Chapter 8 - Journey In A Glass Bottom Boat

Journey In A Glass Bottom Boat

A novel

By Paul McCann

 

Chapter 8

 

The Green Eyed Dragon Of Caverock

 

Harry and Maisie met a sea merchant one day in an island market who was selling handmade garments to the locals . The merchants name was Neddie and he  made clothing for natives in the remote islands around the Pacific . His clothes were original and well liked , He manufactured and delivered the clothes every few months from his little factory on a hilltop that overlooked the sea ...

When Harry told Neddie about their voyage of discovery he was very interested in what they were doing and decided to share with them a story of the green-eyed dragon on the island of Jaffan .

Life on the island was quiet but there were reports of a dragon who lived there in a cave on the mountain . The dragon had been seen by some of the natives and one day the dragon captured on of the local people .

The tribal council held a special meeting to put together a plan to rescue one of the tribe who had been captured by the green-eyed dragon . They hoped that the dragon hadn’t eaten him alive or grilled him with flames from his mouth .   

So the tribal council asked for all the people of the village be present at the meeting and as they all gathered there and listened to what the chief and the elders had to say not many of the tribe had any idea what they could do to rescue Tamay who had been taken by the dragon ..

Tora one of the local fishermen had mentioned that he saw the dragon take Tamay across to an island near to where he was fishing .

Faesh The Chief was pleased to hear where the dragon had brought Tamay and said .

Don’t worry. Now I have a plan”.

Some of the tribe seemed unsure and one  of them said.

“The thing is chief , have our families to think of. “
“Don’t be like that “ Said Faesh  “

“We all know Tamay and how hard he has worked for the tribe all his life . I for one will not forget that It’s not the time to be weak and afraid now is the time to be brave and strong and to stand together to rescue one of our own . So tonight let us not return to our hits and sleep at peace with out families instead let us show some fight and cross that Sea to the island where the dragon is and bring back Tamay “

A tiny voice broke the silence .

“After our ferry boat was sunk . how can we cross the sea ?”

“Don’t I have a fishing boat that can carry maybe seven and some others can swim . It’s not that far to Caverock Island .“

Replied Tora the fisherman .

There was a tension in the air .The chief looked around at all the faces filled with fear and said.

“Listen to me .The dragon cannot stand the tribal fire so all we have to do is dig a large hole and fill it with bamboo wood and draw the serpent to it and before we throw our tribal torches into the pit . I know this plan can work if we all stand together so tell me , who will help .“

“I have a small canoe boat.” Said Tora .
“Me too,” said Ry .
“Right then so what are we waiting for, let’s go.”

So, a group of men from the village brought spades for digging the trench and other tools to cut the bamboo . With a last look at their loved ones , the men of the village got in and started to paddle and row away from their island .

In a short while they reached Caverock . They tied up the boats and stood on the sea shore .

.
“Well chief  what do we do “

Asked Tora .

“Follow me “ everyone said the chief.

As he marched away, he saw some dragons footprints on the sand and followed them to a grassy place where he heard the noise of the dragon snoring from inside a cave .

“The dragons asleep”

Said some of the men  and the chief Faesh  continued .

“Great timing now everyone starts digging a deep trench here , the depth  has to be deep so the dragon cannot climb out and harrow enough so he can’t spread his wings to fly away . Then once the hole is dug, we need to kay a layer of twigs and  kindle and some driftwood  at the base and over the top of the trench we will place blanket of long palm leaves thatched together to hide the hole so the dragon will not see . Make the blanket as natural looking as possible to camouflage the hole. . Let us now start cutting down some bamboo for the fire and put it to one side with the paraffin , We can make out tribal torches from the thinner bamboo branches and wat ever paraffin is left we will throw it into the bottom of the pit ., So stay strong and lets work hard and fast  , Put a large stack of bamboo aside to feed the fire once its well alight with the dragon dancing in the flames and them start to throw in all our bamboo until the dragon is destroyed .’

So, the men all went to work dissing and cutting and making the pit blanket and after all the work was finished . Then they asked the chief  .

“:So, what do we do now chief ?”

He replied

“I’m going into the Cave to draw out the dragon and when he comes after me I’m going to make my way here to where the hole is and if the dragon follows me it will  falls into the pit as I will  quickly leap to one side to avoid the trench so you must  have your tribal torches ready to throw in as soon as the dragon has fallen into the pit . Now while I go to the cave , hide and make yourselves invisible .“

 
Chief Faesh went up to the Cave and started to call the dragon , mocking it and challenging the best to come after him  .

“Hey there cross eyes , what’s happening , I hear you’re not able to see too good these days . So come out and fight me like a real dragon or maybe you’re too afraid of me, come on yellow belly , good for nothing , all burnt out thing that you are .”

The chief began to bang a bit of bamboo on the ground and this was enough to bring out the green eyed dragon who went after Faesh , over the rocks and along the path filled with craggy edges , The chief was very agile and ran like the wind with the dragon close behind . Then when he reached the place where the trap was he took a huge leap over to the side and the dragon fell right through the blanket of the pit and fell in crashing to the bottom  then all the men who were in hiding rushed over to the pit and threw in their tribal torches one by one that ignited the kindle and driftwood that was drenched with paraffin and the flames engulfed the pit , as more and more bamboo was thrown in to add more fuel to the flames . The dragon was cooked like a dinner quickly and  thoroughly  .
All the men danced and sang and the taste of victory was sweet .
The chief and all the men from Jafran went back into the cave and found Tamay tied up or in the tangles of a strange looking spiders web but he was so happy and relieved to see his rescuers  who began to cut away the strands that bound him to a wooden post ,

“ The green-eyed dragon asked a huge spider to tie me to this post and they had both planned to eat me  on the night of the next full moon . Thank you all for saving me from being eaten alive .”
“ Don’t worry now Tamay the dragon is dead and it’s time for us to return home .“ said the chief .

Tamay wiped away the tears from his eyes and said ,

‘I am so grateful that you rescued me that I will make you all a promise to you all , I have a good friend who makes clothes and from now on you and all your families will never have to pay for any garments or clothes . I know that my friend Neddie will provide for you all handmade clothes in return for saving my life  “

Afterwards Tamay spoke to Neddie who made and delivered garments for free to all the tribe on Jafran Island .. The story of Neddie was shared by many people which brough him a lot of new customers .

Now many people in the islands around the pacific order regular supplies of Neddie handmade clothes . Everyone is happy to share the story of the fight and defeat of  the green-eyed dragon which has become a legend  .

 

End Of Chapter 8

 

Link To Chapter 9

https://www.abctales.com/story/mcscraic/chapter-9-journey-glass-bottom-boat

 

Journey In A Glass Bottom Boat

A novel

By Paul McCann