James Alder

On the Edge of a Dark Sky James Alder

Iain Lang goes on a walking and photographing holiday to his beloved Scotland. Finding a preserved peat body he is drawn into the world of the hunter-gatherer, Ulfric, who after a long 'hunt' persuing an unknown visitor in the dark finds himself drawn towards his greatest fears and encounters a spirit who sends him to the heavens. Re-born as Ruaraidh, in the lands of Glenelg, he travels to the great cattle tryst at Crieff where, despite it being a cattle market it seems - to a young drover accompanying him - to be hell itself. Ruaraidh hires himself out to the Yorkshire cattle dealer, George Dun, who purchases his herd and travels to Northallerton. On his return trip,and having found himself inexorably drawn to a special and ancient little shieling in a remote Glen, he arrives by Loch Lyon where he despoils an ancient Pagan shrine and encounters the wrath of the great Creatrix and blue faced old hag, Cailleach Bheur, protector of All Hallows. Iain, now back to 'reality' and home after his 'trip', finds his computer infected with a distorted photograph of a blue mountain gentian and one of his friends has begun acting very strangely!