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    Murky Manor
    Murky Manor
    Murky Manor
    Ebook139 pages1 hour

    Murky Manor

    By Steven Larson and Margaret Larson

    ()

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    About this ebook

    When Meredith visits Murky Manor there is more mystery than just the fog surrounding the house. She discovers an old cup that affects the weather. Before she can figure it out, others become interested in the cup. There are creatures that appear to be made of mist and a strange girl who claims she is from another world and the cup belongs to her.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherSteven Larson
    Release dateSep 10, 2009
    ISBN9781452302201
    Murky Manor
    Author

    Steven Larson

    Welcome to our middle-grade fantasy stories. Our writing started with the picture of a gnome house. The tale grew into The World Beyond the Door. Other books followed. Here you will find those adventures. Travel across time, visit magical worlds, and step into cyber realms. Join the adventure. Let the story unfold.

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      Book preview

      Murky Manor - Steven Larson

      MURKY MANOR

      Copyright 2008 by Steven & Margaret Larson

      Cover Art Copyright 2008 by Betty Rieffer

      Smashwords Edition

      Published by Margaret Larson at Smashwords

      This book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This book may not be resold. Thank you for respecting the work of the authors.

      Other books available by these authors

      CHILDREN’S FANTASY BOOKS

      Cave of Discovery

      Worlds Within

      The World Beyond the Door

      A COLLECTION OF WRITINGS

      Thoughts on the Wind

      Print versions available at www.lulu.com/larsonworlds

      Visit us at our web site www.home.earthlink.net/~larsonworlds

      CONTENTS

      1 Turrets and Lightening

      2 The Clipper Ship Diner

      3 Moving In

      4 The Gazebo

      5 The Image in the Cup

      6 Strawberry Crepes

      7 Fog in the Rainforest

      8 The Captain’s Church

      9 An Unexpected Trip

      10 Escape on Two Wheels

      11 The Cataract

      12 Pirate

      13 The Antediluvian

      14 Plants, Mold, and Mildew

      15 Water Wisps at the Manor

      16 Escape from the Inn

      17 The Misty Way

      18 Watermelons

      19 Searching the Antediluvian

      20 Edison’s Escape

      21 Safe Keeping

      22 A Safe Storm

      23 Aftermath

      24 Procuring a Boat

      25 The Chase

      26 Back to Murky

      Epilogue

      CHAPTER 1 - TURRETS AND LIGHTENING

      The old willow tree’s top branches whipped around in the wind like stringy hair. A flash of lightening lit up the lower limbs. They scraped over the ground like gnarled fingers searching in the grass for something lost.

      Meredith stood in front of the antique secretary desk and slid up the roll top. A small wooden replica of a gazebo sat on the desk. She released a catch in the back, and the roof lifted off like a box top. Inside a black cup nestled in a pile of vibrant blue silk.

      She turned back to the windows. The outside world was bathed in purple light. Three sides of the small turret room had windows and cushioned seats. A cream colored cat sat with its nose pressed against the pane. Lightening flashed. She counted until she heard the boom in the distance. Seven seconds. Seven miles away.

      Meredith pushed aside the leather bound book she had been reading and curled up beside the cat on the faded fabric. She had expected Captain Morgan’s journal to be full of exciting stories about his voyages. Instead the pages only contained navigational figures, duty rosters, and weather reports.

      What do you think of the storm, Thomas Edison? She buried her fingers in his soft fur and was rewarded by a purr. That’s what I think too, she said softly. It’s like the earth is being washed for an exciting event. Like my birthday.

      In two weeks she would be twelve. This visit to her aunt would be over by then. She would be home for her birthday. This year Heather, the most popular girl at school, had agreed to come to her party. Heather didn’t like rain. She said it messed up her hair. Maybe this year there would be clear skies. But it had always rained on her birthday, and she had always thought of it as part of the celebration. Until now.

      The rain started with soft spatters. As the sky darkened, it tapped harder on the old glass. The house had stood there for over a century. Over time the glass had become wavy and thicker on the bottom. Water running down the surface further distorted the image of the yard far below.

      Narrow bookshelves separated the deep-set windows. They were filled with old books. She closed the Captain's journal and placed it back on the shelf. The house was full of oddities collected by Captain Morgan on his voyages over a hundred years ago.

      The hardwood floor was rough and uneven under her feet as she crossed the room. She stepped onto a tiny rug in front of the desk and wiggled her toes. Lightening flashed again and static in the rug popped against her foot.

      Boom. Three seconds. Three miles. Edison jumped off the window seat and slunk down the spiral staircase that led to Meredith’s bedroom.

      She took a lighter from a tarnished brass spittoon and lit two candles on the wall over the desk. She tugged on the edge of the scarf and it slithered away from the cup. Scooping up her hair, she tied the blue silk around her unruly curls. Loose strands hung down and clung to her sticky skin. The room lit up briefly. Thunder rolled. One second. One mile.

      The cup had no handle and reminded her of a Japanese teacup, but much larger and heavier. She stretched her fingers around the cup. As she tilted it towards the candle, faint blue lines shimmered on the outside surface.

      Eerie shadows danced on the walls. The musty odors of faded maroon drapes and old books blended together. She could see a reflection of candle flames in the now dark windows.

      Then a brilliant light filled the room and shimmered around the window frame. The lines on the cup glittered. Strands of hair brushed across her cheek. Then everything went black.

      Meredith shivered. The window must have blown open and snuffed out the candles. There was a cold breeze against her bare arms and legs. It smelled of damp earth. For a moment she smelled something spicy, almost like cinnamon but with a tartness she could taste. It lingered on her tongue like the time she had eaten a green apple. Could it be a fragrance from one of the candles?

      The floor was cold as she took a step toward the window. She stubbed her toe, and let out a yelp as something fell with a soft thump. She knelt down and rubbed her toe. Her groping fingers brushed against cold metal. Stupid spittoon, she thought, and gave it a shove. A flash of lightening showed that she was facing an open doorway, not the window.

      She caught a glimpse of the willow tree’s swaying branches scratching at the doorframe. She gasped and squeezed her eyes shut. The breeze stopped suddenly. She opened her eyes and looked up from where she crouched on the floor. The room was warm and had the familiar musty odor. In the candlelight she could see the spittoon still sitting on the floor beside the desk with the lighter poking out of the top.

      The stairs creaked. Light bounced up the hallway walls. She heard her aunt’s voice.

      Meredith? Meredith are you up here?

      Yes, Aunt Doris. I’m in the turret room. She struggled to her feet, and put the cup on the desk. Doris stood in the doorway breathing hard.

      I was in the kitchen when the lightening hit and the electricity went out. Whoo! I thought I was starting to get in shape, but those three flights of stairs are a real workout. Guess I need to drop a few more pounds.

      There’s no electricity?

      Nope. Didn’t you hear that loud boom when the lights went out?

      When Meredith shook her head, the scarf came loose. Her light brown curls cascaded down her back. She caught the end of the scarf before it fell to the floor.

      Doris raised her eyebrows and pressed her lips together. Hmm. Well, it sounded like a major hit. The whole neighborhood is probably dark. Good thing we were planning on moving into town tomorrow. She frowned at the candles.

      In the moving light she looked a bit like a candle herself. Her hair was cut short and dyed bright red. The fine strands floated around her face like warm embers, softening the wrinkles. She handed Meredith a flashlight and blew out the candles.

      The Captain had two sons, Robert and David. They all lived in this house until the Captain died. Then the sons divided up the estate. David bought his own house and they dismantled their father’s ship. They used the lumber to build turrets onto their houses.

      There’s another house with a turret like this? Meredith asked.

      Not any more. Both houses were built in the 1800’s and lit by gaslights. One night during a thunderstorm, much like this one, David’s house burned down. After that, Robert had this house wired for electricity. All except this room.

      I think electricity would spoil it, Meredith said.

      Well, no electricity seems like a good excuse to eat out. What say we go to the Clipper Ship for supper?

      CHAPTER 2 - THE CLIPPER SHIP DINER

      The rain stopped by the time Doris found her car keys. It was a short drive to the Clipper. Everyone else seemed to have had the same idea. Meredith was glad she had taken the time to change clothes. Heather always said, You never know when you’ll meet someone, and you don’t want to look stupid.

      The parking lot was almost full when they arrived. Doris squeezed her small SUV in between two pickup trucks. One was red with a confederate flag decal covering the back window. The other truck was blue, rusty, and muddy. A tattered pirate flag hung from the antenna. Then again, it wasn’t likely she would meet anyone here.

      She pulled her blue jacket tighter around her as they walked around puddles to the front entrance. It was lucky her mother had insisted she bring it. Who could have guessed she would need a jacket in August?

      They crossed a short wooden bridge to the restaurant. It was built over the water like a ship docked at a pier. Outside the door, a wooden mermaid held a sign listing fresh seafood specialties.

      As they opened the door they were greeted by a recording of an Irish tenor belting out a lively sea tune. A middle age man looked up

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