OF ROCKS & GOLD = EXCERPT # 6

Here the second adventure is about to end.  What impression has it had on Sally and how will they keep the secret of Windfallow?

 

Of Rocks and Gold 6

Once again Zach stood, now with a companion, on the far side of the gate in a park in southern Indiana. Angari stood before them holding two boxes. “Here are the clothing and glasses you wore while in Windfallow. It is just after dusk of the day you left earth. I will walk with you to Zach’s house to make sure all is well here. Sally, you might want to leave your box with Zach for a while, since they know about Windfallow and your parents do not.”

Soon Zach’s house was in sight. Angari handed the boxes to the teenagers, bowed and vanished. Sally looked at Zach. “It really happened, didn’t it? How do we pretend it didn’t?”

“We just remember how wonderful that world is and how much we want it to stay that way. If you feel you just have to talk about it, call me and we’ll meet somewhere. But I’ll pray for you and you pray for me so we won’t be tempted to tell. OK?”

The two parted and Zach walked to his front door. The night was cool and home suddenly looked very inviting.

Sally walked home slowly.  How would she keep secret the happiness welling up inside, the peace that filled the night with a far off singing?  She prayed as she walked, “O, Father in Heaven, Maker of Windfallow, help me to keep their secret safe.  Make my mind strong enough and clear enough not to slip.  Thank you, Father, for a wonderful glimpse of what Heaven will be like.” 

Then suddenly the scripture verse she’d learned the week before came to mind: “Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither has it entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.” 

“Ah, Father, that was just a taste of Heaven!  Thank you!  Amen.:”

 

This is the last of the excerpts from Of Rocks and Gold.  It was hard to leave so much out, but perhaps I have piqued your curiosity.

 

OF ROCKS & GOLD – EXCERPT # 5

In this excerpt we meet the Kind of the Barrier Wood and learn or the jade amulet by which the demon, Jackal, controls him.  He is perturbed by the loss of prisoners he was holding and the disappearance of the eagles…

Of Rocks and Gold 5

The King of the Barrier Wood prowled just behind the main body of mindless as they neared the Ravensrill camp. As he walked he toyed with the pouch around his neck and muttered to himself. “Eagles gone. Prisoners gone. What’s goin’ on here?” He let the others get farther ahead, then dropped to his haunches and removed the pouch from his neck. With his back to the tunnel ahead, he slipped the amulet from the leather bag.

In his hand lay a piece of jade worn smooth with much use. Inscribed upon it was the snarling head of a jackal. The king lost his air of bravado as he gazed at the amulet. He fell forward with his head in the dirt, hand outstretched, the amulet held as high as possible. Unintelligible words poured from his mouth. A dank, foul mist rose from the upraised hand, filling the air around the king’s head. When the smell assaulted his nostrils, the king lifted his head and looked with dread at the amulet. A face so evil it frightened even the King of the mindless, had replaced the snarling jackal. “You dare to question me, you human dirt bag?”

“Please, Great One. Things are happening you didn’t tell me about. The

eagles have disappeared, our prisoners escaped even though they were half dead…

Even our scout party in Ravensrill had problems…”

“Shut up!” The head blazed and the king dropped the amulet. Immediately his hand curled in agony as punishment came swift and cruel. “Pick up the sacred stone! How dare you play with it so carelessly!”

The king placed his hand over the red-hot jade, wincing as the fire blistered

the slowly uncurling fingers.

“Now. Losing the prisoners was your fault, but angels from earth stole the eagles. I don’t know how they got here or how they know what we’re doing, but they did and they do. The rest of it is just bad luck. Are you trying to get out of our bargain?”

“Oh, no, Great One! We are just about to carry off more loot than we’ve ever seen. These fairies are so simple and harmless; it’s like stealing from babies.”

“What about your end of the bargain? Have you managed to introduce

jealousy, greed, hate into this world?”

“N-n-no, your honor. We haven’t had time. We did try with those prisoners

we took, but somethin’ kept us from ‘em. But we will, sir. I promise. Just as soon as we get the gemstone.”

“Go. Your henchmen are coming to find you. Just don’t try to trick me. You know what will happen!” The face of the jackal returned and the stone cooled. The king slipped it back into the pouch, noticing as he did so that the blisters on his hand were gone. The pain remained however, and his temper grew to match it.

 

OF ROCKS AND GOLD – EXCERPT # 4

In this excerpt we meet the Kind of the Barrier Wood and learn or the jade amulet by which the demon, Jackal, controls him.  He is perturbed by the loss of prisoners he was holding and the disappearance of the eagles…

Of Rocks and Gold 5

The King of the Barrier Wood prowled just behind the main body of mindless as they neared the Ravensrill camp. As he walked he toyed with the pouch around his neck and muttered to himself. “Eagles gone. Prisoners gone. What’s goin’ on here?” He let the others get farther ahead, then dropped to his haunches and removed the pouch from his neck. With his back to the tunnel ahead, he slipped the amulet from the leather bag.

In his hand lay a piece of jade worn smooth with much use. Inscribed upon it was the snarling head of a jackal. The king lost his air of bravado as he gazed at the amulet. He fell forward with his head in the dirt, hand outstretched, the amulet held as high as possible. Unintelligible words poured from his mouth. A dank, foul mist rose from the upraised hand, filling the air around the king’s head. When the smell assaulted his nostrils, the king lifted his head and looked with dread at the amulet. A face so evil it frightened even the King of the mindless, had replaced the snarling jackal. “You dare to question me, you human dirt bag?”

“Please, Great One. Things are happening you didn’t tell me about. The

eagles have disappeared, our prisoners escaped even though they were half dead…

Even our scout party in Ravensrill had problems…”

“Shut up!” The head blazed and the king dropped the amulet. Immediately his hand curled in agony as punishment came swift and cruel. “Pick up the sacred stone! How dare you play with it so carelessly!”

The king placed his hand over the red-hot jade, wincing as the fire blistered

the slowly uncurling fingers.

“Now. Losing the prisoners was your fault, but angels from earth stole the eagles. I don’t know how they got here or how they know what we’re doing, but they did and they do. The rest of it is just bad luck. Are you trying to get out of our bargain?”

“Oh, no, Great One! We are just about to carry off more loot than we’ve ever seen. These fairies are so simple and harmless; it’s like stealing from babies.”

“What about your end of the bargain? Have you managed to introduce

jealousy, greed, hate into this world?”

“N-n-no, your honor. We haven’t had time. We did try with those prisoners

we took, but somethin’ kept us from ‘em. But we will, sir. I promise. Just as soon as we get the gemstone.”

“Go. Your henchmen are coming to find you. Just don’t try to trick me. You know what will happen!” The face of the jackal returned and the stone cooled. The king slipped it back into the pouch, noticing as he did so that the blisters on his hand were gone. The pain remained however, and his temper grew to match it.