Devo Mannix the Sorcerer’S Apprentice: Spirits from the Past

By Roland Boike

Devo Mannix is an understudy to his grandfather, a world-renowned sorcerer and magician. In the course of his training, Devo has inherited a magical steamer trunk and a magical 1925 Rolls Royce Phaeton 1.

Devo encounters two spirits in his quest to train as an archaeologist. One of the spirits resided in the ruins of the Cromwell house, which had burned down twenty years ago, some ten years before Devo was born.

Three people who are thought to be guilty of setting the house on fire become trapped in one of the bedrooms and are unable to leave.

Unraveling the mystery and releasing those held prisoners are exciting adventures that only Devo can unravel.

The second spirit that Devo encounters is accidentally acquired when he does some archaeological excavating in Yucatn while on a mission to recover his friend Julies necklace.

This spirit is held captive in a clay figurine and has been a prisoner for some 1,500 years. Devo is anxious to release the Mayan spirit from his clay imprisonment; however, the spirit promises to seek revenge on the descendants of the family that caused his imprisonment.

Devos attempt to reach an agreement with the spirit to avoid the suffering that might be caused by his release is hampered by the spirits unwillingness to agree with Devos demands.

Join Devo and his friends encounter the spirits and overcome the obstacles that are laid before them.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Oct 30, 2015
• ISBN: 9781514421086

Roland Boike

Roland Vincent Boike was born October 28, 1930 at his family home in Madeira, Ohio. He is the son of Dr. Stephen Boike and Ludvica Rensi Boike and is one of seven children. During the Korean War, Roland served in 134th and the 147th Field Artillery as Chief of Section of a 105 Howitzers Battalion. Roland attended Western Kentucky State University, Ohio State Department of Agriculture, and the University Of Cincinnati Department Of Applied Arts. He was awarded a full scholarship to attend Lincoln College of Chiropractic where he graduated in 1962 with a Degree in Chiropractic. Roland practiced Chiropractic in Loveland, Ohio for thirty- five years and was a Staff Physician at Jewish Hospital in Kenwood, Ohio. He served as Team Physician for Loveland High School, Western Brown High School and Wilmington College Girls Soccer Team. Roland served as Mayor and Vice Mayor in Loveland, Ohio, a community of over 10,500 residents. Roland was a founder and Director of The Community National Bank, Loveland, Ohio and Chairman of the Loveland 1976 Centennial Celebration, which produced a live outdoor spectacular, The History of Loveland. Roland was a founder, past president and member of the Board of Trustees of The Loveland Chamber of Commerce. He designed the Valentine postage meter stamp and the Logo There Is Nothing In The World So Sweet As Love. He was recognized with an award from The National Safety Council for saving the lives of three children in a submerged automobile at Lake Isabella in May, 1964. Roland was honored by the City of Loveland, Ohio for dedicated service to the community with a commemorative marker In the Veterans Memorial Park. Roland is a Kentucky Colonel and has received numerous awards for civic achievements.

Book preview

Chapter 1

THE CROMWELL MANSION

E veryone who worked at Cromwell Industries, friends, family, business associates and all those involved in the construction of the Cromwell Mansion, were invited to the dedication ceremonies.

After a rather lengthy speech by Mr. Torrance Cromwell, thanking all those involved in the construction, Walter Hamming walked to the podium to say a few final words on behalf of the workmen responsible for the building of the magnificent Cromwell Mansion.

"Good evening ladies and gentlemen. Welcome and thank you for coming. I am Arthur Hamming. I was the architect who put on paper the dream of Torrance Cromwell. But it was through the skill, genius and the workmanship of Carman Tate, Bill Cravings, Oliver Thurman, Jake Jackson, Larry Southerland, Daniel Strong and Mark Billings that this dream became a reality.

The eight of us have worked together since graduation from Ohio State University in 1879.

This magnificent structure will mark the end of our careers. We, each and every one of us, agreed that we would put all of our skills, all of our knowledge and all of our energies into this one last project. The Cromwell Mansion harbors our very souls. We have seen it to a perfect completion. It stands today as a living monument to Mr. Cromwell and to the workmen who built it.

Our very souls have gone into this project and all eight of us agreed that at its completion, we would retire from the building trade after 40 years of faithful service.

On behalf of Carman, Bill, Oliver, Jake, Larry, Daniel and Mark, we wish to thank Mr. Cromwell for making our last project together, a most memorable one and a most exquisite one. May the Cromwell Mansion live forever.

Tears swelled up in Walter’s eyes as he walked back to the table where his seven friends and fellow workers awaited him. They all stood up and applauded as Walter took his seat at the table.

Everything that went into the Cromwell Mansion was flawless. Every tile, board, brick and cut marble slab were selected and used under the scrutiny of the eight men. Everything was made absolutely perfect before its dedication.

It had been almost 40 years since the dedication of the Cromwell House. Gerald Cromwell having just celebrated his tenth birthday, sat at his desk and admired his birthday gifts. Gerald is the grandson of Torrance Cromwell. He loved his new surroundings. Gerald’s Father had given his son a special birthday gift. Gerald would now occupy the suite of rooms on the third floor of the mansion.

His bedroom alone measured 15' x 20'. It had an adjoining bathroom with a shower, tub and sauna. Attached to his bedroom was his own private den, workshop and a play room where he would soon store his many toys and mementoes. Gerald was very proud of his new surroundings and he would be constantly reminded by his schoolmates of the grandeur of his home when school started.

Dennis Portland, on the other hand, lived above the hardware store in Brighton, in a three room apartment that he shared with two brothers, a sister and his Mother and Father.

During the Great Depression, Carter Portland was the former owner and CEO of Flint Tire and Rubber Products Inc. of Akron, Ohio.

Carter Portland suffered a severe back injury in an automobile accident when Dennis was 12. As a result of the accident Carter was unable to support his family and shortly thereafter lost everything.

Dennis suffered the most from the poverty that now confronted the family. He had nothing. His clothing was that of his older brother. His trousers were worn and sometimes torn and patched. Dennis was embarrassed attending classes at school. He talked to very few of his classmates and withdrew into his own little world.

Every able member of the Portland family had secured some type of employment in order to finance their meager existence. Dennis delivered newspapers in his neighborhood and made prescription deliveries for the drugstore.

Dennis hated sleeping the most. His older brothers made him sleep in the middle of the bed between him and his youngest brother. It seemed to Dennis, that at times, they purposely kicked him or hit him with their arms as they turned over in the bed.

Dennis’s sister slept on the floor in the bedroom next to her Mother and Father’s bed.

Dennis was now 13 years old and the first 12 years of his life was spent in the lap of luxury. Now he had nothing, and worst of all, he had nothing to look forward to in his miserable life. Dennis had boiled his life down to school, work, sleep, school, work, sleep, school. Dennis had no friends, no toys and he was convinced that all the girls at school pegged him as a dork.

Dennis harbored a great resentment for Gerald Cromwell. The more he saw of him in class, the more bitter he became. Dennis resented the fact that Gerald had so much and he had so little.

Dennis did not quite understand why the life that he once lived had suddenly been taken away from him and his family by something or someone. He believed in his heart that the Cromwell’s were in some way responsible for his wretched life.

After the death of Torrance Cromwell, Dennis and his family moved in to the Cromwell Mansion. By Friday, May 14, 1965, the Cromwell’s had lived in the mansion on Jefferson Avenue for over two years.

The last piece of new furniture had been delivered and the hired help had finally placed everything in its proper place.

After 2 years and six months everything at the mansion has finally come together. This would be a perfect time to take a weekend family vacation Mr. Cromwell told his family. A trip to Chicago and a stay at the Normandy Hotel would give everyone in our family a much needed rest.

Gerald’s Father drove their new 1965 Chrysler New Yorker to the car wash to have it washed and the interior cleaned before their trip. Mrs. Cromwell was busy on the telephone calling her friends and making social arrangements when Arthur returned.

She was presently on the telephone talking to the pharmacist to renew her prescription for her psoriasis. Although they would be on their way to Chicago before the prescription was delivered, she told the pharmacist to have the medication delivered. She would leave the side door to the kitchen open. The delivery boy was to place the prescription on the kitchen table and lock the door when he left.

Gerald Cromwell was in his bedroom doing some last-minute work on a wood burning project he had started.

Hurry up, Gerald. Your Father is in the car and we are ready to go, Gerald’s Mother called from the bottom of the staircase.

Gerald grabbed his suitcase, ran down the stairs, put his luggage in the trunk and jumped in the backseat.

Chapter 2

DELIVERING A PRESCRIPTION

O n Friday after school, to earn extra money, Dennis Portland would hurry to the pharmacy to see if there were any prescriptions for him to deliver.

I need you to take this prescription for Mrs. Cromwell up at the mansion, the pharmacist said to Dennis.

The Cromwell’s are leaving for Chicago and Mrs. Cromwell said if they have left before the prescription is delivered, she will leave the kitchen door unlocked. You are to go in the kitchen door and place the prescription on the kitchen table. When you leave, make sure you lock the door. I have one more delivery for you when you get that delivery finished, so be sure to stop back, the pharmacist said.

Dennis took the prescription and the 50¢ that he would earn making the delivery and headed for Jefferson Avenue.

It was the hottest time of the day and Dennis had about one mile to walk to make the delivery and then another one mile back to the drug store.

Dennis was hot and sweaty. His shirt was soaked with sweat as well as the front of his overalls. Dennis looked down at the zipper of his pants in disgust. It looks like I peed my pants, Dennis said, out loud as he walked along the sidewalk in the afternoon sun.

I despise being poor, I despise being poor, I despise being poor, Dennis said aloud, as he walked up the hill toward Jefferson Avenue.

On the way up the hill, Dennis met Wesley Cates.

Hey Dennis, me and some of the guys are going to crash Mary Lou Thompson’s birthday party at her house tonight. Want to join us?

I don’t know, Wesley. Depends on how tired I am tonight after I get through delivering prescriptions. I am going to the Cromwell Mansion to deliver a prescription now.

They are not going to let a dirty bum like you in the house, Wesley said, in a tone that left Dennis feeling dirty and belonging to part of the lower class of neighborhood bums.

Well, for your information Wesley, this isn’t a fashion show, I am only going to deliver a prescription and the Cromwell’s are not at home.

How you gonna get in the house, Dennis? You gonna climb through a basement window?

No, Wesley. They are leaving the kitchen door unlocked so I can get in, Dennis said.

Hey, Dennis, if you change your mind about the birthday party, we are going to meet at the drugstore at seven.

If you see me at the drugstore at seven I will go with you. Otherwise, I will be in bed. See you later, Wesley, Dennis said.

Yeah, Wesley replied.

When Dennis reached the Cromwell Mansion, he walked to the rear of the house and knocked at the kitchen door. Dennis stood there for several minutes and knocked again and again. No one answered the door.

He opened the door, walked into the kitchen and placed the prescription on the kitchen table. That is when he decided to take a tour of the house.

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He placed the prescription on the kitchen table

To make sure that no one was home, Dennis keep calling out, Is anyone home?

Dennis walked into every room on the first floor and then he walked up the winding staircase to look at the bedrooms.

Dennis checked out all the closets and even opened a few of the dresser drawers just to see what they contained. When Dennis walked up the stairs to the third floor he could tell immediately that it was where Gerald Cromwell sleeps.

Dennis checked out everything in the bedroom and then he proceeded to check out the door that led him to a bath room, Gerald’s private den and toy room. Dennis saw a table in the center of the room with a Lionel train with what he thought was probably 50 feet of track. There was every imaginable accessory gracing the train display that money could buy. There were 20 or 30 model homes arranged in a little village. There were several tunnels and three bridges, trees, miniature people and quite a few tiny automobiles.

On the shelves, Dennis could see Tinker Toys, Log Cabin Building Blocks, an Erector set, wood carving and wood burning tools and a box of Lego. There were no less than 10 Tonka trucks and heavy equipment toys setting on the floor beneath the train table. There was a bookcase containing five shelves. One shelf was crammed with board games; many of which Dennis had never seen or heard of.

Dennis noticed a pile of note papers lying on Gerald’s desk. He walked over to the desk and picked up a handful of the papers.

Looks like Gerald’s homework for school on Monday. A book report, math problems and an English term paper, Dennis said, as he examined each of the papers.

This is my opportunity to strike back at this little rich boy, Dennis thought. He opened one of the desk doors and found a pack of matches and a pack of Camel cigarettes.

I wonder if his parents know the little sneak is smoking, Dennis asked himself.

Dennis removed the book of matches, and took one match from the pack. He struck the match on the back of the cover. The smell of Sulphur seemed to fill Dennis’s nostrils as he held Gerald’s school work papers in his hand and lit the bottom of the stack. It wasn’t long until the flames soared up and almost burned Dennis’s fingers.

With one hand, Dennis quickly picked up the waste container from the floor and dumped the contents on Gerald’s desk. He threw the burning papers into the bottom of the waste container and stomped the flame out with his foot. When he was sure that the flames were out, he returned the papers he had dumped on the desk back into the top of the waste container on top of the ashes.

The room smelled of smoke but Dennis did not care as he knew that the Cromwell’s would not be home until late Sunday evening.

Dennis locked the kitchen door and started his hike back to the pharmacy.

When Dennis reached the pharmacy, he made one more delivery for which he received 25¢; as it was only a few blocks from the drugstore.

Dennis walked to the newspaper office, picked up the newspapers for his route and made the deliveries of the evening newspaper.

That evening after dinner, he washed, put on his pajamas and went to bed.

Chapter 3

20 YEARS LATER

D ennis was now 33 years old, had graduated from college and served 4 years in the Marines. Dennis had accepted a position with a land development real-estate company and was well on his way to regaining his family fortune.

Dennis, Jack Cooper needs to see you in his office ASAP, Dennis’s secretary Lila said.

Good morning, Dennis. How are things going in your department? Mr. Cooper asked.

We are swamped. That new shopping center in Denver has us in a real tizzy.

What seems to be the problem? Mr. Cooper asked.

The planning and zoning board has changed its mind 3 times and that is holding up our building permits.

Do you think that Walter can handle that for a week or so while I send you on a special development project, Dennis?

I am sure he can. Is there something you need me to do? Dennis asked.

As a matter of fact, there is Dennis. We are interested in an 850-acre estate near Brown County, Ohio. We would like to buy and develop the property. It is a prime location for a housing development and is just one mile off the exit ramp on 275. I feel that it is a great opportunity for us to develop an exclusive, residential area.

I remember that you told me a long time ago that you lived in that area when you were a child.

Yes, as a matter of fact, I did, Mr. Cooper.

Since you know the area, I am going to send you back there to look at the property and purchase it if you think it will be a profitable venture for our company. I would like for you to leave tomorrow if you can arrange it.

Would it be possible for you to get someone else to go to Brown County instead of me, Mr. Cooper? Dennis asked.

What is the problem, Dennis? I thought you would be excited to return to the place where you spent your childhood, Mr. Cooper said.

I really have some dreadful memories of that place, Mr. Cooper. I am afraid they may overshadow my thinking.

I can get someone else to go to Brown County, Dennis. However, I believe for your own good, you should go back and face your past, Mr. Cooper said, as he stood looking at Dennis.

I know you’re right, Jack, but I…

Good, then I will be expecting a full report from you from Brown County in the near future, Mr. Cooper said. He put his arm around Jack’s shoulders and walked him to the door. Everything will be just fine Dennis, don’t worry.

I will call you as soon as I have viewed and walked over the grounds, Dennis said, as he walked into the hall.

Dennis arrived at the Cincinnati Airport at 6:05