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

his worn and scarredhands. “There just was more for me that I needed toprove, or to show for myself. So, I set out to the Landof Shadows.”

Sonny turned away from the rain-drenchedentrance and moved closer to the fire, warming hishands over the hot embers.

“It was there in that land, and the nearby fields ofthe old orphanage, that I thought for certain my truecalling was met,” Will continued reflectively. “Youmight say my old passions for creating magic out ofiron and anvil had reawakened! I thought I could makethe children happier by building them something thatcould free them from their hardships of constant laborin those fields. They needed to breathe the dreams ofyouth and innocence—have a chance to be a kid!” Helooked at Sonny, and then to the fire pit; its embers nowa soft, reddish glow.

“But the old woman, you said—the one at theorphanage? She didn’t take kindly to the blacksmithingstuff or the mechanical ways, huh?” Sonny said with anedge of bitterness.

Will shook his head and looked over to the robot.“No, she didn’t. She is what one would have called asorceress, or spell weaver, back in the days of old. Ididn’t have a whole lot of choices, but to leave beforeshe acted out with some sort of spell on me; or, quitepossibly, on the orphans for my staying.”

“I think I understand. Well, what can we do?”Sonny said sadly, eager to lend a helping hand. “Imean, me and my dog? We have no home now, andwould very much like to help you and them poororphans. Having to live under that lady’s rule…it’s justcrazy.”

Will smiled and looked at Sonny. “You know,you really do have a lot of spirit, my young friend! Isay we make haste and rid that orphanage from the oldwoman’s hand and her sneaky ways!”

“But it’s dark! And we got to beware of those oilslicks lurking around out there!” Sonny said alarmingly.

Will laughed. Grabbing an old iron rod, heprodded the fire embers. “Yes, yes, I am quite wellaware; so we shall sleep a bit of the darkness through.And then with all the secrecy we can muster, we shallsneak into the Land of Shadows!”

Later, as the fire had died down to a shimmeringorange glow, the three fell to a sound sleep. The robotkept its two red electric eyes alert for any unwanteddangers. Every so often it swiveled towards the dog,who would spasm and kick in a dream-like sleep.

Suddenly the robot let loose a high-pitchedwhistle and began to spin wildly around; its mechanicalarms were flashing outwards. The three quicklyjumped up. The dog started barking towards theentrance as the old man grabbed the iron rod and swungat the hole where the smoke drifted out of the tree.

“What is it?” Sonny hollered, rubbing his eyes.“I can hardly see!”

“The oil slicks!” the old man bellowed, swingingthe iron rod at a dark oily shape with three eyes; theyglowed with green light. “Move fast and don’t stop—make for the raft!”

“What about you? Those oily things must surelybe out there, too!”

Will spun fast; two of the creatures went flyinginto the fire pit after being batted with the iron. “I’mright behind you! Just go—I’ll grab the droid!”

Sonny grabbed his stuff along with some of thefish he had rationed earlier, and called out to the dog—which was now running around the hollow in wild fits.

“Ranger! Let’s go, boy!”

The dog hurried after him, zooming past the oldman who was quickly tapping a rusted panel shut on thedistressed robot.

Outside, the rain was pouring in torrents. Onlythe hint of a full moon allowed Sonny and Ranger tosee in the darkness. They moved fast, and soon saw theraft as it bobbed about on the water at the edge of theriverbank.

“Run for it, boy!” Sonny yelled. Looking back,he made out the movement of a few slithering shapessneaking quickly towards them. “Go! We can do it!”

The dog leapt high and landed on the raft. Spinning around, he was greeted by Sonny who launchedhimself aboard.

“Good boy, Ranger!” He grabbed the ropeattached to an old tree post and flung it aside. “We gotto get out to the middle of the river—fast!”

Pushing away with the raft’s long pole, he lookedto the embankment and saw two of the oil slicks dropdown into the water. In the distance he could see Willrunning quickly towards them, clutching a fiery torch.

Sonny hollered loudly: “Will! Quick! They arecoming into the water!”

Will flung the torch into the water, which immediately ignited the uppermost layer of the river inflame.

What an astonishing sight to see! Sonny thought,as he and Ranger stood spellbound by both the rain andthe fire.

“Come quickly!” Will yelled towards them. “Wehave little time before more are alerted to strike again!”

Sonny pushed the raft back to the embankment,and Will hopped on.

“Where’s the robot-droid?” Sonny asked alarmingly.

“No need to worry, young man—look up!”

Just then the robot twirled down from the air andlanded softly onto the end of the raft.

“He still has a few neat tricks in his wires!” Willhumbly laughed. He snatched the pole from Sonny’shands and pushed back out into a stronger current, faraway from the dying flames.

“What was all that stuff about?” Sonny askedanxiously, looking back at the fire as they floatedswiftly down the river. “That fire—on the top of thewater?”

“That, my young friend, was a trick of my own!”Will said with a smirk. “The oil from those creaturescaused the torch-fire to ignite the water. Hopefully theygot caught in it, too; or were scared off!”

The boy looked up at Will, his eyes wide withamazement. “Wow! That’s some neat trick, indeed!”

Will laughed and handed the raft’s guiding poleoff to Sonny. He then raised a makeshift tarp over theirrain-soaked heads. The robot emitted a low hummingwhistle, and Ranger let out a whimper.

After some time, Sonny decided to lay the poleaside, seeing as how the raft was moving along with thecurrent’s own momentum; he moved closer to Rangerand the robot.

“It’s gonna be fine, boy,” he said softly, as hepatted the