Megan's Odd Adventure

By Jonathan Raftery

A children's adventure story about a young girl who finds herself lost in a strange land. Talking flowers, mysterious shadow cats and a mad king all stand in her way as she embarks on the long journey home ...

• Language: English
• Publisher: Jonathan Raftery
• Release date: Jun 3, 2011
• ISBN: 9781458187222

Jonathan Raftery

A simple man trying to make his way in the world.

Book preview

Megan's Odd Adventure

The Prophecy of Barandium

Book One

by Jonathan Raftery

SMASHWORDS EDITION

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PUBLISHED BY:

Jonathan Raftery on Smashwords

Megan's Odd Adventure

The Prophecy of Barandium

Book One

Copyright © 2008, 2011 by Jonathan Raftery

Smashwords Edition License Notes

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Chapter 1

The night before school

Sunday night wasn't Megan's favourite time of the week. Sat in her bedroom she was feeling really sad that she had to go back to school tomorrow. She had a maths lesson first thing, which was definitely not her idea of fun!

It had been her 10th birthday recently and she'd received lots of clothes, presents and a book from her dad. The idea of going back to school was a grim prospect.

It was already 7 o'clock, and she lay on the the bed wondering how she was going to spend what little time was left before bedtime. She didn't feel like reading and it was too late to go on her trampoline. Her mum wouldn't let her out to see her friends and there was nothing on TV. As she looked over at the window and the darkening sky outside she felt really bored.

I know, she thought to herself, I'll go on the computer and surf the internet. There might be something fun to look at!

So up she got and went over to the computer and before long was looking at websites about all the things she liked. First she looked at a fan site for High School Musical. She loved all the songs and the dancing and how enthusiastic everything was. Then she went over to the official x- factor site and had a look at how the American version was getting along. She also had a look at the Strictly Come Dancing site, though she wasn't as interested in that.

Suddenly a loud flash of light from outside almost shook her out of her seat. It lit up the whole room and gave her a real fright. She thought, how am I going to get to sleep with all this going on? She went over to the window and, sure enough, there were ominous black clouds on the horizon and she heard the grumble of thunder in the distance. Sometimes it's great when it rains; but only if you're inside and wrapped up warm!

However when Megan got back to the computer she noticed something strange. The website she'd been looking at wasn't there and instead was a white screen with the words Click Me in large black lettering. This wasn't how she had left it, what was going on? She also noticed that the screen was strange because all the computer icons you usually saw were gone. All that was there was those two words, with a bright white background which gave her bedroom an eerie light. She thought of calling her mum, after all it might be one of those viruses she had heard about. She certainly didn't want to break her mum's computer, Megan might be an old woman before she had finished paying for it! So being an inquisitive girl she did the most natural thing she could think of. She moved the cursor over to the Click Me lettering and pressed the mouse button. After all, what's the worst that could happen?

As soon as Megan pressed the button something strange began to happen. The computer seem to lock up and she became aware that the thunder from outside had suddenly stopped. Everything in the room became quiet and for some reason she started to become drowsy. She felt herself slump in front of the computer as everything was covered in darkness.

Chapter 2

The Woodcutter

Megan had no idea how much time had passed. All she was aware of was that she was lying in an uncomfortable position on the floor. Slowly she opened her eyes and stretched out her arms. What was going on?

Megan found herself lying in a small grey room in front of a fireplace. Luckily the fireplace looked as though it hadn't been used in many years, even all the soot and coal had been cleaned up. If it had been on fire she would have got a nasty shock, as she was right in front of it!

She sat up and, as she shook the sleep away and rubbed her eyes, began to study her surroundings. The little room had no furnishings and a single window from which she could see a barren plain. There were loads of tree stumps stretching off to the horizon -not a very nice scene at all. Where was she, and how had she got there? It was only a moment ago that she'd been on her computer. Megan was confused.

Suddenly she heard some footsteps from outside the room and began to get frightened. Before she had time to do anything the only door in the room swung open and in walked an old man.

Megan became scared, but from the man's reactions she wasn't as scared as he was. He almost jumped out of his skin when he saw Megan in the room.

My oh my oh my, what have we here? An intruder? You look too small to be a burglar, how the devil did you get into my cottage without me seeing? Come now, I have questions, from you I want the answers!

For a moment she said nothing. He didn't look like he was an evil person. He had silver hair and a large crooked nose and looked quite ancient. Though to Megan, of course, anyone born before 1995 was an old codger! The strange man was dressed in an old fashioned suit and, looking down, she noticed his shoes hadn't been cleaned in quite some time. Still in a whirl after finding herself in a strange place, Megan answered him.

I'm sorry to be in your house. To be honest I have no idea how I got here, in fact only a few minutes ago I was back home in my bedroom and now I'm here.

The only explanation Megan could think of was that she had fallen out of her bedroom window. But it was clearly daylight outside, not the evening as she last remembered. Maybe she had fallen asleep and been taken somewhere else in her sleep. In all honesty she had no idea how she got here.

The old man studied her with his head at an angle. He obviously didn't know what to make of her.

I didn't mean to be here, honestly, said Megan. My name's Megan, and I've just turned ten years old. Can you please tell me where 'here' is?

Megan looked at the man and the man looked at Megan and neither of them said a word. He started rubbing his chin as he leaned against the door frame. Just when he looked as though he was going to say something he shrugged his shoulders and walked back out of the room.

Why do they always end up here? he shouted out, to no-one in particular.

Megan ran after him out of the bleak room into an equally bleak hallway. Who decorated this place, did they only have one colour? The old man was walking out of the house and when he got outside Megan ran past and stood in front of him. She had no idea where she was or how she got here, but one thing was for sure, she wasn't to allow herself to be in the dark for very long.

I want you to tell me where I am!, she demanded. A moment ago I was in my bedroom, and now I seem to be in the middle of nowhere with nothing in it but a grey house and a grey little man! What am I doing here, am I dreaming? If it is a dream I hope I wake up soon! Even double maths is better than this dream!

The old man was taken aback by her outburst. Megan suddenly felt sorry for him, living in this awful dull place. There wasn't even a tree for miles around.

Please, can you tell me what's going on? she pleaded.

Alright, alright, ,he said as he led her back into the little house, you sit yourself down and I will get you a cup of tea. That will make you feel better, yes it will!

And with that Megan finally started to find out about the old man and his little house. He had been living here for many years in the house and was all on his own. He was a woodcutter by profession, and had lived here a long time cutting down trees to supply wood for the local area. But then things started to go wrong, all the trees had been cut down and he'd lost his purpose. Not only that, but he'd been forced to continue working, even though all the trees had gone. Megan forgot all about herself as she listened to his sad story.

But I suppose you want to know how you got here, and where here is? he went on, Well the answer to that is quite difficult, as truth be told I don't entirely understand the question!

This seemed to Megan to be an odd thing to say, and she told him so.

I can't say where 'here' is until I know where you come from and I can say where 'there' is he said.

I come from England. It's in Europe. Are we in Europe? she asked

Europe? Is that past the bridge by the hills? I'm not sure I can rightly picture it. said the man, I used to travel to the other side of the hill but I haven't done in a while … leg's ain't what they used to be, you see!

You speak English with an English accent. How can you not know where England is?

This stumped the old man. He rocked back in his chair, almost spilling his tea, before looking back over at her with a very tired expression. "I don't know the answers to any