Skorpio

Professor Vaughan Beadles of Creighton University leads a stable life with his wife Betty and their infant son. His professional standing shifts dramatically when he acquires the largest uncatalogued post-Anasazi Indian collection in existence. The university has long asserted the reality of the Azuma, a hostile southwest Amerindian tribe previously unknown to scholars. This academic curiosity turns personal when a scorpion emerges from a bowl and stings one of Beadles’ students. The consequences are immediate and severe. Beadles faces theft charges from his institution and homicide accusations from the police. He loses his position, his marriage, and his future in a single collapse. His only path to redemption requires proving the Azuma tribe actually existed. This quest forces him into the desert for a terrifying confrontation with a creature beyond belief. This narrative by Mike Baron appeals to readers who enjoy supernatural fiction grounded in anthropological mystery. It suits those interested in post-Anasazi traditions and the folklore of hostile southwest tribes. The story does not suit readers seeking lighthearted adventure or purely historical nonfiction. Baron uses the framework of a professor’s downfall to explore the dangers of ancient, belligerent cultures that refuse to remain buried.