The Shadow Zone

A lot of things happened in back rooms, dark corners and out of the way places before the civil authorities became involved. Even when a young girl walked into the Department of Police to report an incident involving a corporate vehicle, it wasn't readily apparent anything other than a routine accident investigation was necessary.Some say perception is reality. If true, then public preconceptions of the Dilmun Corporation believed it to be a private organization with squeaky clean credentials. But like city sewers most of its' real filth was unseen, hidden from the public eye in political sometimes murderous shadows.Out of the desert came a second shadow - its' threat more overt than the town's major employer, its' purpose linked not to a corporate director in a three-piece suit, but to a young girl in ragged and dirty clothing who defended homeless children. Like a desert dust devil, she appeared out of nowhere and disappeared just as quickly.She walked in off the street one day, reported the burnt remains of a truck and its' single charred occupant to the police duty sergeant, and disappeared without a trace. A surveillance photograph taken at the time provided a crucial link to her identity and to a gigantic desert menace called The Shadow Zone. No one knew it at the time, but the ruined truck and its dead driver was only the newest incident in a long war between shadows._____________Work by author and educator, Richard Paracka. Published by DonnaInk Publications, L.L.C.

From the Inside Flap

A lot of things happened in back rooms, dark corners and out of the way places before the civil authorities became involved. Even when a young girl walked into the Department of Police to report an incident involving a corporate vehicle, it wasn't readily apparent anything other than a routine accident investigation was necessary. Some say perception is reality. If true, then public preconceptions of the Dilmun Corporation believed it to be a private organization with squeaky clean credentials. But like city sewers most of its' real filth was unseen, hidden from the public eye in political sometimes murderous shadows. Out of the desert came a second shadow - its' threat more overt than the town's major employer, its' purpose linked not to a corporate director in a three piece suit, but to a young girl in ragged and dirty clothing who defended homeless children. Like a desert dust devil she appeared out of nowhere and disappeared just as quickly. She walked in off the street one day, reported the burnt remains of a truck and its' single charred occupant to the police duty sergeant, and disappeared without a trace. A surveillance photograph taken at the time provided a crucial link to her identity and to a gigantic desert menace called The Shadow Zone. No one knew it at the time, but the ruined truck and its dead driver was only the newest incident in a long war between shadows.

From the Back Cover

A fair maiden in distress, a fiery white steed, and a handsome young prince riding to her rescue; are all modern elements of a classic story with its roots in the Greek myth of Perseus and Andromeda. In all its variations, it's been a great story enjoyed by readers for centuries. This time around, I thought I'd turn the whole thing upside down, inside out, and start over.THE SHADOW ZONE is set in the modern age, with all the grand principles, technical complications and bureaucratic corruptions that are so familiar to all of us. When things go wrong, the most innocent are the first to be caught in the trap.This time it's a little different. This time, none of the sons of men seem to be able to quite get a handle on the situation. This time, the goals of the good guys are elusive, always slipping through their fingers. This time, it's the princess who has to come to the rescue.This time, things work out very differently. This time, the innocent are lost to this world forever.There is no handsome young prince in this story. He's an over-weight cop with a two-legged partner who has unusual problems and potentials of his own. Our young princess isn't exactly fair either. She has a dirty face from hanging around a bunch of scruffy children. She's been wearing a ragged dress for a very long time, and her ride is hotter than a white horse.THE SHADOW ZONE begins with the sound of running foot-steps echoing off the walls of ruined buildings. Two young shadows dodge between abandoned vehicles on a forgotten and nameless city street. Something dark and dangerous stalks them in the night. They've been living in THE SHADOW ZONE, but they won't be walking its streets much longer.

About the Author

Prior to military service Mr. Paracka earned an associate s degree in Computer Science and accounting. During six years of service in the United States Navy, Richard s unit was deployed to the Middle East on two occasions, once to GITMO and once to Central and South America. Following his return to private life Mr. Paracka returned to higher education. He completed his under graduate work in History and Public Speaking in 1976 and continued his studies in a Masters Degree program of theology and church history. Richard now lives in west central Florida and is employed by a local community college. He has been married more than thirty-five years and has two adult children. His previous publications include a fiction novel about Atlantis, based upon a discovery of the real city and his personal visits to the area, several short stories and articles for a veteran s magazine.

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