The Magic Harp (A Badger, Beano Adventure)

By Jack Scoltock

The Magic Harp is the second in the Badger, Beano Adventure series. They call him Badger because of the white streak down the middle of his black hair. Beano is his faithful dog. Together they must rescue the children of Inner World from the evil Mefistofelees. The magic of the Cross of Life will help and Macha the fairy loans Badger her powerful ring. But they also need the special music of the Magic Harp. On the way they cross the valley of the mists, brave the evil whirlpool and encounter the underwater demon before finally facing the deadliest enemy of all. A super fantasy of mystery and suspense

• Language: English
• Publisher: Jack Scoltock
• Release date: Jul 1, 2019
• ISBN: 9781393595243

Jack Scoltock

Jack Scoltock is one of Irelands best fantasy writers for children of all ages.He was born in Derry, Northern Ireland in 1942. He is married with two grown-up children.Jack has many books on the Amazon, Smashwords and Draft2digital.A scuba diver for over forty years, Jack was one of the divers who found a Spanish Armada wreck in Donegal in 1971. Inspired by a small leather boot found on the wreck, Jack wrote one of his best historical stories about a boy who stows away on an Armada galleon. The Sand Clocker (Spanish Armada Stowaway), is one of Scoltock’s most popular history books.Now retired, Jack Scoltock spends his free time writing.Challenge of the Red Unicorn, Davey's siege (a siege of Derry story), Perry's Adventure, Justine's Secret Challenge, Seek the Enchanted Antlers, Back To Neverland, are among some of the best of Jacks stories.

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1

As the moon shone bright on Kilkee and the surrounding hills, two owls, sitting high on an oak tree, spoke to each other, hooting in their own language. Their bright eyes took in everything below. One of the owls was a barn owl, the other a huge tawny.

Why have you brought me here? hooted the barn owl, its eyes growing even rounder with the question.

Because, said the tawny owl, we have been chosen to wait for the signal. The bigger owl’s head swiveled right around and back again.

Signal? What signal? You never said anything a signal. We’ve been waiting for two nights now and I’m getting fed up. The barn owl hooted irritably as it looked at the tawny. You never said anything about a signal, it repeated.

The wisest of the owls, the tawny looked sternly at its companion and said, Yes I did. I told you we were to wait for the signal and when it comes you and I are to go down to the town and contact the Grey One.

The Grey One? hooted the barn owl astonished. Isn’t he the one who...

Yes, said the tawny, hooting softly now as it watched a field mouse scuttle across the clearing below. At another time the mouse wouldn’t have made it.

This signal? said the barn owl, still looking at the tawny. Where is it going to come from? I mean, who will send it?

The tawny turned just as the field mouse slipped into a cluster of bushes near the bottom of a tree. The one who rules us will send it of course, it hooted.

At this the barn owl hooted angrily and fluttered its wings. Well I wish the signal will come soon. I’m hungry. I’ve lost weight. It’s been a while since I’ve had a tasty rodent.

The tawny swiveled its head and hooted softly as it looked down at the bushes where the field mouse had gone. Then turning back to the barn owl, it said, I believe we won’t have long to wait now.

The barn owl hooted more agitatedly. Both owls scanned the darkness of the trees and waited.

****

Meanwhile, far below Badger was dreaming. In his dream he saw his mother. She was standing on the beach in Inner World and crying out his name. Richard! They need you. The children are in danger. They need your help! Richard, you must save them!

Now in his dream Badger saw Macgillycuddy running down a narrow path. Behind him, roaring angrily came a monster so loathsome that Badger cried out. He woke with a start. Sitting up he looked around the bedroom. His pounding heart almost drowned out the sound of Beano barking in the yard below. Rubbing his eyes Badger slipped out of bed and went to the window. He eased it open and looked down into the moonlit yard. There, he could see Beano looking up at the hills and barking loudly.

Beano, be quiet! Badger whispered. What on earth are you barking about? You’ll waken Daddy. Be quiet!

Beano’s white streak looked even whiter in the moonlight. He looked up at Badger, rose on his hind legs, and bounced about for a couple of seconds. Then he dropped to his four paws and turned to look up at the hills. He began to bark again, though not as loudly.

Beano! hissed Badger. Go to bed! Now!

With a whimper Beano padded to his kennel. Badger smiled as he saw Beano’s streaked tail whip after him into the kennel. He waited a few seconds before closing the window.

On his way back to bed he glanced at the mirror hanging on the wall. His eyes widened as he stopped and stared. Glowing on his chest was the cross of life. He could feel the comforting magical heat from it running down his body. Suddenly it disappeared. Badger touched his chest but of course he couldn’t feel the cross. Wondering about its sudden appearance he got into bed. Lying back with his arms crossed above his head he stared up at the ceiling. He thought about how he had received the cross of life and how he had destroyed the angels of death. He wondered why the cross showed itself. The mushroom had told him it would remain invisible in Badger’s world. He would not even be able to feel it.

Badger turned on his side wondering why the cross had appeared. He had almost forgotten it was there. He sighed now as he thought back on his adventures in the Land of beyond. Slowly he drifted off to sleep.

He awoke ten minutes later. Beano was barking again. I suppose I’d better go down and see what’s bothering him, he thought. He wished now Beano could hear his thoughts, but the instant they had come into their world both realized they couldn’t. He slipped out of bed and pulling on his dressing gown he hurried downstairs.

****

The signal, when it came, took the wary owls by surprise. A tiny light, darting through the trees like a firefly, stopped suddenly a few feet from where the owls were standing. The barn owl blinked. Is...is that the signal? it hooted quietly.

Yes, answered the tawny, its big eyes fixed on the dancing light as it grew brighter and moved right up to them.

Now the owls heard a voice. The sound was like the wind whistling through the trees and it seemed to come from all around them.

The Grey One is needed now! Go to him! Tell him to come up!

Suddenly the light moved up through the branches and into the sky. In an instant it had shot away up to the stars.

The owls stared up. After a few seconds the tawny said, Come on. Then it leapt from the branch and began to fly between the branches. We have to go down to the town now. We must speak to the Grey One.

Speak? hooted the barn owl catching up. Humans don’t understand what we say.

The Grey One will be allowed to, answered the tawny. Come on! Quickly!

Shortly the two owls were dropping down to the edge of Kilkee.

By then Badger was out in the yard with Beano. He bent and ruffled the thick hair on Beano’s neck. What’s wrong, boy? What’s bothering you? He smiled as Beano licked the back of his hand. Panting happily Beano looked up at Badger. He could see the cross of life glowing on Badger’s chest. He barked, as if to say, I can see your cross, master. But of course, Badger couldn’t understand Beano. Only in the Land of Beyond could Badger and Beano talk and think to each other. Now Beano looked up at the hills. He barked once, softly.

Shhh, Beano, whispered Badger looking up at