MERCY
by
Book Cover & Preview Text
It was a cool, sunny morning in the forest located in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Shafts of sunlight pierced the tan, sturdy trees, casting dark shadows on the ground. A soft warming breeze would soon turn the chill air into a beautiful, summer day. A timber wolf rambled out ofthe woods, looked around and continued on his way. The birds chirped in the quiet, cool air. A raccoon sat in the dewy grass, washing his glossy fur with his front paws. Suddenly, the timber wolfstopped in his tracks, the birds stopped chirping and the raccoon ceased his ablutions and lifted his head. They had heard the noise ofa Jeep coming up a small path entering the forest. Inside the Jeep sat three sturdy looking men wearing red, white and blue sweatbands around their foreheads. It was Gil Aller and his two uncles, Dan and Eric, three lumberjacks on their way to work. "Hi, Ho, Hi, Ho," sang Uncle Dan, tapping the steering wheel. Gil and his Uncle Eric joined in with, "Hi, Ho, Hi, Ho. Offto work we go." They were letting the animals know that soon the forest would be bristling with the sound of saws and shouts of "Timber," as the big trees were felled and cut into different sizes. The Aller men, experienced lumberjacks like their fathers and grandfathers before them, were the first to arrive on the job. Old Harry Clemens pulled up five minutes later, clutching his trusty harmonica. The tour men sat around drinking coffee and talking about the latest sports results. Their favorite baseball team, the Detroit Tigers, had lost again. Old Harry pulled out his harmonica and started playing a lively, peppy song. The Aller men loved to dance. Uncle Dan started hopping and jumping to the beat ofthe music; soon he was joined by Gil and Eric. Forming a line, they kicked their legs high like the Radio City "Music Hall Rockettes. Then they broke away from each other, leaping on tree stumps and fallen trees, dancing in step to the music. A wooden table stood nearby. Jumping on top of it, Gil and Uncle Dan grabbed each other by the arms and danced in a circle.
Formats
Book Details
About the Book
Mercy follows the life of Gil “Mercy” Aller, a small-town boy from Michigan who, against all odds, becomes the light heavyweight boxing champion of the world. Leaving behind his friends and family in the close-knit community of Iron Mountain, Gil sets off for New York in pursuit of his dream to become a Broadway dancer. Unused to “big city” ways, Gil enlists the help of a priest to find lodgings and then secures employment with a local florist. He settles into a comfortable routine, pleased that he is one step closer to realizing his dream. A chance encounter in a neighborhood bar disrupts that dream and leads to a lifelong friendship. While defending a lady’s honor against a couple of thugs, Gil attracts the attention of Louie, a slick boxing promoter, and his partner, Huey, an ex-fighter. The two friends witness Gil’s superior fighting skills, and a reluctant Gil suddenly finds himself thrust into the unlikely, often times shady, world of boxing. Louie and Huey have big plans for Gil—they see his potential as a future champion and make him an offer he can’t refuse. Gil goes along with their plans, if only to help pay for his expensive dancing lessons, and agrees to adopt the fighting name of Mercy. Under Louie and Huey’s expert tutelage, Mercy wins fight after fight, rising to the top of the boxing profession and eventually earning the coveted title of light heavyweight champion of the world. His Broadway dream forgotten, Mercy is now firmly in the clutches of the boxing world, loved by his fans and hated by his enemies. Along the way, he meets Victoria, the love of his life, only to lose her in a tragic car accident. After Victoria’s death, Mercy hits the depths of depression and tries to find solace in the bottle. Losing his title, his self-respect, and almost his life, Mercy is rescued by Jane, a savvy sports reporter, who brings him back from the brink of destruction. Mercy finds love again and regains his title, but he never forgets Victoria.
About the Author
Eugene Kreiner a.k.a. Gene Hale was born and raised in Michigan. As a retired business owner he has become a writer. He has two books in print Tusks and Mercy with a new novel on its way. He resides on Long Island, New York with his wife.