Stone Cold
Stuart Petty
Akiak trudged though the snow, panting from the weight of the huge jewel he was carrying. He knew that someone had to go on this mission, but he didn’t see why it had to be him. As Akiak plowed through the snow, he thought about his village, Aldriss, and what would happen to it if he didn’t confront Mogwizzle, the troll.
Four days ago, a troll appeared on Brightburn Island and wandered into Aldriss. Everyone hid inside their igloos, fearing for their lives. The troll blundered about, eating the fishermen’s latest catch. But when his foot got caught on a cast net, he stumbled and fell. He was still for a moment, but got up.
“You horrible humans, you!” bellowed the troll. “For that, you will be sorry! I’m going to put a curse on this village and everyone in it! Next time the sun comes up you’ll all turn to stone. That’ll teach you to make fun of Mogwizzle!” And he disappeared in a cloud of smoke, the cast net still on his foot. In his place stood a huge emerald. All the villagers rushed out to examine the jewel. When they realized it wasn’t evil or cursed, Shtiya, the village leader, thought of an ingenious way to figure out who should go slay the troll:
“Eeny meeny miny moe …”
Akiak cringed, hoping he wouldn’t have to be the one to go. But he got picked anyway.
“The jewel will be useful, they said,” thought Akiak. “It may come in handy, they said. Handy for making my arms feel like a mound of slush, that is.”
All of the sudden, a blizzard came whirling out of nowhere, stinging his face. Head down and not looking where he was going, Akiak collided into something hard. Stars winking in front of him, he looked up and saw a huge castle towering over him.
“Lets hope this is the troll’s castle and not Santa’s,” Akiak muttered.
The castle door opened just as Akiak raised his fist to knock. He walked inside warily, setting down the jewel. There, lying on the castle floor was Mogwizzle. Pulling a dagger from his pocket, Akiak tiptoed towards him. “Once he’s dead, the curse will be lifted,” he thought. As he raised the dagger, Mogwizzle jump to his feet.
“Aaaaarg!” he hollered. “Thought you’d get me without a fight, did you? Well I--” he stopped, looking bewilderedly at Akiak. “How come you’re not stone?” he said. “The curse…”
“Oh, I have no doubt your curse is still in effect,” said Akiak, finding the courage to speak. “It was a fine time to place that curse. It’s the middle of winter, and here on Brightburn Island, the sun doesn’t come up at this time of year. So me and my village are safe for now.”
Mogwizzle’s jaw dropped. “Oh. Phooey.” He said at last. “Well, I’ll just turn you all to stone right now!”
He raised his arms dramatically, chanting:
What trolls have feared from the beginning,
Will come upon this human’s town.
I won’t wait ‘till the ice starts thinning,
They shall…
“No!” shouted Akiak. He charged towards Mogwizzle and grabbed him around the neck before he could finish the incantation. Screaming, Mogwizzle plucked Akiak off himself and threw him. As Mogwizzle restarted the chant, Akiak, dazed and bleeding, looked up, seeing he's reflection in the jewel. “Help me,” he whispered.
A flash of light from the jewel burst towards Mogwizzle, and he turned to granite.
Akiak breathed, then smiled, and walked out the castle door, the magical jewel under his arm.
Copyright © 2011 Stuart Petty
All rights reserved.
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