The Adventures Of Little Sham - Chapter 5 (Part 2)

The Adventures Of  Little Sham  

A Novel

by Paul McCann

Chapter Five  

The Land Of Tir Na Oge  

Part 2 

The Voyager was on its way on a course towards the horizon that hung the setting sun in another world far away as a new light appeared in the dawn of a day just  begun. The ship sailed over the horizon ,  over the edge , into the land of Tir Na Oge . From the sky a flying horse came to greet them , Straight away Sham recognised the horse was  Peggy and called out  her .

Peggy swooped down and flew around the ship ‘

“Little Sham it good to see you again . Welcome to Tir Na Oge“  

The ship set anchor and the crew took a little boat to the shore of Tir Na Oge. They  had no map to show them which way to go so they followed their instincts and every step they took they knew that it had already been predestined . Everywhere they went was just another part of the adventure on the journey of a lifetime . They walked over a bridge to the side of a  lake and then down to a path near the edge of the lake .  The sound of a lonely piper suddenly came filtering through in the twilight like  a scent of perfume in the  evening air . Sham and the crew looked at each other as if driven to find where that music was coming from . It seemed to be coming from many different directions . So they l decided they would split up in different paths to find the place where the music was coming from . Before they set off they all agreed to meet back at the boat on the shore . Off they went in separate ways . Sham took a high path up a hill and on the way he met Pogue O”Loan who smiled and reached out his hand and said ,

“So you finally made it here to the land of Tir Na Oge Sham ?”

Sham shook his hand and said ,.

“Storyteller its good to see you again . Do you hear that music playing “

The storyteller smiled and replied ,

“I heard it many years ago Sham when I was like you seeing and hearing things for the first time . Its true then Sham you’re like myself a seventh son of a seventh son but no one had ever told you that .”

Sham asked ,

“So you have been to all the places I have seen ?

“Yes I have”

Pogue replied .

‘The reason that you came to Chapters End was so that we could meet and that I could show you the way you need to go “

“ Where would that be then ? Sham asked .

[Pogue replied .

“The same place as I , everywhere in the things you see and the places you go for they will become the stories that you will share with others “

“But first let me tell you the story of the piper you hear playing that music . He comes from a place here in Tir Na Oge and his music is dated back before the mists of time and the wind around the lake here still recall his tunes . He was a brave piper who  defied being capture by those who taunted him and wanted to silence him forever .

His enemies chased him all around the land but he always managed to evade them and he hid in the caves around the land and played his tunes through the elbow pipes night and day until he drove them all away . Those who desired to stop him playing his music were plagued with illness and died on the land and were buried at sea .Still today around the lake some with the gift like you and I and others can hear the music play . Now watch and listen little Sham .”

The storyteller walked over to the lakes edge and he called out to the ripples with a deep harsh voice .

“Hello it is I  Pogue from Tir Na Oge, the Storyteller .  Can you hear me out there in the beyond because I can hear you out there playing your tune so well and as I’m  listening , I’m thinking , what are you trying to say to me . Tell me now , would you come and take a chance and sit with me for a while by the side of the lake ?”

 

In that moment the music stopped playing and a passage of waters in the lake presented and along that passage the piper emerged from the lake carrying his elbow pipes under his arm . He came over and stood there beside the storyteller who said  .

“So, you’re not scared of me Pogue?”

The reply came

“I’m the storyteller and you are my guest .So what would I have to fear from you ?”

‘“ What brings to here to my lake ?”

The piper asked .

“The reason for my visit here is to share this story and the  tune that you  played .“

“ You mean you know that tune ?”

The piper asked and the storyteller replied .

“It’s my story and so its my tune as well . ‘

The storyteller looked over at Sham and said ,

 “‘Can you see Sham , the stories we tell become real . You have the gift to do the same things . That’s what I needed to show you

‘So all of this what I’m seeing is your story ““

“I think you’re getting the idea Sham , now remember well all the places you go and the people you see . They are part of the stories you will tell . Like in  the days after the fall of the fairy folk , when they colours the flowers for spring and like the Peggy the flying horse who took you to the forest where the wee ones live . Our stories are like the wind that blows across the land , as soon as we feel our way around the places we go , every thing can be retold and shared and every word can become a reality for others “

“ Tell me more about the piper and his music Pogue “

“Well he had a gift and played the music he had in his head . Many people were jealous of his gift and tried to kill him thinking they would receive his gift if he died but in turn no one ever got the gift he was given . He was a talented musician with hands and fingers that were able to glide over the holes of the chanter and squeeze outthe sounds of magic . When he played his  music the fairies danced and sang  .Then there came the day when his life passed away and he was left somewhere in the  deep caves far below that go far beneath the lake . People have said to leave him rest in peace but there were those who went into the caves to try and find his bones but they were never seen again . The piper of Tir Na Oge can still be heard by many and if you hear like I do that music then it’s a far better place to be than anywhere else , don’t you think ?”

Sham nodded his head and said ,

‘‘Do you know all the people in Chapters End light bonfires for you hoping that you might return there some day “.

The storyteller sat for a moment and looked far away ,,then he spoke softly .

‘Well you know what I started to believe I could return there but the more that I have found my own world with so many stories happening , I find that here is really where I belong . Between two words . Reality and the land of Tir Na Oge . It’s a hard decision but I know here is where I am meant to be. ‘One day the choice will also be yours Sham , but for now just enjoy every moment of this new world “So, tell me storyteller , where do I really belong . Where  is my home ?

Sham asked

The Storyteller pointed to the sky as the morning sun rose ,

‘Have you ever had a ride on a white swan Sham ?”

Shan smile and said ,

‘No never ‘

 Suddenly in the morning light two white swans glided down out of the sky and landed on the lake .

Pogue called over to the swans

“ Welcome back what took you so long , Can we fly with you around the lake for a moment ?”

The two huge swans swam across the lake and then climbed out  from to the lake “

Pogue and the storyteller climbed on their backs and off they flew around the lake and back . Their wings were so strong the  flight was fast . It came to an end too soon but what a great way it was to ride .

The swans returned to the lake and Pogue said ,

“Sham it’s a new day and its time you were on your way back to the boat on the shore . There are so many things that you have to explore . Go now “

in that moment the Pogue disappeared . Sham left that place and made his way to the boat on the shore . All the crew of the Voyager where there waiting and after sharing their own stories of where they had been and what they had seen everyone  got in the boat and they return to the ship .

Captain Brendan shouted

“Give us a song singalong  and lets be on our way “

Singalong began to sing

“ From the mists of time where life began,

music flowed over the sea and land ,

 Handed down those tunes through all the years,

magic music often reappears    .

I know all the songs that have been sung

From Tir Na Nog  the place where we come from ,

Theres songs and stories here for everyone ,

So lets sail away before the day is done”

The wind came with a might gust and filled the sails of the Voyager that was lifted

over the waves  and up into the sky . Then when the flight was over the ship landed back inside the bottle on the shelf of the toyshop on cloud nine .

Sham was standing there alone . The shopkeeper had left a message .

Back soon .

 Sham went out the door and returned to the spongy cloud and he bounced all the way back to the lift that took him down to the ground . When the door of the lift opened  Sham was standing underneath the trapdoor of the storytellers cottage in Chapters End .

Sham placed the treasure chest back over the trapdoor and left the cottage .

He made his way back to the guest house and quietly went up the stairs to his bedroom .

Sham looked at the clock and saw that no time had passed since he had and that smoke from the bonfire was still in the sky .

He got into bed and fell fast asleep .

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End Of Chapter 5

 

 

Chapter 6 

https://www.abctales.com/story/mcscraic/adventures-little-sham-chapter-6...

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