Tuesday, January 27, 2009

PAUSE

Tomasito 2009, Tanya photo.


Dear Crabulous Friends,

I know you are VERY curious about what happens next.

Can Sir Crabaine cross the Perplex Plain and find the Box of Destiny?

My goodness, we HOPE so, don't we?

BUT!

We'll just have to wait a bit to find out because Tomasito, the creator of this story is moooving and will be away from desk and computer for a week or so.

SO...

Keep the faith and we'll SEE YOU SOON!


Tomasito, for Constable Crab, January 27, 2009


...

Saturday, January 24, 2009

The Twig


"Ahhh, yes. You ARE ready." Shadow said. "Just remember WHO you are and WHY you are here!"

"I am a knight errant of King Arthur's Court!" I said proudly, "And my quest is to find The Box of Destiny and to return it to him!"


"Ahhh, yes. I THOUGHT so." Shadow replied. "This IS the Perplex Plain-- and yonder on that distant hill IS the TOR you seek. Give me back the Jewel of Light which helped you in your time of need in the Dell of Gloom--and take this twig from the Tree of Knowledge which may help you further in your quest.

Remember!"


And the large black crow flew swiftly into the sky and disappeared.

...

Friday, January 23, 2009

The Perplex Plain


And there, stretching out before me was a vast, rolling prairie--"The Perplex Plain"--I said to myself.

There was a sudden flutter of black wings beside me and I was looking into the bright eyes of Shadow the Crow.

"GOOD!" He croaked. "You made it through--and now you are very close to the goal of your quest. The Perplex Plain lies before you and the famous Tor stands in the middle of the plain."

"Shadow! Well met!" I replied. "I remember what the Rock Crabs said:

Under th' Tor in the Perplex Plain
An' 'there it
ever shall remain

'Til the knightly Crab brings it home again!

"Now I am ready to cross this plain and get to the tor."


...





Thursday, January 22, 2009

Sunlight Again


With the friendly moths flying around my Light Jewel, I made my way swiftly through the last of the Dell O' Gloom.

Soon the trees were growing less densely overhead and more natural sunlight could penetrate the darkness.


The same tiny voice whispered in my ear: "We moths will not come with you into the light of day since we are creatures of the darkness, but good fortune be yours, Sir Crabaine--and return, if you can, when you have completed your quest."

"Thank you friendly Moths, and you too live happily and be well!" And with these words, I emerged from the gloom into the sunlight.


...

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

More Light


I lifted the Light Jewel as high as I could and the light seemed to become brighter and brighter.

The fearful eyes I had seen were really moth wings--and there were LOTS of them.

This was not so bad after all!


...

Saturday, January 17, 2009

Moth


A tiny voice whispered in my ear: "Hold up the Light Jewel and you will see who I really am."

I immediately held up the jewel Shadow had given me and could see by its light that what I thought were menacing EYES--were really the WINGS of a beautiful moth.


"You haven't got far to go to be back in the sunlight." The moth said in its tiny whispery voice--"Just be brave and carry on!"

...

Friday, January 16, 2009

EYES


I had the creepy feeling I was being followed--so I turned suddenly!

And--YIPE!


Two big scary eyes were shining in the dark RIGHT BEHIND ME!


YIPES!!

...

Thursday, January 15, 2009

The Thing in the Dark


Darker and darker.

It was so dark in the gloom of the old forest that I could barely see the path in front of me--I could barely see my own claws!

But I had the VERY creepy feeling that I WAS NOT ALONE!


...

Wednesday, January 14, 2009

Darker


It was dark in the forest and getting darker with every step--I glanced back to see the sunny day I had just left--then I looked forward into the almost impenetrable darkness in front of me!

A cold shiver went up my spine--

But I was determined to carry on!

And I did!!


...


Tuesday, January 13, 2009

The Dark Forest


There was only one path leading away from the edge of the slippery slope which I had just climbed--and it headed right into a dark forest.

The forest's trees were immense and seemed as ancient as the earth itself.

Soon, even though it was a bright and sunny day where the path began, the forest blocked the sunlight, causing the light to fade into a gloomy twilight.

It was cooler too--in fact downright cold--but I plodded on and on--deeper and deeper.

...

Sunday, January 11, 2009


"Wonderful snack!" I said with enthusiasm, wiping the bread crumbs off my face with the red and white checked cloth provided by my rock crab friends.

"Yes, certainly", Shadow said and continued
with a slight shiver, "Now we must prepare you to pass safely through the Dell O'Gloom on your way to the Perplex Plain."

"How can I be better prepared?" I asked, "I am as ready as I'll ever be!"

"Not quite!" said Shadow the Crow. "In the Dell O'Gloom what is most needed is a little light--take this."

And Shadow gave me a small jewel.

"Good luck, courage--and, if all goes well, I'll meet you on the other side of the Dell O'Gloom! Fare well!"

And Shadow, my new helper and friend, flew away so quickly he was soon just a tiny dot in the sky.


...


Friday, January 9, 2009

Snack


"Perhaps you would like a little refreshment?" continued Shadow the Crow, "I have a snack prepared by your rock crab friends down below the Slippery Slope: some bread, Stilton Cheese and a bottle of Ring-Bo-Ree..."

"Wonderful!" I exclaimed. "I have never had such faithful and thoughtful new friends!"

"That's questing." Remarked Shadow.


...

Thursday, January 8, 2009

The Top


With a last heave on the rope and a scramble of claws I stood at last on the tippety top of the Slippery Slope--panting from the effort, but safe.

I saw that the rope was tied to a stout tree near the edge of the slope--and sitting on a branch of that same tree was a very large crow.

"Welcome to the top, Sir Crabaine!" Croaked the crow.

"Thank you VERY much!" I replied, "Are YOU the one who helped me with the rope? Do I know you?"

"You don't know me--but I know YOU!" said the crow.


"Yes, it was me who threw you the rope!"


"Your quest for the Box of Destiny is important--not only for yourself, but for others--and whenever someone undertakes a serious quest, help comes from many sources, sources unknown to the quester himself."

"My name is Shadow",
said the crow and I am one of your helpers."


...


Wednesday, January 7, 2009

The Ascent


There was the rope and there was the slippery slope!

I had to take the chance--there was no other way for me now!

I took the sturdy rope in my claws and, using it to brace my way, began to slowly climb back up the slippery slope.

It was not easy, but the rope held and I made good but slow progress until I could actually see the top!

Just a few feet more...


...


Tuesday, January 6, 2009

A Rope


Dazed from my tumble and half buried by slippery stuff from the slippery slope, I gazed around me--it was the exact same place where I had started my ascent.

What to do?

It seemed totally hopeless to climb up again!

I was dumboozled--when suddenly a sturdy rope uncoiled down the slope and the end came to rest practically on top of me.

What could it mean?

Could there be someone at the top that wanted to help me climb the slippery slope?

...

Saturday, January 3, 2009

I Slip


This really WAS a slippery slope!

I slowly crawled higher--but the way just got slipperier and slipperier!

But I was nearing the top when I started to slide back.

Faster and faster--my slide became a tumble--head over claws rolling madly back down the slippery slope!

Right back down to the bottom where I had started!!

...


Friday, January 2, 2009

Up the Slippery Slope


Just as the Rock Crabs had said--as soon as I left Aunt Agatha's stone dwelling, the way became steeper and slippery.

At first it was a gentle slope--but the slope became steeper and more slippery with every step!

Soon I was climbing uphill with all my strength--but I found myself sliding back down almost as much as I struggled up!

...