It's the dawn of a new decade: 1960. Long-distance truck driver Johnny Chambers has just completed his route and returned home, hoping for a few days of rest and relaxation, but the two policemen at his door have other plans... A man has been with robbery, and Johnny's fingerprints are on the gun. Before he can even change his clothes Johnny is arrested and charged with the crime. Sentenced to five years, Johnny settles into his new life as an inmate in the Huntsville Penitentiary in Texas. But prison life isn't what he expected. When he meets two fellow inmates he believes to be the reincarnated souls of Mozart and van Gogh, everything he thinks he knows is shattered. What's more, Johnny's own sudden ability to write leads him to believe he previously lived as Ernest Hemingway. What follows is an exploration of life, death, and the permeable barriers that exist between them that culminates in a daring escape from the prison that confines their bodies, but will never confine their souls. Bill Thomas grew up in the Austin, Texas area. A lifelong musician, he played in many bands including Chapparral, The Eternal Life Corporation, Primitive Moderns and The Rockhounds, who opened for The Police on their first American tour. He has released two full-length albums and written two screenplays: "The Loose Quarter" and "Tres Hombres." "The Three Souls", the story of truck driver-turned-inmate Johnny Chambers, is his first novel. The Three Souls By Bill Thomas BookBaby Copyright © 2018 Bill Thomas All rights reserved. ISBN: 978-1-5439-0029-3 CHAPTER 1 I don't remember the days of the week--not that it matters. It could be Monday, Tuesday, or Sunday. The personnel are nicer on Sunday. Maybe the guards feel like they have some moral obligation on Sunday. My name is Johnny Chambers. I'm in for robbery, and even though I got a five-year sentence I hope I leave in two to three. I've been in for a year and I should get out early on good behavior, or so the warden says. It all started in 1960. I was living in Dallas, working for Consolidation Freightways. The drivers call it Controlling Freightways, but that's another story. I was doing long hauls between Dallas and New Orleans and other points all over the country. My wife, Kitty was working as a waitress for the Dew Drop Inn, a sleazy bar on Stemmons Freeway. I've seen one like it in every one-horse town I've been through. The joint had pool tables, and on Friday nights the club offered two-for-one pitchers. Everyone got smashed, and the guys usually hit on Kitty. She put up with it, but when you're gone for a long time, sometimes a woman gets lonely. I know the guys were hitting on her because I know how guys are. After a few beers all they can think about it getting laid. I was on my way to New Orleans. I'd pulled into a hotel and was cleaning up when the phone rang. "Johnny." Kitty. She sounded upset. "What's wrong, baby?" "Johnny ... I got fired." Her voice was final and flat. She sighed and began to cry. "What happened?" "They said I stole money. I don't know how they thought it was me. It could've been anybody. There's this new woman, Joni. I think she set me up. My till came up short, and there's also been money missing from the other registers. Joni's been real lovey with Reuben. Maybe she's screwing him. All I know is Reuben has a big grin on his face whenever Joni walks in the room." "Did you do it?" I asked Kitty quickly. "Hell no. If I were going to steal some money, I wouldn't go for the nickel and dime shit." Kitty's earnest tone was convincing. "I believe you." "When are you coming home?" "Tomorrow late. I've got to drop the freight in the morning, and then I'll head back. "I love you, Johnny," Kitty said in her strong, raspy voice. "I love you, too." I lay on the bed and pulled out a Marlboro, took a few drags and exhaled the smoke. My eyes swept the room. Motels look the same everywhere you go, as if all the motels in the world contract with the same vendors and install the same mundane furniture and toiletries. It all looked bad, as far as I was concerned. Once I was back in Dallas with Kitty, things started to get worse. She was trying to find work and not doing a very good job of it. She also started drinking more and ragging on me. I got real sick of it real fast. Sometimes it's better that I'm on the road, so I don't have to put up with her bitching. Just when it looked like things were going to get better, I got fired. Actually, I was laid off, but after a few foul words with my boss and this and that, he went ahead and fired me. I didn't have enough tenure--that plus my attitude meant I got the ax. It was Friday, and I just pulled in to get the orders for the day. I walked into the office, and right away I could tell something was wrong. The air was as thick as molasses. All the guys in there started walking out. I looked over and there was Jake. "Chambers," Jake muttered like he had a mouth full of marbles. Jake was a compan