Ongoing Battle

G. Harrison A.

Description

The outlanders walked past the statue with both of them giving it a long hard look, as each had in the back of their minds that it looked so real it might come to life and reach out to grab them. So they both stayed well out of hand reach.

Informations

• Publié par: A. G. Harrison
• Date de parution: 26 juillet 2021
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781839783388
• Langue: English

Extrait

Ongoing Battle
 
 
Book series: “Soft Madness”
 
 
Part 4
 
 
Series by A. G. Harrison
 
 
Publication as of July 2021
 
Introduction by A. G. Harrison
 
Introduction
 
From the time human felt the necessity to communicate, he realized the value of the written word and wrote by drawing on cave walls, clay tablets, stones, papyrus, parchment, paper, and today, with the development of technology, he has created e-books.
 
The object "book" is classified in industrial products, but at the same time it is a cultural good. Personally, I emphasize both of its dimensions, but mainly in its cultural dimension. I consider the book to be the most important expression of culture because quite simply, in addition to being the same work of art, it supports all other expressions of culture.
 
As an industrial product, through the many stages of its creation and before it reaches the hands of the reader, it financially supports a wide range of professions, such as writers, philologists, translators, designers, publishers, paper merchants, printing houses, bookbinders, distributors and, finally, bookstores… Let us not forget, of course, that today it also greatly supports the huge online market industry.
 
The governments of many countries, studying and delving into the economic benefits of the book, have invested and supported this industry in various ways, which flourished and offered them great financial gains.
 
Starting with the Sumerians, Babylonians and other peoples of Mesopotamia, who wrote on clay tablets, Egyptians and Romans, who wrote on papyrus, the Jews on parchment, the evolution with handwritten books images in the Middle Ages in Europe, the creation of the first wooden typographic elements and paper by the Chinese, who printed the first books, the discovery of metallic elements by the German Johannes Gutenberg during the Renaissance and the really rapid development of printing in 1450 until 1456 and, finally, during the 19th-20th century the Industrial Revolution, which makes the production of the book flourish are some examples of the value of the written word.
 
The agony and effort of all these civilized societies, over time, in various parts of the world, teaches us that the book is an integral part of human existence.
 
Throughout this course the book records and transports from the depths of the centuries ancient civilizations, which teach us about the mistakes that we can avoid or imitate the achievements of our ancestors and adopt timeless principles and values, supplies for survival. but also the evolution of the human species.
 
By reading a book, we have the opportunity to create with our imagination the heroes of history, landscapes, various objects, etc. In the pages of a book, the author, in addition to his study, research, experiences, also expresses his feelings. He makes us members of his own world and gives us the opportunity to learn.
 
It helps us to acquire knowledge but also to enrich our vocabulary, improving our own writing.
 
It contributes to our mental alertness, increases the ability to focus, improves our memory, helps to develop our analytical mental abilities, entertains us, calms us down and helps reduce stress.
 
Of course, apart from the importance of touch and contact with a hot material, reading a quality book contributes significantly and decisively to our self-education, the cultivation of critical thinking, the upgrading of our aesthetics and consequently contributes to our quality of life.
 
It conveys art, informs, cultivates the spirit and the soul, elevates intelligence, finds solutions to problems, conveys messages, circulates ideas, forms consciences.
 
I hope my books convey a message of personal experiences and you could find segments of your own truth as well.
 
Thank you in advance for being here and being ready to start reading.
1
 
 
Leaf slept poorly that night and woke early before sunrise finding it impossible to sleep after the dramatic changes to her life, which included her uncertain future. She sat up then she noticed a strange smell and began sniffing the air trying to determine the origin of the unusual scent. She thought for a moment, could it be the monster that her people had spoken of , then she realised it came from the wrong direction. After a few minutes the scent grew stronger so she gently shook Gilda. The once swordmaiden sat up with a start after being woken from a deep sleep. ‘What is it?’
 
The gnome whispered. ‘There is a foul smell in the air’ and sniffed again. Gilda stood and took a long sniff then shook her head ‘I can’t smell anything.’ James and Harry stirred then Harry saw the two women sniffing then asked. ‘What’s it smell like?’
 
Gilda asked.
 
‘Rotten fish,’ was the gnome’s reply.
 
‘Orcs! They must be close’ gasped Harry. James climbed to his feet and started breaking camp when Gilda asked her if she could tell if it was getting closer. Leaf only shrugged then shook her head in reply.
 
James whispered. ‘We’re trapped we dare not cross the stream before sunrise and the orcs?’ He thought for a moment, ‘As soon as it is light they’ll move and try and take us by the mid-morning.’
 
‘We have to stay ahead of them till sunset then Gwydion can look after them,’ declared Harry.
 
Gilda replied. ‘That won’t be easy! It’s said that orcs move quickly when they sense they are close to a kill! We must take our chances and go now, or the orcs will run us down.’
 
They said no more and looked towards the east before crossing the stream. As they stepped out of the water they all paused for a moment and tried to sense any sudden changes that would indicate danger. All was quiet not even an insect could be heard, ‘Come on’ whispered James.
 
When the first rays of light finally came through the trees they all sighed with relief as the gamble had paid off.
 
While they jogged through the trees James’s thoughts kept turning to Gwendolyn. He wished she would return as the witch’s absence had been much longer than she indicated, that only added to his worries. After several hours they stopped for a few minutes to drink from their water-skin and canteens. As the thoughts of the approaching orcs grew they found their desire to run became too great so they continued.
 
* *
 
The orcs arrived at their old campsite beside the stream taking the opportunity to fill their water-skins. ‘Coletag they are not far,’ said the orc scout.
 
‘Come on you worthless orcs our prey is just ahead then we can turn back tonight if you can run faster than human scum!’ The Orc Captain charged forward with his company close behind, he crossed the stream and followed his scouts. By midday the orcs had stopped running and were reduced to a walk, as the long march through the forest had taken its toll, by mid-afternoon the pace had slowed again.
 
* *
 
Gilda complained, ‘I haven’t seen the clearing yet!’
 
‘I know! We must get passed it before sunset,’ replied Harry as he took another drink before continuing. An hour later they stopped a hundred feet from the edge of a large clearing and stared as if frozen until James eventually spoke. ‘Come on let’s get away from this place.’
 
Gilda told Leaf that after the sunset the monster came from the stone ruins, so they had to get away. Leaf had been very brave up to now, began to show signs of fear on her face but said nothing, an hour later James stopped.
 
‘It’s sunset we can’t go any further today. So we better hide up in the trees!’
 
Gilda explained the situation to Leaf. ‘We need to be quiet, very quiet!’
 
Gilda, Harry and Leaf climbed the same tree that was a huge pine and used a rope to reach the lower branches then went as high as they could. James decided to climb another tree that had a better view of the clearing. He wanted to keep an eye open for the orcs as he desperately hoped they would cross the clearing and seal their fate. When he was in position he radioed Harry.
 
‘Now we wait,’ Harry whispered to his wife.
 
* *
 
Coletag was furious with the slow pace. His bullyboys were constantly cracking their whips over the heads and screamed at the orcs to run faster until he finally conceded they were exhausted from the endless days of marching. After he took that decision a scout ran up to him out of breathe but was still able to report. ‘Up ahead a large clearing with stone ruins. The human scum circled round and lost ground!’
 
‘Scout the clearing! We camp there tonight,’ ordered the orc captain. He turned to one of his bullyboys only to see him shake his head, which confirmed he had made the right decision. His warriors were exhausted, so would be the humans. He then pondered why avoid the clearing he was puzzled over their decision could this be a trapthen he ordered his bullyboys to make camp, with extra watch fires. Once his company marched by he waved over two of his scouts that spent most of their time head of the company. ‘Follow the humans and find their camp! Tonight we finish this once and for all’ commanded Coletag.
 
The scouts showed their approval to the plan and followed the human’s trail.
 
Coletag followed his orcs and walked into the clearing and saw the camp was already taking shape with surprising haste. Some orcs were already building watch fires while others were coming back with more wood, then he noticed the stone ruins and walked closer only to find one of his bullyboys looking around the decaying structures. There was little left of the stone building only the stone alter appeared unaffected by time, as though the stone had been freshly quarried. He placed his hand on top and felt a strange sensation then he quickly pulled it away, there is magic here . He walked around the building and saw nothing, which indicated its original purpose then he found himself staring at the altar again. Fina