Wot and Nott's Race Against Time: Part Three - the Changeling Attack

By Gerrard Wilson

An unusually small Christmas transported Wot and Nott to the magical land of Onisha, where Umahia, the Grand Mystic, told them how Miafra had taken it over. Umahia asked for them to help him rid Onisha of the evil dictator, Miafra. Having accepted the challenge, Wot and Nott set off, determined to put an end to the despot’s cruel rule.
Having eaten from the Tree of Knowledge and Wisdom, Wot and Nott sailed across the Sea of Loneliness in a five hundred year old boat, to Onisha proper, where they met a statue hell-bent on destroying them. In their quest to save the land of Onisha, Wot and Nott travelled further across it, fighting their way past a ferocious Dragonsaur and battling the dreaded Protectors. When they found the Temple of Wan, they set about repairing it via the Realm of the Black Crystals.
Determined to save the land of Onisha from the clutches of the evil Miafra, Wot and Nott must now find The Sacred Site of the Stones, where Kakuri is held captive.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Oct 16, 2015
• ISBN: 9781326450199

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Wot and Nott's Race Against Time: Part Three - the Changeling Attack

Wot and Nott’s Race Against Time

Part Three – the Changeling Attack

Gerrard Wilson

Text copyright © 2015 Gerrard Wilson

Gerrard Wilson asserts the moral rights to

be identified as the author of this work.

Conditions of sale:

This book is sold subject to the condition

that it shall not, by trade or otherwise,

be lent, re-sold, hired out or otherwise circulated

without the publisher’s prior consent in any form,

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on the subsequent purchaser.

Introduction

An unusually small Christmas transported Wot and Nott to the magical land of Onisha, where Umahia, the Grand Mystic, told them how Miafra had taken it over. Umahia asked for them to help him rid Onisha of the evil dictator, Miafra. Having accepted the challenge, Wot and Nott set off, determined to put an end to the despot’s cruel rule.

Having eaten from the Tree of Knowledge and Wisdom, Wot and Nott sailed across the Sea of Loneliness in a five hundred year old boat, to Onisha proper, where they met a statue hell-bent on destroying them. In their quest to save the land of Onisha, Wot and Nott travelled further across it, fighting their way past a ferocious Dragonsaur and battling the dreaded Protectors. When they found the Temple of Wan, they set about repairing it via the Realm of the Black Crystals.

Determined to rescue the land of Onisha from the clutches of the evil Miafra, Wot and Nott must now find The Sacred Site of the Stones, where the dreaded Protectors are holding Kakuri captive. They must also fend off an attack by the deadly Chameleon Beetles.

The Flying Hat

Noticing the metal drum, the one he had offered Kakuri to use as an alarm, Wot gave it an annoyed kick, saying, That was no use, was it? He kicked it again. I told her to use it as an alarm. I told her we would hear it…we didn’t Inspecting it, he pondered the many dents upon its battered surface. She must have been beating it like mad, he said guiltily, to have made all of these dents.  Noticing something a distance away, he walked over and picked it up. It was the piece of branch he had given Kakuri to beat the drum with. I wonder how this got over here? he mused. 

Perhaps she wandered off, exploring, Nott suggested. Speaking quietly, for his own consumption, he whispered, Why on earth did we leave her, so?

Having begun a systematic search of the area, Wot did not intend to leave a stone unturned, looking for Kakuri. He felt so guilty, having left her alone and defenceless. She had not even recovered from her ordeal with the turncoat Omoora. Wot quickened his pace, determined to find her.

Nott also began searching. Although he could see signs of a struggle, he was unable to work out how many people had been involved. Spotting something tucked under a rock, glinting, reflecting the sun, he stooped down. Peering into the space, he saw a golden coloured object. It looked strangely familiar. Stretching a hand in, he reached for it. Hearing something, a loud clicking sound, he pulled his hand back, in alarm. Wot, come over here, he said.

Have you found something?  Wot asked.

With a finger pressed to his lips, for silence, Nott pointed under the rock, gesturing for him to look into the space.

Bending down, peering into the space, seeing the golden coloured object secreted therein, Wot said, It’s the amulet! With that, he reached under the rock to retrieve it.

Nott, however, struck him hard on the arm.

Why did you do that? Wot asked, withdrawing his hand.

Watch and listen, he whispered. Grabbing hold of a stick, Nott poked it into the space. The peculiar clicking sound he heard earlier begun again.  Edging away from the rock, they tried to work out what it might be.

Any thoughts? Nott asked.

It could be anything, Wot answered. Do they have snakes in Onisha?

I haven’t seen any, Nott answered. That doesn’t mean they aren’t any.

Hmm, said Wot, pondering what they might do.

Time was against them, with Kakuri still missing, speed was all-important; they had to think quickly.

Pointing to the metal drum that he was still holding, Nott said, I have it!

You do?

Yes, he said, returning to the rock. Come over here, I need your help.

What do you want me to do? Wot asked uncertainly.

Pointing to the rock, Nott replied, Pick it up.

Pick it up? It looks very heavy! What about that thing, he asked, hiding beneath it?

Don’t be such a coward, Nott chided. Pick it up and leave the rest to me.

Thus, put in his place, Wot set about lifting the rock.

Come on, then, get to it," said Nott, urging him on.

Are you sure you know what you are doing?

Yes, of course I do, he insisted.

It looks so heavy… I don’t think I can do it...

That’s a load of rubbish, and well you know it. Come on, pull yourself together, Kakuri is depending on us!

Remembering Kakuri gave Wot the strength and impetus he needed. Taking hold of the rock, he said, Are you ready?

Yes, go for it, Nott answered.

Lifting the rock to waist level, Wot said, Do you see it, the thing, whatever it is?

I do. I can see it, Nott replied, seeing the golden coloured talisman.

Grab it, take hold of it! said Wot. This thing is heavy!

Reaching for the amulet, Nott was gobsmacked by what happened next. The amulet, accompanied by the same clicking sound they heard earlier, flew away from him. In addition, a new, buzzing sound began. To say Nott was confused would be an understatement – he was both baffled and terrified by it.

What on earth is going on? Wot asked, struggling under the weight of the rock, from above.

It’s flying about all over the place! Nott cried out in alarm. Get it away from me. GET IT AWAY!

Losing his grip on the rock, Wot dropped it. Landing hard, the rock pinned Nott beneath it.  What’s happening? he shouted. Help me! Help me!

Seeing the flying amulet, clicking and buzzing noisily, making a beeline for him, Wot tried to fend it off.  However, despite his best efforts the aerial talisman persisted, flying about his head in ever decreasing circles. 

Pinned helplessly beneath the rock, Nott said, Can you give me a hand, Wot? I can’t get up! 

Leaning down, lifting the rock off him, Wot said, There you are, Nott. Are you okay?

I think so. Seeing the flying talisman circling his friend’s head, he said, What on earth is it doing – and how is it able to do it?

At least it’s stopped buzzing, said Wot. It was giving me a headache.

It’s stopped buzzing alright, Nott answered, because it’s flying away!

Although the amulet was flying away from them, it appeared in no hurry. Meandering lazily, this way and that, the amulet was acting as if it did not have a care in the world. Although sauntering lazily, like a butterfly in a sunny garden, it still managed to evade their attempts to catch it.

While pushing his loose fitting fur hat up, from out of his eyes, Nott suddenly had an idea. Taking it off, giving it to Wot, he shouted excitedly, Use it – use my hat, like a net! You will have more chance of catching the amulet, so.

Accepting the hat, Wot said, That’s a good idea, and it might just work. With that, he set off after the troublesome flying talisman. 

Nott tried to keep up with his friend and the flying amulet, he really did, but talisman and pursuer, moving about so erratically, made it impossible.

Swinging Nott’s hat with all the speed he could muster, trying to secure the troublesome amulet, Wot thought he had caught it. The magical talisman, however, evaded his attention with ease. Undeterred, Wot chased after it through a nearby group of trees. Despite trying repeatedly to capture the amulet with the fur hat, Wot was unable to do it. Watching it flitter about, he wondered if it just playing games, teasing him, while on an entirely different agenda. The flying article suddenly changing direction headed directly towards Wot. With hat at the ready, he hunkered down waiting to pounce. The closer the amulet approached, the greater Wot felt the urge to pounce, but he waited, he waited. When it was so close, he could see every detail of the amulet, Wot jumped. With arm outstretched to the limit, he swung the fur hat, cutting a swathe through the still air, securing the amulet within it furry embrace.

Puffing and panting Nott finally caught up. He was so excited, he tried to speak, but the words failed. Breathing in deeply, catching his breath, he said,