Book Review: The Fellowship of the Ring

I would have read it earlier, but I couldn't find it and I knew we had a copy of it. But now since I dug it out of my parents bookshelf, I can do a review! :D

"The Fellowship of the Ring" by J.R.R Tolkien
(The 1st book of the Lord of the Rings)

On his 111 birthday Bilbo Baggins, the wealthy owner of Bag's End, suddenly disappears, leaving his cousin and heir, Frodo Baggins, with his possessions, including a Ring. Frodo knows almost nothing about the Ring until Gandalf, the wandering wizard who was a good friend of Bilbo's, shows up and tells him about it's strange history. He also tells Frodo that the Ring is very dangerous, and must be destroyed before evil hands get ahold of it. So Frodo and three of his friends--Pippin, Sam, and Merry, set out to the Land of Mordor so they can destroy the Ring. But the mysterious dark-cloaked riders following them don't look like they're simply wandering around their path by accident...

If you ever try reading (or thinking about) parts of this book when it's dark out, there's wind outside, and your door is open just wide enough for it to cast really creepy shadows, you will have a hard time sleeping. But I absolutely love reading scary books. I highly suggest 'The Fellowship of the Rings'.

Izori

Book Review: The Burning Bridge

I just finished this story, and it was really awesome. It's the second book in the Rangers Apprentice Series. I stayed up until 11 PM to finish it last night. (Actually I read all but the last few chapters until I had to go to sleep)

"The Burning Bridge" by John Flanagan
(Book 2 of the Ranger's Apprentice Series)

When Will and Halt, two Rangers, find the plans of Lord Morgarath to conquer their country, they know that King Duncan must know about this. So Will, Halt's former apprentice Gilan, and Will's friend Horace set off for Celtica to warn the King. But while they are traveling through, they make the unsettling discovery that the Celtic villages are deserted, their inhabitants either slain or captured. And a strange girl that they found, named Evanlyn, confirms the suspicion that Morgarath's Wargals are the cause of the disappearances.

Running short on time, Gilan decides to press on alone to King Duncan and deliver the plans, leaving Will, Horace, and Evanlyn to follow behind. But then the three discover that the plans Gilan is carrying are false, and Morgarath was only baiting them to cover up his true plans. If the lord suceeds, the kingdom will fall.

The good (great) things about this book is that it's really suspensful (especially when you leave off in the middle of the night) and that it has a lot of action and swordfights. A whole lot of swordfights. The only bad things about it is that there's a few instances when a character takes the Lord's name in vain, but other than that, the book was really cool. I think it's my favorite so far.

Izori

Dun Zarum

I finished my book about the girl named Ehra today!! (It's called Dun Zarum, just to refresh your memory). Though I have decided that because the book is a little short (127 pages) I'm going to sort of have it like Brian Jacques books in that I'll do three parts. The book that I was going to have as the sequel is my second part, and the last book that I was going to write will be my third. So more correctly, I finished one third of the book. (Yes, I know, I'm really excited. Writing a 127+ page book is a lot for me. And in almost exactly four months!)

Izori

Magic

Do any of you guys put magic in the books you write? I do (surprisingly it's a lot easier to write about magic then, say, historical fiction, or science fiction). The bad thing about magic is that sometimes in books it can border on sorcery and black magic :(

The other problem about writing magic is that it's hard to think up really challenging problems for your characters. Because if they can't use magic and they have to sneak into an enemy post, they have to work really hard not to be seen, but if they can use magic then they just turn themselves invisible and voila. (I still like writing about magic, though :-)

What's your view on magic in books?

Izori

Book Review: The Hobbit

I only really needed to read the beginning to do a review, but I couldn't really put it down after I began :D (And I'm not going to just copy the back of the book this time)

'The Hobbit' by J.R.R. Tolkien

Bilbo Baggins, a Hobbit who has an extreme dislike for adventures, is living peacefully in his little home until one day a wizard named Gandalf shows up. Gandalf has been absent from that part of the world for a very long time, but his reputation of starting adventures is still present. When he tells Bilbo that he is going to organize another of his adventures and that the hobbit is welcome (or more like required) to go along, Mr. Baggins turns him down. Not to appear very rude however, he says that Gandalf can come and have tea with him tomorrow. But at tea-time the next day, Gandalf shows up--along with thirteen dwarves! Bilbo has no choice but to come along on the adventure, the goal of which is to defeat Smaug the Dragon and take his treasure. And to do that they have to cross the Misty Mountains, go through the dreaded Murkwood Forest (without getting lost), and fight goblins until they finally reach the abandoned city of Dale and Smaug's Mountain.

It's really good with all the trolls, goblins, and swordfights, and it's pretty exiting. I definately suggest it. Probably my favorite part is when the company comes across the trolls. All by itself that part is a really good troll-story. My dad used to read that part to me. (We did a lot of troll-stories especially when I was younger. They're a Norwegian, Scandinavian in general, tradition.)

Izori

Chapter 13 (Daran)

I would have posted quicker, but we're really, really busy. And chapters take a longer time to post than ordinary posts. Anyway...

Chapter 13

Ben continued on through the tunnel, his out-held sword illuminating the path ahead of him. It was scary being alone down there. Well, not quite alone (there was the occasional spider and once he startled a bunch of bats) but other than that, no one else was there.

As he walked, he glanced down at the bottle of blood he had in his hand. A bottle of blood that can break a kingdom and melt chains...that's what I call powerful.

Ben looked up then and caught sight of a mysterious shape in the shadows. Was that an ogre, waiting just beyond the light to grab him? Ben could just imagine it's evil red eyes. It reminded him of a time when he had been a lot younger. It had been night time, after Mom and Dad had tucked him in and turned off the lights. He had been lying peacefully in his bed on the verge of falling asleep when he had seen a shadowy shape on the wall. Not daring to move, he had lain in his bed until he had finally worked up the courage to turn on his nightlight and found that he had been scared of the shadow of his favorite teddy bear. Maybe it's like that; I'm only imagining things.

His sword flared up brighter, revealing the real source of the shadow--a rock sticking out of the wall. Feeling slightly foolish, Ben moved on. He didn't encounter anything else until he came to the end of the tunnel. There was a door there, with strange runes etched on it.

Ben stared at the writing for a moment, and then to his shock he found he could read the letters. They didn't change or anything, but they suddenly made sense. They read:

Here is the door to Mahal

That sounds simple enough, Ben told himself. Adonai must have arranged the 'suddenly being able to read it' thing as well as the tunnel and the way to Mahal. I bet Daran doesn't even know about the entrance into his city yet.

Ben hesitantly grasped the knob and then pushed open the door. Stepping inside, he looked around. It was dark and deserted, just like the tunnel. Actually, the only thing that was a change was that the walls were stone and metal, and not dirt. So this is Mahal.

He started walking again, keeping a wary eye on his surroundings. This new tunnel (or more of a really long hall) went in an upward direction. Ben had been walking for several minutes before he came to an apparently more trafficked area of the hall. He could tell it had more use because it was lighted by torches in oddly shaped white jars, which were in small alcoves in the wall. A closer look revealed that the white 'jars' were actually human skulls. Ben shivered and tried not to look at them after that.

Then he heard footsteps in the hall around the corner ahead--many footsteps, and headed his direction. Ben tightened his grip on his sword and steeled himself for whatever he would see.

The footsteps came closer.

Ben jumped around the corner with his sword at the ready, and then gasped. In front of him stood seven huge Ogres, each armed with bows, arrows, knives, and clubs. They looked as if they had been prepared for him.

The first Ogre gave a screaming growl and loosed an arrow at Ben with amazing speed. He flicked it away with his sword just as quick, and stepping closer, twirled his sword and lopped the Ogres head off. Immediately he whirled and a ray of light shot out of his weapon, burning a neat hole through the next opponent's forehead. It too dropped to the ground.

Then Ogre #3 drew it's knife and Ogre #4 drew it's club and then they both jumped at Ben. He managed to impale #4, but he wasn't quite quick enough to catch the other, which managed to nick Ben's arm with his knife. To his surprise and concern, the skin around his wound started to bubble and burn. As Ben looked down at it, wondering what he was going to do, a beam of light emitted from the pommel stone on his sword. The wound glowed for a moment, and then it healed perfectly.

Ben didn't have time to think that over before he had to stab Ogre #3. He got it right in the throat, and it toppled over, letting out a gurgling howl before it died. He pulled his sword free and then stepped forward to slice the string of the bow that Ogre #5 held. He followed that up by thrusting his sword into the Ogre's heart.

Now all that remained were Ogres #6 and 7, which were standing close by each other. They both had bows and arrows, but obviously were not very intelligent; they didn't even have arrows on their strings. Ben cut #6 in two, and then his sword shot a narrow beam of light at #7, which detached it's head and neck from the rest of it's body. It fell onto it's side next to the rest of the Ogres.

Ben lowered his sword and stared for a moment at the carcasses of the seven Ogres, each one's blood staining the hall floor black. Then he stepped over them and walked on.

He continued on several minutes, noticing that there was an odd reddish glow coming from up ahead. It looked very evil, and it made the skulls on the walls even more scary-looking. When Ben had walked a little more he found the reason for the glow. The hall-way suddenly opened up into an enormous room. As he stepped in he saw that the room was basically a big platform, with drop-offs on all sides. From out of the drop-offs came long flames--the cause of the red light.

Even more worse than these was the completely black throne on a raised part at the end of the platform. Or rather, the figure on the throne. Ben knew right away that it was Daran.
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Izori

You know you've run out of things to read when...

-you've started reading a book on de-cluttering your house that your mom got from the library,
-you search the shelves in your room (stuffed full with books) and you've read everything there at least ten times.
-you start begging your parents to take you to the library and drop you off--for an hour.
-your brother (or sister) starts telling you a part in a cool book he (or she) just read and you can quote the exact words from the book for him (or her), no peeking.
-you've read every single book in your library.

Yes, all of that applies to me. And actually, the de-cluttering book was a little interesting.

Izori

Book Review: The Two Towers

Even though the voting poll for reviews still had a few days to go I pulled it down, because it's unanimous for more reviews. What I'll do is I'll have the review as a post, and I'll put the Amazon link on the sidebar (if anyone's interested in buying it), instead of putting the review as well on the sidebar. So, here goes.

'The Two Towers' by J.R.R. Tolkien

This is the second book in the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Here is the back of the book:

"Frodo and his Companions of the Ring have been beset by danger during their quest to prevent the Ruling Ring from falling into the hands of the Dark Lord by destroying it in the Cracks of Doom. They lost the wizard Gandalf in a battle in the Mines of Moria, and Boromir, seduced by the power of the Ring, tried to seize it by force. While Frodo and Sam made their excape, the rest of the company was attacked by Orcs.

Now they continue the journey alone down the great River Anduin--alone, that is, save for the mysterious creeping figure that follows wherever they go."

I really liked reading it. Some parts (I think) are a little confusing, especially if you tend to skip-read like I do, but it's really good. I could see that it's an allegory more than I could see it in the other books, maybe because I'm older now.

Izori

Chapter 12 (A Bottle of Blood)

Okay, this one didn't come as quick to me. Probably my own fault because I'm working on my other books and so on. So...

Chapter 12

Nolan raised his eyebrows as he stared at Ben. "So your saying that Adonai came to you and the others and told you all that I am supposed to send you and Kaela on a mission? A dangerous mission, at that? Are you sure?"

"Yes," Ben nodded. He, Kaela, Learka, Yev, and Klii had come to Nolan as soon as they could with Adonai's message. "And I know it sounds a little wild, like following where the sword points and all, but there's no doubt it was him. You get that sort of...feeling when your in his presence that you can't mistake."

"So, I guess I'll send you and Kaela off immediately, if you're absolutely sure it was Adonai."

"I'm absolutely sure." Ben promised. He was astonished at the faith Nolan put in Ben's words. This really is the right leader, he thought. "But there's one thing I want to ask you, Nolan. Do you know what Adonai meant when he said to follow the sword point?"

Nolan nodded. "Yes. That's what some people like to do when they don't know which way to take and it doesn't matter which one. They put there sword on the ground and then spin it. They walk in the direction the sword points. And before you go, did Adonai have any advice for me?"

"He didn't tell us anything, but I think he'll put whatever he wants you to do in your head. We'll see you, Nolan. Bye, Learka, Yev, Klii."

Ben and Kaela turned and walked out of the small side tunnel where they had met with Nolan. Out in the main tunnel there were no soldiers nearby, as they were all mainly congregated a little ways off. Ben drew his sword and set it down on the cold stone floor. Giving it a good spin, he stepped back and watched with Kaela as it twirled around in a circle. When it stopped it pointed to a side-tunnel in the wall, probably the only one that didn't immediately lead into a small room.

Ben picked up his sword and stepped toward the side-tunnel. "This is where we go," he told his sister. "Come on."

They had walked a good way down the tunnel. It was a long one, as Ben noticed. Their path seemed to be going in a slight curve. We're probably going to Mahal.

Then there was a blinding flash, one that had become familiar. It was Adonai.

"You have followed my instructions," he said approvingly. "Now I will tell you more." He turned and pointed ahead. "See, the tunnel ends here. But I will make it so that there are two routes. Both will end at Mahal, though at different places. And both of you have different missions. Ben..."

"Yes, Adonai?"

"You will need this." Adonai reached into his robes and took out a small, corked bottle, and then handed it to the boy. It had red liquid in it. Ben didn't know what it was until Adonai said, "This is my blood. It is powerful enough to break Daran's hold on Elandai. When Daran believes he has finally triumphed, you will throw the bottle at Daran."

Then he turned to Kaela, who was watching wide-eyed. "Adonai, is that really blood?"

"Yes, daughter, it is. Now you are going to take another route, and free the many people that Daran has put in his dungeons. You also will need my blood." he pulled out another bottle and gave it to her. "This you will sprinkle over the people. It will melt their chains around their bodies and their souls."

Adonai turned and waved his hand at the walls. They instantly split, making two tunnels . The ageless man steered Ben to the left and Kaela to the right. "Now go down your separate paths. And always bear in mind my advice. They will come very important!"

Then in another flash, Adonai disappeared.

Ben and Kaela looked at each other, both standing in the mouths of their respective tunnels. "Well," said Kaela. "Have fun. I guess I'll see you sometime soon. Bye!"

"See you," Ben told her back, and then he turned and walked.
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This is probably one of my shortest chapters ever. But at least it's a chapter!

Izori

My Books

I used to be writing about twenty books at a time, but now that I'm older I've narrowed it down. At first when I had an idea I started a new book to get it in, but now I've figured out how to incorporate the ideas into one of the books that I'm working on now. I have four books that I'm working on now. I'll tell you about them in order that I started them.

Dun Zarum I thought up in December. My friend was over at my house for a camp-fire, and we had come into the house because it was really cold. We had a humidifier set up in our kitchen (you know, the thingies that shoot out steam). My friend really loved it. We would stick our faces in in the steam and see how long we could 'breathe' the water. Later I thought it would be cool if I had a character in a book who could breathe water. That turned into a character who could control water. My main character's name is Ehra, and she's age fourteen to fifteen.

Then is Songaia, which is the sequel to Dun Zarum. (I know, I'm sort of ahead by thinking up a sequel before I'm done with the first book). Same main character and all.

The Other Side of the Creek you already know about. I got the idea for that while walking by our creek (which is identical to the creek behind Ben and Kaela's house).

Last, but not least, is a book I haven't named yet. It's about a girl named Emily and her cousin, Kaitelyn, who stumble across a way of 'awaking' Emily's African Violets, flowers she has in her room. She named them too, Africa (a white violet) Opal (a pink) and Elaine (a purple). I thought this one up after I bought an African Violet from the Plant Nursery. (Yes, I named it. It's white, and it's named Africa, just like in the book. And I know I'm odd. I even talk to Africa sometimes)

That's all. Though don't be surprised if I think up another one immediately after I publish this post. Sometime soon I might post excerpts of my books.

Izori

What I do while I'm writing

I like listening to music while I'm writing, but as long as it's the right kind. If I'm writing a swordfight for example, I like listening to fast, a little scary music. If I'm writing about the good guy (or girl) meeting the bad guy (or girl...) I listen to really creepy, scary, evil music. Like I have a DVD that has the sound-track of Prince of Egypt (the Disney movie), and I like listening to 'Playing with the Big Boys' while I'm thinking up my scary scenes.

I usually don't listen to music with words though while I'm writing except in some cases. I find if I do that I either start writing what I'm hearing, or I start paying more attention to the music (always a disaster:-)

Izori

Book Reviews?

Who thinks I should do more book reviews? I have two on the sidebar (with links) but should I do even more?

Comment on what you think.

Izori

Writing Book Types

It's very odd; I've tried writing pretty much every type of writing-- historical, science fiction, so on-- and the only type I can actually write is fantasy. No other book type of mine ever works out. I know some people who can write pretty much every genre, but I can't. What about you guys?

Izori

Chapter 11(Adonai's Advice)

Well, I'd better move on with my story, I guess...

Chapter 11

Ben stared up at the hatch that led to the outside world. Somewhere out there is Mahal, and Daran. I wonder what's it's like up there. Come to think of it, I haven't been above ground since the day Kaela and I tumbled through the dwelling roof.

"Have you been up there?" Nolan was asking the men.

"No," one of them reported. "Other than what was necessary for installing the trap-door; we didn't want to risk it. Will you be going up, soon?"

"I must," answered the leader. "If I can get a look at Mahal, I might be able to figure out what we'll do to attack it." Nolan looked at Ben, Kaela, and Learka. "I hope you'll accompany me?"

Learka, Kaela and Ben nodded.

Nolan turned to look at Yev and Klii. "If you would like you can come up too, but..." he hesitated.

"Don't worry, I understand." Klii assured him. "Yes, it would be a little unwise for us to go up with you, though Yev is still spry and strong."

"Very well then, Learka, Ben, Kaela, and I will go up and take a look at what we will be attacking. Come on,"

The four of them climbed up the wall (in which was a built in ladder), opened the hatch, and then cautiously crawled outside. Ben looked around at his surroundings. They were just past the edge of a dense woods, all the trees as twisted and dead as the one above the dwelling. The sky was an icy gray, and a bitter wind blew. In the middle of a grass-less plain, a huge castle loomed up, looking cold, dark, and generally uninviting. It was Mahal. Ben could see that coming from the small windows and space between the doors was an eerie red light. It gave him the shivers.

They stared at it for a second, still crouching low, and then Learka said, "So this is what we're up against."

Another silence, then Nolan said, "No one can read the mind of Adonai, and his plans are beyond understanding, but this...is absolutely baffling. We will need all the help we can get." He looked over at Learka. "Adonai tells things to Klii many times, am I right?"

"Yes, he does, but not all the time. Do you think Adonai will reveal what we will do next through him?"

"I certainly hope so," Nolan's eyes scanned Mahal, looking for some weakness in it's structure. "This will be a formidable foe, I am sure."

Just then there was an all too familiar noise, and an instant later an arrow landed in the soil by the little group. Learka raised his eyebrow. "They have struck, Nolan."

"Aye," he agreed as he tugged the arrow out of the soil. The flights, or feathers, were black with one dark red streak down the center of each one. "They have started the war, ending all complications. Now we can fire at them. As soon as we are able to get organized we shall begin to siege Mahal."

Three more arrows streaked down from the walls of Mahal, all thankfully missing. Still clutching the first arrow, Nolan signaled everyone to go down into the tunnels, he himself going in last and closing the hatch behind them. When they were down he addressed all the troops in a ringing voice. "We are officially at war with Daran and his forces, they themselves having declared it by firing this--" here he held up the arrow for all to see, "--at some officers and myself just recently. I now call a meeting for all of my captains, lieutenants, and otherwise commanding officers right here and now. The rest of you, disperse and prepare for a battle."

Ben, Learka, Kaela, and the captains and lieutenants all gathered around Nolan as he outlined what they were going to do. "We'll put the city of Mahal under siege. Have all your fighting men come above grounds when I order. We will establish a temporary encampment there. Have builders ready to construct catapults, and we'll also need archers. And most importantly, spend time in prayer to Adonai. Without him we are defeated."

The officers left to carry out their instructions, and Ben, Learka, and Kaela found Klii and Yev. They had made up a little make-shift dwelling in one of the side-rooms coming out of the main tunnel.

Yev greeted them as the three came inside. "Hello there. What's going on?"

Learka explained the situation to his sister and his father. Klii nodded when his son had finished. "We must certainly devote time to prayer. Why not we do so now, silently."

They all bowed their heads. Adonai, if it's your will, please, please guide us in what we are to do. Please let us to act wisely. And, do you remember that time when you gave me and Kaela instructions? Well, of course you do, but anyway, please help us in those. I have a feeling those will be coming up soon. Ben thought back to the time when Klii had said that prayer was the powerfulest weapon of all. Then this is the real way to fight, what I'm doing now. Amen.

Then, all of a sudden, everything went brilliant white for a moment. Even though it was a short time, Ben was blinded by the light. When he could see again, he looked around. He was in the same room, and still with his sister and the rest. They were all blinking and looking around too. We must have all seen that flash.

Then Ben's heart leapt. In the center of the room stood Adonai. He was smiling happily. "You asked me to tell you what to do?"

"Adonai!" Ben yelped.

Klii looked stunned. "In all my years I have longed to see you. Am I dreaming?"

"In a way, yes, in another way, no." Adonai answered him, sounding both clear and confusing at the same time. "Now I will tell you what to do. Klii and Yev, you once again will fight with prayer in the up-coming battles. Learka, you will fight with your sword again. Ben and Kaela?"

"Yes, Adonai?"

"You two will be sent on a mission. A very dangerous, yet important mission. You are to go into the very heart of Mahal itself. But I will not tell you what you are to do when you are there...yet. For now all that you need to know is go into the side-tunnel that your sword points too. Tell Nolan all that I have told you, and remember," Adonai began to fade away, yet his voice still was strong, "...think on the advice I gave you, Ben and Kaela." Then all was silent.

Ben's head jerked up and he stared at the others, and then at the rest of the room, in shock. Nothing was there to indicate that Adonai had been there. Nothing except memory.

"Well, that was...unusual." commented Learka.

"Yes, it was. But something Adonai said makes me wonder. You know how he said both Kaela and me were to go on a mission?" Ben asked. "Well, last time he only said that Kaela was to go on a mission. Could he have changed his mind?"

Klii cocked his head to one side. "But who's to say that Adonai only mentioned Kaela's mission. Or that she'll go on a mission within a mission, if you know what I mean. Even if he talked about one, it would be true, because you cannot have two without one."

Ben nodded in aknowledgement, understanding Klii perfectly.

"Well, it is clear what we are supposed to do, now." said Yev, standing up. "We must tell Nolan of Adonai's plans immediately!"

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There. I spent a week thinking up that chapter. Enjoy!

Izori

I'm Back!!

Hi! I have finally re-gained communications with the world! Just letting you know...

Izori

FYI

FYI: I might not be able to get on my blog for a few days at least, because we might not have internet access soon. Of course, this isn't set in stone, so I might be able to post later, but just telling you if there isn't a new post in weeks.

Izori

Book Titles

Does anyone have an awesome method for thinking up names for books? If you do, comment on it.

Izori

Chapter 10 (Through the Tunnel)

Chapter 10 already! We're in the double digits!

Chapter 10:

The follower army marched after Nolan, Ben, and the others as they made their way through the main tunnel. The Captains were very good at keeping the men in ranks, and everything was orderly despite the small space. Learka and several other men carried torches to illuminate the way.

Ben walked alongside Nolan, slightly awed. A few weeks ago, he had not even known that Elandai and Adonai and Nolan and everyone else existed, and here he was, leading an army into a battle. He shivered with exitement.

Many hours later, Ben didn't know the exact time, Nolan called for a halt. Everyone unpacked their haversacks to eat supper. Anyone who had been walking down the tunnel at that time would have seen many soldiers, as well as women and children, all propped up against walls, enjoying flat bread that looked a lot like hard-tack.

Ben was sitting next to Nolan. Everyone in their little group--Learka, Kaela, and the others--were already finished with their supper, but others were still eating. A stern leader would have just made them continue the march anyway, but Nolan was soft-hearted.

Sometime along the journey, Nolan's wife and children had joined them. The children were very exited, to them it was a game. The wife was more sober, knowing that they would have a battle soon.

For the sake of conversation, Ben asked Nolan, "Did you grow up in the tunnels, sir?"

Nolan turned toward him. "No. My family and I moved down here when I was about ten. I've not been above ground but a few times since. And you don't have to call me sir, I prefer simply Nolan."

"Alright, si--I mean, Nolan. Why did everyone move underground instead of go into another country when Daran took over?"

"Well, he, Daran, has 'ruler-ship' over every country. Fleeing would hardly solve things. And Adonai told us to stay here. He is, after all, true king."

Ben nodded. "He is. What did you do above ground?"

"Oh, nothing terribly interesting." Nolan shrugged. "We were farmers. We had a lot of animals, and we had crops. We had to leave them all behind though, when we went underground. And then we just survived, and waited for the right time to rise up. During that time I met Elinor--" here he smiled at his wife, who smiled back. "--and we raised a family. Enough about me, now you tell me about yourself."

Ben told him of the cul-de-sac he and his family had moved into, of his Mom and Dad and friends, of how they got into Elandai, and of everything else.

Nolan's eyebrows jumped. "You mean to say that there are other worlds than this? And you got into here by crossing a creek?"

"We sure did. It was a little scary though, suddenly finding yourself in another world. Gave me a turn, though I guess the next time it won't."

"How do you like our world?" Nolan asked.

"It's certainly...different." Ben told him. "The food's different, and so are the clothes--" he momentarily glanced down at the tunic and leggings Yev had out-fitted him in a few days prior. Kaela and the rest were wearing something like it. "--the living style..."

"The food is not the same?" Nolan stared at Ben. "What do you eat?"

"Well, we have hot dogs--"

"What are...whatever you said?" Nolan looked very confused.

"Hot dogs. They're like sausage. You put it in a sort of bun with a split down the middle, and you can put ketchup on it. I don't suppose you know what ketchup is?"

The leader shook his head.

"It's tomato paste. You have tomatoes, don't you?" Ben asked anxiously. Tomatoes were his favorite vegetable.

"We have something called, tormeka. They're like red balls. The middle is filled with pulp and seeds."

"Yeah," Ben assured him. "Those are your version of tomatoes."

Just then Captain Gawain strode up to Nolan and his group. "Everyone's ready to march, sir." he reported, saluting military style. "Shall I call a march?"

"Certainly, Captain." returned Nolan. "You may call it."

The Captain called back at the men. "Alright now, forward march!"

They started out again down the winding tunnels.

They must have marched for hours more before Nolan called again for a halt. The sun had set outside, and it was time to bed down for the night. Ben had no clue how he knew that it was night-time, but he didn't argue. He plopped down wearily on the tunnel floor and was asleep in an instant.

He was awakened all too quickly by Kaela. "It's morning, Ben," she informed him. "Time to march."

Ben slowly got to his feet. Nolan's children, Sori, Jon, Cassie, and Mary, were watching him. They giggled and ducked their heads when he looked at them. It became a sort of game as they marched, he would suddenly look their way and they would start laughing. Ben never figured out what was so funny.

They had marched almost until lunchtime when several men walked toward them. They were the diggers that had been sent before to tunnel further. They had done their job well, it appeared.

The followers traveled on until they reached the point where the tunnels ended. Directly above was a large hatch, not unlike the one in Klii, Learka, and Yev's old dwelling. One of the diggers pointed up to it.

"That," he said, "Is the way up to Mahal."
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There. I have to go fold laundry now.

Izori