The Toll of Valor
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… Jerked from sleep, I cry out, “Julie!” My heart pounds as I pant for breath. Tall Bear gently snores, and Markey stands over me beside my bunk. The scarred veteran looks down with a knowing grin and asks, “Yer first nightmare, Marlin…” The room is small with only a narrow walkway between bunks. He only has to take maybe two steps back to the edge of his bunk. The bed is rumpled, but not slept in. With only the meager light of a reading lamp, Markey continues whittling using his old bayonet. I swallow a knot. “Never one that real, I couldn’t wake out of it.” “That’s what I thought…” He spit slurry of tobacco juice into a cup. “Get used to it. Or stay awake, like me. When the ‘Tin Man’ comes, I’m gonna cut his guts out first.” “I don’t know… who is he, the Tin Man?” “Well, after a while, things start to get to ya. Some turn ta hooch and some turn ta drugs. Some turn into the Tin Man from Oz.” A glimpse from my dream sends a chill. “Well, now you have my attention.” Buck goes back to whittling on a small pine block, seems to be taking the form of an intricate flower. He says, “A tin man is like a machine, alive but may as well be dead. Yeah, his flesh may as well be metal because he feels no pleasure. Same goes for his heart because he feels no love. His food has no taste, sunsets have no color… his woman arouses no desire.” “Doesn’t sound appealing to me.” I rub my eyes and shake the last effects of an adrenaline rush. Buck points his bayonet at my heart, says, “But like the Siren’s in Homer’s Odyssey the poisonous metal builds slowly. Ya hear a faint voice in the distance, and the closer you get to the rocks—” “The greater its appeal, it’s like a moth to the flame,” I weigh in. “Sure thing.” Markey nods. “So, a tin man is a victim of an irresistible poison. It makes a man impervious to pain. Scrapping a baby off the asphalt is no different to him from some dog. Victims and their shrieks of agony can’t break his heart if he doesn’t have one that’ll break. “He can wade through sewage or guts because nothin’ can make him retch. To the ‘Tin Man’ every sunset is colorless. It doesn’t bother him that the teenager he’s scoopin’ into a body bag will never see another.” “What about his woman?” I ask. “That is the saddest part. A tin man lies by his wife, but he dare not touch her.” “Why not, Buck? I can’t wait to have... you know, with Julie.” “It’s because he loves her. Ain’t it weird? If he loves her, he feels afraid. He’s afraid he’ll lose her. “A day may come; he’s the one who cuts the car away from her. He’s the one to scrape her off the street, and put her in a bag. The next call may be to his…” A curved shaving falls, and Buck looks me in the eye. “You’re goin’ to your own house.” “Yeah, I see what yer sayin’. That’s the thing about this business.” “Marlin, the thing about ‘love’, it’s a double edge bayonet. ‘Love’ is the Tin Man’s kryptonite.” “Your scars… Buck, you once loved, married twice.” “Michelle. She was my dream.” Buck draws a deep breath. “Oh, man, she was one sweet girl, and we were nothin’ but newlyweds. One night, I fell asleep at the wheel, just a blink… horrendous crash—gasoline… everywhere. “I had to make a choice; the dragon was eatin’ them alive. It was Michelle or our infant daughter. I was profoundly overwhelmed. How could a man choose? “Their shrieks tore apart my soul. Then somethin’ snapped. The metal started at my fingers, shot through my veins, into my heart, all of me, instantly. A wretched machine only knows duty… the ‘Tin Man’ saved one. “Fer years, I wandered around in that world of only gray and shadow. Then, an ol’ girlfriend took me on as a project. She said it was out of love. Nevertheless, somewhere, in a pocket of hope, there was a little of me left. Finally, the ‘Tin Man’ prayed.” “Geez, Buck, I’m sorry. Wish I had known back then. I can see why you became the Tin Man.” “Do ya get it, Marlin… do you know who the ‘Tin Man’ is?” “You said it yourself, you are.” “Listen to me. You’re already feelin’ the poison. Son, look in the mirror.” I see my reflection. “Yeah, so?” Tall Bear tosses. “I’m tryin’ to get some sleep over here,” he mumbles. Buck squeezes my shoulder and whispers, “Don’t go to sleep… don’t even blink.”
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About the Book
The Toll of Valor is first in a series of novels. Meet Russ ‘Duke’ Marlin – an ornery boy growing up in a small Kansas town. Duke was born to be a firefighter. Julie Goodin, a preacher’s daughter, is meant to be his girl.
A family of firefighters, Duty - Honor - Valor is the Marlin tradition, and those three words transform a boy into a man. Each day, Julie matures with beauty and grace, and Duke discovers, that comes with a price. Deward Banksiana has a fetish and a pentagram tattoo, and his eye is on Julie.
Quick with his fists – faster in his Mach 1, Duke and the War Horse can’t protect Julie from every danger. And Julie can’t protect Duke from the hazards of firefighting. Threats and a haunting premonition force Julie into a series of schemes to save Duke and the last resort is always the most brutal.
Weakened by a constant barrage of carnage, a tsunami of tragic events hurls Duke into a syndrome known to firefighters as the Tin Man – it is ‘the toll of valor’. Julie battles her own demons, but she’s committed to bringing Duke back. With Julie by his side, Duke rediscovers Christ’s presence in his life and the power of forgiveness.
Then on the morning of her wedding day, Julie awakens to the sound of a storm, or is it another premonition …
About the Author
Lyle Markey is a graduate of Fort Hays State University. Responding to a need in his community, Mr. Markey became a volunteer firefighter in 1986. Since then, he has served with honor and distinction as an EMT / firefighter on urban and rural fire departments. Mr. Markey has woven many of his firefighting experiences into The Toll of Valor, the first in a series. His first-hand knowledge of emergency services and dedication to Jesus Christ make Lyle Markey a must read author.
Firefighter Lyle Markey has been nominated for the Kansas state fire marshal’s Tom McGaughey Award of Merit. Lyle was recognized by the Kansas state fire marshal for ‘Meritorious conduct in the saving of human life.’ The City of Wamego, Kansas has also recognized Mr. Markey for ‘Selfless and dedicated action in response to the Ferrellgas propane fire – August 26, 2000.’
Lyle serves as deputy fire chief on a volunteer fire department. He and his wife, Kay, live near the Flint Hills of Kansas. They were married in May of 1982 and have two lovely daughters. Their home includes one black Labrador retriever, one border collie and three very spoiled cats. The Markey’s are active in their community and devote a great deal of time and energy to their church.