Jack Staples and the Poet's Storm
Page 20
Alexia wasn’t sure what was about to happen, but her heart sang as the poet looked into her eyes.
“Are you ready?” he asked.
“Ready,” she said.
The Author looked to Jack. “And you … Are you ready?”
Jack nodded.
“Then join me in creating this new world. Let your breath join with mine.” He motioned to the raging wind. “Breathe into the storm.”
Both children exhaled a long breath. Their breath mingled with the Poet’s Storm as the Author extended his arms and the gale blasted down the mountain. It was the beginning of all things. It was the breath of creation. Where the wind passed, the world sprang into life. The breath flowed into the destroyed valley as bones began mending themselves and torn flesh was stitched together. Lush grass exploded from the ground as mighty trees formed in a matter of seconds. The Poet’s Storm howled through the valley, bringing life where it passed.
Waters receded to reform their banks as the oceans teemed with new life. The Poet’s Storm continued to blow across the earth as the dead rose again and the Assassin’s Shadow dissipated. The sun shone bright on this new world, yet it wasn’t the only source of light. Each blade of grass, every tree and stone, every last bit of earth radiated with the light of new life.
The wind was a force like the world had never known as the Poet’s Storm swept across every land until the earth had been transformed.
Arthur Greaves was rather enjoying death. In many ways, it was far more exciting than life. He regretted that the world had been lost and the Assassin had won, but there was nothing to be done about it now. And this new world was far more fantastical than anything he could possibly have imagined.
“We could spend a thousand lifetimes just discovering how this world works!” Sage said. She looked different. She was as beautiful as ever but was also more radiant and carefree.
Arthur stood with his mother and father and Sage and Aliyah. He’d already seen Andreal and Wild—and everyone else, for that matter, except Jack or Alexia. He’d been searching for them, but they were nowhere to be found.
Something pulled at Arthur. He turned to see what it was, but nothing was there. Then it happened again. Something was pulling him back. “No,” he yelled. “I don’t want to go! I want to stay here!” But he couldn’t keep his feet rooted, and he burst away in a streak of light.
When he opened his eyes, he was back on earth; he was sure of it. But it had changed. In many ways it had become like the world he’d just left.
“It’s incredible,” a voice whispered from behind him.
It was Sage, looking as radiant as ever. “Oh good! I’m so glad you came back too. I just couldn’t bear to be here without you.”
Sage gave Arthur a kiss on the cheek. “I like you very much, Arthur Greaves.”
“So what do you think?”
Arthur spun to see Jack standing with a grin parting his lips. Mr. and Mrs. Staples stood beside him, and Alexia and her parents were there too.
“Jack!” Arthur nearly jumped with joy. “It’s so good to see you!”
“It’s good to see you, too.” Jack laughed.
“I don’t understand,” Arthur said. “What happened? How did you finally defeat him?”
“By realizing he was far too pathetic to fight in the first place,” Jack said. “Now what do you say we go home?” He placed a hand on Arthur’s back. “I want to add another board or two to our tree fort.”
“Do you mind if we join you?”
Arthur turned to see a man striding up the valley. His eyes shone like the sun, and Elion and Mrs. Dumphry and Aias were at his side. “It’s the Author,” Arthur said.
Mrs. Dumphry was no longer an old woman but was young and beautiful with fire-red hair.
“It will be a long walk back to Ballylesson,” the Author said. “But that should give us plenty of time to catch up. Arthur Greaves, do you mind if we join you and your companions on the journey home?”
Arthur sputtered for a long moment as Jack and Alexia started to laugh. “Yes!” Arthur almost shouted. “Yes, please!” Soon all of them were laughing, the Author most of all. Arthur looked at Sage and Jack and all of his friends. “I don’t know,” he said, “but I think this might be the perfect ending to the grandest adventure I could have imagined.”
The Author nodded as he placed a hand on Arthur’s shoulder. “Arthur Greaves, this is only the beginning. The best adventure is yet to come.”
JACK STAPLES AND THE POET’S STORM
Published by David C Cook
4050 Lee Vance View
Colorado Springs, CO 80918 U.S.A.
David C Cook Distribution Canada
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David C Cook U.K., Kingsway Communications
Eastbourne, East Sussex BN23 6NT, England
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All rights reserved. No part of this ebook may be reproduced, scanned, resold, or distributed by or through any print or electronic medium without written permission from the publisher. This ebook is licensed solely for the personal and noncommercial use of the original authorized purchaser, subject to the terms of use under which it was purchased. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author’s rights.
This story is a work of fiction. All characters and events are the product of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to any person, living or dead, is coincidental.
LCCN 2014957984
ISBN 978-1-4347-0732-1
eISBN 978-0-7814-1324-4
© 2015 Mark Batterson, Joel N. Clark
Published in association with the literary agency of The Fedd Agency, Inc., Post Office Box 341973, Austin, Texas 78734.
The Team: Alex Field, Jamie Chavez, Nick Lee, Jennifer Lonas, Helen Macdonald, Karen Athen
Cover Design: Amy Konyndyk
Cover Illustration: Duncan Stewart
First Edition 2015
MARK BATTERSON is the lead pastor of National Community Church in Washington, DC, one of the most innovative and influential churches in America. He is a national speaker and New York Times bestselling author of The Circle Maker.
JOEL N. CLARK is the author of Awake: The Book You Can Watch, and cofounder of Atlas District Pictures and Switchvert. Clark has written and directed multiple documentaries, commercials, and short films. He and his wife, Megan, their daughter, Juno, and their son, Elah, reside in Washington, DC.
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