The Adventures of Horace Tidwiddler by jlee smith (book suggestions txt) 📕

his brother by the arm and attempted to control his anger. Durant was throwing rocks, dirt, anything he could get his hands on. He was jumping up and down, yelling things in a language Horace had never heard before. What happened next is hard to explain. rocks and insults were being hurled from both sides of the wall. This continued for several minutes until both sides got tired. Then after a brief pause, it started all over again. Horace and his friends hid behind trees while the other side hid behind the rock wall. It appeared that insults were being hurled from both sides in no less than four different languages. At last, things settled down to only a rock flying every now and then. Aunt Matt poked her head out from behind Horace and said, “Okay, I have had enough of this foolishness.” She walked up to the gate, turned around and backed up to where the two large gates came together. Horace peeked out from behind his tree just in time to see Aunt Matt grin. Then she yelled “you guys had better run.”
As Horace and his companions made a very hasty retreat, screams could be heard coming from behind the rock wall. The happy band of warriors left the field of battle, not in defeat but rather in victory. They appeared to have won the day, if not the war. As the little band made its way back down the trail, Durant walked beside Aunt Matt as soldiers in arms. He looked at her and said, “the smell’s not that bad at all.” They all laughed as they walked on down the path leaving the rude people far behind.
It was early the next morning that Horace was awakened by the distant sound of music. It was very melodic and seemed to float in and out of the trees. It would rise and then fall like water on rocks. Horace sat up and noticed Abbasonn was also awake and listening too. They looked at each other with the same questions, “Where is it coming from?” “What is it?” “Most of all, who is it?” Horace stood and walked toward the sound. It seemed to be getting closer. He turned and looked back to Abbasonn who had this wild look on his face. The words he spoke were very slow, quiet and deliberate. “It’s a bear, It’s a bear.” Horace spun around to find himself face to face with a large brown bear. It was standing on its hind legs with its front paws extended skyward. It was dancing round and round in circles on its tippy toes. Both Horace and Abbasonn were to put it mildly, speechless. The bear was followed closely by an individual playing a pan flute who seemed completely lost in his music. The moment he saw Horace and Abbasonn, he lowered the flute from his lips and said, “Sorry, I thought Bruno and I were alone.” The bear came down on all fours and then sat on its butt. Horace and Abbasonn still had not moved. Abbasonn again in a very slow, quiet and deliberate voice said, “Is this your bear?” “Oh Sir, I am sorry, we did not mean to frighten you. It’s just so rare to come across anyone in this desolate part of the land. I must humbly apologize for intruding on your slumber. Please let me introduce myself, I am called Sierra Blanco and this is my friend, Bruno the Dancing Bear.” Horace said, “You gave us quite a fright. But allow us to introduce ourselves. I am Horace Tidwiddler and this is my friend Abbasonn, We are traveling with friends looking for a village by the name of Spotslei. Do you know if it?” Blanco shook his head and said, “Sorry, no.”
It was at about this time Horace first became aware of the physical appearance of their new acquaintance. Blanco was a dwarf, a three foot tall dwarf who was also an albino. He had absolutely no color to his skin. His hair, cascading in ringlets down his back, was completely white as were his eyebrows. His eyes were the brightest pink Horace had ever seen. His beard was long and full, it was also white. He was wearing two layers of clothing. The first consisted of a white night shirt that fell to his feet. The outer garment was pink, just like his eyes. But the most striking of all was the material his garments were made of. It was smooth, almost like skin. Horace touched the sleeve of the garment, He had never felt anything like it before, Almost without thinking
Horace said, “What is it?” Blanco smiled and replied, “It’s silk, it’s Spanish silk, it’s made by bugs, caterpillars I am told.”
Horace looked at Abbasonn and then back at Blanco. He said, "Excuse me, did you say bugs, made by bugs?" It was at abut this time Aunt Matt made her presence known. She said, "that's right, made by bugs. I have read it is also made in China." Blanco was quick to say, "yes, but not as good as Spanish made." Horace thought this was way more information than he could process at one time. Besides he was hungry. By this time the others were awake, so introductions were made all around. The group sat down for their morning coffee and cake. Bruno sat down by Aunt Matt and said, "Hi, care to share my cake?" She blushed and said, "I never eat cake in the morning, might spoil my girlish figure." Horace looked at her and whispered, "Did I hear you just giggle." She just laughed, looked the other way and said, "Maybe." Horace said, "Quit grinning, you look stupid."
Abbasonn asked Blanco if they had been traveling long and what was their destination. Blanco smiled and said, "My friend, we have been traveling all our lives, Bruno and I. The world is our destination." Aunt Matt turned to Horace and whispered, "A man who talks a lot yet tells nothing. I think he is going to fit in around here just perfect." Horace said, "shush."
Blanco looked at Bruno with a smile and said, “this bear has been my traveling companion for so many years I can’t even count them. Right now we are traveling to an annual gathering of the clan. We are Spanish gypsies, the rest of our group is following us and should be along in a few hours.” Abbasonn said, “We are in search of gypsies, but I am not certain if they are Spanish gypsies.” Blanco said, “who is it that you are looking for?” Horace replied, “His name is Ulee and his wife’s name is Mardia, do you know them?” Blanco turned to Horace and asked, “Why are you searching for him, is there a problem?” Abbasonn interrupted and said, “certainly not, but we need to tell you the entire story so you will understand.” More coffee was served and the story was told.
Blanco looked at Horace for a long time, nodded his head as if answering his own question. Blanco smiled and said, “I knew there was something about you that I remembered but it has been so many years and you were much younger.” Horace sat looking at the little dwarf still not understanding what he had just said. Blanco’s smile broke into a big grin and he said, “You and I are related on my mother’s side. No not you, but the other you. Ulee is my uncle.” Horace stammered, “But Ulee is not a dwarf. Blanco replied, “Neither were my parents.” Aunt Matt poked Horace and said, “I’ll explain later.”
Blanco looked at Abbasonn and said, “the village you are in search of it not Spotslei, it’s Mottlee.” Both Abbasonn and Horace turned and looked toward Durant at the same time. Durant dropped his eyes and said, ‘Sorry.” “I must have misunderstood the man on Rotte Weiller Island.” Abbasonn said, “It’s okay brother, no harm done.” Horace was not so sure but he said nothing. Horace asked, how far is it to Mottlee? Blanco replied that it would take several more days of travel but he did not know the distance. Horace, for the first time in their journey, felt like they were so close to finding his bother. He was very excited and wanted to leave now, right now.
Blanco told Abbasonn that if they could wait until the rest of his group arrived, he would take them to the village of Mottlee. Abbasonn said this was a kind offer and all agreed it was the best thing to do. More coffee was served all around. Horace sat down with the little dwarf and they tried to figure out their relationship. They finally settled on distant cousins by marriage. Aunt Matt was not so sure about this but said nothing. They passed the rest of the day as one big happy family.
Late that afternoon the first of a dozen gypsy wagons pulled into the little clearing and set up camp with Blanco, Bruno and the little band of travelers. By dusk all the wagons had arrived and a meal was prepared. Horace sat by Aunt Matt and listened to the sounds of people talking, children playing and felt good. For the first time in a long time he was not hungry, he was in good company and he just felt relaxed. He laid his head down next to Aunt Matt, shut his eyes and went to sleep.


CHAPTER FOURTEEN - THE JOURNEY TO MOTTLEE

The next morning came early for Horace. He sat up and was rubbing sleep from his eyes when Aunt Matt said, “Distant cousins by marriage, now I have heard everything.” Horace looked at her and said, “Well, it could be. It’s got to be something.” Aunt Matt snickered and said, “Yea, right.”
Abbasonn walked over to them and said, “Well, it’s about time sleepy heads.” “I thought you both were dead” He handed Horace a cup of coffee and said. “They sure know how to make this stuff. The coffee beans we have back at Port Cesizeria just don’t make good strong coffee and you know how I like strong coffee.” Horace nodded his agreement just as he burned his lips with the scalding hot liquid. “Hot, hot, hot” could be heard as he spilled the boiling liquid in his lap. Abbasonn shook his head, turned and walked away. Over his shoulder he said, “Horace watch the coffee, it’s hot.”
After a while Durant and Bentaub joined them for coffee. Horace was petting Dylan on his ears when Abbasonn returned with Blanco and Bruno. They sat in a semi-circle, Bruno sat next to Aunt Matt. Abbasonn told them that they must be favored by the gods to have met with such good fortune. “And relatives at that”, said Aunt Matt. “Hush”, said Horace. Abbasonn gave them both a stern look and then continued. “We have much to be thankful for and Blanco, you and Bruno are all part of that.“ Blanco bowed, touched his forehead then his chest with fingers on his