Little Orphan Anvil: The Complete Trilogy by Joseph Beekman (best contemporary novels .TXT) 📕

robot approached. They had to cross varyingdegrees of old junk and iron scraps, as well as a largesleeping cat that seemed to be lost in a fit of dreams andunaware of the two little figures approaching.

As Tabitha stepped over the cat, her foot landedon a small, disc-shaped object that caused her to slipand fall forward. She landed flat on the floor at thebase of the iron crate where Will sat. Will startled andyelped out. The cat awoke in a fright, immediatelyshooting upwards into the underside of Anvil who wasjust passing over.

The robot, triggered by the cat’s sudden panic,spun upwards and slammed into the ceiling of the treecausing tiny pieces of tree-stone to fall about the place.Will hopped off of the crate, and as he did so he trippedover Tabitha and landed with a thud on a pile of wires.

“Holy smokes!” Will hollered out in a crazedvoice. “What in the shades of…?” He shook his headand gathered himself up from the mess of wires.

Looking about, Will noticed Tabitha huddlingnext to the crate and froze. He quickly fixed his roundrimmed spectacles to his scruffy and weathered face.

“Oh my—” he said, running his hands backthrough his disheveled, ashen-colored hair. “Well, well,young lady—if you aren’t a spittin’ image of yourmother!”

Tabitha’s frightful gaze vanished to a slight grin.She stood up and dusted herself off. “Um, yes…I amTabitha; and Kelsey is my mother.”

Will let out a big sigh, and then he laughed.

“My, oh my, young lady—it’s a pleasure to beofficially meeting you!” he said, as he swaggered overto her and shook her hand. “The last time I saw you,you were just a baby; right before I left the ol’ ironland!”

Tabitha just smiled brightly.

“Oh! and Tinspar—he came by a day ago! Hetold me of your misfortunes!”

“Tinspar—he is here?” Tabitha anxiously asked,looking about the gloomy place. “Where is he?”

“Now don’t you go worrying yourself up just yet,young lady!” Will replied hoarsely. “He went out togather a few of the fresh ice crystals for water; he’ll beback soon. He was worried sick about you! I decidedto have this here robot—” Will darted his eyes about,frowning. “Now where did that little Anvil run offtoo?”

Tabitha pointed upwards to the tree ceiling. Willlooked up and shook his head, seeing the little robotshivering above them.

“Well I’ll be—Anvil come on down from there,”he chuckled. “That cat of mine, Stella—she’s alwaysone to be scaring that little robot of mine into a fit ortwo! She’s an old cat; about as old as me!”

Anvil hovered down and moved over to the fire;he whistled quietly to himself.

“Now, as I was saying,” Will continued; “I haddecided to have that robot-droid go out in search ofyou—and search he did! You have arrived into my safeand humble abode. Pray tell, it’s good you are alive!Now you can eat and rest.”

Tabitha bowed her head to Will. “Thank you,kind sir,” she said timidly. “So, Tinspar told you of myfriends, and of the old witch’s return, and of the Land ofIron and Anvil, and—?”

Will placed a finger to her lips, cutting her off,and nodded his head somberly.

“Yes, yes…I have heard. How very unfortunate,indeed.” He shook his head sadly. “But not to worryjust yet! First, young Tabitha, you do need to calm yournerves for a spell—err, I mean for a bit. I have a prettygood idea of what is needed to be done! Come morningwe will embark to do just that! We will go back to thenarrows, and we will stop this evil witch once and forall!”

Tabitha sighed and sat down on the iron crate.“Okay, but do you think we have time to save my homeand my folks and all the people that live there?” sheasked with some bitterness.

Will gave her a heartfelt smile. “Listen to me,dear, and remember this—it’s something I had told yourmother, Kelsey, long ago: never abandon hope!”

A twinkle of light sparkled in Tabitha’s big blueeyes.



Later that night, Tinspar came stalking into thetree loaded with a sack full of ice crystals he’d gatheredfrom the branches of the stone trees. His toweringheight made it difficult to get through the root tunneland up into the heart of the Will’s tree abode; he had tohunch down and move very carefully.

Laying the sack down, he walked over to themakeshift fire place where Will and Tabitha and Anvilwere gathered. They were in the middle of packing afew things into knapsacks, and discussing what Will didall the time way out in this secluded area of the realm.Tinspar caught the tail-end of their conversation.

Will had been telling Tabitha what a blessing itwas, in his ripe and very old age, to be able to livehumbly in seclusion and still create magic with ahammer and an anvil.

“The old homeland’s just a bit too noisy!” Willtold Tabitha with a grin.

Tabitha looked up, and noticed Tinspar as hecame over. Tinspar was smiling and shaking his head.

“Well, there you are!” Tabitha exclaimed happily.“I thought I’d never ever see you again after I fell!”

Tinspar breathed a sigh of relief, letting loose awild whistle. “I thought the same of you, young one!”he said in a sing-song, but gravely voice. “You suretook a great tumble!”

“I sure did,” Tabitha said, rubbing at her head abit. “But thanks to that little robot,” she said, pointingto Anvil, who remained fixated on the crackling fire, “Iwas found, and he brought me all the way here!”

“Well, a fine robot indeed,” Tinspar said, movingover to Anvil and kneeling down next to him. Helooked Anvil over, noticing quite a few scars along itsiron-plated, metallic body.

Will finished tying off a bag of dried fish andplaced it into one of the knapsacks.

“There!” he shouted, patting the knapsack. “Thatshould just about do it! I believe we have just what weneed to make this journey, and no more—or so I hope—and no less—I hope to guess!”

Tinspar and Tabitha looked from Will to eachother, and then both let out a chuckle. Will darted asour look at them both.

“What?”