MobileRead's Win an iPad - E-Reader Survey

[poohbear_nc]

Originally Posted by DaleDe

Note likely to work very well in the ePUB version.

Dale

No - for the epub version we'll use the static "hop-along" chicken map.

This version introduces the spin-off video game possibility though ....

[recluse]

*jingle...jingle*

poohbear...it's storytime, poobear...

*jingle...jingle*

[poohbear_nc]

Originally Posted by recluse

*jingle...jingle*

poohbear...it's storytime, poobear...

*jingle...jingle*

Soon my little impatient green goblin! Keep rocking your kitten!

[poohbear_nc]

HIGH NOON




THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE HOME!!

Night skies cover the desert. Clouds flit fitfully over the orange moon's wan face. Small animals hurry in search of a quick meal whilst trying to avoid becoming a quick meal. Javed, Djinn of Willoughby, perches on a high cloud next to the moon and contemplates the follies played out before him today. He rests a contemplative chin in his hand, lowers his eyelids, and hums softly. There are so many mistakes to correct, so many lives to restore, so much to fix before sunrise.

Shaking himself upright, he thinks "Well, better get started!"

First, he casts his all-seeing glare upon the town of MR-Rock, where a dim light still burns in the window of the Llounge Saloon. Doc and dreams girl have long since retired [No - don't ask for details! This isn't THAT kind of story!]. The Djinn reaches down and gently snuffs the light, passes his hand over the drowsy town, and whispers "Sleep! Sleep! Sleep!"
[Especially those dang-blasted shums!]

Then he raises his eyes to the nearby desert where Judge Nate's party lie on death's doorstep. Well, actually, they're lying on an impromptu picnic table thrown together by the vultures for their planned feast. He gently wafts a hand over the camp, returning the unconscious men back to their waiting beds. Just as he's about to turn his gaze away he hears a small, pathetic whimpering sound. There, shivering behind the cactus, the small gray doggie whose antics are to blame for this predicament. Mercifully, the Djinn picks up the doggie by his scruff [fastidiously avoiding the ravenous flea population] and boots him back to his usual place under the bar in the Llounge Saloon. Another whimper of thanks touches his vast heart, causing a chocolate covered donut to appear next to the doggie's head.

The Djinn's mighty head again swings over the desert, this time finding the vixens' camp. All is peaceful now in the camp. Recluse had rocked the kitten, sounding his tiny bell, so long that he lulled everyone - including the coyotes - into a deep slumber, broken only by the lusty purring of the happy kitten, and of recluse too! Another wave of the mighty hand returns the ladies of the night back to their rooms in the saloon, recluse and his kitten to the belfry, and Lawyer Tom and his burro back to his dusty law office!

In a fit of wizardly dark humor, the Djinn relocates the sleeping coyotes onto the vultures' picnic table. It's far enough away in the desert that the ensuing commotion won't disturb the dreams of the townfolk.

Pulling out his To-Do list, the Djinn moves to the Chicken Ranch. There he espys a late-night meeting of the rangers, discussing whether to ride against the Oz-Injuns. When a vote is taken, all raise their hands [Errr ... dave's arm falls off again but OMK 3rd picks it up and raises it for him] to vote for remaining at the Chicken Ranch and applying for jobs as chicken wranglers. Vintage Seasonings, after a bath and a brush, has also decided to remain on the ranch, basking in the glow of admiration from the two lovely daughters. The Djinn makes a check-mark on his list and prepares to move on.

But he hears the muted heart-broken sobbing from GeoffC(hicken)'s room. When he peeks through his window, the Djinn sees the grief-stricken overseer clutching the fragments of his beloved, now empty, piggy bank to his heart. "Sleep! Sleep! Sleep!" murmurs the Djinn, and GeoffC(hicken) slides down onto his pillow. The mighty Djinn reaches down with one puissant digit and taps the fragments, which begin to glow and rejoin into the charming pink piggy so beloved by the canny Scotsman! Before he leaves, the Djinn reaches into the pocket in his robe, pulls out a silver coin, and drops it into the now-healed piggy bank. A small smile appears on the dozing foreman's face, as his hand slides over the slot in piggy's back.

Another tick on the list. Now over to the Oz-Injun camp, where beppe le cookque's judicious seasoning of the spam tetrazzini with ZCD's had done the Djinn's work for him. All are profoundly asleep and will remember nothing of the previous day when they awaken. SS will wonder what happened to her spare pair of kitty jim-jams, but will never see them again.

Oh yes, wait a minute, the Djinn approaches the royal teepee where Queen KattisCat sleeps clasped in the arms of her MOTT. The Djinn lays a healing palm upon her head and breathes ever so softly "Heal! Heal! Heal!" "All will be well in time!"

Then he quietly steals from the tent, remembering to scoop up the recumbent beppe and return him to the Chicken Ranch. He'll be sorely needed to feed all the new ranch hands tomorrow. The chickens begin to tremble in their nests, sensing his return to the kitchen.

Another tick on the list. Almost done. Now the Djinn's head swing to face the deepest, darkest desert, where a lone rider on a rapidly tiring Mare is leaving hoofmarks in the glowing sands.
"Alex, Alex, you'll have to find your own way home, son." whispers the Djinn, and reseats himelf to watch the end of the drama play out on the desert stage.

Mare carried Alex and his burden deep, deep into the darkling desert. Exhausted from his recent tussles with SS, Alex slumped lower and lower in the saddle, held on only by his convulsive clasp of Mare's silky mane. Soon he began to snore softly, as Mare's gentle gait rocked him to sleep. Mare knew they must find water and rest soon. But where were they?

Up ahead, Mare's sharp eyes picked out a small wavering yellow light. Strengthened by her discovery, Mare left hoofmarks rapidly as she turned toward the light. Alex snapped fully awake instantly the minute he felt Mare slow to a stop. Painfully opening his bleary, blood-shot eyes Alex stared at the strangest, quaintest wagon he had ever seen. It was a small wooden wagon brightly painted in many colors and festooned with innumerable shiny geegaws, trinkets, oddities, and treasures. It was pulled by one tiny horse, whose colors kept shifting in the wavering light of the camp fire.

Squinting at the side of the wagon, Alex read the brightly blazoned letters that spelled out filip le fortunate. Lowering his eyes to the campfire, Alex then descried the wagon's owner, presumably filip, sitting next to the fire sipping a last cup of coffee. filip's was an ageless face, seamed and weathered by a lifetime spent traversing the desert. Nothing could or would ever surprise him now, he had witnessed all life offers in his desert sojourn.

“Bonjour, mon ami” dit-il, avant de répéter ses vœux de bienvenue à Mare. « Venez plus près, mes amis, et reposez vous un moment. Partagez mon feu, ma nourriture et mon eau. Il n’y a pas d’étrangers dans le désert d’MR. »

Alex se laissa glisser de Mare, épuisé, qui s’éloigna pour rejoindre à son auge le petit cheval de filip. Alex s’écrasa près du feu et accepta le verre d’eau et le bol de soupe offerts. filip observait son invité d’un regard dissimulé par ses sourcils broussailleux, sans le fixer directement mais en buvant en apparence tout les détails du passé d’Alex dans les traînées de poussière et de larmes qui striaient son visage. Un silence amical s'étendit sur le petit camp, et Alex recouvrit un peu de ses forces.

« Je ne sais comment vous remercier, je ne sais pas même qui vous êtes, » bégaya Alex. « Je m’appelle Alex et… » Souffrant, il dut prendre une pause, avala bruyamment, puis il souffla « Avant, j’avais une maison à MR-Rock »
« Mais je me suis enfui. Et je ne pourrai jamais retourner à la maison. »
Il enfoui son visage dans ses mains et pleura amèrement, regrettant ses actions passées et souhaitant désespérément qu’il pourrait ouvrir les yeux et se retrouver dans son ancienne chambre, parmi ses amis.

filip regarda les soubresauts agitant les épaules d’Alex jusqu’à se qu’ils se calment, puis lui offrit un mouchoir brodé pour qu’il se nettoie le visage.
« Mon ami, j’ai voyagé dans tout les coins de cette terre, j’ai été témoin de bien des tragédies et de triomphes, j’ai collectionné les espoirs, les rêves et les cauchemars d’une myriade d’âmes afin de les préserver. Vous n’êtes pas seul. Vous pouvez retourner chez vous, à vos amis. Vous savez ce que vous devez faire. Vous avez toujours su ce que vous deviez faire pour y retourner. »
« Reposez-vous près du feu, ami, et vous trouverez le chemin vers la maison. »

filip se retira dans sa charrette et laissa Alex qui fixait les flammes vacillant doucement. Il ouvrit sa sacoche et en retira le iPad, la source de tout ses déboires. Promenant ses doigts, sans y penser, sur sa surface séductrice, Alex tourna à nouveau ses regards vers le feu. Fasciné, Alex vit le visage du Djinn apparaître dans les flammes, oscillant mais autoritaire alors qu’il rendait à Alex son regard. Les yeux du Djinn glissèrent sur le iPad, puis revinrent à ceux d’Alex - puis il opina de la tête avant de disparaître à nouveau dans les flammes.

Alex se leva et s’approcha de la charrette. « Allez, prenez-le, c’est à vous. Ça vous appartient à vous, pas à moi. Ajoutez-le à votre collection afin que je redevienne libre. »

filip accepta de bon cœur le iPad, et remercia Alex pour sa sagesse et sa générosité. En plaçant l’appareil dans sa charrette, filip se retourna vers Alex et dit « Allons à la maison, maintenant. »

[For those of you fearing you were just transported into an alternate dimension, or that you definitely need a new prescription for your glasses, press the handy button below and read on!]

Spoiler:

"Bonjour, mon ami" he called out, then repeated his welcome to Mare. "Come closer friends and rest awhile. Share my fire, my food, and my water. There are no strangers in the MR-desert."

Alex slid off the exhausted Mare, who wandered away to join filip's tiny horse at the feeding trough. Alex collapsed by the fire, accepting the proffered cup of water and plate of soup. filip observed his guest from under his bushy eyebrows, never staring directly but seemingly drinking all the details of Alex's past from the streaks of dirt and tears that darkened his face. A companionable silence blanketed the tiny camp, as Alex regained some strength.

"I don't know how to thank you, I don't even know who you are," stammered Alex. "My name is Alex and ......" he painfully paused here and swallowed hard and whispered "I used to have a home in MR-Rock."
"But I ran away. And I can't ever go back home again."
He buried his face in his hands and wept bitterly, regretting his past acts and desperately wishing he could open his eyes and find himself back in his old room amongst his friends.

filip watched Alex's shaking shoulders until they slowed, and handed Alex an embroidered handkerchief to clean his face.
"My friend, I have traveled to all ends of this earth, I have witnessed many tragedies and triumphs, I have collected the hopes, dreams, and nightmares from a myriad of souls for safe-keeping. You are not alone. You can return to your home and friends. You know what you must do. You've always known what you must do to go home again."

"Rest here by the fire my friend and you will find your way home."

filip retired into his wagon, leaving Alex gazing into the softly flickering flames. He opened his saddlebag and pulled out the iPad, the source and cause of all his travails. Absently running his fingers over its seductive surface, Alex turned his gaze back into the fire. Fascinated, Alex stared as the Djinn's face appeared in the flames, wavering but commanding as he returned Alex's startled gaze. The Djinn's eyes slid to the iPad and then back to Alex's eyes -- and he nodded but once before fading back into the campfire flames.

Alex rose from the fire and approached the wagon. "Here, take it, it's yours. It belongs to you, not me. Add it to your collection so I can be free again."

filip accepted the iPad joyously, and thanked Alex for his wisdom and generosity. Placing it safely in his wagon, filip turned to Alex and said "Let's go home now."

Hitching Mare to the wagon alongside filip's tiny horse, they flew back towards MR-Rock. On the way they passed the yet-slumbering Oz-Injun camp, wallowing in its ZCD-induced comatose stupor of bliss. Then the Chicken Ranch, where beppe le cookque's return was heralded by wreaths of fragrant smoke pouring from the kitchen, and the sound of Davimeet-ya's laments as her chicken friends were consigned to the breakfast table. Then an abandoned camp in which a tall tree still glowed a faint green. Then an abandoned picnic smeared with BBQ sauce, or was it blood?

Faster and faster the wagon rolled towards the little town on the horizon, twinkling in the dawn light like the jewel it truly was. Alex's heart bounded with excitement, and yes, trepidation. What would his welcome be like now, he wondered. Would anyone even notice he had returned, again?

As they drew closer to town they could hear joyous bells pealing from recluse's belfry, along with cheers and shouts of happiness. Pulling up in front of the Llounge Saloon, Alex peered inside and exclaimed "We're just in time for a wedding!"

And so ends the little saga of Alex, an iPad, and a community in turmoil.
[Reads like the set-up to a sequel you say?]


With apologies to the Bard, may I end with:

If this contest has offended,
Think but this, no harm intended,
That you have but tarried here
While this saga did appear.

And this weak and idle theme,
No more yielding but a dream,
Gentles, do not reprehend,
If you pardon, we will mend.

And, say I, the author Pooh,
Alex soon will set things true,
Now to ‘scape the serpent’s tongue,
He will make amends ere long;
Else the Pooh a liar call;

So, good night unto you all.
Give me your hands, now still your cries,
And Alex shall award the prize.

[Mare of Earth]

Soooo..... Does that mean filip won the iPad? *looks confused*
Because it seems that way, unless you take it in a metaphorical handing over dreams to a collector of dreams kind of way. Which is why I am confused and seek a straight yes or no....

Eggcellent writing chicken! *tosses pooh a chicken treat*

[kindlekitten]

needs more cowbell!!!!

(and gun play)

is there an imminent announcement?

who is filip?

[recluse]

Pooh chickened out.
"It's a Wonderful Life" meets "The Wizard of Oz" in a "Twilight Zone" western episode even Rod Serling knows is too full of sap to air.

Well written dribble.
Walt Disney level dribble.
But still dribble.

We're very disappointed.
Aren't we, Kittenkindle?
Yes, we are.

[Mare of Earth]

Originally Posted by recluse

Pooh chickened out.
"It's a Wonderful Life" meets "The Wizard of Oz" in a "Twilight Zone" western episode even Rod Serling knows is too full of sap to air.

I have to admit, I was expecting more violence. Instead, while everyone took a nap, I took a very long run. *looks tired*

[kindlekitten]

Originally Posted by recluse

Pooh chickened out.
"It's a Wonderful Life" meets "The Wizard of Oz" in a "Twilight Zone" western episode even Rod Serling knows is too full of sap to air.

Well written dribble.
Walt Disney level dribble.
But still dribble.

We're very disappointed.
Aren't we, Kittenkindle?
Yes, we are.

I was promised gun play

[GeoffC]

We do have a member whos user name is ......

What an excellent story, well worthy of stars galore ......

[kindlekitten]

well of the last 15 visitors to his page, only 3 were not moderators. you, me, and someone else. based on his posting habits I don't think the visits were because he is a bad boy

[beppe]

what a masterful ending and wrapping up of the story! poohbear_nc, short for GreatChickenDarlingOfTheWestLands, you are a great story teller, and you worked hard to have that great mastership of Rabelays tongue. (Maybe not entirely with his own feather, but nevertheless, a special Molto bravo, Maestro).

Who has eyes can see and who has brain, for him it is just enough to switch it on.

Touching. Compelling the reader to go on and the same time to stop to appreciate the details. Masterful and compassionate.

Dogggy you are quite loved. It shows in your avatar.
Geoff character is so well treated, and the end of his thread so sweet.

The rendering of the atmospheres of the night and the Djinn (a performance worth of a nomination) arrives directly from the great painters, I would dare say Rembrandt.

recluse, very sensitive, got it right. Disney did things like this, and Spieberg and the brothers were are thouhs. Great entertainment.

Thank you pooh

[beppe]

[GeoffC]

what a masterful ending and wrapping up of the story! poohbear_nc, short for GreatChickenDarlingOfTheWestLands, you are a great story teller, and you worked hard to have that great mastership of Rabelays tongue. (Maybe not entirely with his own feather, but nevertheless, a special Molto bravo, Maestro).


:c lap:

[WT Sharpe]

What a great story! Can't wait to download the entire thing.

Did filip win the iPad for real? Where's the official announcement? The drawing was 10 years ago!