SOON

The Adventures of Edwin D Ferretti, Author

Part thirteen

 

 

 

Sliding my chair back I stood. "You look amazing," blurted out of my mouth.

"Romance can come later. You need to ask me questions and bring me back home."

"Sorry, it's just that you've been on my mind since I first saw you." I realized that forgot to bring my list of questions and would have to wing it. "Tell me about this dimension." I sat down again and turned on my tape recorder.

"I call it the October Country."

"October Country?"

"Reminds me of Chicago during winter; icy and windy. If it weren't for the elves, I would've frozen to death a long time ago. They brought me food, warm clothing and blankets." She blushed, "I changed to these cloths for you." I made a mental note to thank the elves.

"Where is this dimension located?"

"Not a clue. The night sky is totally different than the one over us now. It's cloudless and dreary during the day. At night things fly about in the dark that I can only imagine, want to do me harm."

"Where do you spend your nights?"

"The elves found a cave for me. After checking it they helped me build a wind block and a secure door. I collect wood during the day and burn it inside at night. Water trickles in the back of the cave. The elves have brought cast iron pots and pans that I use to cook in and gather water."

"If I can locate this dimension then I can write about it; changing the weather and creatures that wander its barren landscape. I wonder if there's anything in your father's room that might shed some light."

"The old goat did have a cabinet filled with his things. Problem is that it's magic spelled shut. Cynthia and I couldn't open it."

"I'll check it out...say how did you send your cat through the portal?"

"You mean Bast? She's still with me. She keeps me company. If it weren't for her I'd have gone crazy."

"Huh, still with you...then who is this other feline that Cynthia recognizes and calls Bast?" Oh my, could it be the cat that I wrote into all of my books, Bast? Bast has magical powers, because she is the offspring of the ancient Egyptian Cat Goddess Bastet. It made sense; I created Bast in my normal dimension. My mind raced, I can use her to undo the spell on Cindy's father's bookcase. "I believe that I have a solution to opening your father's bookcase." Cindy smiled.

"Cindy, how is it that you can visit here without the use of a portal?"

"I use the portal. It's still open at my end and closed at yours. Only my spiritual body can make the trip. My physical body is sleeping behind the locked door of my cave. When both ends of the portal are open then I'll be able to come home.

"Did the elves tell you about your mother?"

"You know where my mother is?" I nodded my head.

"She landed on Pelta, a planet that I'll be visiting tomorrow. Jen and Company are going to introduce me to the use of magic. Once I understand its concept I'll be able to use it in my story to aid my protagonists. On the next foggy night I would like both you and Cynthia to visit me in my new home. I'll be able to bring your mother for a visit."

"Wonderful, I can't wait. Maybe you could also print out copies of your completed manuscripts and I can begin reading them."

"After you leave here are you going to visit your sister?"

"Depends on the time; I have to be back inside my body before midnight." I checked my watch.

"We have been chatting for almost two hours; still have three and a half before midnight. Cynthia has copies of my books."

"David I should go. I promise to visit you in your new dimensional house on the next foggy night." She began to fade away. I reached out my hand; too late, all I felt was an icy cold breath wrapping itself around my arm.

 

 

 

Verbal stories, passed from one person to another,

often differ from the original with each telling.

Stories in an author's mind that are turned

 into books remain unchanged for eternity.

 

THE DARKSIDE OF THE MEDALLION

 

 

      

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SOON

The Adventures of Edwin D Ferretti, Author

Part twelve

 

 

                             

"They're gone, what happened to them; and those owls, why did they hoot so loudly?"

"I added the owls in my second book. They were a gift from the Greek goddesses Hera and Athena. Jen uses them to keep an eye out for Seth as he sends his troops through the Void Express. When the owls detect movement in that dimension, they warn Jen and Company by hooting; that's why everyone left in such a hurry; a fight is brewing. Funny, I don't remember writing about a fight scene yet, I might have thought of it." Cynthia nodded her head.

"You need to practice not thinking." I looked at Cynthia and she blushed. "I mean stop thinking of your story while you're inside this dimension."

"Like that'll happen. How can I put a cork in my mind? It's like tugging on Superman's cape or spitting into the wind, both produce nasty outcomes. I need to get my mind on something else like my meeting with Cindy later tonight. Turing I went to the book cases and returned with two manuscripts.

"You should take home a copy of my first two manuscripts. This'll give you a better understanding of what's taking place. I need to send you and Bast back home."

"Please tell me everything that you and my sister discuss tonight, no matter how late." I nodded and thought them home.

"Rafael, are you close?"

"Behind you Master." My heart did a flip-flop. I spun around. Rafael stood inches from my face looking like the Hunchback of Notre Dame.

"Yes master, be quick as I have to ring the bells in ten minutes and you know how I hate to climb all of those steps." I quickly thought him back. "Yes David how may I be of service?"

"I'll be spending tonight locked in the town's library and need a meal and coffee."

"I will get it together for you now." With four hours to spare I thought myself in a bathing suit and headed to the swimming pool. I mean, what better way to clear my mind. The water was like a Mediterranean sea on a hot June day, warm and refreshing. My shoulders stretched as I propelled myself through the water. The music of Jaws came to mind, Dum Dum Dum...something scraped against my stomach; pain clouded my mind and blood traced my path in the water. A large fin appeared in front of me slowly turning around. What the hell?

The largest set of jaws that I could have imagined broached the water. I thought myself instantly on the deck of a large fishing craft; Jaws was headed directly for my small insignificant self, hardly a tender morsel for such a large shark. The ship began to rock and something rolled into my ankles knocking me to the deck. I reached out and grabbed onto an oxygen cylinder. Standing I managed to positioned it on the deck railing. Grabbing a length of rope I secured the cylinder to the railing and stood back just to the left, and thought of a sledge hammer; my right hand became heavy. Raising my arms I waited. Jaws was ten feet away and closing rapidly. The shadow of the shark loomed over me. I swung the sledge hammer as fast as I could, severing the valve from the cylinder's end. Swoosh, it propelled into the open jaws and forced the shark to abandon his snack. I thought myself back into the library. My stomach was on fire and blood seeped between my fingers. Bast, are you near? Light headiness forced me to my knees and I passed out.

Cindy, Cindy what are you doing to me? I'll do anything to save you. A rough tongue brushed across my face, my dream became a memory. My eyes opened and I held Bast away from my face.

"Bast, what's with the sandpaper treatment?" Then I remembered, the shark, my stomach, my blood. "Thank you Bast for coming to my rescue." Pulling up my clean shirt I did a double take. There were no stitches, blood or proof that a great white had slit open my stomach with his fin. I was back to normal; still skinny mind you but happy. "I can't thank you enough. Let's grab something to munch on." Purring filled the space around me as I led Bast to the kitchen. Passing a large grandfather clock I noted that I had an hour before I needed to be at the library.

Rafael met us and led Bast to her food bowl. "I am glad to see you in good health. I have your dinner and coffee ready."

"Thanks' Rafael. I'll be leaving in a few minutes after Bast has some food."

"I anticipated that she would accompany you and added food and water for her." Smiling I nodded my head.

"Bast shake a leg. Aren't you coming with me?" Purring followed me as I walked outside the house and entered my car.  Looking in the rearview mirror I watched my old house get smaller and then fade out of sight, swallowed up in the fog that was rolling in. Bast followed me into the library; Cheryl Snide was beginning her nightly routine of hurrying the last visitors out of the front door.

"Hello David, are you ready to be locked in?"

"I am. What time do you think she'll appear?"

"Anytime between now and midnight. She once told me she has to leave before the bewitching hour." I nodded my head and heard the clicking of the key in the lock. Looking around I found a table and chair and sat down. I retrieved Cindy's diary and began reading. Bast appeared on the table and curled up for a cat-nap. As I read I noticed a loud rushing sound in my ears and realized it was the sounds of silence.

"David, I'm so glad to see you again." The diary slipped from my hand and fell with a loud slap upon the table. Cindy stood in front of me...

 

To be Continued

 

 

 

 

 The Moving Finger writes; and, having writ,

 Moves on: nor all your Piety nor Wit

 Shall lure it back to cancel half a Line,

 Nor all your Tears wash out a Word of it

-- Omar Khayyam