I am posting pages from my recent book, available at the Book Shelf, Mission Street, Mt. Pleasant. For more information click MORE.

John rested the ladder against the roof of the hall. Up he went to the roof. From there, he climbed the tower with its big bell and scrambled to the very top. On his shingle, he drew some lines. He took some string and made a few measurements. Retracing his steps and returning the ladder, he showed the smith his design for the base.

The smith smiled, revealing a missing tooth. “Well, get going on it!”
For the next two weeks, John was very busy. He completed the base he had designed and fastened it to the tower with sturdy bolts. There was a pipe brazed to the base. The smith watched approvingly at every step John took. Four brass rods formed the cardinal points, each welded to a bronze collar with a hole large enough to slip over the pipe at the tower’s top. He fastened the letters E, W, N, and S at the ends of the rods and, assuring his bearings were correct, mounted the crossed bars to the pipe with screws. “What do you want the vane to be?” John asked. The smith asked, “What would you like since you’re the artist on this job?”

John smiled, “A jackalope.” And so it was done. From brass, he trimmed the profile of George and soldered it to the top of a rod. He greased the inside of the pipe so the vane would rotate freely. He had filed a notch near the bottom of the rod. When he placed the vane into the pipe, he tightened several screws at the height of the notch, short of choking the rod. He was praised by the townsfolk at the dedication and was paid handsomely.

On the last day at the mill, his language proficiency having improved greatly, he asked Mr. Seltzer, the foreman, how much he wanted for the jackalopes.

Seltzer rubbed his bristled chin for a moment and said, “You’ve been a good worker, and I know you won’t be harsh on them. They are a nice pair. Well, I couldn’t use them until the thaw anyway, so how much are you willing to pay for the two of them?” John looked in his string purse and peered inside and pulled out two brass coins. Mr. Seltzer took John as a simple person, not knowledgeable about buying and selling. “That would get you one of them.”

John returned the coins to the purse and brought out a bronze coin. Seltzer’s eyes sparkled and reached for the tempting coin. Jack closed his fist on it, saying, “I’d like six brass coins in change.” Seltzer smiled; this John was no one’s fool.
Excitedly, John returned to the shed and told George and Gracie the news. They were very grateful. He gave them each a roll and a carrot stick from his grocery bag.

They all slept well. In the morning, John had several chores. He visited the barber for a haircut and shave, and the general store for some clothes. He then completed his last chore. He went to the house from which he had taken the clothing on that first night in town. He had cleaned them and quietly placed the items on the clothesline in the backyard, slipping a brass coin in the pocket of the jacket.

In the spring, John found much work, plowing fields for farmers. George and Gracie pulled steadily and never complained. The hours were long, but the pay was reasonable. He bought them sacks of oats and carrots (which were their favorite). Soon, he had saved enough to buy a used wagon with sides and a roof to be his home and well-fitting harnesses for the jackalopes. The three became good friends. When the work was done they would chat along the way.

One sweet spring evening, the stars shimmered in the clear blue sky. Work had gone well, and they were returning to their small patch of grass in the glen.

Three large men with scarves over their mouths and wearing long black coats stood in the road blocking the way. “What can I do for you, gentlemen?” asked John amiably.

“You can give us your cash, and you won’t get hurt,” said the tallest of the three.
John looked them over and replied, “I don’t intend to give you that satisfaction.” Before the men could react, John sprang from the driver’s seat, feet first, crushing the breath out of the largest marauder. Somersaulting forward, he caught the second man in the chin with his boots, sending him sprawling into the ditch beside the road.

“That’s enough out of you, acrobat!” shouted the third man, holding a hunting knife in his fist, his back to the jackalopes. George took him by complete surprise, rearing up with Gracie rising to her rear paws to give him leverage. Down he crashed, breaking the thief’s right arm and sending the knife into the darkened bushes. The first man was back on his feet, and he too had a knife. He lunged at John who turned away from the thrust of the blade. Completing his turn, John smashed his fist into the other’s jaw. Down he went. The second man had come out of the ditch and jumped on John’s back.

“You never learn, do you?” cried Gracie tauntingly. John used his attacker’s forward momentum by crouching until the man flew over his head. He stood, catching the man’s knees and pushed them up. The man landed on his head and did not get up. John picked up the knife before him and turned to the three beaten men. “Any more from you, gentlemen?” There was no reply.

Spring turned to summer, and summer to fall. John learned he was in a country named Nordlandt, and terrible things were occurring.


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