Mystic Arena

Some time in the indefinite future, when Fr. Robert Breslin, a Redemptorist priest on missionary assignment in Africa, discovers he has the ability to see things happening many miles and even continents away and can, in some cases, interact with those events, he notifies his religious superiors. Sent to Rome for evaluation, he convinces a few ranking members of the curia of his abilities. Kept on a short leash in Rome, he still sometimes slips the bounds. Introduced to the U.S. navy attaché in Rome, he also has to keep his secret even as they become friends.

In Africa, a new organization, under the leadership of a Syrian referred to as the Mahdi, is trying to establish a Muslim caliphate throughout the continent. It trains and equips terrorist operatives for assignments as far away as North America and as near as Rwanda, in southeastern Africa. Using cargo ships as floating bombs, smuggling, and even use of a nuclear weapon are among their plans. Fr. Robert has to act when he sees his best friend murdered by one of the terrorists.

With the help of three friends, Fr. Robert must try to confront the murderer and attempt to prevent many more, even as other terrorist plans are in the works.

-- Pat Gooley