Read Online In Search of the Alter Dom by Jack Challis - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Jack Challis
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crater wall. She froze and listened, trying to analyse the sounds that were becoming more frantic! The sounds could only be described as shuffling; sometimes punctuated by stamping, accompanied by the odd grunt and squeal. Blodwyn Jones was not a girl to sit tight and hope for the best – she had to know the sounds’ origins – afraid as she was!
Getting up as quietly as possible and firmly gripping her staff, Blodwyn tiptoed towards the edge of a large rock. Instead of looking over the top and breaking the skyline; she slowly popped her head around the side of the rock. Blodwyn’s eyes widened as she saw the creature responsible!
Three meters away she saw a giant rodent biped over a meter tall, its back to her. Because of the creature’s long naked tail and the size of its swollen plumbs, she knew instantly – it was a giant Dog-Rat! The giant rodent was practicing swordsmanship, totally unaware of her presence; she was down-wind of the Dog-Rat. The rodent’s long body ended in a pair of extremely short bandy legs. The Dog-Rat began wrapping its long hairless, naked tail around its waist and tying it in a knot. “Surely, this overlarge rodent was not a harmless little Rill, described by Grunwalde – it was armed – besides rats were vicious!”
This creature had to be another species – not a Rill ? The Dog-Rat wore an old battered, wide brimmed cavalier’s hat with three tattered white ostrich plumes. On its chest was a much-dented copper breastplate; the child-sized type one sees in museums. A leather habergeon and scabbard hung from the Dog-rat’s rounded shoulder: below the waist the rodent was naked.
Nearby was a plastic shopping bag from a popular superstore; next to it neatly placed a new pair of expensive white trainers!
‘On-Guard!’ The Dog-Rat cried out in a high-pitched staccato. Backward and forward the Dog-Rat went – lunging and slashing with its sharp looking saber at an imaginary opponent.
Every now and again, the rodent stopped; sniffed the breeze and looked up as if checking for danger, while scratching its behind.
Being downwind – she could smell a musky whiff of Dog-Rat. Nevertheless, how long could she remain undetected? Rats have keen noses; to retreat now could prove dangerous! Besides, she needed information, news of the Alter Dom, while she remained here.
Blodwyn decided on a bold confident approach, familiar with the nature of rats. She did not wish to seem naïve or vulnerable to an opportunistic rodent – whose nature was to prey on the weak!
From an early age Blodwyn had learnt that all males responded to flattery; especially from a female. Males seemed to lack the mental attributes to know whether the flattery was sincere or not.
Swordplay over, the large Dog-Rat now began doffing its plumed hat and bowing low, to an imaginary audience. If it was not for the sharp looking sword and the size of the rodent, the spectacle might have been humorous.
The oversized rodent then began un-tying its hairless tail from around its waist: scratched itself again and farted! Sheathing its sword the Dog-Rat adopted a hunched-back pose. He proceeded to limp around an imaginary stage, in a dramatic way, often turning to an imaginary audience; baring his sharp teeth in a sly, hammy smile. The Dog-Rat began quoting Shakespeare, albeit out of context and incorrectly
‘This is the winter of my discontent…..a pox on the house of York, says I. Now here’s the rub…..methinks, I knew that powered tart and in her chambers – I nimbly capered!’ The large Dog-Rat then took several dramatic bows to imaginary applauses.
Blodwyn slowly rose to her feet, placing her stick against the rock within easy reach – just in case! Blodwyn cleared her throat loudly.
With rat-like swiftness, the creature spun around adopting the ‘on-guard’ position – its blade pointing at her heart! The Dog-Rat’s thin lips curled back exposing gleaming teeth in a ratty snarl! The creature quickly covered
Getting up as quietly as possible and firmly gripping her staff, Blodwyn tiptoed towards the edge of a large rock. Instead of looking over the top and breaking the skyline; she slowly popped her head around the side of the rock. Blodwyn’s eyes widened as she saw the creature responsible!
Three meters away she saw a giant rodent biped over a meter tall, its back to her. Because of the creature’s long naked tail and the size of its swollen plumbs, she knew instantly – it was a giant Dog-Rat! The giant rodent was practicing swordsmanship, totally unaware of her presence; she was down-wind of the Dog-Rat. The rodent’s long body ended in a pair of extremely short bandy legs. The Dog-Rat began wrapping its long hairless, naked tail around its waist and tying it in a knot. “Surely, this overlarge rodent was not a harmless little Rill, described by Grunwalde – it was armed – besides rats were vicious!”
This creature had to be another species – not a Rill ? The Dog-Rat wore an old battered, wide brimmed cavalier’s hat with three tattered white ostrich plumes. On its chest was a much-dented copper breastplate; the child-sized type one sees in museums. A leather habergeon and scabbard hung from the Dog-rat’s rounded shoulder: below the waist the rodent was naked.
Nearby was a plastic shopping bag from a popular superstore; next to it neatly placed a new pair of expensive white trainers!
‘On-Guard!’ The Dog-Rat cried out in a high-pitched staccato. Backward and forward the Dog-Rat went – lunging and slashing with its sharp looking saber at an imaginary opponent.
Every now and again, the rodent stopped; sniffed the breeze and looked up as if checking for danger, while scratching its behind.
Being downwind – she could smell a musky whiff of Dog-Rat. Nevertheless, how long could she remain undetected? Rats have keen noses; to retreat now could prove dangerous! Besides, she needed information, news of the Alter Dom, while she remained here.
Blodwyn decided on a bold confident approach, familiar with the nature of rats. She did not wish to seem naïve or vulnerable to an opportunistic rodent – whose nature was to prey on the weak!
From an early age Blodwyn had learnt that all males responded to flattery; especially from a female. Males seemed to lack the mental attributes to know whether the flattery was sincere or not.
Swordplay over, the large Dog-Rat now began doffing its plumed hat and bowing low, to an imaginary audience. If it was not for the sharp looking sword and the size of the rodent, the spectacle might have been humorous.
The oversized rodent then began un-tying its hairless tail from around its waist: scratched itself again and farted! Sheathing its sword the Dog-Rat adopted a hunched-back pose. He proceeded to limp around an imaginary stage, in a dramatic way, often turning to an imaginary audience; baring his sharp teeth in a sly, hammy smile. The Dog-Rat began quoting Shakespeare, albeit out of context and incorrectly
‘This is the winter of my discontent…..a pox on the house of York, says I. Now here’s the rub…..methinks, I knew that powered tart and in her chambers – I nimbly capered!’ The large Dog-Rat then took several dramatic bows to imaginary applauses.
Blodwyn slowly rose to her feet, placing her stick against the rock within easy reach – just in case! Blodwyn cleared her throat loudly.
With rat-like swiftness, the creature spun around adopting the ‘on-guard’ position – its blade pointing at her heart! The Dog-Rat’s thin lips curled back exposing gleaming teeth in a ratty snarl! The creature quickly covered
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