"the big picture" and four other stories

8/8/2019 "The big picture" and four other stories

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Nipuna Gunarathne

THE BIG PICTURE AND FOUR OTHER STORIES

by

Nipuna Gunarathne


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Contents

(1) The BIG picture 4-13(2) The cruise 15-21(3) The wishing mirror 23-24(4) Black Evil 26-27(5) The mansion on the marsh 29-30


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I

The BIGpicture


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The BIGpicture

We slunk silently through the tall grass, ol Scrammer was in front of me. He stopped

suddenly, I bumped into him.What is it? I whispered.

He put up his nose and sniffed the air.Dogs he said four or five

If ol Scrammer says something, he means it, thats how he came to be our leader.Who cares I said, although I did care- If those silly little twerps start their piteous yapping,

theyll wake up the whole place, thats exactly what would happen if we took a step further.All right Scrammer said, weve come this far, we cant turn back now

Lets go for it! I said, itching for action.

Ok, this is the point of no return Scrammer paused, considering, scheming.Prowler he called to a somewhat smaller guy at the back you move in and take out the

barrier, then fall back and join the rear

Prowler was our scout, he knew how to stay out of the way of dogs, move right in andsilently take out the front lines. He knew every leaf in the forest, every stone, every tree. To tell

you the truth, hes actually not my kind of guy; Im more like- move in, making the biggestfreakin noise youve ever heard- Turn everything to dust, flatten the place several feet below sea

level- and move out reluctantly, begging for more. Brawler was my kind of guy- nothing gets inhis way.

Brawler Scrammer called him next, You cover me, Im taking the middleCruncher - thats me-Right perimeter I nodded and shifted on my legs

And Whammer he said finally Left perimeterNow listen up, Scrammer said, We cant screw this one, this is real major, we pull this

off, we regain five waterholes worth of land. You got that?Everybody nodded.

Good. You know the drill, move in, attack, move out. If anything goes wrong, just bailout. Everyone for himself he gave me a look in that last statement.

Ok lets just get this started already I countered.Prowler, its your call

We watched as he carefully picked his way through the grass, avoiding sticks that couldcrack and warn them of his presence, hunched over to stay downwind of the dogs. It seemed to

take hours- now I was really bursting with suspense.

He slowly approached the gate, freezing suddenly for the smallest sound.Slowly, painfully slowly, he reached through the bars and noiselessly pulled out a log,

one-two-three logs. Then he turned and gestured.

Scrammer bunched up- ready to roll.Prowler gave the gate the teeniest weeniest nudge, everybody was on edge.

Creak.YAPYAPYAPYAPYAP!

ELEPHANTS!


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GOGOGOGOGOGO!Scrammer yelled, we broke from single file to arrowheadformation and rushed the gate.Trumpeting to signal the other gates.

The gate fell over with a crash- right on top of a dumb dog which couldnt get away in

time. Scrammer, who was at the head, trumpeted again, kicking the gate to splinters anddodging around a wattle hut. Brawler just didnt bother- he barreled right through in a cloud of

dust and a great deal of splintering noise.Absolutely cool.

One of those 2 legged freaks jumped in front of me and yelled.Elephant!

HAHA! I trumpeted, What did you expect? An antelope?The guy was holding a fire torch and waving it in front of me, these idiots actually

thought we were scared of them.Yeah right.

I just grabbed his scary torch and tossed it over my head, where it landed on a strawthatched roof which instantly caught fire.

Nooooooo! he screamedYesssss! I said, Take a closer look! I flung him into the inferno; limbs flailing. He

looked like he was trying to fly; very funny.I trumpeted again, now I was really notched up.

I was rumbling again.KE- RASH!

Another hut turned to toothpicks.Crack- crack- crack- crack.

Nice fireworks- but sorry- Im not interested. I ran right over them- the gnats on my backbother me more than them.

aaaaaaah! a small 2 legged one ran out of a hut, I let him go just to watch him run,tripping over himself.

We were kicking butt. And how!

BANG!Thats when the tables turned

It was followed by a long, pained wail; a losing cry.BRAWLER! I cried out

Thunder sticks! It was Scrammer, even he sounded scared- If hes scared we dontstand a chance

BRAWLER! I cried againHes down! Scrammer yelled Haul outta here! Bail!

NOOOO! I screamedI Im sorry.theres nothing we can do Scrammer sighed.

I wrenched past Scrammer, right into the middle of the melee.He was on his side in a pool of blood, groaning weakly.

nooo!Go he groaned.


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Run, save yourselfnooooo!

BANG!

I felt a searing pain run up my left front leg, and then I collapsed.Now I was very angry.If Im angry, nothing stops me.

I scrambled back to my feet, My leg felt like a hot iron was shoved up it, I was in aspinning daze of pain.

You! I growled, Id spotted the little jerk, holding the thunder stick and grinning likecrazy. Then he took aim again.

I didnt care. I just wanted him dead.BANG!

Stars danced in front of my eyes, my vision clouded, hot blood poured into my eyes. Istumbled, lurched and.

aaaaaaaah! thud- crunch!Id fallen right on top of the freak

Gotcha I groaned weakly.Then everything went black.

Something cool on my forehead.

Strange sounds.Huh?

I opened my eyes.aaaaaaaaah!

They were on my head! Legs! Back!They were all over me!

Humans!aaaaaaah! I trumpeted and tried to get up- only to find out that I couldnt. just couldnt.

aaah! I cried what the hell did you do to me? Freaks!But all that came out was a grunt.

One of them hurried up and goggled at me in the eye like it was the most incredible thinghed ever seen.

Lemme go! I grunted and waved my trunk around weaklySuddenly I remembered.

I grunted and lifted my head with all the strength I could summonHe wasnt where I last saw him. The blood stain was still there, absorbed into the dry,

cracked earth.I could hear trumpeting in the distance, I hoped it was him.

As time passed, my strength returned slowly.

I got up shakily and sniffed the air, caught Brawlers scent.I followed it, the humans stepped out of the way. I looked at the ground, it seemed that he

had been dragged along.Then I saw him


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My heart fell. I ran up to him.He was dead.

noooooo! I screamed noooooooooo!

Crack crackcrackFireworks again.I looked around, Realized Id been boxed in. A metal elephant was moving towards us,

slowly, purposefully and directly behind me was a large metal cageYou arent touching him! I trumpeted defiantly and stood in its path.

Crack crackcrackMore fireworks. They were really starting to annoy me now.

Ill show you! I let off a ground quaking trumpet and limped towards the metalelephant like a boulder rolling down a hill

BANG! CRASH! Clatter clatterI rammed it head on, twisted its trunk. It felt like Id hit a rock, but I didnt care, I will get

revenge!A human leapt out of it and ran for cover.

BANG!Thunk!Huh? a thunder stick fired behind me and I felt a prickling sensation from Well, my

buttWhat nerve! Firing on me from behind!

HaHa! Serves them right! It didnt hurt a bit, it was obviously not working properly!I turned around suddenly.

Thats when I felt very sleepy.I stumbled.

I guess I could finish them off later, Ill take a nap now.God! What was I thinking!

But Im so sleepy.So I settled down and slept.

I was moving.But I wasnt moving.

I was moving while I wasnt moving.VRRROOOOM! TOOT!

That brought me back to my senses in a hurry.I opened my eyes.

What the!The whole world was moving around me

But I wasnt moving!oooh

My head started to spin.So I decided to sleep again.


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When I opened my eyes again, the world had stopped moving, I was on a cold hard floorand there were humans everywhere.

I just didnt care, I was devastated, and everybody I cared about was gone, forever.

I drifted into the welcoming hands of sleep again. That was the only place I could havesome peace.Mommy? something nudged me softly.

I opened one eye and looked- somebodys pesky kid- very cute though.Mommy? He glowered at me with huge eyes

I sighed.Go away

Mommy!Get lost Im not your mommy I mumbled

MomGet - lost! I shouted

He shrieked and fled like hed just seen a monster.I smiled, I could have used some speed like that a few hours ago.

Or was it a few days? Months?I groaned, my head was a clump of weeds. All tangled up.

I woke up again sometime after. My head had cleared and I felt thirsty.I got up and looked for water, there was some in a dirty trough in a corner.

Something is better than nothing, I conceded.I sucked it up and blew it into my mouth- It felt like honey on my tongue although it

would have been very foul. I realized how thirsty I was and took a few more slurps.Hi

What I said, vaguely, without turning, still sucking.He laughed.

Youll finish thatI spun around, my face inches from his tusks.

So what?He made as if to say something, then his eyes flew over my forehead- flew back- locked.

His carefree expression turned to fear and he took a step back.He looked kinda like Brawler, which made me even madder.

I pushed my head against his.You got a problem with that?

I pushed, he took another step back.Huh?

I pushed againHuh?

I pushed harderHuh?

No he said finallyGood I pulled away, slurped up the rest and stalked off, I felt his eyes boring into my

back.Something bumped into my leg, I looked down- that kid again.


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Hey I said.He gasped and hurried away.

Whats wrong with him? I asked someone who was close by, Where are his parents?

I dunno she said, Hes been calling everybody mom and dad ever since he came here,talk is he has lost themMy heart instantly went out to him; he was a lot like me, far from home and loved ones.

Lonely.I decided to make up to him.

I looked around, noticed a human tucking into a delicious looking corn.No way he deserved that.

I reached through the bars and snatched it, he jumped and stared, jaw hanging.Go fetch me another I told him.

He didnt understand. Silly humans.I walked to the middle of the enclosure, made sure kiddo was watching.

Oh yeah.I had him. His eyes riveted on and traced every movement I made with the corn.

I slowly brought it to my mouth and took the teeniest- weeniest bitemmmm!

He approached slowly, cautiously, like a tiger stalking prey.Um hello? he said, he seemed to be addressing the corn.

Oh hi! I said, like Id just noticed him.He wouldnt take his eyes off it.

Is that yours? He was asking the corn whether I belonged to it.Yup

He took from his mouth the most chewed up piece of sugarcane Id ever seen, consideredit critically, and held it up.

Will you give me that if I give you this? he asked, hopefully.No I said. Just to see what hed do.

OhHe looked like hed lost a world, so crestfallen. He stuffed the sugarcane back in his

mouth and sucked for consolation.Aw come on lil fella I said here, take it, Its all yours

The sugarcane fell out.Really?

Uh huhHe hastily picked up the sugarcane and handed it to me.

No no you keep that too I kept the corn on his stubby little trunk and it was gone inseconds.

mmmanks! he said through a full mouth.I laughed, instantly felt tons lighter.

Good boy!He turned tail and ran, giggling and sucking on his century old sugar cane.

haaaah I heaved a sigh. Out came all the sadness that had me overwhelmed, all thedepression, loneliness.


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Now I had a purpose for life again. Ill protect him with my life I vouched.The days seemed to fly by after that, we got closer and closer. He ended up cuddling up

to me at night.

I didnt mind the humans much- I needed them.For now.

I woke up one fresh morning in the middle of something big, something exciting washappening.

Everybody was pacing all over the place, restless.I got up and looked around, couldnt see anything special.

I asked one of them- whats up?Why, dont you know? he said excitedly, they are moving us today!

To a new place! A new forest! another pitched in.Go ask the old wise one!

So I woke up a rather disgruntled kiddo and rushed to the old wise one.Hes in a separateenclosure, but we can talk through the bars. He was sleeping, head on the side.

Please he moaned without turning. As we walked up leave me alone, Im tired of yourendless questions

Please you have to tell me, Im new here and dont understand a thingMomma kiddo grumbled sleepily.

He sighed loudly.All right he said finally.

Every year, they chose five lucky onesGo on

And take them to the big green, the biggest forest youd ever seen he said, wheezingand pausing between words and set you free He coughed.

It happens todayHuh?

I couldnt believe what I was hearing.Say again?

He just grumbled and settled down to sleep again.Wow! We were going to be free!

Will they chose us? Come on tell me I said.He didnt answer. He was fast asleep, snoring loudly.

I heard a commotion from behind.They are coming!

I turned around and saw five of those metal monsters like the one in which I was broughthere, the ones that made me want to throw up, rolling in, rattling and rumbling.

No way Im getting in on that contraption! I said, but I couldnt mean it, I had to do it,I had to get kiddo free, he has to grow up in the wild, like me. Like how every elephant should.

Even if it meant obeying humans for once.At least 2 dozen of them got out, one had a thunderstick slung across his back and most

held spears.That meant no messing about.


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They meant business.The whole crowd hushed.

Humans might not notice us talking, but we do. They are just too plain stupid to

understand it.We silently watched on as they discussed, pointing occasionally at us.Come on chose me

One of them slipped in through a small side door and went about chaining us, one by one,to our places in the enclosure.

It felt odd, Id never been tied up.But I had to endure it.

Mommy whats happening? kiddo was scared.Dont worry kiddo, we are going on a picnic I said although I was aware that I might

be giving him false hopes.He perked up at once Where to? Where to? he said, literally jumping for joy.

Where to?Where to?Youll see I said, smiling.

The main door swung open slowly, rattling noisily.All right kiddo I told him I want you to stick by me no matter what ok? Dont let go of

me, NEVER let go of me you got that?He nodded and pressed against my leg, scared again.

The humans stopped discussing; they seemed to have come to a decision.About a dozen of them moved in, slowly, carefully, spears held ready.

Six went on and untied gobbler, a rather fat one, as his name suggests.The rest of them started untying Tusker- the one who looks like Brawler. What a stupid name

anyway thats what they call anyone who has tusks.He started trumpeting and tossing his head, almost nailed one of them with his tusks.

They just manacled his legs together, Haha! Serves his bloated ego right!In a few minutes they had dragged them out of the enclosure and put them in the backs of the

metal monsters.With a great big rattle and a roar, they rumbled out the way they came in.

The humans with the spears came back in.All right! I heard the music of my chains rattling around bars

We were gonna be free!They tried to pull kiddo off me, but I wasnt having any of that, I pulled him under me

and held him there.I put on a great show of unwillingly being pulled and dragged into the back of the metal

monster. I was following the Code of Conduct in the Presence of Humans put down by our great,great ancestors- every elephant has to obey it or be put in exile for the rest of the life- unable to

join a herd again.SLAM! And we were in.

In a short while we were off, waving goodbye.I whispered to a shivering kiddo and told him to calm down, take a nap.

I joined him when my head started to spin.


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Mommy! Mommy! Look! I woke with a start. We were still moving (while we werenot moving) but slowly, the ride was getting rougher by the minute. The metal monster made

huge rattling and rumbling noises and leaned over so much I thought wed topple.

Wow! I gasped, everywhere I looked, it was green. Left: green, right: green, ahead:green, green, green, green! Clean pure green! Different shades of it- light green, dark green,brown green, blue green! I hadnt realized how much Id missed greenery.

Best of all, there were no signs of humans at all- except for the procession of metalmonsters.

Hey kiddo look! I said friends!Another herd of elephants, watching from the distance.

The procession jolted to a stop and went in reverse, arranging themselves slowly besideeach other.

The humans got out and readied themselves.Come on whats the delay I was itching to feel the fresh grass underfoot. Kiddo was

transfixed, taking in the wideness, the hugeness of it all.Clank!

Finally!I slammed our gate open the rest of the way and we rushed out.

Yooohooo!The wet grass squelched under me, so cool on my feet, I grabbed a tuft and stuffed it in

my mouth- aaaaah! Heavenly!Take a bite! I told kiddo needlessly, he was already set to laying the valley bare!

Yummy!I turned back and looked at all the other elephants being freed, there were more than five

metal monsters all in all, come from other places I guess.Then I saw him.

It was Tusker.And he was violating the code!

He turned to the humans, bent his forelegs into a kneel, curved his trunk up and bellowed.I was horrified.

It was a kind of salute- a way of saying thank you we reserved strictly for the old wiseones, the highly privileged!

The humans were only amused, not realizing the significance of it.Why you! I growled and rushed him, hit him broadside, he grunted in pain and turned

around to face me.He looked furious one second

In the next second, his eye brows shot up and his jaw dropped. The same happened to me.For a few seconds, we couldnt talk.

Crusher?Brawler?

We exclaimed at the same moment in disbelief.You are alive! I screamed in happiness.

But how? I asked, perplexed.He finally found his tongue.


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The humans saved meWhat!? I yelped I thought they killed you!

No he said One of them tried to kill me he sighed he almost did.But some others

saved me. I dont know how, all I know is, they arent as bad as they seem to beI opened my mouth.Mom?

Hey whos that? Brawler asked.Oh hes mine I blurted out.

Huh?No I mean hes an orphan, the poor kids lost his parents I whispered.

He looked at Kiddo with pity in his eyes- to be replied with- Daddy?He drew back, surprised, then he smirked at me.

Hey! I slapped the smirk off his face with my trunk.Ow!

Haha he laughed nervously.Hah I replied.

Kiddo decided it was the moment to burst into peals of laughter, then I was laughing,then he was laughing, then all three of us were suddenly laughing our heads off like it was the

funniest thing in the world- which it wasnt.

The sun had just risen, golden rays of fresh sunlight broke through the thick canopyoverhead and mottled the leaf covered ground with puddles of gold. The incessant noise of the

crickets emanating from the wet foliage was music in my ears, a magpie fluttered through thebranches high overhead, singing its ever - beautiful melody.

It was just another morning in the forest, but it was a fresh day for us, a new day.A new life.


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II

The Cruise


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The Cruise

My name is Bobby Smith. My best friend is John Peters. John said hed come over forthe holiday. I was very excited. My father, George, has a brother called Daniel who is a sailor.

We had planned to have our first ever ocean cruise on his ship!I was too excited to sleep that night, I kept thinking about all the things that John and I could

do. I fell asleep, dreaming.Finally morning came. I rushed to clean up, I was in such a hurry that I slipped, fell and

tipped a bucket of soapy water all over myself! Our dog, Brownie, an Airedale breed, barked in amost historical way and my mother, Rita, who was doing the laundry, laughed.

When I went to the living room, I had another surprise waiting for me! There was UncleDaniel and his parrot, Lucy. I was overjoyed, so was Brownie so we did a dance! Lucy screeched

and did a little dance of her own, bobbing her head. But he had a bit of bad news- his ship, theOmega, was in for repairs and we had to go in another ship called the Sirius. He said that the

Sirius wasnt as good as his, but we had to make do with it.

I waited for John on the garden bench near the gate with brownie. Right at eleven, just whenI had almost given up and was getting up to go, a brand new, beautiful, pearl-white car drew up

at our gate. It wasnt Johns as I remembered, whose could it be? I wondered. But Browniebounded right up to it, barking in a friendly way. The door popped open and out came John,

grinning all over!HalloooBrowniee! he said, patting him all over

Woof! said brownie, licking him all over!When tail wags, whines and pats were finally over, he told me that their old car had had a

little accidentWhat luck! I said, Uncle Dans ship down and your car crashed!

Oh. What about our trip then? he asked. His grin disappeared.Brownie whined, he didnt like his sad face.

Lets go in and Ill tell you I told himEverybody sat down in the living room. There was a lot of noise, everybody talking at once.

What's with the shiny new set of wheels Dave? Dad asked Johns father.Oh the old one had a bit of an accident he said, I forgot the handbrakes and down the hill

it went!Forgot the handbrakes? Id say there werent any to begin with! Johns mother said. Good

riddance I say, the scrapyard was where it belonged!Aw Laura it was myfirstcar after all!

Never mind that, at least this one wouldnt have us running after it down the banks of theThames! She said, everyone simply roared!

All RIGHT! Everybody Dad clapped and said, then briskly rubbed his hands, Lets makesure everything is clear. Since Dan heres ship is in for repairs, were going to be taking the

Sirius, Dan has made all the necessary arrangementsWe played that whole afternoon. We slept early that night for we had to wake up very early

the next day. We had a little bet to see who could wake up the earliest!


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I woke up at five five to my alarm clock ringing. Thats strange, I remember setting it forfive. That fox of a John must have changed it while I was asleep! Ill catch him yet!

I spied him hiding in a bush outside trying to ambush me. I snuck up from behind and scared

the daylights out of him! You should have seen his face!We got ready to leave, we waited chatting until uncle Daniel came. John told me that hisfather had taught him how to drive a motor boat and how to fish and I told him to remind me to

never set foot on a motor boat with him! He elbowed me in the ribs for that one, ow! That hurt!Uncle Dan and the two dads came back in a van to take us. We all got in, yelling and

shouting and fighting for window seats! Everybody was excited. The door slammed shut and wewere off. Brownie put his head out of the window as usual, he opened his mouth in a wide grin,

his tongue lolled out and his tail started wagging. Of everybody, he seemed to be the happiest.After all, what dog couldnt be happy when he gets to go on a long, long trip with all his masters

and mistresses and friends?

When we arrived at the port, Sirius was waiting for us. Brownie looked at her with greatinterest. Hed never seen anything like it!

When we boarded, Brownie made a beeline for the galley, he didnt even let Uncle Danintroduce us to the captain! We had a hard time getting him out, he sat down in the doorway, grin

and all, and refused to budge until a cook gave him a bone!We set off with a toot. We watched the land until it was only a speck on the horizon. Then

we watched the seagulls, Brownie seemed to have made it his job to keep them off the deck,every time one landed, he would leap at it and bark until it took off once again, protesting at not

being allowed to rest after flying for so long!Soon the seagulls too, disappeared. Brownie put his paws on the railing like us and watched

the water. He was very satisfied. He thought he had chased all the seagulls away!A slight drizzle started and we went below decks and played chess. The drizzle grew into a

downpour and the ship started to rock so much we couldnt walk straight. Since it was dark, wedecided to sleep, there was nothing else to do anyway. We had a short argument about who gets

the top bunk bed. In the end John got it. After all, he was our guest.

I woke up in the middle of the night, the ship was rolling so much I couldnt tell the wallsfrom the floor! Everybody else was awake except Brownie, he was fast asleep in his basket

which was lodged in a corner. Lucy was in her cage, head tucked under a wing.I cant sleep, its moving too much I said

I almost fell off! John complainedhah! Serves you right for wanting the top bed! I said

Itll be alright in a few hours when the storm passes off, Uncle Daniel said, none ofyou are seasick I hope?

Fortunately none were, not for the moment at least.The ship wouldnt sink would it? Mom asked in a quavering voice

Uncle Dan laughed Oh no she wouldnt! This is actually quite common, we go throughthis almost -

He had hardly finished when there was a huge, dull explosion and the entire hullreverberated, a loud screeching and groaning followed. The lights dimmed and came back on.


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Everybody sat bolt upright. Brownie woke and barked once in surprise.What in gods name was that? Mrs Laura exclaimed

Stay right here! Uncle Dan ran out of the cabin. Unaffected by the heaving floor.

Wait!Brownie started to whimper.In a few minutes he returned

Joe? Come with me, Dave? You take everybody else to a lifeboat. Take a light hetossed a large flashlight to Johns dad.

Mum gaspedWe dressed up as well as we could and followed Johns dad out

I cant believe this I heard Uncle Dan saying as we groggily passed him down thecorridor. I had Lucys cage, it kept banging against the walls. Presently, she woke and started

shrieking to be let out. Brownie followed us, whimpering in fear.Drop that cage Bobby Johns dad said

ButDo it he said

I undid the latch and dropped the cage, Lucy stopped shrieking and flew to my shoulder,she was too scared to go anywhere else.

Mr David opened a door to the top deck and the outside world struck us in its full fury.Added to the constant heaving of the deck was stinging rain and howling wind we pushed the

door with all our might, it slowly shut, Mr David bolted it. He was panting with the exertionNow everybody -

Suddenly, the lights went out and we were in complete darkness. Save for the occasionalflashes of lightning.

Mr David switched the flashlight on. The light blinded me.Now everybody, life jackets on his voice shook. He opened a nearby cabin, handed out

life jackets and made sure they were secure.I stuffed Lucy in my jacket,Mr David picked up Brownie and held him under one arm.

Then he made us all hold handsNever, ever let go he said

He opened the door and we were exposed to the cruel forces of nature again. Westumbled out, we staggered about blindly and somehow we managed to reach the lifeboats, Mr

David dropped Brownie into one and helped John and me into it.Dad - John started, but he couldnt finish, a great wave lifted the inflatable raft high

into the air and back down with a huge splash.Mr David, Mum, Mrs Laura, Ship, all seemed tohave disappeared. All I could see from the flashes of lighting was black cliffs of water on every

side, grotesquely frozen in the short instants of light. We hugged each other and held on for dearlife.

I woke up sprawled on a life raft, sun shining brightly on my face. I couldnt at once

remember where I was and what happened and I was surprised- I guess I must have beenexpecting to wake up on my cosy bed in my familiar room with Brownie at my feet, Instead, I

got this.I sat up with a jerk and groaned. My whole body hurt.


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John was already up, he was sitting facing the sea with Brownie beside him, Lucy wasperched on the edge, tied with a string. I looked at John. He was fishing?

Whatre you doing? I asked

He shruggedI looked around, there was nothing to see except for miles and miles of water stretchingto the horizon in every direction.

Whatre we gonna do? I askedDont ask his voice broke, his hand moved to wipe his eyes and he sniffed I dont

knowWe just sat for hours, not knowing what to say.

The spell was broken when suddenly, John let out a yelp!

Help!We pulled on the rod for all we were worth, Brownie stood and started to bark, then,

without warning, he jumped.Brownie! No! I yelled. Too late.

Brownie doggy paddled over to the struggling fish, growled, grabbed it, shook it andcalmly swam back to be lifted in by us. He laid a fat, dead fish at our feet.And barked.

Good boy Brownie! Yeah! John saidSquawk! Good boy! Good boy! Lucy agreed

Brownie stuck out his forepaws, wagged his tail, and barked again.I laughed He wants to play some more!

John looked at the fish with disgustHow are we supposed to eat this, we cant cook it

eewh!We stared at the slimy thing with those stomach churning eyes for a long time until we

couldnt stand it.Maybe Brownie will eat it I suggested

John undid the crude hook and tossed the fish to Brownie, he gobbled it down in twobites!

Squawk! Wheres the galley boy! galley boy! Lucy shrieked and bobbed her head sideto side as if she were looking for the galley boy.

I guess that means shes hungry John saidWe laughed.

Therere some biscuits and a pint of water in that John said, pointing to a box markedSurvival kit lying on the floor

Dont use up too much, this seawaters foul and we gotta save the food john advisedI took a bite off one of the inch-thick, tasteless biscuits and washed it down with about a

teaspoon of water. I broke off a piece of biscuit and held it out to Lucy.Candy she said and looked away, I was baffled.

John laughed Candy indeed!I ate it myself

What do you think happened? I asked JohnHe shrugged beats me. Maybe we hit an iceberg like the Titanic


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An iceberg? I said with a tone of scorn in my voiceLike I said, beats me John said

Whatre we gonna do now? I asked

Dont ask me, I dont know. who do you think I am? Columbus? John saidWe sat there, thinking.Maybe we could send a message or something on Brownie? I asked

Knock it off. Youre starting to make me laugh!Dan Lucy said

She squawkedDan! she shrieked, Dan! Dan! Dan!

Ok, what about her? I saidMaybe.Shes pretty much useless here so we could just as well try, John said, we

could write on the label of the biscuit packetWrite with what?

We were clueless again

Suddenly, I had itBlood!

eeewh! You are straight bonkers!No I meant fish blood I said

OhWe both leapt at the fishing rod- just a piece of bent wire and a thread tied to the oars

handle really.I let him do it, he baited it with a piece of biscuit and threw it in.

How long? I askedDont know, last one took one - two hours

I groanedBrownie came over watched with interest. Good! They were playing again!

This time our luck was better, we had a bite earlier.Brownie did his job dutifully. He laid the fish at our feet.

How are we going to um cut it?Brownie barked.

Oh yeah, let you have a bite!I held it out to brownie who took a quite big bite out of it!

Using a fishbone as a stylus, I scribbled on the tiny piece of paper-Uncle Dan, we survived the storm, we are in a lifeboat, we dont know where we are,

we have a survival kit. Bob, John and BrownieWe wrapped it in a piece of polythene and tied it to Lucys feet with the thread with

which she was tied down.Squawk! Candy! Dan! She said and flew off in a flurry of beating wings.

We watched her unerring course across the blue expanse until she was just a black dotagainst the blue backdrop of the sky. She seemed to know exactly where she was going.

You know what? Ive a feeling this just might work! John said.I nodded.


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We ate half a biscuit and drank two lidfuls of water, Brownie drank four and wantedmore!

We played tic tac toe on the lid of the survival kit with a fishbone to pass the time. When

it got too dark, we lied down on the cold hard floor and slept.

I dreamt that night, I was on an operating table, the doctor was Mrs Brown, our maths

teacher. She kept tapping me on the forehead with a pencil, it hurt. Then the head came,suddenly he wasnt the head, he was a fan and he was blowing cold air at me, so hard that I

couldnt breathe. Then Mrs Brown squawked and I woke up with a jerk! Lucy was on my head,she pecked me on the forehead.

Ow! I said, Cut that out!I sat up, the sun was up, I turned around to wake up John, My eyes went wide and my

jaw dropped! Right in front of me was a helicopter? I blinked and rubbed my eyes, was I stilldreaming? Uncle Dan grinned at me as he lowered himself into the water.

Uncle Dan! I cried and John sat straight up.Wha...? he said

Uncle Daniel! he cried out too, Brownie let out a volley of barks and ran in a circlearound the boat and then leapt at uncle Dan in the water to land in front of his face with a huge

splash!He laughed, You boys all right? he asked as he climbed aboard.

We just nodded, we were too happy to talk.Squawk! Lucy got candy! Lucy said and we burst out laughing. There were so many

things to laugh about now!Uncle Dan! What happened to the others? I asked

Uncle Dan! What happened to the ship? Did it sink?Uncle Dan! Is that helicopter yours?

Whoa boys whoa! he said, Slow down! Everybodys all right ok? What about you?Are you fit enough to swim?

Woohooo! John yelled, jumped into the water and struck out for the helicopter.Lets find out! I yelled and followed suit.

We took off, Brownie barked at the receding shape of the little yellow raft.

He wants to know why we arent taking it! I said, laughing.Makes you sad to leave it behind doesnt it? Uncle Dan said, after all, it saved your

livesYeah I sighed.

What really happened to the ship Mr Daniel? John asked.The Nazis struck it!

I stared, John stared, even the pilot stared at Uncle!Uh? I said

It was an old proximity mine from the forties the coastguard says. It had somehowsurvived all the search and defuse operations and had surface in the storm to end up with

blowing a hole in our hull about the size of a minivan! She sank like a stone he said with a toneof sadness in his voice, fortunately no one was killed.


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We landed at the port helipad. Everybody was waiting for us. A flock of reportersmobbed Uncle Dan almost as soon as he stepped out only to retreat under Lucys screeching

and pecking! She was the hero!

A medical team checked us, but they shouldnt have bothered we were in pretty muchgood shape save for our rumbling tummies which would have sounded like earthquakes over thestethoscopes!

I ran into Mums open arms, we cried for the happiness.I thought Id never see you again! she cried.

Uncle Dan just couldnt escape the reporters, so we were driven home by Johns dad.As soon as we had driven through our gate, Brownie leaped out, ran barking into his dog

house, lied down and fairly sighed. I guess that he too, like us felt good to be back home at last!A banquet was waiting for us, we ate and we ate and we ate! Then we slept.

I woke up. I found it hard to believe that the last time I woke up, it was on a tiny boat inthe middle of nowhere!

I looked at my clock.Oh my god! It was almost noon

Heyy John, John, wake up Its the hols! I shouted.After cleaning up, we ran downstairs for breakfast though it was almost lunch time!

In the dining room, I found a surprise waiting for me -PARROT SAVES SHIPWRECK SURVIVORS!

The newspaper lying on the table screamed. Right on the front page was a big photographof Lucy!

So, thats what happened to our little cruise, we have a big story to tell our classmatesthis term. A story of how two brave boys, their dog and a parrot survived a Nazi attack, a

ferocious storm, and lived two whole days on an open boat in the middle of the sea on biscuitsand a pint of water, to be finally saved by a parrot!


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III

The Wishing Mirror

The Wishing Mirror


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Yippee! Snap! Whoops! Flutter! Snap! Buzz! Snap!

I can fly! I can soar! Hundreds of miles, rise, rise, rise, rise for my favorite food, bees!

After eating enough to last a month (though it probably wouldnt) I returned home; to mynest high up on an old oak, a nest made of an odd collection of soft things, Some cotton I stolefrom a dental, a lot of straw from a stable. Home sweet home! I chirped to myself and settled

down for a nice comfortable nap.Roarrr! Roar! Roar! I was awakened a few minutes later by an enormous racket coming from

the base of the tree.Suddenly the place was filled with smoke smelling of burnt kerosene. I felt as if I was falling

just before I was knocked out.Daddy! What happened to the little birdie? My eyes focused in and out on a kind looking

little girls face.I was lying on a warm towel.

It seemed ridiculous, but the little face seemed strangely familiar, Wait a minute. Was thatmy sister? I tried to get up for a better look but I couldnt.

Daddy! Daddy! Hes trying to get up!In a few minutes I was quite OK, so I got up groggily and hopped on to my sisters shoulder.

He likes me! She squeaked excitedly.I dont like you sis, I love you I tried to say but only a few chirps came out of me.

She stroked my untidy head and smoothed it. I fluttered away, into the woods.Dont go! My sister called.

Since it was getting dark I prepared to sleep for the night. And then I felt it. It was a feelinglikelike I was growing big. I lost my balance and fell off the tree.

I got up with a groan, to my surprise it wasnt a chirp!What the! I jumped up.

Whew! I was a human again at last. I sighed, and slouched off towards the street,fascinated with the strange happenings last night.

It was quite fascinating like magic.Last night I felt a strong urge.as if I was getting pulled into the forest. I walked down

the street-lamp lighted streets, not knowing where I was going. The church clock ding-dongedmidnight.

I didnt care, I just walked on. When I reached the forest, I stopped and dug up a soiledmirror.

At once a shock ran through me. I was surrounded by light, there was nothing thereexcept me, and a lot of light.

What do you want a voice echoed. You have entered a wishing mirror. Wish!Oh, okay, I said recovering.

I wish I could be a bee-eater for a day. I said.I made that wish because I liked the way they snapped so fast at bees. There was a tense

silence.Wish granted. I was thrown out like a bird kicked out. Sorry! I was a bird. Now the day

has passed, and now Im human again.I chuckled and knocked on my door. Home sweet home!


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IV

Black Evil


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Black Evil

It was a snowy day; you couldnt even see your own hand. The cotton wool snowcovered everything- the red hatchback parked out in the open, the large pine growing half in-half

out of the yard, the red tiled roof, the post box, even the electricity pylons.The snow took difference away from the world; everything looked alike, covered in white.

But it couldnt cover one thing, one black spot sharply contrasted with the ever-whiteness.The one black spot on padded legs, sinking in the snow but leaving no mark, this one black thing

resisted the snow.The Johnson family was having dinner. This family consists of: Mr Johnson, a fat jolly man

of about forty, his wife, Mrs Johnson and their only son Joe Johnson, a teenager.They were having Dinner in their normal way- Mr Johnson and his son laughing their heads

off while Mrs Johnson tries to stop them.Why did the chicken cross the road? Mr Johnson asks.

Oh, I know that one, Joe says, becouthithwantheththugeththu the other thide! and spitsout a mouthful of peas.

No, Mr Johnson says, Because it wanted to commit suicide! he shouts and launches intoa volley of guffaws, suddenly, the guffaws end and he starts to sneeze.

Now youve done it Mrs Johnson says, how many times have I told you two not to talkwhile eating

Aww, it wasnt my fault! Joe complains while Mr Johnson gags with his hands on histhroat.

Mrs Johnson claps Mr Johnson on the back and a rather large pea flies out of his mouth andlands stickily on a window.

Then they see it.An extraordinarily long tailed, scrawny black cat with its ribs showing is standing on the

window ledge with its paws on the glass, its eyes glow eerily as it tries to reach the pea.Oh the poor thing!Mrs Johnson says and that statement itself was permission enough for

Joe to let the cat in without any second thoughts.As soon as the cat steps off, the heavy window pane slams down on Joes hand with

impossible momentum, there is a sharp CRACK! followed by an agonized cry ofAAAAAAARGH!

We must get that window repaired, or its gonna take off somebodys fingers, ouch! Joesays trying to flex his hand which has been put in a splint.

Its not the windows fault, its that darned cat, dont you know that black cats are unlucky?Besides, its the thirteenthFriday today. Mr Johnson calls uneasily from his room.

Oh you and your myths! Why do you still believe in those old grannys tall tales? MrsJohnson argues as she makes a hot cup of milk for the cat. She picks up a hot water flask.

Suddenly the bottom flies out the flask, and scalding hot water pours on her bare legsHEEEELP! she shrieks, slips on the water, drops the flask, hits her head on the edge of the

steel sink and collapses.Oh my god! Joe shouts and rushes towards her, he slips on a large chunk of glass,

pirouettes in the air and falls hard on his back.


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Mr Johnson hears the noise and runs in, Mrs Johnson Is lying prostrate on the floor,seemingly unconscious, Joe whimpers weakly and reaches out a bloody hand. His fathers eyes

go wide with terror, he plucks out his phone, in his hurry, it flies out of his hand and lands in the

middle of the room.The water slowly creeps towards the refrigerator.The pipe pops out the gas cooker and highly explosive petroleum gas hisses out.

The water reaches the refrigerator, leaks into the electrical system and short circuits it.

A spark flies between two wires.A blue flame whoomps out of the pipe

EXPLOSIONA ball of orange flame engulfs the whole house.

Debris, tiles, broken wood flies in every direction.Silence.

A fire alarm starts to rings.A spot appears out of the burnt blackness, but this spot is even blacker than the burnt

wood, its black evil overwhelms the burnt wood, walls, tiles, and what remains of a family thatwas perfect and happy a few hours ago

The Andrew family was having breakfast

The end (or is it?)


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V

The mansion in the marsh


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The mansion on the marsh

After dinner, our host told us that the house was said to be where the eeriest things

happen. It was more of a rundown mansion than a house. Sitting atop a rocky crag of an island inthe fog covered sea marsh, it was no wonder the locals thought how they did about the place.

Being inquisitive and fearless by nature, Riley was drawn to the place as soon as he laidhis eyes on it while on his geological survey of the place. After much persuasion and accepted

warnings. He finally managed to make the landowner let him stay there for a few days and, asalways, he had to drag us into it.

The island could be accessed seaways via a narrow, high-walled channel that ran through abreak in the jagged rocky barrier which held a record for innumerable ships dashed to their doom

on the treacherous rocks, drawn there for some reason on dark, foggy nights.

We rowed into it. Seemingly, motorized crafts were white gold in these remote parts. Notthat we would have been lent one had one been available. The Devils rock as it was called,stood notoriously up to its name.

We went on rowing. The tall, black cliffs on either side seemed to press down upon us. Theyblocked what little sunlight got through the fog.

Pretty soon, I noticed my ally, Reeves, staring at his flashlight with an incredulous lookon his face. It dimmed, flickered and went out. We were plunged into darkness. Reeves oath

echoed uncannily across the walls. Adding effect to it.In the next moment, Reeves oath seemed to have struck back upon us. In the light from the

match I had struck we saw something like nothing we had ever seen before.The flashlight was just as reeves had dropped it, only it had moved by several feet; upwards.

Now it hovered above three ashen faces as if held there by an unseen arm, shaking itselfseemingly with the intention of exploding into a thousand pieces and killing us. It didnt. Instead

it flew towards me like a bullet. An agonized shriek escaped my throat for I had, in theconfusion, forgotten the match and it had burnt my fingers. The flashlight splashed harmlessly

into the water. A metallic clang echoed through the channel as it hit the bottom.From the next match we saw Riley collect all his belongings and like a crazed madman,

throw them all overboard. He moved on to ours. We watched on, frozen.As the boatprogressively became lighter.

As soon as we could breathe normally, Riley explained how magnets can draw metals andhow powerful magnetic rock deposits could occur naturally. He went on to say that a such

powerful lodestone deposit could exist naturally in this gorge and this had drawn the torch into

the center of its flux where it was balanced by the symmetrical forces until something disturbedit- a wind perhaps- after which it got drawn to the nearest magnet. So he dispatched all metalsaboard to prevent further risks.

Minds banished of thoughts of spirits and apparitions. We continued. The walls soon fellaway until we were travelling through one of the numerous channels of the marsh. We made

landfall near the old decayed mansion which looked grotesque in the dim light, shrouded byshifting wisps of mist.

We entered the house through a large creaky decayed door. It was dark inside.


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The door slammed shut.Something cold brushed against me in the dark.

The unearthly screams that echoed through the thick fog that evening were only more proof

to the truth of the folklore to the ears of those who heard them.

"the big picture" and four other stories

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