Ov: A Fantasy by McCann Kevin

Author:McCann, Kevin [McCann, Kevin]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2020-06-24T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Thirteen

It was so warm, they were both dry in seconds. But then as Patrick looked back at the pool, it froze over. He shuddered with the sudden cold as Ov picked up an ice chunk that was glinting in the pale grey grass. “Can you skim stones?”

“Yes.” Patrick’s breath was smoky. “Uncle Liam showed me?”

“Good!” Get yourself three big chunks.” Patrick found three good size pieces of ice and held them out for Ov to see. “Fine!” exclaimed Ov, “Now, do as I do.”

Ov held the ice chunk between his first finger and thumb. Patrick did the same. Ov then brought his arm down level with his waist, bent it back then threw the ice so that it skimmed across the frozen pool. It made a strange

beshooop beshoop beshoop beshoop

noise as it spun to a halt.

“Now you,” said Ov. “All three: one after another.”

Patrick skimmed the first chunk: beshooop beshoop beshoop beshoop Then the second: beshooop beshooop beshooop beshooop Then the thir d : beshooop beshooop beshooop beshooop

Ov pointed to the far side of the clearing dropping his voice to a whisper. “Stand your ground. If you run, we’re both dead!”

Three wisps of fog drifted through the bare trees and across the clearing. Everything they touched was immediately covered in frost. As they got closer, he could see faces inside each one. One minute, they looked like old men; the next, young women. As they smiled, baring icicle teeth, he heard voices inside his head.

Who summons us from Summer’s Sleep?

“I’ll do the talking,” Ov murmured. And then more loudly, “I do.”

Whom do you serve?

“I serve herself.”

And who is she?

“The one whose smile makes the leaves fall; the one whose laughter fades the sun; the one whose song makes Winter begin.”

Who are you?

My name is Of No Importance. This boy is Patrick. A stranger from across the sea: one of the Gifted People.”

What do you want?

“We seek his Father who is lost.”

Why trouble us with this?

“Because we can’t find him without your help. ”

And the magic word is?

Ov nudged Patrick. “Go on,” he said. “You can answer that one.”

Patrick thought about it for a minute. The Magic Word. How could he know that? And then he remembered what his Nan had taught him to say whenever he wanted something. “Please,” he answered.

Correct.

“Please,” Patrick repeated. “Will you help us to find my Dad?”

We will make a beginning.

“Thank you very much,” said Patrick. “That’s really kind of you.”

The pool began growing. Its curved edge straightened out, the trees in front and to either side of them were pushed backwards and behind until they marked the boundary of a huge forest. The pool swelled to a calm sea lapping onto a beach.

There is your path.

The three wispy figures drifted back into the trees and were gone. It was warm again and Patrick stopped shivering.

“Brilliant!” exclaimed Ov. “Now all we need is a boat.” He looked around. “See if you can see a piece of wood anywhere.”

Patrick was puzzled, “What good’s a piece of wood when we need a whole boat?

“You’ll see,” said Ov, “now get looking.

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