Synopsis

When he fails to help curb the worldwide pandemic in the 21st Century, time-traveling healer Torak loses confidence in himself. He is sent to the land of Anon where a plague is ravaging the countryside. He makes many friends and successfully curtails the plague, but when evil King Zorandon becomes ill and calls for Torak, the healer must make a fateful decision: should he try to heal the psychotic ruler or let him die? They are two tough choices, made even tougher because Torak knows whatever he decides, he must live with the consequences.

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Excerpt

How does one care for a psychotic despot like Zorandon? Most people would just let the man die. He deserved it. And the thought crossed Torak’s mind more than once as he rode his mule Betsy to Kurl Castle. With him was Raanen who was to serve as his assistant. Also joining him were Shoren, Balak, and Noranda each with their own complicated reasons for being there.

But, in the end, Torak was going to do what he was supposed to do. He was a healer. That’s what he did. He healed. Or tried to. And he would do his best to make Zorandon better.

The journey should have taken seven days, but they rode hard and made it in five. Upon arriving at the main gate to the castle they were immediately allowed entrance. Balak and Shoren led the way to Zorandon’s chambers. In Torak’s estimation, Shoren seemed to have grown in both stature and confidence during the time he’d been in Caren. It was good to see.

They entered the king’s room and the first thing Torak was struck by was the odor. The scent of purification hung in the air like a ghostly mist. Next to him, Shoren put his hand to his face, covering his nose. So did the others.

Torak put his hand on the seer’s shoulder. “This is bad.” He pointed to the king and whispered. “He seems to be rotting from the inside.”

Shoren squinted his eyes against the stench. “We must do what we can to help.” Behind him, Noranda bent over and vomited.

Torak said to Shoren, “Find clean cloths that we can use to cover our faces.” To the Balak and Noranda he said, “Wait in the hall while I assess the severity of the disease.”

When Shoren, Balak, and Noranda left the king’s chamber, Torak turned to Raanen who seemed unaffected by the putrid aroma in the room.

“My young friend, are you up for this?”

Raanen nodded. “I am.”

“Okay. Let’s see what we have here.”

Zorandon lay flat on his back amid filthy bedclothes. Flies were buzzing everywhere. The king, who was in his mid-thirties, looked to be twenty years older. His skin was blotchy pale and red. Snot ran from his nose and vomit was crusted around his lips and in his scraggly beard. Once a big man, he was now skin and bones. His breath came in short gasps. His fingers twitched erratically. Dripping pustules covered the man’s face.

Torak put his hand on Zorandon’s forehead and felt the skin. It was hot to the touch. He turned to Raanen. “This is very bad.”

Raanen nodded. “Can we at least clean him up?”

“Yes. We need to change all these bed linens and clean his body as best we can. Then we need to try and get some nourishment in him.”

Just then the door opened. “I’m back,” Shoren called out. He hurried into the room with face coverings which they all put on.

“What do you think?” the seer asked.

Torak was direct. “Your ruler is in bad shape,” he said.

“Will he live?”

Next to the two men, Raanen stood by and listened intently. Will the king live? More to the point, does Shoren want him to live?

To Raanen’s mind, it was a very good question. He was glad when Torak answered it by saying, “Do you want him to live?”

Shoren sighed and said, “No. But yes.”

Torak nodded. “I think I understand.”

Shoren said. “He’s a horrible man. But…”

“But, he’s a human being and we are bound to do our best to save him. Isn’t that right?”

Shoren nodded and whispered, “Yes.”

Raanen watched silently. I’m glad I don’t have to make those kinds of decisions, he thought to himself. Yet. However, one day he hoped to be a healer and would then have to. He busied himself by starting to help clean the room thinking all along, I have much to learn.

About the Author

Jim’s stories and poems have appeared in nearly five hundred online and print publications. His collection of short stories, Resilience, is published by Bridge House Publishing. Chapeltown Books published Short Stuff, a collection of flash fiction and drabbles. Periodic Stories, Periodic Stories Volume Two, Periodic Stories Volume Three – A Novel, and Periodic Stories Volume Four are published by Impspired. Dreamers, a collection of short stories, is published by Clarendon House Publishing. Something Better, a dystopian adventure novella, and the novel The Alien of Orchard Lak is published by Dark Myth Publications. In the fall of 2022, his collection entitled Holiday Stories was published by Impspired, as was his collection of poetry, Haiku Seasons. In February 2023, Periodic Stories Volume IV was published, as was his collection of poems, The Alchemy of Then, both by Impspired. In June 2023, a collection of flash fiction, Dancing With Butterflies, was published by Impspired.In July 2023, his YA novella The Battle of Marvel Wood was published by Impspired. The Zodiac Press nominated his short story “Aliens” for the 2020 Pushcart Prize. His story “The Maple Leaf” was voted 2021 Story of the Year for Spillwords. He was voted the December 2022 Author of the Month for Spillwords. He also reads his stories for Talking Stories Radio and Jim’s Storytime on his website. He lives in a small town west of Minneapolis, Minnesota.

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