Realms of Flimenia Jeremy’S Journey

By Leonard W. Wilson

In the four years since his parents divorced, Jeremy Striker is so lonely; he plays his computer game until he is able to play it in his daydreams. However, in grade eight, he finally has a school chum only Jeremy is tossed aside because he refuses to disobey his mother and join the friend on a trip to Disneyland.

Jeremy is so hurt and angry, he takes his computer characters on their most dangerous mission, but then he leaves them stranded when he decides to save the friendship and sneak away to go on the trip to Disneyland.

Already disoriented by his chum's confusing map to the rendezvous, Jeremy runs when he hears something following him and falls into a steep ravine. Seriously injured, he is convinced that he will die because no one knows where he is except for the friend and he said that he would not wait.

Everything seems hopeless until a dog and a raven join him. Jeremy is sure that they are Wolf and Talon from his game and his computer characters have forgiven him. In this gripping fantasy adventure, Jeremy struggles to save his computer teammates...but can he save himself?

• Language: English
• Publisher: iUniverse
• Release date: Oct 27, 2008
• ISBN: 9780595619337

Leonard W. Wilson

Leonard Wilson lives in Surrey, British Columbia and is a graduate of the Surrey Creative Writing Program. He is married with three children and has four grandchildren. He has also written the novel, A Reluctant Revolutionary published by iUniverse.

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Realms of Flimenia

Jeremy’s Journey

Leonard W. Wilson

iUniverse, Inc.

New York Bloomington

Realms of Flimenia

Jeremy’s Journey

Copyright © 2008 by Leonard W. Wilson

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, names, incidents, organizations, and dialogue in this novel are either the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

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ISBN: 978-0-595-51523-3 (pbk)

ISBN: 978-0-595-61933-7 (ebk)

Printed in the United States of America

For my grandchildren

Contents

From the Author

One

Two

Three

Four

Five

Six

Seven

Eight

Nine

Ten

Eleven

Twelve

Thirteen

Fourteen

Fifteen

Sixteen

Seventeen

Eighteen

Nineteen

Twenty

Twenty-one

Twenty-two

Twenty-three

Twenty-four

From the Author

As much as I would like to take all the credit for writing my novel, I could never have written it without the help of so many people. My mentors Lucy Wilson and Bill Burns, who even after their passing, were with me all the way. My daughters Deanna Gray and Cindy MacLean helped so much with their encouragement that never wavered. My editor, Ken Brosky, and all the members of my critique group: Isabel McBride, Colin Taylor, Portia Schmidt, Edward Wilson, Louisa Hadley, Linda Mandrake, Ken Westdorp, George Zador, Katrina Mandrake-Johnston and Shyann Mandrake. My wife Sarah for buying our first computer, and my son Joe for teaching me how to use it, and helping to keep the darn thing working as well as introducing me to the computer game, Star Trail. Last, but certainly not least, the students and staff of Frost Road Elementary School and Surrey Christian Middle Campus.

One

I stood beneath the huge branches of the big old weeping willow tree, and waited. Grant continued down his street without looking back. That was the way it was with Grant, there were no long good-byes, just, See ya, and he was gone.

A breeze stirred up the hanging vines, and they slapped at my face. They wrapped around me like the tentacles of some giant beast, and transported me to the Realms of Flimenia where I joined Wolf, Talon, Zephryus, Mittros, Beddoes and Olan, my computer game teammates. We were on a most dangerous mission to destroy the last of the Balearics...I brushed away the hanging vines, and whispered, You can’t go there right now, dummy. You have to stay focused, and come up with some way to convince Mom.

Grant had caught me off guard with his invitation to join his family on a trip to Disneyland the first two weeks of summer holidays. For months now, I had been looking forward to my usual summer vacation on my grandparents’ farm as soon as school ended. I loved it in Saskatchewan, but I knew Grant, if I didn’t do what he wanted, he would quit being my friend. I knew that I would have to come up with a good plan if I hoped to get Mom to agree to let me accept his invitation.

As I walked along, rays of the sun filtered through the leaves of walnut trees bordering my side of the street. I loved this stretch of sidewalk. On the other side of the road, huge cedar trees lined the front of Johnson’s yard. It was the last big piece of undeveloped property in this area. I used to dream that someday Mom and I could buy it until I realized how much time it would take to maintain that yard. Just mowing our lawn took care of every Saturday morning for me during the spring and fall. I didn’t really mind because Mom worked hard at the Mall. No matter how difficult things had become since my father had left us, she refused to lose the house.

As I crossed the street, I turned my cap, and pulled it down to shade my eyes. The sun was warm on my face. I felt a little drowsy, and again I drifted off to join my computer game teammates. Wolf was leading the others as we searched for the perfect location to set up a trap.

I shook my head, and whispering, no, I ordered my mind to stay focused. I was not going to lose Grant as my friend. I remembered about how horrible it had been at Burke Road Elementary without any friends, and I had made up mind that that was never going to happen again. Although Grant was not always the nicest person, he had made my first year at Greenwood Park Secondary a lot easier, and the last thing I intended was to enter grade nine without a friend at school.

I forced myself to concentrate on a plan. I thought about how Mom was always bugging me about cleaning up my room and doing my homework. Aha, I thought, that just might work. No, I knew that it would take something more. I knew that I would really have to surprise her, and I thought what if I cleaned the whole house. I rubbed my chin. No, I still needed to do something really special. I was almost home when I snapped my fingers and said, Of course. Mom would have no choice but to say yes if I cleaned the house, did all my homework, and cooked her favorite dinner.

I arrived home and was pleasantly surprised at how little time the dusting and vacuuming took once I put my heart into them. Soon, I had lasagna in the oven, and in no time had my homework finished. Still with plenty of time, I turned on my computer, and entered the Realms of Flimenia.

I watched my teammates come to life, but my smile of pride quickly changed to concern as the screen darkened, and I followed them into the narrow space between two rock faces that towered above them. Wolf moved cautiously ahead of the other five. His eyes studied the ground as he carefully searched out the next location to place his foot.

A few steps behind, Zephryus, a petite Ice Elf, had to take extra long strides so that she could place her small slender foot within the long broad footprint of the Warrior.

Beddoes, a Huntress, followed the Ice Elf. Her foot was larger than that of Zephryus, but it still fit easily inside the depression. Mittros, her fellow Hunter came next. His slender leather-covered foot, larger than those of the two females still fit easily within the confines of the large indentation.

Next, Olan, a huge Thorwalian, moved along stealthily. He was taller than the others, and had no problem seeing where Wolf was leading them. I saw the questioning expression on Olan’s face. Wolf had long established his position as leader, and no one ever questioned his decisions, but still, Olan’s eyes turned toward me. I felt the power in those huge blue eyes that seemed to be asking, Is this the best way to fulfill our mission?

Each foot of Olan’s landed exactly in the depression made by Wolf, and covered it by half again. He deepened it, but because all his weight came down on the balls of his feet, he made it no larger in size.

Talon came last, and although her footprint also fit easily inside the depression, she had to be especially careful. Besides not wanting to set off any hidden devices, she had to keep checking the rear for the approaching Balearics. We were determined to maintain the illusion of a single traveler.

Wolf’s progression slowed, as the space between the two rock faces narrowed. His eyes not only searched the ground before each step, but now he also searched the walls for any hidden threats.

I breathed a momentary sigh of relief, as one by one my teammates stepped clear of the narrow gorge, then gasped when I saw that a wall of solid rock surrounded the open area.

Wolf glanced in my direction. I tried to think of what I could do. My team had never forfeited, and the thought of that was beyond my comprehension. I considered clicking on the ‘Sleep Icon’, but I decided against it because I knew it would only prolong the inevitable. I minimized the screen, and tapped the ‘search icon.’ It only took a few seconds to locate the Balearics’ progress. They were coming fast. They ran like giant apes, using their front maulers to drag them along faster. They were in a strange formation. It was almost as if a huge monster had tossed a giant spear. A phalanx of twenty formed up into the shape of a giant arrowhead while the rest strung out behind in single file. I clicked ‘maximize’ and returned to my teammates. I told them that the Balearics were not far away, and coming fast.

We brainstormed until we finally came up with a plan, and I gave the signal. Wolf and the others removed coils of rope from their backpacks while Zephryus handed Olan the coil of extremely thin filament from her belt. Attached to the end of the line was a silver grappling hook. Olan stepped away from the others, and began to swing the hook and line around his head. Slowly, he let out more line until the silver hook whistled six meters away from his body in a huge circle. Suddenly, he stepped back, and allowed the thin filament to unwind. The line made a soft whispering sound as the silver hook disappeared. From far up the side of the cliff, there came back a quiet clinking sound. He pulled the thin line taut, attached the end to his belt, and leaned back.

Zephryus attached the end of a rope to her belt, and began to climb the filament that was as soft as a fine thread, yet strong enough to carry her weight.

As the first coil of rope ended, Wolf tied its end to the end of the next coil. When that coil disappeared, he tied its end to the next coil. The final coil was almost gone, when the thin line attached to Olan’s belt went slack.

Wolf grasped the dangling rope, and pulled it taut. Once convinced that it would carry his weight, he passed it to Beddoes.

She quickly disappeared up the rope. When the rope went slack, Mittros grabbed it, and scampered up the rock face.

My heart was in my throat as I watched. It was almost as if everything was happening in slow motion. I wished I could get them to hurry, but I knew that Wolf was right. Too many people on the rope at once could be a disaster.

I minimized the screen, and tapped the ‘search icon’ to return to the Balearics. They were close now. I could see that the leaders were searching for the opening. I wondered if there was some way I could destroy the entrance, but again I hesitated. That would be the same as a forfeit, an unforgivable sin. I could only intervene as a last resort, but if I did that it would mean no reward for destroying the Balearics, and dishonor for my team.

I clicked ‘maximize’ to return to my team’s location. I watched as Talon disappeared up the rope. Seconds later, Olan began to climb. For all his size,