"Arem's Portal" is an insightful journey into a character testing forest of symbolism, foreshadowing, adventure and poetry. It is a modern Hebraic rendering of the classic Indo-Greco kidnap myth. The author's mesmerizing play of time-space sequences and moments of deep pathos make for an original and thought provoking thriller. Notwithstanding a fast paced story, the attention to details within the book are meticulous and artfully presented. The narrative conveys a timely statement about lost female potential in our own imbalanced society. Dynamic interactions with many endearing personalities engage readers with plot twists that include a redemption story and an unconventional exorcism. "Arem's Portal" is a book that is designed to honor the best in all traditions but ultimately makes a lasting statement about established values. Most of the book takes place before the advent of Christianity and therefore utilizes Hebrew Scriptures to supplement the moral examples within the tale. Whether one is looking for a light read, a quick thriller or just a thought provoking adventure, "Arem's Portal" is sure to delight! Arem's Portal By Vinod K. Gootam Balboa Press Copyright © 2016 Vinod K. Gootam All rights reserved. ISBN: 978-1-5043-6471-3 Contents Preface, xi, 1. The Call, 1, 2. A New Life, 20, 3. Happy Birthday, Little One!, 40, 4. Strangers in the Forest, 53, 5. The Long Run Home, 75, 6. A Royal Friend, 81, 7. The Path to Redemption, 86, 8. Hatching a Plan, 93, 9. Caleb's Quest, 98, 10. The Valley of Death, 121, 11. Take the Shot!, 129, 12. A New Beginning, 138, About the Author, 141, CHAPTER 1 The Call Arem sat erect and motionless under a tree at the park, seemingly defiant of his dynamic surroundings. As the stillness he longed for cleansed his field of reason and perception, he began to hear a faint call in the distance. He didn't know what it was or where it came from. At first he tuned his ears to the four directions, attempting to analyze its location while keeping his meditative position. Drake, his canine companion, was thoroughly distracted by the sounds of children playing and other dogs barking, along with what was surely a myriad of summer scents filling the air at the park. A whistle blew in the distance as young men tackled each other over a ball. Behind the usual sounds though, the unusual sound waxed and waned without rhythm. All the while he heard it best in the stillness, which he found he enjoyed more and more with age. He reflected on the mournful sounds and thought, I hear sounds echoing within sounds. Then he listened more deeply and began to distinguish the vocal calls of a woman. No longer seeking stillness in the wake of what was surely some sort of trouble, he calmly rose to his feet. He was a broad-shouldered, athletically built fellow with a good six feet to his height. His hair was swept to the side and back, where it cascaded in wavy, light-brown locks to the scruff of his neck, often crossing the borders of his cheeks and face. He was a man who looked no more than thirty with a calm, regal demeanor that seemed right for a gentleman twice his age. His grey eyes were now set with focus as he panned the horizon toward the flocks of warm-weather lovers enjoying a sun-drenched park that was conveniently located just steps from the town he called home. A long winter had just ended, and it seemed everyone was making the most of what was proving to be a magnificent summer. Yet, Arem had lost sight of all that was usual at the park. He now began to consider the echoes off of the trees behind him. He then turned to face the forest. "What do you think, Drake?" asked Arem. Drake was a robust, gentle, and quiet German shepherd that stayed close to his friend most times. He would carefully observe and obey Arem, knowing him to be trustworthy of his affections and loyalty. The two possessed an uncanny ability to communicate with each other without much effort. Drake saw the steely-eyed intentions of his friend to find the source of the sounds. Drake instinctively nudged Arem and gave a gentle yelp in the direction of the forest. The dog was more easily able to decipher the faint sounds resonating from the trunks of the old oak, elm, and poplar trees that constituted the acres of forest behind them on the edge of the park. Considering the heat and his companion first, Arem dispatched some water from the thermos in his knapsack, which Drake lapped up quickly. He stood at the tree line and stared intently into the forest. He remembered his grandfather telling him, "Forests should always beckon respect from the wise." With a motion of his hand, Arem sent Drake in just before him. With a quiet sigh, he then entered the shadowy canopy himself, unaware of what lay ahead. Arem made long, crackling strides through the undergrowth of the forest. A chorus of cicadas bombarded the calm. At times, it deafened his hearing and distracted his other senses. For