Obert Skye - Leven Thumps and the Wrath of Ezra (Leven Thumps)

Text 2008 Obert Skye

Illustrations 2008 Benjamin R. Sowards

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means without permission in writing from the publisher, Shadow Mountain . The views expressed herein are the responsibility of the author and do not necessarily represent the position of Shadow Mountain.

All characters in this book are fictitious, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

Visit us at LevenThumps.com

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Skye, Obert.

Leven Thumps and the wrath of Ezra / Obert Skye.

p. cm.

Summary: As Leven, Geth, and Winter continue their quest to save Foo

from the invading armies of rants, a new threat arrives, the Dearth.

ISBN 978-1-59038-963-8 (hardbound : alk. paper)

eISBN 1-60641-678-2 (eletronic)

[1. MagicFiction. 2. Voyages and travelsFiction. 3. Fantasy.] I. Title.

PZ7.S62877Ley 2008

[Fic]dc22 2008024801

Printed in the United States of America

Worzalla Publishing Company, Stevens Point, WI

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

For Clover

Im so sorry they now know

Contents

Foreword

I remember it vividly.

It happened years ago as I was innocently eating pie in a small pub in Europe. The pub was called Figamullers, the weather was chilly, and the pie was blueberry. The entire establishment smelled of mint and leather and I remember the waiter was wearing a black wig and spoke with a German accent.

I was sitting there on a bar stool reading the paper when an old man stumbled in and sat next to me. He was a bearded fellow with a ruddy face and dark, honest eyes. He called himself Alder and he looked as if the weight of the world was stapled to his back. Even while sitting he had a difficult time not collapsing under the strain. The old man ordered a cup of potato soup and then proceeded to change my life by sharing a secret about a place, a secret he had been carrying around for years.

I offered to pay for his soup and he thanked me by taking me into his full confidence. He knew of Foobut more importantly, he knew that in time Leven Thumps would be called up and the balance of all dreams would be perched on the shoulders of a young boy and his capable friend Winter.

He told me that he himself was trapped in Reality. He told me of a person called the Want and how Leven and Geth and Winter would all be tricked by this selfish man. He told me how sides would gather in Foo and how Reality would slowly be brought into the war. He told me how many would brush the war off as unimportant or unbelievable. How some would find it silly or refuse to acknowledge it despite the fact that signs were everywhere. But what struck me the most was his knowledge of a being called the Dearth and how he believed that the Dearth, if left unchallenged, would destroy all of mankind and force the world back into a state of soil. He told me how if dreams die, mankind would wither and our existence would matter no more. He told me how a person gets to Foo and how fate snatches those it needs. He also ordered a second bowl of soup.

Levens life before with Terry and Addy was horrible. Leven was lucky Winter got away from her nasty guardian, Janet, and helped him race across the world to find the gateway into Foo. He blew up the gateway believing it was the best thing for Foo. He followed Geth across the realm so that Geth could be restored, and he was tricked into becoming the Want so that Hector could finally rest in peaceleaving Leven in the position of the Want and in control of the entire fate of Foo.

Now the final unfolding has begun. The seven keys of Foo have been used and the Dearth is rising. The sycophants are in danger and in Reality Terry and Addy are about to join forces with a one-time janitor and the angriest, most confused toothpick aliveEzra.

I have written many things and hope to write many more. But it is Foo which matters most. There would be little reason to lie down at night without the possibility of seeing things bigger and more amazing than the average day might bring about. Why pick up a pen or type on a keyboard if theres no imagination or wonder left to behold? I would hate to be in the position of hoping for nothing simply because my brain can no longer dream.

Foo is an amazing place. So much is happening there. There are many new creatures and beings; places and powers and confusion abound. But it really comes down to thisgood versus evil and hope versus the cold, lonely existence of selfishness.

Believeit is our best defense.

Chapter One

The orange sun shifted in the green sky, sending rippling waves of soft yellow warmth down upon the bulk of Foo. The heat hit anyone standing in the open and caused most to wish they
hadnt dressed as heavily as they had. The scent of freshly tilled dirt filled the air and gave the suns rays something to push and twist themselves through. A fat goat waddled across a mossy field, its stomach only inches from the ground. The goat stopped and mewed loudly, bothered by the intensity of the heat.

The mischievous sun shined even brighter.

Why wont the sun just make up its mind? a tall cog named Colin complained. I thought it was supposed to be cold today?

I dont think thats gonna happen, a taller cog named Tanner replied.

The two boys were wearing hats that covered their orange
foreheads and long work robes that were bound at the ankles so as to not get in the way. Like most cogs they were at work, doing what needed to be done to keep things moving in Foo. Their blue hands were covered with gloves made from sheepskin.

Look, were over halfway finished, Colin said proudly. This fields gonna be ready for planting early.

Then lets move slower, Tanner said, looking around. The sooner we finish the sooner well have to do something else.

Colins diamond-tipped rake pierced the dirt with a satisfying twitch. Colin pulled the rake back, turning over the earth slowly. Bright red dirt bubbled up, mixing with the sun-darkened topsoil and bits of green moss.

I like how that looks, Colin said, pointing to the ground.

You love the dirt? Tanner joked.

Colin pushed Tanner. Thats not what I mean.

You know what? Tanner said. We could stop working for a little bit. Its not like anyones going to see us out here.

The fat goat stared at them.

Except for that goat, Tanner added. And guess what, I brought some Spitstick.

Colin stopped working and leaned on his rake. I thought your mom said shed freeze you if she caught you with any more candy.

My mothers not going to catch me, Tanner said, dropping his rake. Not here.

Tanner reached into his robe and pulled out two short brown tubes. He handed one to Colin.

You first. Colin looked around nervously.

Tanner popped the top of his off and took a long lick, swirling the Spitstick around inside his mouth.

Lemon, he reported.

Colin opened his and did the same.

Plum, he said, disappointed.

Well, Tanner said, its not like we eat this stuff for the taste.

Both boys mouths began to bubble.

Tanner gurgled, the sides of his throat fizzing while his mouth filled with saliva. The pressure in his throat built to the point where he had to cock his head back and open his mouth. He thrust backwards as a large wad of spit shot from his mouth and out into the air. The giant ball of yellow saliva traveled over three hundred feet and slapped down near the back of the field by a cluster of tall pointed trees.