Orville Mouse and the Puzzle of the Capricious Shadows (Orville Wellington Mouse Book 3)

by Tom Hoffman

  “That’s kind of a gloomy secret. I don’t think I like it.”

  The Chief Engineer laughed. “That’s not the secret. The secret is a truth of infinite joy and eternal hope. Creatures who try to make the world a better place are not changing the nature of the world they live in, but in the process of trying to change their world, they are changing themselves. They are learning and growing, making personal sacrifices, their actions driven by love, not fear. They come to understand there is only one life force, no matter what physical form it takes. They come to understand we are all part of this life force, no matter what our current level of understanding might be. When the time comes, they move on to the world of the Others. Your world is a school, Orville Wellington Mouse. The school never changes, but the students come and go.”

  Orville was silent for a long time. “I wish you could have met the Thirteenth Monk. You would have been great friends. This is a good secret. Thank you for telling me.”

  “It is a good secret to those who understand the truth of it. Enough of such talk, it’s time to shut down this infernal machine.” The Chief Master Engineer pointed to a barely visible panel on the side of the Distortion Thruster. He tapped his paw on the panel and it slid open, revealing an entrance into the great engine, a silver ladder descending into the darkness below.

  “Where does the ladder go?”

  “It will take you down to the main control panel of the engine where you will find a hexagonal gold plate with an irregular shaped hole in the center. The key you are holding matches perfectly the shape of that hole. On the right side of the plate are two disks, one yellow and one violet. Once the key has been inserted, press the yellow disc and the Mark XVII will stop.”

  “Thank you for helping us.”

  “I didn’t help you, you helped yourself by listening, by being aware, by thinking, by being here. Sometimes that’s all it takes.” The Chief Master rippled and vanished.

  “I just talked to a ghost.”

  Sophia snorted. “He’s just as alive as he was when he lived on Thaumatar.”

  “I guess so. He wasn’t all spooky, but still. Either way it’s time to shut down the machine.” Orville stepped toward the silver ladder. Haukesworth grabbed his arm.

  “Not so fast, my young friend. This is my job, not yours. I will be the one to shut off the machine.”

  Haukesworth took the golden key from Orville’s paw. “You three will return to Muridaan Falls the same way my hat got there. Go back to the dungeon, step onto the dirt road and you will be home. I’ll give you plenty of time to get there before I shut off the engine. The Void will expand, bringing to an end the overlapping of the worlds. When that happens, Tectar’s connection to Muridaan Falls will be lost, along with our connection to the world of the Others.”

  A great sadness filled Sophia. She would not see her parents again.

  Haukesworth’s face softened. “You will see them again, but not today.”

  “I know you’re right. How will you get back to Muridaan Falls?”

  “I won’t be coming back. There are a thousand worlds I should still like to visit. I’ve always wanted to see Thaumatar. It may take me a while, but I will find a way there.”

  Orville took off his adventurers hat and held it out to Haukesworth. “This belongs to you. If you’re off on another adventure you’ll need it.”

  “A new adventure calls for a new hat.” Haukesworth flicked his wrist and a handsome adventurers hat with a bright yellow feather appeared in his paws. He deftly flipped it onto his head. “I believe farewell hugs are in order.”

  The adventurers hugged and said their good byes. As Orville shook Haukesworth’s paw he said, “I’m going to write about Tectar in your journal back in Muridaan Falls. This might be your greatest adventure, and I want everyone to know about it.”

  “You mean my greatest adventure so far.” Haukesworth grinned and tipped his hat, stepping through the doorway onto the silver ladder. “Back to Muridaan Falls with you. Some of us have to save the universe.”

  The three adventurers exited the Machine Room and headed down the long stone corridor to the great spiral staircase. Along the way they stopped at the dungeon filled with gold. “Haukesworth said I could take as much gold as I could carry.”

  Sophia smiled.

  Orville continued, “The only problem is, it’s not my gold to take, it belongs to everyone in Village 113.” He reached into his pocket and drew out the gold coin he had found in the gatehouse, tossing it onto one of the wooden crates. A blue thought cloud flashed out of his ear and shot down the hall. “I sent Serus a cloud saying Mendacium was gone and the gold is here waiting for them. I also said Mendacium had put an end to all plague and pestilence on Tectar before he left.”

  Sophia put her arms around Orville and held him close for a long time.

  “We should go before Haukesworth shuts off the machine.”

  Five minutes later the door to Muridaan Falls squealed open.

  “Why is it so dark in there, and what’s that weird flickering light? Wait, did Haukesworth shut off the machine already?” Sophia sensed a growing panic in Orville’s voice.

  “It’s dark because the sun has gone down in Muridaan Falls. Maybe the flickering light is a campfire or something. Let’s go.”

  They stepped through the doorway into a violent maelstrom, a ferocious blast of shrieking wind knocking Orville to his knees. Undulating sheets of pounding rain spattered wildly against Proto, blinding bursts of lightning crackling and sparking across the night sky. Proto raised one hand to shield his eyes. “Are you certain this is Muridaan Falls?”

  Orville hollered, “The stormy red sea is almost here! The Others said the storm would destroy the whole town!”

  Two things happened in the space of one second. First, Orville realized he was shouting, and second, he realized there was no need to shout because the storm had stopped, the air suddenly still and silent. He stood beneath a starry sky, breathing in the sweet fragrance of the towering spruce trees surrounding Muridaan Falls.

  “We’re home.”

  Sophia nodded. “Haukesworth did it, he shut off the machine.”

  Orville gazed up at the glorious night sky, an infinitely vast canvas of sparkling stars. “Is anyone else hungry? I’m starving. Mum said she was going to bake a snapberry pie. I hope Papa didn’t eat it all.”

  Sophia gaped at Orville. “You’re looking at this incredible night sky over our dear home of Muridaan Falls, and you’re thinking about snapberry pie? Something is very wrong with you, Orville Wellington Mouse.”

  Chapter 37

  The Silver Eye

  “I’m kind of nervous, I’ve never gotten a medal before.”

  “Is there anything that doesn’t make you nervous?”

  “Snapberry pie doesn’t.”

  Proto snickered. “My tasty little cakes don’t cause you much trepidation either.”

  “Mmmm… tasty little cakes. So good.”

  “Quiet, the Supreme Counselor is getting up to speak.”

  Orville looked around the sprawling Hall of Metaphysical Adventurers, teeming with hundreds of members. This was the same hall where he and Sophia and Proto had brought Draken Mouse to justice nearly two years ago. A sharp rapping came from the front of the room. Orville turned to see a distinguished looking elderly mouse standing at the podium.

  “Welcome, fellow Metaphysical Adventurers. Tonight’s meeting will begin with a presentation of medals. I would request that Orville Wellington Mouse, Sophia Mouse, and Proto the Rabbiton please rise.”

  Proto turned to Orville in surprise. “Why did he call my name?”

  “You’ll just have to find out.” Orville grinned. He couldn’t wait to see the look on Proto’s face.

  The three adventurers stood up. The Counselor said, “I call upon Eldon Mouse to make the presentation.” The Counselor stepped aside, Orville’s papa appearing in a flash of blue light, three black velvet boxes in his paw.

  Eldon
stepped up to the podium and looked across the sea of adventurers. “There are moments in life you know will live with you forever. Your first kiss, the birth of a mouseling, the first time you realize you can shape a mug of ale.”

  The audience roared with laughter.

  “This moment is one which shall live with me forever. Tonight I am presenting medals of valor to three of those among us, one of them being my son Orville, who have successfully concluded a dangerous and vital mission to the planet Tectar, a world created millennia ago by the Thaumatarians. As you well know, the purpose of their mission was to uncover the forces responsible for the vanishing Void, and subsequently to neutralize those forces, preventing the destruction of countless parallel universes. The terrible storms and flooding we have been experiencing in Muridaan Falls were an early sign of these overlapping worlds, the Vesarak Sea merging with the stormy world of Saevio. The lovely sunny days we are currently enjoying are irrefutable proof of their success. That being said, it is my great honor to present each of these esteemed Metaphysical Adventurers with the Silver Eye Medallion. Orville, Sophia, and Proto, please step forward and receive your award.”

  The three adventurers walked down the center aisle to the front of the great hall, stepping up onto the stage. Eldon Mouse removed the first medallion from its box, placing the green ribbon around Orville’s neck. “Well done, I could not be more proud of you.”

  Eldon stepped in front of Sophia, hanging the silver medallion around her neck. “Well done, Sophia. I suspect your mum and papa are watching from some distant realm.” Sophia nodded, tears welling up in her eyes.

  Before Eldon could present the third medallion, Proto leaned down and whispered something in his ear. Eldon nodded, turning to the audience. “Proto the Rabbiton has kindly informed me that he is not a member of the Metaphysical Adventurers, and as such is not eligible to receive the Silver Eye Medallion. I believe I have the solution to that particular dilemma right here in my pocket.”

  Eldon removed an extremely large silver ring from his coat. “Proto the Rabbiton, we have come to know and respect you as a true and loyal friend to Orville and Sophia, and now we shall know you as an honored member of the Metaphysical Adventurers.” Eldon slid the great silver ring onto Proto’s finger. Proto looked stunned, his eyes riveted on his new ring.

  “Proto the Rabbiton, Metaphysical Adventurer, please accept your Silver Eye Medallion.” Proto leaned down and Eldon placed the ribbon around his neck. “Congratulations, Proto.”

  The hall erupted in wild applause, the crowd cheering and stomping their feet. Orville grinned like a mouseling, holding up his medal for all to see. He glanced over at Sophia, who was also holding up her medal, tears in her eyes. It was Proto, however, who had the biggest smile of all.

  Chapter 38

  Ebenezer Mouse

  The following morning Orville rose early. He grinned when he saw the gleaming silver medal hanging from his bedpost. He took it in his paw, studying it closely, feeling the weight of it. There were no words on it, only the image of a single eye, the ancient Thaumatarian symbol long used by the Shapers Guild. Papa had told him only another Metaphysical Adventurer would understand the true significance of the medal. Orville’s name would not appear in the Muridaan Falls Gazette. He would be an unsung hero, his exploits and triumphs celebrated only by fellow members of the Metaphysical Adventurers. The citizens of Muridaan Falls would never hear about Tectar and the Mark XVII Distortion Thruster, about overlapping worlds. They only knew the terrible storms had ended, life had returned to normalcy.

  Orville hopped out of bed, threw on his clothes and dashed down the stairs. Proto was standing in front of the iron stove wearing Mum’s yellow flowered apron. He turned to greet Orville.

  “A fine good morning to you. I have a special award winning breakfast today, snapberry muffins and red snackle flapcakes.” Proto chuckled. “Did you catch my clever little play on words?”

  “Got it, award winning breakfast. Funny. You’re still wearing your Silver Eye Medallion?”

  “Papa said I could wear it around the house but not out in public because mice would ask too many questions.”

  “That makes sense. I keep mine on my bedpost so I can see it when I wake up. Wait, you said red snackle flapcakes?”

  “I did. Quite a treat, I assure you.” He chuckled again. “I think you know how difficult it is to pick them.”

  “That’s for sure, our cranky old neighbor Ebenezer Mouse was not pleased with my attempts to mimic the cry of the Gnorli bird. He shouted at me over the fence, said he was trying to take a nap.”

  “Perhaps you should take him a gift, a tray of tasty little cakes, for instance. They always seem to calm the waters, as they say.”

  “That’s a good idea. I think he lives alone, maybe that’s why he’s so cranky. He was really nice to me when I was little and got lost. He found me and brought me home. I’ll shape a tin of cakes and take them over to him.”

  An hour later Orville stood at the front door of a small yellow weathered cottage. “This place could use a coat of fresh paint, and the garden is really overgrown. Maybe Proto and I could paint the house for him.”

  Orville knocked on the door and waited, but there was no answer. He knocked harder and the door creaked open several inches. “The door wasn’t closed. Maybe he’s taking a nap.” He nudged the door open a little wider, calling out, “Hello? Is anyone home? It’s your neighbor, Orville Mouse.”

  The house was deathly silent. Orville felt a twinge of fear creep through him. “Maybe something’s wrong, maybe he’s sick.” He peered into the house, his eyes gradually adjusting to the darkness. That was when he spotted a very curious object sitting against the living room wall.

  “What in the world is that thing?” Orville studied the strange device, trying to identify it. “It looks a little like an old fashioned piano, or a parlor organ, but it has all those weird glass tubes and brass dials on the front. It has black and white keys like a piano, but there’s way too many and the shape of them is all wrong.” He stepped cautiously into the house. “Hello? Is anyone here? Hello?”

  The house was silent, still. Ebenezer Mouse had not answered. Orville couldn’t take his eyes off the peculiar wood and brass apparatus.

  “That’s weird, there’s a blinking yellow light on the side panel. What in the world is this thing? Pianos don’t have lights on them. Maybe it’s some kind of ancient technology. I’ll just take a quick peek then leave the tin of cakes on the kitchen table.”

  Orville stepped over to the mysterious contrivance, examining it closely. “It’s definitely not a piano or an organ. It has six brass dials, but I don’t recognize the symbols on them. It’s seems really old, but it has a light on it so it must be advanced technology, maybe from some ancient civilization like the Thaumatarians. I wonder what the keys do? I guess it could be a weird kind of musical instrument.”

  Orville glanced around the room, making certain he was alone. He called out loudly, “HELLO? IS ANYONE HOME?”

  Again there was no reply. “There is definitely no one home.” He stepped closer to the device, touching his paw tentatively to one of the keys, then gently pressed down. Instead of the lovely musical note he was expecting, he heard the sound of distant drums.

  “Creekers, what was that?” He pressed another key and heard the sound of a roaring wind shrieking through a canyon. The image of a vast red desert flashed before him. He was about to press a third key when something grabbed him from behind, yanking him away from the machine. Orville screeched, dropping the tin of cakes. He whirled around to see Ebenezer Mouse standing behind him, a furious scowl on his face.

  “WHAT ARE YOU DOING IN MY HOUSE??”

  Orville stammered wildly. “I… I… I was bringing you a tin of tasty little cakes but when I knocked on the door there was no answer so I–“

  “So you thought you’d just break in and rob me blind? You thought you’d steal everything you could from an old mouse??”


  “No! I wasn’t trying to rob your house! I called out three times, I thought maybe something was wrong, that you needed help. I wanted to check on you and then I saw… um… that machine thing and I couldn’t figure out what it was so I–“

  “Never touch that again, do you understand me? NEVER TOUCH IT AGAIN!”

  “I won’t, I promise, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to bother you while you were taking a nap.”

  Ebenezer Mouse studied Orville’s face closely. His anger seemed to be diminishing. “I was out taking a walk. You don’t seem a bad sort, maybe a bit too curious for your own good. You’d best not be fooling with things you don’t understand.”

  “Sorry. What exactly is that thing?”

  “You said you had a tin of cakes for me?”

  Orville picked the tin up from the floor. “Here, they’re really good. I hope they didn’t get mashed when they fell. My friend Proto the Rabbiton made them and he’s a really good chef. Everyone loves his tasty little cakes.”

  Ebenezer took the tin from Orville. “Thanks. Practice your bird calls during the morning. I take a nap in the afternoon.”

  “I will. Oh, I was wondering, it looks like your house could use a coat of paint. Proto and I could paint it for you if you’d like. We wouldn’t charge you anything, but you’d have to pay for the paint.”

  A curious look crossed Ebenezer’s face. “Why would you want to do something like that?”

  “You’re our neighbor, and you’re kind of… um…I mean…”

  “Old? Crabby?”

  “It just seemed like you could use a little help.”

  “I’d appreciate that. I’m not very good with ladders anymore. Never liked heights anyway. I’ll let you know when I get the paint.”

  “Okay, sorry I bothered you.” Orville headed toward the door. He tried to hide his surprise when he noticed the tracks of snow on the wooden floor. It was the middle of summer and Ebenezer Mouse had tracked snow into the house. Orville darted out the front door, closing it behind him.