by CW Johnson
The Son
Of Man
CW. Johnson
The Son of Man
Copyright ©2009, Charles W. Johnson
Table of Contents
Acknowledgments:
Reviews:
Chapter One:
Chapter Two:
Chapter Three:
Chapter Four:
Chapter Five:
Chapter Six:
Chapter Seven:
Other Books by CW Johnson:
About The Author:
Email:
The Son of Man Facebook Page:
Excerpt from CW Johnson’s new novel: The Princess of Shiloh
"For there shall arise false Christ’s, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect"....Matthew 24:24
[email protected]
Acknowledgments:
A heartfelt thanks to Kerry Allemann for her much appreciated line-editing services.
*This book was re-edited by Kerry on 05/1/2012*
Thanks to my mentor, Fran Porretto.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are a product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
Reviews:
Amazon.com Michelle says:
"I read all three books in pretty much a week or less. I couldn't put it down. It’s a new twist to an age old question. I really enjoyed it!"
Barnes&Noble eVID-JT says:
“EXCELLENT NOVEL”
“Son of Man was such an exciting novel that I've already downloaded Book II and Book III. The author constantly adds new facets and sub-plots that keep you wondering what will happen next as you follow the two main characters. This novel is over 950 pages but moves quickly while it keeps you on the edge of your seat. It's a definite must read!”
Email:
“Mr. Johnson,”
“I don’t make a habit out of writing fan mail, although I do try to make a habit out of acknowledging good when I see it. I have to admit, Son of Man is good, extraordinarily good! I can only imagine the amount of hard work and creativity that went into the Son of Man books, and I wanted you to know how much I enjoyed them, and appreciate it. I also wanted you to know that I value the message behind the books. I have yet to finish Son of Man II, but I got all excited about it and felt like I ought to tell you how incredible it is. The storyline is infinitely interesting to me, and the character development is on par with the likes of McMurtry, and the storyline is as complex and interesting as Herbert. Plus, you make us Oklahoma boys look pretty good. As far as I’m concerned, you put together a story line with secret societies, Okies, social upheaval, eschatology, biblical prophecy, and top it off with a good message of faith…well, it’s pure genius. Anyways, thanks for the great books, I have really enjoyed them, and look forward to following your literary excursions in the future. I know it’s probably of little value, but this Oklahoma roughneck is impressed.
Thank you for your time,
Mont.”
Amazon UK Rippers says:
“Amazing book,”
“What a page turner. I downloaded this when I got my new Kindle as a free download, as I'd seen the good reviews. It's such an unusual story and a real page turner. I don't remember the last time I read a book this fast. Apart from the sequel! Really glad I could read it right away and not have to wait.”
Podiobooks.com Tristen says:
“I completely ripped through this novel. It was so captivating. So well read, voice acting was superb. I would not change a single thing, I have no negative feedback. Nothing that I would do differently or like to see differently. Amazing characters. Amazing plot. Amazing writer. Amazing reader. Amazing work of fiction. Simply amazing.”
“I loved this series. I could not stop reading even though I was overseas visiting my grandchildren. I look forward to more from this author.”
Book One
Chapter One:
~~~
“We haven’t had a chance to talk much about what it will be like to be the parents of such a…unique child.”
The bride pulled her eyes away from the groom and considered the priest. “I thought the Vinces wanted the baby raised in as normal an environment as possible.”
“Yes, that is true, and for that reason you must never tell anyone who the child really is.”
“They covered that when I was being interviewed,” the bride said, “but I never really understood why.”
The priest stood, walked around his desk and sat on the corner. “Ok—a hypothetical situation—we go right to the media and tell them about the baby—”
“I know we can’t go to the media,” the bride said. “Human cloning is illegal.”
The priest held up his hand. “Please hear me out.”
“The whole damn world would be camped in our front yard,” the groom said, breaking his silence. “That’s what would happen.”
The priest pointed at the groom. “Yes, and imagine what it would be like for the child.”
“So, we can’t tell anyone at all?” the bride said.
The priest ignored her question. “Ok, say you tell your neighbors, parents, friends, that your little boy is the clone of Jesus Christ of Nazareth. First of all, they’re gonna’ think you’re crazy, or maybe they just might believe you. Imagine how they would then react to the child.”
“Think of it this way,” the priest continued, rearranging himself on the corner of his desk, “there are roughly around—oh, let’s see—seven billion people in the world today. About a billion of those people are gonna’ believe your little boy is God’s own clone, and some of those folks can be pretty radical. There will be the crazy fringe bunch: those who will look upon the child as an abomination, or maybe a threat to their particular belief system. What I’m telling you now is not hypothetical. We know for a fact these people exist.”
“But, what about the baby?” the bride said. “How can we expect a little child to keep such a secret?”
“Easy, we don’t tell him.”
Three Months Earlier
~~~
It was easy for Todd Riley to say he didn’t care about school before the deed was done, but now reality was rolling in like an Atlantic sea fog. How was he going to tell his father he’d quit school?
It had been over two years since he and his mate Obie Baker left their home town of Muskogee, Oklahoma in search of an affordable state-of-the-art education. For them, that meant UCLA at Los Angeles, California. It wasn’t an easy transition. The loud confusion and clamor was daunting in the beginning but the two country boys soon found their niche.
For the most part, life at UCLA had been good to Todd. The ever-present alcohol fuddle, the friends who never had to go home and the endless supply of girls orbiting his crew but always gravitating to him, but that was before he met Maria Rose.
Since Maria Rose, life at UCLA had consisted of sleep, booze, pain, and lonely, crowded parties, all of which had already cost him four of his five classes. He had managed to cling to his developmental biology class till the very end, but he wasn’t sure why.
Truth of the matter was, since Maria, he’d been thinking about going back to Oklahoma. Get a job for a while; take it back to his roots.
Deep in thought, he found himself entering the parking terrace of his apartment building. It was already getting late. He found a spot and pulled in just as the sun was going down. Before he was able to open the pickup door, his cell phone sounded. “Talk to me,” he barked into the receiver, his baritone voice resonating off the concrete walls.
“Todd, what did you do?”
“News travels fast,” Todd said.
“So you've really done it? You quit?”
Todd stepped out of his truck. “Obie, I’m sort of busy right now, could I call you later?”
“Okay buddy, but I gotta tell ya, I got news you’re gonna wanna’ hear.”
“News about what?”
“Oh, it ain’t gonna be that easy, dude. I’m at Dub's. If you wanna get the news, you know where I’ll be.”
“Not tonight, Obie. I gotta talk to my dad and make some plans—”
“Two words, Todd, I got two words for ya.”
Todd smiled. “Okay Obie, what’re your two words?”
“Maria Rose.”
Todd stopped mid-step. “Maria? What about her?”
“Maria Rose is out asking around for one Mr. Todd Riley’s phone number.”
“Get out!”Todd yelled.
“That’s right dude—she was here at Dub’s a minute ago. She was looking for you— just barely left. She was asking for your phone number. Which was weird man, cause I thought she already had it.”
“I changed it…long story. Who did she ask?”
“Dub’s, 15 minutes.” The phone went silent.
Todd stared at it a moment before sprinting back to his pickup.
The roads winding in and out of the busy UCLA campus were packed, but Todd was able to make the five miles to Dub’s Pub in less than 20 minutes. The moment Todd walked in the crowded bar Obie was on him.
“Todd, TODD!” Obie hollered over the blasting rock band. “We’re over in the corner, dude!”
Cody Fisher pushed a cold beer into Todd’s hand and slapped him on the back. Denny and Tadpole were standing at a table motioning for him to join them. Todd grinned, raised his beer, and slowly began making his way towards them.
“Todd the bro bra dudester!” Denny shouted as Todd approached the table. He offered the palm of his hand, and Todd soundly slapped it.
“I heard you totally quit school today,” he said. “I wish I could quit. My old man would kill me.”
"Why would you want to quit school?"
"Cause I suck at it, dude. I should just get a job and—"
“Obie…Obie!” Todd shouted over Tadpole’s shoulder. “What about Maria Rose?”
Obie broke conversation with a couple of roving sorority girls and moved to Todd’s side. “She said she wants your new phone number, dude. She wanted to know where you’re living now.”
“Who did she ask?”
Obie pushed a sloshing beer bottle against his own chest. “Emwaaa.”
“You?”
“Yeah, why not me?”
“I don’t know. Did she say why?”
“Not really.”
“You give her my number?”
“Sure I gave it to her.”
“You give her my cell number?”
“No dude, you said to never do that.”
“You didn’t give Maria Rose my cell phone number?”
Obie grinned stupidly, “Sorry dude.”
“So—did she say when she was gonna call?”
“No, she was in a hurry. She… is… so… frickin’ hot, dude.”
“Be back in a few,” the lead singer bellowed from the bandstand. “Don’t go anywhere!”
The pub quieted and the group of students quickly huddled around the small table.
“Maybe she wants to get back with you, dude,” Tadpole said. “Maybe she’s sick of Jessie Espinosa.”
Todd shook his head. “I’m not seein’ it. The dude’s a movie star.”
“He’s just another city pretty,” Obie said, “all hat and no cattle.”
Todd grinned and clicked his raised beer bottle against Obie’s.
“What was she like?” Denny asked, changing the subject.
“Dude—is she as good as she looks?” Tadpole said.
Todd stared into his beer. “Wouldn’t know.”
“How could you not know?” Denny said. “You two went out together for three months. How could you go out with a girl like that for three months and never have sex? Could you tell me that?”
Todd pulled his beer to his mouth. “The opportunity never came up.”
“Why’d she call it off, dude?” Obie asked. “I thought you two were close as fingers.”
“She didn’t call it off. I did.”
“You?”
“Yeah, me.”
“Why? How come this is the first time I’ve heard of it?”
Todd put his empty bottle on the table. “I gotta go. I’m here jackin’ around and Maria probably called already.”
~~~
By the time Todd reached his apartment building it was well past midnight. He pulled into his parking spot, stepped out of his truck, and stood looking back out into the parking terrace. He’d been watching the sleek, black Jaguar in his rearview mirror since leaving the village. Now it was parked on the road in front of his complex, its dark, tinted windows gleaming in the moonlight.
As he stood watching, the car slowly pulled out and began making its way up the drive towards him. Todd left his truck and moved out into the driveway. He dropped the bill of his cap shielding his eyes from the glare of the headlights as the car pulled up and stopped directly in front of him. He heard a door open and close. Someone moved into the light.
“Maria,” Todd said. “What are you doing here?”
“Todd, I have to talk to you. It’s important.”
The car backed up, stopped, and quickly pulled up beside them. “You sure this is what you want?” the driver asked, glaring at Todd.
“Jessie, please—just go,” Maria said softly.
Todd had seen the face in the car before. It was the face of Jessie Espinosa, star of the hit TV series Run and Batch magazine’s ‘world’s sexiest man.’
The driver shook his head. “Okay, that’s it then.” The tires squawked as the Jaguar jumped and sped away. It turned a corner and disappeared into the night.
Maria looked up at Todd. “Sorry.”
Todd looked down into her dazzling green eyes sparkling in the soft moonlight. Her moon-lit raven hair framed her perfect face, pouring over her small shoulders. She stood in flawless feminine pose, tall and straight, looking up at him beneath sweeping long lashes. She was astonishingly beautiful, and completely unattainable.
“Was that—?”
“Yeah… that was Jessie,” Maria said.
“What’s going on? Have you been crying?”
Maria shrugged. “We broke up—it was a little ugly.”
Todd pulled his ball cap off and looked around the parking lot. He quietly rolled a pebble under his boot before looking back up at Maria. “You want to come in?” he asked.
Maria nodded and they made their way up the stairs and into Todd’s apartment. Todd motioned toward his old green couch and went to the fridge.
“Why?” he said, returning with a soda. He took the lounge chair directly across from her.
“Why what?”
“Why did you break up?”
Maria smiled softly and stared into her soda. “You wouldn’t believe me if I told you.”
“Try me.”
Maria shrugged. “We had a fight over…you.”
“Me?”
“Truth is, Todd, I can’t stop thinking about you.”
Todd frowned. “Who are you?”
“Todd,” Maria said, obviously suppressing a smile. “Jessie knew I wanted to be with you; that’s why we broke up.”
“Yeah, figures, only Maria could get her own movie star to drop her off at her old boyfriend’s apartment.”
“This is important,” Maria said. “Stop changing the subject, especially since you’re leaving L.A. soon.”
“How did you know that?”
“I know you were expelled. I knew you wouldn’t stay here.”
“I quit.”
"What?"
"I quit school. I wasn't expelled."
&
nbsp; “Whatever Todd. The point is, I can’t live without you. I can’t let you leave without you knowing that.”
Todd studied her face a moment before lifting the soda to his mouth. He took a long drink and looked back at her. “Maria” he said softly, “what are you doing?”
“I want you to go to Nashville with me sometime next week to celebrate. It’s all on me.”
“Celebrate what?”
“Celebrate our getting back together.”
“What gave you the notion I wanted to get back together?”
“Todd,” she said, frowning like a little child, “I told you I wanted you, and that I can’t stop thinking about you. That’s what you said you needed from me—remember? What more can I say?”
“You could mean it.”
“I do. I do mean it.”
Todd eased out of the chair and moved towards the window. “Why Nashville?”
“I’m having tests run at Vanderbilt. I just thought, since we’re already there, we could take a few days—that is, if you want to come with me.”
“Testing you for what?”
“It’s a…medical thing.”
“You sick?” he said, looking back at her.
“No, nothing like that. It’s just something I’m doing for extra credit. They’ve been testing me for months. They need me to go to Vanderbilt for this last test.”
Todd looked back out into the dark. He stood in silence for a time before turning back. “What the hell. I could use a vacation. When do you want to leave?”
One week later
~~~
Jesus Christ sat in his tattered cardboard refrigerator box waiting for instructions from God. It was so hard at times to take the taunts and jeers from the wicked ones. He would forgive them; he always did. It had been increasingly hard to make ends meet since they released him from the sanitarium. He missed his friends there. Dr. McClellan always listened to him. He didn’t laugh when they talked. The only true friend he had left was Bartholomaei, but Bartholomaei wouldn’t leave the box so he was never around when he was needed the most.
Jesus Christ was getting hungry. For the longest time he’d been hesitant to leave the box for fear he’d miss a message from God, but then he realized God could reach him anywhere, even down on West End Avenue. Who knows, maybe some lost soul would redeem himself by buying Jesus Christ a meal and possibly even a bottle for after. He picked up his tattered coat.
“Don’t go out there,” Bartholomaei hissed.