Lifting the Veil of Light

Lifting the Veil of Light

by G. S. Cherney
Lifting the Veil of Light

Lifting the Veil of Light

by G. S. Cherney

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Overview

Lifting the Veil of Light is a high-concept suspense-thriller about love and forgiveness. It will appeal to mainstream readers interested in science fiction/fantasy. The book follows the book of Revelation in the Bible, with a twist. As the world is nearing the end of times, the main character, an ordinary young woman named Anna, learns she has been chosen to destroy the Antichrist—referred to in the Bible as a terrifying being that appears as civilization-shattering events begin, leading to Armageddon.


Product Details

ISBN-13: 9781504367950
Publisher: Balboa Press
Publication date: 10/28/2016
Pages: 276
Product dimensions: 6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.62(d)

About the Author

The author attended the University of Oslo, Norway, and has BA and MA in education from the University of Northern Iowa. She was born and raised in Norway, where superstition and fantasy abound, like trolls and fairies. For centuries, Norwegians have believed in the supernatural, and from an early age, she was exposed to the tales. It fueled her imagination, and she began writing short stories at a very young age resulting in this book, Lifting the Veil of Light.

Read an Excerpt

Lifting the Veil of Light


By G. S. Cherney

Balboa Press

Copyright © 2016 G. S. Cherney
All rights reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-5043-6795-0


CHAPTER 1

A pulsing, flowing light of incredible intensity blazed across the sky in the crisp, cool autumn air. It swooped over the North-American continent, across the mountains and the Great Lakes, the rivers and enormous forests until it reached the mid-western farmland. Easily and gracefully it swept over the endless fields of corn and soybeans, farms dotted with cattle, hogs and horses, and peaceful little towns scattered here and there. For a split second the light vibrated and stopped - motionless in the clear blue sky. Then, with a flash, it descended and disappeared among a stand of tall trees in a thick forest.

Anna, who had been up since the crack of dawn, was standing alone on her sundeck sipping her first cup of morning coffee, and admiring the sunrise in all its sweeping grandeur. She happened to look up, and caught just a glimpse of the intense light as it was captured in a blaze of sunlight. For a moment it startled her, and then she took a second curious look trying to determine what it could have been. But it was gone as fast as it had appeared, and she shrugged it off. In all likelihood, she thought, it had been a jetliner reflecting the first rays of the sun, nothing more remarkable than that.

It was quiet this early morning, not much traffic since the weekend had just begun, and the air was cool and reviving. Anna pulled her robe closer, and shifted her attention from the sky to the garden before her. She loved getting up early, and watching the serene misty morning drift over her garden. Bathing in the day's first rays, the flowers were rising to meet the dawn as their petals gently opened in anticipation of the beautiful day ahead. The whole area sparkled with crystal dew, a symphony of iridescent shapes and colors, rushing up against each other like the competing reds, yellow and purple in a shifting wall of flame.

Anna watched it all with pleasure. It looked its best this time of year, reflecting all the hard work her husband, Cole, had put into it. Cole was a botanist, and spent endless hours in this beloved garden, experimenting with every flower and plant he could get his hands on. She shared his interest in flowers, and having been born and raised on a farm, she had learned a great deal about the science of gardening. This morning her mind drifted back to that earlier time in her life.

The farmhouse where she had grown up was a big two-story frame building with a large porch extending across the entire front side of the house. That porch was the gathering place for the whole family in the warm weather evenings.

With a wistful smile, Anna's memories turned to her father. She had been especially close to him, and had treasured the trips alone with him in his old pickup truck. He was always singing, telling stories or jokes, attracting everyone like a magnet. He was a person filled with sunshine and optimism, and people loved being around him. No matter how blue or depressed she sometimes felt when things didn't go quite right, he could make her see things in a different light and help her pay attention to the humorous side of it. He never criticized or complained, although he often had good reasons for doing so. When he died, shortly after she got married, Anna had been devastated.

Taking a deep breath, she leaned against the railing. These memories always made her sad, and she pushed the thoughts aside, again taking in the beauty in front of her. It was tempting to get lost in this quiet hush, and to just stay here savoring the moment. It was the perfect time for Anna to pause for reflection. And breathing in the garden's perfumed air; her mind was suddenly filled with beautiful words. Softly she said them out loud,

"In the stillness of my garden
I can hear the heartbeat of Mother Earth
holding me in her never-ending
nurturing love and protection

This is a restful place where thoughts flow freely,
and spirits soar to meet another day.
I am happy here – free of fear and worries
The outside world exists no more
Alone in the universe – I am one with
everything.

I am the water, the air, Mother Earth,
the sun, the moon and the stars.
The light is coming in – brighter than ever,
flooding the Earth, and bringing in a
new awareness.

It is almost like a whisper of Angel Wings
touching my cheeks, loving, caressing – gentle
The Angels are whispering, "We are here
for you and mankind, if only they
will listen."

I hear the small voice inside.
My soul is embracing it all
The beauty that is me – I am Anna."


She paused, confused. Where did these words come from? She had never been particularly religious or spent much time in church except going a few times with her parents, and, of course, Sunday School. And yet these words seemed to have touched her very soul. Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of her husband's voice calling out to her.

"Anna, shouldn't you hurry up a bit? Didn't you say that we are to meet Hebe at eight o'clock sharp?" "Yes, but it is only seven now. ... plenty of time to get ready."

"I know, honey, but remember, we promised to pick up the other four, and that will take some extra time."

Cole's voice was insistent, and Anna sighed. He was right, of course. There really wasn't that much time to spare, and she wasn't even dressed yet. Her thoughts again returned briefly to the poem she had just recited. Where did it come from? But she gave up trying to solve this puzzle. The mystery was likely to remain unsolved. Reluctantly she turned and entered the house through the large glass doors leading into their bedroom.

While she was getting dressed, she found herself reflecting back on the events that had led up to this day. She had met her friend Hebe a couple of years earlier at the local library. Anna, who had always been an avid reader, was surprised to learn that the longtime librarian had retired early, and a young woman had taken her place. What had made it seem particularly odd was the fact that the former librarian had confided in Anna how much she enjoyed her job, and that she would never retire unless she was forced to because of old age.

It took awhile to adjust to the new one, but soon Hebe impressed Anna. She quickly discovered that Hebe had an exceptionally sharp mind, and possessed an extraordinary knowledge of literature - able to discuss any subject. Anna learned to rely on her judgment concerning all kinds of books, and where to obtain whatever information she might require. It didn't take long before they developed a close friendship, and Anna introduced her best friends, Kathy and Amanda, to the new librarian.

Amanda, a home-economics teacher at the local high school, was forever looking for new ideas for her students, and was thrilled when Hebe revealed an extensive knowledge of the culinary arts. Kathy, a budding writer, found Hebe to be her greatest inspiration, never failing to come up with new and innovative ideas. Before long, Hebe was included in their weekend get-togethers along with their husbands. That she was single didn't matter - she fit right in.

Earlier that week, Hebe surprised her new friends by inviting them all to meet her on Saturday morning at the state park. When they had pressed her for more information, she would only tell Amanda who had three small children, to find a babysitter for the weekend. She had planned a trip, and it would be her treat in appreciation for all their generosity and kindness.

Anna was pulled back to reality by Cole as he entered the room. He smiled at her with an approving look. She was an attractive young woman with curly brown hair and huge violet eyes that seemed to reflect the wonder and curiosity of a child. Cole was as tall and lanky as Anna was petite, and like many scientists he could sometimes appear to be both cold and distant. But Anna knew him to be gentle and kind, and generous to a fault.

He was combing his hair and talking to her at the same time.

"Are you ready? To tell you the truth, I am really looking forward to this weekend, not having to worry about any of the details. You did say that Hebe had it all planned?" Anna nodded, "Yes, she said we were not to worry about a thing, everything would be taken care of by her."

"Good. Let's go."

As they walked out the door, Anna remembered to pick up a sweater. Better be prepared should they spend a lot of time outside.

She and Cole had volunteered to pick up the others in their large van. It was a vintage model, but since Cole was forever hauling dirt and plants around, it seemed pointless to get a new one.

Only a few minutes later they reached Kathy and her husband Anton's house which was located only five blocks away.

As always, Anna couldn't help but admire their home. It was English Tudor, a style that had always appealed to her.

When Cole pulled up to the sidewalk, Anna pushed back the sliding door to let their two friends in. But in so doing, she slipped and fell from the high seat to the ground, hurting her leg.

Anton rushed over and helped her up.

"Anna, are you hurt?" "No, I am okay. Just a little embarrassed over being so clumsy."

"I should have fixed that door, Anna. I'm sorry," Cole said apologetically. "It slides open too fast."

Anna brushed off her clothes, and climbed back into the van. The sudden sharp pain in her leg brought back a long-ago incident, and memories suddenly passed through her like streaks of mist over water.

As a child she had an all-consuming passion to become a ballerina. And when she turned ten years old, her wish became reality. She received a wonderful birthday present from her grandparents - ballet lessons. Every Saturday her grandfather would drive her to the studio in town, and Anna practiced tirelessly for hours on end every day. But her dreams of a great career were brutally shattered one day when in a freak accident while getting off the school bus, she stumbled, lost her balance, and fell to the ground. Her right leg was fractured in two places and would never be the same. The hopes of a great career were forever gone.

Anton, a bear of a man, lifted his wife, Kathy, into the van, and followed her with one giant step. Anna had always liked him. He was an orchestra conductor, and music was his life. But most importantly, he was blessed with a wonderful sense of humor, and no one could tell better jokes. Therefore, he was the perfect guest to invite whenever she had to have a dinner party for Cole's faculty friends. Most of them were dull and aloof, but with Anton present, the party was guaranteed to be a success.

The van stopped again, this time to pick up Amanda and her husband Nick. Amanda gave a cheery hello, and, in her usual bubbly way began talking a mile a minute about the last minute crises she'd gone through in securing a reliable babysitter.

Nick, on the other hand, chose the seat furthest back in the van, and sat silently. Anna had never understood how their union had come to be. They were as different as night and day. While Amanda loved to be the center of attention, Nick always appeared to be sullen and withdrawn.

"Well," thought Anna, "Thank God I don't have to live with him."

Gazing out the window of the van as the houses flew by, Anna wondered why these old memories were suddenly intruding after all these years. She hadn't thought about any of this for such a long time. To her, life seemed to be a flowing river, forever passing by, yet never quite forgotten. But today she had a peculiar feeling - almost like someone was forcing her to remember. She shook her head. What an absurd idea. Was she losing it this morning?

"Here we are."

Cole pulled the van up to the parking lot where Hebe stood waiting for them. After exchanging the usual greetings, she led them over to a group of picnic tables, and motioned for them to sit down.

Anna loved this particular area, but hadn't been back since her dog, Buddy, had died. How she had loved that animal. Tears filled her eyes as memories of Buddy rushed over her. He had been a birthday gift from Cole just before they were married, and ever since then, Buddy had been her constant companion and friend. When he passed away, Anna had not been able to visit the park. It was too soon - she needed a period of time to grieve over him.

Hebe's clear and pleasant voice rang out, and it was apparent to all that she chose her words with care.

"You must all be wondering why I have asked you to come out here in the park so early on a Saturday morning. We have been friends now for some time, and we've had some wonderful times together, as well as some sad ones. Her eyes sought Anna's who knew she was referring to Buddy.

Hebe continued, "What I am about to tell you will likely take you aback, if not shock you. Please bear in mind that reality is often stranger than fiction, and when you hear what I have to say, you will undoubtedly think that such things only happen in books or on the big screen."

Hesitating for a moment, she studied the faces in front of her as if to assure herself that they would be able to accept what was coming.

"I guess there is only one way to say this, and that is to be as straightforward with you as possible. The simple truth is." She paused and continued, "I am not of human origin, and, although I look like you, I come from another world."

In silence they listened, half-amused, thinking she was playing some kind of game. The whole idea of Hebe coming from another planet was totally preposterous. That sort of thing only took place in fantasy.

Anton laughed, "Hey, are we on Candid Camera or something?" Obviously, he was not taking any of this seriously, but it was exactly the kind of reaction Hebe had expected. At the moment, these humans had no idea that they soon would be faced with a strange, new world that would dramatically change them forever. She had come to Earth with specific instructions to locate a particular group of earthlings. When she did, she had immediately been accepted as a friend without the slightest hesitation. What they hadn't known was the power she had over them. She had emitted an invisible aura that made her irresistible to only these six humans. Subtly, but persistently, she had worked on their minds while at the same time had taken the appropriate precautions not to frighten or upset them.

At this point, her thoughts were interrupted by Anna who said, "But how can you possibly be an alien?" Listening to Hebe, Anna had tried to think of something that might have indicated that she was different from them. Obviously she was exceptionally intelligent - but was there more? She was a decidedly attractive woman with long, black hair and deep-blue eyes that took on a strange translucence whenever she was deeply concentrating. At times Anna had the uncanny feeling that her new friend was able to probe into her very soul. Was Hebe really a creature from another world - even another universe? About one thing Anna was certain - she was sure that Hebe had always been honest with her.

Hebe sounded very matter-of-fact when she answered, "I was sent to Earth to study your society, and bring back some of your earthlings."

"But why?" Anna wanted to know.

"Because there are great changes in store for planet Earth, and we want you to be prepared for what is coming. I am sure you have not failed to notice all the severe natural disasters that have occurred with more and more frequency these last few years. But I cannot tell you more. We will teach you how to handle the forthcoming events. My civilization is in another solar system, and we are thousands of years more advanced than you. We have overcome many challenges that still lie ahead for your civilization. Unfortunately, we are not yet perfected. There are still those among us who prevent us from attaining that goal."

An almost imperceptible shadow passed over her face, but she continued, "I know you have, in your minds, pictures of aliens and how we should look from the many movies you have seen. But in reality many of us look and act very much like you human beings. However, my particular people are not as aggressive as yours, and our society peaceful at least for now. There are many worlds out there in this vast universe and many of them not so different from yours. I can tell you this with authority since I have visited a great number of them. Traveling with me and observing my society will prove to be a tremendous help to you in the years to come."


(Continues...)

Excerpted from Lifting the Veil of Light by G. S. Cherney. Copyright © 2016 G. S. Cherney. Excerpted by permission of Balboa Press.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.

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