Nole- Episode Two

CHAPTER TWO

In which our heroes visit Gwaldr and learn of the interesting things that have been happening up and down the country.

“I had this horrible dream last night,” Nole told Bjorn at breakfast- cold tea and cold toast. “It had this horrible snake thing with black scales that tried to attack me.” He noticed that Bjorn was just sitting across the table, a piece of paper spread on the table before him, and a pen floating in the air. “Bjorn,” he said uncertainly, “what are you writing?” Bjorn stared up at him, still smiling as before. A poem, which I’m sure you’ll like. It’s called The Ringmaster’s Downfall. Only came up with it last night in fact. Nole cleared his throat. “I’ve thought of something. Maybe we can visit Gwaldr.” That’s not going to work out, insisted Bjorn. He doesn’t really like visitors. “Oh, for heaven’s sake,” snapped Nole. “I think it would be nice for him to have visitors every once in a while. Alright, just trust me on this.” And so it was that that morning, they set off in the little boat down the mighty Noomimriver,not even daring to fly there. They encountered the gray-haired Bezangas as they passed the mouth of the river and waved to them. The creatures raised their gigantic paws and waved back. Soon they were crossing the Galden Lake, and there was a large storm in the air. Look,said Bjorn, it’s gonna be hard just to get this boat across with that storm going on. Chances are Gwaldr’s cooked it up himself. “What?” Nole asked. 

Yeah. He can control the weather, you know, and a host of other things besides- he’s a magician. They crossed the lake, determined to get there and landed on the shores of what Nole learned was called the Galden-island, after which the lake was named. They went up to Gwaldr’s little cottage and knocked on the door. “Who dares to disturb me at breakfast-time?” snapped a voice from within. “I shall be very cross, very cross indeed.” The door opened and Gwaldr looked on them with large round eyes, which lit up as he saw Bjorn. “Bjorn, my dear thing, so glad of you to see me!” 
He led the pair into a large kitchen where the hermit sat, his large curved snout deep in the morning newspaper. “Seems like a fun guy,” Nole said. Bjorn laughed inside Nole’s head. He is. He only pretends to be a gruff fellow so others can leave him alone. 

All around, bits of crockery and cutlery were flying onto and off the table as Gwaldr finished his breakfast. He asked whether they’d like some. They refused. “We’ve had enough for today,”Nole said. And so they began to talk. Gwaldr told them of strange things in the world at large. “There’s a being that’s running up and down the country, scaring people out of their wits- the Shadow Dragon they’re calling it, because of its black scales. Everyone says it terrorises the countryside around here. The Noogles hate it especially because it steals their crops.

“Also, my cousin Nooglarthur has just met this girl who’s so beautiful that’s she can turn everything she touches into butterflies! How mad does the world have to be these days, Idunno. Flowers grow wherever she walks.” Gwaldr finished his bizarre news, and proceeded to wave his large paw over the kettle by the hearth. The kettle floated in the air as did three teacups. The kettle, Nole noticed, had a face painted around the spout. “Well, if you won’t have breakfast,” said Gwaldr, “perhaps you’d care for some cashew tea? You know, the cashew nut is commonly used for cooking or for snacks, but when you powder it up, it does make a splendid tea!” And indeed it did make a splendid tea! Nole loved it so much. Old Gwaldr smiled. “I’m glad you like my tea.” He jumped as he realised something. 

“Oh, I almost forgot. They’re holding the Poppins Market tonight!” 

“What?”

 “Yes, the Poppins Market, Nole. It’s my responsibility to create the magic drawing in which it takes place. Happens every Thursday and Friday. But I forgot you’re new here, so perhaps I’ll explain it. Traders usually bring stuff in from other lands, and at the Poppins Market, you can buy absolutely anything! Anything you want! And such reasonable prices, too! What a lovely rainbow out there!” They turned and went outside to see the great rainbow in the sky. Beside it flew the Rainbow
Nymphs, all splendid to look at. All were singing the same thing:

Swim! swim! swim!

Come, sisters!

Come, sisters!

We are free!

Gwaldr gave them a wave. The Rainbow Nymphs waved back as they continued to fly by. The bulky being sighed. “Ah, there’s no creature in existence more beautiful than the Rainbow Nymphs. As a matter of fact, it’s bad luck in these parts not to wave to them as they‘swim’ by. They don’t take kindly to that. But I have to say, they’re not a patch on that girl I talked about.” Nole told Gwaldr that they should perhaps leave.
“Oh, don’t go!” cried the creature. “You haven’t had a bite of my lovely strawberry pudding! Oh, and, er...” He muttered something, and tickets appeared out of thin air and landed in our heroes’ paws. “Here,” he said. “Tickets for the Poppins Market. You’ll have goblins of fun there, I’m sure!”


They went. They were invited and so had no choice in the matter. As they stepped into the painting, they knew they were in for a world of fun. All the creatures around the lake were there: Beganzas, Gwooglies with their white fur, Noogles with their long trunks and a whole host of other creatures. A rockhopper penguin was moving through the crowd, carrying flags in his flippers and crying, “Roll up! Roll up! For the finest Poppins Market that was ever on a wheel! Welcome to the Poppins Market, all you Beganza, Gwooglies, Noogles andScrimmerfolk!” Well, this is a fine market, said Bjorn. They moved through the crowd, until they saw Hingie the Scrimmerfolk. Hingie was managing a stall called “Hingie’s Maps and Information”, and he was overjoyed to see Bjorn and Nole. Didn’t expect you here, said Bjorn. “Oh, I never miss a Market, Bjorn!” cried Hingie. “This is, of course, where my business is. Who’s this?” That’s Nole. He’s new here. They bought some pens and paper, and a new packet of Stephen’s Ink, some food to keep them going, and some other things- a bottle, some sponges, a loofah, and some old records. Nole’s eyes wandered all over the place.
Everyone seemed to be having a good time. He planned to hear what others were talking about, but he was so busy thinking about how wonderful the Market was, that it was hard for him to even “tune in” as it were. One Noogle was saying “Well, I’m glad the Shadow Dragon hasn’t got here yet.” “I couldn’t agree more,” agreed a Frog-spirit, which looked quite like a frog itself. “Let’s propose a toast. Also, I hear that the Twilight Empress is coming to Galdenlake- on a royal visit!” “A royal visit!” cried a Hogtroll. “That’s an honour!” In Nole’s heart, he imagined a beautiful young Empress and he began to feel dizzy. Alright, alright, calm down, he told himself. He told Bjorn he was going for a walk, and told the creature to wait there. So saying, he crossed over to a nearby fish stall and purchased some cooked fish. He later gave some to Bjorn, who said no. I’m not hungry. When our heroes returned home, they counted their purchases and then went to bed. 
Nole had no bed to speak of, just his armchair, which was where he slept. And so he did sleep. Yet his nightmares were full of fears of the fearsome Shadow Dragon, and its possible poison. Noleturned and turned in his armchair. He had another dream where he was in a circus sideshow, and it was dark, and there were clowns glaring at him. Yet the Shadow Dragon burst onto the scene, as an exhibit! Nole felt that he should run, but when he woke up the next morning, he didn’t remember the dream at all.

Nole- Episode One

Today I am publishing a different story. Inspired by the work of Tove Jansson, I wrote it for my baby brother. I will still be publishing The Lyf of the Easter Bunny, though

CHAPTER ONE

In which we meet our hero, Nole, and experience his entrance into the world of theNoomimriver, and also meet Bjorn.

Nole had been busy, organising his large book collection, by genre and date of acquisition, and he was absolutely bored with it. More to the point, it was more than he could bear, and he hated every last minute and second or even hour of it. It was no wonder that he hurled anencyclopedia of chipmunks on the floor, kicked it and shrieked, “To heck with book organisation!” and stormed out of the house without even giving a second thought. He set off through the caverns that made up the way to his home and eventually came to the stairs that led up a tunnel to the outside world. He climbed those stairs, thinking, “Come on! Come on, you ninnywit!” Emerging in bright sunshine, he stood in awe of the landscape around him. He’d heard of this place, in legends and in song, but never had he gone out of the darkness to face the mighty Noomimriver! Just as he was lying on the luscious banks, he managed to see some sort of shape across the river from him, its back turned to the great wall of the ravine. A cylinder shape, no arms or legs, with a smile and a large nose. He stared at it. Hello, Nole, said a voice in his head. Nole smiled. “Hello, Bjorn.” Like to come over? “Well, it’s all very well to talk,” said Nole. The shape approached the bank and floated over the water, standing before Nole. Would you like to come with me for lunch? asked Bjorn. Nole said, “That’d be very nice, thank you.” A sandwich bag with a cress sandwich in it appeared out of thin air, with a bag with a host of other foodstuffs. There’s quite a lot in here, said Bjorn. What I always take. A boat appeared from thin air too. “Hod in geaven!” exclaimed Nole. The boat floated in the air and flew off away from the canyon. They eventually had lunch on a beach around the lake, where they talked. Across the lake was an island with a house shaped like a trapezium. Oh, that’s where old Gwaldr lives, said Bjorn. Eventually, they managed to seehim. Gwaldr was heaving his large, sulking body across the beach. “Hayo, Gwaldr!” criedNole. “Join us, won’t you?” Gwaldr sniffed the air, muttered, “Hmph! Country!” and disappeared down the bank. Oh, that’s just his way, admitted Bjorn. He lives with the Hermit on the island, both usually don’t like company. Also, he added, here come the Gwooglies. Now Gwooglies are a race of pear-shaped creatures with no arms, that can make things float in the air without touching them. They frowned at Bjorn before disappearing into the bushes.What an unusual race, Bjorn remarked. They multiply in the most unusual way. Nole, as he was keen to discover more of the world around him, asked, “Are you a magical creature?” Bjorn continued to smile. I am. “Who are you? Where is your home?” Oh, I don’t have one. I’m a homeless wanderer god, spurned and rejected by my other beings. Nole felt sorry for him. “Well, perhaps you might take lodging at my place.” That’d be extremely kind of you,replied Bjorn. And so they began their journey home on the flying boat. Back to Nole’shome, deep under the earth.

***

Beautiful place you’ve got here, I must say, admitted Bjorn as the two arrived at the home of our hero. “Thank you,” said Nole. And he went on to tell Bjorn about every object he owned, such as “that little gnome, Aunt Aeggie gave me that one” or “that’s a portrait of me grandpa over the fireplace- may-he-rest-in-peace”, and every time, Bjorn made the perfect audience. They sat in the two armchairs Nole had, and talked about things. What do you think we’ll do tomorrow? asked Bjorn. “Who the heck knows?” replied Nole. “I suppose you’ve noticed my feet are backwards?” Yes, said Bjorn. Nole pricked an ear up, and listened to some singing coming from the top of the tunnel. “Who’s that?” Oh, that’s just the Bezangas off on a ramble. They always go around rambling and laughing at this time of the year, on their way to hunt raccoon-dogs. “Who are the Bezangas?” Great dudes, replied Bjorn. They’re the greatest hunters under heaven, and they don’t care about anything else. Well, g’night. Nolenoticed that Bjorn’s eyes were now closed. How strange, he thought. So, instead of hesitating, he too fell fast asleep.