Although this is a part from the Third Chapter, it is an excellent "teaser" for my book in general. If you like it, Make sure to click "Click To See Possible Related Items" and start reading the Prologue/Epilogue right away. I really want this novel to work, and need your help.
Chapter 3.3
After everyone had taken a sip of the sparkling champagne, Jake continued, keeping his serious tone. To Marcus, it felt like being in the classroom again.
“Do you remember my lecture on the Incan civilization, Marcus?”
“Yeah. Well, not all of it, but you told us about a symbol of theirs. I wasn’t really that interested, but I recognized it on the cover. That’s why I came to you with it in the first place,” Marcus drank another sip of champagne and nearly spilt it when Jake placed his huge hand heavily on his shoulder, continuing his lecture. It was as if he was bracing him for something.
“Well done, Marcus! I was hoping that my teachings would be useful one day. You’re absolutely correct; it is the same symbol, an Incan Chakana. No one knows where the symbol came from originally, but it was present throughout the entire Incan civilization. Architects used it in buildings, priests used it in their religion and shamans used the symbol as a guide to be able to find techniques that would enhance their existence. Legend says that these shamans could find cures for diseases by entering a trance-like state, communicating directly with the gods,” the professor made a doubtful face, clearly meant to be ironic. His voice had been absolutely honest the entire time. His audience smiled. Marcus was all ears, as Jake continued:
“Here comes the part of the legend that many haven’t heard of, but since you are in possession of this Book of Life, you if anyone should be let in on the secret. Some of the shamans could travel through lives by what we have come to call ‘controlled reincarnation’. To achieve this “life travel”, they wrote their destinations in a book like yours, and through it, their life energies were sent to another form of life that they chose. Depending on what they wrote as a destination, their energy could take the shape of an animal or even another human, while their physical bodies entered a shamanic trance." Marcus raised his eyebrows, apparently not understanding. Jake clarified:
"It's a kind of sleep. Somewhere along the line, the books were forgotten or labeled as blasphemous and burnt. Quite ironic when they were actually used for understanding and appreciating the Gods, Life and Nature,” the professor paused and drank a few big gulps from his glass. The others sat quietly, but Marcus couldn’t help being sarcastic in his questions:
“This book used to belong to an Incan shaman?" Jake nodded.
"And they could have their ‘energies’ travel to distant places in time and space to live as animals, while their own body was sleeping?" Jake nodded again. Marcus was about to crack into laughter:
"You expect me to believe this religious horse shit? This is even more stupid than the stories that the local Indians tell!” The professor met Marcus’s pessimism calmly, and continued in an assuring voice:
“I know it’s difficult to understand, but yes, I expect you to believe it. And now that you have this book, you can experience controlled reincarnation too,” Jake finished his glass of champagne and poured up another one. Marcus was staring at the bubbles in his own glass. He was feeling a bit lightheaded. Both from the drink and the Jake's talk.
“How do you know about all of this, Professor Adams?” Marcus’s voice was still sarcastic, overly sure that the professor would have no good answer. Jake left the room, and a few moments later, he returned, holding a book in his hands. He put it down next to the one already on the table. Marcus saw that it looked almost exactly like his book. It had the same symbol on the cover, except the light it was projecting was bright green. Lola opened a drawer next to the sofa, and pulled out another book, and the orb on it was glowing in red. Alexander and Thomas pulled out their books from their bags and placed them on the table. The gem on Alexander’s book was glowing in blue and Thomas’s in a blinding turquoise. Jake smiled:
“We’re all Shamans, Marcus. We’ve all reincarnated, several times. And we’re going to teach you how to do it. I’m presuming that you want to learn?" Marcus wasn't sure what to believe. He had a hard time getting his head around how some ritual involving a book could allow travel through space and time in the manner that Jake suggested.
“I don’t know much about Incan civilization, and even less about their religion. I’m not even sure I believe in gods, I’m not religious at all,” Marcus was worried that his statement might have hurt someone’s feelings, but it was met with laughter from Jake.
“Most of the shamans who crafted these books weren't religious. They believed in something more apparent and obvious; nature. They understood it so completely that they could take that knowledge and imprint it onto the covers of these books. Thanks to those Incan shamans of the 14th century, you now have the possibility to transfer your conscious self into any form of life that has ever existed, and see the beauty of nature first hand.” Marcus looked around him and they were all smiling and nodding. He felt safe to do the same, and emptied his glass.
