Tales of the New World by S.
D.
Hudson This audiobook is read by the author.
Old World Poison Chapter 1 If you were to ask Jasper the Truffle Pog,
He'd tell you baking day is his favourite day of the week.
On baking day the meadow's haze is awash with rose petal pie and pine nut crust.
And on baking day the air tastes of roasted vines and sweet red cherries.
Jasper loves food.
But he can't cook.
There's only one person in the meadow who can do that.
This person is called Daisy.
Daisy hails from the land of summer.
She comes from a family well known for its extraordinary cooking skills.
And it's her job to prepare the food for the wise one and his masters when they meet at the table of trigons.
That's where they discuss matters of new and old world alike.
Such important business is very hungry work.
And without Daisy it would be impossible.
Now on the morning of this tale,
Daisy was baking truffle pies.
Jasper had delivered one of his finest hauls from the old world cops the day before.
And everyone was looking forward to tasting them.
There was a lot to be discussed that day.
And the masters would be much hungrier than they usually were.
Not least of all Jasper.
He alone needed a pie for tasting,
A pie for snacking and a pre-pie pie.
Daisy really had her work cut out for her.
All she had to do was get the pog out of her kitchen.
Then she could get on.
Jasper had been hovering around as he always did on baking day.
And now she'd had enough.
I can barely get the taste of truffle in just one pie.
Jasper pleaded.
It takes much more than that to appreciate all your hard work Daisy.
So if you don't mind I'll help you with the tasting and then we can be sure.
Daisy could say very little to this.
Her job was to keep the meadow masters happy no matter what.
But fortunately for her Jeremiah was on the case.
Ha!
Surprise,
Surprise!
A pog in the kitchen on baking day.
He smiled as he burst in.
Well,
Who'd have thunk it?
Jasper smiled back.
He liked Jeremiah even though he could get away with nothing when the bunyip was around.
Not me.
He tugged absentmindedly at the buckles holding up his old dungarees.
Beneath their blueberry stains and patches of dirt lay a round belly and a short coat the colour of warm gingerbread.
As newly appointed master in training Jasper was still working out how to control his sense of smell and taste.
But even with all the guidance from the wise one and his fellow masters he found it very difficult to ignore the one thing that drove everything he thought and did.
Be off with you now said Jeremiah as he stepped aside to reveal the wide blue yonder.
And don't forget to be back in time for the meeting.
So Jasper did just that.
Meanwhile Daisy sat down on her cushion to think.
Strapped to her back it looked like an 18th century bustle from the old world.
But Daisy had no need of extra bustle.
This cushion gave her legs and hindquarters a well-deserved rest in those rare moments between meal times.
She was excited at the prospect of the berries Jasper would find.
There was no nose finer than the trufflepogs,
That was for sure.
He'll be off foraging for most the morning I expect said Jeremiah as he dusted the flower from her countertop.
And you little lady can get on with what you do best.
At this Daisy stood up quickly.
The bunyip had just winked at her again.
The last thing she wanted was for him to see her blush.
Chapter 2 Never had the old world copse,
With its bushes of celandine and trees of bay,
Looked so pretty.
The warm summer sun caught each berry with its golden beams and each fresh shoot was now ready for the day ahead.
It was wild strawberry season and all around lay splashes of the brightest ruby red.
Jasper thought about it carefully.
If he collected an extra large whore,
Then perhaps Daisy would gift him an extra large tart as a reward.
After all,
Without him harvesting such old world fare,
There'd be no tarts whatsoever would there?
He gazed across the crystal waters.
He must get there quickly and be back by early afternoon in time for his first ever meeting of the masters.
Hmm,
He said to himself as he summoned the old world raft.
Something smells off.
But before he knew it,
He was at the other side and his head turned with a whiff of strawberries.
The remainder of the morning and some time past midday,
Jasper spent foraging.
The pickers had already been,
So there was no old world stuff lying around to hinder him.
And when at last his knapsack was full to bursting and he'd eaten as much as he could without falling into a stupor,
He made his way back.
Little did he realize the many berries he'd eaten had produced a soporific effect.
Jasper had let time run away from him without even realizing it.
He began to panic.
This was his first ever meeting in the Grand Orb.
He must get back.
But the berries needed washing.
There was no way he could bring them to Daisy's kitchen without getting rid of the poison.
Now what was he going to do?
He'd never have enough time to wash them in the meadow well and get back to the Grand Orb.
There was nothing for it.
He'd have to wash the berries in the crystal waters.
After all,
The crystal waters belonged to the New World Meadow,
Didn't they?
So they must be as pure as the meadow well.
The San'ayi wouldn't be able to live in them otherwise.
He snatched the knapsack from his back and dunked it in the waters.
But in his haste,
He failed to notice the many bubbles within.
They were covered in a fine salty mist and the San'ayi asleep inside them.
The crystal waters had been contaminated and the San'ayi with them.
Chapter 3 Deep in the Grand Orb,
Each of the Masters was present and correct.
The table of Trigons had just been polished and there was a new energy in the air.
Jasper heaved a sigh of relief.
He'd made it.
Now he could relax.
Being invited to sit at the meeting of Masters was a prize greater than anything he could have wished for.
But he deserved it,
Didn't he?
After all,
He possessed the same gift the other Masters did.
There was no other nose as powerful as his.
He was certain of that.
So what was he worried about?
The Old World Strawberries were with Daisy now and everything was done.
I did clean them properly though,
Didn't I?
His mind raced back to the crystal waters.
Stop it,
He said to himself.
It'll be fine.
But even he was having a hard time believing that.
You OK?
Asked Jeremiah,
Noticing the Polk's unusually sullen expression.
Jasper nodded.
Then he turned to the shields and tapestries,
Anything to avoid Jeremiah's scrutiny.
Between them,
Each door had been painted with a Far Land emblem.
It was nice.
But it was the other door he was interested in.
The one framed with garlands of rosemary and thyme.
Behind that door lived the Wise One.
Please let everything be OK,
Jasper begged with a sudden wave of guilt.
And as if reading his mind,
The Ossum Goose materialized in the central circle of the table,
Filling the room with a brilliant white light.
The Masters looked at him in awe.
He was dressed in carmine feathers with tips of aquamarine.
Yet in the next moment,
He was the color of periwinkles and primroses.
His huge eyes held a galactic sunset and his one wing wrapped around himself like a cloak.
It was not clear where the Ossum Goose began or where he ended.
All anyone really knew was,
Things felt different when he was around.
The air was cleaner,
The hope was greater and the mood that much brighter.
They listened carefully as the Wise One told them of the Old World and the latest dangers there.
They followed to the letter his instructions on preserving energy and remaining focused in times of desperation.
Then,
As quickly as the lesson began,
It was over again.
And Jasper's doubts haunted him once more.
Maybe those crystal waters aren't really clean after all.
But this was no time for doubts.
Daisy had just entered with a long-awaited feast.
How much can I get away with today?
Jasper wondered as he gazed at the many plates.
Delilah doesn't eat much,
Does she?
And Jeremiah's had a big breakfast.
First up were plump puddings and cream.
And as truffle pies and warm cedar loaves joined the feast,
Jeremiah amused everyone with tales of Old Mother Craymore and the time she tried to escape from him.
The Masters ate heartily.
Then they laughed and joked until they could laugh and joke no more.
And rightly content with their lot,
The Meadow Master sat back to let the feast do its magic.
It was some time before the cook returned to collect the plates.
But when at last she did,
The Masters were horrified to see the daisy in front of them was not the same daisy that had left.
Well,
Slap my head and call me stupid.
What the blazes you been up to?
Exclaimed Jeremiah.
He stared at the feathered cook.
Her once snow-white beak was turning black and there was a misty look in her eyes.
She opened her beak to reply,
But it was no good.
No words came out.
Then,
Before he had time to understand what was happening,
She collapsed on the floor in front of him.
It's poison,
I tell you,
Poison.
Her feathers are covered in it.
Covered!
Screeched the Delilah,
Hopping from one foot to another.
Fortenua agreed.
Delilah is right.
We will have to move quickly.
Fetch the knife.
Jeremiah hauled Daisy up from where she had fallen.
Then he swept aside the many wooden plates and placed her over the central circle in the table of trigons.
There was no time to consult the wise one now.
He must act quickly if he was to save the cook.
Jasper,
Come forth.
Your stomach is the only one the Old World poison ain't affecting.
Old World poison?
Jasper felt sick to his stomach.
Where did it come from?
Spat Fortenua.
Why is it only Daisy is affected by this?
Speak,
Jasper,
Speak!
Fortenua had had her doubts about Jasper from the start.
After all,
He was younger than the rest of them and still very much at the mercy of his desires.
It must have been from today,
I tell you.
It must have been from today,
Said Delilah,
Jumping up and down.
And she was right.
Daisy had tasted the berry pie she'd drawn from the oven and was now poisoned with the Old World salts.
This is no time for ruminating.
Hold out your clothes,
Boy,
Spat Jeremiah before slashing it open with a sharpened blade.
Now place it there.
He pointed to Daisy's stomach.
Jasper felt faint.
He'd never done anything like this before.
Focus now and be quick about it,
Jeremiah insisted.
This ain't no time for dilly-dallying.
And realizing the situation was life or death,
Jasper did exactly as he was bid.
Now concentrate,
Fortenua demanded as his blood soaked through the folds of Daisy's apron.
So Jasper closed his eyes and focused on the darkness within.
One,
Two,
Three,
Four,
He counted as he pulled his bright light energy into his chest.
All sensation left his nose.
With the power of Becci,
He declared,
Placing his middle digits and thumbs together.
Then he released his breath slowly and the grand hall became filled with emerald green light.
It bounced from wall to wall and at last it came to rest in Daisy's stomach.
I hope you have learned from this,
Snapped Fortenua.
And Jasper hung his head low as the others watched Daisy open her eyes once more.
Standing at the edge of the crystal waters,
The masters looked down.
The bubbles were darker than they'd ever been and the Sanaii,
Those tiny black maniacs,
Were stupefied.
It just didn't make sense.
What was going on?
The crystal waters were supposed to protect the new world from the old,
But now they were the biggest threat to its safety.
It was getting late.
The problem needed to be resolved before the darkness came.
When the darkness came,
So did the Feridur.
Those evil old world birds would think nothing of attacking the meadow and killing every kind soul who lived there.
And what with the disaster they were already in the midst of,
The masters were ill-prepared for that.
They must move fast.
Without protection from the Sanaii,
The meadow and its folk were in mortal danger.
Fortenua scanned the area.
The waters were murky green and by the look on the Pog's face,
The smell coming from them was even worse.
Jasper,
Meanwhile,
Was in all sorts of trouble.
By cutting corners,
He'd poisoned Daisy.
That was something he couldn't bear the thought of.
Above all else,
Jasper was a kind fellow and would never knowingly do anything to hurt anyone.
I'll dive in and see if there's anything I can do,
He declared,
Removing his jacket.
But Fortenua was far from impressed.
We do not need any flagrant displays of bravery here,
She snapped.
We need to think this through.
Jasper shrank back as Fortenua leaned in to scan every inch of the water's bed.
The fine red beams in her eyes missed nothing.
And there it was,
A tiny hole no bigger than a needle from one of the New World pines.
There,
She shouted,
And the others looked too,
Even though they could see nothing.
That is where the poison is leaking in.
Is it big?
Asked Jeremiah,
But he regretted it as soon as the words came out.
Of course it is not big,
Fortenua spat.
She pointed to the Sanayi.
They would all be dead if it was big,
And so would we.
There was nothing more to say to this,
So Jeremiah said nothing.
It needs to be fixed,
Fortenua continued,
And you,
Jeremiah,
Are the one to do it.
She faced him head on,
Well aware he hated water.
But there was nothing else for it.
As a bunyip,
Jeremiah was the heaviest,
And the only one who could sink to the bottom.
He closed his eyes and joined his middle digits with his thumbs.
Within seconds his furry exterior started to tingle.
Then,
As a blue mist rose from the ground,
He created a barrier between himself and the outside world.
A barrier that would channel his sense of touch,
So he was no longer beholden to it.
With the power of Bechi,
He declared.
A dazzling blue light shot out from his clues and danced over the surface of the crystal waters.
He stepped into the murky liquid.
Jeremiah hated the way water felt on his fur.
It always hung so heavy.
Being sensitive to everything he touched,
It was impossible to ignore the claggy effect of being consumed in cold,
Murky water.
But with Bechi,
He could focus.
He could move beyond the liquid that would fill his large nostrils and pull at his whiskers.
He could ignore the cold that would spread over his exposed skin.
With Bechi,
He could conquer all fear and self-doubt.
The riverbed was cold.
It was hard and it was cold.
But Jeremiah pushed the coldness away and summoned up all his strength.
Then,
Opening his eyes,
He saw what Fortenua had spoken of.
There was a hole.
A tiny hole.
Left uncovered,
It would mean the end of the Sana'i and the end of the meadow.
He placed his huge clove upon it and visualized it closing up.
Come on,
He said to himself.
Come on.
All at once,
The stones began to twist and turn.
More,
More,
He continued,
And the murky green began to fade.
Then,
As the mist on the bubbles started to clear and the waters were shocked into a brilliant blue,
The entire population of Sana'i sprang back to life.
They were ready once more to protect the new world with their dark,
Mystical powers.
Yes!
It had taken every last bit of Jeremiah's energy,
But he had done it.
The hole in the riverbed was closed at last.
There would be no more poisoning today.
Well done,
The others cheered,
And with one determined burst,
The drenched warrior shot back to the top,
His chest heaving as he sat heavy on the bank,
Gasping for as much new world air as he could get.
Not a sound was to be heard in the meadow that night,
But the crackling of a log fire.
Jeremiah sat alone,
Watching the flames grow higher.
It was a relief to be back on solid ground and no longer submerged in cold,
Wet liquid.
His fur was still damp,
But getting drier by the minute.
There was some consolation in that.
It would take time,
But by the morning,
He might just be back to his old self again.
Being the strongest of the meadow masters,
Everyone always expected him to have the answers.
But at times like this,
Jeremiah felt overcome with the weight of it all.
He stroked back the wet fur from his eyes.
This feeling in my stomach will be my only companion this night,
He said to himself.
But picking her way through the silence,
The pigtailed hopsy had other ideas.
Without a word,
She lay her softest blanket over Jeremiah's hunched shoulders.
Then,
Gazing into his weary eyes,
She smiled.
Perhaps things weren't quite so bad after all.
The End
