Lanterna Rally

Author: James Lannan

Publisher: Xlibris Corporation

Published: 2010-09-02

Total Pages: 277

ISBN-13: 1453552456

Is Henry Otis crazy?During formative years in Dangle, Wyoming, Henry becomes convinced that he possesses the power to orchestrate real world events by pure force of will. The maker of miracles at first exults in his power, but soon realizes there are rules to its exercise, some of which will be disclosed only after he breaks them.Having "confabrilated" his brother Robert's romance with a college co-ed, Henry infers that he is responsible for subsequent failure of the couple's marriage. As a consequence of willing his wife's pregnancy, he assumes blame for her miscarriage. Mother Otis dies in a car wreck because her younger son, at an unguarded moment, wishes she'd get lost. But what offense did Henry commit against the "power beyond" to cause the death of his best friend Jeffery, a peace officer, who takes a bullet to the chest while attempting to resolve a domestic dispute.Nearly catatonic from compounded grief, Henry loses his job as a police dispatcher, is committed to the psyche ward at the local hospital and, upon release, dutifully attends regular therapeutic sessions with a psychologist. One afternoon his therapist cancels an appointment, and he returns home unexpectedly to discover that brother Robert and wife Holly have become lovers. There follows a frantic chase to the Mexican border, with the betrayed husband racing to outdistance a team of insidious deceivers.In Mexico, Henry follows a group of pilgrims into a cave, and there learns that he has been assigned a sacred mission, which is also his last chance at redemption. Aided by desert animals, ambulant campesino skeletons and a Downs-syndrome angel, he manages to save a holy golden cross from evil forces that conspire to cast the entire world in darkness.Is Henry Otis nuts? He'd say it's hard to tell, once you get rolling.