Trafford Publishing: The River Basin

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The River Basin

by Donald Arthur

248 pages; quality trade paperback (softcover); catalogue #03-2055; ISBN 1-4120-1678-9; US$22.50, C$25.00, EUR18.50, £13.00

In 1999 hurricane Floyd hit North Carolina, causing tremendous devastation and a deadly killer - mutant Physteria. One man fights to save his business, family and town from this mysterious pollutant.

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about the book about the author sample excerpts catalogue info

About the Book

Time seemed to stand still in the sleepy little town of New Bern, North Carolina. The river that flowed through this peaceful place was a life source for its residents. However, something lay beneath its depths that would change their lives forever.
In the summer of 1999, three hurricanes hit the coast of North Carolina. The third hurricane, Floyd, resulted in tremendous devastation, flooding and a deadly killer - a mutant form of the microorganism Physteria.
The River Basin chronicles one man's fight to save his business, family and town from this mysterious pollutant.

About the Author

Donald Arthur, a native of New Bern, North Carolina, has been in the floor covering business for over 20 years and the flood damage restoration and carpet cleaning business for 12 years. He holds a degree in theology from Tabernacle Baptist College in Greenville, South Carolina, and is the pastor of the Welcome Baptist Church. He hopes to one day be able to lay aside all his trade tools and preach full time for the Glory of God. Donald and his wife, the former Allison Buick, have a son named Timothy.

Sample Excerpt

A ways up the creek somewhere the two of them heard a humming sound, like a four-wheeler. The sound seemed to be getting closer. After a few minutes, not too far from where they were sitting, lights broke through the tree line. Sam and Gary dived off the stump and scrambled for cover in the trees. They could hear voices yelling but couldn't make out what they were saying.
"I don't think those boys are here for frog huntin'. Come on cuz' lets take a look see." Sam began creeping his way up the creek in the shadow of the tree line.
"Sam, get back here." Gary demanded in a loud whisper. They were out numbered and Gary wasn't too sure he hadn't seen a gun. He could make out from where he was hiding a flat bed trailer being pulled behind a vehicle. It was covered with a tarp. Gary stayed put watching in suspense as Sam made his way closer to get a better view.
Gary held his breath while one of the men threw the tarp off the trailer. Sam had made it close enough to get into trouble if he opened that big mouth of his. He just knew Sam would say or do something if he got curious enough and he could do nothing but hold his breath waiting. They were pulling something out of the trailer now and dumping it in the creek. Gary strained his eyes to see what it was.
A horrible stench filled the air several minutes after the tarp was removed. During the next few minutes everything happened so fast that it was all a blur to Gary. At the tree line where Sam had been hiding there was a commotion and suddenly the area was flooded with lights. There was Sam, plain as day, bent over throwing up.
"Oh no, did you have to get sick Sam?" Gary breathed. He strained his ears to hear over the hum of the vehicles. Watching three men approach his cousin he knew this would not be good.
Pulling a pistol from behind his back, one of the men grabbed Sam by the hair, and pointed it at Sam's temple. He couldn't hear what was being said or if Sam said anything back but he did see his cousin fall face first into the water. He must have pulled the trigger Gary thought panicking. Sam went limp and fell without a sound or a fight while Bullfrog took off running. Gary was horrified. Frozen where he sat and watching in alarm he saw his cousin lying face down in the water. He couldn't breathe.
Gary ducked behind a tree realizing three men were walking down the river searching the tree line. He stayed low crawling along the ground and hanging close to the trees making his way back to the truck. It took him a little while to find it but it would do him no good because after he crawled in he made a devastating discovery. There were no keys. Thinking quickly, he jumped out of the truck, and ran as fast as he could, hugging close to the tree line, he made a beeline straight towards old man Tilley's tobacco barn.
Praying that they wouldn't find the trail from the creek to the truck he could hear dogs barking. This was not good. Tiny needles stabbed in his lungs and his heart raced but he ran on as fast as he could in his Gortex suit.
Somewhere in the back of his mind he remembered hearing or reading that juice from a tobacco leaf would cover your scent. He ran on heading for the tobacco plants and the barn at the far end of the field. He wasn't thinking straight and he couldn't remember if he really saw his cousin get shot. He was hoping and praying it was a bad dream and wake up. Regardless, he knew his only hope right now was to keep running.
By the time he crossed the moonlit field to the old barn his legs felt as if they were made of rubber. An old rickety ladder was set up so one could climb to the loft at the top of the barn. Climbing the ladder and then pulling it up after him, Gary stood in the farthest corner searching the loft. It was musty, smelling of tobacco; Gary hoped it would be a good place to hide. Stacked in one of the corners he found a pile of fresh tobacco leaves, after rubbing them all over himself. He quickly dug out a hole and crawled in. Positioning himself to see through a crack between the boards of the old barn, Gary settled himself to wait.
The moon lit up the field, the tree line and the Tilley's old farmhouse and Gary had a perfect view of it all through a broken slat in the barn wall. He could hear dogs barking and he figured they were all probably at the truck right about now. Then much to his surprise the barking of the dogs stopped and was replaced with only an occasional yelp. Gary realized that he still had on his Gortex suit and he was getting warmer and warmer in his hiding place. Perhaps that suit would make the difference if the dogs would find him or not.
Suddenly, Gary could see three figures with two dogs break through the tree line very close to the tobacco field across from the barn. Oddly enough, the dogs were quiet and Gary listened as the men's voices carried in the still air. They were complaining about the search. They were going to check the barn and the house before they turned back just to satisfy themselves. They weren't even sure if the dogs had picked up another scent or if it was just the scent from the dead guy. Gary hoped that his theory about tobacco leaves hiding his scent was right. He knew the suit would camouflage his body's heat and maybe his scent, if he were lucky.
Gary held his breath praying they wouldn't find him, and that Bullfrog would not give him away by following him as the three men and the dogs walked into the barn. Gary could clearly hear the men talking about searching the truck. He watched from his hiding place as the men took seats on different pieces of farming equipment and lit up cigarettes. It was obvious that the men were in a branch of the military because of their uniforms and their lingo. They talked briefly about their mission but it was all in code and nothing Gary could understand. The dogs remained quiet but were sniffing everything on the floor just below him.
Waiting for what seemed like hours, Gary tried to remain patient after watching the two men and the dogs return to the woods. He felt stiff from not moving and was just about to crawl out from his hiding place to stretch and move around when he heard a helicopter flying around overhead. He slid back into his hiding place wondering what on earth they could be dumping in the creek that was important enough to kill Sam and then put dogs and choppers on a hunt for any other witnesses.
The helicopter flew low overhead spotlighting the entire area before leaving. Gary assumed the pilot was satisfied no one else was in the area. Gary knew they were looking for him and decided to stay put a little while longer. Gary prayed the coast would be clear. He wondered if God would hear him. He had to; after all he used to go to church. He knew he hadn't been doing things that he should but he sure hoped God would forgive him and hear his prayers for his cousin and himself.
Another hour passed before Gary crawled out of his hiding place. He could see lights still on in the Tilley's farmhouse. Making his way to the house he only hoped the old man would recognize him and not remember him as a troublemaker. He could see the old couple, through the kitchen window, sitting at the table together drinking something from glasses. Taking a chance, he held his breathe and knocked on the back door.

Catalogue Information