Well, I’d better clean them, at least. She carried the objects over to one of the tables and set about the task.
She cleaned the smaller object first. It appeared to be a watch of some kind. But what was it doing here? As she worked, her fingers pressed against one of the prongs and a blue light turned on at the top of the watch. This was like no watch she’d ever seen. Still, it wasn’t the type of object she was interested in finding. Disappointed, she placed it down on the table and went back to the workstation to begin cleaning the larger item. This one was more difficult and into the night she worked, painstakingly removing the inky sludge until it was easy enough for anyone to tell what this was: a rifle.
She glanced over her shoulder again, wondering if this was a cruel joke being played on her so that everyone would get a big kick out of the silly girl who found a modern-day watch and weapon in the pit. Well, that wouldn’t be right either — it was more like something from the future. Deanna had never seen a gun like this before either.
She inspected the rifle more closely. Twenty-nine thin slices were gouged into the barrel. They appeared too deliberate and perfect to be accidental. In truth, they almost seemed … intimate. Maybe it was an official insignia of some sort? She looked again, re-counting the marks. No, they weren’t factory engraved. These had been made by human hands. The owner of the gun, perhaps?
As she walked back to look into the dark void of Pit 91, something else occurred to her. Whoever used this weapon seemed very attached to it. If the gun was here … where was its owner?
Joke or no joke, it was over now, and she had to make the phone call. Who cared if she was mistaken and looked a fool tomorrow? Her gut told her there was a body in the pit. And who knew what else? This was a serious find.
She passed the table where the watch still lay, and the light at its top was burning red. Hadn’t it been blue before? She dropped the thought as she made her way to the phone.
The soft sound of a storm rolling in could be heard now, the clashing of thunder clouds high in the skies. She grabbed the receiver but hesitated before dialing the number. The noise of the storm disquieted her. There was an unusual cadence to its sound. She cocked her head, listening, as it intensified.
THOOOOMP, THOOOMP, THOOOMP
Tamám Shud
Author’s note: To this day, the mystery behind the “Somerton Man” — or, the “Tamám Shud” case — has remained hidden in the shadows. Cryptographers have spent years attempting to decipher the strange message left behind by the unidentified dead man, but they have still not come up with a conclusive answer to the mystery. The only thing for certain is the meaning behind the words “Tamám Shud” — which translates to: “The End.”
Dedications
For those who never got to see this day: Warren Lester Linderman (Apapa), Ella Grace Linderman (Amama), Elizabeth Eisel (Granny), Dolores Garcia (Lolis), Craig Hall, and Alonzo Viveros.
Acknowledgements
Before I get to the main acknowledgements, I would like to give a brief note to the reader regarding this novel. When I first began to brainstorm the concept, it was just supposed to be a short story that I felt would never reach the length for it to qualify as an actual novel. As time progressed another thought took root. I have two siblings, a sister and a brother. We are alike in many ways, but at the same time we have differences that make each one of us unique. I decided that I no longer wanted the writing of this novel to be a personal experience just for myself. I became deeply committed to the idea of turning this adventure into a ‘co-venture’ with my siblings so that I could share the accomplishment.
My sister helped me edit and re-edit the book. I could not have achieved this without her, so I would like to thank Cyneva Dalton-Vazquez for everything she has done. Also, littered throughout this novel is artwork for each chapter. It was with my brother’s help — the artist of the family — that the ideas written down were brought further to life by his pencils and ink. I would like to thank Matthew Dalton for his invaluable help in that area. Additionally, I would like to thank my sister in law, Tara Dalton, for taking the time out of her busy schedule to create the beautiful cover for this book. And this section wouldn’t be complete without thanking my dear friend, Janelle Bennett, for her invaluable help with image editing.
Now I would like to throw out a special thanks to many of my close friends and family who were gracious enough to read through my manuscript during its infancy. I feel this says a lot about people in general. Most were busy with their normal day-to-day dealings but they still managed to find quiet moments here and there to finish this novel and follow it up with helpful feedback. I would like to thank each one of them individually as well.
First and foremost, I would like to thank my parents, Stanley and Kathy Dalton, for supporting their children in a way that only parents can do best. I would also like to thank Deanna Tuck, Teresa Tuck, Jasson (that is not a typo) Wilcox, Rudy Murillo, E.J. Findorff, Lori Davis Craig, Richard Cruz, and Ben Linderman.
Lastly I would like to thank my wife Maricela. Her encouragement and patience with me in seeing this to the end made the trip worthwhile.
About the Team
Timothy Dalton lives with his wife in Santa Clarita, California. He juggles work, spending time with his nephews, writing, and being the most awesome husband he can possibly be — all of which consume a large portion of his days.
Writing has been his passion for many years and this book is the culmination of his efforts. And the Tide Turns is his debut novel, with a second and completely different novel hot on its heels — On the Hitlist (Working Title) — which should be released in the coming months.
He hopes you enjoyed this novel as much as he enjoyed writing it.
Matthew Dalton is a graduate of the Savannah College of Art and Design’s Sequential Art program. His credits include Warcraft Legends, Starcraft: Frontline, Samurai’s Blood among others.
He lives in Mantua, New Jersey with his wife and two children.
Cyneva Dalton-Vazquez lives in North Carolina with her husband and two children. She always dreamed of being a writer and during her school days (a long, long time ago), she won awards for her creative work. However, the rigors of college life and the demands of real life (marriage, work, motherhood) sapped her dry, creatively speaking. Years later, she was bitten once again by the writing bug and went on to complete her first full-length novel, which will be published shortly.