The Dragons Den and Other Stories

By J. Bregazzi

THE DRAGONS DEN and OTHER STORIES, is a
small collection of quite diversifi ed tales. The verity and
subject matter come from a quality of experience, some from real life
with authentic backgrounds and others generated in the mind of the
myth. There are several adventure stories and yet others were pushed
by an unseen infl uence of transformations and miracles, with a
moral behind them. Here is something for everybody in twelve very
different stories, a touch of romance and many with a twist in the
tail, also a scattering of poems thrown in for good measure
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• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris UK
• Release date: Jun 21, 2011
• ISBN: 9781462865598

J. Bregazzi

I have been writing non-fi ction since 1993 and I have been published on a regular basis in numerous magazines and papers. Inspired by my paternal grandfather I fulfi lled a lifetime ambition to be a published writer. I have written on many diversifi ed subjects, then in latter years concentrated on ‘people profi les’ that brought me into contact with some very interesting people. However, latterly I turned my hand to fi ction and found short stories appealed after writing articles. The world of fi ction is endless and when fresh ideas fi ll the imagination it promotes enthusiasm and hopefully produces a story...

Book preview

Copyright © 2011 by J. Bregazzi.

ISBN:          Softcover                                 978-1-4628-6558-1

                   Ebook                                      978-1-4628-6559-8

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

This book was printed in the United States of America.

To order additional copies of this book, contact:

Xlibris Corporation

0-800-644-6988

www.xlibrispublishing.co.uk

[e-mail]

301975

Contents

The Dragons Den

The Writer

Brandon And Me

Flight To Freedom

The Golden Apples Of The Sun

Green Eyes

The Artist

Will You

The Hound Of Heaven

Matthew

The Brown And The Yellow

Night Hawk

The Nichiren Lamp

The Train

Victory

The Dragon Master

THE DRAGONS DEN

In the heart of the city lived a young man called Beau. His life passion was to meet the Dragons because every city has a Dragon’s Den and at last Beau was on his way. As he squeezed his lean, six-foot frame through the pipe he found he could glide easily against the warm, smooth sides. After about five minutes, although he couldn’t be sure of the time, he eventually emerged into a glade. He was excited but not frightened as well he might have been as he crawled over the damp earth. His nostrils reacted to the long grasses, but this was only a memory of his childhood affliction. At the same time he could smell the Dragons – Uncle Sam said that they had their own distinct odour. Maybe it was because they breathed fire and wafted their great scaly wings with a grand passion, sending waves into the air.

Beau had dreamed of meeting the Dragons since he was a boy as Uncle Sam had bought him a book for his sixth birthday containing magnificent dragon pictures. The psychedelic colours were hypnotic and Beau’s favourite was a mink-brown dragon, with wings edged in purple and a spike at the end of his tail that glowed like an amethyst.

Uncle Sam had always been a Dragon man and had promised Beau that when he was seventeen he would give him instructions to find The Dragon’s Den but he wasn’t to trust anyone else with this information. However, meeting Dragons wasn’t for everyone, said Uncle Sam – the curious weaklings never returned, maybe they had been devoured! And he would laugh his head off, every time he said this.

Crouched by a huge grey rock, streaked with veins of silver, Beau’s penetrating gaze sought out the vibrating entrance to the cave. Brightness glowed from within as his excitement mounted and his tummy turned over as he wiped his sweaty hands down his jeans.

Suddenly a copper coloured head emerged in the mouth of the cave, followed slowly by a huge scaly, majestic body. Lifting its wings it stood on his hind legs and roared, flames projecting from the open jaws. Beau was riveted to the earth as a bright blue light engulfed him.

Beau felt his relationship with the dragons lift and sprawl across the ground towards the cave. This must be the Brass Dragon, who is said to be the most gregarious of all dragons and is famous for enjoying conversation, so Beau thought this would be a good one to start with. He stood up and walked slowly towards the looming figure and could feel the heat radiate from this majestic beast as the popping metallic eyes turned to meet Beau. The Brass Dragon bent his head to one side and leaned towards Beau, he wanted to know what he was doing here. Beau’s confidence receded a little and he was reluctant to step closer to this great beast, even though he felt protected by the blue light.

‘I’m privileged to be a Dragon Man.’ Beau said.

‘Really, well come closer Dragon Man.’

Beau put one foot forward then suddenly he saw giant forms appear entangled in the creepers either side of the cave entrance, they moved and slithered and Beau stepped back abruptly; then they gradually dissolved, leaving behind thick twisted roots that spread into the ground. He questioned if he was really ready to blazon his way into the Dragon’s Den, but the Brass Dragon only laughed and was suddenly awesome with authority saying the ‘beasties’ at the entrance were to keep unwanted intruders away, but as they had vanished, it was in Beau’s favour. He said that Beau would have to prove himself if he really was a Dragon Man.

‘Come, follow me.’ The Dragon bellowed.

Beau walked behind the towering beast and into the bright entrance as a long passage opened up before them and stretched into the distance. It was darker inside but he could see a pin prick of light a long way away and as his eyes adjusted to the interior he could make out a sprawling succession of cave-like rooms down either side. They turned into the first cave; the entrance was at least twice the height of Beau and six feet wide. There, sitting by a huge underground lake of green water, was the Bronze Dragon. He knew that the Bronze Dragon was fascinated with humanoids and Beau’ s confidence returned, because he understood that the Bronze Dragon was a good one and constantly waged a struggle against evil beings – Beau took a deep breath and slowly ventured towards him. When he looked round the Brass Dragon had disappeared. The Bronze Dragon stretched a webbed like front foot in his direction and guided him to sit at the edge of the lake. He had a beak like snout and a pointed tongue that kept popping in and out of his mouth and said it was a while since he’d had any human company so wanted Beau to stay.

Beau sat down, feeling truly intoxicated because at last he was to fulfil his dream. The Bronze Dragon got up and swaggered splendidly half way around the lake, exhibiting his bronze exterior that shone and reflected in the water. He was showing off and Beau just loved his performance. He told Beau that he was in a ‘learning zone’ but to be careful, because any dragon could turn him into a miniature dragon if they breathed fire in his direction. Beau shifted uneasily on his stony seat and then suddenly the dragon pointed to the far end of the lake and there sat the green-faced god of the underworld. His face matched the water and he was surrounded by a golden glow of iridescent light. He crossed his arms over his chest and closed his eyes. Yet some unexplained force was pulling Beau to his feet and propelling him round the lake, and he wondered what such a god was doing here in this cave.

Beau got nearer and the underworld god opened his eyes and said that everybody has to go through a complete transformation of the self, to obtain lasting power. He gestured to the surroundings and indicated that this was a magical place and could bring about such a transformation. He informed Beau that he had spent the last thousand or so years between kingdoms, helping people to move on, especially spirits who were earth-bound and needed to move into the light. He helped humans to put their ideas and dreams before the masses, even if it seemed like a risk, because anyone who risks nothing or does nothing is nothing . . . His words hung in the air and vibrant forms splintered in Beaus mind as he felt as though he was being transported to a different plane. Uncle Sam had never mentioned any of this, but now he was floating and somehow knew he had to relax into this strange realm. The god vanished before Beau could ask him any questions and suddenly sleep crept up on Beau, promoting dreams and illusions. He awoke in another cave and had no recollection of going there. The Brass Dragon was nowhere to be seen, it all seemed like magic.

This was a very high and airy space with lots of old trees around the edge and it reeked of chlorine. ‘My goodness’, he thought, ‘this must be the Green Dragon’s lair.’ The Green Dragon can be a belligerent creature and is a master of intrigue. Beau had done his homework on all the dragons and this one was a schemer who wanted to have power as well as wealth and at the same time he expected to live for eternity. He knew that this beast would use camouflage to his advantage, so Beau scanned the green foliage and there, just visible was this great green creature leering out at him, his head was covered in horn lets. After the experience in the previous cave, Beau was feeling strong and confident and he knew he had to keep his distance here, because the Green Dragon could breathe poisonous gasses if provoked, but the blue light was still all around him

The Green Dragon leaned out, now giving up any attempt at concealment

‘You’re not and elf are you’?

Beau shook his head.

‘No you’re too big to be an elf—I love elves, they are very tasty!’

Beau stood to his full height; he felt even taller and projected his mind power, because he was no longer afraid and he took one