The moe.Republic

I. "All Along the Watchtower" finds a soldier standing watch upon an ancient castle tower in Germany on Valentine's Day, 1945. Amidst the brutality of war, in the aftermath of a surprise attack in a cemetery, the soldier seeks deliverance from the madness - and a haunting specter - the collector of the dead- who has risen and has come to collect his due.

The Bones of Lazarus

1.

The evening air was stifling and a heavy stench filled the alley. The stink was familiar to him, much like rotted meat from behind the butcher stalls at the market. A tropical downpour late that afternoon, which was typical for the time of year, only added to the humidity, rather than relieve it. Generally a mild sea breeze would offer some relief, but not tonight. The man had emerged from a small, manmade hole at the back of an alley, and was walking toward the street, to the fresher air, when he heard the familiar winding of gears and grinding of clutches. He quickly retreated. Armored trucks and battered jeeps made their way through the streets on patrol. One was approaching. Not cool. He looked for a way out. There was a side door, maybe a service entrance for a long forgotten business, but it was sealed. His only hope was to crouch in the refuse with the rats or go back in the city's Underworld and wait. He did not want to go back down. There was something about it that frightened him. As much to do with his imagination as with the message he had to deliver. Urgent news that changed everything. He was in the middle of a rebellion and violation of curfew. His business had nothing to do with the locals on either side. Yet, if spotted he'd still be shot at. If captured shot period, but not before some hideously, painful method of torture was implemented to extract any kernel of information from him. He did not want to go down that way. The thought made him shudder. The patrol was then going by. His choice was made. He laid low in the muck and waited. The vehicles came to a stop. A beam of light suddenly shot down the alley. The patrol abruptly fired off a round startling him. The spray of bullets pockmarked the brick wall of the building behind him. He clenched into a ball in terror. A dozen or so rats the size of small hams scattered out from the heaps of trash and the soldiers unloaded on them. The rodents exploded around the man covering him in bloodied rat entrails. One bullet whizzed by nicking the side of his head. A scalding, burning intensity shot through him. He wanted to scream out from the throbbing pain. Clutch the side of his head; but he suppressed the urge instinctively with every ounce of discipline he could muster. The cackle of laughter could be heard from the street, then a stern remark. Inaudible but for one word. A name. Lazarus. God, he thought to himself, not the undead. The beam of light ceased and all went quiet. Footsteps moved toward him in the alley. At that moment all was lost. How could he have been so naïve to think he could make it to the hotel after dusk? Just to deliver a single piece of information. A warning, really, to those who would listen. He had cast his fate to the night and the night responded with irony. The name he had just heard was the name he carried to the hotel. "Lazarus has arrived." That was all he was to say. Why didn't he wait till the dawn? .. Tales from the moe.Republic The Surprisingly Imaginative & Hilarious Pulitzer Prize Contending Debut Novel by John Derhak, moe. bassist Rob Derhak's brother John Featuring original cover art by moe. guitarist Chuck Garvey Available Now at moe.Merchandise, Borders Books, the moe.Republic, Amazon.com, & just about anywhere you can buy a book! Tales from the moe.republic is now available for $3.99 on Amazon Kindle The Press on Tales from the moe.Republic ~ The buzz of the moe.Nation and beyond ~
Quote the Press Tales from the moe.Republic "I really do enjoy the book... it has a Hunter Thompson quality..." Hittin' the Note "Great storytelling with a lot depth, humor, and a similar sense of adventure...once you get into it you're in for one hell of a ride." State of Mind Music Magazine "Good old-fashioned storytelling... Derhak leads the reader from one misbegotten historical-tinged fable to another with the breathless abandon of a writer hitting all the notes." Randy Ray, Jambands.com "Mr. Derhak's writing style, humorous and endearing, brings the characters to life, like old friends you've known before." Boston Herald "Tales it is - but these stories make you want to visit! ...a must read!" Amazon.com "There aren't many books that can make me laugh out loud..." Goodreads.com "Stephen King meets Prairie Home Companion meets John Steinbeck... What can I say? It's that good!" Jackson Grant, Downeast Way Times
You can buy the book here, through my website, or Amazon.com for $8.95
A handy guide to how you, dear reader, can Purchase a Copy of Tales from the moe.Republic
Options are as follows: 1) (seller: moerepublic) 2) Paypal me on my homepage: www.moerepublic.org 3) or Mail personal check or money order to me: John Derhak
PO Box 2238
Jupiter, FL 33468 email me your full name, shipping address, and how many copies you're ordering at: [email protected] Please add $3.00 S/H to the total on options 2 & 3 Volume Discounts Available
~All ya gotta do is ask~ .. 'Book' your room at the moe.Republic and pick up a copy today!!! www.moerepublic.org Email me here on myspace or at [email protected] for more Information or Questions ..
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About the Book Long-time moe. fans may remember the column, which appeared in the old moe.Newsletter way back when.
That column was based upon a series of letters to Rob, your friendly bass player for moe., from his brother John, the humble, yet bungling innkeeper of the moe.Republic Hotel.