Once Upon a Time in Golden Glen
by
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Once into the darkest, thickest section of the trees, Nita whispered to Zack, “I don't know that old guy. But I doubt if he wants to help me. My mom warned me about old men in parks. I think he maybe wants to . . . to hurt me.” She didn’t elaborate. “Let's keep going.” They ran farther into the trees. Wheezing, Zack stopped to catch his breath. Nita pulled him into a moonlit clearing and patted his back.
“Asthma,” he muttered, “need my inhaler.”
“Slow, deep breaths, big guy, deep, deep breaths. Breath in through your nose, exhale through your mouth.” He obeyed.
“Can’t,” he wheezed.
They stood in a clearing just as a horse, glistening gold in the early evening light, stepped noiselessly from behind the trees. It raised its head and looked at them, pricking its ears forward and giving a quiet nicker. Nita backed away but Zack stepped closer, thinking the horse must be friendly. He was clearly fascinated. Turning away, the horse trotted toward the other end of the clearing and stopped, its head swung around to peer back at them.
“It wants us to follow it,” Zack exclaimed. Neither of them had ever seen such an animal, but as was her nature, Nita was suspicious. Zack rushed after the horse. He called back to her. “That's one great looking horse! Like a palomino, only better!” The dark inside the forest thickened, but the horse seemed to shine brighter and brighter in the moonlight of the clearing, the well-defined muscles shimmering and rippling with each movement.
“Nita,” the boy whispered, “I think he’s got a coat made out of gold.”
She stared at him, “Yeh, right, fool’s gold, maybe.”
After a few prancing steps, the horse stopped and knelt on one knee encouraging the kids to climb aboard. Neither of them did, though Zack stepped up to the glittering animal. He stroked the horse’s back. After a bit, the horse stood again. In a calm, metallic voice it said, “It's all right, kids, don’t be afraid. I know you are Juanita and Zachery. I'm here to take you to Golden Glen, a secret place for worthy people with troubles.”
Nita sputtered, “A talking horse? You're joking! I'm outa here.”
“Wait Nita,” Zack grabbed her shoulder, “How many horses talk? This one is more than special. I trust it.”
“It's a trick, Zack,” she looked around her, “there's a cop ventriloquist in the trees ready to grab us.” Her voice was unsteady. “Gotta be a trick!”
“No, Nita, he's right,” the horse spoke again, “I am to be trusted. You'll not regret it. I promise.”
“Said the spider to the fly,” her eyes narrowing. The horse whinnied in rhythm of laughter, “Well said, little one,” prancing now, “but do I look like a spider?”
So shocked she could think of nothing to say, Zack pulled her by the hand to the horse. The horse knelt once more. Both of them put their hands on the horse’s glistening coat. Just then, Orin Halper burst into the clearing behind them.
“Ah ha,” he shouted, “I knowed you'd come in here. You been livin' in this forest, ain'ja. But now I caught ya!” He lunged toward them and stopped. “What the . . . that horse?” With a flourish and before she could object, Zack grabbed Nita around the waist and boosted her onto the horse's back, then jumped up behind her. The horse stood and began a slow cantor through the trees and out onto the flat grassy area of the playground. The police officer cursed and pushed his way to the edge of the trees, then stopped. The horse galloped away striding easily.
Nita looked back at Halper, smiled, then waved. She had been on a horse only once before, but this ride was far smoother. She relaxed her body to let herself rock in sync with the horse’s rhythm. The ride so thrilled her, she closed her eyes and lifted her arms pretending they were flying. She opened her eyes and looked at the ground. The horse’s hooves didn’t seem to touc
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About the Book
Imagine a village in a beautiful, densely forested valley with hills and meadows as well as rivers and streams. The village fronts on an ocean to the west. Here, no one ages, illnesses and injuries heal in seconds. Work is rewarded with free housing, free meals, and beautiful clothing one can pick off a shelf and take home. Useful articles and deliciously prepared restaurant meals are . No money exists. Creative solutions are encouraged and sought after and shared. Love and glory are the parts of life that cause competition. Here, people can be true to themselves without suffering condemnation. People work to serve others. Government is committed to serving the needs of the people.
There are no cars, no heavy machinery. Glenners travel long distances on the backs of horses or Maximum Monarchs, twenty-five foot tall monarch butterflies rigged with seating for human beings. King SkyGolden, a half elf, can transform himself into the flying horse named Trumpet. His wife, Rubikan, can do likewise. Golden Glen, a little piece of paradise!
Or is it?
This is a land where elves once ruled, where their descendants still possess magic. Eagles grow ten foot wingspans. They have teeth reminiscent of fossilized birds. Living in the
In the eastern mountains are the Troll, an ugly, misshapen little people with heads one third the size of humans. Very muscular but stupid, they are led by a queen who has entranced the Cenotaur, a beast born of a rape of a tiny female centaur by the Minotaur of Crete. Once enslaved by the elves, the Troll queen is determined to take over the Glen. The Troll and Kelpie continue their conflict , amoral women of great beauty who are offended by the ugliness of the little people. Battles between them were once commonplace but now, the battles break out only now and then. Kelpie use lepainea to attack the Troll, the Troll have the Cenotaur to counter the cats. But important for both, Glenners are their enemy. If they Troll and Kelpie unite, they could overrun the Glen in a day.
About the Author
Having earned a Masters Degree in English Literature from
Born in