The Journey

In 1964, when Rick Fountaine is fifteen, his mother dies of a heart attack. This event sets him on a dark path of retribution upon the bullies of the world, starting with the Levines, the family who humiliated his mother when she worked for them years ago. Through careful planning, he exacts his revenge—and the Levines pay with their lives.That business done, Rick moves to Chicago to start a new life, complete with a fake ID, but he soon learns there is no shortage of bullies in the world. His resolution to never back down from a fight lands him in one confrontation after another, and his ruthlessness and aggression ensures that he always comes out on top. Each encounter has its own challenges and consequences, forcing him further west to California. When he replaces his lost ID, he soon finds himself drafted at the age of sixteen. Military training reveals extraordinary skills and intelligence that he never knew he possessed—skills the young killer of bullies will need in order to survive in Vietnam.