Enjoy “Window Beyond the World,” a supernatural thriller set in the Southern California mountains. The novel is being serialized here in weekly installments. The co-authors are Sun columnist John Weeks, writing under his full name John Howard Weeks, and William S. Thomas, former Sunday Editor of The Sun.
A new chapter will be posted each Friday. There are 37 chapters in all. This free online edition is somewhat abridged for language and adult situations. For those who wish to read ahead, and enjoy the entire unabridged novel, it is available now in book form.
“Window Beyond the World” (iUniverse, $14.95), by John Howard Weeks and William S. Thomas, can be ordered from local bookstores or from online booksellers including Amazon.com.
WINDOW BEYOND THE WORLD, CHAPTER 7, TOTAL ECLIPSE
Twice that summer, Lance left early for work and headed east on Rim of the
World Drive, hoping to meet his brother again. Twice he was disappointed.
One time the turnout at Risenbird Park was empty. Another time there were
two cars, but they belonged to other people. Picnickers. No sign of Art.
Each time, Naomi was eagerly awaiting his report, and each time she said
the right thing to soothe his frustration. It just isnt time yet. When you
turned back before, it probably set things back a little bit. Dont worry. Just be
patient. It will happen.
One day, at the end of summer, when the dogwood trees were showing their
first hints of red, and the squirrels were showing their first signs of agitation
and haste, Naomi Lake decided out of the blue that she wanted a cat.
I want a pound kitty, and you need to help me find the right one, she
announced. Lets do it Thursday, why dont we? Youre taking the day off anyway.
No. I mean, yes, Im taking the day off, but I cant go anywhere.
Oh. Okay. Why not?
Oh, its nothing. I just need an R&R day. I dont want to do anything.
He wouldnt look at her. She looked at him keenly.
Lance. You tell me what youre not telling me this minute, she said with
mock severity.
He grinned, and looked at her, sheepishly. Its the day of the eclipse. I have
a superstition about it, I guess. I dont like to go out.
Really? Naomi was very interested. Are you afraid?
Hmm, not afraid, really. It just gives me the creeps for some reason. I
always take the day off.
What sort of creeps?
I dont know. Ive read up on it a little. Some people with obsessive-compulsive
disorders hide from a solar eclipse because they fear they wont be able
to resist looking at the sun and going blind. Its not that theyre afraid of the
eclipse. Theyre afraid of what the eclipse will make them do.
But youre not obsessive-compulsive.
No, Im not, and I thank the good Lord every time I wash my
handsabout a thousand times a day.
Naomi laughed. Now if youd just start washing your towels occasionally
I do wash my towels now! You know that.
I know. I know. Im just teasing. So you dont like to go out during an
eclipse. So dont go out.
I dont like to. Theres something about it that makes me uncomfortable. I
cant explain.
You dont have to explain. We can go to the pound another day. I dont
want to adopt a kitty on a day daddy is going to be freaked out.
Lance stayed in on the day of the eclipse. For Naomi, it was her regular day
off. She stayed with him.
That weekend they went to the pound and found a cat. With Lances help,
Naomi chose a male kitten, a mackerel tabby, gray, with expressive blue eyes.
All the way back to Naomis apartment, they tried out names but couldnt
come up with one.
In fact, the cat went several days without a name. One night, when all three
of them were at Lances house and the cat was exploring, Lance said, Lets call
him Hoover.
In honor of Herbert Hoover?
In honor of the vacuum cleaner. Look at him eating the carpet lint.
Naomi pounced on the kitten, picked him up and scolded him. No, no, no.
Dont eat the carpet. Youll get hairballs.
She looked at Lance and laughed. Hoover. Okay.
A week later, two bad things happened. Naomi got a call. Her sister had suffered
a massive stroke and had died. Naomi made immediate arrangements to
fly to the East Coast to be with her family. That night, Hoover became seriously
ill. In the morning, he was swollen, in great pain. There were drops of
bloody urine in both the kitchen and bathroom sinks, where he had struggled
to pee. He visited his litter box constantly, but couldnt make it happen.
Naomi took him to the veterinarian. She was beside herself. She had a thousand
things to do. She was flying out that night.
He has cystitis, she later reported to Lance. She called him as soon as she
and Hoover returned from the vet. Its a bladder infection. Its a bad thing.
Poor kitty.
What am I going to do? He needs to be pilled twice a day, and he needs to
eat a special food. He has to be watched.
Dont worry about it. Ill take care of it. You have enough to think about.
You just go. Be with your family. Ill take care of Hoover.
Lance moved into Naomis place. For nearly a week, he cared for Hoover
with great attentiveness, giving him his pills, feeding him his special food by
hand, getting up in the night to check on him. It was an interesting week. He
didnt even drink much.
When Naomi returned, Hoover was well. She made a big fuss over both of
them.
Thank you, Lance, she said after a long kiss. Hoover owes you his life.
One of them, anyway.
Oh, hes got plenty more, Im sure. Hes a tough guy.
You have a good heart, Lance Segundo.
On the second Saturday in October, Lance woke up with a feeling, a certainty.
This was the day.
He woke up Naomi, who had stayed the night. Hoover, who was sleeping
between them, woke up, too. I have to go to the turnout today, Lance said.
Art will be there.
Naomi nodded.
An hour later, Lance was dressed and ready to go. Naomi put her hand on
his chest, and said, Can I go with you?
The sudden idea buoyed him, actually. He couldnt think of any reason why
not. Sure, he said.
Ill bring Hoover. We can play in the car if youre going to be a long time.
On the way to Risenbird Park, Lance couldnt decide if he was euphoric or
terrified. He was breathing hard, he knew that.
NEXT: CHAPTER 8, PASSAGE.
“Window Beyond the World” (iUniverse, $14.95), by John Howard Weeks and William S. Thomas, can be ordered from local bookstores or from online booksellers including Amazon.com.
