Beware of the Apples (Inside Story 16)

By Dr E J Yeaman

Hi. I’m Jam Rodger. I have an incorporator – like a small e-book reader – which can take me into any (old) story. Hiding in the apple barrel on the deck of the sailing ship Hispaniola in Treasure Island, I overheard the Wicked Queen (from Snowdrop or Snow White) plotting with Long John Silver (from Treasure Island) to persuade people from both stories to eat her drugged apples. It was my job to stop them.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Dr E J Yeaman
• Release date: May 3, 2015
• ISBN: 9781311962386

Dr E J Yeaman

I retired (early) and started a new career as a writer. I wrote short stories and articles. Some were published; some won prizes; some sank without trace.Having heard my stories, two friends suggested I should write for children. I’d never thought of that, although I’d spent my first career communicating with young people – as a Chemistry teacher, and running clubs for badminton, chess, table tennis and hillwalking.I tried writing for young people – and I loved it. It became my main occupation. I sent samples to publishers. One asked to see a complete story. In excitement, I sent it off. Then nothing. After four months, I rang, and was told the manuscript was being considered: I would be notified. Then more nothing. Now, after eight years, I no longer rush to the door when the letter box rattles.But I kept writing the stories because I enjoyed it so much. Until, in late 2013, I learned I could publish my stories and games as e-books. Since then, I’ve been polishing and issuing some of them. I hope everyone enjoys reading them as much as I enjoyed writing them.Check out the series:C: Charades – party game – a new twist to the traditional game.D: Diagags – party game – gags written as plays for two people.M: My Story – novels – classical stories, told by the heroes.O: One-Offs – party game – guess the titles, not quite the classical ones.P: Pop Tales – short stories – inspired by 60s and 70s hit songs.Q: Quote-Outs – word games – can you deduce the missing words?S: Inside Story – novels – a boy’s adventures inside classical stories.T: Troubleshooters – novels – space adventures for young people.

Book preview

1

The Man U – Spurs game will be close. The Spurs defence…. I was lying on my bed in my room, reading a footy mag, when somebody snatched it from my hand. Sherlock Holmes. James, what is this?

It’s my magazine, that I was trying to read.

You ought to be reading this. He picked up Treasure Island from my desk and shoved it under my nose.

I’ve read a bit of it.

You are a Guardian. It’s your duty to read them all.

I’ve been trying. I wasn’t going to admit it, but he was right. I did mean to read these old books, but it was hard.

"Humph. Do you know Snowdrop?"

"Snowdrop?"

A tale written by the Brothers Grimm. The Wicked Queen has a magic mirror which tells her who is the most beautiful in the land.

I know that one. The mirror tells the Queen that a girl called Snow White’s the most beautiful.

Snowdrop.

I thought it was Snow White. The Wicked Queen is jealous of her, and wants to eliminate her, so Snow White....

Snowdrop.

Whatever. She hides in a cottage in a forest with seven dwarfs, but the Wicked Queen tricks her into eating an apple which sends her into a kind-of living death. A handsome prince brings her back to life.

Sherlock Holmes frowned. That is the story, rather garbled. Someone used an unauthorised incorporator in it. I suspect a Wrecker. Wreckers are characters who go to stories, trying to spoil them.

I asked, D’you want me to take a look? I’m a Guardian. It’s my job to stop the Wreckers.

Sherlock Holmes is the Chief Guardian. He said, Y...yes. If you take care.

All right. Give’s the details. I’ll run down to the park.

2

An incorporator looks like a small, grey e-book reader. I’ve sworn not to tell anybody I have one, and that includes Dad and Mum, so I have to use it in my secret den in the bushes in the park.

I sat there with my incorporator in my hand. I’d set it to show on the screen:

Title: Fairy Tales – Snowdrop

Author: Grimm Brothers

Edition: 1910

Page: 65.

In the end of the incorporator were two buttons. The one at the right was labelled Go. I took a deep breath and pressed it.

3

No pain. No strain. In an instant, I was at that place in that story.

I looked around quickly. Fairy tales often have magic, which is fun to read about but spooky when you get mixed up in it. This place looked normal – a posh bedroom. A woman’s: it had a strong smell of perfume. Nobody was around, unless they were in the king-sized bed, behind the red and gold curtains that hung round it.

I crept towards it. The incorporator gives gear to suit the story. My black shoes were heavy but they made no sound on the thick red carpet. I also had a dark blue jacket and trousers.

I had a problem finding the gap in the curtains, and was just peeping through when the door handle rattled. Luckily, the bed was empty. I dived through, onto it.

Somebody shut the door, and the room was so quiet that I heard the rustling as she moved around. Yeah: she. Bottles and jars rattled, and the smell of perfume got stronger. She must be the woman who owned the room.

Hoping she wasn’t going to bed, I knelt there, holding the incorporator with my finger on the Select button. Pressing it three times was the emergency code that would take me back to the park.

More rustling. Then the woman spoke:

"Mirror, mirror on the wall,

Who is the fairest of them all?"

A whining male voice answered:

"I shall always tell you true.

The fairest one, oh Queen, is you."

The woman chuckled, then the door opened and shut.

I peeped between the curtains to make sure she wasn’t playing tricks. She was gone. This must be the Wicked Queen’s room, and she was probably the Wrecker.

She might’ve hidden her incorporator