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El Dorado

by Edward L. Allum

195 pages; quality trade paperback (softcover); catalogue #02-0045; ISBN 1-55369-232-2; US$22.00, C$26.95, EUR17.60, £12.20

El Dorado is the story of a young man, Danny, who became a National Forest Service Park Ranger. Join him on his nightly patrols and experience the dangers he confronts as you ride with him. Meet old George, and share in his stories of a golden past. With Danny, explore his search for love and love lost in Lake Tahoe and Reno. Grieve with Danny and all of America as it copes with the attacks of September 11, 2001.

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about the book      about the author      Table of Contents and excerpt      catalogue info

About the Book El Dorado is a story about a young man named Danny, who had to work his own way through college. He starts his new job as a Park Ranger in a National Forest. In El Dorado, the reader will experience the many thrills and dangers that confront our ranger, many of them life threatening, as he makes his security patrols through the park. In El Dorado, our ranger is unmarried and is looking for that special someone to love, someone that will love him. He searches in exciting locations like Lake Tahoe and Reno. Will he find it or only end up losing in the dating game? Meet old George, a crusty old miner, in El Dorado. He will tell stories of the Gold Rush days, to anyone who will listen to him. Learn about true friendship, and find out how a little kindness can be returned. Travel with Danny in El Dorado, as he explores the roads and mountain passes that cut through the High Sierras. Visit many of the small mining towns that make up California's Mother Lode. In El Dorado, grieve with Danny and all Americans as they try to cope with and recover from the terrorist's attacks of September 11, 2001. El Dorado will take the reader through an adventure in life, a trip that they will not soon forget.

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About the Author Edward L. Allum was born in Detroit, Michigan in 1949. He was a Health Care Administrator for 28 years. He worked for several hospitals and after 13 years he retired from San Joaquin County General Hospital in 1999. Allum proudly served in the United States Air force during the Vietnam War era and was honorably discharged as a Sergeant in 1972. Allum's first book was "The Fiddletown Journal: Stories of the Mother Lode", published by Robert D. Reed Publishers, San Francisco in December 2000. "The Fiddletown Journal" was well received and this lead Allum to write his second book September's Shadows and El Dorado, his third book. Allum is a graduate of Michigan's Andrews University, Food Service Administrators Certificate Program, and Lake Superior State University Health Care Managers Development Program. Married for 32 years to his wife Mary. They have two sons, Skip and Dan. Visit Ed's website at http://www.lodinet.com/edallum.

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Table of Contents and excerpt

El Dorado 1
Night Moves 10
Reflections 19
Sunrise 30
Starting Over 37
Forecast Says Rain 48
Blind Date 56
Lover's Leap 66
That's What Friends Are For 74
Day Watch 82
Just Fishing 89
Unity 99
Test Day 106
Call Me Sergeant 117
R&R 129
Wash Day 139
Gun Control 151
Dinner For Two 160
The Hero 170
Old George 178
Mondays Are The Worst Days 189

from Chapter III - Reflections

Danny closed his eyes as he sat back in his chair. The sights and sounds of the shooting were starting to replay in his mind like a video in the VCR. Danny could see the whole shooting from start to finish. He could see the deer fall in front of him and remembered starting his motor on the SUV. He remembered the Ford pickup stopping in front of him and the two poachers that got out of the truck. He saw the SUV pull out and block the two men from getting back to their truck and yelling, "Halt!" Then he saw the man on the right drop his weapon and put up his hands. Danny heard himself yell out "Halt!" one more time, but the sound he heard was now very slow, long and drawn out. The video seemed to be in slow motion almost frame by frame.

Danny could see this guy starting to lift up his rifle to his shoulder and point it right at him. Danny did not remember hearing the shot because he could only hear the pounding beat of his own heart. He could see the rifle slug passing by his head and hitting the SUV in the right front fender next to him. He could see the poacher trying to run, but his steps seemed to be anchored to the ground. Danny could see himself lowering his pistol in a two-fisted grip and aiming for the man's shoulder. He then saw that the man kept moving, causing Danny's bullet to hit him in the center of his chest and then he dropped. All of a sudden the video and sound came back to normal speed and Danny remembered his back up coming on scene. Danny woke from this dark journey a little shaky, with a sweat breaking out all over his body. As Danny fully regained control, it was crystal clear to him. This was a righteous shoot! The asshole just walked right in to it. Danny didn't kill him on purpose. But what was done was done. It could have been him in the body bag. His phone started to ring on the table next to his chair. Danny took a sip of beer and picked up the phone.

"Hello?"

"Hi, This is Channel 10 in Sacramento. We would like to talk to Ranger Danny".

Click! Danny hung up the receiver before they could even finish his name. The phone rang again. As he picked up the phone he heard;

"Hi, This is Channel 3 in Stockton", Danny slammed the phone down and quickly unplugged it from the wall.

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Catalogue Information

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