Widdershins

By Rik Hunik

When Roland's daughter and his wife Berdine disappear into thin air right in front of his eyes in his own back yard he is shocked. When his eccentric old neighbor comes around and tells him his family has been taken to Elfland he is skeptical at first, but he will go there if he must and face the Goblin King to get his family back. (This story is a modern retelling of an old English folktale.)

• Language: English
• Publisher: Rik Hunik
• Release date: Mar 1, 2013
• ISBN: 9781301206209

Rik Hunik

Rik Hunik was born in Nelson, British Columbia, Canada, in 1957, and has lived his entire life in BC, except for a few summers in Alberta, and a few days in Washington State climbing rocks. He has lived in Ymir, Wells, Quesnel, Prince George, Quesnel, North Vancouver, Quesnel, Burnaby, North Delta, and Quesnel. I live with my wife Jo and a blue-eyed, white cat named Mister. I mostly build houses and shops to earn a living but I'm also a writer, poet, artist, photographer, role playing game designer and independent e-book publisher. I’ve written dozens of stories, including fantasy, horror, sword & sorcery, mystery, humor, erotica, and science fiction, frequently combining genres. Forty have been published in small press magazines and e-zines, from the 200-word "The Hole" in Ascent Aspirations, to the 10,000-word novelette "Levels" in Buzzy Mag, published in May, 2012. Some of them are available now as ebooks at Smashwords. Contact me at: [e-mail]

Book preview

Widdershins

by Rik Hunik

Published by Rik Hunik at Smashwords

Copyright 2013 by Rik Hunik

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

Thank you for downloading this free ebook. Although this is a free book, it remains the copyrighted property of the author, and may not be reproduced, copied or distributed for commercial or non-commercial purposes. If you enjoyed this book, please encourage your friends to download their own copy at Smashwords.com, where they can also discover other works by this author. Thank you for your support.

Chapter 1

The two-year-old girl in the red plastic wagon squealed with delight as Berdine pulled her around the back yard as fast as she could run, spiraling in toward the birch tree in the center of the lawn where Roland, sitting on the grass to catch his breath after his turn pulling the wagon, leaned back on his elbows and watched as his wife and daughter went behind the tree for the third time.

Ellen's childish laughter ceased abruptly. Roland sat up straight, cold panic clenching his heart. The wagon was empty. He leaped to his feet and dashed around the tree to where his wife had stopped. Ellen had spilled out of the wagon before on sharp turns, but Roland saw no child anywhere on the grass. His gaze darted everywhere within the fenced yard but kept coming back to the empty wagon. Where is she? I don't see her.

Barely louder than a whisper Berdine said, She's gone.

Gone where? How?

When I went past the tree the wagon got lighter. I thought she had fallen out but when I turned around she was gone. Completely gone. I can't find her. Why can't I find her?

Roland saw his own rising panic mirrored in her face and made an effort to keep his voice calm. Where could she go? Berdine stared blankly at him so he tried