Josh's Comet

by SP McGiff

Overview

The New Boy
Josh Foley was to discover that starting at a new school mid-term was the least of his worries. Even his getting on the wrong side of the school bullies, and his first ever kiss with his classmate (Rachel Burke) were soon to be surpassed by even more startling events.

The Trip of a Life Time
Josh has joined his class in time to travel on a school tour to Newgrange's world famous Megalithic Tomb during the Winter Solstice. It's also timed to coincide with a solar eclipse. Josh nearly falls into the clutches of two bullies during the eclipse, but sidesteps them by entering the empty tomb. While hiding in the tomb's chamber Brogan's comet passes over the moon while the eclipse is in totality.

Light passing through the comet that lights up the Tomb's chamber, triggering Josh's journey to another world.

Dust from deep within the cracks overhead started to rain down, and I felt as if my stomach was trying to inch its way up and out my body.

Sabrewolf Raid
As Josh exits into a grassy field on a summer's day, the first fluttering of anxiousness gives way to full blown panic. Josh is greeted by an aged woman, Regina Oerlass, whom we soon discover has her own problems.

'Ah, the portal to Caveworld has opened up again, I see. Are you hungry, young Maji?'

Regina, a powerful Sorceress & Alchemist, had been held prisoner by Lord Grishound

Regina and Josh discuss his predicament and are almost surprised by three Sabrewolves.

The Sentient Forrest
Regina needs to confer with the Crystal Queen, and suspects Josh will also benefit from her counsel. But first they need to travel through a dense forest so thickly covered that no light will penetrate to the forest floor. Regina obliges by removing her cloak, which floats around them and illuminates their path.
'Wow! Is that Magic?'.
'MAGIC?!? My dear, Josh. Magic is the tricks and slight of hand you expect at a birthday or Crystaleve party.
They are not long in the forest when Josh suggests that non-Maji folk could light fires to help them see their way. The utterance of the word fire causes an unseen commotion. Josh is surprised to learn that the trees don't like to hear the word fire.

Before their journey is over Josh blurts out the word fire once more…

An Audience with the Crystal Queen

Josh and Regina are told that Lord Grishound has damaged the balance between Man/Nature/Maji.

To make matters worse and hastening the imbalance, Grishound has stolen the Trimajiion – Three Majikal treasures in the safe keeping of the Crystal Queen and her daughters. There loss will accelerate the end of all Maji in Regina's world.

The only way to Travel
…

The Baengore's Cave

They discover that Grishound has hired a rival Sorcerer to place a spell on the cave's entrance, prohibiting any Maji to pass.

'What's so Majikal about your shoes?'
'You wont catch me having smelly feet, I can tell you!' Unfortunately, as a Sorceress even my fingernails have maji in them.'

Josh enters alone…

The Maji of Josh's World

…

A Brief Journey Home

…

The Trimajiion is Complete

… and have to pass through the land of the fierce and insatiably hungry Gooners.

'A Cookbook on dragons? That's disgusting!'
'I find the twenty-three books they've written on how to cook humans to be far more disturbing. I believe they've dedicated one book entirely to the cooking of thirteen year old boys.'

Through circumstances, Josh has to retrieve the two remaining Maji objects – but they need to get past the insatiable Gooners first and their unsavoury singing!

Cut 'em up. Slice 'em up. Dip 'em in sauce.
In a hurry eat 'em raw or cook 'em brown with curry
Raid the larder, find the sugar an' have 'em for dessert
Tea and biscuits have their place, but th...

Product Details

BN ID:	2940011118708
Publisher:	SP McGiff
Publication date:	10/03/2010
Sold by:	Smashwords
Format:	eBook
File size:	233 KB
Age Range:	13 Years

About the Author

I suppose I could start with my birth and work forward, but my death is of far greater interest.

It was bitterly cold that Christmas evening in 1776, and I was celebrating the birth of Our Lord in the certain knowledge that no Christian army would attack on such a holy night. Okay, I'd more to drink than any right thinking sentry ought to have supped, but haven't I just mentioned it was Christmas, so a little pity I beg of you - that which was in such short supply that far away night.

I should have spotted the approaching rebels and warned my comrades, but I had dozed off. The river looked frozen and who could have guessed that nearly two thousand men could cross unseen, especially with that pompous farmer general at their head. It all happened so fast - in less than an hour our forces lay dead or captured.

Ah, but I was soon to learn that being captured or lying with a sword between one's ribs was not the worst fate to befall those defeated that moonless night. Worse - far worse was in store for me.

I had killed a strapping Yankee lad who had wielded a sword like it was an arm off a New England windmill, but I was outnumbered and had to surrender my sword to a lad of less than twenty summers. Unfortunately my captors trudged me past the Mashpee shaman we employed as a scout. He lay holding his lifeless son close to his chest. He looked distraught, but on recognising me his eyes hardened into a dead stare. He knew. He knew the surprise attack was my fault.

In one swift action he threw his tomahawk underarm which caught me square in the chest. As I fell to my knees and before he could be dragged away from me he whispered some words of his ancient tongue into my ear. I tipped forward, but all was black before I hit the ground.

I came back to my senses to find it was still dark and I had a most dreadful dry taste in my mouth. I reasoned I must be in hospital with a heavy blanket tucked around me as I struggled to lift my arms. I eventually pushed myself upwards to find myself in the very field of our defeat. Long gone were the chaotic scenes of battle, and as I lifted myself out of my hastily prepared, shallow grave I felt an overwhelming urge to… to… ah, but that's a different story altogether and I fear I have rambled on and taken up too much of your time dear reader.

What else can I say about myself, such as what interests I have when I'm not consumed with ... Sorry, there I nearly go...