Sunday dinner at Mattie Michael's house with the family was a once-a-monthritual. Momma started the meal with a blessing of the food.Then, as always, she asked her children how they were doing and whatwas happening in their lives.

Connie Jo, Sam's oldest sister who had just retired from theGeorgia public school system at sixty, mentioned she had alreadybegun volunteering her teaching services to a local adult-literacyprogram. "Yes, it is rewarding. I enjoy it a lot," she said. "And things areabout usual with Ben and the farm. He hated to miss your wonderfulcooking today, but it couldn't be helped."

Billie Jo, two years younger than Connie, said she was copingwith her divorce from Jim. "One day at a time. The hardest part is theempty house." Both women looked strikingly similar: tall—unliketheir mother at about five-nine—with dark auburn hair and deepbrown eyes. Most mistook them for twins but in fact, BJ was a twin ofdeceased brother, Thomas Josiah, Tommy Jo.

Sam talked about his firm and how he was working on one of thenicest projects ever. "A government project in association with anAtlanta engineering firm."

Joli, Sam's wife, said that she still felt blessed to be working for thechurch. "The pastor and his wife are so warm and caring."

"What about Sam Jr. and Joy Linh Jr.? Are they coming in for yourbirthday?" Momma asked Sam.

Sam Jr. was his thirty-year-old son from his first marriage to MarySue Higgins. She and Sam had split amicably after five years of an on-again,off-again relationship that seemed to hold the allusion of a goodmarriage, yet one just out of their reach. After divorcing, Mary Sueraised Sam Jr. with his dad's full support.

"He's tied down by a highly sensitive government project, Momma.He probably won't be able to come unless something changes. MarySue called me yesterday and told me she got the same story," Sam said.Joli gave him a look. Sam hadn't mentioned talking to Mary Sue.

"Oh, really. Sorry to hear that," she replied. "What about Joy Linh?"

"She's involved in a summer program at vet school and won't becoming either," Joli responded.

John Strawder, Sam's longtime friend—a family member in everyway except by blood—and his wife Noel, Joli's sister, had a standinginvitation at the Mattie's residence for Sunday dinner. Momma Michaelconsidered them her children. "And John. How's your and Noel's weekbeen?" Mattie asked. "And Callie Lynne and John Jr.? What's up withthose two?"

"Well, some great news from Callie. She's pregnant!" Noel said. Allheads turned toward her. "Just got the word yesterday. Haven't eventold Joli," she said, looking sheepishly at Joli.

"That is exciting news," Joli responded with a put-on hurt lookbecause she thought she should always be the first to know.

Noel knew she was teasing and continued without comment. "She'sdue in February. We're hopin' for a Valentine birthday like she was."

"Well. Congratulations. John you got anything to top that?" Mattieasked.

"Not a thing. Nothing. All's about the same down at the federalbuilding," he said. "Fortunately, nothing needs FBI attentionright now."

And, as usual, Momma brought up Sam's brother, James. Sam andJoli shared a look. No, he wanted to say to her, he had not broughtup his dream. It had been almost thirty years since James flew out ofSaigon, headed to Clark Air Force Base in the Philippines, his officiallast-known destination. His MIA status was yet unresolved, butofficially, they linked it to his Vietnam action. Momma wished theywould at least resolve it somehow. Sam wished she could leave it alone.But he knew she couldn't, and it was working on him somehow too.

Later Sam and Joli had a relaxing evening of television beforeturning in after the late news. Then he got hit with a body-slammingmother of all nightmares.

As Sam drifted into unconsciousness, the incubus patiently waited forhim. Burrowed deeply into the shadowed recesses of Sam's mind, itlonged for another chance to latch onto his being.

Like a trap-door spider, the demonic dream weaver lay in wait tosnatch Sam from a pleasant childhood dream. Sam's mind went intoREM sleep. Seizing the opportunity, the thing caught him firmly;pulling him down, down into its lair, where Sam came face to face withhis tormentor, a horrifying nightmare.

Fear gripped Sam, forcing him with arms flailing and legs kicking,into an obscure and unnatural universe. Panic paralyzed him,suspending him like a planet around a sun, in tethered helplessness.Terror securely held Sam captive in a bizarre state of deep sleep.

Fighting tenaciously for freedom, he wrestled bravely with hiscaptor, but it was useless. He was firmly bound by unworldly restraintsthat shackled his imprisoned soul. Sam cried out for help, but no soundcame from his constricted throat.

He struggled, relentlessly being pulled and dragged into thedepths of ... where? Floundering and thrashing like wildebeestcaught in the powerful jaws of a hungry crocodile, Sam was helplessagainst the clutches of the unknown. His screams went unheard in thenothingness of space. In front of him appeared a mirror. He saw hisreflection grow larger, then like a dust ball into a vacuum cleaner hose,he was sucked into it ... into the dark side of the looking glass.

The fugue confined him in a surrealistic realm, a dream state ofchaotic oblivion ... and yet somehow, one of ordered awareness.

The unseen power clutched him tightly with claws of steel, its gripunbreakable and inescapable. Sam's mind, his being, his soul, criedout for mercy from a ghoulish incubus that carried him through thedarkness of a nether world, buoyed along relentlessly by raging streamsof nothingness.

Lightning flashed from a monstrous thundercloud that melded intoa black and starless sky. Angry seas trapped Sam in a violent whirlpoolthat pulled him down inexorably into another frightful dimension ofexistence.

He struggled to break free.

A gauntlet of ghastly guards dressed for jungle warfare stood atattention and awaited his arrival—their silhouettes illuminated againstthe fiery night sky. They growled like starved animals, impatient fora meal, and lunged at his prison wagon. But somehow, they werepowerless to touch him—a pack of ravenous dogs held at bay by theirmaster's command?

A massive double door rose up before the cart—behind it, the entryway to a stone castle. Built with ornately carved wooden staves cross-bandedwith iron straps, the door was guarded by a pair of gatekeepersin ceremonial uniforms. With great effort, they parted it in the middle,and creaking on enormous black iron hinges, it opened to either side.

The macabre entourage hissed and spat at Sam as they guided theprison cart over a drawbridge and through a darkened stone tunnel,into a hellish court. Looming in front of him was a powerful, huffingand puffing beast, an imposing cyclops that shuffled toward him,screeching loudly as sparks from its body sprayed the night.

The colossus called out to him, "Come, Sam. Come into mykingdom. Come see who I have waiting for you." It spoke with ... anAsian accent!? Vietnamese, he thought. Did it matter? Then, as if toanswer Sam's query, a vignette of Vietnam battle scenes flashed acrossthe backdrop of his terrified mind.

His paralyzing fear gave way to frightful curiosity. The beast'swords were difficult to understand ... sounded like they were...