ISBN-13: 9781470102517 / Angielski / Miękka / 2012 / 426 str.
ISBN-13: 9781470102517 / Angielski / Miękka / 2012 / 426 str.
This pre-dystopian saga tells of all the world's horses' sudden disappearance. This mass vanishing of an entire world species begins this epic tale of an apocalyptic possibility. It's told through the experiences of a young woman and those in her immediate circle. They face a worldwide crisis never imagined likely. It thrusts Elle back into the stress-filled mental state resulting from a previous like-experience. She writes her book from the journal notes she kept beginning almost a year after the fateful event. After the shock of that impossible day Elle is grateful her giant black gelding isn't counted among the missing...yet. Before she loses him, fearing a recurrence of her previous experience with doctors and hospitals, she's determined to understand how and why the world's equine species could vanish en masse in the blink of an eye. Knowing is the only thing she believes will save her from repeating another breakdown, to be subject to more horrific treatments which already closed the inner doors of her memory. Many things, especially people, are now forgotten to her. Besides the events of her truck and trailer accident is the love she was discovering with Tommy. By chance they cross paths as he searches for his lost horse while still in a shocked state. It stirs her memories of a recent past as he slowly realizes Elle's commitment didn't lose her permanently for him after all. Once back together they re-discover their path hoping to explore the new territory where the horses now run, the echoing hoof beats and lone whinnies leading them. They must find the way to safety from the upheavals the horse vanishing suggests is coming. Elle's journey begins as her past soon catches up in many unexpected ways. Dream visions reveal a forgotten Native American connection as more people begin hearing the thunder of running horses and the lone whinny calling their name. Many Lakhota visionaries from a past age guide Elle and Tommy along with others drawn to their quest as events unfold. They discover clues to a scientific phenomenon hidden on the Earth as they search for meaning to this big mystery. And Tommy's above top-secret job slowly reveals a hidden nemesis that could thwart their efforts. It's difficult to accept the horses may never return unless they realize their horses knew what they do not - a change will effect Mother Earth and all living upon her. But will it be an awakening or a catastrophe, or both? Quote from the book: He blankly stared at me, his blue eyes penetrating me, dismantling my thoughts. The fair stubble on his face was clearly visible on his warm tan. Something stirred in my mind. I thought I'd never breathe again, but he turned away to unlatch the other side. His two buddies nearby made me nervous until the younger one with the Texas A&M baseball cap yelled in a commanding voice too deep for his apparent age. "That one's too black to be yours, Tom. Let's go." Blue Eyes stopped for a second, staring piercingly at me again. This time my heart started beating faster. Before I fainted from loss of breath Goliath kicked the still-raised ramp so hard we both jumped back. I checked for a faint hoof print but there wasn't one. He stared at the ramp for a moment, frozen. His older buddy walked over and took him by the arm, dragging him away. "Come on, Tom. It ain't your horse, I told ya. Paloma is disappeared." This is called a second edition only because of a couple added ending paragraphs."