Liberty Epic of Shadows: Revised Edition

Liberty Epic of Shadows interweaves shades of the past, present, and future into a dynamic tapestry designed on global scale. Beginning with the discovery of Hispaniola by Christopher Columbus, the New World continent of North and South America become targets of systematic pillage and colonization. Less than a century later the Spanish Conquistador, Hernán Cortés arrives on the steps of the rich Aztec Empire. This conquest unleashes chained Mammon once again upon the world of men. 

 

This epic properly begins in the year 1640 with the Spanish treasure Galleon, Libertad, captained by a Basque naval officer named Jacob Belasko. The passenger list on this faithful voyage is a San Franciscan Friar, a demon-possessed South American Shaman, and fifteen North American Indians of unusual ancestry. Two maritime disasters conspire to bring these diverse individuals together to create foundation to the histories that follow. All the Europeans perish tragically, leaving behind record of their existence through preservation of a few artifacts, including a stash of Spanish gold doubloons. An Indian society calling themselves Aconee establish on inland swamp island, led by one named Xeantee Aconee.

 

Another passage of another century, we are introduced to a British Army deserter named Adam Pixley, who discovers refuge of peace and escape on a swamp island. Adam Pixley will become an honorary member of the now flourishing Aconee Indian tribe. He learns their ways, marries, and sires a child. But because of grief and a latent lust for the material, Adam Pixley becomes the harbinger of destruction. He will discover the stash of gold doubloons, steal the preserved artifacts, and keep the dark secrets of his murderous past hidden in coffers below his mansion estate. This man of worldly wealth and position will ultimately sire an earthly dynasty to his name spanning centuries. 

 

The reader is transported to 1960's Vietnam War era America to a small poor mill village town named Liberty. Homer's Bar and Liquor Store is the hub of activity, providing alcohol escape from the prison of industrial bedlam. Here we meet many savory characters, some on predictable tragic course, others elevated to enlightenment by influence of profound revelation.     

 

Within construct of this story, several questions arise, shining light on many unsolved mysteries. Who really is Nela Smith, last surviving heir to the Pixley estate? What is the monster that roams the Liberty Swamp, known only to all, as Weistbaily? What connection is there between Bubba Baily, a Jew from the tough side of New York, the Liberty monster, and another character named Dave Tracey? But the greatest mystery of all is what happened to the original inhabitants, known only as the Aconee Indians? Even more perplexing is the meaning and origin of the word "Shelecheyanu", which Linguistic and Archeological expert, Jeremiah Wake, will devote a lifetime to solve?

 

To the locals Liberty Swamp is a place laced with unknown dangers, manifesting imagined terror of life's inevitability: a place avoided through slumbered existence. However, this epic is not just about fallen dynasties, repetitious wars, or chimeras of shadow. It weaves the mortal fabric of human experience into a lattice of repetitive concentric patterns that continue to escalate from generation to generation with predictable consequence. It unveils the defined origin of evil in human desire by comparing gifts from the Mammon of this world, forged through weaker elements, to the essence of things made from eternal substance provided in the fullness of every season, the element of light providing sight to the eyes. Liberty Epic of Shadows is a snapshot of global history only glimpse through other shadows made of many deceptions