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| comment | | "parent_author":"",<br>"parent_permlink":"fiction",<br>"author":"markrmorrisjr",<br>"permlink":"the-wishmonger-episode-46-links-to-previous-episodes",<br>"title":"\"The Wishmonger\",<br> Episode 46,<br> Links to previous episodes",<br>"body":"### Today on The Wishmonger,<br> Roger finds out what happened between his father and his uncle.###\n\nRoger watched as his father crumpled into the chair. A cold rag and a few slaps on the wrist later his father stirred,<br> \u201cJames,<br> honey are you okay?\u201d Roger\u2019s mother had come running when he called.\n\n![ (https:\/\/steemitimages.com\/0x0\/https:\/\/i.imgur.com\/7ArrLbQ.jpg)\n\n*New to the story? Great! Follow the buttons below to start from the beginning,<br> catch the last episode,<br> or find the next!*\n\n <center>[![ (https:\/\/i.imgur.com\/xpqohOZ.jpg) (https:\/\/steemit.com\/fiction\/@markrmorrisjr\/the-wishmonger-new-fiction-for-steemit-part-one)[![ (https:\/\/i.imgur.com\/PEDkbvb.jpg) ([https:\/\/steemit.com\/writing\/@markrmorrisjr\/the-wishmonger-episode-44-links-to-previous-episodes))[![ (https:\/\/i.imgur.com\/98bHS9K.jpg) (https:\/\/steemit.com\/fiction\/@markrmorrisjr\/the-wishmonger-episode-46-links-to-previous-episodes)<\/center>\n\n***If the next button isn't working,<br> the next episode is not live yet,<br> check back soon!***\n\n\n\n\u201cI think so,<br> what happened?\u201d\n\nRoger almost laughed,<br> \u201c You fainted.\u201d\n\nHis father shook his head and took a drink from the glass of water Roger held out,<br> \u201cI\u2019m okay,<br> now where were we?\u201d\n\nRoger\u2019s mother stood at the end of the desk for another minute,<br> until she was sure her husband had fully recovered,<br> and then left the room shaking her head.\n\n\u201cWell,<br> we know that uncle Benedict is taking over Wishful,<br> and it looks like he wants to destroy it. What we don\u2019t know is,<br> why?\u201d Roger said.\n\nHis father rubbed his eyes again,<br> \u201cI\u2019m sure I don\u2019t know,<br> but it can\u2019t be good.\u201d\n\nRoger looked at the computer map again,<br> \u201cHow long has he been buying these properties?\u201d\n\nWith a few clicks of the mouse his father brought up a date,<br>\u201cLooks fairly recent,<br> just a few years,<br> why?\u201d\n\n\u201cToo bad we don\u2019t know how long it\u2019s been since he found out about your parents.\u201d\n\n\u201cYou think it could be related?\u201d his father shook his head,<br> \u201cI think somehow he\u2019s always known.\u201d\n\n\tCHAPTER16\n\tTHE PAST COMES BACK\n\nRoger sat in a chair next to the desk,<br> \u201cWhat was he like as a kid?\u201d\n\n\u201cShorter. He has always been as mean as he is now. Well except before he was blind\u2026\u201d his father stopped. He seemed to be deciding how much to tell him,<br> \u201cI guess you should know the whole story. When we were boys my parents-adopted parents I guess- ran a children\u2019s home. There were always boys coming and going. Ben and I always shared a room. One night when we were about eleven I\nwoke up to find my brother gone. After searching the house I figured he must have sneaked out,<br> so I grabbed my flashlight,<br> put on my shoes,<br> and climbed out the window. I remember that it was a bright moonlit night. I think it was October. Anyway,<br> I finally found him with Ishmael Wish,<br> and two other boys from the home,<br> behind the Wish barn.\u201d \n\n\u201cThey had been swinging from the hayloft by a rope into a haystack and were now daring each other to jump without the rope. Ben dared me to do it and I said I would if he would go first,<br> so we climbed up together. When we got to the top Ben was afraid to jump.\u201d Tears began to well in his father\u2019s eyes,<br> \u201cI said he was a chicken and I would tell everyone at school the next day if he didn\u2019t jump. Ben never liked being called chicken so he jumped. There was a pitchfork buried in the middle of that hayloft. Ben\u2019s forehead hit the end of its handle straight on. He lay unconscious for about a minute and then stood up as if everything was fine. \n\n\u201cBy the time we made it home his vision was blurry. I had to lift him up over the porch roof and help him find the window. He wanted to tell my parents but I wouldn\u2019t let him. My father would have killed us for sneaking out. I really believed he would be fine in the morning. He never saw again.\u201d \n\nJames Pine had not told that story in years,<br> tears came to his eyes in a flood,<br> \u201cFor three years straight I made every wish I could. Even though I knew it was against the law,<br> it was the only way I knew of to help my brother. I wished on the evening star,<br> I wished on turkey wishbones,<br> and every year without fail I threw coins into the fountain at the festival of wishes. But no matter how hard I wished my brother\u2019s eyes remained blind and he just got meaner and meaner.\u201d\n \n\u201cI guess my parents felt guilty because from then on anything Ben wanted,<br> Ben got. Finally,<br> on my sixteenth birthday,<br> I made my last wish. When he woke up the next morning he pretended it had worked,<br> just to tease me,<br> I never wished again.\u201d\n\nRoger was exhausted. It was obvious they were not going to discover Benedict Pine\u2019s master plan tonight. He kissed his mother. His father followed him upstairs to his bedroom,<br> \u201cWow,<br> Dad,<br> I had no idea. Thanks for telling me.\u201d\n\nJames picked up the box from the bed,<br> \u201cAnd thanks for telling me about this. Well,<br> it seems we have a few days to sort this out. Maybe it will turn out okay in the end.\u201d\n\nAs Roger drifted off to sleep the seeds of a plan began to sprout in his mind,<br> but he would have plenty of time to think about it tomorrow. He had forgotten all about his uncle's threat and the forty-eight hour clock that was ticking.\n\nIn the darkened passages underneath Wishful,<br> Benedict had found his way to the beast's lair once again. \nThe hissing serpentine voice filled the chamber,<br> \u201cHe knows. It\u2019s time!\u201d\n\n\u201cI know,<br> it\u2019s just\u2026\u201d Benedict fought the urge to grovel at the beast\u2019s feet,<br> beg for more time. It wasn\u2019t that he had any feelings for the brat,<br> even though he was flesh and blood. It was just too messy. The plan had been so simple,<br> a sneak attack,<br> over before they knew what happened.\n\n\u201cJust what?\u201d the voice thundered,<br> \u201cThis is no time for weakness. The plan is almost complete. I should have known you would crumble,<br> humans are all alike,<br> weak sniveling wretches.\u201d\n\nBenedict faced the beast and tore the dark glasses from his eyes. He could feel the hot,<br> sulfurous breath blast over him,<br> \u201cThis is not the way I planned. This\u2026\u201d\n\n\u201cYou!!? You were nothing but a quivering lump of hate and fear when I found you. I crafted your revenge,<br> not you! I gave you focus and purpose,<br> do not forget who serves here!\u201d a leathery,<br> taloned wing slapped him back.\n\nBenedict spat,<br> the taste of blood filled his mouth from the slap,<br> \u201cYou needed me. I called you here. My hate fed you. You were nothing before I asked for your help. So,<br> if you are so great as to fashion my revenge then carry it out without my help. You are helpless without my anger. I may be blind,<br> but you\u2026\u201d he turned and stormed down the tunnel. Three steps into his retreat white-hot pain seared his eyes,<br> and he fell to his knees.\n\nThe beast laughed,<br> cruelly,<br> \u201cYes,<br> my friend,<br> you are blind. And what \u201csight\u201d you have comes from me,<br> remember your bargain! This town is mine and your sight will be restored when I hold the key! Bring the boy to me and when this is finished I may let you live.\u201d\n\nWith a rush of wind the beast took his leave. Soaring past Benedict and into the night. \n\n\n\n\n### <center> TIME FOR DOLPHINSCHOOL BOOTCAMP AGAIN!<\/center> ###\n\n### <center>CLICK THE PIC FOR DETAILS!<\/center> ###\n\n<center>[![ (https:\/\/steemitimages.com\/256x512\/https:\/\/i.imgur.com\/EZMPybn.jpg) (https:\/\/steemit.com\/steemit\/@markrmorrisjr\/dolphinschool-bootcamp-season-two-signup-today)<\/center>\n\n\n\n<center>[![ (https:\/\/i.imgur.com\/SYeHL3I.jpg) (https:\/\/steemit.com\/@dolphinschool)<\/center>\n\n<center>[![ (https:\/\/i.imgur.com\/s5MkEHR.jpg) (https:\/\/steemit.com\/@markrmorrisjr)<\/center>",<br>"json_metadata":" \"tags\":[\"fiction\",<br>\"mystery\",<br>\"story\",<br>\"writing\",<br>\"adventure\" ,<br>\"image\":[\"https:\/\/steemitimages.com\/0x0\/https:\/\/i.imgur.com\/7ArrLbQ.jpg\",<br>\"https:\/\/i.imgur.com\/xpqohOZ.jpg\",<br>\"https:\/\/i.imgur.com\/PEDkbvb.jpg\",<br>\"https:\/\/i.imgur.com\/98bHS9K.jpg\",<br>\"https:\/\/steemitimages.com\/256x512\/https:\/\/i.imgur.com\/EZMPybn.jpg\",<br>\"https:\/\/i.imgur.com\/SYeHL3I.jpg\",<br>\"https:\/\/i.imgur.com\/s5MkEHR.jpg\" ,<br>\"links\":[\"https:\/\/steemit.com\/fiction\/@markrmorrisjr\/the-wishmonger-new-fiction-for-steemit-part-one\",<br>\"[https:\/\/steemit.com\/writing\/@markrmorrisjr\/the-wishmonger-episode-44-links-to-previous-episodes\",<br>\"https:\/\/steemit.com\/fiction\/@markrmorrisjr\/the-wishmonger-episode-46-links-to-previous-episodes\",<br>\"https:\/\/steemit.com\/steemit\/@markrmorrisjr\/dolphinschool-bootcamp-season-two-signup-today\",<br>\"https:\/\/steemit.com\/@dolphinschool\",<br>\"https:\/\/steemit.com\/@markrmorrisjr\" ,<br>\"app\":\"steemit\/0.1\",<br>\"format\":\"markdown\" " |
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