Howl of the Black Shuck: A Village of Children, #1

By Philip A. Moore

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to live in a village without parents?

Every day, honorary Grandpa Gabriel, governor of Casterville, gathers the village children together to tell them stories. Their favorite is about the village down the road and how it survived the deaths of the parents and everyone over the age of fifteen except a blind man and a wizard. How they learn to rely on one another to grow food and to live life day by day while answering the questions of: Who is the black shuck and why is feared? How does the village establish leadership?

Watch out, the ex-bully is hungry and doesn't want to work. What is the story behind the weaver's daughter and her mysterious request from Gabriel?

Three kids get lost in the woods. Will they survive? Who stole a stack of dishes from the village kitchen?

Join the kids from the Village of Casterville as they listed to these and other stories in what is the first of many volumes.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Philip A. Moore
• Release date: Oct 21, 2022
• ISBN: 9798201769376

Book preview

Chapter 1

The Howl of the Black Shuck

In Fairydom, a person can find many villages like those on earth which are unique. One such village is Casterville.

In Casterville, it's common to see an old man ambling down the street followed by a group of children. The man’s face is weathered and tanned from too much sun. His eyes crinkled at the corners twinkling with the love of life, while spotting new blossoms on a flower, a leaky water spout on a window's back porch, or that a child lost his front tooth. His beard and mustache are one, his forehead taken up by a single brow. Waist length hair blows in the wind and as he walks, his pants and sleeves flow loose and comfortable. A couple of large pockets placed strategically where he can easily access them contain his treasures.

The growing procession moves down the cobblestone streets. They step out of doorways and join their friends, looking for a shady place to sit.

Story time, the man yells as more kids join the mob. It is easy to get caught up in the excitement, wondering what tales they will hear. The man glances back at them and smiles.

His name is Gabriel, a woman nearby exclaims. He's been mayor of Casterville for over five hundred years. He and his wife, Beatrice, have no children. She points to the crowd following. But they have a lot of grandkids. Of course, they aren’t related, but he comes in handy as daily entertainment.

Gabriel’s bodyguard, Teddy, is a giant green skinned boy with red hair tied into a French twist that extends below his waist. Teddy is only ten years old and is half ogre.

Gabriel does not need protection, but Teddy's job lets Gabriel help with rearing Teddy, and his two-year-old sister, Rosie, while their parents sleep during the day. Teddy’s parents' guard Casterville at night.

When Gabriel's legs tire and hurt, Teddy finds a cart for him to sit. Teddy sets his sister on the seat next to Gabriel and drags the cart behind him. The half-ogre never complains. The most he does is flexes his arm and says with a grin, Getting big here, boss!

Gabriel has lived a long life and has accumulated many stories he looks forward to telling. They captivate anyone who listens. Children beg their parents' permission and run out, following him like rats after the pied piper.

Gabriel has only two rules: don't miss school and be polite.

They find a green grassy place under a cool tree in the common area. The children all sit down in a circle around him, jostling each other for space. Teddy stands or sits in the back and Gabriel begins.

A group of stories his audience never tires of Gabriel calls ‘A Village of Children’. They take Gabriel several weeks to finish. His listeners often beg for more than one, but he almost never gives in as they might be late or miss school. Plus, he wants to give each story its proper respect.

Gabriel stood for a moment and steadied himself on Teddy’s shoulder. Listen, everyone, Gabriel yelled. Today, I'm going to tell you about the Village of Children!

Yay! kids shouted.

We want the story about when the boys caught the sheep killer, one boy yelled.

Tell us about the feast, Teddy interjected.

One of Gabriel's granddaughters yanked his shirt sleeve. No, tell us about Polly's birthday and Harold, the boy with the bad leg, who played the fiddle!

Hallelujah! one girl shouted.

Tell us about the winter. Another boy chimed.

No, we want a story about the romances! two girls called out, their cheeks turning pink.

This could go on for hours, but Gabriel laughed and waved his hands broadly apart like he was conducting music. Children, I know you each have a favorite story, but we have to start at the beginning. That was when the Village of Haverstein changed and never recovered.

Gabriel gazed into the distance and began. His voice softened. The children grew quiet and everyone backed up as Teddy sat down, drawing his sister, Rosie, into his lap, preparing to listen to what came next.

Haverstein, Gabriel began, is not a place where I ever lived, but I have visited there many times. The story began the night the black shuck howled!

What's a shuck? a girl named Margret Jane asked.

You’ll see, answered Gabriel.

"The days were good for the People of Haverstein. When our story started, all the village men over the age of sixteen went on their once-a-year hunting trip for meat.

They wanted to be ready for winter. The wives enjoyed a break, and the men enjoyed bonding. It would culminate in a feast of love once the men returned!

Gabriel tried his best to sound gruff when doing the chief's voice.

It makes us a stronger village, their chief would say.

Younger boys could hardly wait until they too could go.

The chief gathered all the younger boys. Now lads, he said, someone needs to stay and protect the ladies and be the men of the village.

The boys groaned at this. Hunting sounded like a lot more fun.

This year a lad, you will get to know well, named Albert complained the loudest. He was only a week from the proper age. Staying back would haunt Albert later. It was survivor’s guilt.

The men kissed their wives and daughters, then headed off; they had done this ritual every year for the last two hundred years. If they were not ready for winter, the village would starve.

The ladies stayed home and waited for the men. They did chores and watched the children. This meant preparing the vegetables, gathering wood, mending clothes, and all the other things needed to be completed before winter.

Only one adult man remained. His name was Luke, but everyone called him ‘Blind Luke’. He could not see. He had been that way since birth.

Luke was wise, reliable, and white-haired man. Being blind, he relied on his niece, Polly who helped organize his clothes, so he always matched and made sure he looked presentable by keeping his hair cut, helping him stay shaved and dressed neatly. Luke figured no one laughed, so she must be competent.

He lived with his younger brother- and sister-in-law and their five kids. Luke was content as a bachelor and did not look for a wife. Wisdom told him he would be a burden. His only dependent was a cute loyal long-haired chihuahua dog named Sebastian.

Sebastian was smart and obeyed Luke’s commands well. The dog led Luke everywhere. All Luke had to do was tell him where to go. Sebastian had been a present from a village friend, a circus owner named Minerva. She took pity on Luke.

Minerva placed the furry little guy in Luke's hands.

He is the smartest of the litter. Sebastian will be your eyes, if you let him. He is yours if you take care of him. Sebastian was the only dog living in Haverstein.

Luke later thought they bribed him.

Why, Margaret Jane asked.

I will explain in a future story. Gabriel answered.

Most of the time Luke carried pockets full of dried meat, which he fed bits of to the eager, jumpy little soldier. When Luke did not need him, Sebastian followed Luke's youngest niece, a six-year-old Joicee.

Luke's brother assured him the family did not consider him a burden and his sister-in-law never complained. He still did what he could to help. He used to cook but his family stopped him after he accidentally put powdered lie in the gravy to thicken it! If a rat had not died sampling some he put down for Sebastian, it might have killed them.

The village loved Luke. It was familiar and comforting to watch Luke follow Sebastian. Luke didn't consider himself limited or disabled; blindness was all he'd ever known.

Gabriel stopped for a bit to rest his voice and gather his thoughts.

You OK, grandpa? one girl asked.

I'm fine, kids, shut your eyes for a moment, he commanded.

Gabriel made sure they obeyed No peeking. Now, what do you see?

One boy spoke up, It’s black!

Gabriel laughed. That's right. That is what Blind Luke experienced every day.

This is fun, Teddy said.

Gabriel continued, You may uncover your eyes.

His disability did not stop Luke. He often grabbed his cane for a walk. Sebastian would lead. If something stepped into his master's path, the dog would warn him with a quick 'yip'.

Several nights after the hunters left, Luke went on his evening stroll. He trusted his dog. A river split the village, and he would have drowned if Sebastian led him in the wrong direction. Or, if they went too far into the woods, he could get lost.

Most nights Luke enjoyed a walk on a well-worn path to the top of the hill to a cleared spot overlooking Haverstein. Blindness stopped him from seeing the view, but he felt it in the distance. The sound of crickets and tree-frogs described the area's height, size and location of objects. The wind that blew up and down and over and around a private area refreshed the stale air, bringing up the aroma of flowers from a meadow just outside of the village.

He came here to relax, talk to God, or to remember the village history. This night something was different, instead of flowers, the air tasted nasty, hard to breathe. It had the rancid odor of sulfur and rotting corpses. The smells worried him. What animal made it? He did not want to trip. So, he could not run home. Sebastian stopped in front of him so abruptly that Luke tripped and landed in some bushes! Sebastian did not 'yip', instead he gave a loud cry and dove under his master’s jacket.

Luke sat on the ground, shaking. This was weird behavior, even for Sebastian. Something must be wrong. He reached around for his dog. Sebastian whimpered and his eyes were closed as he shook. Luke lay still, not sure if he should stand. His hands checked for scratches moments before a howl interrupted the quiet. It was so loud, Luke's ears popped; ringing followed the pop.

Luke swore and cried out. He knew what it was: the dreaded hound of death, The Black Shuck. No wonder Sebastian panicked. To see the shuck meant you were going to die. The shuck's job was to guide people to the afterlife.

Luke remembered a description from someone who was not ready to die. ``The beast is a gray wolf, larger than two large men. Its skin is decaying. His mouth is full of yellow teeth. Its fur is alive with worms and maggots. The only thing that looked alive are its eyes; red and full of the fires of hell.’

Another description from a woman whose husband was praying for death stated, ‘He saw a beautiful white wolf with kind eyes. He experienced joy instead of terror.’

Luke had not heard it in over twenty years! The Shucks' fiery breath of hell hit his face; an odor of sulfur and of death. The beast probably wondered why nothing happened. Didn't people die if they experienced it?

The Shuck howled again. It was so close. Luke reached out and his hands touched its wire-stiff fur. There was no warmth other than squirming maggots and worms. He yanked his hand back. He had not expected the Shuck to be solid. Luke did not want to touch death. It left his hands wet and slimy with an odor so strong it made him almost retch.

Sebastian kept whimpering underneath the blind man's jacket. He wanted to leave! So did Luke.

Luke knew the Black Shuck would not kill him. He just sat shaking.

A little girl pulled on Gabriel's sleeve. He lowered his face down; this was her first time hearing the story. Grandpa, does the shuck kill them?

Wait, he said. The shuck is only a messenger. If you see it, your destiny is to die. People experience death all the time.

I still don't understand, she said.

He put her on his knee. Each person is going to die. When they do, the death angel will come for them. Some angels come in glowing balls called orbs. Not everyone sees the orbs. If you peer closely, you might. The Shuck takes the souls and we only see him at death. It delivers information. Luke was on his path. It is said that even the blind see the Shuck when they are going to die. Gabriel held the girl as he continued his story.

Luke's niece, Polly, was a slender pretty girl of fourteen with long curly brown hair. She and her friend, Tabitha, were keeping their friend, Harold, company while his mother gave birth. Did you hear that? She asked.

They stared up to the spot where Luke sat obscured by a tree, and the howl scared her. She had heard nothing like it. Soon came another one. The sound probably meant nothing, but Polly did not know for sure.

She would have asked her mother except she was helping the midwife. Polly hoped the baby was healthy. No one cried, so the baby must be safe. Harold walked back and forth on the porch playing ‘The Londonderry Air’ on his fiddle, trying to steady his nerves. It was neither happy nor sad, so it told her nothing.

The nurse's daughter, Elizabeth, came out and hugged him. He's a boy!

He quickly set his fiddle down and returned her hug. Harold was grinning; he glanced up at her. I have a brother, Polly.

She wanted to go over and celebrate, but on the hill came another howl.

Hey, Harold, she yelled, we're not the only ones celebrating. Polly's little brother and sister came outside. They were safe. Then she remembered Luke.

Uncle Luke! she called.

Entering the house, she found Luke's favorite chair empty. He and Sebastian were nowhere. She did not bother her brother, Albert. He was still mad about missing the hunt. She took a lantern and got some fire from the fireplace. They always kept it going. A flame blown out meant hacking at pieces of flint until your hands bled.

She ran to her uncle's path. She had walked it many times with Luke. Polly loved the gentle old man. He often told her stories of the village history. The path was hard for her to climb, as she was wearing a dress.

Luke! Polly called.

The wind was strong and pungent. This made her more than a little apprehensive. She looked at the ground and thanked God when she saw freshly bent grass. She checked more carefully when the grass stood straight up, not broken. Polly did not see Luke at first. She glanced to the side of the path, fingers pinching her nose. A whimper drew her eyes to her right side. Luke lay huddled next to a bush, not moving. Polly nearly gagged as she forced herself to walk to him. This was something she did not want to do. She forced her hand down to touch him, trying not to sob. She felt sick as his hand moved. Luke, she exclaimed. Relieved and excited, he had moved!

Hi, Polly, he said.

She reached down and touched his hand. Where is Sebastian? she asked.

At her question, a bulge moved under Luke's jacket.

Luke was glad Polly had not been who the shuck had howled for. The soft hem of her dress brushed his arm. Hair touched his cheek as she leaned down and kissed his forehead.

You scared me. I thought you were dead! she sobbed as tears ran down her cheeks. Are you alright? What happened? All we heard was howling.

Luke's voice was soft, but certain. The Black Shuck.

Polly had been told stories about the creature, but the shuck hadn’t visited for so long, they considered the creature a myth. She tried to get Sebastian out, but he refused and fought hard to stay under the jacket.

Luke unbuttoned his jacket, and the dog fell out. The old man sobbed and repeated, Someone is dead, I know it.

Polly gave Luke her right arm to lead him down the hill. Her eyes watered from the stench of his clothes.

Uncle Luke, your jacket stinks, Polly complained. Then a movement caught her eye. Luke are, those white and brown worms? Her eyes squinted as creatures both brown and white crawled up and down his jacket sleeve.

"Those are maggots and probably earthworms,'' he declared. I reached out, and I felt the shuck.

Wow, Luke. I heard about it but didn’t know it could be touched. Polly declared.

I need to tell the ladies what happened. Take me to the summoning bell, he pleaded.

Gabriel’s eyes glanced over the children’s faces as he spoke. Okay kids let me explain Haverstein’s Summoning Bell. The long dead wizard, Augustus hung it on the northwest corner of the common area as a village gathering place. They rang it only to make important announcements. To ring it without reason, is a punishable offense.

The little girl on Gabriel’s lap asked, Is it very loud?

Gabriel chuckled as he answered, Yes, if rang properly, it can be heard for miles. Now, let’s get back to the story.

Polly was not sure going to the Summoning Bell was a good idea. It is awfully late, uncle, Polly said.

I have to tell them, Luke insisted.

Polly obeyed and led him to the bell and put the rope in his hand. She put her hands over her ears as he rang the bell loud and long.

Women and children came running. The clanging annoyed most, but they let Luke speak. The chief's wife gave him a lecture about using the bell incorrectly.

Luke spoke. Ladies, is everyone in your home safe?

They talked to each other. They established that there was no dead person to explain the howling.

He shook his head. This makes little sense!

What doesn't? his nephew, Albert, asked.

Is anyone sick? Luke asked.

No, Albert answered.

The shuck is many things, scary yes, but it never lies. Luke declared.

The only sick person is you. That was a wolf.

A boy named Satchel shouted, big deal.

No, Luke said, that was the Black Shuck; the death dog. It only howls when someone has died.

"Then how come you are still