Creation News

By John Handrahan

When a group of shipwreck survivors are washed up on the shores of a tropical island they are delighted to find a fully stocked but deserted cottage where they can wait for rescue. It is full of cutting edge technology which is great for the nerds in our group. Little do they realise that their unintentional trespass will change them from average everyday people into beings with superpowers, becoming trainee gods in some cases. The plot thickens when they are arrested by wizards from the Salvage Service who are under the influence of an as yet unknown evil force. As they continue their journey through the pages they learn how to use their new powers, well sort of, battle and lose to urges to mate with the locals and discover they are on Gods Island, a magical place where God has kept all his first attempts at creation that weren’t quite right. As the story unfolds our not so intrepid heroes find themselves locked in a battle against the evil Soul Eaters. Rather like a difficult dinner party guest this book insists on both exploring and participating in the fight between Good and Evil, free will as opposed to destiny, religion and substance misuse. Then it pokes fun at them all! A rather liberal God himself plays a bit part in the tale whilst Super Bunnies, dragons and Fairies, to name but a few, rampage across the pages which end with the ultimate plasma ball battle where Good finally triumphs over Evil. Or does it? Read on to find out.

• Language: English
• Publisher: John Handrahan
• Release date: Jun 11, 2012
• ISBN: 9781476340807

John Handrahan

Hi,thanks for reading this. I'm a keen online gamer, gardener and dog owner. I began writing like most authors thinking that I could write the best story in the world. After my inner egomania had calmed I wrote for self enjoyment. I hope you enjoy reading my books as I enjoyed writing them. I always try and put some humor in as there isn't enough of that in the world.

Book preview

Creation News

By John Handrahan

Editor Jill Handrahan

Copyright to John Handrahan 11 June 2012

All rights reserved

Published at Smashwords 11 June 2012

Creation News table of contents.

Chapter 1 The Wanderer.

Chapter 2 The Cottage.

Chapter 3 The Magic Box.

Chapter 4 Bunnies Galore.

Chapter 5 On The Trail.

Chapter 6 Moldavite City.

Chapter 7 The Dark Side Of Stash

Chapter 8 The Trial.

Chapter 9 The Lost Wood 1000th Annual Ball.

Chapter 10 The Book Of Creation.

Chapter 11 New Beginnings.

Chapter 12 Garbage Beware.

Chapter 13 The Big Dig.

Chapter 14 The Fairy Castle.

Chapter 15 Time To Kill.

Chapter 16 The Escape.

Chapter 17 Return To The Cottage.

Chapter 18 Letters From God.

Chapter 19 Return To Sender.

Chapter 20 The Joys Of Youth.

Chapter 21 All Good Things.

Chapter 22 There Rightful Place.

Chapter 23 The Ruling Bodies.

Chapter 24 The Soul Man.

Chapter 25 Revenge Of The Tala Bunnies.

Chapter 26 Carters Party.

Chapter One -The Wanderer

It was one fine fluffy mellow day, with icing on it, in June 2011. A long long way away, thirty minutes out of Hamilton, close to the Bermuda triangle, the scientific ship Wanderer sailed through choppy waters carrying a small scientific team who were tasked with exploring the surrounding ocean.

Below decks in the ship’s mess the team leader, Professor Milliner, prepared her team for the coming weeks of exploration. The five sat in the small homely seating area of the mess holding drinks, each slowly taking in their new home for the coming months. The mess had a small games corner with everything neatly fastened down by bungee straps. One wall held a TV and a briefing whiteboard. There were two doors, one leading to the upper decks and the other to the living quarters. The galley was situated at the side of the mess and the smell of roast beef lingered heavily and rather queasily around the large serving hatch.

Professor Milliner caught and drew the attention of the small team.

Hello everybody, I know you all know me. Rather than go straight into our heavy work load I thought we would spend the rest of the afternoon getting to know each other and complete a few team building exercises to break the ice a little. Professor Milliner asserted herself over the hum of the ships engines.

It’s not that bad, I have some nice fun exercises. I know some of you haven’t done this before. First of all I would like you all to stand up, introduce yourselves and tell us one thing you like about the person next to you. One more thing, err, where you would rather be if you weren’t here? the Professor said looking at Sarah, her protégée.

Sarah stood up finding her sea legs against the gentle rocking of the ships motion. She looked at Kevin Rickman and then addressed the group.

Hello I’m Sarah Baker, I like your smile, Sarah said, blushing, not knowing quite what to say. I didn’t just say that she thought to herself blushing even more furiously.

I would rather be anywhere else right now, she finished, sitting down covering her red face with her hands. The rest of the group laughed at the inappropriateness of her remark so Professor intervened for Sarah’s sake and changed the direction of the exercise.

I am Professor Wendy Milliner. I like Sarah because she is always honest and I would rather be diving off the Great Barrier Reef, which on reflection didn’t help much and the three men with them were smiling like mad.

The groups attention moved to a red-haired male who stopped laughing and started wearing a decidedly worried look with a on his face at being the new centre of attention.

My name is Gary Fensure, I like your Kings of Leon t-shirt and I haven’t got anywhere else I want to be right now, he said, not wanting to explain his online gaming addiction.

There must be something you would do rather than work Gary? asked the Professor.

Yeah, just chilling with my own company and playing online games I suppose, Gary reluctantly replied.

The man with the king of Leon t-shirt now took his turn and looked at the third male who was clean shaven and had a gung ho look to him. He looked him over once and could see by the outdoor clothing and muscles that he worked out and was fitter than he would ever be.

Hi, Pete Timpson, I like your big knife and I would rather be at Glastonbury right now," smiled the guy The group paused expectantly to see what Kevin said about Sarah.

I’m Kevin Rickman, I like your smile too and I would rather want to be up the Amazon exploring the tributary rivers, Kevin smiled, looking Sarah straight in the eyes and watching her blush again then taking the opportunity to glance quickly over her slender figure.

Well that broke the ice! the Professor intervened quickly. The first exercise will last one hour. You have to get the egg that I am holding here to the floor without breaking it, she explained, taping the egg to the ceiling of the galley as she spoke. The egg was attached by tape to a piece of string and suspended from the galley ceiling. It was swinging with a slight motion as the ship rode the waves.

To help you in this task I am giving you thirty pieces of paper, some blue tack, twenty elastic bands and twenty paperclips, the Professor continued.

How does the egg leave the string? Gary asked.

I will cut the string in one hour; I would get on with it if I were you.

Are we allowed scissors? Or sticky tape? Kevin asked.

No, only whatever you have on you. No leaving the room, no cheating, answered the Professor.

They settled down to the task at hand and stared at the egg swinging lazily in the walkway of the galley. They came up with several designs to try and lower the egg to the ground safely but were struggling with the limited supplies of materials. Kevin eventually took out his note pad and tore some more pages out to give them a chance. The Professor watched intently at their interaction to measure them up, see who took charge and to see if there were any personality conflicts.

Finally after thirty minutes they had decided, with Kevin leading the group that they were going to use Gary’s design of a cradle with several layers of ripped paper to catch the egg as it dropped. At this point they took another look at the egg which was picking up momentum as the ships motion increased. The rain pelting the decks above increased the ships background roar.

That’s not going to work now, the sea is swinging the egg around too much, Pete stated.

Gary sat and played with the egg, trying to stabilize it a little.

It will be fine. As soon as the scissors go in it will stabilize it a little. Gary assured the group, who were mid Blue Peter with the cradle.

They were struggling with the movement of the ship and the slightest jolt was making the flimsy design distort. Sarah was getting frustrated with the task and knew what the Professor was doing as she had experienced her teaching before. She got up and made her way over to her mentor which wasn’t easy when the boat was moving.

The sea is a bit rough for this exercise, complained Sarah.

You have twenty minutes and you know full well it is not about the completion of the task. Now go finish it. I’ll check out the weather with the Captain, ordered the Professor heading towards the bridge.

Sarah returned to the group.

It’s no good, she is going to make us finish this, Sarah explained, feeling useless as making things wasn’t her forte and her despondent face did not go unnoticed

We are nearly there, I want to see if it works, said Gary, eagerly looking for acknowledgement.

All done, said Kevin, poking the strange looking cradle into position. They sat looking at there work with a small but shared sense of accomplishment.

Drink anyone? Sarah asked.

Replies came from around the room and she took orders. This was her forte!

An alarm sounded throughout the ship and the intercom screeched to life.

The Captain had ordered everyone into survival suits and life jackets.

What’s that all about then? Gary asked.

Standard procedure in bad weather or if a storm is coming, is to get everyone in suits and life jackets. Nothing to worry about, Kevin said.

The men went to their cabins, found their survival suits and life jackets and proceeded to put them on. Sarah was making tea when the order to put the survival suit came. Well anything that made her feel useful made her feel better. She thought that doing simple tasks before putting on the suit would be wholly acceptable, but she hadn’t been to sea before.

Making tea in a gale is not impossible but vertically challenging and making tea was in fact a good coping mechanism for life’s ups and downs. She thought she could put it in a flask for later.

The First Officer didn’t see it like that. He had come below to ensure everyone was putting their suits on as he knew that the suits could be tricky, only coming in two sizes.

Miss Baker you need to put on your suit right now, he insisted.

Cup of tea? Surely the lifeboat would wait for me if we had to abandon ship, Sarah calmly flicked her long blonde hair and fluttered her eyelids at him.

Yes it would in an ideal world but we have already lost one man overboard and the sea doesn’t play by your rules, he frowned with a disapproving glare. Carter had become annoyed and frustrated with her attitude.

Put your suit on! Carter commanded assertively.

Sarah looked shocked, not knowing they had lost a crew member above. She went obediently to her bunk and found her standard issue survival suit and struggled into it.

Sarah was a good academic marine biologist but lacked common sense and coping mechanisms for some of life’s situations sometimes. She had an attractive, vulnerable ‘come and get me’ look you sometimes see in the girl next door when you are growing up. She knew Carter liked her and she liked pushing his buttons to see what happened. Sarah was studying her PhD and was attached to Southampton University. She owned a house in Fareham. Her mother, who was well off, had brought this for her on completion of her degree several years before. She lived on her own and owned one cat that her mother was looking after while she was away. Sarah mostly spent her time studying and enjoyed the challenge of learning new things. She never really made it into the whole student lifestyle when she was at university as she had to study hard to get were she was. She never felt that she had achieved much as her mother had always helped her so much with anything she wanted. Her father had died ten years before and she lacked any male role models in her life which left her believing men were strange creatures invented by God to torment women.

She had however started dating at her mother instructions; her mother had been setting her up with several well off men at functions such as charity balls and village fetes. Her mother denied it but Sarah knew what she was up to. Sarah did have a best friend, Clare, who had studied marine biology at Southampton with her. Clare had settled down with a nice young man and was expecting her first child. Sarah had spent many nights out on the town with her but nowadays it was coffee over brunch at a local café or dinner while Clare’s partner went out for the evening. Everyone around her was growing up and she thought going on this expedition would bring some life back into her life.

Carter moved on to Gary who was putting his suit on but had a rotund figure that required a positional movement fit in the standard survival suit.

I was born like it you know, its genetics, Gary murmured.

What’s that? Carter replied.

Clothicaly challenged, Gary replied, breathing heavily as he struggled with his suit.

Breathe in, Carter requested.

That’s it, thanks, Gary said, thinking that he now looked like a rather lumpy Duracell battery due to the bright ginger hair and black survival suit.

Gary was, as he said, born like it. His ginger hair and his chubby speckled face led him to isolate himself into his online computer game hi-tech gadget world, outside of which he knew little, but this was fine as he could afford most things he wanted from his work. Gary lived in the outskirts of Manchester where he had studied computers up to master’s level and then had started work for games company, eventually moving on to work for a web deign firm. Gary had gone on to do consultancy work for large firms, advising them on their systems and software. He used to share a house with several other people who he had studied with. When his friends went their separate ways he saw this contract job working in the Devils Triangle. His business was a bit slack due to the recession so he moved his belonging into his mum’s house and thought he could save enough money for a house of his own from taking this contract. Gary had never been to sea and he saw it as the big adventure he could tell the rest of his family about when he returned home. He thought everyone should have at least one good adventure in their lives and this was Gary’s big chance to break up the monotony of work.

This brought Carter to Pete. Pete was about five foot ten and had a slim build and black wavy hair pulled back in pony tail and had no problems getting in his suit, simply adjusting his ponytail to get in his hood on. Pete had packed a bag. In Pete’s mind he was waiting for the ship to sink, planning what he might need in case of emergency:-

Torch, sample bags, rock hammer, testing solutions, rizla, tobacco, lighter, herb and a bottle of JD - only one of which might help save his life but if he was going to die he wouldn’t care. Pete was the geologist on this expedition. His job was to collect rock samples and formulate the composition of the sea bed in the area around the Bermuda triangle. Pete liked history and archeology but hadn’t the will to study anymore to obtain the qualifications he needed to be an archeologist. He thought geology would give him the opportunity to live on the fringes of those occupations and get to see some cool stuff.

Pete was single and lived on his own in a flat in Southampton. His flat was modest and very studenty with entire walls filled with advertisements for bands and gigs. He had used any poster he could find to create a mosaic of modern expressionism that wasn’t flowery or in any way resembled conformity. He had family in London who he visited once a year but mainly he did as he pleased. He enjoyed his freedom and the alternative lifestyle that living away from his family gave him. Pete wasn’t sad but had more than his fair share of apathy. He tended to look on the dark side of life and counterbalanced this with the vast social life he had kept going from university and beyond. Pete liked parties and enjoyed raves, most of which were illegal or had gone underground after the governments nanny state had taken over every aspect of trying to ruin a perfectly good pastime.

You don’t need the bag. Insurance will cover any losses, Carter assured Pete.

I would rather stay on the cautious side, replied Pete. Insurance doesn’t cover everything he thought.

Kevin the expedition diver was also ready and had ensured that he had all the essentials: - compass, water, rations packs, first aid kit, rope, survival kit and flares. Yes, he was one of the survivalists of the world that pride themselves on knowing what to do in any situation, any time, any place, anywhere - any one feel sick?

Kevin was very fit and went jogging most mornings, sometimes even around the desk of the ship. This had given him a stocky muscular body, broad shoulders but very little tan for someone who spent a lot of time outside. He always put this lack of tan down to his dad giving him black hair, he was just the same.

He grew up in the Lake District near to Kendal and had been climbing hills and learning to dive since he was a six. His family took him everywhere and gave him the perfect middle class upbringing. He joined the police force just to go on the diving team; he was a little short for beat work. The criminals would laugh at him for being such a shorty he thought. Kevin soon got bored with this as searching for dead bodies and drugs under ships wasn’t that much fun after a while. He wanted a more challenging adventure. When this job came up he was delighted as he had never dived in this part of the world and everywhere was different, new and exciting to him. He liked to be on the move and was happiest when he was going to something different or new.

Ready? Carter asked politely.

Check, Kevin replied.

Kevin was always ready for anything. He was super fit and always volunteered for any job. Kevin would be Pete’s boss if he knew anything about geology.

They didn’t tell him he didn’t need a bag Pete murmured under his breath.

What did you say? Kevin asked, knowing that Pete was taking the piss.

You forgot your knife, Pete replied, seeing Kevin had left his diving knife on his bunk.

I know, it will give me a chance to use Big Bertha, seven inch blade saw on the back, compass, snares, flint, fishing lines and hooks in the hilt, Kevin gloated.

Snares, catch many rabbits at sea do yaw and what are going to burn? Pete smirked.

Pipe down everyone, come through to the galley, ordered the Professor.

The group moved to the galley where Sarah had abandoned her making the tea making because the suit wouldn’t let her.

I have spoken to the Captain Marston and it appears that this is just a precaution because the weather is severe. You’re to remain together and wait here. Your life boat is on the port side of the ship and if you do need to abandon ship the Captain or First Officer will ensure that you all get aboard it. There is another life boat on the other side of the ship if for any reason you can’t reach yours, the Professor commanded.

The First Officer said that a man had been swept overboard, I didn’t think the sea was that bad here, Sarah said nervously looking at the egg swinging.

There are tropical storms here which can reach hurricane level but they’re not due for a month. A rogue wave moved some crates loose and it broke the sailor’s safety line and swept him overboard. The crew is searching for him now, explained the Professor.

What’s the weather forecast say it is going to be like? Pete asked, now looking at the eggs violent behavior."

It didn’t. The storms sometimes brew up faster than the weather satellite can predict. Anyway stop worrying, I’m sure the Captain has it under control. You made a good job of this exercise, assured the Professor.

The group were sat looking at the cradle they had made to catch the egg when the egg suddenly fell from the ceiling. It was caught beautifully by the cradle they made. They laughed and the Professor went to see if the egg had broken.

The ship listed hard to port throwing everyone violently from the benches they were sat on. Scraping noises come from beneath them and they heard the sound of pans and pots crashing in the galley. The ship lurched back into its upright position and everyone picked themselves back up. They were clearly scared and the scraping noises could still be heard.

Is everyone ok? asked the Professor.

That’s a reef or the bottom I heard scraping, Kevin said.

Wait here. I’m going to see what’s going on, said the Professor.

She didn’t get time. There was a massive ripping sound then a large thud and she was tossed to the ground. The others were thrown onto each other. The Professor was dazed and barely heard the abandon ship call come over the tannoy. Kevin and Pete helped her to her feet and started to climb the stairs to the main deck. They were met by Captain Marston who checked that they were all there then guided the passengers to the lifeboat where he met up with Carter.

I’ll take two crewmen and the scientific team and you take the crew. The sea is still moving the ship around like a piece of paper. We’ve got to hope there’s land close to these shallows, the Captain ordered, looking worriedly at the sea.

Yes sir. Good luck, replied Carter.

Abandon ship! Good luck Mister Carter, the Captain ordered, clambering in the lifeboat. The lifeboats were lowered into the water, one from each side of the ship, and both rowed away.

Chapter Two -The Cottage

The Professor felt the coarseness of sand on her face and realized she was no longer at sea but on land. She felt the rawness of the sea water on the back of her throat and coughed to clear it out.

The Professor was a very capable woman and a strong leader; some would describe her as young Audrey Hepburn if it wasn’t for her looks being so dissimilar. She had auburn hair cut short in a bob and could be described as petite as she only stood four feet eight inches tall. She looked good for a woman in her late thirties.

There were only a handful of marine biologists who were professors in the UK and it had taken her years to get to where she as. Professor Wendy Milliner was born and raised in Southampton where she worked, studied and had lived for most of her life. She loved the sea and researching. She had spent most of her life studying, writing books and teaching just to get the qualifications she needed to instigate the exploration of the Bermuda Triangle. She had been fascinated by the subject for years and had a degree in geology just so she could understand the mechanics of what was happening in the area. The Professor lived in the halls of residence and the university gave her everything she needed. She was a true academic and loved a good debate. She would go on holiday and work instead of relaxing, just for the fun of it and had taken several trips to Australia and the Florida keys where she could explore the ocean diving. If you couldn’t go diving she wouldn’t go. She spent her reading and academic dinner trips to other university to pick the brains of other professors.

Her mother and father were both elderly now but fit and well. They lived in Dorset by the coast and she always ensured she saw them regularly,

Staggering to her feet the Professor moved around rubbing her body to warm up. She was freezing from being immersed in the sea. Everything on her seemed to be working she thought but she was still shivering.

The beach was stunningly beautiful and under any other circumstances she would be happy to spend time there. There were palms and colorful plants everywhere, many which she hadn’t seen before. The palms seemed to turn into dense jungle further down the beach. There was a clear coastline which turned in on itself and she could see for a mile or so in each direction. There was nothing but sand and jungle. First things first she thought to herself. The plan: - get out of wet clothes and allow the sun to dry and warm her, find survivors and locate civilization. The beach, although beautiful, was not a place to be for a long time. The sea air and the sun would soon have a negative affect and dehydrate her and give her sunstroke. She thought that she would walk along the coast line to find a fresh water inlet and of course look for survivors or people who could help.

She started walking up the meandering beach and spotted several bodies lying on the shore line. She couldn’t tell who they were as they had their survival suits on. Her stomach dropped at the thought of the bodies being dead. Still feeling weak still and shivering from her ordeal she went as quickly as she could to the first one and turned it over. It was deckhand Lewis and he was cold and lifeless. She clasped her hands to her face and turned away, crying softly into her hands. She felt scared and alone and she had never seen a dead body before. Taking a deep breath she pulled back her tears and approached the other bodies. She turned the next one over. It was Sarah. Sarah coughed and a sigh of relief burst through the Professor.

Sarah, are you ok? the Professor asked.

Think so, need a drink, Sarah gasped as her teeth chattered from the cold.

The other body began to move, it was Pete.

Could kill for a drink, must have swallowed a gallon of water, Pete croaked, also shivering.

Hello, everyone ok? A voice shouted from down the beach. It was Gary.

No. Deckhand Lewis is dead. Come and give me a hand? asked the Professor.

Gary looked shocked and rushed down the beach to help the others.

The group looked Lewis body. It sent a shiver of shock through all of them.

What are we going to do? Gary asked.

"We will move