The Andy Smithson Series: Books 1, 2, and 3 (Young Adult Epic Fantasy Bundle) (Andy Smithson Series Boxset): Dragons, Serpents, Unicorns, Pegasus, Pixies, Trolls, Dwarfs, Knights and More!
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Pegasus began rising in unison with its neighbors, floating between a banana-shaped balloon and one checkered red and orange.
“There’s no wind!” Andy realized.
“That’s right. You don’t feel the wind because we’re traveling with it.”
“Awesome!” Andy couldn’t rein in the smile that radiated across his face.
“Let’s see how well we can steer you this morning, my dear,” Mr. B. announced to their ride. He reached up and fired the fuel jets, receiving a pughh, pughh reply from the burner. The balloon cleared its neighbors and Andy couldn’t hold back, “Woot!”
“That’s my girl,” the pilot encouraged the dirigible.
They left the congested skies of the balloon festival and now drifted over open countryside.
“It’s so peaceful,” Madison remarked.
“That it is,” agreed Mr. B.
“How do you steer it?” Andy queried.
“Watch and learn,” Mr. B. replied, smiling.
Pegasus drifted higher and shifted in a new direction.
“Cool!” Andy announced, receiving a smile from Grandpa.
“Wind currents. Winds are layered. Each layer blows in a different direction. I love flights when there are lots of layers. If I want to go toward that rock outcropping this morning,” Mr. B pointed at a pair of rust-colored boulders jutting up from the bare soil, “looks like I need to position us a bit lower.”
Their pilot pulled on a rope hanging from inside the envelope and released some air. Pegasus complied and drifted downward until they reached the wind current Mr. B had mentioned. Their pilot brought the craft so close to the summit Andy felt like he could reach out and touch it.
“Let’s see what going higher yields us in maneuverability, shall we?”
“Excellent!” replied Andy.
They glided over ranches. Grandpa and Madison gazed at the ground far below, clearly delighted. In the stillness, Andy could hear moos emanating from a herd of cattle directly below.
“This is absolutely beautiful!” Madison declared several minutes later.
“Now you know why I love flying Pegasus. I’ve never forgotten my first flight. I promised myself I’d fly again, and it’s become an obsession.”
“I can see why,” Grandpa agreed.
Nearly two hours into their flight, Mr. B asked, “I’d normally head back about now, but the wind currents are amazing today. Do you mind staying up awhile longer?”
Andy, Madison, and Grandpa grinned, and Mr. B. chuckled, “Looks like I need to do some heavy arm-twisting.”
Several minutes later, Andy spotted a black-feathered bird off in the distance and announced, “A crow!”
Everyone looked, but Mr. B. shook his head. “That’s not a crow, it’s a vulture—crows don’t fly this high. Vultures have amazing eyesight. It’s probably hunting for breakfast.”
Andy examined the bird more closely as they drew near. Still a ways off, he realized, That vulture’s enormous. It’s definitely bigger than… Andy gasped as he locked eyes with the zolt.
“You okay, Andy?” Grandpa asked.
Andy shook his head and dove for the floor, receiving curious looks from his companions.
“What’s the matter? Afraid of a bird?” Madison joked. “Well, you don’t need to worry, it’s leaving.”
Andy regained his footing, peered over the basket lip, and watched the bird grow smaller. It’s going for reinforcements!
“I’d like to head back now, please,” Andy requested.
Mr. B and Grandpa threw quizzical glances and Madison shook her head scowling, hands on her hips.
“You’re scared of a vulture?” she whined.
Andy refrained from response.
Mr. B raised an eyebrow toward Grandpa. The old man didn’t respond, so the pilot concluded, “Very well. Let me contact my wife and have her bring the truck.” He picked up his radio handle and hailed.
Several minutes later and close to the ground near their liftoff point, Andy scanned the skies and jiggled his leg.
“What’s wrong with you?” Madison probed impatiently.
Andy ignored her, continuing to study the surroundings.
“Okay, bend your knees and prepare for impact,” Mr. B. instructed.
Andy gripped the lip of the basket, watching the ground approach. Just before touchdown, he chanced another look to the skies and saw a flock of vultures quickly approaching.
He barely heard the pilot say, “Don’t jump out until the envelope is completely down or the basket will bounce and drag us.”
Come on, hurry up! Andy’s thoughts raced. The festival grounds lay a ways off. He quickly scanned for something to use as a weapon or for a place to hide Grandpa and the others. Nothing.
“Watch your step,” Mr. B. finally announced.
“Take cover!” Andy yelled. He flew out of the basket and bolted across the grassy field as a dozen zolt transformed. If I can just distract the zolt, they’ll be safe.
Andy ran as fast as his legs would carry him. The distance had not seemed that far from the balloon, but as he raced, his lungs started to burn and a stitch stabbed his side. Barreling back onto the festival grounds, he heard a woman scream. The crowd hushed and all eyes turned toward the spectacle.
The enemy took off after Andy at top speed, which thankfully amounted to not more than a fast waddle. Minutes later, Andy chanced a peek over his shoulder and saw he had out distanced them. But as he turned back he barreled straight into a uniformed officer, leveling both of them. Andy hit the ground, sprawling face-first, then scrambled up. But the officer grabbed his ankle and held him tight.
“What’s the hurry, son?”
“Let me go!” Andy protested, kicking the official’s hand, then looked up. His eyes grew wide.
The officer followed Andy’s gaze and instantly understood. The zolt were thirty yards away and closing quickly, swords poised.
The officer bolted upright, grabbed the radio handle from his shoulder, and called for backup, then drew his gun, assuming a ready stance.
Andy did not pause to listen as the officer called after him. He darted into the crowd, hoping to lose his pursuers. He headed for the concession stands and only stopped when the fully mature stitch screamed from his side. Pausing next to a silver trailer selling funnel cakes, he scanned the skies. Good, no reinforcements yet. He pulled his cell phone from his pocket and autodialed Madison.
“Where are you? What are you doing?” his sister barked.
Andy spotted three zolt circling.
“I’ll meet you at Grandpa’s truck!”
“Andy…”
He hung up and ducked under the awning. He ignored Madison’s ringtone when it sounded from his pocket as he picked his way among a bevy of concession trailers and oblivious spectators. Rushing into a tent congested with celebrating balloon crews, he didn’t pause when an imposing official approached, informing, “I’ll need to see some identification, son.” Andy raced around the uniformed hippo, bounding through the makeshift kitchen and toppling several cooks who yelled insults at him from their food-covered seats on the ground. He braked long enough to scan the skies once more before bolting for a grove of shade trees standing watch over the endless sea of parked cars.
No cover in the parking lot. Grabbing his phone he hit Madison’s number once more.
“What?” Madison fumed.
Breathing heavily, Andy yelled over his sister’s protests, “Have Grandpa meet me by the shade trees at the front of the parking lot!”
“Andy…”
“Tell him! Now!” Through the web of branches and leaves, Andy spotted a zolt swooping lower, headed toward him.
“Andy!”
“I’ll explain everything! Tell Grandpa!” Andy ended his SOS and scrambled up the lowest branches, trying to make himself invisible. He watched, frozen, as his enemy swept the topmost branches before alighting directly above him. Please don’t see me. Please don’t see me.
Andy dared not fidget. He tried to silence his heavy breathing as his ears tuned in to every creak of the branches and scuffle of the leaves. It felt like an eternity, but the enemy finally lifted off, allowing Andy to exhale.
Several minutes passed before Grandpa’s white pickup slowly navigated the ruts. He dropped to the ground and scanned the skies. Clear for now. As soon as Grandpa stopped, Andy bolted for the passenger side, ripping the handle of the partially opened door from Madison’s hand. He bounded inside and slammed it shut.
“Ouch! Get off me!” Madison yipped.
“Go, Grandpa!” Andy commanded, ducking down.
“Mind explaining yourself?”
“I will once we’re on the road,” Andy replied from the floor.
Grandpa raised an eyebrow and shook his head, but put the truck in drive.
Headed for the ranch, Andy chanced a glance out the front window as he moved to the middle of the bench seat. Good, nothing airborne.
“Well?” Grandpa questioned.
Andy did his best to construct a believable narrative, leaving out the not-so-tiny detail about his pursuers being from another world.
In the end, Grandpa concluded, “I’m not going to pretend I fully understand your story, but I will say this, I think you overreacted. The authorities had things well in hand. You didn’t stick around long enough to see them apprehend that gang. And I’m glad they did. They looked vicious…evil even. The TV crews had a field day. I’ll bet there’s a story on the evening news.”
Andy did not respond. His mind was elsewhere, pondering the question that had been running laps around his brain since he first spotted the zolt: How did they find me?
Four fifty-five and Grandpa nested himself in his well-worn lounger. Five minutes later and the opening notes of the Phoenix local news heralded this evening’s edition of thrills, chills, and ills.
The anchor began, “Back in the fall, residents of a north side apartment complex found mold in their walls…”
Must have been a slow news day, Andy thought.
A story about an underperforming elementary school followed before the anchorman announced, “Maricopa County Sheriff’s deputies apprehended twelve illegal aliens at the Phoenix Hot Air Balloon Festival this morning. Our own Tim Bower was on the scene as events unfolded and is here to bring us the latest.”
The scene shifted to an older gentleman in a blue plaid shirt standing in front of a mostly empty field that earlier had been populated with all manner of colorful dirigibles. The reporter began his story, quickly shoving the mic in front of Mr. Bitmire and asking his opinion of the strange and unexplained behavior of one of his young passengers.
Andy squirmed as he saw footage of himself dashing toward the food trucks. Thankfully they only captured his back. As the reporter continued, the camera switched to close-ups of the zolt. The commentator followed with several soundbites from an interview with a deputy. “These are not the type of gang members we are used to dealing with. They came heavily armed with medieval broadswords…” The video showed the zolt being disarmed, handcuffed, and put in police cars as the officer continued, “We are asking for help locating the boy. Anyone with knowledge of his whereabouts is encouraged to contact the Sheriff’s office.”
“What?” Andy exclaimed.
Grandpa looked over at Andy with a grin. “Well, you’ve made quite a name for yourself. Do we turn you in?”
Mom’s ringtone chirped from Andy’s pocket.
“Hi, Mom.”
“I was surfing the Phoenix local news and just saw the story. What happened?”
Andy quickly summarized and Mom asked him to hand his phone to Grandpa.
“Yes, that’s right. That’s what he told me too.”
The old man’s grin faded as he listened and nodded.
“Do you really think that’s necessary? Seems like a big fuss…”
More nodding.
“They’re scheduled to fly back in two weeks, but…”
Grandpa raised his eyebrows.
“Alright, if you really want…”
Head nodding.
“I understand. I’ll make sure they’re on the nine o’clock tomorrow morning. Uh-huh. Yes. No, don’t worry, Emily. I know. They’ll be safe. Uh-huh. Okay…goodbye.”
Grandpa handed the phone back to Andy. “You can guess what that was about.”
Andy woke early. He yawned and rubbed sleep from his eyes.
Knock, knock. “Come on, sleepyhead. Time to get moving. We need to leave in half an hour if you’re going to make that plane,” Grandpa announced.
Andy slithered from under the covers and ambled over to the window. Pink and red hues blanketed the sunrise. In the distance he made out the form of a large black bird, circling.
The Andy Smithson series continues with more adventures to retrieve secret ingredients needed to break the long-standing curse plaguing the land of Oomaldee in the second box set which includes books four, five, and six of the series. Get yours today!
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