The Crustlings

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© 2014 H. Kitchener. All rights reserved.

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Published by AuthorHouse 07/18/2014

ISBN: 978-1-4969-8579-8 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4969-8580-4 (e)

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CONTENTS

Prologue

Chapter 1     The Cabin

Chapter 2     Potholing

Chapter 3     The Rescue

Chapter 4     Cyclura

Chapter 5     Rebecca

Chapter 6     The Kiss

Chapter 7     The Fourth Crustling

Chapter 8     A Hobby In Both Worlds

Chapter 9     The Blue Crystal

Chapter 10   Caiman

Chapter 11   Reunited

Chapter 12   The Return Of A Leader

Chapter 13   Return To The Lake

Chapter 14   The Ice Palace

Chapter 15   The Quest

Chapter 16   The Forest

Chapter 17   Cloud People

Chapter 18   Allies

Chapter 19   The Red Crystal

Chapter 20   The Return

Chapter 21   Fire & Ice

Chapter 22   Khons

I stated to write this book as an exercise to improve my spelling. If you are dyslexic like me and have to visualise the word bed every time you want to write a b or d to get it right you will know how it can hold you back and what a pain it can be.

You might find the odd spelling mistake.

But hay nobody’s perfect.

Enjoy

PROLOGUE

Her red untrained hair could be seen flying behind her, as queen Boudicca stood on her chariot dressed in her royal tunic brandishing a spear. She was flanked by her daughters Lannosea and Heanua, they were all set to inspire their troops of over 230,000, of which some 75,000 would not walk away from the battle that was to follow. Unknown to Boudicca and her daughters the Roman governor of Britain, Gaius Suetonius Paulinus, had gathered all the roman troops in Britain, numbering around about 10,000 men, ready to attack the British army made up of the Iceni, Trinobantes and other neighbouring tribes united against the Roman Empire. The date was 62 AD, the battle took place in the south of Britain in a narrow valley, so that the superior numbers would be of no advantage against the smaller Roman army, which historically only lost 400 men in the battle.

Boudicca and her daughters survived the battle but rather than surrender, Boudicca took her own life by poison. It is said that her supporters buried her in a secret unmarked grave.

Legend has it that Lannosea and Heanua returned to Colchester with a hand full of dedicated followers and continued to battle with the roman army in a small way by raiding traders of shipments of gold, food and wine being transported to and from Rome. After a while Suetonius sent a legion to stop the rebels. The legion came across the rebels at dusk when the sky was bright red and orange, as if it was on fire. Lannosea and Heanua led their men into battle. The fighting had just begun with the first clash of weapons struck, when a mighty rumbling could be heard all around them. The earth shook knocking them all to the floor like toy solders, then it split open sucking them all in and closing. It was as if the world had opened its mouth and swallowed them whole, wiping the daughter’s of Boudicca and Prasutagus from the pages of history.

CHAPTER 1

The Cabin

The lane looked quiet, as if it had been undisturbed for years, when four horses with riders came trotting along the path. As they passed some boundary hedgerows, made from blackthorn mixed with ivy and honeysuckle, a white Admiral butterfly took flight, as the horses passed by.

Want an apple? said Paul as he picked an apple from an old crab apple tree and threw it at Dillon, who was coming up behind him, it caught him on the shoulder. As Dillon passed the tree he picked an apple and returned the complement, hitting Paul square on the back of his head.

Look over there shouted Kerry, pointing further up ahead. It was a baby fox trying to squeeze through the hedgerow out of their way.

They were coming to the end of a long day of horse riding on an all action week for four that Ray had won. After they had returned the horses to the stables the four friends decided to go for a walk in the woods, after a very unsavoury meal of what they liked to call one eyed Egyptians, better known as fried egg and bread with a hole in it, so the yoke poked through the hole. They also had a side order of beans and a bottle of beer or two.

They walked across the field from their camp towards the woods when they spotted a Peregrine Falcon in flight, with its broad pointed wings and long tail, gliding through the air looking for a small rodent for its tea. They reached the edge of the woods, lifting up the sign that said do not enter, so they could crawl under. Nevertheless, Paul still managed to whack his head on the bottom of the sign.

Paul Johnson was accident prone and if something is going to happen it would happen to him. He had mousy coloured cropped hair and light blue eyes, was twenty years old and weighed some ten and a half stone. He wore a pair of light stone washed blue jeans and a baggy white zip up top, with three coloured stripes on the back. He always talked about football, which really annoyed his girlfriend Kerry. He was in his second year at university with Dillon, where they were both studying to be doctors with visions of becoming surgeons.

Dillon Pryce is 20 years old with brown hair and deep green eyes, although he looked an average build he had been bouldering for years whenever he had any free time this had given him strong hands and an upper body strength that you wouldn’t expect. He wore an old pair of ripped black jeans and black trainers, with a white T-shirt. Most people thought he was trouble, which he was quite often but his few friends knew a different side of him that craved a challenge, He was a bit of a loner and always hung out with the same crowd, to which he was loyal, and he was always there for them.

They walked deeper into the woods, following a path that looked as if it had been trodden a few times before. Kerry thought how strange the silence now seemed, as the wind blew the treetops, with the faint noise of traffic in the far distance and the ‘teecha, teecha’ sound of a great tit somewhere in a tree. Kerry had picked up a stick and was beating the path wider for the sheer hell of it. Kerry Patel was of Indian decent, 19 years old, with light brown skin, long black hair and big brown eyes. She often got up early and ran or cycled for miles she had a stamina and determination of an Olympian.

She was wearing a blue pair of jeans, with black boots and a large baggy jumper. She was quite petite, but always the one with good ideas and she always had to go first. She was a real tomboy, not that she thought so. She worked at the local leisure centre, where she took her aerobics class and karate for the under twelve’s. She was also doing a part time course in business management.

After a short while they came to a fork in the track. They argued whether to go left or right, until Dillon took a fifty pence coin from his pocket

Heads left tails right he said

With a flick the coin spun into the air and landed tails up,

Its not tails that’s Britannia said Ray

Paul butted in No it’s not its Boudicca, he said

What! No it’s not replied Ray it’s got to be it’s a woman in a chariot with a spear and a shield, it’s got to be.

Shut up you two, every body knows its Britannia shouted Kerry, as they took the right track.

There was a mix of oak and birch trees along the track, with some conifers all around, also a mix of ferns and heathers which added to the spectrum of colours. Slowly the path became narrower and the heather and ferns gave way to stinging nettles that were getting taller and taller.

Stop shouted Kerry, who had suddenly backed up and in doing so stung her arm on a nettle. Just in front of her was a sheer drop of at least 60 ft. The woodland had just stopped in front of her, as she stood about two feet away from the edge of a cliff. They could see the other side, which was raised higher so you could see the cliff’s side, which was slate grey and chalky white. On the odd ridge there were some trees and bushes which had seeded.

Sod that for a laugh said Kerry with a half smile, then the pain from the stinging nettle kicked in and she started waving her arm around, repeating four letter words in quick succession. Ray, who was laughing at Kerry, bent down and picked a couple of dock leaves and handed them to her.

Ray Puett was 19 years old and the fittest of them all. His parents were from the former Portuguese colony of Goa in India, although he was born and grew up in England, on the outskirts of London. Since leaving school he had worked in a bank and spent his free time down the gym where Kerry worked. He was about 5 foot 8 inches tall, with black hair and was the joker of the pack. Most people who knew him would agree that if he were any more laid back he would be on his back. He also wore jeans and a T-shirt, which showed off the tight muscles in his arms. The others always wore scruffy everyday clothes, but Ray always looked immaculate, wearing the latest brand named gear.

They then re-traced their route back along the path to the fork, this time taking the other track where two big oak trees were standing high in full foliage, the crooked branches growing in every direction. Both trees were slightly lopsided but the acorns could be easily seen on their branches. They decided this path would take them in generally the right direction back to the camp.

They walked on joking and taking the mick out of Kerry, who was still waving her arm around in the air.

Wave a bit harder and you could have flown to the other side of the cliff, shouted Paul. For this he got a hard stare from Kerry and as he looked he tripped on a tree root that lay across the track, but recovered his balance on a large log covered in moss that lay along side the path. The track had begun to get wider and wider, and the ferns became lower to the ground.

A grey squirrel sat high in a tree watching them, as if to say what are you doing here. Ray then spotted an old silver birch tree on which someone had carved the initials HK 4 PF within a heart shape. It must have been a while ago as the bark had started to curl in onto the carving. On the right they noticed the cliff side had sneaked up on them, but it was a good ten feet away. Up in front of them was a big old oak tree that punched its way through the rooftop of the smaller trees, its bark was old and rough. Running up the side of the tree ivy had taken hold. At its base there was a hole with loose earth, where probably a rabbit or maybe a badger had once lived. The cliff edge had come right up to the right hand side of the oak tree and around the other side, and then it went off at an angle, as if the old oak was holding up the floor and challenging the cliff edge.

An orange and yellow moth flew from the oak heading to Dillon, who had a bit of a secret phobia against moths and butterflies. In fact he hated things flying at his face. He waved his arm, not wanting to show fear over such a small thing, although they all knew he hated them. Then it flew over the edge of the cliff and out of sight.

Ray picked up a large stone which he threw over the cliff edge they counted 1, 2, 3, 4, bang the stone hit something below 5, 6, 7, a smaller tap noise was heard, 8, 9, 10; they listened but heard no more. Ray then lay down on this chest and wiggled his way to the edge, so he could look over

Oh my god! he shouted it’s got to be about eight stories to the bottom.

They had come to the end of the track again.

So we now have two choices said Dillon we can re-trace our route all the way back or we can go up that way

The others spun round and looked up at where Dillon was pointing, the side rose up at a gentle slope getting steeper at the top. The ground on the slope was quite bare, with a carpet covering of leaf litter and pine needles. There were even a few horse chestnut cases still from the last fall rotting away. There was an odd root winding across the path and two small bushes half way up the slope. Just above that were two birch trees. One of the birch trees had a bracket of fungus around it, with its white under side, tiny pores and a buff brown top above that stood a conifer. The three trees were staggered up to the top of the slope and beyond that they could just make out the top of their wood cabin.

With home in sight at the top of the slope, they went up. The slope turned out to be steeper than it looked. There were no footholds, so they found themselves digging fingers into the loose earth up to their knuckles, to get a grip so they could pull themselves up. Kerry was way up in front followed by Ray, with Dillon and Paul bringing up the rear. Kerry reached the first tree, then walking sideways to steady her footing, she reached the top. Each of the others then followed the same route. When Kerry, Ray and Dillon reached the top they looked around to find Paul had stopped at one of the bushes and was crouched holding on to the lower bush. His eyes were tightly closed and his breathing was in short sharp breaths.

Ray shouted down What are you up to? Come on its getting late. There was no response

I think he’s frozen said Ray to the others he isn’t going anywhere.

Paul we have some rope up at the hut, if we get a rope and tie it off on a tree then throw it to you do you think you can pull yourself up? shouted Ray.

A small nod gave them the OK for the plan to go ahead.

Kerry and Ray headed up to the camp. It only took a few minutes. The rope was coiled up on a hook that made it look longer than it was. Dillon stayed to talk to Paul, not that any response was forthcoming from him. Ray hung the rope over his head and put his arm through the loop. It made him feel like part of a mountain rescue unit, as they rushed back to the top of the slope. They then proceeded on down to the top of the slope. Kerry just jumped to the trunk of the top tree, then to the second, then to the third. As she did this small helicopters came spinning down from the second tree. They took flight in the little wind that there was. They then uncoiled the rope.

We will have to go to the first tree before we pass down the rope as it won’t be long enough to reach from the top said Ray to Kerry.

Come on Kerry shouted to Ray, You’ve got the rope.

So Ray followed and leapt down from top tree to the second. Then leapt out towards the third tree, landing just short of the tree trunk. He reached out to Kerry, who only had time to stare at him.

Ray looked at those eyes they seemed surprised and suddenly scared all at once. He hit the floor hard and with the momentum from the jump and the slope, he started to slide down fast desperately trying to grab hold of the loose earth. He was shooting towards the cliff edge like a toboggan, he yelled to Paul, who put his hand out, but he was out of reach and slid on past. Ray was gaining speed. The others could only watch in horror as their mate was going fast toward the cliff edge. Just as they thought it was all over for him, Ray reached out his arm and made contact with a small silver birch sapling. His arm locked around the tree as his legs and hips swung over the edge of the cliff, the momentum of his arm around the sapling was enough to swing his body back on to the edge. Wrapping his body round the tree, he lay there motionless breathing heavy.

As he lay curled around the tree, the only thing he could think of was that he really didn’t remember entering the competition that he’d won. He simply put it down to some box he put a dot in whilst surfing the net, as he did regularly most evenings. He watched a snail as it began to crawl away after a fungus feast, it then suddenly stopped and pulled in its horns. Ray closed his eyes again, trying to tell himself all was OK. Then he heard the others calling him. He opened his eyes and saw them looking down at him. He just grinned up at them and shouted

Best ride in the park, but I suggest you don’t keep your arms and legs inside the ride at all times.

Then he pulled himself up using the little silver birch, his legs felt a bit weak. Kerry started to descend to him

I’m OK, stay there said Ray. He kissed the tree and made his way up to Paul and sat with him.

Are you alright mate said Paul

I’ll live to fight another day.

Dillon shouted Throw up one end of the rope to me which Ray did. Paul went up first then Ray followed. Dillon had just put the rope around the tree and was pulling them up with his own strength.

When they were all safely back at the top by the cabin, Paul said Time for a drink I think. No one disagreed with that. They sat at the wooden table, which was made to seat twenty four people. It was inside the hut that they called home for the week. Due to some mix up they were given a hut in the middle of nowhere, which was really for scout and guide camps. The four friends had met in venture scouts, so it was no real hardship for them to rough it. In fact they liked it. It was the bunk bed that was out of this world. It was made from wood and slept twenty-four people. Twelve on the bottom, six one side & six on the other, top and tailed. The top was the same. There was plenty of room for the four of them. Kerry slept on the bottom, the other three on the top, she had organised it that way.

Around the walls were articles about various activities from a local newspaper, pictures of sporting events and adverts of things going on in the area. The saddest one was an article about a missing persons leaflet. This concerned two brothers, twins Michael and Ben Scott aged 20, who went missing after going on a 48 hour hike over the moor looking for different types of rocks and minerals. They had never been seen again. That was 25 years ago, but the poster must have only recently been put up as it was an artist impression of how they may look now. There was also a poster advertising a circus on the nearby village green.

Great the circus is tomorrow, said Dillon.

Yeah last year, Kerry explained pointing to the year on the poster.

We had better get some sleep said Kerry we have got to get up early in the morning. It’s a six thirty a.m. pick up from the car park, which in itself is twenty minute walk away.

Potholing was the fourth day’s activity and they were told that, time and weather permitting, they might be able to go on a cave dive. They were all members of a scuba club and were qualified sport divers. Dillon had even started training to become an instructor.

As they lay there, Ray thought about the week’s events. The first day they went canoeing, which was interesting as for some reason Ray kept capsizing. This meant he spent most of the day soaking wet, but after a day of ridicule he made sure he was not the only one crawling out of the river bank dragging a canoe full of water. The second day was race day with a 25 lap relay on go carts, which had a top speed of 30 mph, but when you are that low to the ground it seemed a lot faster. Then they had an hour of quad biking. Day three was a slower pace on horse back, which none of them really felt comfortable with. While riding they had chatted about the next days activity, which was right down their alley.

Dillon lay there that night reading all the names that had been carved into the bed showing the dates of the various stays. The oldest one he had seen said Keith was ere 68 carved on the bed. There was another one that said Scott’s were here 78, which had given them a chill, as they must have stayed there in that cabin in the bed they where now in just before they disappeared. This was not actually carved on the bed, but on the racking which went round the room, made to hold 24 peoples kit and equipment. He looked up to the apex of the roof and the end of the room where a motto was carved deep into the wood just one word Kaang. It took him a long time to get to sleep, as he kept thinking about the Scott’s, wondering what might have happened to them.

Some time in the night Paul had gone to join Kerry on the lower bunk and they had fallen asleep in each other’s arms, when the alarm Kerry had set was suddenly going off.

It can’t be six already shouted Paul I’ve only just got to sleep as he hunted around for the alarm to turn it off wondering were Kerry had disappeared to.

Try sleeping at night then replied Ray from above.

CHAPTER 2

Potholing

The conversation was broken by a small whistling noise