~Chapter 18~
King Kulika
Panthera stood with a watchful eye over Centerville as the long summer days and night passed. Standing pat like, a sentinel on a large hill outside of town (by the Centerville water tower), not one natural or unnatural thing passed his ever-present gaze, over the simple town folks, and animals that resided there.
Life went on in the heart of town with the Ladies of the Red Hat Society planning, their monthly secret meetings, Miss Trumble returned from her teacher's convention back east, and Mr. Pennywell the Mayor continued giving speeches in the town square, to any taxpayers who would stand still long enough to hear him speak.
So on, and so on it went in Centerville.
The summer days passed with wild flowers and cornstalks perfuming the air with their glorious scents. Large fluffy clouds strolled overhead inside the soft warm breezes blowing in from the north. Fauna and flora bloomed in abundance along the banks of the shallow streams that surrounded the hills and dales, of the sleepy town.
However, deep inside of the peaceful town, a collective worry was in everyone's heart because Harry, Sammy, Molly, and Chug were still lost, inside of another world. Trapped within a world of darkness and evil, inside the depths of the Saint Louis Jail, to who knows what fate.
Now and again, the ground below the red-bricked homes, and wooden farmhouses of Pleasant Valley shook, reminding everyone what unpleasantness still lies on the far eastern horizon, and in their near future. Evil was still on the loose in the world in the form of vile power hungry men and strange other-worldly beast, to simple horse thieves and simpletons.
Little Louis, Mr. Beamer, Junior, and Charlie had not been heard from in Centerville, since their eventful departure almost two full weeks ago. This left most residents in town, and especially Panthera with a worried brow and heavy heart. They could only steadfastly wait for word of their journeys, or of their successful return, after the next cycle of the full moon.
Leaving Greenland on the next morning after the first seeds of their plans for Harpeia and her sisters had been sewn, eastward they hastened back again and out over wide open, and wild ocean waters towards Iceland, then pushing onwards and forwards over the Norwegian Sea, and over and done towards Norway.
Gliding effortlessly and with great skill high up in the far-northern climes, Junior and Charlie with the prodding's and directions of Mr. Beamer and Louis made precious time, and great distances fall behind them.
Below them as they passed by were seen very large and broad sea creatures: immense blue whales, teaming schools of blue and yellow fin tuna darting about and large and never-ending, great families of dolphin and porpoises.
Above, below and around them in the blue skies, astonishing flocks of seabirds were to be seen and enjoyed: common white and gray egrets, majestic great blue herons, prideful arctic terns, wildly colored mallards and arctic geese; flew past and with them, in all their glorious brilliance.
The dark blue and green hues of the thrashing sea below, the shades of whites and off-whites of the cresting waves, and the finery of the glinting yellow and orange sunbeams exploded about them.
It was a feast for the eyes and the soul, for all to enjoy.
Two days sleeping in a pristinely constructed ice cave on the frozen tundra of Sweden, then another day's flight to Finland. Onwards east, they flew; spiraling and sharp diminishing falls followed by prompt landings. An impromptu rest here and brief rest there, then at nightfall nourishing meals cooked by Mr. Beamer, with endless planning and endless preparation, for Louis by Charlie and Mr. Beamer at night. The reading of the maps and books that Mr. Beamer had brought along with him, by Louis; his development was never ceasing, and always at the forefront of every conversation.
Louis was growing and advancing in his progress daily, becoming the leader he was destined to be.
"How much longer until we reach Tibet in China?" asked an inquisitive Louis as he finished the last of his evening's meal.
"Five days by my calculations Louis. We must cross over the isle of Gotland in the Baltic Sea, cross over the Latvia, and The Baltic countries by tomorrow then on into lower Russia, and upper China a few days after that. We will rest by night, keeping a low profile along the way, then into central China to the "Kingdom of Shambala" in the land of Olmolungring.
"Will the travel be hard, and will we come across any wild beasts along the way?"
"No Louis the travel should be swift. As we fly high above the earth on this journey, we will not come across many wild things, at least any that I now know of. Most vile winged creatures that ruled the earth so many years ago have all passed on. These are different days now. There are many wild creatures, that still stir in the depths of the deep oceans, and vast caverns of the world, they rule within the darkness of those worlds, but the good of the sunlight prevents those creatures from rising up. That is our task before us, today and in the near future, to keep those creatures of the night at bay."
"You mean creatures and beasts, like Growlar?"
"Yes Louis, just like Growlar and Broadfoot, Growlar's brother bear, and Nebuka the Orange Yeti."
"No Charlie, Nebuka is now called Nebuka the Good, he has changed.
"I forgot that he has changed."
"He told me of other creatures that stir in the night, like: George the Cave Troll...Harry the Centaur...Olly the Ogre and Dragon the Fire Breathing Dragon. Will those dark creatures rise up, and awaken from the earth, if we fail in our quest?"
"Yes Louis they will rise up, and many more depraved and loathsome creatures like them. There are many beasts that lay in the depths, more than, you or I know of. That is why our quest is so very important."
"Louis, all that Charlie says is true. Now multiple that by three thousand years, for that is the amount of time that those fiendish things have been waiting to re-populate the earth, since the olden days. They have patiently waited. There will be hairy vampires on the loose, as you have seen in your dreams. There will be large swine, swamp ogres, forest giants, cave trolls, wild werewolves, fiendish winged dragons, dark brooding witches, and even Ole' Harry the Ghost from Miss Trumble's, attic might come back to life" added Mr. Beamer.
"Well we must make great time then, and get to Tibet and Shambala before the moon is to rise again, in the Valley of the Kings. We must stop all of this evil stuff from happening. It was bad enough fighting off an ancient cave bear; I could image a whole slew of them monsters on the loose."
"And let's not forget Petar, Kauket, the two evil eyes of, Wedjat and Horus and of course, let's not forget the worse of them all...Mehan the Serpent King" said Charlie.
"Yes we do have quite the task ahead of us, but look below. There in the distance I can see the isle of Gotland, and beyond at the near curvature of the earth, I can see the coast of Europe", said Charlie as he glided even higher up in the stratosphere.
The conversation ended abruptly, as Charlie and Mr. Beamer were lost from view, as they passed into a large billowy cloud. Junior dove around the larger cluster of clouds before them, sending him and Louis into a speedy decent. Louis called out in delight as Junior picked up speed.
Charlie appeared from the top of those same clouds, taking great joy, and delight at seeing Louis and his momentary happiness. Aw, to be a child thought Charlie to himself. I use to be a young pony, I remember those days. I use to be just as joyful in my youth. Those were the days.
As Charlie pondered his youth, and as Junior flew, eastwards with Louis lost in his own world as only a child could do, Mr. Beamer knew the days ahead would be darker and less joyful. For only he truly knew the evil powers that Petar held in his grasp, because he was around when the "Neither World" ruled the earth above and below.
Looking below once more Mr. Beamer could see the brilliant natural world again in all its loveliness. A grand blue whale that was well over ninety foot long spy-h
opped upwards out of the deep blue depths of the wild ocean, sending a huge breath of moisture-laced air, shooting over forty feet up into the air above. This brought a smile to Mr. Beamer's face.
Onward they went.