Other World Adventures O.W.A: Volume One The Duway Adventure

By Chris Ericson

Duway liked living off the land by himself. He would travel not to find adventure, but it seems adventure would always find him. Come take a walk in the Other World joining Duway in his epic adventures as he forms new alliances, and encounters action, adventure, and magic. One day he takes an unexpected diversion in a cave. He found a few items including an oil lamp. It turned out the lamp had someone in it (at no point is he called a genie). Trying to do something nice (because t

• Language: English
• Publisher: Page Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Nov 13, 2020
• ISBN: 9781640821897

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Other World Adventures

O.W.A.

Volume One

The Duway Adventure

Chris Ericson

Copyright © 2017 Chris Ericson

All rights reserved

First Edition

PAGE PUBLISHING, INC.

New York, NY

First originally published by Page Publishing, Inc. 2017

ISBN 978-1-64082-188-0 (Paperback)

ISBN 978-1-64082-189-7 (Digital)

Printed in the United States of America

The Duway Adventure

Duway was a loner by choice. Hunting and fishing were the way he lived, and the forest was his home. He never did care for the crowds in the market or trading places.

Duway realized at a young age that he liked being on his own. After he would finish his chores, out the door he would go and stay outside for the rest of the day. Sometimes it would be past dark. One day, it got more and more late, so he decided to sleep in the woods behind his house.

His father came looking for him. When he found out Duway was all right, he left and let him stay the night. The next morning, Duway noticed something was wrong. A small creature had crawled up on his chest for warmth and fell asleep.

Duway jumped, launching the small creature five feet in the air and six feet away. The creature was not too happy because it was still asleep. It landed hard and confused. It looked around, trying to find out what happened, then it scampered off.

Eventually, Duway was living off the land. His mother was concerned because he was not eating at home. His father had taught him about some of the edible plants in the forest, then it just became second nature for him. So one day he decided to take off on his own; now he was happy.

Early one morning, he thought it was time to move on. He had lived in this forest for two months, that was longer than he would usually stay in one place, but everything here was really abundant. He packed up everything he owned, made sure his pouch had all he needed, and then started walking.

Three days later, he was walking down a very steep hill. He didn’t see the loose rocks that were covered with leaves. He lost his footing and started sliding down the hill very fast on his back. Afraid of hitting a tree, he tried to stop himself. Duway stuck his legs straight out, but it didn’t work. That sent him up in the air, spinning, and then he landed flat on his back.

The impact was so hard the ground gave way under him. A hole opened up and he fell another twenty feet before hitting the ground hard. At least now he had stopped, but the force had knocked the breath out of him.

Duway lay there for another five minutes before he was able to breathe normally. Sitting up, he said to himself, Where am I? I need to get my bearings. Pulling a candle and flint out of his pouch, he lit it.

The light revealed to his right a wall, and to his left, he saw a tunnel.

Well, it is a cave, so I should see what’s down there, Duway said.

As he walked, a strange feeling came over him. It was unlike anything he had ever felt before. Then he realized it was this tunnel. There was something unusual about it. Instead of the dank, musty smell that was usually in caves, there was no smell at all. Also the temperature was comfortable, not cold.

There is something weird here. I don’t quite care for it, Duway said, but still he pressed on.

Scanning ahead with his candle, Duway could see something on the ground ahead. As he approached it, he held the light down to it. He noticed it was a tin cup.

That might be useful, he murmured. He picked up the cup and walked on.

The flicker of light caught something else. Bending down, he said, Hey, an oil lamp. I’ve always wanted one of these. Duway picked it up.

Filled with new excitement, he walked faster. As he was looking around, he heard something scuff against his foot. Looking for it, he found a leather pouch.

I can always use one of these, Duway said then went on.

At the end of the cave, Duway found something that made him lose all enthusiasm—a skeleton. This person had been here so long that the clothes had deteriorated. Also both legs were broken.

That explains why you’re still here, Duway said. I guess all this stuff was yours. Don’t worry, I’ll take good care of it, he said. He then turned and started walking back.

Reaching the opening he had fallen through, Duway looked up. The opening had roots and rocks sticking out. Well, I have some handholds and footholds, he said. That made it an easy climb out.

At the top of the opening, Duway said to himself, I should make camp now.

He heard some running water. Following the sound, he found a stream. The perfect place, he said. After building a fire, he caught a couple of fish.

After he ate, he examined his finds. The tin cup had no holes and still held water. He let the fire go inside the cup, then he washed it out and set it aside.

The leather pouch was in good shape. A little dry-rotted but still usable.

The oil lamp was not dented, but it was dull. Taking his shirttail, he tested a small part to see how difficult it would be to shine up.

The lamp started to glow—not from the polish, but a bright golden glow. Even though it was still daylight, the brightness from it hurt his eyes. Duway sat it down quickly and scrambled backwards.

A vision appeared before him. It was a young-looking man, but he could see through him. There were no legs. The figure was floating in midair in front of him.

Greetings, master. What is your wish? the vision asked him. He had a pleasant smile on his face, and his hands were crossed humbly in front of him.

Blinking hard and rubbing his eyes, Duway stared at the sight before him. What? It was the only word he was able to say. He could not believe what he was seeing.

What is your wish, master? It is my command, the figure in front of him said.

There was a short moment of silence. Anything I wish for, I can have? Duway asked skeptically.

Yes, master. Anything, the figure assured him.

With a slight smile, Duway rubbed his head and said, Wow, I must have really hit my head hard. I’ll tell you what I’m going to do. I’m going to go to sleep tonight, and we will see what happens in the morning. You just go wherever you go. With a smirk on his face, he turned his back to the vision.

If it is your will, master came the calm voice.

The last thing Duway said to him was Well, it is.

Several times that night, Duway glanced at the lamp. The vision was not there. He went to sleep that night with that vision still in his head.

When Duway awoke the next morning, the sun was just about ready to come up. He went to the stream with his new tin cup in hand. Dipping both hands into the cold stream water, he splashed it on his face and rubbed vigorously.

Wow, that felt good. So he did it again. Dipping the cup into the stream, he thought about the lamp. Raising the cup to his lips, he took two swallows. That’s some good water. Filling the cup again, he walked back to his campsite. He looked at the lamp, then with a Humph, he sat down and finished the water.

Duway shook his head hard. Good. No headache. Now let’s see that lamp.

Picking it up, he rubbed it with his shirttail in the same place as the night before. The lamp started to glow once more. Defiantly, Duway held on to it.

The vision appeared once again. Good morning, master. Did you sleep well? he asked.

I must still be asleep, Duway said, rubbing his eyes,

Do you still not believe in me, master? the figure asked in a solemn voice.

No, I don’t. Prove to me that you are real, Duway challenged.

Very well, master. The figure raised his hand, and water came up out of the stream behind Duway. The water moved to where it was directly over him. Then the figure dropped it right on top of Duway. It was enough water to cover his whole body and take him from a sitting position to lying down. It happened so fast Duway didn’t even see it coming.

The water was so cold that it took his breath away. Some went up his nose, some went in his mouth, and he started coughing and gaging, trying to catch his breath.

Duway sat up, looking around trying to figure out where that water came from. When he was able to talk, he asked, Who are you?

I am from the lamp, the figured replied.

Well, I guessed that one on my own. Do you have a name? Duway asked.

My name? You want to know my name, master? the figure asked. No one had ever asked him that before, and it took him by surprise. He almost could not remember his name.

Yeah, you do have a name, don’t you? Duway asked.

Yes, my name is Talset, master, he answered.

So tell me, Talset, what’s the deal here? Duway asked.

Just tell me what you wish, master, and I will make it so. You could have your own city that would flourish for centuries, Talset declared, stretching his arms out for effect.

This made Duway frown.

Noticing this, Talset tried, You could have a palace with hundreds of servants to fulfill your every need, Talset said smoothly, trying to make it sound good.

Talset saw that Duway was still frowning.

Have I displeased you, master? he asked.

No, not at all, Duway replied. It’s just—he held out his arms and looked around—I have everything I need. I don’t want to live in a palace. I want to live in the forest. This is what I want. On the other hand, I haven’t had a good conversation or story in a long time. Tell me about yourself, Duway said.

There was a strange look on Talset’s face. Master? You want me to talk about myself? he asked.

Yeah. Something like how long have you been in there and how did you get in there? You know stuff like that. Duway leaned against a log and listened.

Talset seemed to change. It was almost like he became more material. Well, I have been in the lamp for thirty-five thousand years.

Wow! Duway exclaimed.

Talset continued, About fourteen thousand years ago, a man found me. He wanted money, power, and women. I heard he got killed over all three two years after that.

You heard? Duway interrupted. How did you hear?

I hear things inside the lamp. Just infrequently, not all of the time. Now, let me tell you how I got in the lamp. My father was a merchant and a trader. We lived in a nice house in a large city. One day he brought back a lot of things he had traded for: pieces of leather that had been worked—we would make clothing out of those—polished stones for jewelry, decorated pottery, and a plate of silver. Shortly after that, a dark cloud came over the city. Even though there was thunder and lightning, everyone knew it wasn’t a storm.

What was it? Duway asked.

But Talset continued with his true story. "You could see part of the cloud like an arm coming down and going into house after house. You could feel the magic. It was strong. I had learned a little bit of magic from an old wizard, and I could feel a different kind of magic. It was evil magic. It kept coming closer. I told my mother and father to go inside the house. I picked up the plate of silver and faced