Prologue
The wind whipped against the lighthouse, shaking it so fiercely that Sam could picture it toppling into the stormy sea. Waves pounded the rocks and halfway up the sides of the lighthouse—waves that were twice Sam's height. His thin frame tightened as he braced for each violent shake from the waves that fed hungrily on the wind. Sending a silent prayer skyward, Sam checked to make sure the light was still working. Weather like this could easily send an unfortunate ship spinning into the rocks, shattering it to mere splinters in seconds. The light continuously spun, sending its warning outward.
There's something different in this storm, Sam thought as he made his way to the lower level of the lighthouse. Another wave rattled the windows in the area Sam called home. "Yes, indeed," he mumbled out loud. "Something is definitely different."
Unable to sleep, Sam played solitaire and let his thoughts wander. He didn't mind being alone in the middle of the sea. His job was an important one. A ship getting lost out here and crashing upon the sharp, rocky island would mean instant death to all aboard. Sam hated to think of what the aftermath of such a disaster would be like, so he was meticulous in keeping the light well-oiled and the glass sparkling. He'd been emotionally alone his entire life, yet never felt lonely. Life was everywhere around him and Sam never ceased to wonder at the power and beauty of the sea.
He wandered over to the window and looked out over the raging water. Bolts of lightning lit up the churning waves and thunder reverberated from every direction, not so much following the lightning, but accompanying it—the two creating a chorus of unimaginable power. The lighthouse continued to shake with every clap of thunder, but she held her ground, steady and sure in the face of danger. Sam felt safe within her walls. Still, as he watched wave after wave crash against the rocks outside, he couldn't shake the feeling that there was something different about this storm. He'd been through many raging storms in his years at sea, but the feeling wasn't the same. With one final look out the window, Sam went back to his game to wait for morning. He knew it would be a long night.
* * * *
Morning arrived, clear and cloudless, with the sky a bright blue shade found nowhere else in the world. Sam stepped outside to take a look at what damage the storm had caused. He took a deep breath of the salty air. He could feel it energize him. The thought crossed his mind that there wasn't a bit of blood flowing through his veins after all this time. "No," Sam said to the sky, "there's nothing but pure salt water running through these old veins."
A storm as powerful as the previous night's could cause a lot of damage. Sam had found, at one time or another, various kinds of debris and sea life. He'd found sea creatures stranded on the rocks and pieces of broken ships that hadn't made it through to the end of their journey. Today, everything appeared fine. Then he saw the gulls.
It wasn't often you saw more than a lone gull this far out at sea. The last time Sam had seen so many circling like this, a dolphin had been thrown from the sea and lay stranded upon the rocks. The gulls had gathered and circled, waiting for the dolphin to lose its fight for life. Sam had worked all day, dragging the stranded creature to the edge of the island so it could swim back to safety. His heart sank as he headed toward the gulls.
What now? he wondered.
Following instinct rather than any tangible reasoning, Sam headed for a large boulder to his right. If nothing else, he thought, I'll get a clearer view of the surrounding area. The air suddenly stilled. The gulls landed and ceased their constant cries. Sam looked around him and wondered at the total silence. A tingling ran through him like the lightning the night before had charged the air around him. It wasn't an unpleasant feeling. Sam continued his climb up the boulder and, reaching the top, he froze.
He wasn't sure what he had expected to see—maybe a dolphin or a tortoise. What he did see, however, was so unexpected and out of place that Sam felt unable to move for a time. Wedged tightly between two stones was a wicker basket, like those used for laundry. It appeared whole and undamaged.
A cry broke through Sam's reverie; there was something alive inside the basket! Approaching the basket cautiously, he looked around for any signs of life other than the gulls. The gentle lapping of the waves eased his nervousness, but not his confusion. Inside the basket, wrapped tightly in a soft blanket, was a baby.
"Is anyone there?" Sam called out, turning slowly in a circle. There was no sound, no movement. Sam saw no boat to indicate that there was anyone else on the island. Searching the ground for footprints, Sam found none. This made no sense. Babies don't just appear out of thin air. He closed his eyes. He was seeing things. That's what it was. Opening his eyes again, Sam discovered that the baby was still there. The air still held the abnormal silence.
It's like the calm before the storm, he thought, only this time it's come after the storm.
The baby was watching Sam, quietly now, an expression of interest in his dark eyes. Stooping down, Sam gently reached out to touch the child's forehead. "Well, I guess this is one critter I can't throw back in." The baby laughed and the sound startled Sam; it was a sound that seemed so out-of-place here. Rocks upon rocks surrounded them. The lighthouse stood on the only piece of flat land the island had.
Island?
It occurred to Sam at that moment that nobody could have gotten there without a boat, and the storm of last night would surely have caused any boat coming close to splinter against the rocks. There were no signs of a wrecked boat anywhere. Sam's confusion grew, but common sense finally kicked in.
"You must be wet and cold," he said to the baby. "I need to get you inside." He reached down to lift the infant and found, to his utter amazement, the baby was as dry as he was. "Who are you? Where did you come from?" The baby's eyes met Sam's silently.
Sam carried the tiny bundle back to his home. In all his years, he'd never held a baby, and he found himself taking extra care for fear of being too harsh. He wondered what he could feed the baby. He was sure he'd heard somewhere that babies needed special food. "Hope you like fish, little one. That's about all we get around here."
Gently laying the baby on his cot, Sam unwrapped him. He looked the baby over carefully for signs of injury. There wasn't a mark on the perfect skin. "Looks like everything is in working order," he said out loud.
Eyes as black as a starless night looked up into Sam's gray ones, and Sam suddenly felt he was in the presence of someone so much older than the tiny child he held. The eyes seemed to speak of mysteries Sam could only guess at. The child's hair was wavy and black. Sam gently reached out and allowed the hair to curl around his finger. The child reached up and took hold of Sam's outstretched finger and Sam had the strongest feeling of pure love he'd ever known.
"What am I to do with this child, Lord? Please show me what you want of me." Sam unwrapped the child's hand from his finger and sat down on the cot. The baby had drifted into a peaceful sleep and Sam's worried expression turned to a gentle smile as he looked upon the sleeping baby.
I'll find a way to take care of you, he thought.
A ship came to the island every six months to bring supplies. Sam checked his logbook—five months to go. He'd turn the baby over to the supply crew when they came and they could take him to town, where his parents could be found. Sam felt that was the best thing.
"What shall I call you until then? You need a name."
Thinking back over the past few hours, Sam still felt confused as to how this child had come into his little piece of the world. Answers or not, Sam knew the coming months would not be easy ones. His nice, quiet, uneventful life had been turned upside down without warning. You never can tell what the storm will wash ashore.
"Storm," he whispered to the sleeping baby. "I'll call you Storm."
Reviews
A. What a breath of fresh air this book is! In an age when “God” has become a four letter word, and in a contemporary society that by and large considers all things Biblical to be babble, author Joyce Anthony brings us home to all things spiritual and meaningful with this charming and insightful story. Her boldness of faith is evident throughout and admirable.
Also impressive as I read “Storm” was her depth of understanding of human nature, psychology and spiritual condition. As a literary work “Storm” is well crafted; Anthony is definitely a gifted writer who can capture you and transport you into the sights, sounds, smells, feelings and aura of a different world and make you feel as if you really know the characters involved.
I don’t want to spoil the fun for potential readers, so I will not divulge the plot. However, I will tease you with this: it is the greatest true story ever re-told before it comes true. Plan on a few hours of uninterrupted trance-like reading, you won’t want to do anything else except keep turning the pages once you’ve started. Get ready to examine yourself, our society, and our world as it relates to its’ creator. There are many sad truths in this book. But in the end, the truth will set you free. Review written by: Marvin D. Wilson, author of “I Romanced the Stone” http://www.rockofallages.com/
*** B. The title belies the depth of this book. From the opening sequence to the final lightning bolt flash finish, Joyce Anthony keeps you riveted to your seat. Storm will permeate your very soul to a depth you never knew you had. Do not underestimate this book by its size. Ms Anthony unleashes more energy than any supernova. Storm will flood your emotions in biblical proportion. God lives through the hands of the angel that wrote this. You do not read Storm so much as you feel it. It is a book written in reverse. The thunderous opening builds and envelopes the reader until the stark brilliance of lightning burns the meaning into your every pore. Review by Ron Berry, author of Journey into the Surreal http://www.rberrysurrealhumor.com/
*** C. Once in a while a book crosses a reader's path that changes their life. For me, that book was Norman Vincent Peale's Power of Positive Thinking. Inspirational non-fiction books often are credited with doing that. But now, a new book is on the horizon. It is the debut novel by Joyce Anthony, entitled simply Storm.
Storm is a mysterious person who comes into the life of Sam, an old bachelor who raises him. When Sam dies, he leaves Storm with the message that there is a great job for him to do, but he doesn't fill in any of the blanks. As Storm seeks the purpose of his life on earth, he crosses paths with many troubled people, and Storm deals with each one in a most unique way. He is soon joined by a strange dog, Maggie, whose amethyst eyes are as piercing as Storm's. This book will not leave you alone. It will fill you with passion, compassion, faith and a zest for life unequal to anything you have ever imagined. And the end? I don't want to spoil it for you, but you will never look at anything the same way again. This is a must read for readers of all ages. To miss it is to ignore the best book you will probably ever read. Review by Janet Elaine Smith, author http://janet_elaine_smith0.tripod.com/
*** D. It is one awesome book for sure! After reading and evaluating the manuscript for possible acceptance at Star Publish LLC, I couldn't get it off my mind. I even dreamed about it. It won't let go of me. Kristie Leigh Maguire, http://starpublish.com/
Amazon Link: http://www.storm.2freedom.com/
Website: http://joyceanthony.tripod.com
Blog: Books and Authors http://joyceanthony.tripod.com/blog
