Excerpt

The chill of fall was in the air as they got out and looked across the valley below. Rube was comfortable with his long sleeved shirt. Amy grabbed a light jacket from the back seat. It was a clear day except for a few wispy clouds which drifted slowly to the east. Most of the leaves were off the trees by now, and Rube and Amy's view was uninhibited. Amy said, "Oh, Rube. This is breathtaking. I've never seen anything like it. It's so beautiful, it makes me want to cry." Rube put his hand on her shoulder and pulled her close.

Engulfed by the smell of the mountain flora, they turned and looked at the large, moss covered rock formation with its weeping cracks.

"Now I know why the road builder stopped here," Rube remarked.

To the left of the rock, on the other side of the Jeep was a sign with The Source carved into the wood. Straight up the hill about a hundred and fifty yards was the outline of a small clapboard house with smoke curling from the stone chimney. Rube caught the smell of burning wood.

The path wandered back and forth between the trees on its way up the steep incline. Rube had been given per¬mission by his doctor to start walking again, but his wheelchair time had left his legs weak. Amy's knee was much better, but she still wore an elastic support just to be safe. Three squirrels chattered among themselves and scurried off as Rube and Amy approached. Stopping several times to rest and catch their breath, they turned to more fully take in the panorama of blue sky and the contrasting shades and colors of the valley below. They were exhausted and exhilarated at the same time when they reached the back yard of the small house.

The building sat on a large plateau which ran off a ways to the north. It was located in the southwest corner of the lot and appeared to rest precariously on the edge of a shear cliff. It looked like a strong breeze would blow it over. Fifty yards northeast of the house was a large, pyramid shaped, wooden structure with a single chair in the middle.

Suddenly, Amy grabbed onto Rube like she was trying to keep from falling. "Hold me," she whispered. "Don't let me go."

"What's wrong?"

"I’m fine now. I just had an overwhelming feeling of awe, a feeling of peace, and yet like something special was about to happen. It's hard to explain. This is a sacred place, like a church. Do you feel it?"

"I do. There's a powerful force here. I wonder if we're standing on a magnetic field or something. Anyway, let's go find Dr. Wilkins."

They stepped onto the rickety back porch and knocked on the crooked screen door. Two large bowls, one filled with food pellets and the other with water, sat on the warped pine floor. As the inside door jerked open, Rube saw the smiling face of his old professor. They stepped back as Dr. Wilkins pushed the screen door wider and drew them into the small kitchen.

He appeared a little older than Rube remembered with wrinkle lines radiating from the corners of his eyes. But, there was something different, a glow about him that caught Rube by surprise. He had heard of auras before, but this was the first time he had ever been able to see one, and even feel its presence. Love and peace seemed to float around Dr. Wilkins and reach out to anyone or thing close by.

"Welcome to The Source. Thanks for coming," said Dr. Wilkins, giving them each a long hug. Rube was overwhelmed by the pure love that radiated throughout his body. Amy stepped back from her embrace with astonished eyes, filled with tears of joy. Her body trembled as she grabbed Rube's arm. Rube heard Mozart’s Overture to The Marriage of Figaro playing in the background, recognizing it only because he had seen the play.

Rube and Amy were startled when a huge cat suddenly appeared in the doorway. Rube thought at first it might be a bobcat, but after seeing its tail realized it was only the largest housecat he had ever laid eyes on.

Dr. Wilkins saw the frightened look in their eyes, and reassured them, "Don’t worry, it’s only Tiger, my Maine Coon cat. His breed is very large and his tail is as long as his body." Rube reached cautiously to pat Tiger on the neck as he wove and pressed his way through their legs, purring like a young tiger cub.

Dr. Wilkins paused to light a fire under the tea kettle, "You all come on into the living room, or maybe you would prefer to sit on the front porch, that’s where I spend most of my time when the weather is nice."

"I think I would like to see your front porch," said Rube. "Is that all right with you, Amy?"

"That’s fine," she said, still clinging to his arm.

They passed through the small living room with a stone fireplace to the right. A big oak log still smoldered with red hot coals underneath. Above the thick wooden mantle was a large, carved out image of a bald eagle, clutching arrows in one foot and an olive branch in the other. The dark, wooden walls were decorated with what appeared to be original oil seascapes ranging from port scenes to a full blown storm on the high seas. Heavy wooden and upholstered furniture was arranged around an oriental rug in front of the fireplace.

Dr.Wilkins led them onto the front porch and invited them to sit in a weathered swing angled so you could see the view and still carry on a conversation with the person sitting in the rocking chair to the right of a small wooden table.

As always, Dr. Wilkins combed his light brown hair straight back, but now there was graying at the temples. He wore wire rimmed glasses which did not distract from his pale blue eyes. He appeared to be at peace with the world and serene in his slim, well conditioned body.

He smiled, "Thank you both for coming. I’m glad you called, it saved me a call to you. I have something I want to talk to you about. Before I get to that, you mentioned a need to see me about something. How can I help?"

"Dr. Wilkins, all my life things have been happening to me and people with me, unexplainable things which ordinary people don’t seem to experience. When I was in high school, my Uncle Billy told me of a curse that had been placed on the first born son in each generation of my family. During the past two years these events have become more serious. Frankly, Dr. Wilkins, I'm worried about the future. I love Amy very much and I don’t want her to get caught up in this. I’d appreciate your advice."