Once Again

Gene Ligotti

Description

In any person of advancing age, I doubt he or she has never said … Knowing what I know now, I wish I could live my life over again. Foolishness? True, but still … it’s a nice thought to linger over. The story within this novel, Once Again, relates to that engaging wish. We have two heroes in this novel and both are in the same person. That made the writing difficult at times, but I feel I made it work. Michael and Barth begin as totally different people with different minds sets … one is a good and decent man and the other cares little for others. He gambles, carouses with women of ill repute, his curses would make a sailor blush and he, at times, hangs out with bottom feeders. Still there is something endearing about him and the two together make an interesting pair.
Will this second life turn out differently than the first or does disaster wait. I feel the characters are real and interesting and at times the reader will wonder who is controlling who. As usual in my novels I have taken ordinary people and placed them in extraordinary situations. I doubt that this story line has been used before in this manner and I do hope you enjoy … One Again.

Sujets

• Poetry

Informations

• Publié par: Xlibris US
• Date de parution: 08 février 2023
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781669864134
• Langue: English

Extrait

Once Again
 
 
 
A Novel by Gene Ligotti
 
 
Copyright © 2023 by Gene Ligotti.
 

Library of Congress Control Number:
2023901669
ISBN:
Hardcover
978-1-6698-6415-8

Softcover
978-1-6698-6414-1

eBook
978-1-6698-6413-4
 
 
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.
 
Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.
Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.
 
 
 
 
Rev. date: 02/01/2023
 
 
 
Xlibris
844-714-8691
www.Xlibris.com
849484
Contents
Dedication
Acknowledgements
Prologue
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty One
Chapter Twenty Two
Chapter Twenty Three
Chapter Twenty Four
Epilogue

 
               Also by Gene Ligotti
   American History novels
                       The Youngest Patriot
                       Swamp Fox
                       Dark Eagle
Biography
                       Time Never Heals
Suspense Thrillers
                       The third Woman
                       Suppressed
                       Reversal
                       Ultimate Betrayal
                       Fatal Flaw
                       Accomplice
                       Unexpected
                       The Dream
                       Incredible Deception
                       Twisted Deception
                       Final Deception

Dedication
It is sometimes difficult to pick one person who stands out as a value to the author for a dedication, but for me, this time, there was no question in my mind. In thinking about the dedication for this novel, there is only one person who stands out above all others. That person is my wife, my love, my companion in life, and she alone holds this dedication.
Yes, I am grateful to my family for granting me the time alone to write and previous novels have been dedicated to them. Time is a precious commodity and I hope I have used it wisely. This novel is about life and death and second chances. Undoubtedly and perhaps, my advancing age contributed to the subject and theme of this novel. Unlike the young who think they will live forever, time has become very valuable to me and I intend to spend it wisely by devoting as much of it as possible with family and friends.
I do hope that you, my readers, have enjoyed my endeavors.

Acknowledgements
It is said that the basis of a novel comes from the author’s knowledge, experiences, and past memories. Most assuredly, this is true in my case, but an author cannot have acumen in all fields. Therefore, in this novel as in my previous endeavors, I have reached out to others for their assistance, advice, and of course their expertise. I am immensely grateful to the following individuals. I have long held them in high esteem and now welcome the opportunity to tell them how much they are appreciated. If there are any mistakes in this novel, be they typos or in grammar or facts, they are all mine.
Once again I would like to honor the memory of my old friend William Frederick Lauro. His expertise in law added much to my novels and he is portrayed as the model for the lawyer, William Frederick. He was a dear friend and he is sorely missed.
I am immensely grateful to my friend, John P. Bracken Esq., now retired from the prestigious law firm of Bracken, Margolin, and Besunder LLP. John is a member of the highly respected American College of Trail Lawyers. On countless occasions, he has given me insight and knowledge into his expertise, the law. His wisdom, along with his friendship, is respected and valued.
At times, the knowledge of police procedures is of utmost importance and this information was provided to me, by my friend and neighbor, Paul Daniell, a retired Nassau County Detective. Paul immediately responded to my questions and provided insight into the much needed quality police information. His assistance was very much appreciated as is his friendship.
Lastly, but never the least, are words of praise for my dear wife, Corbina, who is my best fan and most analytical and sincere critic. Her copyediting, advice, and suggestions are of value and quite pertinent in making the novel more enjoyable for all. I have always enjoyed saying that she has the ability to understand what is good writing and what is not, the wisdom to see where changes can be made, and the courage to tell me about it.
 
 
 
 
 
 
All that lives must die,
Passing through nature to eternity
…. William Shakespeare
Who that hath ever been
Could bear to be no more?
Yet who would tread again the scene
He trod through life be fore?
….James Montgomery

Prologue
When a man reaches a certain age, or a woman for that matter, and begins to look back on his life, he realizes that it has gone by all too fast. He may wonder why it seems that just yesterday he was young, strong, and vibrant, but now that is no longer the case. His mirror has never lied to him ... and he realizes … he is now an old man. He pines for the strength of his youth along with his good looks and even women’s attraction to him which he perhaps wasn’t wholly aware of at the time. All are gone and he knows they never will return. One by one his friends have died, each leaving a hole in his life and in his heart and he also knows that somewhere in the very near future … he too will die.
He doesn’t fear death and usually jokes that it’s only the not living part that bothers him, but still, that great unknown waits. Then he hopes … perhaps, once and for all, he will have all the answers. What is heaven like … or hell for that matter, if that’s his destination … and perhaps the answer to the big question … why? If all in the universe truly exists, along with heaven and hell … then why did God create it? Why? What was the reasoning? Why? What was the divine purpose? Again … the big … why?
No one has ever lived a life void of mistakes. Everyone … man or woman … realizes that they have made mistakes in their life, some perhaps stupendous, and I doubt that anyone would not like to have a do-over and this time with no, or at least less, missteps and would gladly relish each and every minute, every sunrise and sunset, every smile, and would fill every day with the beautiful music of life. But, an intelligent man would also realize that he would probably simply make new mistakes and his new life might not be all that different. So we must add this thought as a qualification … ‘yes, do it all again, but knowing what I know now’ … to our hapless desire. Still, any man, or again a woman, would be intrigued with the thought of doing it all over … to live and simply enjoy life … once again.
To do that and not make the same mistakes he would have to be fully conscious of living the new life and have full memory of the old one. He would have to be entirely cognizant of his past life and, at least some or partial control over the new one. Without this, wouldn’t he blindly just be reliving his old life, mistakes and all? But a sensible and rational man would also soon realize this dream of immortality is foolishness and embellishing it with any additional desires is utterly ridiculous ... even ludicrous.
The man in our story has indeed mused over these thoughts, but as sensible as he is, he knows full well that the dream is mere folly and could never be fulfilled, so he plods through his final days trying to make the best of the time he has left.
 
 
 
 
 
 
You never know how strong you are
until being strong is your only ch oice.
….Bob Marley
But to see her was to love her,
Love but her, and love for ever.
…. Robert Burns
Cruel as death, and hungry as the g rave.
…. James Thomson

Chapter One
I t was a beautiful warm night in the early fall in the little middle-class community on the North Shore of Long Island in the state of New York. On a quiet street, a small unpretentious ranch house is the home of an elderly couple who have lived their entire married life in that single dwelling. They had been happy in that home, but tonight a dark cloud hung over the home and lingered in their lives.
The night itself was clear and pleasant, truly tranquil and barely a breeze rustled the leaves on the trees or disturbed the sweet lingering scent of honeysuckle gracing a trestle on the back porch. A quarter moon hung high in the sky and numerous stars graced the heavens. It was alternately a dark night as the moon appeared to be dashing from cloud to cloud as if trying to hide its light from those living below.
As usual on this unusually warm night in late September, critters roamed the wooded areas searching for a meal: raccoo