The One Great Gnome by Jeff Dinardo

Author:Jeff Dinardo [Dinardo, Jeff]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Red Chair Press
Published: 2020-08-02T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 10

Mount Gnome

Sarah and Vesper had gotten up early and were already out on the road as the sun rose. Sarah had not told Vesper about the troll. She didn’t want to upset him.

“We’ve made good time,” said Vesper. “If we keep up this pace, we’ll be at Mount Gnome by noon.”

Sarah kept looking behind her. When they had woken up, she saw Frieda was gone. When she asked Vesper about it, he just shrugged. “Sprites come and go,” he said. “I’m sure she’ll be back.”

Sarah liked her new friend. She hoped she would be back soon.

Throughout their hike, they passed many small villages and empty homes, and still they did not see any other gnomes. At one small stone house at the edge of a village, Vesper slowed. “This is my Uncle Rodzi’s house,” he said. He stopped to look inside. The furniture was all toppled, and items were thrown all around the floor.

“My uncle was very strong,” said Vesper. “I bet he gave those trolls a fierce battle!”

Sarah thought of Ralph. “Vesper,” she asked, “have you ever heard the name Krickshap?”

Vesper thought a second. “No, never heard it before. Who or what is it?”

“I wish I knew,” was all Sarah answered.

Just before noon, they came over the crest of a hill, and there it was—looming up on the horizon was a massive mountain unlike anything Sarah had ever seen. It was still some distance away, but Sarah could see the mountain was covered with many windows and doors. There were balconies carved into the side and terraces with gardens.

“It looks like a whole city inside a mountain,” Sarah said.

Vesper looked proud. “It is!” he said. “And it’s all done by gnomes—with the Ogg’s guidance, of course.”

Vesper pointed to a small window on one side. “That’s where I live,” he said. “It’s a cozy place off the main kitchen.”

They hurried now to get closer to the front entrance. It was a large arched entranceway carved of stone. It had the same carved work that Sarah had seen in the gnome-way door back at the potting shed. Just below it, she saw two carved statues of gnomes standing at attention. When they were sure no one was around, they ran to the entrance. Vesper stopped at the statues and looked sad as he rubbed his hand on one of the statues’ shoulders. Sarah realized they were not carved statues, but real gnomes who had been turned to stone.

“Let’s get inside before someone comes!” said Vesper.

But the air was already filled with an awful stench, and they knew it was too late.

Around the bend came a group of three trolls, all moaning because they were in the bright daylight. They were each using one hand to try to block their eyes from the bright sun. With their other hands, they dragged something behind them, bound in a net.

Vesper grabbed Sarah, and they ducked down behind a tree just in time. The trolls continued in through the archway and pushed open the main door.

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