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

However, Donkey did not act like he didn't know where he was going, he acted like he knew exactly where he was going. After a week of this sand, Donkey, one morning, just stopped and said, “We are here.” Horace was walking ahead of Guiensenbach and could see nothing but sand. He walked up to Donkey and said, “Where is here?“ All at once he heard a sound he had never heard before. It was like a whoosh that was rising and then falling, then it would do it all over again. He walked up the sand dune and stood beside Donkey and Evangeline. “Beautiful, just beautiful,” she said. Horace stood beside the little blind woman and asked, “Is this one of the things you can see?” “Oh yes, “ she replied, “Oh yes. I can see this very clearly.” Horace could see large white birds the likes of which he had never seen before, they were swooping and diving into the largest body of water he had ever seen. It stretched as far as the eye could see. Horace was so shocked at the size of what lay before him he could not speak. He just stood there. It was at this point he noticed the smell. He asked, “do you smell it, do you smell the salt air, the freshness?” “Yes,” she replied, “Isn’t it wonderful.” Horace stood beside the little woman and said, “It makes me feel so small.” “I know”, she replied, “I know.” In the distance Horace saw a figure walking toward them at the waters edge. A man raised his hand and waved hello.
As the man approached, Horace first was taken back by his size. He was well over six foot, closer to seven. He was of slender build but it was apparent from his long strides that his body was agile and very strong. Evangeline smiled and said, “Abbasonn, is this my Abbasonn of so long ago?” “Yes little mother, it is I.” He rushed to where they stood, picked her up like a small rag doll and danced round and round, saying, "little mother, little mother, you have returned."
Horace stood there as this giant danced around in the sand with Evangeline held to his breast. After the initial shock had worn off, Horace realized for the first time, this man was black, black like he had never seen, black like those spaces between the stars. He looked down at Horace, smiled and said, “Hello I’m Abbasonn.” Horace said “Lo, glad to meet you , I’m Horace.”
Abbasonn asked, “Little mother, what are you doing here on this pile of sand? I was told you had returned to your people and that I would never see you again.” She smiled and said, “I am doing a friend a favor.” “Must be some friend”, he replied. “He is, he is", she said. Evangeline took Horace’s hand and gave it a pat. She said, “Horace, I want you to meet my dearest friend Mohammad Abbasonn. We have known each other most of our lives.” The black giant looked down at Horace, grinned and extended his hand. Horace said, “then he now has a new friend.” Horace took his hand and could feel the strength and gentleness both at the same time. The black giant said, “You will call me Abbasonn, my friends call me Abbasonn.”
Evangeline then introduced all the other members of the group to Abbasonn. Aunt Matt was taken by his politeness as were the baby geese. Abbasonn invited all in the group to enjoy the hospitality of his tent. He said it was only a short distance down the beach at a small settlement known as Port Cesizeria. The group moved off down the beach as the sun was setting, Horace walked along the surf as waves broke and spray covered his face. He wondered what tomorrow would bring and if the girl with the long black hair was thinking about him.
Port Cesizeria was a small natural port where rocks had formed a small cove that afforded boats protection from the surf. Several tents were erected around a central area where there was a market of sorts. As Abbasonn and the group approached, a man called out to them in a language Horace had never heard before. Abbasonn answered and waved. Horace noticed several small boats in the cove. He had not even considered the thought of having to sit in a boat to continue his journey. Now after seeing this large body of water he was having to rethink his plans. Surely, he thought, there must be boats larger than these he saw before him. They all entered Abbasonn's tent and Horace was surprised first at the size and then at the comfortable arrangements. There were rugs covering the sand and large pillows to sit on. There was a small cook fire in the rear where an evening meal was being prepared. Horace and the group ate the evening meal and that night slept with the sound of waves crashing on the shore. Horace could not remember having gone to sleep any faster then that night.
The next morning when Horace awoke he smelled coffee, strong coffee. He was the last to wake and felt a little awkward as he stumbled to the area where they were all gathered. A little woman handed him a small slender clear glass. It contained black coffee. Horace slowly took a sip. He had never tasted anything like this before. It was extremely strong and hot at the same time. Surprised, he liked it. He liked it a lot.
Evangeline told Abbasonn about the man Horace was in search of. Abbasonn said he did not know the gypsy Ulee, but was sure he knew people across the big water that would. Horace asked about the boat that they would be crossing in. Surely it must be larger than those tied at the dock. Abbasonn looked at Horace for a minute, then broke into a wide grin and rolled over with laughter. He then said, “I am sorry, I did not mean to offend, but it would be ridiculous to go much further than the cove in those little boats. Horace said no offence taken but then he asked another question, “How long a journey are we talking about?” “Depends”, answered Abbasonn, “depends on the winds.”
As they sat having the morning meal, a young boy rushed into the tent, said something in a language Horace did not understand, then rushed out again. "Boats coming," said Abbasonn. He stood up and excused himself from the group. As he left he turned to Evangeline and said, "I should speak to them first before they meet our friends." Horace looked up from the meal as Abbasonn left the tent, inquiring under his breath, “Evangeline, what is this we are eating?” “Don’t know“, she replied, “but it sure is good.” Horace agreed but thought he would still like to know. After a while Abbasonn returned with an older man who he introduced as his brother Durant and a younger man named Bentaub. The younger man was a deck hand who worked for Durant who owned the boat. Abbasonn explained that they sailed all the coastal waters and to distant lands delivering people and goods. They sat down with the group and were served coffee. The others were asked if they required more and Horace was the first to say “yes, yes, please.”
As the story of Horace’s quest was explained to Durant, it became apparent that the best approach would be to deliver Horace to the largest gypsy settlement that Abbasonn knew about. He felt it would be the best way to locate the man called Ulee. Durant and Abbasonn both knew of a large gypsy settlement on the smaller of two islands that were about two weeks sail to the Northwest of Port Cesizeria. Durant explained to Horace that if this was his destination it would not cost as much as sailing to the far distant shore which would cost twice as much. Horace sat still for a moment then turned and asked Evangeline if he could speak to her in private outside the tent. Horace looked at Evangeline and said, “I have no funds to pay this man, what will I do?” She said, “let me think about it and I will talk to Abbasonn tonight before the evening meal.”
Horace and Aunt Matt walked down to the large rocks that formed the cove. Durant’s boat sat at anchor in mid harbor. It was much larger than the other boats which were tied to the dock. It had one large mast with a small cabin in the stern. Horace thought it to be about forty foot in length. It was the color of deep orange, like a sunrise or sunset. The sail was a dirty white and was tied to the mast. Horace sat on a rock and was drawing doodles in the sand with his big toe. He turned to Aunt Matt and said, “We’ve got problems.” I’ve have no funds to pay for our passage. I don’t know what to do.” She flipped her tail back and forth, looked at Horace and said, “not to worry, things have a way of working out, just you wait and see.”
The four baby geese were swimming at the far side of the harbor. They had apparently located a school of small bait fish and were having brunch. Horace noticed that their feathers were turning from yellow to downy white. He turned to Aunt Matt and
said, “our babies are growing up.” She smiled and said, “they always do, they always do.” As they walked back toward the tents, Horace saw Guiensenbach standing with several other horses near a bucket that was tied next to the port’s water well. He and Aunt Matt walked over and Horace patted her on the rump. They had come a long way together and he hoped she knew how glad he was that she had been there. He and Aunt Matt walked on back to where the evening meal was being prepared. They both agreed that it smelled delicious but Horace hoped he could figure out what it was before dinner was served.
As they were talking, Evangeline walked up and touched Horace with the tip of her walking stick and said, “I think I have an answer to your problem.” “Durant said he would take you to the islands and, if necessary, to the far distant shore in exchange for you silver suit of armor. What do you think?”
Horace looked at Evangeline for a moment then said he would have to think about it. He walked between the tents back to where he could see the surf crashing on to the shore. He thought of all the miles that had been traveled, all the nights where they had slept on the ground, the people they had met and had received help from. He knew that all who had heard his story had felt empathy for his family. He could not believe his quest for his brother would end at this edge of the world, this distant shore, so far from home. He knew