Ken Percival

Imagine the day prior to an event when life changes forever. It might be unexpected, yet the event may serve a greater good. Kang observed that change of his homeland. It grinded his sensibilities to a point of action. He saw it as self-preservation. Many would say otherwise.

Patrick Tungstein ignored the social graces. He believed in whiskey or some variation of it. His temper grew on this particular night. His cold and hard fist displaced the drunk's jaw with one strike followed by a body blow that collapsed the man to the ground. Nobody insulted Patty without invoking his Irish temper. He leaned toward his Irish roots over the contributions of his Polish father. His paternal genealogy gave him little pause to act with discretion. Years collapsed like dominos as Patty impregnated his fourth wife with three children. They shared a little place on the edge of London. She learned, as his exes knew that he was a drunk. He left for a PI assignment in the states. It was good pay as he was to hunt a suspected hacker who had leaked trade secrets. It put Patty in the employ of an ex-intelligence officer who demanded obedience.

There are rivers that flood their banks, undercut their soft edges, tear up the landscape, and carry their debris like upraised swords into battle as they hurtle seaward. In contrast, Peter Richards navigates life as a meandering river might as he floats along on its serpentine currents through the peaks and valleys of everyday obstacles. The journey removes him from his late wife's orbit and into one with further purpose. That purpose speaks to Peter as he reads a short story about a youthful couple who occupy opposing perspectives between reality and dream. The story compels Peter to adopt a gypsy lifestyle like his new acquaintance, Lara Whimley, who lives life beyond the ordinary. They connect and start a new chapter in their lives.