The Toto Bird: TOTO BIRD, #1

By Giuseppe Cristiano

The Toto Bird has been thought to be a lot of things. A myth. A legend. The inspiration for movies, books, and much more. Susanne, an archaeologist, has spent her entire life studying this bird.

When a video finally appears of the Toto Bird online, she comes to realize that the only way to fully research the mysterious creature is by taking the help of the richest man in the world. But not everything is as it seems.

Some people are desperate to get their hands on the Toto Bird.

And some people are too blind to realize that not every great mystery can be solved by looking here, on earth.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Seagull Editions
• Release date: May 18, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223692348

Book preview

A Tale To Last The Ages

Chapter One

1910

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Once upon a time is the way that many stories such as this one starts. Stories about the ancient and the god. The superb and the mystical. But rather than start with a once upon a time, we’re going to start with a boy named Alfred, who spends much of his time alone in the woods near his house.

Now, Alfred is a rather strange boy. He spends his time reading, or poking around in the woods, and watching bugs as they crawl up the lengths of a long stick. The other kids his age think that he’s very odd, and they mostly ignore him.

Today, as is the case with many days, the moment that the other boys Alfred’s age catch sight of him – balancing along an old stone fence, arms out to the side as he wobbles and walks – they come rushing over. There are three boys. The oldest boy, Henry, is also the biggest.

He laughs and says, look at that, Harry. We can finally see if pigs are able to fly!

And before Alfred can so much as try to hop down from the fence top, Henry reaches out and shoves him hard. Alfred goes toppling off of the side of the fence and down into the mud, where he lands with a thick, wet splash.

Henry, his best friend Harry, and Thomas all hurry through a broken part of the fence and around to the other side. They surround Alfred, who is on his hands and knees in the mud.

Thomas jeers, that’s right where you belong. My uncle has a farm, you know, and his pigs love mud. This weird kid’s always poking around for worms in there. It’s about time he got to see it like a real animal!

Why won’t you just leave me alone? Alfred shouts, managing to get up to his feet. He’s caked in thick mud from head to toe. The dark brown slime clings to his skin and his clothes. His parents are going to be more than a little upset with him for coming back with his clothes in such a state.

Tears burn at his eyes. Henry shoves him hard. Alfred goes back down in the mud.

Harry laughs. Look at him! Little piggy rolls around!

Maybe there will be some bugs in there, teases Thomas. I heard he loves bugs. Loves them way more than normal.

That’s because he isn’t just a little piggy, says Henry. He’s also a little freak. I’ve seen him do some weird stuff.

I’m not a freak, Alfred protests, from his spot on the ground. I’m not!

Henry grabs the front of Alfred’s shirt in one hand and half steps over top of him. The other hand he curls into a tight fist, looking like he’s getting ready to bring it down on Alfred. I’ll show you what we do to little freaks around here.

He pulls his hand back, getting ready to swing at Alfred – and suddenly, there’s a screeching sound. It’s a shrill, low tone, but it quickly takes on a singular noise.

Toto! The sound comes. Toto! Toto!

All four of the children freeze. Thomas asks, what;’s that weird noise?

Henry lets go of Alfred’s shirt and lets him drop back down into the mud. I dunno. He looks around. Do you see anything?

Harry looks around. I dunno. What am I looking for?

Don’t ask me that, Thomas snaps. I don’t know.

The three bullies step away from the mud puddle that they’ve shoved Alfred into, and start