The Swirling Lights of Paradise

By Bryan Whelan

This book is about the life-and-death struggle of one spineless librarian thrust into the dangerous world that was opened up by the swirling light. Would his true self be the salvation or the death of him?

Poor Harold Manning, his life was just one boring day after another. The love of his life, his coworker at the library, barely took any notice of him. He was destined to die a lonely single man too afraid to take a chance on life. But, one fateful weekend, he encountered the swirling light. He was transported to a place where survival was paramount. Every day he struggled against the elements, strange beasts, and things from the past and future. Along the way he developed friendships with the oddest people, who had also been transported to the same place. Each new person had been plucked from a different time period. It was a complete mystery as to where they were, when they were, or even why they were there at all.

Each new crisis that confronted the strange band of friends meant either death or survival. Through all this, Harolds true mettle was tested. Was Harold up for the challenge, or was he going to cower away like the timid little librarian he was? And just who was controlling this whole place anyway?

This is a fantastic tale of how one mild-mannered man with his odd band of friends battled the strange world that was opened up by the swirling lights.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris AU
• Release date: Oct 12, 2016
• ISBN: 9781524515768

Bryan Whelan

The fourth in the Lincoln Cain Spy series from the pen of Bryan Whelan, following on from Edge of Reality, The Hexagonal Dome and The Bandaid Conspiracy. Bryan is a retired Maths, Science and Information Technology teacher from Australia, who has been a fan of science fiction all his life. Author of several science fiction adventure stories, including The Swirling Lights of Paradise, The Hives of God’s World and Truth of Time, he injects a distinctly Australian flavour to them.

Book preview

Chapter 1

The Swirling Light

H arold Manning was sitting behind his desk at the Municipal Library staring at various people sitting at the tables reading their books. He pondered what their lives were like. Who were these people? Why would they spend their time sitting in a library reading a book all day? Why aren’t they out in the real world making a difference, doing heroic things, experiencing what the world has to o ffer?

Why am I not out there saving the world from harm? Why am I not the hero? Like the ones I read about in books. Thought Harold.

Who was Harold kidding? He was a timid little man in his mid thirties. Physically he was best described as one of those guys that you barely noticed. The one you could easily push around. A great advertisement for the ‘before’ guy in those muscle building commercials. Mentally, his I.Q. was up in the 130s. A brilliant mind but lacked initiative his teachers would say. So reading was his outlet. He had that sort of knowledge that any trivia buff would envy. But as for experiencing life and being a real go getter, he was sadly lacking. Up til now the highlight of his life was getting this management job at the library.

He was daydreaming. The customer in front of him had to make a grunting sound to bring Harold back to reality. He stamped the book the customer had brought him and took the book over to his assistant, Miss Annabel Grover. She was a young, very prim and proper lady. Harold used to have visions about sweeping her off her feet. He wasn’t infatuated with her. He really didn’t know how to be. His real connections with her was always very conservative and reserved. She gave him the appearance of having no real interest in anything other than books. She even dressed conservatively. Something that did not fit her young age. If only she would loosen up a little. If she only wore a mini skirt and let her hair down over her shoulders, even once would be nice. She would be lovely to look at. These thoughts were running through Harold’s mind like a freight train. Miss Grover took the book, entered the return date into the computer and gave it back to the customer.

He was still staring at her. Harold then returned to reality. His abhorrence of his dull life was welling up inside of him. He felt he had to say something.

Annabel. Don’t you ever get tired of this life? He said.

What life? She replied.

The same day to day existence we experience here in this library. The jobs we do, well let’s face it, aren’t rocket science. Doesn’t it get you down or at least bored? Harold said, now looking more into space than at Annabel.

Oh no! I’ve got my dream job here. Any free moment I can read a book and I have this whole library to choose from. What more could a girl want? She exclaimed.

But don’t you wish you could get out into the world and experience life first hand rather than second hand in a book? Harold asked.

That sounds dangerous. What evils and perils would I have to deal with if I say suddenly went to Africa? She said.

But think of the adventures you might have in say Africa. Isn’t that worth the risk of evils and perils? Haven’t you ever wanted to just drop everything and go to somewhere entirely different? Harold was becoming more confident with each sentence. His confidence with other people, especially girls, was almost non-existent. But with Annabel, he felt it was time to make an impression or be dammed for trying.

I guess I would like that. But such a risk. I don’t think I could ever in my wildest dreams ever make a decision like that on the spot. Annabel replied. With that, she then went down to the fiction aisle and selected another book.

Man what I wouldn’t give to take you in my arms and carry you off to some romantic destination, like Fiji. Tropical sands, palm trees, deserted beach, gentle breeze and sunshine. She would be putty in my hands in a location like that. Ah but she is right. Neither of us would be game enough to take a chance like that. Thought Harold.

Harold, Harold! Annabel said after she had returned. Harold was suddenly shaken out his dream. You have another customer.

Oh, sorry Was Harold’s reply. He then stamped the book and gave it to Annabel.

Time to close up. Harold ushered out the last of the patrons from the library. He said goodnight to Annabel, wondering if he would ever have the nerve to flirt with her. After she had left, he closed the main door behind him and walked to the bus stop to catch the bus back to his flat. Once inside, he firstly fed his cat and then turned on his video player. The one big release in Harold’s boring life was watching videos. Not just any videos. But ones in which there was a strong male hero, saving the day and rescuing the helpless people. This was what he imagined his life would be like if he hadn’t grown into the weak willed, mild mannered man he really was.

Tonight’s entertainment was the classic Adventures of Robin Hood. Harold was a fan of Errol Flynn so tonight’s show was especially exciting for him. After putting his frozen meal in the microwave, he got the video ready for a great night’s entertainment.

Towards the end of the video, Harold’s mind was starting to wander. While Errol was saving Maid Marion from certain death, Harold was thinking where his life has gone. How can he be over the hill and only thirty five? Harold was becoming depressed at this thought but he tried to remain positive. He had to do something with his life before he gets too old. Well maybe something at least adventurous. The video credits were now rolling. Harold turned off the video and got ready for bed. His final thoughts were how could he face another boring day at work tomorrow?

The next two days were almost a repeat of the previous ones. The same tired old crowd in the library. At least staring at Annabel was distraction enough to make it through the day. The same routine each day. The same ride home. The only difference was that the video was different each night. Harold was beginning to feel trapped in his own life.

Friday night had rolled around. The video tonight was another classic, Bridge Over the River Kwai. Harold had dressed appropriately. Track suit pants and woollen jumper with his favourite runners. His usual assortment of snacks on the small table. Another typical Saturday night for him. By half way through the movie, Harold was actually getting a little bored with it. This could be the thin edge of the wedge so they say. His only respite from his dull life and he was actually getting bored with it. Must be the movie itself he thought. He was actually about to turn the movie off and go to bed (a sacrilege in Harold’s mind) when something very strange began to happen.

He started to feel a vibration in his chair. The vibration grew in intensity and the television began to crackle. Harold had no idea what was going on. His first instinct was to turn off the television and the recorder. Still the intensity of the vibration continued to grow.

He became even more confused when a swirling light began to grow from below the television. This light resembled a small tornado except it was bright white and was growing. Harold had jumped out of his chair and was slowly moving back away from it. He struggled to make sense of what was happening. The swirling light continued to grow. Despite Harold’s high I.Q., he had absolutely no idea what it was. He knew it couldn’t be anything electric as the power in his television was not nearly big enough to cause this. It couldn’t be anything from outside. He was on the second floor. There was nothing else on the floor. What was happening here?

The swirling light grew to a point where it encompassed most of the wall behind the television. This was getting serious. But all through this strange event, Harold was not panicking. He thought that he must panic. It’s in his nature. No mild mannered, timid little mouse of a man like Harold could do anything but scream like a little girl at the sight of this swirling light. It was also making a noise like a strong wind. That alone should have sent Harold into hysterics. But Harold was unusually calm. Perhaps he thought that this was something that provided some much needed excitement for his dull life. He was going to enjoy the moment, no matter how dangerous it would become. Harold’s gumption had even increased. He started to move towards it to get a better look inside.

That was his big mistake. As he peered inside the swirling light, an invisible force grabbed his head and started to suck him in. The force was so intense that he was literally pulled off his feet and was sucked into the swirl. Harold at this point passed out. His final thoughts were that even Errol Flynn could not remain conscious through this ordeal.

Chapter 2

The Island

A feeling grew inside Harold. A wetness was apparent around his forehead. Consciousness began to return to him. It grew to a point where he could open his eyes. He felt he had to as the white light he now remembered was still there burning into his eye lids.

As he opened his eyes, his retinas began to throb. It was quite bright still but as he adjusted to the light, his surrounds became apparent. That wetness around his forehead was a small puddle of water. He was lying flat with his head in a puddle of water. No, not a puddle. A wave just hit him. He was lying at the edge of a beach with the sea lapping up onto him. As he raised his head and began to stand up, he could now see where he was.

He looked ahead to see a veritable wall of trees and shrubs lining a beach of white sand. He turned around. An endless ocean view is what greeted him.

Where the hell am I? He said to himself.

He turned around again. This time more slowly. He wanted to take in exactly where he was. He surmised fairly quickly that he was standing on a beach on an island. Well it may not be an island, but it had coconut trees, fruit bushes and all the relevant flora that goes with a tropical island in the South Pacific. It even had a mountain at one end of the beach in the distance. No make that a volcano. There was a distinct plume of smoke rising out of the top of it.

The sea was just the sea. No ships, waves, rocks or any distinguishing feature was there. No other islands. Not even seagulls!

Harold had a million questions rush through him.

What is this place?; How did I get here?; It’s bright and sunny here. When I left it was ten o’clock at night. What’s up with that?

These were the first and more obvious questions he pondered. Of course, there were no answers. He was on this tropical island in the middle of the day and alone it would seem and getting wet shoes. He then moved out of water’s edge onto the beach itself.

Maybe this is a dream? Maybe my subconscious wanting me to be the macho hero has manifested this scenario? He thought.

No! Don’t be ridiculous! You are a rational thinking smart man. This beach is real. These shoes are really wet. No I am really here! He thought further.

Harold then started to ponder what he was going to do next. The most logical thought was to remain close to this spot, just in case that swirling light reappeared. He might be able to catch a ride back home. In fact, it could be the only way back home. He wasn’t going anywhere just yet.

So he sat down on the beach and took off his shoes and socks. He tried to dry them in the warm sun and waited for the swirling light to reappear. He also kept an eye out for any ships or boats on the water. Maybe someone might come along to explain what this place was and how he came to be here. After about an hour (could have been two, Harold had no way of telling time), nothing had happened and he was beginning to get hungry.

Harold knew the basic primal instincts of humans was survival. This initially meant food and water. He needed to find some. But his overriding instinct, at this stage, was to stay right where he was. That swirling