Read Online Sink: Old Man's Tale by Perrin Briar - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Perrin Briar
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magnet,” Jeremiah said. “We just found our missing piece.”
Chapter Twenty
The guards carried huge lumps of the metallic rock back to the castle. The rock was already festooned with iron dust, coins, and a dozen other small nik naks it’d picked up along the way.
Graham slowed down to watch the festivities.
“What are you doing?” Jeremiah said.
“I might join the party,” Graham said.
“Are you sure that’s wise?” Jeremiah said.
“Who cares if it’s wise?” Graham said. “It looks fun!”
The people had big smiles and red cheeks from drinking a purple liquid. The music was at a high tempo, colorful and exciting. Half the crowd turned to look at him, their mouths dropping open.
“I’m heading back,” Jeremiah said. “So we can get back as soon as possible.”
“I’ll join you later,” Graham said.
He crossed the bridge that led to the town square, the guards clearing a path around him, keeping the revelers back.
“You don’t need to push everyone away,” Graham said. “Just let them do their celebration.”
But the guards paid no attention to Graham, and continued to push the locals back.
There were circus performers, tumblers, acrobats, jugglers, and men on stilts who stepped over people in the crowd. The festivities continued, but lacked the energy they had before Graham had arrived. He could tell by the locals’ expressions and glances he was about as welcome as a father at his teenage daughter’s birthday party.
Graham sighed and turned to head back toward the castle. As he left, the music picked up and the cheers from the crowd grew louder.
He stopped at the castle entrance.
“I, uh, need the toilet,” he said.
A pair of guards led him toward the restrooms off a separate corridor. The guards waited on either side of the door as Graham entered. He closed the door behind himself and approached the window. He pushed it open. He climbed out and crouched down, creeping behind a row of shacks. He edged along the wall. The houses were silent. People weren’t here, instead preferring to be in the thick of the party.
A little man took off his stilts and leaned them against a shack. He took off his long coat and hung it over the top of a door, the mask tucked in its pocket. It was so long it touched the ground. Just the right height for Graham.
He got on his hands and knees and crawled along the side of the shack. He ever so gently lifted the coat. He crept behind the house, put on the coat and mask, and lifted his collar up. He took a deep breath and stepped out into the street. He waited for someone to spot him. Someone did.
A bunch of kids ran at him, screaming and shouting. Graham looked from them to the adults watching with smiles on their faces. Graham danced, twirling his legs around like they were stilts. The kids laughed and cheered, chasing after him.
Graham entered the town square. He came face to face with another man on stilts. They leaned forward and stared at one another. They scratched their chins as if in thoughtful repose, and then made a slow circle in mirror image. They made faces in an attempt to scare each other, and then pushed in a friendly wrestling match. Graham had a greater mass, and easily pushed the other little figure back. He landed on a crowd of people. They braced him with their hands and pushed him back upright.
They continued to wrestle and again Graham easily pushed the other figure over. The crowd roared and danced on the spot. Graham raised his arms in victory. He was led to the center, where he bowed down and received a gold medal. The crowd cheered.
The little men gestured to a throne, and Graham took a seat. A place of honor. Sat on the other seats were the victors of their own competitions. There was a tap on his shoulder.
“Excuse me,” a little voice said.
A cute little girl with big eyes and pigtails stood looking up at him. She barely reached his knees.
“The winner should come this way,” she said.
Graham got up
Chapter Twenty
The guards carried huge lumps of the metallic rock back to the castle. The rock was already festooned with iron dust, coins, and a dozen other small nik naks it’d picked up along the way.
Graham slowed down to watch the festivities.
“What are you doing?” Jeremiah said.
“I might join the party,” Graham said.
“Are you sure that’s wise?” Jeremiah said.
“Who cares if it’s wise?” Graham said. “It looks fun!”
The people had big smiles and red cheeks from drinking a purple liquid. The music was at a high tempo, colorful and exciting. Half the crowd turned to look at him, their mouths dropping open.
“I’m heading back,” Jeremiah said. “So we can get back as soon as possible.”
“I’ll join you later,” Graham said.
He crossed the bridge that led to the town square, the guards clearing a path around him, keeping the revelers back.
“You don’t need to push everyone away,” Graham said. “Just let them do their celebration.”
But the guards paid no attention to Graham, and continued to push the locals back.
There were circus performers, tumblers, acrobats, jugglers, and men on stilts who stepped over people in the crowd. The festivities continued, but lacked the energy they had before Graham had arrived. He could tell by the locals’ expressions and glances he was about as welcome as a father at his teenage daughter’s birthday party.
Graham sighed and turned to head back toward the castle. As he left, the music picked up and the cheers from the crowd grew louder.
He stopped at the castle entrance.
“I, uh, need the toilet,” he said.
A pair of guards led him toward the restrooms off a separate corridor. The guards waited on either side of the door as Graham entered. He closed the door behind himself and approached the window. He pushed it open. He climbed out and crouched down, creeping behind a row of shacks. He edged along the wall. The houses were silent. People weren’t here, instead preferring to be in the thick of the party.
A little man took off his stilts and leaned them against a shack. He took off his long coat and hung it over the top of a door, the mask tucked in its pocket. It was so long it touched the ground. Just the right height for Graham.
He got on his hands and knees and crawled along the side of the shack. He ever so gently lifted the coat. He crept behind the house, put on the coat and mask, and lifted his collar up. He took a deep breath and stepped out into the street. He waited for someone to spot him. Someone did.
A bunch of kids ran at him, screaming and shouting. Graham looked from them to the adults watching with smiles on their faces. Graham danced, twirling his legs around like they were stilts. The kids laughed and cheered, chasing after him.
Graham entered the town square. He came face to face with another man on stilts. They leaned forward and stared at one another. They scratched their chins as if in thoughtful repose, and then made a slow circle in mirror image. They made faces in an attempt to scare each other, and then pushed in a friendly wrestling match. Graham had a greater mass, and easily pushed the other little figure back. He landed on a crowd of people. They braced him with their hands and pushed him back upright.
They continued to wrestle and again Graham easily pushed the other figure over. The crowd roared and danced on the spot. Graham raised his arms in victory. He was led to the center, where he bowed down and received a gold medal. The crowd cheered.
The little men gestured to a throne, and Graham took a seat. A place of honor. Sat on the other seats were the victors of their own competitions. There was a tap on his shoulder.
“Excuse me,” a little voice said.
A cute little girl with big eyes and pigtails stood looking up at him. She barely reached his knees.
“The winner should come this way,” she said.
Graham got up
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