The Tirnano - Book 1 'FINN'
Page 34
That interested him, but he hadn’t time for study. Providing for the troop was of greater importance. One of the worms was hanging halfway through a broken slice of silicate at the front of the rolling rock. He pulled it free; it had been trapped amongst the crumpled and broken pieces. Wriggling, it made a screeching sound through a hole in its exposed end. He lifted it to his nose and sniffed. It smelt good. Kokablel bit off the exposed portion crunching the crispy morsel, relishing the exquisite taste of the juices as they flowed across his tongue and around his mouth, ravishing his senses. He felt his blood race, his senses sparking. He swallowed the delicious crunchy piece, sucked the remainder dry, and then threw the remnants away. It was too much trouble to peel off the inedible outer coverings.
About him were rocks of various shapes and sizes. Hundreds of worms moved in them, issuing their high-pitched noises. The rolling rocks had come to a halt when the red one smashed into him; they too had worms inside. Some held just one or two, but others, the larger red ones, were full.
A white rock, with a flashing blue light, emitting a howling noise, wove its way through the stationary rocks towards him. Its wailing annoyed him. Wrenching his foot free he made his way towards it, kicking any stationery rocks out of his path. Upon reaching it, Kokablel stamped on the wailing rock three times. Defenceless, it crumpled and flattened. Instantly, the annoying howls ceased, his irritation subsided.
The rock that had crashed into him was packed with worms, most of them waving miniature arms and opening their holes to squeal as they attempted to escape from the two levels. Easily, Kokablel lifted it, swinging it smoothly onto his shoulder.
With his free hand he began picking up scattered worms which lay unmoving on the ground. There were some he noticed, massing; frantically attempting to return to a hole in the ground from where they had previously spewed in their hundreds. He snatched up handfuls of them, stuffing them into his cavernous pouch. Inside it many were still moving. Others that had fallen from the red rock were still.
As soon as his pouch was full, he waved his free arm, feeling once again for the tear.
Finding it where he’d left it; Kokablel stepped through, allowing it to close behind him.
STOP PRESS.
The London Evening Standard.
September 30th 2008.
Holborn, London.
Stone Giant Causes Rocks Busy City Crossroads.
85 dead, 140 missing.
Government in Confusion.
8:02am - During this morning’s rush hour, city centre commuters were attacked by a terrifying giant creature. The creature killed eighty five and injured many more in less than three minutes of unprecedented horror. One hundred and forty are reported missing.
The number 38 bus, full of commuters, had been crossing the junction of Tottenham Court Road and Euston Road, when it came into collision with the creature which appeared to be created from granite slabs.
The giant described by horrified observers, as carrying a massive red pouch, caused mayhem, smashing numerous vehicles, including a police car. All the witnesses interviewed described the creature as a three to four storey nightmare made of rocks. The monster lifted a Double-Decker bus onto its shoulder before disappearing with over one hundred and forty people whom it had packed into its pouch.
Experts examining the CCTV recordings of the incident have put its height at between eleven and twelve meters. Police too are said to be examining these CCTV images, no comment was given by a Scotland Yard spokesperson.
The Prime Minister has called for an immediate investigation and a Ministerial Report.
CCTV Pictures and eye-witness reports; Pages, 2, 3, 4 and 5.
The Southern Plains
Kokablel dropped the red rock and emptied his pouch alongside. Some of the worms were still moving, opening their holes and screeching. He picked them up, one after the other, and with a swift squeeze stopped both their wriggling and the irritating noises.
Araklba the cook should be pleased: there was more than sufficient food for one night. Good food too in Kokablel’s opinion. True, they needed cleaning and stripping of their tasteless outer coverings, but drying and salting should make them satisfying and crisp, although personally he preferred them fresh and raw.
“How come you got worms? I thought you’d have gone for the four legged-brownies with the, pointed heads. Much more meat on them,” his commander, half in and out of ‘rock form,’ said, rolling forward, to investigate.
“Guess I got the wrong tear, sir.”
“Well, you can take that red thing away. It’s irritating my senses.”
“Yes, sir,” Kokablel acquiesced with a half-hearted salute.
He lifted the empty rock onto his shoulder, and marched back to the tear tremor area.
“Get some decent meat while you’re there. This lot won’t last long. It’s all dead, won’t keep,” the patrol cook shouted after him.
Now Kokablel was hot and bothered. Not only did he have to get rid of the red rock, but that waster Araklba wanted more meat. When were they going to understand that the only meat they really needed was the worms?
At this rate, probably never.
At the first tear he found, Kokablel stepped through and with all his prodigious strength heaved the empty red rock. The region was another of those worm infested, mountainous areas. What damage the rock might wreak, he cared not.
Without taking notice of where it landed, he stepped back, closing the tear behind him.
New York Times
September 30th 2008, 08:48EST
London Double-Decker Flies In.
New York. USA.
At 08:48 today, a London Double-Decker bus materialized, and flew from the junction of West 64th Street, down Broadway before crashing into the base of the Columbus Circle monument, causing eighteen deaths and twenty seven serious injuries.
The bus has been identified as the same vehicle which disappeared from a crowded intersection in Holborn, London, five hours previously.
NYPD is currently in communication with Scotland Yard.
The Southern Plains
Swiftly searching other nearby tears, he found one opening onto the habitat of thousands of four-legged, pointy-headed brownies. Kokablel filled his pouch with the bawling creatures; once again he took time to wolf down one, as he picked up the others. He was disappointed that consuming it brought no marked increase of his powers. Only the worms did that. Only they made his blood sing.
It was sunset when he finally made his way back into camp, his colleagues were slowly awakening. Darkness must fully descend before the Gurts stirred, and they could move out. Plenty of time for a proper meal, then. Kokablel made for the cook fires to empty his pouch. Araklba laughed. “Maybe you get tomorrow off, matie. Thanks for this little lot. Well done.”
“Bog off,” Kokablel snapped, removing his pouch and shaking it to make sure all the muck and rubbish was cleared out.
The Daily Nation.
10th April, 1957.
Nairobi, Kenya.
Several reports are being received by our offices of sightings of giant grey creatures, seen chasing and catching wildebeest near the Ngorongoro Crater. Local Masai tribesmen are saying they are servants of Engai, the mountain God, and are forecasting doom will follow shortly.
The sightings have not been corroborated, and have been attributed to a spate of liqueur thefts in the nearby township of Arusha in Northern Tanzania.
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THE TIRNANO- BOOK 2
KIEREEM
PETER M. EMMERSON
©2012 Peter M. Emmerson
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Genesis 6:4
There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men.
Numbers 13:33
And there we saw the giants ... And we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight.
Deuteronomy 2:10-11
&
nbsp; The Emim and Zamzummim dwelt therein in times past, a people great, and many, and tall, as the Anakims; which also were accounted giants.
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PROLOGUE
CARPATHIAN MOUNTAINS
AD 1215.
Mira, with Lusha in miniature form, appeared in the far corner of the green dell. She watched as her terrified past-self disappeared through the cleft in the rock face. They then made their way swiftly to and through the cave opening, dashing past the huge bats that were once again resuming their roosts.
The inside of the vast cavern was lit by an eerie glow which emanated from the walls, Mira waited a moment for her eyes to adjust, and reaching over her shoulder drew her sword. With the Purple Queen in tow she raced towards the spot from where her past-self had stumbled in abject horror mere moments beforehand.
~
“So dass Sie wieder meine Schöne?” the tall woman swung towards the approaching Mira. Daniel slumped to the floor as his neck was released. “You should have kept running girl, it was you I called my brother for to bring."
Your brother, him?” shocked, Mira gestured at the Duke’s wraith with the point of her sword.
“Not truly my brother, but we are related in our love of one thing.” She looked to one side and motioned for the Duke to join her, “She will be most sweet, you have excelled.”
With a massive roar Lusha assumed full size. The woman recoiled. “What trickery be this, Duke Ulrich thou du’st betray me?”
Leaping across the prone body of her former master whilst the Queen of the Stirgoi was distracted, with a swift thrust Mira pierced the chest of Archduke Ulrich III of Carinthia, eldest son of Duke George Heinrich, the third son of Emperor Frederick I, Barbarossa.
The sword wrenched from her hands, floating in the air it blazed into dazzling blue life, with an appalling scream the shadow of Ulrich flowed like smoke, sucked into the sword. The huge blade fell to the floor with a crash. Mira moved to pick it up.
“Touch it not Mädchen,” Daniel gasped, his throat torn where Darcia had pierced him with her claws, the blood oozing through his fingers as he endeavoured to stem the flow. “I shall retrieve it.” He shuffled on his knees to the blade, and lifting it gently as one would a wounded companion, twisted the blade and placed the flat against the torn skin of his neck. With a low moan he fell on his back. The sword wrought its magic, flaring once again, and in that instant repairing his wounds.
Mira was no longer able to handle the blade, for now its former inhabitant resided within. Re-instating the curse, allowing it, on pain of death, only to be grasped by those through who coursed the blood of the line of Baron Albert von Felden, Count of Livonia.
The Purple Queen of the M’ntar, smoke now roiling from her mouth, roared once more. A searing blast of flame spewed across the gap towards Darcia. The last remaining Stirgoi queen threw up her arms in an attempt to protect herself. Screaming, she recoiled, scuttling backwards across the cave floor the flames flowing around her body. With a final howl of despair she capitulated, falling to the ground and rolling herself into the foetal position.
Mira passed Daniel the sword’s sheath, through his darkening consciousness he recognised his body servant.
“Milo, is that you?” he croaked.
“It is I Lord, yet my name is Mira.” She bowed her head.
Staggering to his feet, the front of his riding jacket smeared in gore; with his eyes wide he chanced a fearful glance at the massive bulk of the Purple Queen, “From whence comes your fearsome acquaintance?”
“This is Queen Alushamenta of the M’ntar, my dearest companion, Lusha. Let us away from this evil creature’s domicile,” she peered through the darkness to where the Stroigoi Queen lay, “I shall return with you to the Feldlager.”
Mira stepped alongside the Baron as he staggered; taking hold of his arm to steady him.
“Come Lord,” she said gently.
With a crack of imploding air, the three disappeared.
Continued in:
THE TIRNANO- BOOK 2
KIEREEM