The World Beyond the Door Read online

THE WORLD BEYOND THE DOOR

  Copyright 2006 by Steven & Margaret Larson and Clive Moore

  Special thanks to Clive Moore for first recognizing the enchanted tree, helping to visualize what lay beyond the door, and for his collaboration, editing, and encouragement throughout this work.

  This book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This book may not be resold. Thank you for respecting the work of the authors.

  Other books available by these authors

  CHILDREN'S FANTASY BOOKS

  Murky Manor

  Cave of Discovery

  Worlds Within

  A COLLECTION OF WRITINGS

  Thoughts on the Wind

  Print versions available at www.lulu.com/larsonworlds

  Visit us at our web site www.home.earthlink.net/~larsonworlds

  CONTENTS

  1 A Garden Party

  2 Cleaning and Spinning

  3 A Pixie Melody

  4 All in a Dream

  5 The Pixie Woods

  6 The Cave

  7 Lyte Spinning

  8 Old News

  9 The Party

  10 Poetry and Plans

  11 Riddles and Old Poems

  12 Opening the Door

  13 Exploring Beyond the Door

  14 Berries and Belvedere

  15 Back from the Herb Garden

  16 Honey and Hiding

  17 Pixie Brouhaha

  18 Danger in the Dark

  19 Unexpected

  20 Fox Hunt

  21 Out of the Bag

  22 Tooth or Talon

  23 Thunder and Pixie Dust

  24 Lost World

  CHAPTER 1 - A GARDEN PARTY

  Just off the main highway, away from the noise and bustle, a side road branched off and led to houses that were spaced far enough apart to give some privacy to the residents. Nestled in a group of apple trees sat a one-story brick house with red leaves scattered on the newly shingled roof.

  Many more leaves were strewn at the feet of two enormous oak trees that towered over the home. The trees had provided shade all through the long hot summer. Now that winter was approaching, their large branches still offered a shield for the house. A winding driveway made a path through the apples trees. Apples hung on branches just out of reach, waiting to be picked and turned into pies, cobblers, cider, and apple butter.

  A fence encircled the back yard offering the perfect place for the family's dog to romp and chase squirrels. A quaint herb garden in the back corner was surrounded by flowers and separated from the rest of the yard by a short wrought iron fence.

  Just beyond the fence, the trees grew close together. Thick undergrowth and fallen leaves from past seasons gave an unkempt feeling. A gate opened onto a path of stepping stones spotted with moss. The branches of a red maple tree formed a natural trellis over the entrance. Climbing vines had grown up the trunk and covered the arch. Just on the other side of the opening stood a stone figure about three feet tall. He had a long beard and was dressed in a flowing robe. On his head was a tall pointed hat with an owl perched on the brim. In one hand he held a staff, and with the other hand he gestured invitingly into the woods.

  Down the path the air was cool and crisp with a deep earthy aroma of decaying leaves and pine needles. Squirrels scampered briskly through the underbrush carrying horse chestnuts and acorns, which they were busily storing for the coming winter. There were numerous finches, sparrows, chickadees, and an occasional cardinal or robin. Many of the branches hung down across the path. Here and there a pine sapling was trying to grow in the center of the trail. A light breeze brought the faint hint of a wood fire, perhaps from someone's fireplace.

  Deep in the woods, and just a little off the path, brambles grew in profusion. The thorns and branches were thickly interwoven, and reached several feet high forming a natural hedge. An open area near the ground was just large enough for a rabbit to squeeze under.

  On the other side of the hedge was a small clearing with a giant oak. It was very old and very large - a grandfather among trees. The lower limbs started close to the ground, and the massive branches reached up, up, past all the other trees, until it looked as though it were holding up the very sky. The roots were bent and twisted from growing for many years around the rocks in the hard ground. It was a perfect tree for climbing. Its roots and footholds were within easy reach for all but the smallest child.

  Long ago lightening had struck the tree leaving a scar that ran from one of the large branches all the way down the trunk to the ground. Lightening storms have an aura of fear and awe, and there was an air of magic and mystery about the tree and the clearing. Lightening often appears out of nowhere with a FLASH and a BANG, lighting up the sky and sometimes changing what it touches forever. Strange things can happen when opposite forces of nature are brought together suddenly, and this was one of those rare and extraordinary examples of when two worlds collide and leave behind a lingering magical residue.

  At the bottom of the tree sat a small man who was about six inches tall when standing. He might have been considered extraordinary, but other than his size, his appearance wasn't that unusual. He was sitting comfortably in the hollow of one of the roots with his back against the trunk.

  Just behind him in the tree was a door, and it looked very much like he was sitting on his front porch. In one hand was a cup full of water and some herbs. In his other hand he held a small shimmering bead between his thumb and finger. Squeezing the bead gently he held it for a couple of seconds until it began to get hot, and then he dropped it into the water. In a few seconds the water began to steam. He settled back and took in the evening air as he sipped his mint tea. He was very fond of mint tea.

  The door behind him led through the tree to his home. It was a door that he had journeyed through many times. Just that morning he came for an herb gathering expedition. He made the long journey to the edge of the woods, slipped past the stone figure, and entered the herb garden to harvest what he considered to be unusual and rare herbs. The tea he was now enjoying was made from mint leaves he had gathered that morning. The herbs he collected had a richer and more exotic flavor than those he could grow at home. He suspected this was due to their size and to the peculiarities of the soil.

  After finishing his tea, he packed up his cup, and gathered up his sack of herbs and his backpack. Touching the door in several secret places, it opened, and he passed through.

  He experienced the familiar dizzy feeling that always accompanied traveling through the door, and found himself once again in the cave located behind his house. He spread the new herbs on the shelves in the back of the cave to dry, and hung his backpack on a hook.

  Unpacking his gear, he carefully cleaned his tools and put them away, ready for the next trip.

  As he left the cave, the sun was just setting. A gentle breeze stirred the bush that grew around the mouth of the cave, flooding him with the smell of lilacs. The breeze shifted and he caught the whiff of a wood fire, and knew that dinner would be waiting. He hurried down the path through the trees to the stone house where he had lived all his life.

  Kendra Wordsmith, a slim, lady gnome, met him at the door. The sleeves of her dark green dress were rolled up. Her face was framed by wisps of dark red hair that had escaped from the long braid down her back. She drew him into the warm inviting kitchen where the delightful smell of her hot stew filled the room. She and Morley had shared the secret of the door for many years.

  When her grandfather, Axel, was young he had discovered the door on property owned by Morley's family. Axel had written several books on his discoveries and adventures, though he never revealed the location of the door. That was a secret that was kept by the two families.

  During his lifetime, Axel was viewed as eccentric and fanciful, and was often scoffed. Controversy about his writings continued even after his death. In spite of this he was very generous with donations to others, and shared his personal collection of books by opening a public library, with the stipulation that Kendra would be the caretaker. All this no doubt added to the general good will and high esteem that his name now carried, although his writings were mostly considered fiction by the general populace.

  "How was your trip, Morley?" she asked, setting the plate she had been keeping warm for him on the table. "I hope you didn't run into any more strange creatures. You know it worries me when you are off on these adventures, especially when your lyte cloak is getting so thin." She drew two frothing mugs of apple cider from the keg in the corner and sat down with him. She had already eaten, but companionably sipped her cider while he ate his dinner.

  Morley smiled and said, "You know I'm always careful. Got a nice batch of mint and some herbs drying in the cave. Should be ready for you to make up one of your special herb chicken dishes for the party next week," and he grinned. "Course if you'd like to make up some before then?.", his voice trailed off.

  She ignored the hint and said, "I've just about finished your new cloak. It will be ready for your next trip."

  "That's good news," he sighed with relief. "The old one fully evaporated just before I got back to the door." He saw the concern in her eyes and hurried on, "But I was already through the Tangles so it didn't matter that I was visible."

  He glanced up at her and said, "Have you decided yet about your trip next week?" He looked back at his plate and continued, "Will you be around for the party? It won't be the same without you - and I was counting on you going with me."

  She smi
led and answered, "I wouldn't want to miss it. I thought I was going to have to visit Aunt Matilda, but her neighbor Nellie is looking in on her. So I guess I'll need some of those herbs if you're planning on taking me, and the herb chicken, to the party."

  He laughed and said, "Great. You can pick out whatever you need tomorrow."

  They chatted for awhile longer about Morley's trip while he finished dinner, and they cleaned up the dishes. It was late and the moon was up when Morley walked her home.

  In the moonlight they could see pixies; tiny, frail, almost transparent creatures much smaller than the gnomes. Their wings shimmered as they chased each other through the treetops, something gnomes would never do even if they could fly. In fact many gnomes felt pixies were not respectable company. But they were pretty to look at on a moonlit night, and their singing and laughter in the trees was a pleasant accompaniment.

  As they reached the big apple tree near Kendra's front gate, Morley slipped an arm around her and pulled her close to him. She felt the warmth of his side, and smelled the faint fragrance of exotic herbs. She caught her breath, and Morley said, "Shhhhh," and he pointed past the tree.

  Standing in the deep shadow of the old tree, they were almost invisible as they watched what was happening. A large group of pixies danced in Kendra's garden, playing their version of blind-man's bluff. About half of the pixies had devised blindfolds from things they had picked up, mostly large leaves or scraps of cloth they had found. The ones without blindfolds were singing and taunting those who did, leading them around the garden with their songs.

  All this flying around blindfolded led to a great deal of bumping and knocking into things. Whenever they ran into something, their magic flared up to protect them, and created a shower of pixie dust.

  The dust from the smaller bumps looked like fireflies and would wink out quickly, but the harder bangs would send out a plume of sparkling dust that hung in the air. This seemed to be the object of their game because pixie dust from their magic was everywhere, and the dust from each pixie was a different color.

  "Oh Morley, it is so beautiful." Showers of light of every color exploded across the garden. Pixies were running into things everywhere. One landed on a stem just behind a large, ripe tomato. For a moment her blue wings sparkled like a flower sprinkled with dew. Then the blue was hidden as she folded them against her back. Her short brown hair swirled around her head like feathers as she peeked out and called to her friend,

  "Hi de ho, why are you so slow,

  Can't you tell which way to go?

  Hi de ho, hi de hey!

  I'm right here, come and play."

  Her friend hovered in the air, his white wings fluttering to hold him in place. A piece of red cloth, torn from someone's old shirt, made a stark contrast to his silver hair. As he turned his head in her direction to listen, his fine hair, held captive by the blindfold, rubbed across his collar. Moonlight reflected off the silver gilding on the tips of his wings.

  Quick as a thought he dove. Splat! Into the tomato he flew. Silver sparks flew into the air, dimming slowly as they drifted towards the ground.

  The sight was too much for Morley, and he burst into a deep fit of laughter.

  "Morley! Keep it down or they will see us here for sure," but Kendra was laughing almost as hard as Morley. All their whispering and laughing caught the attention of every pixie in the garden, and soon they were surrounded by pixies swarming like noisy bees.

  "Spying on our games you were," said a stout pixie. His round head was covered with dark red hair that curled tightly to his head. He was the most solid pixie that Kendra had ever seen.

  "We meant no harm, and besides you can hardly call it spying when you're in my garden after all." Kendra didn't mean to be rude, but she was caught by surprise.

  "Could it be true, you came to play too?" said a soft voice. Morley turned his head. The voice came from a very delicate little pixie that seemed to be made of gold. Her long curly hair was the color of spun honey, and even her skin had a golden glow. Her yellow tunic fell below her hips and was belted about her waist. Wide yellow pants tapered down to her tiny bare feet. Her name was Marigold, though everyone called her Mari.

  "Oh thank you, No!" said Morley. "We have things we must do in the morning and we can't be playing all night in moonlight with you." Morley realized he could have said that a little nicer, but it was hard to think clearly with all the pixie dust in the air.

  Mari sang,

  "No time for fun and games you say?

  There's always time to laugh and play."

  She spun around tightly. The golden fabric billowed out and then gently swirled around her knees. One arm pointed up in the air to the sky, and a spiral of golden pixie dust was sent spinning into the air.

  Then the other pixies began to sing:

  "What's that you say?

  No time to play?

  Even a gnome should have some fun,

  If you won't play let's see you run."

  As they sang, they picked up strawberries and grapes. Splat! One of the berries struck the tree beside Morley's head, and another glanced off his shoulder. A little eep of surprise escaped from Kendra's lips when a grape bounced off her hat.

  Morley grabbed her hand. "Looks like we're in for it now. Let's run for it!"

  Off for the house they ran, the pixies parting before them like spilled beans on a wooden floor. Up the main walkway Kendra and Morley ran, hand and hand, like newlyweds fresh from the church. Pixies on either side of the walk showered them with berries, grapes, and flower petals. Kendra wasted no time opening the front door under the hail of debris. Morley turned and slammed the door before any of the pixies could get though. Standing in the hall with his back against the door Morley broke into another fit of laughter.

  "Did you see that pixie stuck up to his wings in that tomato?"

  Kendra was laughing too. "And the look on his friend's face when she was splattered with all that tomato juice. What a sight."

  A sleepy voice called down from upstairs, "Kendra?" It was Telah, her little sister.

  "All's well, dear," she called up the stairs. "Go back to sleep." There was the sound of a door shutting, and Kendra turned back to Morley. They were both still grinning and holding back their laughter. As the noise in the garden died down, Kendra bent down to pick up a stray grape, and walked to the window. "My poor garden. It looks a mess."

  Morley followed her to the window and put an arm on her shoulder. "I know it looks a little beat up right now, but it's not all bad. I don't know anything that makes a garden grow better than pixie dust, and there was plenty of magic out there tonight."

  "You're right. I must be tired," admitted Kendra, as she turned to look up at Morley. "I'm going to have the best garden around for many years."

  "Well I best be getting home. It's been a long day, but one I won't soon forget," said Morley through a yawn.

  "What about the pixies?" said Kendra.

  "I'll just slip out the back door. The only thing shorter than a pixie's temper is their memory. I'm sure they have forgotten all about us already. Wish me luck." Morley bent down and gave Kendra a quick kiss on the cheek, and then he was down the hall and out the back door.

  Kendra stood in the doorway and watched Morley slip through the yard. As he turned to latch the gate he looked back to Kendra and waved, then he was off down the path and into the woods. She watched until he was out of sight, and then she closed the door and turned back down the hall.

  Morley was right. This has been a night to remember, she thought. Then she smiled and brushed the back of her hand across her cheek where Morley had kissed her.

  CHAPTER 2 - CLEANING AND SPINNING

  Telah Wordsmith was up early the next morning. Kendra told her about the pixies, and asked her to check the garden for any vegetables that had not been damaged in the fray.

  The sun was just rising as she left the house with a large basket. The dew on the grass mixed with the pixie dust, and created an iridescent glow that made her toes tingle as she walked across the yard to the garden. The smell of ripe tomatoes was strong in the air. There were strawberries squashed against trees, tomatoes split open on the ground, and grapes everywhere.

  She carefully picked up the ones that were not damaged, and placed them in the basket. She reached for a particularly large tomato that weighed down the vine and rested on the ground. Something moved as she touched it. She jerked her hand back, and gave a little squeak of surprise.