Bumblestook: Book 1, The Accidental Wizard (18 page)

“It appears that we were successful after all,” he said solemnly. “We have made contact with the Earthbound.”

As the moon rose high above Vasquez Rocks, long, dark shadows crept up the sides of the mammoth boulders surrounding the small group of Wizards. One of the shadows detached itself from the rest, hunched down low and slunk away, into the greater darkness of the night.

Big Grey followed the action from afar, as his fellow Earthbound channeled the captured water being through a series of fissures; sealing it up tight in a small, underground cave, where it dashed itself repeatedly against the rock walls.

Upon hearing that Bumblestook was to be the Wizards’ next target, Big Grey had immediately initiated Osheanna’s capture, having determined that the water being was the primary source of their combined power. But, now that the deed was done, it felt faint stirrings of uncertainty as to what to do next.

The Earthbound of Vasquez Rocks were of no further help, as they were not particularly motivated to pursue anything involving Humans. Already, their thoughts were being diverted to things of greater importance, such as the settling of the rock strata disturbed by the recent upheaval. Soon the “Wizard” incident would be all but forgotten, as they turned their attention to more earthly concerns.

Big Grey alone, experienced an overriding sense of urgency to focus all efforts on safeguarding the Human known as Farley Bumblestook.

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Farley was supposed to be sleeping. Tomorrow was a school day and he needed a good night’s rest before tackling the challenges of 3rd grade, especially the mysteries of Long Division! He was lying awake, in a bed built low to the floor and surrounded by large pillows (in case he should fall out in his sleep). His little dog, Yap, experienced no such difficulty; lying on his back nestled in a nest of pillows, snorting softly like a baby pig. But, try as he might, Farley couldn’t fall asleep; some niggling thing in the back of his mind just wouldn’t let him be.

The night was quiet except for the chirping of crickets and the low, rhythmic hum of the local Earthbound (for whom sleep was an alien concept). The sound of the Earthbound had always been with him, even before he was born. The noise never bothered or distracted him. It was usually in the background, like the soothing sound of ocean waves on a nearby shore.

Suddenly, he sat upright in bed. That was it! Tonight, the sound had thrust itself into the foreground, with a rhythm that was choppy and discordant.

Farley got out of bed and went to the window (followed closely by Yap, who had awakened the moment the boy’s feet hit the floor). He raised the sill, then stuck his head and shoulders out into the night air. He was surprised to discover the source of the disturbance seemed to come from the front yard, where Big Grey sat in a corner next to the sidewalk. Farley pushed the windowsill up further and leaned out to hear what Big Grey was saying. He couldn’t quite make out the individual words, so he leaned out a little further—a little further— just a
little
bit further…

He landed in the bush under the window, arms and legs thrashing as he tried to escape its leafy clutches. The branches bent beneath his weight, then dumped him on the ground. He was slightly scratched and disheveled (looking like a wild boy of the woods, with twigs and leaves stuck in his hair) but otherwise unharmed. His pajamas had protected the majority of his skin and the small scratches he had sustained were disappearing before his eyes. He set off across the darkened lawn, tripping only once on his drooping pajama bottoms; heading for the spot where his friend sat, emanating sounds of distress. Behind him, Yap leapt through the open window (easily clearing the bush) to join his master.

The light from the streetlamp and the pale, full, moon cast a ghostly glow on the sidewalk running past Farley’s house. He could easily spot Big Grey in the corner of the front yard; half in light, half in shadow. He reached his friend’s side, surprised that the rock had not detected and acknowledged his presence. Big Grey always sensed his approach long before he reached it.

Farley placed his hands on the rock’s broad back, finding it unusually warm to the touch. Big Grey did not respond. Unsure as to what to do next, he knocked politely on the rock’s hard surface.
Still
, Big Grey did not answer! He crouched down beside the rock, put his arms around it as far as he could and laid his cheek against its warm, rough, side.

“Hey, Big Grey,” he whispered intensely.

Big Grey, fully immersed in the data stream, heard the Human call his name as if from the bottom of a deep, deep well. Slowly, the rock being extricated itself from direct interaction with its search, surfacing like a diver coming up for air.

“
Greetings, Farley
,” it said simply.

“What took you so long?” Farley asked.

Many minutes passed as the rock being mulled over its response. Much had occurred that was beyond its experience. It didn’t know where to begin or how to present the data in a way that the Human would understand. Farley crouched at its side, quietly waiting, without so much as a fidget; having learned patience years ago from his Earthbound friend. Finally, Big Grey spoke.

“
Humans and Earthbound—collide
.”

“What do you mean? Like a war or something?” Farley asked, his eyes troubled.

“
Not—war. Earthbound do not—war
.”

“Well, then
what
?”

“
Earthbound—protect—Farley
.”

“Aw, that’s okay! I can take care of myself.” Farley declared proudly.

“
Regardless
,” Big Grey replied. “
Earthbound and Farley—friends. Friends—protect
friends
.”

“Well, alright! You protect me, and
I’ll
protect
you
.” Farley (who, after all, was an 8 year old boy) leapt to the top of the rock and began fencing with an imaginary opponent. “Take
that
, you fiend! And that, and that, and tha— whoops!”

He fell backwards onto the grass and was promptly tackled by his little dog, who took this as an invitation to play. Trying to hold the squirming animal at arm’s length, Farley aimed a lop-sided grin at Big Grey,

“You might wanna get yourself some better protection, Mister Grey!” he said, laughing.

Big Grey had studied Humans long enough to recognize (if not understand) their curious sense of humor. It waited patiently, as Farley got back on his feet and continued to thrust and parry against an unseen enemy.

Suddenly, a long, dark shadow fell across the yard; stretching out to brush the side of the

rock, then heading for the boy who frolicked by the light of the moon. Farley looked up, startled, as it fell across him, cold and black.

Yap immediately planted himself in front of his boy, ears laid flat back, the long fur of his ruff puffed up and the hair along his back standing up in a ridge. His perpetual smile took on a menacing aspect, as a warning rumbled forth from his little throat.

Big Grey experienced a peculiar grinding sensation, as its incoming and outgoing streams of data froze in their silicon pathways. Aside from a sudden drop in temperature, it hadn’t sensed the intruder’s presence!

Farley looked up to see who was casting the shadow. To his surprise, there was nobody there! He frowned, puzzled, stepping back to get out of the path of the unnatural phenomena. The shadow lengthened, as if it knew exactly where he was and was reaching out to get him! Yap snarled, and snapped at it repeatedly, trying to grab hold of something substantial, but his flashing white teeth closed only on air.

“Hey! Big Grey, what is this thing?” Farley called out, taking two steps to the side to trick the shadow. It promptly swerved to follow him!

“
Unknown. Suggest—Farley go—inside—now
.” Big Grey replied, still unable to detect anything but the unusual chill. How could it protect its young Human friend from some-thing that wasn’t there?

“But it’s just a funny ol’ shadow,” said Farley, backing up and sidestepping again, this time toward the walkway leading up to his house. “It’s kinda weird, but still it’s just-a—oops!”

The back-stepping and side-stepping finally tripped him up and down he went, just a few yards from the front door. As if sensing an opportunity, the shadow surged toward the fallen boy!

Yap let loose with a bloodcurdling howl; attacking the dark, growing, stain on the grass with vigor and tearing up the ground with his fast-digging little paws. Farley did his best to escape, awkwardly crab-walking backwards toward the house, but the lengthening shadow continued to gain on him. It was within inches of closing the gap—when suddenly, the door of the house flew open and bright yellow light flooded the front yard!

The shadow creature halted in its path, shrinking back as if burned. It retreated rapidly, continuing to shrink in size, before disappearing into the night.

“Farley? Is that you, son?” Harvey stood on the porch, in his purple and green striped, flannel p.j.s; squinting into the yard, having rushed out without his glasses.

“Farley!” Myrtle cried out, pushing past her husband and running outside in her pink nightgown and fluffy, pink, bunny slippers. “What are you doing out here in the middle of the night?” she asked, helping him to his feet and plucking leaves and twigs from his hair.

“ I heard a weird noise. I thought I should check it out—”

“Holy guacamole! What were you thinking? From now on, if you hear a noise you come get us, ok? It’s not safe outside by yourself at night!”

“But, I had Yap to protect me.”

“Oh, sweetie, he’s just a little dog. A brave little dog to be sure, but—oh, never mind! I’m just glad you’re all right. We can talk about it in the morning. C’mon, let’s get you back in bed,” she fussed, bustling him into the house, with the brave little dog close on their heels.

Harvey stood on the porch a moment longer, peering nearsightedly around the front yard. Finding nothing amiss, he shuffled back inside, shutting and locking the door behind him.

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There are creatures that live in the shadows and then there are creatures that live
as
shadows. The creature that shrank and ran from the light in the Bumblestook’s yard, was one of the latter. It moved from place to place by blending in with the natural shadows of the world; slinking from one to another, in the blink of an eye. Its form was flexible, able to stretch into a long, thin, grey line or retract into a dense black spot. Its shape could be that of any solid it wished to mimic; a silhouette of a man, the crouching form of an animal, slender willowy plant shapes, even sharp-cornered, blocky machine shapes.

It was most comfortable moving about at night, when the majority of the world was dark. Then, it was easy to avoid the scattered pools of light, that burned and ate away at its filmy substance. During the day, when the hateful sun flooded the earth and the lifesaving shadows were few and far between, it sought out places that never saw the light; dark subterranean structures and passageways, caves and underground caverns, even holes in the ground. At times (when its duties required it to travel during the day) it took chances; stretching out long and low, leaping with tremendous bursts of speed from shadow to shadow, like a headless cheetah, hissing with pain as the sunlight seared its smoky pelt. Light of any kind could diminish its physical mass, even to the point of complete dissolution if the exposure was prolonged and intense. It renewed itself by taking refuge in a place completely devoid of light and drinking in the inky darkness.

The shadow creature did not have much of a life of its own. It had no need to eat or sleep and its will was bent to that of another. When not carrying out its duties (which consisted of stalking and spying for its master) it had few desires beyond avoiding light and living in the dark, as much as possible. Sometimes, in the fragmented manner of jumbled-up dreams, it recalled another life in the distant past; a life that was as rich and full as this life was barren and devoid of joy. It recalled having a body, as solid and substantial as its current form was one-dimensional. It did not know how, or why, it came to be in this state, but it did desire life; even this less-than-half life which seemed to be its lot. The shadow creature knew its continued existence depended solely on its ability to carry out the its master’s orders; but the Master’s resources were considerable and the creature was well aware that it could easily be replaced.

Now, it felt (rather than heard) its master’s call; as if its mind were a kite on a string, responding to a sharp tug. It fled through the night, a blur of motion so fleeting, it almost never was. The cool shadows soothed its outermost edges, singed by the light at the Bumblestook home. It had no time to stop and fully recover. The call of the Master filled its small mind, leaving no room for thoughts of any other kind. Without pausing to heal its wounds, it streaked through the shadows like a fish through water, arriving at its destination in very short time.

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