Voices of the Seven Thunders
Book 1
by
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He looked at the graduates. “These letters reflect a battle of moods throughout America. Hope against despair, fear against courage. This is what you and I will be up against when we go out to establish the ‘Dream’. It won’t be easy, but it will be worth our efforts. It won’t happen overnight, but it will be worth our efforts. It won’t please everybody…yes, you are right. It will be worth our efforts. So, in closing….” A few graduates in the front row chanted among themselves but loud enough for the governor to smile and take notice. “In closing, I want to congratulate and thank every one of you for adding a little more substance to the ’Dream’. America is a society of competitors and without competition we would cease to exist as a great nation. We still have obstacles to contend with but as long as we deal with the barriers in our personal experiences, we will contribute to the ‘Dream’. I encourage you to bear in mind the words of Justice Mitchell… ‘Overcoming as a whole, is relative to the success of the single….’ Let these words burn in your spirits. Let them reflect in your decisions. Let them constantly remind you that America is relying on YOU to keep the ‘Dream’ alive.” With his right arm raised and index finger pointed to the ceiling he looked across the auditorium at the graduates. “Who are we?” he bellowed. “We are winners!” “Who are we?” “We are winners!” “Who are we?” “We are winners!” “Thank you, and May God bless America!” In the midst of floodlights and a rousing standing ovation, Governor Jefferson walked to the edge of the stage and leaned over to touch and shake the eager hands that reached up to him. The chanting picked up strength and filled the air with electricity. “We are winners! We are winners! We are winners!” As the excitement mounted, no one heeded the warning signs when the Governor tried to wrest his hand from the grip of a towering man in a brown tweed suit. With a firm grip on Jefferson’s hand, the man reached inside of his suit coat, slipped out a snub-nosed .44 and fired twice. Both bullets slammed into the governor’s chest with a force that ripped him free of the assailant’s grasp. Before anyone could react, the assailant aimed and fired again hitting Jefferson in his abdomen. “Oh, my God!” gasped a wrinkle-faced reporter as she and others backed away from the assailant. Bending forward at the waist, Jefferson reached for his aides with gnarled fingers. “Hellllllllp! Let’s get some help up here! The governor’s been shot! The governor’s been shot!” “Somebody call an ambulance! Get the medics!” “He’s hurt! Get an ambulance!” “That man! There! In the brown suit, don’t let him get away!” In a frenzied array of shouts and screams, Jefferson lost control of his balance and fell on the stage floor. The assailant had caught everyone off guard, including the governor’s security force who didn’t respond until after the third shot had been fired. Jefferson was lying on his back and clinging to his chest by the time anyone could reach him. With guns drawn, four agents surrounded him and pointed towards the assailant as he tried to make his way through the graduates. “Stop him! In the brown suit!” “Don’t let that man get away!” The assailant was strong, pushing everyone out of his way with a force that sent a few of them sprawling. Before he could make it halfway through the auditorium, an agent tackled him from behind. Two security guards joined in the scuffle by grabbing the assailant’s pistol hand and pinning him to the floor. Another shot was discharged hitting the ceiling and causing tiny bits of plaster to sprinkle onto the startled people below. Hustling to the scene, a second agent took a good measured aim and slammed the butt of his magnum into the back of the assailant’s head. “Gawd dammit!” a Jefferson aide yelled from the stage. “Can we get some help over here!” “Just stand back, people!! Stand back and give the governor some air!” Sweating profusely and still clinging to his chest, Jefferson rolled over on his side in agony. “Ambulance! Ambulaaaance! Coming through. Make way, make way.” “Dammit, it’s about time! You people over there on the steps, get out of the way and let these medics through!” “You heard ‘im! Stand back and get off the fuckin’ steps!” “Ambulance! Ambulaaaance!” huffed a paramedic as he and three assistants rushed up the steps and onto the stage. “Move aside, gentlemen. We can handle it from here!” As the governor was lifted and placed onto a gurney, streams of blood oozed from the corners of his mouth and trickled down his cheeks.
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About the Book
Marcus Dexter is haunted by terrifying dreams centered around a monstrous gray python that promises knowledge while revealing a world consumed by pain, disease, sin, and death. The visions leave him unsettled, but his attention is drawn back to reality when a national tragedy changes the course of events across America. Governor Jack Jefferson, a popular Illinois governor and presidential candidate, publicly announces his campaign for the presidency during a commencement address. Moments later, he is assassinated in front of a shocked audience. The killing sends shockwaves throughout the nation and becomes the focal point of political, social, and spiritual unrest. Meanwhile, Marcus visits his family in Los Angeles. His mother, Cora Lee Dexter, is deeply involved in spiritual beliefs and warns him repeatedly that his time is running out. During the visit, Marcus learns that his brother, Donald, has been diagnosed with AIDS. Determined to support his family, Marcus agrees to attend a healing event led by Reverend Isaac Langley, the influential leader of The New Day Temple. As the nation reacts to Jefferson’s death, The New Day Temple expands its influence through disciples such as Brett Kerish, who promote Langley’s teachings and the doctrine of “The Forces.” The movement attracts followers from many walks of life while creating conflict with traditional religious beliefs. At the same time, other characters, including Joe Kaye, Karlotta Ellison, William and Mildred Ellison, and various political, criminal, and religious figure, become increasingly connected to the growing struggle between competing ideologies and unseen spiritual influences. Marcus finds himself pulled deeper into events surrounding the assassination, his family’s spiritual practices, and the mysterious forces operating behind public events. His relationship with his mother becomes increasingly strained as she urges him toward paths he does not fully understand. Donald’s illness, the rise of The New Day Temple, political violence, and growing social instability all contribute to an atmosphere of fear, uncertainty, and spiritual conflict. Throughout the novel, questions of faith, destiny, power, race, politics, morality, and spiritual authority intertwine. As hidden agendas unfold and individuals are drawn into larger conflicts, Marcus is forced to confront forces far beyond ordinary human understanding. The book culminates in a disturbing ritual in a cemetery where Marcus becomes the central figure in a ceremony dedicated to Lucifer, “the God of the Forces.” Helpless as the ritual unfolds around him, Marcus is symbolically presented as a servant prepared to carry out a greater purpose. The novel closes with the declaration that Marcus Dexter is ready to share those forces with the world, ending Book One on a dark and ominous note that sets the stage for the continuation of the story.
About the Author
Lloyd Howard Carter July 10, 1947 - January 27, 2004 Lloyd Howard Carter was born in Columbus, Ohio, in 1947, the third son of James Carter and Mattie Teague, who was born deaf and mute. Growing up, the challenges surrounding his parents’ disabilities profoundly shaped his life and later became a source of reflection in his literary pursuits. A natural storyteller, Lloyd developed his craft while incarcerated in the United States Federal prison system. The hardships, personal struggles, and lessons that emerged from those years continue to influence the themes and authenticity of his work. His publication credit includes The Makings of Frankensteins, which appeared in the Los Angeles Times during the 1980s while he was incarcerated in Lompoc, California.