Out of the Darkness (Paperback)

"Out Of The Darkness" If you stop the average person on the street and ask them to name the seven wonders of world, do you think they would be able too? Some may, and some may know a few. Most would look at you as if you had three eyes. And in a world as large as ours, do you really think there are only seven wonders? I know for a fact that at least one more exists. It has been kept secret for many years from the world's population, except for those lucky enough to know of it. Now I will tell you of this secret place. But I can not tell you where it is. I must keep my word not to divulge it's location. My name is Martin Ober. I am now in my mid fifties and spent many of my early years fighting the sea for a living as a fisherman with my father. Life was difficult for us. Mother passed when I was two years of age. Father did all he could to provide for me. We lived mainly on our boat which we kept in the best shape possible. It was our life. Our whole life. We were always together. But as fate would have it, father passed before I turned twenty. I was left to fight the sea alone for a living. Sometimes one must suffer such a loss to find the path to happiness. I found such happiness in Kaboe Valley. This story was first told by one of the elders of the valley. He was called Sardis. A small, fragile man well into his eighties, but with the mind of a much younger man. He had lived his entire life in Kaboe. He told his story to a man he met only by accident when the man anchored his boat the small island, where Sardis lived alone, to wait out an oncoming storm. This man was called Olin. He was a tall man, standing two heads taller than Sardis. Olin was a young man at the time, a very stronglooking man with a beard as black as coal and eyes emerald green, skin darkened by the sun and hands rough and calloused by pulling in fish nets day after day. He too fought the sea for a living. Sardis and Olin became good friends. Sardis told him of a once beautiful valley protected by great rock walls that reached the sky. A valley that took an ancient river thousands of years to cut through the stone. The river was named Kaboe, and so the valley is also known as Kaboe, Kaboe Valley. The valley was green with vegetation. Small, fast running, sparkling streams found their way to a very large pond that sat silently with it's clear, cool water reflecting the serene surroundings. Farm animals feasted on lush grass in the pastures that were moistened by light rains that fell once or twice a week. Large stone houses lined the dirt road that cut through the length of the valley. The only road. Painted frame houses sat amongst the stone houses, offering a picturesque splash of color. Life here was good. Everyone knew each other. . They even liked each other. People here were of all races and religions that melted into one. Many residents of the valley have lived there all their lives. Many were related. Few ever left and many outsiders came to the valley to purchase some of the freshest produce available for miles around. Some came to buy produce and never left. The people of Kaboe made the valley totally self sufficient. Anything they needed was obtained through either bartering or with tender from then sale of produce. Life here was good. But things can change, and change quickly. One day the heavy rains came. Hard, pounding, cold rain. This was very, very unusual compared to the alwaysgentle rains and mild weather everyone was used to. The rain was relentless. Day after day with no sign of stopping. The beautiful, peaceful valley of Kaboe was now flooding. Water filled the street and mud flowed through houses and buildings. Everyone was fearful the flooding would destroy life in Kaboe. Suddenly, just as fast as the rain started, it stopped. People came out of their homes and gathered in street standing in two feet of water. Kaboe was a mess, but the rain had stopped and everyone knew the water