This is a short
excerpt from my M/G adventure story, Saving
the Rainbow. I thought it might be
fun for St. Patrick’s Day.
Patrick ran at a
steady pace, his feet pounding on the packed earth of the well-worn path. Coming to a sudden stop, he bent to arch his
back, resting his hands on his thighs, catching his breath as he looked back at
his friend who was lagging behind again.
“Can’t ye keep
up?” He called out in gasping syllables,
his disheveled red hair hiding one eye and half the freckles on his face.
“I don’t think we
should be goin’ into the faery woods.”
Barry replied, as he loped along at least twenty paces behind, his
breeches dragging in the dirt of the road.
Patrick’s eyes
twinkled as he studied his friend. He
couldn’t believe what just popped out of his mouth. He knew Barry always loved to take part in a
prank, or get into a bit of mischief.
Shifting his
muslin school bag on his shoulder Barry came to rest beside him, anxiety
seeping out of his pores. Patrick didn’t
understand why Barry was always suspicious about the adventures he suggested,
and yet his friend had no problem being an accomplice when it came to playing
jokes on the old school teacher.
“I think it’ll be
all right. Now come on. Ye know we must be home by dusk, or our
parents will be concerned about us.”
Patrick’s gray-blue eyes glanced skyward under the curl of hair that
rested on his forehead. There was plenty
of daylight left judging by the angle of the sun.
“I can’t figure
out why ye always delight in goin’ places you’re not supposed to.” Barry complained. He shook his head and wondered when Patrick
had become so daring. “Ye know what they
say about goin’ in there alone.” His
dark eyes looked toward the woodland that loomed nearer and nearer.
“Aye? Well I won’t be alone because you’re comin’
with me.” Patrick sneered as he grabbed
Barry’s arm and pulled him forward. They
started down the path again as a sly grin spread across Patrick’s face.
“What’s so important
in there anyway?” Barry tried to sound
brave even though he was pretty sure they’d be bewitched if they set foot in
the forbidden woods, and probably whisked away never to be seen again.
“I want to find a
faery or a leprechaun. I’m sure we’ll
find one in there and maybe I can persuade them to grant my wish. Perhaps they’ll even give me magic powers and
then I can do anything that I want to.
Can ye imagine what we could do with an amazing gift like that,
Barry? Now come on. Let’s hurry.”
Patrick’s excitement caused him to walk faster, dragging an unwilling
Barry with him.
“What are ye
wishin’ for now, Patrick?” Barry tried
his best to keep the nervous anticipation out of his voice. Lately Barry noticed Patrick wasn’t ever
satisfied, or too happy about things.
What caused this strange behavior in his friend? He was determined to find out the reason for
his obsession with adventures, and having to get his own way about everything.
“Are things all
right at home, Patrick?” Concern showed
in Barry’s face. Maybe I can do something to help.
Pushing forward,
with Barry in tow, Patrick kept a firm grip and moved on. “Ye know my Pa works way too hard, and he’s
not a young man anymore. I hope to find
a way to make things easier for him.
That’s all. Wouldn’t it be nice
if he could sell the farm, especially before I have to take over?” Patrick answered calmly as if this was a trip
to the miller’s to pick up some grain, instead of an adventure into the
mysterious forest. If there was any way
he could get out of farming potatoes, Patrick would do it. He was only twelve, but time was going by
fast.
“Well I don’t
think goin’ into the faery woods will help.”
Barry let his gaze move toward the giant trees waiting for them at the
end of the path. Reluctance swept over
him. He didn’t want to be a participant
in one of Patrick’s schemes, especially one like this after all the talk in the
village about getting lost in the faery woods never to find your way out
again. He wasn’t that anxious to get
away from his sisters, his parents, or even all his chores as much as he
disliked them at times.
“Here we are. Now just stick with me.” Barry came out of his thoughts just as
Patrick pulled him inside the dark mass of vegetation, his fingers still
clutching the neck of Barry’s brown tunic.
When the boys were well inside the woodland, Patrick let go. Barry
won’t run home now and will have to follow me because he’s too cowardly to do
anything else. Patrick knew he could’ve
gone alone, but it was nice to have the company. He hoped this adventure would do Barry some good. He reminded Patrick of a startled
rabbit. The boy certainly needed more
bravery, especially where magical things were concerned. How would they ever be able to confront elves,
faeries, and battle demons together? Barry could never get along by himself and
he wouldn’t be much good to me in such an encounter if he doesn’t muster up
some courage.
The boys inched
along, stepping over tangled roots that looked like twisted snakes
crisscrossing the narrow path. Their
feet kicked up years of rotting leaf mold, and both boys sneezed several times
as fragments drifted in the air around them and resettled on the dusty
ground. It was rather dark, compared to
the field they left behind, and Barry kept tripping over the old roots and
stubbing his toes. Patrick walked more
carefully, his wiry body twisting under the trees and over the brambles, but it
was still impossible to miss all the debris in the way.
“Ouch. Watch it!”
“Aye, aye,” Barry
murmured, “sorry.”
“Sorry for what,
Barry? Ye didn’t do anything except make
me drag ye in here.” Patrick glanced
over his shoulder where Barry was struggling along, and he couldn’t help but
laugh.
“Ach, I thought I
stepped on your foot. Didn’t ye just say
‘Ouch watch it?’” Barry tried to explain,
under Patrick’s stare, as he fought to stay upright and tripped over another
root. He lurched forward and bumped
against Patrick’s back.
“Nay, I didn’t say
anything. Are ye spooked already?” Barry shrank as Patrick glowered at him. He didn’t want to appear cowardly and tried
to steady himself to keep from trembling.
Barry knew he
heard a voice back there on the trail. Who was it if it wasn’t Patrick?
He peered around cautiously. Anything can be here and I wouldn’t even see
it. Too many branches covered the
old trees. Someone could easily hide
among them. Barry felt invisible eyes
staring at him and he shivered, as he met Patrick’s face, and tried to put his
fears aside.
“Nay, I’m not
spooked wise guy. Something did speak
back there. I’m surprised ye didn’t take
notice of it. How are ye goin’ to find
the wee folk anyway if ye didn’t hear that?”
Barry stood more erect as he yanked on his tunic in an effort to
straighten it. The brown garment hung lopsided
on his shoulders. The wrinkles stood up
in a permanent pucker where Patrick had it twisted in his hands earlier. Barry demanded that Patrick make him aware of
his plan.
“Up around that
bend is a clearin’ where a spring comes out of the rocks. I think that might be a good place to
start.” Patrick seemed confident enough
as he started forward through the trees again.
Well anything will be better than these dark
woods. It’s so musty in here. Barry sneezed again and looked forward to the
clearing and some fresher air. The
forest was closing in and the twisted branches seemed like arms swirling around
him. He shivered and wanted to get this
mission over.
©Sunni Morris
An excerpt from my book Saving
the Rainbow
Happy St Patrick's Day everyone!
