King Solomon's Journey (The Dominguez Adventures)

King Solomon’s

                     Journey

                                                                                               Revised Edition

A Novel

By Sammy Sutton

Copyright © 2010 Sammy Sutton

All rights reserved.

ISBN-10: 1456348175

EAN-13: 9781456348175

E-Book ISBN: 978-1-61789-916-4

Library of Congress Control Number: 2010916964

Disclaimer

King Solomon’s Journey
is a work of fiction. All events are products of the author’s imagination. Any similarities to real people or situations are purely coincidental.

Dear Dad;

This is for you. During your last days in this shared dimension King Solomon’s Journey became important to you. I promised during the revision the message would remain the same; I hope you approve as it comes from a place that you were and are so much a part of in my life. Thanks for all the years of love and strength you gave to me, my brothers, your grandchildren, and especially mom.

Journey

by Kathy Feigel

It is finally finished, this journey we shared.

With your love, I have gone further than I ever dared.

You said I could do it, and now here it stands,

My story of dimensions and faraway lands.

You cast a light upon my dreams.

That was all I needed, it would seem.

It isn't fair you know.

You're not here for the big show.

But I can feel you there.

On the edge of the web we share.

What now when no more can I hold your hand?

I will close my eyes and dream, see, there you stand!

Life is a journey of smiles and sadness.

Memories will always hold the gladness.

When my journey ends, I have but one prayer.

Wait for me Dad, I'll be there.

Alphabet Rain in the Desert

By Ben Miller

In the forward flowing sands amongst the freedom chimes

We stood in the wind sages burning

No direction but to rise and no motion in the sound

Clouds and letters descending in alphabet rains

But still we are lost on the high and lonesome long time road

That twists around that craggy and teeth filled mountain

Following hints and clues left for us to dissolve in our bodies

Only inherited for this brief spark of journey

Must we return it when we’re done like a rented soul jacket

Must we solve all your clues or is it enough to leave

Anchors in our dreams and screams avalanches on those desert walls

Slithering down endless roads of trying

We bury our faces in the sands of our fathers

After they’ve left us behind

Traces of footsteps like food for the mourning

Eyes beam for relics that are more than just lines

Scrambling over their canyons and dune field impressions

We are but ancient children suspended in liquid sharper than amber

More porous than breathing books written in stone

We are those books that you left us to read in the desert

We are those sparks from the storming dry skies

Even if you fade into hallways gathering darkness

More substantial than mirage less solid than fact

We will rewrite those books in the marks of our making

In the alphabet that you counted and dreamed for us

Give us the patience to climb up that mountain

That fortress tower where nothing is lost

And on those glimpses of the footsteps in the desert

On the remnants of old worn holy shoes

They might fit they might dance they might only be rocky rambling

To make the climb we have no choice but to wear them

And kick at the sparks that insist we follow

Stepping on the teeth and the skulls and the jagged bony proofs

As our fingers drag through legend coloured sand

Rubbing it into our wounds that tell the story too

And maybe that’s how we see the path

Not in our glories but our failings

That alphabet of dreams the only rain to stitch it together

A mountain rope up from the desert floor

Mouths open to catch the rain

Which are the flowing sands of freedom

And all the notes between the chimes

Alphabet Rain in the Desert
was inspired by the symbols, subtext, and characters in
King Solomon's Journey
.

Chapter 1

"Enlightenment is our birthright. We're wired for it.

It's what the human brain was designed to experience."

John Hagelin

            There are days when we awaken and know it is just another day. Then, there are the days we awaken with a feeling that something momentous is about to occur. With shivers of anticipation we await the ringing of a phone or the knock on a door.

            When his cell phone rang, Antonio's heart gave a jump, and the name on the small screen made him pump his fist in the air in jubilation! It was here, it was finally here! Hurrying to dress, he balanced on one foot then the other yanking on his boots.

            Antonio was anxious to hit the road with his new car. After all, he paid for it when he ordered it six months ago. A big win at the tournament, the car was his perfect reward and he had dreamed of owning one since the moment he first saw the photo of the prototype in a market journal he regularly reviewed.

            After what seemed forever, Antonio finally stood in the bright sunshine of Santa Fe, as the salesperson stood next to him with the car door open, focused on the necessary information. The OnStar set up complete; the salesperson was showing him a couple of the car's features when OnStar called for verification. Antonio gladly confirmed the information the caller recited.

            "That's strange, Dr. Dominguez; I've never known OnStar to call back like that before."

            "Is that right?" Antonio answered almost automatically; he was too busy inhaling that intoxicating 'New Car Aroma' at this point.

            "Yeah, well at the speed they change things; I can hardly keep up day to day. Go ahead Dr. Dominguez and put in your destination, where you will be headed when you leave the dealership, so you can make sure the navigational system is working correctly."

            Antonio did as instructed; since he already used the system on his SUV, he was familiar with the set-up.

***

            With the last paper signed, the car was truly his, and Antonio slid into the sleek black leather interior of his new CTS-V-Coupe. He put on his sunglasses, started the engine and placed both hands on the wheel. With a tight grip, he twisted his hands forward and back, and luxuriated in the feel of the high-quality leather beneath his fingertips.

            “Awesome.” He was going to be driving the New Mexico scenery in style, after all, “Motortrend” had called the CTS-V, “The Cad-thriller”, “The most desirable Caddy in decades.”

            As an anthropologist, a SUV had always been an essential. Yet, essential did not mean bare-bones minimum when it came to additional luxuries. That is why he had chosen the Cadillac Escalade.     

            While he loved the Escalade he called Es Fuerte, this was his first sports car. In fact, he had not had a car, since he left Miami fifteen years ago. He waved to the salesrep. 

            “See you, Dr. Dominguez,” the salesrep called out.

             As he pulled out onto the street and merged into traffic, he was unable to avoid thinking of his brother José's jealousy over his Black Raven beauty, deciding later that he would call José to brag about Raven. He was smiling at the thought of his brothers’ envy. 

            José could afford a ‘Black Raven Coupe’ of his choice. José was one of Miami’s leading attorneys. Unlike himself, still single at the upper part of his forties, due to circumstance, and choice, José was the ideal husband and father.

            José was little by little assuming Pop’s role in the judicial branch of the family, hell, he was Pop’s clone; often José was more Pop than Pop. Not actually knowing if that was still true he had not seen or spoken to Pop, the infamous Judge, in fifteen years.

            Eight kids, but he was the one who was always disappointing Pop, with his “non-conformist” career, which at best would give him, according to his father, a mediocre standard of living. He was proving Pop wrong with his innovative analysis techniques and the work sent to him by leading museums and researchers from around the country.

            As an eminent expert in the field of Paleo-Hebrew language and studies, he always had plenty of work to do when he was not in the field working on his career with UNM. His ability to play private table, high-stakes poker when he was in the States, was also a real boost to his already lucrative career earnings. The poker play would drive Pop over the edge. 

            His first plan was to put the Raven Black Beauty out on the open road to see what she could do. He headed out of Santa Fe down the Rio Grande, to Hidden Mountain where he hoped to organize an excavation someday. The idea remained in the back of his mind; a plan he would consider developing at a future time when he no longer felt the urge to spend so much time overseas.

            The mid-morning sun peaked out from behind the mountains. It was the perfect time to hit the open road in a brand new ride.

            His cell rang, and it was the Poker tournament organizer, Max, interrupting his thoughts.

            "Antonio, what's happening?"  Max always bellowed with enthusiasm.   

“Not much, Max,” Antonio muttered, knowing Max never waited or listened for the answer. 

            “Hey, I noticed you're going to have someone new to play against this week. I'm not sure how you two have missed one another. She has two years of playtime. I sent you video copies of her game via email.

            Antonio, she plays incognito but I have the info, if you know what I mean. You two have some common interests outside of poker. I am betting if you aren't an idiot you might hit it off with her.”

            “Is that right?” Antonio grunted.

             “No joke, Antonio, watch them today. Call me back,” Max, shouted.

            “Bye Max,” Antonio ended the call.

            Max was a terrific person but annoying, a real pain at times. Max was the one person that knew everything about the players. Many players, Antonio included, tried to keep a distinction between everyday life and poker life. Antonio had never heard a complaint about Max breaching a player’s confidence.