Bumblestook: Book 1, The Accidental Wizard (43 page)

“I’ll just add a little Sleepwalk Spell, so they can walk out on their own. But first, we need to tie them to us, so they don’t wander away. Everyone, off with the rope!” the Wizard said. He saw the Bungaree glance worriedly at the rising water, which was now over his head outside of the protective field. “It’ll only be for a few moments, I assure you.”

They all struggled out of the rope, then handed it over to Ranger Gary. After making sure it was tied tight around his own waist, he and Heloise proceeded to secure the Bumblestooks.

Suddenly, the light flickered, as if something was draining the dome’s power, and the water level fell sharply. They all looked around to see what had happened.

Yap’s eyes widened. “Farley!” he shouted, dashing around the table, to greet the figure that stood in the open Dimensional Doorway.

“No—” Ranger Gary shouted.

Too late! The excited Gr-r-r-og stretched the Field of Force to its breaking point, in his headlong rush to greet his master. He burst free of the protective field, sloshing through the water toward the boy, as the Field sealed itself behind him. Fortunately, the water was only up to his thighs, as much of it had flowed out through the open Doorway.

“Fishfeathers!” Tom cursed, then pushed against the field himself, to follow the impetuous pup.

He had noticed what Yap, in his eagerness, had not. The figure in the Doorway, although looking enough like the boy to be his twin, was definitely
not
Farley. His eyes glowed strangely as if lit from within and he stood, stiff and steadfast as a rock, as the water rushed past him. His face showed no emotion upon seeing his friends and his head jerked robotically from left to right, taking in the scene. Pressing hard against the Field, Tom succeeded in breaking free. He sloshed through the water to help his young protégé.

Yap had reached the strange boy’s side and was jumping up and down to greet him. The Farley look-alike seemed not to notice.

“Farley, it’s me! It’s me, Yap! It’s Yap come to save you!”

The boy merely turned with a jerk to go back through the Doorway.

“Yap, wait—” Tom shouted, reaching out to grab a handful of the G-r-r-rog’s ruff. But the determined pup wriggled free, to follow his beloved Farley through the Doorway. Tom had no choice but to do the same.

Ranger Gary and Heloise looked on in dismay, as the Doorway flickered shut.

“Niblix, you skulking rat, get out here where I can see you! It is I, Gregor the Great, that commands you!”

The gruff voice wrenched him free of his remorseful trip down Memory’s Lane. It belonged to one of the Wizards who had helped snatch the Bumblestooks from their home.

“Gregor the
not
s-s-s-so Great, that’s what
I
say,” Niblix muttered under his breath, but rose to his feet and called out, “O-v-v-ver here!”

“Where have you been?” The other demanded querulously. “It’s time for you to patrol the Western Corridors—time to earn your keep.” He flung something at the Skurrier’s feet. “Here, the boss wants you to wear this.”

Niblix looked at the object lying in the dust. “What-t-t is it?”

“What does it look like? It’s a wristband, numbskull. It’s not going to bite you,” Gregor growled, irritated by the Skurrier’s hesitancy. “We’ve all got one, see? Just strap it on.”

Niblix picked up the object, gingerly holding it between his long thick nails. It was a thick strap of black leather, with a large, rough-cut ruby set into its center and a silver buckle to secure it to his wrist.

“What’s it-t-t-t for?” He asked, skeptically.

“Helps Malador keep track of where we all are. Just put it on and don’t ask questions. And hurry it up. I’ve got to get back to the east side. We’re spread out pretty thin in this place.

Gregor watched as Niblix strapped the band around his furred wrist, then turned away to return to his own patrol.

Niblix waited until the Wizard disappeared around a corner, then quickly removed the wristband. He made as if to toss it away, but hesitated when his eyes were caught by a glint in the ruby. He just couldn’t resist. Using one, tough, curved fingernail, he pried the stone from its setting. Tossing the scrap of leather aside, he tucked the stone into a pocket and headed south; not west, as he’d been told.

He had made a decision. Instead of patrolling the Western Corridors, he intended to slip out of one of the remote exits. He would leave behind this pleasureless place, to seek the help of a Wizard skilled enough to counter Malador’s Sizing spell. He was even willing to pledge half his plunder to such a one, so desirous was he to return to his natural state.

But, he was not so foolish as to think that Malador would just let him walk away, oh no! He would have to be very clever, yes-indeedy, he would! He would go down the one path the Wizard would never expect him to go. The very thought of it nearly caused him to turn tail. But the dream, of being returned to his former self, stiffened his resolve and lent strength to his legs.

His heart beat against his ribcage like a wild bird trying to escape, as he headed for the tunnel leading to the dreadful Pit of Despair; where the cries of those trapped within its bowels would soon tear at his very soul.

**********************************

They emerged inside of a tunnel, its rock walls dimly lit by sputtering torches. The rocky floor was wet and slippery, from the water that had poured through the Doorway before it closed. As the Farley look-alike walked on, oblivious to the young Gr-r-rog tugging on his shirt, Tom grabbed hold of Yap’s arm and spun him around.

“Yap, hold up! It’s not Farley, pup.”

“Huh? Whataya mean?
Course
its Farley! Lemme go, he’s getting away!” Yap twisted in Tom’s grasp, following the double with anxious eyes as it kept on walking.

“Use your senses, I
implore
you! Would the
real
Farley, ever
ignore
you?”

Yap turned his eyes back to Tom reluctantly. “No-o-o-o, but he’s probly gotta spell on ‘im! Leggo! He needs my help!” He squirmed and tried to pull away.

Tom grabbed his other arm and forced the young G-r-r-rog to look at him. “What do your eyes tell you about his walk, his manner, his change of clothes? Or better yet, follow your
nose
!” The Bungaree persisted.

Suddenly Yap ceased to struggle. He blinked rapidly several times and his nose twitched. He cocked his head to one side and his mouth fell open. Then he frowned.

“ ’strue, he doesn’t
smell
right!”

“
Now
you’re thinking straight, mate! When it comes to Magic, things are not always what they seem. You’ve got to keep your wits about you, and your senses keen.”

“But if that’s not Farley, who is he?”

“My guess, it’s a Golem, a magic-made creature. With a dash of Glamour to disguise its true nature. Whoever made this look-alike toy, obviously must have seen the boy. So, this golem thing could lead us right to the crook, who kidnapped my Fiona and
your
Bumblestook!” He reached out quickly to grab Yap’s arm again, as the Gr-r-rog prepared to dash off after the retreating figure. “We’ve got its scent, so it’s easy to track. It’ll be safer, if we hang back,” he instructed.

“Okay,” Yap agreed reluctantly. He chewed his lip and made a visible effort to

slow down as they proceeded with caution.

*******************************

The tunnel, down which the children walked, was dark as night. Their flashlights cut through the inky blackness, revealing rough, rock walls and a packed dirt floor, but not much more. Occasionally, Farley tripped over a loose pebble (or his own feet, as he so often did) but otherwise, it was an uneventful passage.

Then, the path took a sudden sharp turn to the right. As they rounded the bend, they found their surroundings dimly lit by flickering, yellow light; spilling forth from what appeared to be the tunnel’s end. Putting away their flashlights, they proceeded with caution; hugging the rock wall and ducking behind outcroppings. As they neared the exit, they could see that it opened into another tunnel, lit by a torch affixed to its wall. When they had advanced within several yards of the opening, a strange shuffling sound could be heard.

“Someone’s coming!” Fiona hissed, holding up her hand in warning.

They flattened themselves against the wall, anxiously watching the mouth of the tunnel as the shuffling sound came closer and closer. Finally, like an advance guard, a shadow marched along the wall of the new passageway. It loomed, large and frightening, full of the threat of the unknown. Then, the figure itself appeared! Dragging its feet, as if unused to walking, it shuffled into the light and continued on without pause, until out of their sight.

“The Fake!” Farley whispered through gritted teeth. “C’mon, let’s get him! He can take us to the Doorway!” He started forward, but Fiona laid a hand on his arm. He looked back, to see her eyes take on that now-familiar, faraway look, as she gazed over his head.“Oh geez, not now,” he groaned.

“Before abandoning cover, search well the lay of the land. Be very alert to sound and sight, of an ambush close at hand,” Fiona said.

“Okay, okay—I get it,” said Farley as his friend shook her head and returned to her senses. “Like ‘look both ways before crossing the street’. But, let’s hurry—he’s getting away!”

The children edged up to the tunnel opening. Slowly, cautiously, they poked their heads out and looked to the right—right into the startled faces of Tom and Yap!

Yap’s nose twitched briefly.

“It’s him! It’s him! It’s the real Farley! I found him, I found him!” Yap cried out joyfully, leaping at Farley to give him a hug (knocking the boy to the ground, in his excitement).

Tom sighed heavily, relief flooding his features. “Ah, Fiona, thank goodness you’re safe! No bruises, no breaks, no sprains, not a scrape? Everything in order, in tip-top shape?”

Fiona smiled primly. “It’s nice to see you, too, Kitty—I mean, Tom. We’re fine, but how did
you
guys get here?”

“We followed sumthin’ that looked like Farley, only it wazzunt,” Yap explained. “Itsa
glolem
!”

“
Golem
,” Tom corrected.

“That’s the
Fake
,” Farley said, getting to his feet. “We gotta catch it and make it tell us where the Doorway is, so we can save my mom and dad!”

“As to that, you don’t need the Fake. The Doorway’s back there, under the lake,” Tom told him.

Farley’s face flooded with joy. “What’re we waiting for? Let’s go!”

“Wait!” Fiona grabbed his arm before he took off. “Is it still open?” she asked Tom.

Tom shook his head. “After I followed the pup, it closed back up.”

“What about the Key? Do you have it?” Fiona persisted, as Farley’s face fell.

“No, I don’t, I’m sorry to say. But, the good news is, your parents are okay!” Tom reported.

“You saw them?” Farley eyes brightened.

“Ranger Gary’s got ‘em!” Yap chimed in, eagerly. “He put ‘em inside a field-a-force, so’s they won’t drown, an’ there’s a Magic Hose, so’s they won’t suffercate! An’ the field’s super stretchy, so’s we can all get in it, an’ walk home!”

“Is that right?” Fiona looked to Tom for confirmation. When he nodded, she quickly made up her mind as to the next course of action. “We need to get that Key and join Ranger Gary before he leaves without us. Let’s go get that Golem,” she commanded.

At that, they all took off, dashing down the corridor. A few twists and turns later, they closed in on the creature. The Golem, giving no sign that it heard them, just continued plodding along. Fiona, in the lead, was first to reach it.

“Excuse me,” she said, slowing down to a walk and grabbing it by the arm. “We need to talk to you.”

The Golem just walked on.

Yap arrived next and tugged on its shirt. “Please stop, Mister Glolem, sir,” he said politely.

The Golem just walked on.

Tom jumped in front of it, putting the flat of his hand against its chest. “Look buddy, we don’t want any trouble. We need to talk to you, on the double!”

But the Golem ignored him, and just walked on.

Farley (having tripped several times along the way) was the last to arrive.

“Stop, Fake!” Farley shouted, as he came up behind the creature; placing one hand on its shoulder.

The Golem came to an abrupt halt, with one foot upraised, frozen mid-step.

“Hey! Whataya know, it listened to me,” the boy marveled, as they all crowded round in front of it.

Up close, it was eerie how alike it was to Farley, yet there were subtle differences. The face was too smooth, almost doll-like, and the eyes stared straight ahead. A tiny spark of red light glowed in each of its pupils, but, even as they watched, these died out.

“Uh, Mr. Golem?” Farley said uncertainly. “Look, we don’t wanna hurt you or anything. We just need the Key, you know, to the Doorway. So, if you could just tell us what that is, we’ll be on our way.”

The Golem did not respond. It continued to stand with one foot upraised, staring straight ahead. Farley waved a hand in front of its face, but its gaze did not waiver. He clapped his hands loudly, right in front of its nose, but it did not blink. Finally, he reached out to push it, but it stood steadfast.

Farley stared in bewilderment. Then, a startled look came over his face. He reached out slowly, tentatively patting the Golem’s shoulder.

“Did you guys notice how hard this thing is?” he asked.

“Yeah, it was like trying to push over a tree,” said Tom.

“A tree—or a
rock…”
Fiona said, eyes narrowing. “What did Mubglub say Golems are made of?”

“Wood or rock,” Farley replied.

Fiona nodded. “And, from the look on your face, I’m guessing
this
one is made from—”

“Rock.” Farley finished. He leaned in close, to the face which so looked like his own, speaking in the whispery, raspy, language of the Earthbound.

Suddenly, the doppelganger-image of Farley disappeared, and the Golem’s true form was revealed!