| Subject: Haunted Isle--Part 2 |
Author:
Lizzi Longfletch
|
[
Next Thread |
Previous Thread |
Next Message |
Previous Message
]
Date Posted: 22:29:56 03/27/07 Tue
"Beasts have heard, above the whispering of the wind in the willows that surround the island, moaning. Moans of injustice, suffering, and plots. There have been mutterings, too--of murder and thievery, mutiny and plunder, complaining and drinking. Folks say that the spirits of dead pirates roam there, thirsting for revenge." Chess pulled up the covers sournd him and curled up. The badger's paws were slick with sweat, and his mouth was dry. But he was unconscious of these things as the squirrelamid went on. "Shades have appeared there when fishermen go out to fish among the schools that congregate there to feed on the waterbugs that come out at night. They have come back with tales of white apparirtions that they can walk through--who beg them to kill the ones who wronged them and threatening dire consequences if they don't wreak the ghost's revenge. And some--some have never returned at all." The guttering candle threw odd shadows on the squirrel's face. "Are you still game?" Chess stuttered. "Well--y--not rea--I--we could, but--" Ashlyn smiled and shrugged with indifference. "If you're too scared then I can always get Robyn." "No--no, I'll still go." The badgerboy blurted it out before he could think about what he had said. "All right, it's settled. Tomorrow night. Good night." Adn ashlyn blew out the candle, leaving Chess alone in the dark, victim to the fears and horros that come creeping in at night.
All through the next day, Chess did his best to push the thought of the impending trip backinto his subconscious, so he could have fun with whatever time he might have left. But it was not to be. "Chess, you've got to conceontrate! That's the third one you've blown too thin and let drip--the third! Chess, listen. You've got to focus or else the vase will be ruined. Glass solution isn't cheap, you know." Jude Parkinson, the city glassbower, awakened his appentice out of his reverie. "I'm sorry. I'm just--distracted." I can see that, Chess. Ah well. Go ahead. Shoo. You evidently cna't conceontrate right now, so get out of the workshop afore you wreck even more things." "Thank you, sir." The badger walked out of the workshop, butterflies--no, a horde of squirrels--bouncing around in his stomach. He looked up at the setting sun and sighed. It was almost time.
The duo waited until the grownups had gone to bed, and then snuck out. Eyes leered out at them form the shadowy doorwaysof shops lining the streets, and hunched forms crouched in gutters, clothed in tattered rags. Ashlyn shivered and pulled her cloak tihgter around her, but it was not much help. Cold chills ran up and down her spine, her heart felt like it was pounding fit to burst, and she berated herself for daring Chess to do this.
both of them were relieved when they got to the marina, where it was a little more open and there was hardly a single soul to be spotted. The boats bobbed on the silver water as the waves washed into the harbor. Chess picked out his father's fishing trawler and climbed in. Ashlyn hitche dup her skirt and stepped in, almost losing her footing because of te movement of the boat. "Careful there! Need some help?" "No, I'm fine, thank you Chess." "Okay then, here we go." The badger put up the sail and handled the tiller, leaving Ashlyn to think about what awaited them. She had always longed to sail the waters, but now that she was actully on a boat she found it distinctly unpleasant. The boat smelled of fish and was so unsteady. It made her stomach feel funny. And just the sight of water in almost every directin made her realize how vulnerable she was--how small. The only comfort--and a slim comfort it was--was the dark line on the horizon that slowly took the shape of Haunted Isle.
The squirrel spotted a small beach on the island and pointed it out to the badger. He landed on it and dragged teh boat up above the tideline. Then Ashlyn and the apprentice hesitantly entered the trees.
They were not ambushed, nor were they trapped or attacked. Chess realized that they had foolishly thought that they were expected, and that someone knew of their presence here. They had almost expected to see a ghost, he realized. But none appeared, and the two beasts breathed a sigh of relief. For now.
As they made their way through the trees, Chess noticed that the willows surrounding them turned into oak and beech, and then into apple and pear, planted in neat rows. The badger took note of that, realizing that something lived here, be it friendly or not. Chess didn't point this out to Ashlyn, not watning to scare her. But maybe he should have prepared her for what they were about to encounter.
Ashlyn noticed a faint reddish glow throught the trees as they heared the center of the island, and almost bumped into a stone building. "Chess!" she whispered urgently. "Chess! come and look at this!" eh came over and examined it. "Looks like some kind of storehouse--no windows or anything, and very carefully constructed--it's not a slap-together job or anything. This was planned."
Wordlessly they advenced, until they could see between the buildings--for there were more, mostly like the first one they encountered.
A huge bonfire leaped and danced in the center of a large clearing, with hordes of corsairs and priates crowded around it, gobbling nuts, bread, corn, seeds, and--the things that made both of the youngsters lick their lips--hazlenut pie, rice cake, and candied corn.
[
Next Thread |
Previous Thread |
Next Message |
Previous Message
]
| |
Feedback: 