Just then, the two rocks on the mantle shifted and moved, sliding closer to and then around each other. When they stopped moving and Julio could again remember how to speak, he looked at his wife with widened eyes. She nodded, smiling. “They shifted so that they are in the same position as the mountains. Perhaps our doubting son would like to try moving them back?”

Eyes still wide, Julio looked from his wife back to the stones. Slowly, he nodded. Perhaps, just maybe perhaps, an impression could be made on the all-knowing youth of today. After all, it was two very young people who had changed his whole day. He banked the fire and followed his wife to bed, wondering how many other lives those two would touch on their journeys.

The End

Authors Notes:

I’ve delved into new areas in this book, and I have to thank Dr. John Leary for his insight into centrioles, tetrahertz, and what I secretly call the Leary Theory. Too much of our scientific research is funded for political reasons and not for scientific knowledge. We’re missing out.

Thank you to Sergeant Mark Redmond of the South Burlington Police Department. Any errors in science or law enforcement procedure are my own.

Thanks, as usual, to Susan, my editor, and to Gareth Otton for his artwork.

As usual my wife, Robin, is the bedrock of my existence (and maybe a Conroe fan’s best friend) as she keeps me on task, offers her insights, and brings me back to point when my mind slips away (Squirrel!).

I’ll apologize to the real potato king of Peru for the liberties I’ve taken with this humble, incredibly important man who single-handedly safeguards the biodiversity of Peru’s potato strains. Thanks to my daughter, Alli, for showing me his work. And thanks to my daughter, Emilee, for continuing to broaden my reading habits, which can only improve my craft.

Thanks most of all to you, my readers, who’ve made it possible for me to stop being a banker and fully focusing on my writing. Next up will be book two of Zone War, Borough of Bones. Look for it in spring 2019. After that the next Demon Accords, C.A.E.C.O. I’ll let you guess whose viewpoint that one will follow. I should think summer, 2019. Fall should bring the conclusion of the Zone War trilogy with Web of Extinction.

Stay tuned… we’re only getting started.

John Conroe, December 2018.