of dusk. The Hobs rode him up and down the mountain path, spurring him on with their sharp dewclaws and a hazel switch; occasionally Grunwalde Angharad joined in their jolly japes. Sometimes Bryn Jones the wino watched from the shadowy woods; while moonbeams danced over his ruddy face on windy nights. He would smile; between pulls from his jug of homemade rocket fuel!
C HAPTER F IVE
The Scavenging Female Rills
Beware the scavenging female Rills: who emerge at birth of dusk.
Carrying rusty cauldrons and sharpened knives – Bitch-Rills trailing
naked tails; and the vile odour of rodent musk
Late that same Midsummer Eve night, after Caddoc Morgan’s first ordeal, when both her parents were asleep; Blodwyn quietly closed the front door behind her. The three Tartarus Hobs were waiting on the riverbank. The Tartarus Hobs were unusually silent, walking on all fours; these knuckle-walkers were keeping a low profile. The stiff ridge of bristles on their muscular backs stood erect; their dark hides glistened with sweat. They stopped regularly to test the breeze with their up-turned noses – for Tormented Taarbs grew bolder after sunset! Blodwyn felt safe under the Hobs’ protection, despite their offensive damp, rotten-dog odour.
The two Lings suddenly appear as they reached the big rock, a lovely Mayling and the smaller bug-like Sisling. ‘We must hurry,’ says the Mayling. ‘We can smell Taarbs on the higher slopes!’
Each Ling took one of Blodwyn’s hands; she felt herself rising slowly, and then accelerating rapidly. The antenna of the Sisling twitched, searching for the invisible mouth of the Energy Band , a mile high above the ground. A powerful pull drew them upwards. Blodwyn feels like an ant inches away from a Hoover! Instantly they were sucked into the surge of an Energy Band. Blodwyn was now flying without aid from the Lings; although she was forced to take short sharp breaths initially. Looking down, Earth was two miles below her feet! Suddenly her stomach dropped as the energy band banked steeply to the left – it was like flying in an invisible plane!
( Energy bands and Prism windows are dangerous! They sometimes reach down to Earth’s surface on warm summer evenings just before dusk. If you see the faintest shaft of pastel shimmers across a lonely wooded path or quiet lane – do not enter! Energy bands will take you to another planet: Prism windows are a gateway to a parallel world!)
To Blodwyn time seemed to hang suspended; soon they were approaching the moon! The energy band now curved down. She knew she was going to be shot out head first – a mile above the moon’s rocky surface!
“Where were the Lings?” Without warning, Blodwyn felt herself hurtling downwards – in freefall! Her heart pounded – she screamed!
“Had the Lings forgotten she could not fly?” Suddenly the Lings appeared by her face, grinning. ‘Look – Blodwyn’s flying,’ they teased.
‘I am not flying – I am falling – about to break my bloody neck!’ screams Blodwyn hysterically.
The two Lings howled with laughter. “Oh hell,” thought Blodwyn, “if I die with swear words on my lips – I will end up in Golgin Hade with Tormented Taarbs.” The hard stony ground of the moon was rushing towards her soft face! ‘Do something you pair of useless little sods!’ The two Lings again howled with laughter. Blodwyn closed her eyes – ready for impact – she knew her end would be quick!
With only time to recite the first word of a prayer before impact; Blodwyn felt herself being turned feet first, gently landing on the gritty surface of the moon. Blodwyn felt ashamed for panicking, she will have to trust the power of Lings in future.
She gazed around; there were no contrasting colours on the Moon; everything was a pale uniform sandy orange – the reflection of the sun.
‘We must go to the dark side of Rilla (the Moon),’ announces Boodi the lovely Mayling, ‘where moon-flowers grow, stay here – beware
C HAPTER F IVE
The Scavenging Female Rills
Beware the scavenging female Rills: who emerge at birth of dusk.
Carrying rusty cauldrons and sharpened knives – Bitch-Rills trailing
naked tails; and the vile odour of rodent musk
Late that same Midsummer Eve night, after Caddoc Morgan’s first ordeal, when both her parents were asleep; Blodwyn quietly closed the front door behind her. The three Tartarus Hobs were waiting on the riverbank. The Tartarus Hobs were unusually silent, walking on all fours; these knuckle-walkers were keeping a low profile. The stiff ridge of bristles on their muscular backs stood erect; their dark hides glistened with sweat. They stopped regularly to test the breeze with their up-turned noses – for Tormented Taarbs grew bolder after sunset! Blodwyn felt safe under the Hobs’ protection, despite their offensive damp, rotten-dog odour.
The two Lings suddenly appear as they reached the big rock, a lovely Mayling and the smaller bug-like Sisling. ‘We must hurry,’ says the Mayling. ‘We can smell Taarbs on the higher slopes!’
Each Ling took one of Blodwyn’s hands; she felt herself rising slowly, and then accelerating rapidly. The antenna of the Sisling twitched, searching for the invisible mouth of the Energy Band , a mile high above the ground. A powerful pull drew them upwards. Blodwyn feels like an ant inches away from a Hoover! Instantly they were sucked into the surge of an Energy Band. Blodwyn was now flying without aid from the Lings; although she was forced to take short sharp breaths initially. Looking down, Earth was two miles below her feet! Suddenly her stomach dropped as the energy band banked steeply to the left – it was like flying in an invisible plane!
( Energy bands and Prism windows are dangerous! They sometimes reach down to Earth’s surface on warm summer evenings just before dusk. If you see the faintest shaft of pastel shimmers across a lonely wooded path or quiet lane – do not enter! Energy bands will take you to another planet: Prism windows are a gateway to a parallel world!)
To Blodwyn time seemed to hang suspended; soon they were approaching the moon! The energy band now curved down. She knew she was going to be shot out head first – a mile above the moon’s rocky surface!
“Where were the Lings?” Without warning, Blodwyn felt herself hurtling downwards – in freefall! Her heart pounded – she screamed!
“Had the Lings forgotten she could not fly?” Suddenly the Lings appeared by her face, grinning. ‘Look – Blodwyn’s flying,’ they teased.
‘I am not flying – I am falling – about to break my bloody neck!’ screams Blodwyn hysterically.
The two Lings howled with laughter. “Oh hell,” thought Blodwyn, “if I die with swear words on my lips – I will end up in Golgin Hade with Tormented Taarbs.” The hard stony ground of the moon was rushing towards her soft face! ‘Do something you pair of useless little sods!’ The two Lings again howled with laughter. Blodwyn closed her eyes – ready for impact – she knew her end would be quick!
With only time to recite the first word of a prayer before impact; Blodwyn felt herself being turned feet first, gently landing on the gritty surface of the moon. Blodwyn felt ashamed for panicking, she will have to trust the power of Lings in future.
She gazed around; there were no contrasting colours on the Moon; everything was a pale uniform sandy orange – the reflection of the sun.
‘We must go to the dark side of Rilla (the Moon),’ announces Boodi the lovely Mayling, ‘where moon-flowers grow, stay here – beware
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