The Goshmen

By John Paulits

Paul Drummond and Billy Sparks make their third trip to Shumbus, the strange land within the Earth. When they arrive, Argo takes them on a journey to a land of people forgotten in time, who hold a key to the history of Shumbus...if only they can escape from them and get back home.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Gypsy Shadow Publishing, LLC
• Release date: May 14, 2020
• ISBN: 9781619506183

Book preview

Contents

Copyright Page

Dedication

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

About the Author

The Goshmen

by

John Paulits

All rights reserved

Copyright © April 27, 2020, John Paulits

Cover Art Copyright © 2020, Charlotte Holley

Gypsy Shadow Publishing, LLC.

Lockhart, TX

www.gypsyshadow.com

Names, characters and incidents depicted in this book are products of the author’s imagination, or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental and beyond the intent of the author or the publisher.

No part of this book may be reproduced or shared by any electronic or mechanical means, including but not limited to printing, file sharing, and email, without prior written permission from Gypsy Shadow Publishing, LLC.

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

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ISBN: 978-1-61950-618-3

Published in the United States of America

First eBook Edition: May 14, 2020

Dedication

For those in the front lines of the fight against the virus

Chapter One

Paul Drummond and Billy Sparks spotted Paul’s grandfather standing on his porch as soon as the car they rode in turned the corner onto Ocean Drive. Paul’s mother parked the car in front of the house, and the boys hopped out.

Hi, Grandfather, Paul shouted.

Hello, Mr. Drummond, Billy called.

Hello, boys. It’s good to have you back. Why don’t you take your things upstairs to your old room while I visit a while with your mother?

The boys did as they were told, overjoyed that fifth grade had finally ended, and they were really back in Seaview. They wouldn’t have to return to the city until September. They hoped to see Shumbus and Argo again and take the trip they’d planned on their last visit to the strange place shown on the map they found inside the melted statue of the Golden Mushroom. They’d been thinking of it all winter, but, of course, could mention nothing about it since they’d drunk the special tea Argo gave them that prevented all mention of Shumbus. Nonetheless, each boy knew what was on the other’s mind, and both were eager to get underway when the chance offered itself.

They hurried downstairs in their bathing suits and were out the door and off to the beach, first promising Grandfather Drummond they wouldn’t go into the water until he bid Paul’s mother good-bye and joined them.

By and by, Grandfather arrived at the beach, and Paul and Billy dove into the water. When Billy surfaced after diving under a rolling wave, he leaped to his feet and said, The mudslide!

What about it? Paul asked, wiping water from his eyes.

How are we going to get to it? Jess Hubbard lives in his house now. It isn’t empty anymore. And he probably fixed the broken window under his house. We won’t be able to get to the mudslide.

Paul froze. I never thought about that. I thought we’d just… go, you know; like always.

The mudslide was the only means to get to Shumbus, the strange land within the earth. This new problem sapped the fun from the rest of the day, and both boys sat glumly on the beach, unable to come up with a solution.

After dinner, the spirits of both boys rose when Grandfather Drummond said, I have some news to tell you. Jess Hubbard moved away. Yep, he did. To California, three thousand miles away. I hated to see him go. The boys’ spirits sank again when Grandfather added, A Mrs. Popwhistle lives in the house now.

Popwhistle! Billy exclaimed.

That’s her name. She’s a nice old lady. Lives alone. I see her every once in a while at the supermarket. She never goes anywhere else that I know of. We’ve chatted, and she’d like to meet you two. Maybe tomorrow night we’ll take a walk over.

Mrs. Popwhistle, Billy mumbled as he and Paul climbed into their beds that night. Who needs a Popwhistle? I sure don’t.

"We’ll have to figure out some way