The Quest

The Quest. Foreword: I have always loved words, stories in particular. As a young child I would immerse myself in books. I would go along on a journey with the characters. I would imagine myself walking side by side with them; being part of their world. I would write short stories as a child. I wince now at how poor they must have been. However, to me as a young boy, the creative freedom I felt, the excitement of putting pen to paper has not left me. More now in modern times, it is more digit to keyboard, though the feeling is identical. I wrote The Quest way back in the year 2000 on a quiet Saturday shift at work. I think I wrote it in about 15 minutes. After you have read it, you may think, "yes, it shows" 

I do remember however, the thrill of writing it, the words just kept on flowing. I hope you enjoy.

THE QUEST

The sky was dark, foreboding, and the wind sending the dark menacing clouds into frenzy. Whipping them across the sky, only to be interrupted by sharp flashes of lightning and tremendous claps of thunder.

Each time the lightning struck, the landscape seemed suspended in natures fierce strobe. The rain came down and was beating a violent rhythm onto anything it struck.

The wind was howling like a pack of blood hungry wolves, menacing and strong. The tree’s all around were bending to the point of breaking, the branches cracking like a ringmasters whip, the noise phenomenal.

For him the journey was a long and arduous one, he could sense the end was near and soon he would be at his goal, the ultimate destination to his marathon pilgrimage. Yes the obstacles were many, and were of great danger, but the end result to him would be of catastrophic proportions.

Summing up all of his strength and courage he pulled himself along, straining every sinew and finely honed muscle in his body. Sweat pouring from his forehead, mixing with the driving rain streaming into his eyes, stinging making visibility difficult. But to him this was of little importance as his final destination drove him onwards.

Moving silently and covertly like a trained assassin he made his way towards the edge, the earth below providing much needed shelter. Peering over the edge he stared into the murky abyss, fear, washing over him like an incoming tide.

His breathing was heavy, adrenaline pumping around his body; he was becoming light headed and knew it was now or never, the reward at the bottom his only motive for this life threatening journey. With one last sharp intake of breath he threw himself over the edge………

Suddenly all was quiet, suspended in a sea of tranquility, only the rush of air disturbing the exhilaration he felt as he fell. It suddenly ended as quickly as it had begun, the sharp impact and immense rush of noise bringing him to his senses.

He lay there for a moment taking in his environment. Yes the rain was still driving but was not as harsh due to the newly found shelter. Luck was with him; to his left he could see the opening, the reason for his trip. He pulled himself along and into the opening, pausing slightly only to check it was safe. 
He dragged himself inside and a satisfied grin spread across his face as he saw the prize to this grail. The leaves were just as he had left them some six months earlier, stacked neatly in the corner.   
A sense of deep satisfaction came over him as he realised the effectiveness of this safe haven. Indeed it was a good idea to store food under the patio he thought as he eagerly started to consume his prize. 

It wasn’t long before he was feeling content enough to sleep, and as he pulled himself back into his shell he let out a little chuckle and drifted away.

Life for Gerald the snail was indeed an exciting one.

Author DS Giddy 2000 Copyright