26 and Change

Начало книги

Beloved tales shared by generations have touted the durability of castles built on stone. Sacred parables repeatedly lift up the wise man who builds his home upon a rock. And timeless fables teach that storms are best weathered upon a solid foundation. And so it is true that since the time of antiquity, solid ground has held a firm reputation as the venue of choice for facing hardship. As Stephen Lantz pressed the toe of his shoe into the resistance of the road’s surface, he couldn’t have disagreed more.

He hesitated. It was as if too much pressure would awaken some unseen monster beneath him. Speckled blemishes marked the jagged asphalt. It drew his attention to the apparent scarring of daily wear that had been mixed with a constant exposure to the natural elements. The battle-hardened appearance only intensified the road’s seeming brutality. Breaks of loose gravel gave a false sense of weakness, but not a hint of brokenness as the road defiantly challenged him. Stephen swallowed deeply, attempting to wash away the fluttering doubts of his own readiness.

Читать дальше →