Toasted Corn: A Red Beast

By Carol A. Hook

The villagers and a friendly sorcerer seek ways to destroy the cruel, red beast that haunts their land. The sorcerer travels to the Realm of Mizzle and Mojo where he is told a riddle that, when solved, will defeat the red beast. Only the sorcerer and the villagers working together will discover the answer.

• Language: English
• Publisher: iUniverse
• Release date: Dec 14, 2011
• ISBN: 9781462070183

Carol A. Hook

Dr. Hook earned a PhD in molecular biology from the City University of New York and is the author of a number of scientific articles. Her interest in fiction began with storytelling to her children. She is the author of the novelettes; Wrinkled Crinkled Grapes and Before There Were Stars. Presently, she is retired and is a wife, mother, and grandmother.

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Copyright © 2011 by Carol A. Hook, PhD

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: 978-1-4620-7017-6 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4620-7018-3 (e)

Printed in the United States of America

iUniverse rev. date: 12/8/2011

Contents

Acknowledgments

Chapter One

Journey for Land

Chapter Two

Red Beast Follows

Chapter Three

Battle at Home

Chapter Four

Great Sorcerer Reigns

Chapter Five

Solve a Riddle

Chapter Six

Return to Magic

Chapter Seven

Nwad Becomes Dawn

Toasted Corn is dedicated to my children and grandchildren.

Acknowledgments

I want to thank my daughters and my husband. They have always been there for me.

Chapter One

Journey for Land

As Alle stared out her bedroom window, the rising sun was just clearing the mountain. The sun was yellow and bright. When she looked at the white walls of her room, she saw blue spots. Alle blinked until the afterimage began to fade.

She knew her parents were away, but her older brother should be at home. The house was so quiet that Alle called out.

Cire! Where are you?

I’m downstairs! he answered.

Alle grabbed onto the railing as she hurried down the narrow staircase.

Cire was sitting on a puffy green cushion fitted into one of four solid, wooden chairs. When Alle sat down in the chair next to him, she moved around to get comfortable.

Mom made these cushions too big.

Not for me, Cire replied, smiling.

The large living room window overlooked a field with crops and the stream that irrigated it. Stacked under the window were bags that bulged with the family belongings.

I see that you’ve packed almost everything, Alle commented.

Yes, her brother said as he stood up. I’m going for a walk. Want to come?

No, I still have a few things to do. Alle paused. Come back soon.

I will, he replied.

Alle watched out the window as Cire strolled along the path leading to the field. Then she went upstairs to finish packing. She imagined the stream near the field rippling as water from the mountain brook flowed into it.

As Cire stood by the stream, he thought about the fun he and his friends had playing there.

I wonder if I’ll ever come back, he whispered.

When Cire looked toward the house, he saw that Alle had pushed the white cotton curtains to the side. She was opening her bedroom window.

Watch out! Raef’s coming! she screamed.

She raced downstairs as Cire scurried toward the house. He leaped up the porch steps and stumbled through the front door. Alle quickly slammed the door shut behind him.

The children watched through the living room window as a beast with coarse red hair raced across the field. It stopped to rip vegetables from the soil and chew them with its sharp teeth. It especially liked corncobs. The creature was small, but when it stood still, it extended its red hair to look larger and more frightening. The villagers had named it Raef.

Raef’s eating all our corn. Alle began to cry.

Cire put his arm around his sister. We’ll be fine,