The Revelation

Dr. Edwin Collins, a physical anthropologist who etches crosses on soda cans, believes he is facilitating the end times described in the Book of Revelation. Michael English, a man of science, seeks to rise above his supervisor’s insanity by professionally excavating one of the country's best preserved plantations in Maryland. This site carries a reputation for paranormal activity, which Collins incorporates into his delusional thinking. English leads a team of eleven graduate and undergraduate students in archaeology. As they dig, tempers fly and personalities clash. Team members experience unusual events that science cannot explain. The narrative forces the group to decide if these occurrences are hysteria, multi-dimensional time slips, or a haunting. They must also determine if Collins’s visions hold any validity. Survival becomes the primary concern as the boundary between professional duty and supernatural terror blurs. Deborah Sickle Hill draws on biblical traditions and archaeological practices to construct this narrative. The story focuses on the clash between empirical science and religious delusion within a confined, haunted setting. It suits readers interested in psychological horror and the breakdown of rational thought under pressure. Those seeking lighthearted supernatural tales or purely academic historical texts may find the tone too intense.