Blackened Spiral Down (18 page)

             
Hand of the Dying
was inspired by a close friend of mine who experienced death firsthand.  When he told me the story, it reminded me of the subject matter of a Low Twelve song I wrote of the same title.  The song was a true story about a Marine, Jason Dunham, who died jumping on a grenade to save his brothers in arms.  I was moved by a book on the subject, “Rule Number Two” by Dr. Heidi Squier, which talked about her experiences in Iraq at a M.A.S.H.  The true story, and the one I created, shares a similar concept of the struggle between the living and the dying.  I imagined what each party would be thinking about at that moment just before death.

              The story
Bodies In My Pocket
is another one that follows a concept I wrote about in Low Twelve.  This is another story with a very sensational title.   The song was about a sniper I learned about, and how he struggled coming home from Iraq with PTSD.  I spent some time researching this story and interviewed two former soldiers that I served with in the Army.  Huge thanks to Sam Delle Donne for his help.  The other soldier asked to be anonymous, and I respect that.  Their experiences in Iraq were vital in putting this one together.  It was difficult to discover the many problems they have both endured after returning from multiple deployments.  I was fortunate to have never deployed due to an injury I sustained on active duty in 1992.  The therapy technique of the “bodies in my pocket” is completely invented by me. I have unwavering admiration for all branches of service and what they do to protect this county.  It’s too bad that politicians often foul things up by making war political.  Then again, politicians foul up everything they touch.

             
Killing Machine
was a title I came up with for the first chapter of my novel, “Six”, for the purpose of putting it into this collection.  I felt it would be a good way to tease you, the reader, to experience the exploits of the escaped madman, Six.  The story is set at the Peoria State Hospital in Bartonville, Illinois.  I actually worked at the former hospital back in 1995 for a project involving my day job as a building inspector.  I spent some time in the steam tunnels below the hospital, and it inspired me to want to write about it.  It was eerie, to say the least, and 20 years later, I finally wrote the novel.  This story is only the first chapter, but it gives you a taste for this twisted tale!  I also wrote an entire album of songs about the story for my band as our sixth release entitled “Six”.

              Lastly,
Thirteen Nuns
is also an excerpt from a novel.  “This Side Toward Enemy” is a story I came up with years ago as the subject of a Low Twelve album of the same name.  Back then, I wrote a graphic novel, but the artist that was set to do the illustrations never followed through, so the book sat idle.  I always loved the concept, so when I thought about a follow-up to my novel “Six”.  I thought I could work this one into a full-length novel. 
Thirteen Nuns
is the first chapter, and it provides some of the back story to “This Side Toward Enemy”.  I think it stands alone and provides another tease for you readers.

              Once again, I’d like to thank everyone who has helped in various ways to make these stories come to life.  My beta reader, Chris Kovacs, is probably the biggest force in my corner, because he gives me instant feedback, and we bounce ideas back and forth.  We talk nearly every week about different things, but the writing has been at the top of our list for the past year.  Also, my proofreader, JB, who wishes to be semi-anonymous, is a major help in tightening up the grammar and making things flow better.  Thanks also go out to my friends, family, and of course you – the reader!  Without you, there would be no writing!  Thank you.

Pete Altieri

Heyworth, Illinois

May 2016