The Arcet by Charles Lankiwicz (the read aloud family TXT) 📖

John Larsen, age 12, looked at Caernal Castle as he stood beside his parents: Joan and Ben. They were on a vacation in Wales. It was a hot June day, with a cloudless blue sky. The castle was weed covered, tumbled down, but still picturesque on its commanding hilltop, looking down on the Caernal River.

“That river looks like it’ll have good fishing Dad--can I try it?” said John.

Ben Larsen looked at his son John, who was clad in tan shorts with a maroon striped shirt. John had his blond hair cut in bangs, over his large blue eyes, and was a bit tall and stocky for his age.

“I guess so John. I’ll stop in Caernal village and get some directions while you’re fishing.” said his father.

“I’ll go with you, dear. I’m tired and I’ll just lay down in the back of the car–You watch yourself, John!” said his mother.

A few minutes later, John was hunkered down on the bank, fishing rod in hand. The smell of the water was strong. It was also extremely murky; he could see nothing in its green brown depth.

He thought of what the guide book had said about Caernal Castle: Caernal Castle, called by legend “The Gateway”, was build by Lord Caernal in 955AD... The origin of the name is obscure, as the river is of only modest length, and has no outlet to the sea.

John looked up at the clouds in the sky, moving rapidly in the upper air winds, and they became charging knights, lances leveled, attacking... Suddenly his line gave a jerk.

“Whoa–what have I got here,” he said.

The line pulled him towards the river. With an effort he pulled back. Suddenly a strange creature jumped out of the river in front of him, John’s fish in his mouth. It had large floppy ears, green scaly skin, small, cruel yellow eyes set beneath heavy brows and a lipless, wide mouth with sharp fangs. It was about his size.

“Who–er–you–“ gasped John.

Then, still clutching the rod, he was pulled into the river. His clothes became soaking wet and everything about him became black as he sank to the bottom. The river was much deeper than it had looked. He felt a queer sensation, as if he was mildly shocked by electricity

Then John was kicking upwards towards the surface, his lungs about to burst, trying hard not to open his mouth and swallow the water. In the back of his mind, he felt thankful that he had taken the swimming classes at school. Then he burst out of the river, drawing in huge lung fulls of air, treading water.

After he calmed down a little, he looked about. He was a good deal further from the bank than he thought he should be–and the castle was gone! There were strange odors in the air and it was colder. What had happened?

He swam towards the shore, got out and looked about. Everything was somehow different. There was no road near the shore. How was he going to find Mom and Dad? Fear flowed through him like ice water down his back, his heart beat faster and he began to tremble.

With a determined effort, he snapped out of it, and began looking about until he saw tracks.

These must be the creature’s tracks, he thought.

He followed the tracks through the woods. Everything seemed different somehow, yet it was still the same Welsh countryside. The biggest difference was the air. It was so much sharper and cleaner. Just to breath it in was invigorating. However, it was a bit colder, and his wet clothes still clung to his body.

He saw movement ahead. “Hold it there!” he said as he ran forward.

He saw that it was not the creature. It was armored and armed with a wicked looking spear, wearing a conical helmet and was about five foot tall. Its armor consisted of leaf like plates, that covered its whole body, except for the face. The face was something like a cross between a rat and a human, with greenish tinted skin. This creature was as surprised as he and uttered a strange sound.

“Who are you? Where are you fro...” said John as this creature rushed at him, with spear raised, uttering a growl.

Instinctively, John grabbed it and they struggled. John found that he was the stronger. The creature panicked, dropped the spear and ran into the woods.

John sat down, still holding the spear, trembling. Emotions flowed through him: elation at having bested the creature, puzzlement at what had happened, and a knot of anxiety about getting back to his parents and a normal world.

John got up and followed the creature he had fought with. The trail was easy to follow, as branches were knocked down and leaves scattered. He felt a new sense of power as he held the creatures spear. He heard voices ahead and started to slow his movements, crouching a little as he crept ahead to a large bush on the edge of a clearing. He was completely taken aback by what he saw:

In the clearing where two of the creatures talking to the one who had just escaped from him, who was gesticulating wildly and pointing in his direction. Tied to a tree beside a campfire was a girl about his age–but what a strange looking girl with her costume, a long clinging gown. Her hair was red blond and she was very fair. She was intently watching the creatures.

One left with the one who had escaped John, leaving the other cooking a piece of meat on his spear tip in the campfire. Making a decision, John advanced slowly and carefully, his spear at the ready.

The girl’s eyes lit up, but she said nothing as she saw John.

Then John’s foot stepped on a branch with a loud crack. Instantly the creature turned around, dropping his food into the fire. With a hiss, it attacked John, it’s spear point aimed at his chest. John grabbed his own spear like a baseball bat. He swung it just like he did at the little league games, and gave the creature a solid wallop on the side of its head, making it drop down, out cold.

“Free me! We must leave before the other goblins come back!” said the girl in a strange voice that he seemed to hear as much in his head as in his ears.

A few seconds later, he had cut through her bonds with the spear. Instantly, she grabbed a short sword laying on the ground, and stabbed the unconscious goblin.

Looking at the expression on his face she said: “It was necessary–one less to follow and attack later.”

“But it’s not...”

“They were going to kill and eat me. The one you found was looking for firewood. Take a food packet–we must leave now!”

Confused, John took one of the packets he saw laying about, and followed her into the woods, which soon swallowed them in a green twilight.

“My name is Myra. I thank you for saving me. You will be well rewarded. I see that you do not know the tongue and I have to use thought projection to speak to you. What are you called and where do you come from?”

“My name is John Larsen and I’m from Pittsburgh, Pa, United States. I’m on a vacation with my parents.”

“I see that you have come through the gate.”

“Gate? All that I remember is that I was fishing and I saw a creature who pulled me into the water...”

“Yes. Some are under water. It is rare, but they do exist. You are new to this world of Walvern, which you have entered through the gate. The creature that pulled you in is a quellon. It is only dangerous when feeding. Both you and it were after the same fish.”

A jolt of fear shot through John. “You mean that I’m in a...different world. How can I get back? Mom and Dad will... What can I do?”

“You can go back. I will help you to do so–if you will help me.”

“How? What do I have to do?”

“If you help me to free my brother–held prisoner in Grinnell Castle, I will help you to return to your world.”

“I...I guess so,” said John, realizing that he did not have any other options.

For some hours they went through the dense forest, John following behind Myra. John’s mind was awhirl at what had happened. He did not know what to think about the days events. He began to tire, as he was not used to such prolonged hiking. The sun began to get lower and lower in the sky.

“ Let us stop to eat and rest. We should be safe here.” said Myra.

John sat down on a log in the small clearing they where in and opened the packet he had brought along.. Inside he found some brown pellets that were satisfying, if not particularly tasty. Myra did the same thing, watching him. Then she lay down on the grass, using her packet for a pillow. John did the same thing, his mind awhirl from the day’s events. Soon, however, exhaustion claimed him and he fell asleep.

Some hours later, Myra shook him awake saying: “ Refresh yourself, John. We must leave soon, or the goblins will find us here.”

Again, they walked through the woods, Myra leading.

“Tell me of yourself, Myra and your brother.”

“We are the children of King Bernal of Midol.. Our evil uncle, Count Caxt, wants to do away with us so that his son, Bohad, is installed as the new prince. To this end, he has united with the evil goblins to kidnap us. I had managed to escape, but had been recaptured when you came upon us.”

“Who are the goblins?”

“They are the evil minions of Sha-Dur, the Demon King. He desires to rule the world of Walvern. Our evil uncle is but a tool in his hands. If we can return to our castle, he will be imprisoned and our father will decide what to do with him.”

The shadows were now lengthening, and ahead, on a high hill, lights could be seen. When they came closer, they could see that Grinnell Castle had high walls, that were regularly patrolled by goblin guards, also watch fires where lite at intervals along the wall, making it impossible to approach undetected.

“How will we get in?” asked John.

“This used to be an outpost of my people, and it has an exit well away from the walls, to have been used in emergencies. Entering there, we can reach the dungeons where my brother is being held.”

“You can find this exit?”

“We are very close to it, right now.”

Moving on, they came to a solid rock wall, covered with vines. Myra felt along its face, and John heard a sharp click. Then a section of the rock pushed inward, just wide enough to let the both of them through. Then it swung shut and John felt a surge of anxiety.

“It’s too dark–I can’t see a thing!” said John.

“Be patient, it will become lighter.”

Soon, it did, but only marginally, from a sort of glowing green moss that hung from the ceiling. It was also chilly, and clouds of dust kicked up from their feet. They were in an underground tunnel with stalactites and stalagmites. John coughed.

“Careful! They will hear you–it is not far now,” said Myra.

Then they came to a smooth wall, faced with granite blocks. Myra felt along its length, until John again heard a click. The wall swung inward to reveal a narrow bricked corridor. At the far end, it was lit by a torch, which gave off a smelly, choking smoke.

“This is a maze. We will have to search each hallway until we find the cell in which my brother is. There will be guards–be careful!” said Myra.

Slowly, carefully they went down