Excerpt:

The fire sparked and sputtered and smelled of resin. The children had finally fallen asleep. As Daniel experienced the direct elemental warmth of the fire, he thought of how basic life is. On any planet, regardless of how technically advanced, survival depended upon staying warm. If the Zeta were sitting around this fire, the fire would keep the Zeta alive. Daniel still didn't know anything about the physiological character of his adversaries. Did they breathe? Did they chew food, swallow it and eliminate it? Did they procreate by passing the seed into an egg? Did they feel physical pain? Was there deep within them a place where they experienced love and hate, joy and sorrow, inner peace and inner anxiety? He didn't know. But he was sure that the life­giving power of fire was universal.

Daniel was almost not surprised at what happened next. It came gently-without warning. It simply appeared above the fire, softly flapping its wings as the smoke rose around it. An eagle hovered above the flames as if it were suspended on a fine wire strung from the tree above it.

Suddenly, the eagle began to burn. It flapped its wings feebly, but the fire overcame it and its struggles ended as the fire consumed it. They sat, staring at the smoldering body in the flames. The smell of burned feathers was strong on the air. Then, like a blooming flower, the eagle rose from its burned flesh and became whole. Then it was gone.

The scream that came from Saul was bone­chilling. When the eagle had appeared, the children were sleeping. Now they were awake-and they were frightened. Almost instantly, Sara and Julia were on their feet. They grabbed the children and quickly took them into the hotel-away from Saul who was very nearly out of control, now. He screamed himself hoarse, and while Yankee and Santoo held him down, Karen ran for her doctor's bag.

Karen's hypo needle quickly took effect. Saul clutched Daniel's shirt, and with his speech slurred by the drug, he said, "Please, Daniel, tell me what I don't know. Oh God, please tell me."

Roger said, "We'll all go, Daniel. We'll leave you with Saul."

"No, Roger. There's another good hour or two left in the fire. Enjoy it. We'll pack up and go home. I'm sure Saul would be more comfortable there."

"I appreciate this, Daniel," Saul mumbled thickly.

"It's time you know. It's time you dig into your memories."

Author BIOs:

Dick Claassen began putting his ideas to paper as a young child, but it wasn't until 1975 that he finally had his first major piece published. The feature magazine article written for The Iowan titled, Build Your Own Dulcimer, launched his free-lance career. It was only a few short years ago that Dick began to break away from factual writing in order to write novels. Dick wanted to accomplish two things in his novel writing. He wanted to write about aliens, and he wanted to write about them in a realistic way. Dick drew inspiration from authors like Whitley Strieber and Dr. John E. Mack, both men giants in the field of research in alien abduction. Dick collaborated with his coauthor, Diane Drury, whose editorial experience helped craft his story ideas. One year later, ta'Sara's Gift was ready for publication. They have since gone on to write two more novels, Zeta's Child, and The Healers, which round out The Dark Ships Trilogy. Dick has gone on to write three shorter novels: Shadow of Love, Love Signs, Plugged-In Souls, and Night Beasts. He has also written several novels: The Raphael Experience, plus Country Priestess, and it's sequel, Silver Seed. He has also written an instruction book called, Celebrate the Native American Flute, as well as a HyperStudio sign language instruction package titled, Serious Signing. Dick has studied writing at the University of Iowa Writer's Workshop. What does Dick do in his spare time? Forget spare time! He's co-running Awe-Struck E-Books with Kathryn Struck!

Kathryn D. Struck has a Bachelors Degree in Theatre and a Masters Degree in Twentieth Century English and American Writing and Literature. She has been a teacher of high school speech, drama and English for twenty-four years. She is the Technical Director of Theatre at her high school, and is in charge of designing all scenery costumes, sound, make-up, and lighting for the school's successful dramatics program. Before she went into teaching, she worked as a professional actress for The Old Creamery Theatre Company, a regional theatre company. Her work with scripts gave her an ear for dialogue, and a sense of pace. "When I was on stage, I was the pace-setter," she said. "I was the actress that could keep the scene moving. That drive is absolutely essential in fiction writing." In addition to teaching and 'teching' shows, she also acts as the school 'Scribe', writing documents to communicate her school's educational philosophy and unique programs to parents, students, and the community. She gives educational presentations to professionals each year as well. Coming on-board in 1995, Kathryn coauthored with Dick Claassen The Dark Ships Trilogy under the name, Diane Drury. She had been wanting to try her hand at fiction writing beyond poetry and short pieces. Initially she acted as the series editor, but soon became a co-pilot. "Dick has the stories; he's a wonderful story-teller. I have the red pen," she admits. Nonetheless, through her association with Dick, she has started several projects of her own: a novel on psychometry, and a collection of pieces by and about wives of Vietnam veterans. Kathryn has free-lanced for W.C. Brown Publishers and studied writing at the University of Iowa. She has recently been published in Little Read Writers' Hood, an on-line magazine.