Something Odd in Devonshire

By M. Malmstrom

It is the start of a lazy summer in Devonshire for twelve-year-old Kile, eleven-year-old Jen, and ten-year-old Dex. Theyre looking forward to working with Kiles falcon, C-zer, and generally just having fununtil something disturbing disrupts the peacefulness of the farmlands.

The cows from the surrounding farms had been disappearing, and now Kiles parents suspect that the same thing is happening to their cows. At the same time, Dexa genius who speaks only through his computer and has created a probe of sortstells Kile that there is something mysterious in Kiles attic. The three children go exploring, and find something very unusual and mystical in an old trunk, sparking an adventure that will change all their lives.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Trafford Publishing
• Release date: Sep 23, 2010
• ISBN: 9781426938849

M. Malmstrom

M. Malmstrom was born in Moline, Illinois, and spent much of his life on a farm with his seven brothers and sisters. He now resides in Orlando, Florida, with his wife, Annie, and their son, Christian. This is his second book.

Book preview

1.

Kile Horton stood in the middle of and open field. He was training his pet to come to him. As he looked up the sun shone in his eyes, blinding him. All of a sudden, a high-pitched screeching sound came barreling at him from above. By sheer instinct he removed a squeak toy from his pocket and squeezed it rapidly. This caused his pet to slow down a bit so he could land softly.

Kile reached out his leather-covered arm. C-zer, his pet falcon, swooped down and settled in roughly. His talons were a little too strong but it was okay. It just meant that he was growing up nice and healthy.

Kile picked up a small brown leather hood and quickly placed it over C-zer’s head. This instantly calmed him down enough for Kile to put him in his traveling cage.

That’s enough for one day, guy.

Pretty cool, dude. As usual.

The voice came from behind him. He turned after he had locked C-zer’s cage.

It was Jenny Andrews.

Jen was tall and thin with brown hair in ponytails. She had blue eyes and ever-rosy cheeks. Cold? Rosie cheeks. Hot? Rosie cheeks.

She had a sunny disposition to match.

But you didn’t do the squeaky beak, said Jen.

Nah, I thought he seemed a little off somehow, replied Kile.

Jen had known Kile since she was six and he was seven. That was five years ago. She knew him well enough to know that he must have had a good reason not to do the squeaky beak if he thought that something was wrong.(The ‘squeaky beak’ was simple. If the squeak toy didn’t squeak, it got the beak. Kile could throw it down and since it didn’t squeak, it would get attacked. Even if C-zer saw it in his hand).

I’ll just take him back to his pen. He’s had enough for now. You want to come along? asked Kile.

Do I? shouted Jen.

His pen was in the back of the old barn (not to be confused with the new barn) under the hay loft. This provided for a nice cozy atmosphere for the young falcon.

As they entered the old barn through the old double doors they could smell the fresh scent of the hay in the loft mixed with the musty, tangy aroma of the damp dirt floor.

Looking around in the old barn they would see an ancient tractor, its red color now more like the color of rust, leaning to one side because of age; an assortment of broken tools that once hung on the wall; and a couple of large, rusty metal boxes that were more rust than metal. The sun snuck its way in through small holes in the roof, poking it’s bright fingers through the darkness, shining on the loose hay and straw that was strewn about.

Kile went to put C-zer in his base cage, which was much bigger than the traveling cage, when the falcon started getting very agitated.

I’d better take him with me and let him calm down from whatever is bothering him, thought Kile. Something is not right here.

Jen broke the silence by suddenly blurting out the question that all twelve-year-old boys dread at this time: Kile, do you think I’m pretty? she asked coyly.

Kile’s face turned red and he turned and mumbled something that she couldn’t understand. All she could make out was something about gotta go to the new barn.

When he stomped off towards the barn door she yelled after him. You can’t get away from me that easy, mister. I’ll follow you until I get an answer!

2.

Kile had lived in Devonshire all of his life. The farm that he lived on once belonged to his grandfather before being passed down to his dad.

It was a huge farm and was separated into sectors. There was the live-stock sector which pertained to all of the cattle, horses, pigs and a few goats. There was the agriculture sector which dealt with the rows and rows of corn, green beans and alfalfa. Then there was the dairy sector which not only milked the cows by hi-tech machines and computer inter-faces, but could also make fresh whey and sharp cheeses right there in the same building.

Kile couldn’t help thinking of his younger days playing with Jen. Such a tomboy she was. Now with the sudden interest in her looks. And to me? Must be a part of growing up for girls.

He was thinking all of this as he threaded his way through the pine forest. Here the trees were also planted neatly in a row so that when you were inside of it looking up it looked sort of like a city block made up of tall thin buildings with leaves on top. Here the sun also poked its way through in arced rays between the branches.

As he arrived at the new barn with C-zer in tow he looked back. Yep, she was still following him; silently.

"That might not be a good thing, her being quiet