Download first five chapters - John Trevillian

THE A-MEN | 27each syllable, is made of an iron ball. Each ball is covered withjagged glass.“Just let it come,” the doctor is urging. “Don’t force it. Let itcome.”“I… I’ve…”One moment the glass is snagging, tearing, ripping. The next Ifall exhausted and let it drop. And without thinking, out the sentenceexplodes.“I… I’ve… I’ve no fucking clue what you’re fucking… no fuckingidea what you’re talking about!”I’m sure that by the look on the labman’s face, if he hadn’t hadthat tablet strapped to his hand he would have applauded. I’m beyondcaring. The effort of getting out even that simple single sentence haswasted me.My mind swirls. Ice cream sundae cold. Bath water drained.Weak as a puppy, I am swept down with it. Down, down, downand away.Then there’s this sofa. Easyclene. Sitting by the freeway. It’s night.Moon gives the only illumination as all the street lamps are smashed.Dead. Sofa’s covered in endless stains. Stains upon stains. Sitting rightsmack bang in the middle of the weed-covered concrete. No view.No reason for being there. No place it could have easily come from.No nothing.It’s like it’s waiting for me. No, not waiting. It’s like it’s me. LikeI’m it.Out of place. Out of time. Out of fucking nowhere.Horrors watch. Rocking in the shadows. Black jackets twitch.Sunken eyes.And somebody says, “Since the first day you was born, you wasalways gonna be a punk.”I look up. Up, up and away.When I open my eyes it’s to the other world. Doctor’s sitting onthe black woman’s bed.“Ah, you’ve returned,” he says with a thin smile.