Dargo: Eco Hero

By Karina McRoberts

HILARIOUS, HEART-WARMING, DIFFERENT and DELIGHTFUL!

A lonely young man suffers a massive defeat. When all is lost, he meets a fiery fortune-teller who pleads with him to save her.

Can he re-invent himself as a hero?

A light-hearted but poignant little story, Dargo is humorous and heart-warming; a fairy-tale for adults.

You can also read this to your children who care about Earth. And, if they don't, Dargo will help them to do so!

An enjoyable timely tale that will appeal to the magic in all of us.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Next Chapter
• Release date: Jan 15, 2022
• ISBN: 4824108756

Karina McRoberts

I write intelligent fiction - currently in four genres - historical romance/adventure fiction, epic fantasy, ghost stories, and comic fantasy. Books to enthrall and delight, entertain and enlighten. Fabulous characters and plenty of surprises. Lots of interesting author's notes for book club people! Writing since 2013, Karina McRoberts has published five novels in two genres - a time travel adventure/romance series (The Palace of the Stars and The Mine's Eye) and an epic fantasy trilogy with a female lead and modern themes (Chelandra, Master of the World, and Juggernaut). Her smaller works include an anthology and a short-story (The Haunting of York - A Ghostly Anthology and Lost and Found - A Ghost Story). Karina derives inspiration from living in a beautiful forest, while working with her husband to restore the remainder of their environs from degraded farmland to habitat for wildlife. Tahshi, their wonder dog extraordinaire, is a friend to all. In addition to being an avid conservationist, Karina is a musician with a keen interest in world and renaissance music. She has wandered very far and been engaged in a variety of professions, ranging from migrant sweat-shop labourer to research scientist. Recently, she's been busy as a lizard surgeon and sometime snake handler. Karina has intense interests in the evolution of social justice and the expansion of human (and animal) consciousness. Never at a loss for inspiration, she aims to bring her readers entertainment, enlightenment and, most of all, pure enjoyment! Karina is presently hard at work on her next novel, The Light, Book Three of the Harker Investigates Mysteries.

Book preview

BY WAY OF INTRODUCTION…

"Loser." A merciless whisper slithers its way along corridors.

"Yeah. F'in' weird, man." More vicious utterings—and heartless stares.

Female colleagues quietly titter, "Oh Dargo, he’s such a not."

Hmm, do you think maybe he should work out?

Or something?

---

Dargo Fernandez loses.

Everything.

Money, keys, girlfriends, sporting contests, advancement opportunities, entire jobs, self-respect… Heart.

Dargo's going nowhere, and when he arrives, he finds he's somewhere else entirely.

With nothing left to lose, he tries his hand at lifting spirits.

CHAPTER 1

BUSY GOING NOWHERE

Regarding her office colleague’s proudly proffered phone pic, the lovely Lucinda enquired, "Dargo, what's it supposed to be?"

Oh. Um, does that mean you don't like it? replied the somewhat short, nerdish young man who sought her affections.

"This is the weirdest thing you've done yet, you know that? No, it's just as weird as your mask collection. Nothing's worse than that!"

She shot a glance at Dargo’s full-size Bela Lugosi Dracula poster; his entire cubicle was covered with off-key stuff. Why can't you grow up?

Abashed, Dargo didn’t answer, but again regarded the photo on his phone; the picture displayed his latest pride and joy.

"Alright, go on. I give up, Dargo. What is it?"

It's my new sock drawer. I made it on the weekend. He beamed.

Socks. Right. She again regarded the small image. "And, um, what are these things, here?"

"Yeah, well I guess the pic's a bit small to show the detail. They're the drawer handles, Lucy! Got 'em online. They're really cool, you know?"

No. I do not.

That's just because you can't see them so good in the picture. Here, I brought one with me to show you. He fumbled in his pocket and retrieved something.

And don't call me Lucy.

Sorry. Dargo gently and a bit shakily placed the trés cool object into Lucinda's hand, being careful not to touch her.

Eeeewwwww! She hurled the hand-sized grinning skull at the wall, where it dented Dargo’s Mad Magazine Alfred poster. "It's a bone! It's real! Ick! Dargo!"

"No it's not, Lu…, Lucinda. It's only plastic, just made to look real. And, well yeah, kinda feel real too. You know, pitted, yellowed and browned…That's all."

She glared daggers at him.

Dargo desperately remarked, It's made from corn starch, actually. Plastic's verboten. So it should be.

"You are seriously weird, you know that Dargo?" Bela grinned down at her, with that classically creepy, sweet smile—making Lucinda’s mind up for her, good and proper.

"Dargo, I've got to go. I really just came over for a cup of coffee. But seeing as I was passing, I just thought I'd peek over your partition and check on how you were doing. But I really shouldn't have. I know that now. Have a nice morning."

It didn't sound nice at all. She threw Dargo more scowls and turned to go, when she was met by the office alpha male; he of the hot and handsome variety.

"There you are, Lucinda, the man said; his baritone deeper than the Grand Canyon. C'mon, let's get back to work on this layout."

Her frown did a rapid 180. "Give me a minute, Jake. I'll be right back."

Jake leaned languidly on Dargo's cubicle wall, staring after Lucinda as she made her way to the ladies' room.

Hi, Jake, Dargo greeted brightly.

Startled, Jake turned around. His face cinched as he took in the Mad poster, now complete with tear.

You need some new décor, pal.

Guess so, Dargo replied weakly, not catching the ridicule in Jake’s tone; Dargo was most unhappy about the damage to his cherished Alfred E Neuman poster.

What's your name again?

Dargo.

"Oh yeah. How could I forget? Hey, why weren't you with the guys last night at paintball?"

Well, I had something to do. But thanks for inviting me.

I don't think we'll bother anymore. You never come. Just as well. You'd probably get wiped out pronto.

Really?

God, this guy is a dweeb, Jake mused. Aloud, he replied, "It's supposed to be a challenge, you know? Real man's stuff." Jake inhaled