43 The Launch

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Stephen Whiteside
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43 The Launch

Post by Stephen Whiteside » Thu Nov 24, 2011 5:52 am

43 The Launch

© Stephen Whiteside 24.11.2011

As luck (or Dulcie?) would have it, the piece of bark, while lying a good distance from the banks of the river, was resting very close to a small tributary. Horatio and Magnifico sank their sharp teeth deep into the edge of the bark, and began to drag it along behind them. The first few steps were hard going, but then the ground began to slope more steeply under them, and it became much easier. Steeper and steeper became the ground until the piece of bark almost began to slide by itself. Faster and faster it went down the bank, until Horatio and Magnifico were forced to jump out of its way as it catapaulted itself off a low rock and landed splash! in the little creek.

Quick, Magnifico, follow me!

Already the current had begun to take hold of the piece of bark, and they were at grave risk of being left behind. Horatio hurled himself from the bank and landed unsteadily on the corner of the raft. Magnifico followed. It was a mighty jump for a little mouse, but it wasn’t enough. He missed.

Horatio spun around and thrust his foreleg deep into the icy water. Magnifico stretched his foreleg forward as far as he could go, and felt Horatio’s claws lock firmly around his. Horatio dug his back claws deeply into the slightly yielding bark, and pulled for all he was worth.

It didn’t take much. As soon as the self-reliant mouse was within striking distance of the raft he pulled himself up onto it quite easily. The two moved towards the centre of their new craft, and shook themselves vigorously. They were soaking wet and freezing cold, but hey! Guess what? It was working! They were actually floating down the river on a raft! Well, it wasn’t quite the river yet, it was just a small creek, but they were floating, that was the point, and moving with the current, and soon they would be on the great broad river itself! The spirit of Dulcie was indeed looking after them. Oh, thank you, Dulcie! Thank you!
Stephen Whiteside, Australian Poet and Writer
http://www.stephenwhiteside.com.au

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Maureen K Clifford
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Re: 43 The Launch

Post by Maureen K Clifford » Thu Nov 24, 2011 8:53 am

Horatio and Magnifico are turning out to be quite a good working team and enterprising as well. Do hope they stay afloat... :lol: :lol: :lol:

Are you going to put this into print in a book form Stephen? It really is a lovely story...I must have had a deprived childhood in the story telling line...I am enjoying this one.
Check out The Scribbly Bark Poets blog site here -
http://scribblybarkpoetry.blogspot.com.au/


I may not always succeed in making a difference, but I will go to my grave knowing I at least tried.

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Stephen Whiteside
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Re: 43 The Launch

Post by Stephen Whiteside » Thu Nov 24, 2011 9:23 am

Thanks again for your encouraging comments, Maureen. I'm not sure what I'll do with it. At this stage, I just want to write it. If there is to be a next step, I'll think about that later. Thanks again.
Stephen Whiteside, Australian Poet and Writer
http://www.stephenwhiteside.com.au

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Maureen K Clifford
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Re: 43 The Launch

Post by Maureen K Clifford » Thu Nov 24, 2011 9:34 am

Had time to fiddle :lol: :lol:
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Check out The Scribbly Bark Poets blog site here -
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I may not always succeed in making a difference, but I will go to my grave knowing I at least tried.

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Stephen Whiteside
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Re: 43 The Launch

Post by Stephen Whiteside » Thu Nov 24, 2011 9:42 am

You're a marvel, Maureen! But you'll need to explain this to me a little. What is that thing in the middle of the raft? It looks like a nuclear turbine or something. Perhaps they're taking a leaf out of the Cousteau book!
Stephen Whiteside, Australian Poet and Writer
http://www.stephenwhiteside.com.au

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Maureen K Clifford
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Re: 43 The Launch

Post by Maureen K Clifford » Thu Nov 24, 2011 9:44 am

It is a leaf sail on a twig Stephen :roll: and I doubt they had read Cousteau :lol: :lol:
Check out The Scribbly Bark Poets blog site here -
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I may not always succeed in making a difference, but I will go to my grave knowing I at least tried.

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Stephen Whiteside
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Re: 43 The Launch

Post by Stephen Whiteside » Thu Nov 24, 2011 10:01 am

No, but they might have seen pictures in National Geographic, or even on American public television perhaps.
Stephen Whiteside, Australian Poet and Writer
http://www.stephenwhiteside.com.au

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