TRUE FIRE

by Jan Kubicki

True Fire is a story of sexual obsession, religious fanaticism, and mystical chicanery set in the wilderness of Pennsylvania in 1818. It follows the exploits of a feverish youth, Gideon Dowd, who leaves his home and family to apprentice himself to a wandering Indian medicine man, named Qulapaghach, who uses herbs and roots and the helping spirits within to cure the gullible of their aches and pains. After one of their cures kills an odious tin merchant, the two flee north to the Machk Tschunk, where an ambitious Quaker is building a canal on the Lehigh River to transport much needed coal to Philadelphia. Gideon desperately longs to have an Indian name and guiding spirit, or manitto, but Qualpaghach doubts his readiness. An epic feud breaks out between the Quaker and the saloon keeper who owns the rights to the nearby coal, and Gideon and Qualpaghach are caught in the middle. Gideon takes refuge in the arms of Daisy Carew, a prostitute from across the river in Sodom, who proves to be as treacherous as any of the lowlifes inhabiting the Machk Tschunk. Before the feud is settled, blood is spilled, madness reigns, tragedy ensues, and miracles abound.

353 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 26, 2012