Devo Mannix the Sorcerer’S Apprentice: The Disappearing Cat

By Roland Boike

Devo Mannix is an understudy to his grandfather, a world renowned sorcerer and magician. In the course of his training, Devo inherits a mystifying steamer trunk and a magical 1925 Rolls Royce Phantom 1 automobile.

While on vacation at the Mannix summer cottage on Pawleys Island, South Carolina, Devo encounters a cat sitting at the front door of their cottage. The cat is persistent in his endeavors to enter the beach house.

When Devo tries to find out who the owner of the cat is, a neighbor tells him that he only sees the cat when the Mannix family is staying in their cottage.

An attempt to discover why the cat disappears and reappears only when their cottage is occupied leads Devo to an abandoned temple in Cambodia.

Devo will learn the secret of the All-Seeing Eye and the strange history of the Mannix summer cottage and its former owners before he can solve the mystery of the disappearing cat.

When Devo uses a neighbors cat to assist him in solving the mystery, that cat also disappears.

Julie, a friend of Devo, in an attempt to see the cat using the All-Seeing Eye, discovers a secret about the cat that leads Devo into a mysterious story about the cat and the origin of the All-Seeing Eye.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Dec 11, 2015
• ISBN: 9781514434321

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 BEST VACATION EVER

D evo was excited about going to the beach at Pawley’s Island. His family has owned the beach cottage for three generations now. Devo’s Grandfather, Sargo Mannix, purchased the property in 1952. Devo has been spending his summer vacation at the beach house for as long as he can remember.

The sun was just rising over the peak of the White Rock Mountains and Devo was up, packed and ready to leave.

This year would be very special for Devo because, this year, he would be allowed to take his dog with him to the beach.

Devo had thought about it many times since that stormy night when he placed an incantation on Speeler, his dog, that gave him the power of speech and understanding of languages.

Devo is an apprentice to his Grandfather, Sargo Mannix, a world famous magician and sorcerer. It was during his early days as an apprentice that Devo cast the spell to make Speeler talk.

The gift of speech soon involved Devo in a series of unfortunate incidents. In order to prevent future mishaps caused by his dog, Devo was required to modify his original incantation so that only he could understand Speeler’s barking.

Good morning, Speeler. Are you ready to go to the beach? Devo asked as he placed Speeler’s food bowl on the ground outside of the dog house.

I will be ready just as soon as I have breakfast, Speeler barked as he leaned over and began to gulp up his dog food.

You know I would like something from Mr. Hanna’s butcher shop rather than this dry dog food, don’t you? Speeler barked.

You’re going to have to live with it, Speeler. I don’t just happen to have a ribeye steak or a juicy dog bone in my pocket, Devo said, laughing at his dog.

You know I’ve been looking around for a new owner, don’t you? Speeler barked.

Yes, and as a matter of fact, I have been looking for a replacement dog, Devo said as he smiled at Speeler.

Yes, and also as a matter of fact, I placed an ad in the Sunday Enquirer, under Free Dogs. So far, there have been no takers. As soon as I mentioned your name, they hang up the phone, Devo said as he picked Speeler up in his arms and hugged him.

Speeler gave Devo a couple of licks on the cheek and the two of them walked to the house.

You know you will have to sleep on the front porch when we get to the beach house. Grandmother Rawlins is allergic to animal dander so you will be sleeping on the porch. Mother has ordered a doggie bed for you, so I am sure you will be comfortable, Devo said.

Sounds like a plan. I am really looking forward to our trip. I have never been to a beach before. Will there be any squirrels there that I can chase? Speeler barked.

Very doubtful. You may find a field mouse or two, Devo said.

Devo, load Speeler in his traveling case and put him in the back of the van. I have all of your things loaded and as soon as Grandfather Mannix is ready, we will leave for the beach house, Devo’s mother called to him.

We have almost a 12 hour drive ahead of us so be sure to bring some books and a few games to play, Devo’s mother said.

Devo’s mother and father took turns driving. They made frequent stops at the roadside rest areas to give Speeler, Devo, and Grandfather a chance to stretch their legs and use the facilities. By the time they reached St. Andrews, Speeler, Devo and Grandfather were fast asleep. It wasn’t until Speeler, Devo and Grandfather heard Tom Mannix say, Here we are at the beach house on Pawley’s Island.

beach%20house.jpg

The beach house on Pawley’s Island

The Mannix family had no sooner unloaded the car and put everything in its place in the beach house when they heard Speeler barking as he disappeared into the sand dunes.

Devo was sitting on the beach house front steps when Speeler returned, wet with sweat and panting.

Where have you been? And what have you been doing? Devo asked.

We were only here about 15 minutes when this cat came up to the front door of the beach house. What’s a dog to do? I had to chase him, Speeler barked.

Did you catch him, Speeler? Devo asked.

I came mighty close a couple of times but I lost him up on top of the hill. There is a lot of hiding places up there and I could not sniff him out, Speeler barked.

Well, I’m happy for that and I’m sure the cat is also pleased, Devo said. Let me get you a drink of water and then we will walk down to the beach and see if we can find anything interesting.

Good evening, Devo. Is that your dog? Mr. Avery asked.

Good evening, Mr. Avery. It’s good to see you again. And yes, this is my dog, Speeler, Devo said as he greeted their next-door neighbor on Pawley’s Island.

What was all the barking about? Mr. Avery asked.

I think that Speeler was chasing a cat that came up to our front door, Devo said.

If that was the cat with the white face and a kind of gray body, I’ve seen him before. The strange thing about it is I only see him hanging around when your family is here on vacation; otherwise he just seems to disappear, Mr. Avery said.

I think I told your Grandfather that the last five or six years that your family has come here to the beach for vacation. I always thought it strange that I never see him before you come or after you leave, Mr. Avery said.

That’s really strange, Mr. Avery. I have seen the cat every year that I can remember. I have picked him up and petted him a few times but I know that we do not feed him and we’ve never had trouble with him getting in our trash container, that I know of, Devo said.

It occurred to me that I never see that cat when you’re not here and it is just a short time after you arrive here that I see him around your house and in the sand dunes. After you pack up and leave, I never see him again until you come back, Mr. Avery said as he walked along the shoreline with Devo and Speeler.

When Devo and Speeler arrived back at the beach house, there, sitting at the front door of the house, sat the white face cat.

See what he has to say, Speeler. Maybe we can check out Mr. Avery’s story about a disappearing cat, Devo said.

Hello cat. My name is Speeler; what is your name? Speeler barked.

Meow, meow, meow.

What did he say Speeler? Devo asked.

All he says is, Meow I have communicated with cats before but this is a new one on me. His meow’s do not make any sense to me, Speeler barked.

Think it’s safe to pick him up? Devo asked.

I am not absolutely positive but I think you’re reasonably safe, Speeler barked.

Devo reached down and picked the cat up. He did not seem to mind being picked up and as soon as Devo held him in his arms, he began to purr.

I think I found a new friend, Devo said.

That’s a shame. I had planned on spending part of my vacation here chasing him, Speeler barked.

I think that’s out of the question, Speeler. Let’s make a friend of him, Devo said as he placed the cat back down on the beach house porch.

Devo sat down on the front porch steps. As he looked around at the sand dune, the sea oats and the ocean, he thought to himself, Speeler and I are going to have the best vacation ever.

Chapter 2

STRANGE BEHAVIOR

S hirley Mannix, Devo’s mother, had placed Speeler’s doggie bed on the end of the porch near the railing. Mrs. Mannix whistled several times and called Speeler. Come here Speeler, come here Speeler. I want to show you where you will be sleeping tonight, Mrs. Mannix called.

Speeler had been laying under the porch in the cool, damp shade. It must be dinner time, Speeler thought as he leaped to his feet and ran up on the porch to where Mrs. Mannix was standing.

What’s this all about? Speeler barked. I don’t see any food.

What on earth are you barking about, Speeler? I just want to show you where you are going to be sleeping tonight, Mrs. Mannix said.

Is that all? I may just sleep under the porch on my stomach where it’s cool, Speeler barked.

What on earth is your dog barking about? Devo’s mother called to her son, who was half-asleep on a lounge chair after his long walk down the beach.

I think he’s hungry, Mom. I think I’ll feed him and fill his bowl up with some fresh water, Devo said, not wanting his mother to know that he had understood every word his dog had barked.

Devo got up out of his lounge chair and walked to the front door of the beach house. Sure enough, the cat was sitting at the front door meowing.

What are you meowing about, Kitty? Devo asked.

Meow, meow, meow, was the only answer that the cat gave.

You can’t come in the house, Kitty. Grandma Rollins is allergic to cats and dogs, Devo said as he gently moved the cat aside with his foot.

Devo filled up Speeler’s dog bowl with fresh dog food and water and opened the door to set it on the porch. As soon as he opened the screen door, the cat ran into the house. Devo set Speeler’s food down on the porch and ran into the house to catch the cat. The cat was on the first step on his way to the second floor when Devo caught him by the nape of the neck and carried him outside.

Naughty kitty, Devo said as he took the cat down the front porch steps and placed him in the sand.

By the time Devo returned to his lounge chair, Speeler had eaten all of his food and drank most of his water. I hope Mr. Hanna is saving all of my bones for me at the butcher shop, Speeler barked as he jumped up on Devo’s lap to fall asleep.

It hadn’t been more than 10 minutes when Speeler looked over and saw that darn cat sitting at the front door, meowing.

Your cat is back, Speeler barked.

He’s not my cat, Devo whispered emphatically into Speeler’s ear.

What’s your dog barking about now? Devo’s Mother asked, as she put her book down and looked up to see