, as the universe would have it, Percy and he had been squarely placed between T’Guy and the object of the brute’s searching. He’s not looking for me. That’s for sure. But what’s he doing here? What’s he hunting for?
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