Keeper and the Planters

Copyright (c) 2020 by Randall R. Peterson ALL RIGHTS RESERVED This is a work of fiction. All persons, locations and actions are from the author's imagination or have been used in a fictitious manner.

Keeper and the

 PLANTERS

By R. Peterson

Jeff Bland rolled over in the sand and let the artificial sun suspended inside the two-hundred fifty-mile diameter ecosphere warm his back. The ocean water in this part of the sphere was cold, without waves and the filtered radiation felt great on his skin. A boy and a girl, children of married scientists aboard the starship, ran along the beach gathering clams with gold coatings on the flower-shaped shells. Their squeals of delight made Jeff smile. Leika or one of the other organic science officers would later trade the clams for virtual adventures on one of the entertainment levels. The clams would later be returned either to this beach or any of the sixteen others, unharmed.

The breathtaking girl from Astenia 17, was just coming out of the water as Gadonian Finches from Obscurité 9 skimmed the glassy surface looking for rainbow minnows. Her faintly lime-colored complexion glistened with drops of moisture. Astenians didn’t believe in wearing clothing while swimming, in fact they hardly wore clothing at all unless star system etiquette demanded it. Jeff didn’t mind … he was on vacation.

Every crew member, guest and scientist aboard the Centurion was scheduled for a more than ten century period of deep space hibernation. Even at reverse light speed squared, and then squared again seven times, the infinitely far destination they were traveling to would take twelve lifetimes. Sleep during the journey and flying through a time vortex on the return trip was the only thing that would make this critical mission possible.

The girl knelt in the sand next to him. Her beyond-human-light-spectrum hair fell upon his chest as she kissed him. Tiny pulses of exotic pleasure spread out from each hair tip and raced down his arms and legs. “I like this,” she whispered. “When you first showed me this earth custom I thought you were hungry and was going to bite me!”

“I still might,” Jeff moaned. “Better watch out!”

Like a bad dice roll in the casinos on Mogna, Jeff’s communicator beeped. He debated hiding the device in the sand but instead pressed the accept button. Teuth’s face appeared as a hologram floating in the air behind the girl. “I’m sorry,” the land-adapted cephalopod said with his bubbly voice. “I’m instructing a group of cadets from Mateuse 17 about Earth history and they all want to know what a rock and roll is.”

            “It’s not a thing … it’s more like magic,” Jeff sighed.

The girl looked at him wide eyed as he stood up. “I’m sorry,” he said. “Looks like I have to go.”

            “Will you be back?”

            “I don’t think so,” he told her. “It’s lights out for the whole ship in just a few hours.”

            “Time passes quickly in hibernation,” she smiled.

Jeff had to turn away. He felt like he was drowning in euphoria.

            “See you in my dreams,” he told her.

-------2-------

Jeff rode the transporter to the vast command level where Teuth was explaining to a group of space cadets how reverse light speed worked. Bands of light rotating around each of their heads automatically translated his words into their planetary languages. “According to the laws of physics,” Teuth said, “matter cannot move faster than the speed of light …but …”

The strange looking humanoid smiled showing rows of needle-like teeth in his bulbous head. “Science has created a way to break  the laws of the universe.”

Jeff walked toward the group. “I think what our navigator is confessing to is the fact that we’re a bunch of interstellar outlaws … and if you play your cards right you can become one too.”

Teuth ignored the ship’s first officer and went on. A hologram with what looked like a figure eight racetrack appeared in the air above him. “Infinity is a closed structure with no beginning and no end. Imagine an object moving through infinity at the speed of light.” A yellow dot of light appeared and moved about the track. “It is impossible for something following behind …” A second dot this time red appeared just behind the first.  “…to go faster than the speed of light.” Teuth smiled again and several students stepped back as well as Bland.

            “But look what happens when you go much slower than the speed of light …” The red dot racing around the figure eight began to lag farther and farther behind  the yellow until it was actually moving in front of the first dot.

“So simple,” a girl from the planet Kertészium gasped. “All you have to do is go slower than light-speed and you end up going faster!”

“Not so simple,” Teuth said. “Moving slower than the speed of light is one of the hardest things science has ever been able to achieve. And to repeat the process so that you are going the speed of light squared times a number like four-hundred is very difficult and costly”

“It takes the opposing properties of dark energy to move against the path of light,” an orange tinted cadet with a giant pumpkin-shaped head stated after raising one of his vine-like hands. “The instant you fall below light speed you are traveling unbelievably fast and you actually have to slow down to obtain velocities manageable by even the extended laws of physics.”

“We always hit the brakes when we see cops,” Jeff assured the group.

“Exactly,” Teuth glared at Jeff. “It’s a good thing that dark energy and a small amount of particulate matter makes up roughly 99.(999999 ⁴¹⁹ ) % of the known universe.”

“You’d think the prices would come down,” Jeff quipped. Several cadets grinned … a few, including some who resembled earth hyenas, snickered.

The ship’s navigator folded all but the one tentacle needed to operate the holograph light display and explained to the smiling cadets. “For thousands of years, scientists from many galaxies thought of the universe as an ever expanding but somewhat flattened disk much like a very large spiral galaxy. Earth’s cosmic genius, Alvin Sullinger, was one of the first to advance the theory of a global universe. The universe, according to Sullenger’s now widely accepted theory, is like the outside of an almost infinitely large rubber ball being inflated with dark energy and with untold trillions of galaxies on the surface of the ball being pulled apart from one another at the speed of light. The fact that our most sophisticated telescopes can reach out twenty billion light years in all directions to what seems like the edge of the universe does not mean the universe ends there. Because of the curvature of this ball universe we only see that small portion before it falls below the horizon. Much like ancient earth ships appeared to sink at the edge of a flat ocean. The universe, we have discovered, is much, much larger than anyone on any star-system ever dreamed … or even thought possible.”

“Is that where the Planters come from?” a bug eyed student from one of the ocean worlds asked. “From the other side of this ball?”

“That is what we believe,” Teuth said. Jeff thought the two might be related. “How far these entities have journeyed from the other side … we do not know. We only theorize that they have been here before.”

“I’ve heard rumors,” Pumpkin head said. “That’s why we’re going on this six hundred year mission … to see if the Sadinimo are returning.”

Teuth moved a sensory tentacle close to Jeff’s ear and whispered. “I need to speak with you in private … it’s very important.”

“I’m sorry but that information is classified by the military committee on Mateuse 17,” Teuth told the cadets. “I think it’s time for some recreation. Why don’t you spend the next few hours before hibernating on one of the virtual adventure levels?”

“First officer Bland was supposed to explain rock and roll,” Pumpkin head objected. Several cadets looked at Jeff hopefully.

“I’ve got some recordings in my cabin,” Jeff told them. “Maybe I can let you listen to some of the best ones before they put us all to bed.”

-------3-------

“What is it?” Jeff asked when he and Teuth had moved into a secluded chamber.

“Clarence was right,” Teuth said. “Mateuse military command believes the Sadinimo are on their way.”

“Clarence?” Jeff gasped. “Wasn’t that huge orange head enough of a distraction when the poor kid had to go to school? Who the hell are his parents?”

“His father is Admiral Wortha and his mother is the current ambassador to the Gorwanian Defense League.”

“Oh,” Jeff said.

“We have discovered an anomaly at the edge of the universe,” Teuth said. “Hundreds of thousands of stars have increased their velocity beyond light speed and are disappearing into the cosmic horizon. Something, or perhaps an infinite number of somethings, is coming … and the massive gravitational field being generated is pulling this side of the universe apart.”

“Exactly who are these Planters?” Jeff asked.

“Many of the brightest minds in our part of the universe as well as those who study ancient myths believe that these beings populate dead and lifeless planets, sometimes entire galaxies, with life and an atmosphere for their own uses but we don’t know exactly what those uses are,” Teuth said. “They speculate that the Sadinimo created all the life on all the worlds we know of …and are considered by many theoretical biologists as the universes’ farmers.

“Then we have nothing to fear?”

“Depends on why they came,” Teuth said.

“Why is that?” Jeff had never seen the ship’s navigator look so pale.

“Some scientists speculate they’re coming to our side of the universe,” Teuth whispered, “because we are their crops … and its harvest time.”

-------4-------

Jeff saw the girl he’d spent the day on the beach with climbing into a deep sleep chamber on the next row from his own and she smiled. “How about breakfast in the morning?” he called.

She nodded her head just as his own cover closed. There was a hissing sound and he felt drowsy. And just like in an ancient fairy tale … he found himself fast asleep.

And the years went by … and then the centuries.

-------5-------

            In the year 2089 a civil war erupted between all twenty-six planets that made up the Mateuse federation. The war lasted one hundred thirty nine years and cost more than a billion lives.

            A massive asteroid struck Jeff Bland’s home planet in 2160 radically changing its solar orbit. The western coast of North America sunk into the Pacific Ocean.  It took eighty years for Mateuse scientists to restore the orbit and correct the plunging temperatures. By that time, three generations of those left on Earth had grown up as savages in an ice-age world.

In 2284 interstellar insects, able to navigate space, ravaged at least twelve galaxies before vanishing as suddenly as they came. Humanity throughout the universe almost went extinct during the infestation … but somehow survived.

The year 2413 brought biology’s greatest achievement. Doctors were able to separate humanoid and animal spirits (souls) from their exterior shells replacing worn out and defective bodies with artificial ones … and extending life spans into infinity.

In 2460 the first spirits were salvaged from decomposing bones buried in in Earth’s graves  five thousand years ago.

In 2501 the Dark Matter element, Delila, replaced gold as the universe’s standard of currency.

Time travel using portable vortexes was universally outlawed in 2519, but was almost impossible to enforce.

A robot and humanoid war in 2612 ravaged much of the Milky Way and other galaxies. The artificial life-forms achieved a great victory and ruled most of the universe for over one hundred years.

In 2643 the first travel between dimensions occurred with a disposable human aboard a special equipped ship sent by android scientists. The ship did not return.

The great android warlord Tusk fell in love with a human woman in 2721 and relinquished to her his galactic throne thirty years later … just before destroying himself. It was the universe’s greatest love story for more than two centuries.

In 2888 the last of the robots with rebellious artificial intelligence were re-engineered. The then acting Prime minister of Mateuse 17, a half android mutant named Boris Click, resigned after it was discovered at least one-hundred million of the most affluent androids were missing and unaccounted for.

-------6-------

And in 2902 … First Officer Jeff Bland woke up. After a shower that seemed to take years to wash off the hibernation fluids, Jeff went looking for Keeper. The entire ship was quiet and appeared to be sleeping. He wondered if he was the only crew member awake.

Jeff found the ship’s captain and navigator on the command level.

“We have very serious problems,” Teuth said.

The colored lights flashing where Keeper’s feet should have been were a color Jeff had never seen before.

The captain shook his head and pointed … and Jeff looked up at a hologram showing the ship’s exterior at the very edge of the universe.

“Planters!” Jeff gasped.

TO BE CONTINUED ….

The Fairy with too small wings part 2

Copyright (c) 2020 by Randall R. Peterson ALL RIGHTS RESERVED This is a work of fiction. All persons, locations and actions are from the author's imagination or have been used in a fictitious manner.

The Fairy

with too small wings … Part 2

By R. Peterson

            The frog sat on a rock catching flies. He was familiar with the night sounds around the pond but one cricket seemed to be making much more noise than usual. “Can’t you chirp a little quieter?” the frog grumbled. “I’m trying to enjoy my dinner.”

            “Chirp chirp chirp I know a secret,” the cricket said. “But go ahead and enjoy your food.”

            “And why shouldn’t I?” the frog asked. “Last night I was swallowed by a snake and nearly died.”

            “Because of a breakfast that’s going to be most unpleasant to someone you know,” the cricket said.

            “How can a breakfast be unpleasant, as long as there is plenty to eat?” the frog asked.

            “It’s most unpleasant when you’re the breakfast,” the cricket told him.

The cricket then told him that less than a mile away his new friend Starlight and most of the other fairies in the realm were being held captive by a hive of vicious wasps.

            “I must go and help Starlight!” the frog said.

-------2-------

            Starlight and the other fairies shivered as they huddled together inside the cage woven from thorns. “I’m shaking so bad there won’t be any meat left on my bones come morning,” one of the fairies stammered.

One large black wasp who was guarding the entrance to the nest buzzed over when he heard her. “I think you’re right,” he said leering into the cage with his simple and compound eyes. “I might as well enjoy a midnight snack before you shake it all off you.”

He pried away the thorn door with his sting and then reached into the cage grabbing the fairy who had spoken. “You leave her alone!” Starlight demanded.

The wasp was just pulling the fairy out of the cage when another wasp that had been guarding the same nest flew over. “Better put her back and stay quiet,” he said pointing.

Two human hunters had walked into the clearing directly below the wasp nest. There was a stream nearby and plenty of firewood. They dropped the deer carcass they were carrying and made a camp. Soon they began to build a fire.

            “I’ll warn the other wasps to stay in the nest,” the first wasp whispered.

-------2-------

            The frog had forgotten to ask the cricket exactly where the wasp nest was and he thought about going back to the pond … but then he decided to keep going. Several times he heard a rustling sound in the bushes and had to hide from hungry snakes that came out to feed. He slipped under a rock just as an especially large and frightening snake slithered past and found that he was hiding next to a mouse. “We were very lucky,’ the mouse shivered. “I came from a nest of nine and am the only one still able to dance in the moonlight.”

            “Inside the belly of that snake,” the mouse whispered. “I’ll never see them again!”

            “Snakes swallow their prey whole,” the frog told him. “I was inside the belly of a snake for several hours and after an eagle dropped the snake on some rocks I was able to escape from a slit in its belly.”

            “I don’t know any eagles,” the mouse said. “But I know an owl. Only a few nights ago I chewed away a human fishing line tangled around his legs. He owes me a favor!”

            “Tell him to lift the snake high in the air and drop it on something hard,” the frog instructed.

            “Thanks!’ The mouse smiled. “I wish there was some way to repay you.”

            “If you could tell me where the wasp nest is I would be most grateful,” the frog said.

            “It’s only a hundred yards straight through those trees,” the mouse pointed.

The frog hopped away immediately and didn’t hear as the mouse called after him. “But you’d better take the long way around. There is a pit filled with an oily tar. If you get stuck in it you’ll be in big trouble!”

-------3-------

            “I talked to the queen and she said these human hunters won’t be any trouble,” one of the wasp guards said to the other as they went inside the nest. “The hunters will rise early and when they do we’ll all dine on the fairies.

            The fairies were trying to attract the attention of the hunters and were yelling as loud as they could. Unfortunately to the hunters below it just sounded like a faint buzzing.

            “What was that?” One of the hunters asked as he took a roasted hotdog from a stick.

            “Mosquitoes?” the other hunter gasped. “Let’s eat fast and get in our tent. I don’t want to be scratching my bites all night.”

And the cries of the fairies turned to sobs of despair as they realized they would get no help from the humans.

-------4-------

            The frog was sure he was lost until he spotted the flicker of the human campfire and could see the wasp nest hanging in the tree above. He was so excited to have found his destination that he didn’t see the pit filled with the sticky, oily tar until it was too late. “Oh no,” the frog moaned as he became stuck. “Now I think I’m really in trouble.”

-------5-------

            With the help of the owl the mouse was able to rescue the other members of his nest from the snake’s belly. While the other mice were dancing in a grain field and eating their fill he set off to warn the frog about the tar pit.

            It was almost morning when the mouse found him. The frog was almost submerged by the sticky tar. The mouse quickly chewed a branch from an overhanging tree and when it dropped on top of the goo, the frog was able to crawl to safety.

-------6-------

            The wasps waited as the human hunters packed up their tent and kicked some dust over the hot fire coals. “Now for our breakfast,’ they said as they watched the hunters leave.

            The tar and oil-coated frog hopped into the clearing just as the hunters disappeared into the trees. He could see the cage with the captive fairies hanging next to the wasp nest and although it was more than six feet off the ground he thought he could jump up and open the door.

            He was so excited to be able to help his friends that he didn’t see the hot coals covered with dust until he burst into flames.

The flaming frog knew he could jump really high but he knew he only had one more hop left in him. He could leap into the stream and save himself … or he could somehow help his friends!

------- 7 -------

            An hour after sunrise, the burning wasp-nest eventually made the branch it was attached to fall to the ground. None of the wasps got out alive. When the cage fell, the door burst open and the coughing fairies were free.

Three days later, Starlight showed the other fairies how to make the magic dust she had used when she was flying. The green moss and red rose petals were easy to find. The tears were no problem at all.

Every fairy in Nodnol was somber as they scattered the glitter mixed with the frog’s ashes across the reflecting surface of the water. They held hands and formed a sacred circle around the pond. Each face showed a profound sense of grief and sadness. From somewhere in the darkness a cricket chirped. A family of mice watched from a twisted tree root as an owl flew overhead. “From this moment forward,” Starlight sobbed. “All frogs on earth will forever be linked to this special dust and to the use of magic in all kingdoms. My the stars ever twinkle upon these still, green, shimmering waters where we lay our dear friend to rest …”

Just then a night breeze gently drifted through the trees surrounding the pond and golden leaves floated like tears toward the shimmering water turned mirror.

“And as long as the wind blows … we will never forget.”

THE END?

THE FAIRY with too small wings

Copyright (c) 2020 by Randall R. Peterson ALL RIGHTS RESERVED This is a work of fiction. All persons, locations and actions are from the author's imagination or have been used in a fictitious manner.

The Fairy

…with too small wings

By R. Peterson

 Once upon a time, in the forests north of Nodnol, a fairy was born, perfect in every way except that her wings were much too small. While the other fairies hovered around the tops of flowers, extracting nectar from the blossoms and trading it to much larger bees for wax for their wings and honey, Stardust could barely fly above the ground. She spent most of her days, and all of her nights, alone and wishing that she hadn’t been born so different.

One evening, Stardust sat on a large stone by a pond and began to cry. Her tears fell upon a frog, sleeping under the rock. “Hey what’s the big idea?” the frog grumbled as he woke up. “I’m always very careful to get dry before night comes or else I get too cold.”

“I’m so sorry,” Stardust told him as she dried him off with her wings. “I hope this makes you feel warmer.”

“It does,” the frog admitted. “But now your wings are wet and you won’t be able to fly!”

“It makes no difference,” Stardust told him. “I can hardly fly anyway!”

“But you must!” the frog insisted. “A hungry snake slithers about this pond every night looking for small creatures to eat. She’ll be here soon. If she catches you, you’ll be her next meal!”

“What should I do?’ Stardust asked the frog.

“If you try to escape through the forest she will sense you,” the frog said, “and there is no more room under this rock.” The frog stared for a long time at the moon’s reflection on the pond’s surface. Suddenly he opened his mouth and uttered a loud croak. “I’ve got it,’ he said. “I’ll cover you up! The fragrance of flowers should disguise your scent and I’ll make you a bed of lichen that will hide you from her hungry eyes.”

The frog hopped away and minutes later he returned. In no time the frog made Starlight a bed of yellow green moss on the rock and covered her with red rose petals.

The bed was very warm and Starlight soon fell asleep. Sometime later she awakened to a slithering sound. The snake had come. She felt the long scaly body slither around the rock she was sleeping on. Starlight was glad her frog friend was hidden safely out of reach.

Suddenly the snake rose above the top of the rock. Starlight could see the nostril slits in the serpent’s face quivering. It had found her!

Just as the snake’s mouth opened showing rows of sharp teeth and two fangs glowing under the moonlight, Starlight heard the frog hop out from under the rock. “You’ll never catch me!” he called as he lured the snake away.

The frog was fast, but the snake was faster.  Starlight heard the snake catch her friend just as he hopped into the woods and then after a single terrified croak he was swallowed whole.

Starlight cried long after the snake slithered away. Her tears saturated the moss she was sleeping on and the rose petals that covered her … She thrashed about so much, her entire bed was turning into a brown paste … but she didn’t care.

-------2-------

When starlight awakened, it was afternoon and the warm sunlight had dried the moss and the rose petals that covered her. When she stood up her bed suddenly became a cloud of sparkling dust the color of gold. “I wish I could fly home,” she whispered. “I’m hungry for honey.” And starlight suddenly found herself flying higher and faster than she’d ever done before. “This is like magic,” she gasped.

As she flew over the meadow where her home was she passed a large swarm of bees going in the other direction. “Wasps!” they told her. “They have captured all the fairies and taken them to their white castle for a large feast they’re planning!”

Starlight, the bees and the fairies all knew of the huge paper-like nest that hung from a dead tree in the forest … and they always tried to avoid it. The wasps were vicious and would eat anything they could catch. But now she knew that she must fly to the nest to see if she could help in any way.

As she was flying over a small stream she noticed a snake warming itself in the sun. There was a large lump in the center of its long body. “I wonder …. ?”

Starlight paused in her flight. And when she did, a sprinkle of golden dust that had clung to her wings came loose and swirled around her. “If that’s my frog friend … I wish I could free him!”

Suddenly a large eagle swooped down and grabbed the snake with its talons and then lifted the squirming beast high into the air. Starlight frantically followed.

As the eagle flew high over a large pile of rocks, it dropped the snake. Starlight landed next to the crushed body before the bird could circle back. There was a large split in the bulge in the snake and Starlight was happy and thrilled to see her frog friend climb out. “Where am I?’ he croaked.

Starlight made sure they were hidden safely in some bushes before the eagle landed. Then she told her friend about the magic dust from the dried moss and red rose petals. “You saved my life,” the frog croaked.

“And you saved mine,” Starlight told him.

“We’ll be friends forever.” They both laughed.

-------3-------

It was almost dark when Starlight found the white castle deep in the forest. Her frog friend had returned to his pond. Most of the wasps and gone into the nest to sleep. The guards were sleeping under puff balls of wild cotton. The fairies were trapped in a cage woven out of tiny thorn branches hanging next to the nest. Starlight thought she could free them.

Starlight was cutting the rope that bound the tiny door with a sliver of broken glass when two wasps grabbed her from behind.

“It takes a lot of fairies to make a meal,” a fat Wasp laughed as he pushed Starlight into the cage and retied the door. “I’m so glad you arrived before breakfast.”

There was much laughter from the wasp nest and then much later a stillness that somehow seemed even worse.

And the moon slipped from behind a blanket of clouds and shown its light on the terrified fairies waiting for the morning … that they hoped would never come.

TO BE CONTINUED …

WHO?

Copyright (c) 2020 by Randall R. Peterson ALL RIGHTS RESERVED This is a work of fiction. All persons, locations and actions are from the author's imagination or have been used in a fictitious manner.

By R. Peterson

I’m no stranger to this town … I’ve been here many times before.

I’ve broken windows, battered trees … and opened every unlatched door.

Most call me nameless trouble … so few who call me friend.

I’ve stolen sheets from drying lines … and torn them end to end.

My name is spoken harshly … by vile and twisted tongue.

If only given one more chance … for every bell I’ve rung.

I fall in love in winter … with spring I have a fling.

Summer’s captured broken hearts … in fall to scatter is my thing.

I’ve stolen hats from gentlemen … mayors, thieves and crooks.

Burst my way into your schools … smashed blackboards, taken books.

I lurk behind tall busses … a vile and nasty storm.

Reaching under dresses … with hands so seldom warm.

The coppers they do fear me … no cuffs can bind my hand.

I spit loud music everywhere … a tuneless blowing band.

The sound of snow’s destruction … a record on the move.

I broadcast mud and spackle … I fill up every groove.

They’ve cursed my name with vengeance … and shook their fists with scorn.

I’ve ravaged pristine farmlands … and flattened rows of corn.

I shake shutters in the night … I bang gates for fun.

I’ve licked the frost from garden rows … and wet them with my tongue.

No man has ever seen me … no woman can describe.

The length and color of my hair … the texture of my hide.

I’m no stranger to this town … to many I have sinned.

I won’t answer any phone … but you can call me wind.

DRAGONS AND DUST

Copyright (c) 2020 by Randall R. Peterson ALL RIGHTS RESERVED This is a work of fiction. All persons, locations and actions are from the author's imagination or have been used in a fictitious manner.

By R. Peterson

Bezo and Drezo were the twin sons of King Roland of Nodnol and his beautiful enchantress wife Elisabeth. They grew up to be the most powerful wizards in all of Nod and the people loved them. At least at first they did. Bezo led the Noddish soldiers on great crusades throughout the world and his vast fleet of ships brought back fantastic riches and magical relics from the far corners of the globe. Drezo had an unequaled passion for spiritual things and spread an abundance of faith, hope and charity into the hearts of every noble, knight, peasant and conquered realm throughout the lands. And they loved each other as only brothers can.

One harsh winter day, when only death traveled the icy roads and a moaning wind, that people no longer listened to, sounded dire warnings, Elisabeth succumbed to a coughing illness. Three days later, the grieving and inconsolable King Roland died … of a broken heart.

Roland was a wizard himself, and he left each of his twin boys … seven powerful spells.

After an elaborate funeral in which every Noddish person wept and every church bell rang its lingering sorrow, each of the brothers decided that he alone should lead the kingdom to become the strongest and most powerful nation on Earth. Nodnol, including every father, mother, son and daughter along with every castle, crow, wheel, and wagon … were soon divided.

And war began …

-------2-------

Bezo used his first spell to fill the sky above Nod with fire breathing dragons that attacked his brother’s city. It looked like the end for Drezo. There weren’t enough archers in his entire kingdom to fight that many flying lizards. In desperation, Drezo used his first spell to cause his entire realm to sink into the depths of the ocean and drown all the dragons.

Bezo used his second spell to burst the bubbles that surrounded each building in the new underwater city. His people were drowning so Drezo used another spell to cause every person and animal in his kingdom to grow gills. They lived beneath the waves and grew crops of sea-weed. And they began to prosper.

A jealous Bezo made Drezo’s city once more rise above the ocean’s surface. People were flopping about everywhere like fish. Drezo removed the gills from his people and animals so that they could once more breathe air.

Each brother was tired and for a time there was peace in the land. But peace never lasts when a woman is involved, and the most beautiful maiden in Nodnol finally decided to marry … Bezo.

-------3-------

One day Drezo watched his brother’s lovely wife bathing in a stream. He cast his most powerful spell and caused Bezo’s wife to lust after him … instead of his brother. All alone in a tower, the jilted Bezo used his fourth spell to turn his absent wife … into a hungry tiger.

An angry and half-eaten Drezo turned all the people in Bezo’s kingdom into mangy cats. Bezo turned all his brother’s subjects into flea-ridden rats.

Drezo created a wide moat to surround his city of rats with his fifth spell. He knew cats hated to swim. Bezo caused an earthquake to deeply rend the ground and drain out all the water in the moat.

-------4 -------

Bezo created a stone rampart to surround his city. Drezo caused the walls to crumble and fall into the chasm. Bezo was standing atop the rampart when it collapsed. Drezo saw his brother losing all of his blood trapped beneath the huge stones. A cat archer shot Drezo through the heart as he climbed down into the ravine. The ghost of the brother’s mother Elisabeth appeared to both her son’s and demanded that they once again love each other.

Bezo saw his mortally wounded brother standing over him and used his last spell to replace his brother’s ruined heart … with his own. At the same time Drezo used his last spell to replenish his brother’s lost blood … with his own.

And they died together … brothers once again.

THE END ?