SKYTREK - CHAPTER 8 (standard:humor, 3820 words) [8/15] show all parts
Author: Danny Miami	Added: May 19 2010	Views/Reads: 2035/1463	Part vote: 0.00 (0 votes)
Chapter 8 of the comedy.

CHAPTER EIGHT 

“A Sorcerer!? You!? I've seen better charms on a bracelet!!” 

STELLA WIFE OF SILAS THE SORCERER 

PART ONE 

A couple of miles outside a small village on the planet Clumzy, a
slightly dilapidated cottage nestled at the foot of some gently sloping 
hills. There was a broad grassy field in front of the cottage bordered 
on two sides by a thick forest and on the other by a meandering 
splashing, stream. 

Given the cottage's location and seclusion it would have been easy to
imagine that a quiet peaceful live was enjoyed by whoever lived there. 
Given the owner's nationality and profession however, the opposite was 
usually the case. 

Inside the cottage in the small front room, Silas the Sorcerer was at
work. Due more to the auspices of good fortune rather than anything 
attributable to himself, Silas had reached middle-age but it was a 
tired middle-age. Deep lines furrowed his brow, his black hair was 
turning grey and round his waist, fat had long since replaced muscle. 

In keeping with the style of his chosen profession Silas was wearing a
long, wide-sleeved robe and a peaked cap, both of which were decorated 
with traditional Sorcerer's symbols. 

On the stone floor of the room he had drawn a large crude star and had
placed lighted candles at each of its six points. Just beneath the top 
point and acting as a sacrifice lay a recently killed black rat. 

Silas was about to attempt to invoke the Spirits to provide him with an
elixir which would solve the chronic constipation problem of his wife's 
mother. To a competent Sorcerer it would have been an easy task. To 
Silas it was a difficult and complicated ritual. 

He knelt down inside the star, bowed his head, stretched out his arms
and started his muttering incantation. 

“Oh thou most revered of Spirits,” he began, “the mighty Lord Mazumbara,
whose powers stretch beyond the grave, I call upon thee to provide your 
humble servant with an elixir which...which...” he broke off and 
sniffed several times. 

Ah good! He could smell something burning. According to his texts the
small of burning often indicated the nearness of the Spirits. 
Encouraged, he closed eyes and resumed his incantation. 

“I heartily call on thee, oh Spirit Mazumbara, to provide an elixir for
your most devoted servant and accept this offering of a black rat in 
return. Lord Mazumbara, whose power defies all...all...” he broke of 
again and sniffed some more. 

The small of burning was growing even stronger! He could almost feel the
heat as well! The elusive carrot of success dangling just in front of 
him, Silas closed his eyes and concentrated even harder. 

“Oh mighty Lord Mazumbara, greatest of all Spirits, accept this humble
offering and in return provide your most devoted servant...your most 
devoted...your AAARRGGHH!!” he screamed, opening his eyes and 
discovering both of his sleeves on fire. 

Unsuccessfully he tried to blow them out but they were too well caught.
He jumped up and started beating them against his thighs but his foot 
got tangled in his long robe and he stumbled forward, knocking over the 
top candle which rolled across to the window and immediately set the 
curtains on fire. 

As Silas was beating at the new flames a mist began forming in the
centre of the six-pointed star. Due to the fact that Silas was one of 
the worst Sorcerers on Clumzy he had used the wrong offering and 
incantation and instead of invoking an anti-constipation elixir, he had 
invoked a mischievous Spirit called Zall. 


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