Synopsis

Garth Heller finally has the truck he’s dreamed of owning: a gleaming Peterbilt 359 in obsidian black. He sees freedom waiting on the road ahead. Hidden deep within the rig’s engine block, however, is something far darker.
A malevolent force connected to the Spear of Destiny begins exerting its power over Garth, slowly consuming his mind and turning his pride in the truck into possession. Soon his life is marked by blackouts, violence, madness, and guilt. Each lost stretch of memory brings another unspeakable crime as an ancient cosmic evil twists his soul into a vessel for horror.

Then the Peterbilt passes into the hands of Harry Smith, a broken man who becomes its next owner. The nightmare begins again, and the evil within the truck continues to hunger for more.

The Obsidian Rig blends mythological horror, cosmic terror, and occult possession into a dark supernatural story about the forces that can enter when pride, addiction, and despair open the door to something beyond human understanding.

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Excerpt

Chapter 1

The Promise

The day Garth finally got his Peterbilt was the last good day he could remember. He stood in the Tulsa dealership lot, his boots sinking a little into the fresh gravel, just staring at it. The truck wasn’t just a machine; it was a promise. He’d scraped and saved for ten years to custom-order this rig, and it was perfect. He knew every single detail by heart: a 1972Peterbilt 359, VIN 7201509359C. The deep, obsidian black paint shimmered in the midday sun, a finish so dark it seemed to pull the light into its surface. He’d nicknamed it “Iron Ray,” a nod to his late father and the raw power he saw in its lines.

The dealership manager, a man named Bob, had a nervous look on his face. “Garth, I just gotta be honest with you. This truck… There was an incident back at the plant. A factory accident. A man was killed. We took it back to inspect every square inch, and it’s perfect. No issues with the frame, no mechanical problems. But you’re getting a huge discount, and I have to tell you the reason why.”

Garth just waved his hand, his eyes never leaving the truck. “Bob, you don’t need to explain. Accidents happen. It’s a big machine, and these guys are working with huge chunks of metal. I’m not afraid of it. I love this truck.”

He walked up to the driver’s side and placed a hand on the cold steel  of the engine block. For a moment, a sudden, cold wave of psychic noise shot through him. A flash of something that felt like pure anger, followed by an image of a man screaming. Garth pulled his hand back, shaking his head. It must have been a trick of the light, or maybe just the chill from the engine, he thought.

He climbed inside, settling into the new leather seat. The interior smelled of plastic and new upholstery. He started the engine, and the Caterpillar 1693 rumbled to life, its 425-horsepower, a low, confident growl. The vibration was music to his ears. Garth worked the 13-speed Road Ranger transmission, feeling the gears engage perfectly. He looked out over the long hood, feeling a sense of pride and a kind of homecoming

He didn’t head for the highway. First, he was going home.

About the Author

Earl D. Coobs grew up in the rolling hills of Northeast Iowa, where small-town values and the quiet beauty of the countryside shaped the way he sees people, places, and the stories hidden beneath everyday life.

For more than fifty years, Earl made his living as a professional truck driver, logging millions of miles across America’s highways and back roads. Those decades behind the wheel gave him a front-row seat to the country’s grit, kindness, loneliness, humor, and hard truths—experiences he carried with him for years before putting them to paper.

Now retired and living in Reidsville, Georgia, Earl spends his days enjoying nature, family, and the slower rhythm of a life well earned while finally sharing the stories that stayed with him throughout his years on the road.

His books include The Gospel of Silas, Bus Number 43, and The Obsidian Rig, with more stories still to come.

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