Fires of Beltaine

By Nick Adigu Burke

A world in nuclear turmoil. A young man flees London for the forgotten Scottish island of Invermore. But when he encounters the barbaric fishlike natives, he realises he has replaced one hell with another.

The media are scaremongering again, screaming "nuclear annihilation" - the Russian-Ukranian war, threatening to plunge the world into Armageddon. Michael Mann, a young Londoner, flees the media circus, for the quieter climbs of Aberdeen on Scotland's northeast coast.

While visiting the local pub, Mann meets grizzled seaman Frank McTavish, who tells him about Beltaine, a spectacular Gaelic festival, to be held by the islanders of Invermore two days hence. Instantly Mann's head is filled with visions of scantily clad beauties throwing themselves around roaring bonfires, to the rhythm of hypnotic drumbeats.

The next day he is ferried to the island of Invermore by independent ferry-master Ron Buchanan. On arriving at the quiet harbour, Mann's initial enthusiasm is somewhat doused when he sees the town's dereliction. However, when he meets the crude fishlike natives the crumbling town becomes the least of his worries. He realises the Invermorian's do not see him as a tourist, but as a sacrificial lamb, who they must offer to their pagan gods for the granting of prosperity. Alone and trapped Mann must plot his escape or be barbecued on a bonfire.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: B0BGNGJW44
• ISBN13: 9798354864225
• Release Date: September 2022
• Publisher: Independently Published
• Length: 52 Pages
• Weight: 0.13 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.1" x 5.0" x 8.0"