RA-JAY-SON-WA : DEFENDER DRAGON
****'s Adventure Book 4
by
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Gleeblemyster Gooley is walking leisurely along the main street of the town. His hands are clasped behind his back. As is his custom, he smiles and nods to those who greet him. It is another beautiful day in Gleeble. He thinks. {“What more can a man ask than to be in such a place as this?”} Then he slowly takes in a deep breath and lets it out. As he is doing this a shadow passes over him quickly. He hears ching-a-ling ching-a-ling. It’s the sound of small bells. Then ---- seconds later.
SCREEEEEEEEEAAAMMMMMM!
From a distance comes a bone chilling scream. He stops in his tracks. His mouth falls open. His hands move to the front and side. People from all around are running from the street to take cover. He continues to stand in place. His only movement is when he looks right and left and back again. People are screaming and running from all directions. They have all heard that terrible, terrible scream. At the far end of the square a Gleebleite is pointing to the sky. Then, as others look up to see what he is looking at -------- with absolute horror written on their faces ------ they too point up. Gleeblemyster Gooley looks up as choruses of screams rise to fill the air as the Gleebles watch a huge black dragon carry off a full grown draft horse still hitched to a wagon.
Horror has returned to the Gleebles.
As the days pass, more shadows cover the ground as a group of the long forgotten Black Dragons of Voractovia circle the peninsula that makes up Gleeble. The Gleebles scream the alarm whenever the dragons are seen; And run to the shelter of their homes and businesses. The doors are slammed shut and locked by any means possible. It appears that one lone dog is left outside. However, a teenage Gleeble orphan, Blackanthony, is pounding on a door. He has been mistakenly left outside and cannot gain entrance.
CHING-A-LING CHING-A-LING
He pounds on the door with all of his strength without stopping, and yells “LET ME IN LET ME IN!” The person inside opens the door just enough to pull him inside. The door slams shut. Within seconds a dragon swoops down and grabs the dog with its clawed front feet [painful yelp] and soars up and away. The other dragons continue to circle the town for hours. Finally, the dragons understand that there will be no more for them to eat here today. They are still hungry and this angers them. There is no fiercer anger in nature than that of a Black Dragon of Voractovia. They will take out the anger that fills them on the town of Gleeble.
Just as if they had a “council of war” meeting, each of the dragons in turn, almost as in a military formation, soar high and swoop down over the town spraying it with burning liquid.
CHING-A-LING CHING-A-LING
SWOOP! FWOOSH!
The dragon opens its mouth and discharges the burning liquid. The air around the superheated liquid waves wildly. The walls of Gleeble are on fire.
CHING-A-LING CHING-A-LING
SWOOP! FWOOSH!
Another dragon flies low and spits out the burning liquid. The streets are on fire.
CHING-A-LING CHIN G-A-LING
SWOOP! FWOOSH!
A third dragon follows and does the same thing. The trees are on fire. The wagons and carts are on fire. The whole town is burning!
Inside their homes and businesses the Gleebles are tossing buckets full of water onto their walls and ceilings. The people dere not come out. With nothing more to eat, this maddens the creatures even more. They soar and circle high above the town. Then, with the artistry of combat pilots, they form up and fly to the far end of the town above the causeway. Now the dragons will attack the only road connecting Gleeble to the mainland. One after another, from high above, they swoop down and scrape the ground with their huge talons. This is happening far enough away so that the Gleebles can see the aerial acrobatics, but not close enough to hear the sound of the scales.
SWOOSH – SCRATCH SWOOSH – SCRATCH
Before too long the fires are extinguished. The flaming liquid causes intense heat, but has a short burning time. Although the damage is extraordinary, the town can be repaired.
Ever so slowly, the adults peek out from their hiding places. The older Gleebles carefully exit to check the extent of the damages and look to see if the dragons are about. None can be seen over the town. However, the ground is trembling a bit. The shaking is coming in sets, it seems. Blackanthony steps into the street. He looks around and sees the destruction. It is a horror in his eyes. He feels the trembling of the earth under his feet. He thinks. {“What is happening?”} He looks far to the north where the causeway is located. He can see the flying figures. They swoop out of sight; then return to the sky and swoop again. These actions will continue well in to the night. The Gleebles have no idea what is going on over there.
Blackanthony approaches Gleeblemyster Gooley.
[Blackanthony] “Gleeblemyster Gooley --- sir --- have you seen the dragons over the causeway?”
The Gleeblemyster turns to Blackanthony. His head is covered with beads of sweat. Not the sweat caused by extreme heat or exertion --- it is the sweat caused by fear.
[Gleeblemyster] “What’s that? Did you say the dragons are over the causeway?
[Blackanthony] “Yes, sir.”
He turns and points to the area where he saw the dragons.
“Over there. See. There they are again.”
The Gleeblemyster looks where Blackanthony is pointing and does indeed see the dragons swooping, returning to the sky, and swooping again.
[Gleeblemyster Gooley] “By the stars that shine on us ----you’re right!”
[Blackanthony] “Every time the dragons swoop down we feel the earth trembling. I think they are doing something over there to cause the ground to shake.”
[Gleeblemyster Gooley] “That is a reasonable assumption, Blackanthony. But what exactly are they doing? That is the question.”
[Blackanthony] “I don’t know --------- but I’m going to find out.”
[Gleeblemyster Gooley] “HOLD ON A MINUTE! No, sir! Bad idea --- I don’t think that it would be very wise to venture over there now.”
[Blackanthony] “Maybe not, sir -----but we need to know what is going on. I am small enough to keep from being noticed. Especially since the dragons seem to have their minds set on whatever it is that they are doing.”
The Gleeblemyster puts his right hand on Blackanthony’s left shoulder and looks him straight in the eyes.
[Gleeblemyster Gooley] “You don’t understand. I think that these are the dragons from long ago that have come back to rule the skies. If I am not mistaken they are the Black Dragons of Voractovia.”
Blackanthony’s eyes open wide. He swallows hard.
GULP
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About the Book
For this adventure, **** [the young hero that YOU must name], will leave his beloved valley to help his friend realize his dream of being a Captain of a sea going vessel. At the last minute Sinksalot needs a cabin boy for his voyage to trade, buy, and sell goods. **** excitedly signs up but has no idea how much this voyage will change him. Blistered hands, on board intrigue, wicked storm, duty as a lookout are but a few life changing situations. Then there is bad news when the ship is smashed on the rocks, and he is forced to try and save an entire town by facing The Black Dragons of Voractovia. There is only one way to be rid of these demon beasts. The golden/orange/red RA-JAY-SON-WA has saved the village long ago, but how can they get him to help now. If the defender dragon cannot be found, then all, and I mean ALL, hope is lost.
About the Author
Robert C. Fi n l e y i s a Vietnam Era Veteran, Father of two, Grandfather of five and Great Grandfather of 2 ½ at this writing. He also retired from the US POSTAL SERVICE after 37 years as a Letter Carrier in Gainesville, Florida. He has earned both an AA and AS Degrees. He has been a member of THE SOCIETY OF CHILDREN’S BOOK WRITERS AND ILLUSTRATORS. He started writing because during hard times he would have no presents for his children or grandchildren at Christmas. He wrote his first story, The Mountain of Dreams as a Christmas gift. It was enjoyed so much that he continued writing first The Radiant Glow of Jewels and In Defense of the Empire. Now he has expanded the series with book 4 RA-JAY-SON-WA Defender Dragon.