Bumblestook: Book 1, The Accidental Wizard (49 page)

“It is time,” Bartholeumous announced formally.

Leaning forward, he peered into the clear water of the marble basin. Twin, green-gold flames leapt into his eyes, as he waved a hand over the water. The fountain sea serpent came to life. The water, gushing through its teeth and over its forked tongue, turned green, flecked with gold. It turned its head from side to side, looking at Farley from the corners of its long, sly eyes.

Bartholeumous waved first one hand, then the other, over the water in a circular motion. “Mighty Osheanna, Ruler of the Deep, Mistress of the Shallows and all that lies between! Arise and Attend! Let the Ceremony of Inclusion begin!”

The surface of the water began to crest in small waves, dashing themselves against the side of the basin and the coils of the sea serpent. Farley watched in amazement, as a small storm brewed in the bowl; threatening to spill over, yet somehow, remaining contained. Then, the waves converged upon each other, feeding into one large wave. It continued to grow higher and higher, as Bartholeumous spoke the words of the Ceremony, his deep voice resonating with power, holding everyone spellbound.

“Farley Bumblestook, do you now agree, to carry the burden of the Onus, laid upon all of The People at birth, which shall now be extended to you, a Human, by right of Special Circumstances. Do you now agree, to guard the secrets of The People, as if they were your own and to accept the forfeiture of the ability to act or speak, or the use of your powers, should you be tempted, whether it be by premeditation or momentary lapse of reason, to reveal the existence of The People, to any unauthorized person or persons, be they Human or something else altogether?”

Farley’s face squinched to the left and to the right, as he attempted to follow what sounded like “legal gobbeldy-gook” (a term his dad used, when he tried to do his own taxes).

“Does that include the Earthbound?” he asked finally. “
They’re
something else.”

Bartholeumous’ thick wavy mustache twitched. “I had previously obtained authorization to inform the Earthbound, when attempting to pinpoint your location. Besides, I suspect there is little that can be hidden from such all-pervasive beings, should they decide to interest themselves in our affairs.”

Farley scratched his head. “If that means you can’t keep secrets from a rock, that’s fer-
sure
. They’re everywhere! So, I guess that means I can still say whatever I want to Big Grey.
That’s
good.”

“Well, then…” Bartholeumous prompted.

Farley looked around at his friends, then up at the green-gold wave. It had continued to grow as it absorbed smaller waves into itself. By now, it had engulfed the sea serpent and towered 5 feet above him! Farley wondered idly how the fountain could hold so much water without spilling over…

“Ahem!” Bartholeumous cleared his throat, with a rumble.

“Oh! Yeah! I mean yes! Yes to all of that stuff you said,” Farley burst out.

The instant the words were out of his mouth, the huge wave came crashing down, drenching him clear to his underwear!

“It is done,” Bartholeumous said with finality, as the boy sputtered and wiped the water from his eyes.

Next, the Wizard withdrew his ebony wand. With a tap of its tip, on the head of the fountain sea serpent, multicolored water gushed out. The sea serpent tossed its head wildly, sending fat, rainbow droplets flying everywhere.

Farley and Fiona giggled as the water hit their faces. Tom hissed and spat, while Yap shook himself from head to curly tail. Lance grinned wryly as water dripped from the end of his nose while Olivia calmly ran a hand over her hair, instantly restoring it’s white-gold luster.

Another tap of the wand and rainbow bubbles spilled forth from the sea serpent’s smiling mouth, filling the marble basin below. The Wizard waved his wand, as if conducting an orchestra, causing the bubbles to rise, spiraling upwards in a merry dance. Swarms of fireflies appeared, their little glow-lights leaving mysterious runes hanging in the air. The bushes rustled as the creatures hidden therein dashed out. Dozens of jackrabbits leapt in pairs, in a bizarre dance of wild abandon.

Farley and Fiona joined them, hopping up and down to pop the rainbow bubbles; sending cascades of sparkling mist down upon their heads. Then, Yap threw himself into the mix, with high twisting jumps that rivaled the rabbits’. Even Tom participated, pouncing upon the bubbles and sneezing as they popped in his face.

As Lance and Olivia gazed on, Bartholeumous walked around the fountain to join them.

“Merry-makers?” Lance asked.

The Wizard nodded. “Yes, I thought they deserved a bit of light-hearted fun, between all they have been through, and what is yet to come.”

“
Yet
-to-come?
Yet
-to-come? What do you mean by ‘
yet-to-come
’?” Olivia’s voice escalated to near-hysterical pitch, pale coils of her hair lifting, as sparks flew from her eyes.

Lance put his hands on his wife’s shoulders, moving her stiffly aside. “What Olivia’s trying to say is, well, see here—we thought our part in all this was done. After all, Fiona’s Quest is over and Farley’ll be back home with his parents soon. We feel it’s high time we put it all behind us—you know, get on with our lives.”

Bartholeumous eyed them sympathetically. “Fiona’s Quest appears to have several stages. Because of the interference in the Naming Ceremony, the full scope of her Quest was hidden, but subsequent trips to the Book of Ages have revealed that more is yet to come. The purpose, of the first stage, was merely to draw in the Bumblestook boy. The Book is quite clear on the boy’s importance to the future of The People.

There is also the matter of the children’s training. We will have to work fast, for they are getting a late start.
And
it must be done under the very noses of Bumblestook’s parents. For
that
we will need your continued assistance.”

Bartholeumous stepped forward, clapping his hands, seemingly oblivious to the stunned looks on the faces of the Heroes Faire. He waved his wand with a theatrical flourish, causing such an increase in bubbles, the children and their dancing partners were practically obscured. Their merry shouts and gay laughter floated on the night air, as Bartholeumous chuckled, declaring;

“Yes indeed, there is much work to be done! And as for the Adventures of Bumblestook—why, they have just begun!”

So bittersweet, a story’s end!

A sad farewell to new-found friends.

You’ve shared their hopes and dreamt their dreams,

Your lives are intertwined, it seems.

To close the book and walk away,

Too much to ask, you crossly say.

Becalm yourself! Be not concerned.

Consider all that you have learned.

Stories flow within each other,

Side by side and joined together.

The point at which one Story ends,

Becomes the point at which another begins.

Ancient Stories reach forward from the past,

Mingle with the Present and into the Future last,

Like threads in a living tapestry,

Interweaving endlessly.

If only one keeps the memory alive,

A Story can be said to survive.

So if you would have another look,

At the continuing saga of Bumblestook,

Have faith in the author of these pages,

None other than yours truly,

The Book of Ages