GOLDEN STONE

Chapter 1: The Snowstorm

William Goldstone was not the most sociable boy. He never seemed to have as many friends as the other children in his school, and as he wasn't really keen on sport, he spent most of his spare time watching videos and playing with his electronic games.
His parents had decided to leave him with his grandfather for a week. As Grandfather Howard lived in a mountain cabin, they thought that William might find interest in the countryside, rather than watching more TV. So Howard had taken him on several walks through the forest, and the two of them had spent many hours fishing in a nearby river where William managed to catch a few fish.
Snow had been falling for the past two days, and Howard helped his grandson build a family of snowmen. They were rather small because there hadn't been much snow. However, they would soon see a lot more.
"Grandfather!"
"What is it, William?"
"What time will they get here?"
"Well, if they left on time, I'd say around seven o'clock. Mind you, the weather has become much worse..."
"How can it be 'worse'? I think it's great! Anyway, I thought you liked the snow."
"Of course I do. Though not as much as I did when I was your age."
"Do you want to go outside and build another snowman?"
"Not right now. And neither do you. It'll be getting dark soon, and a lot colder as well."
"But I'm leaving tomorrow, and we never see snow like this at home. Can't I build just one more?"
"I'll tell you what. When your parents arrive, I'll suggest that you all stay here for the night. Then you can build your snowman in the morning when the snow has settled."
"Great! With all the snow that's falling now, it'll be ten times as big as the others!"
"So what do you want to do in the meantime, William?"
"Let's see what's on TV!"
William turned on the TV and began watching one of his favourite series, while Howard stared out into the night, worried that his daughter and her husband might be caught in the snowstorm. All of a sudden, the TV picture disappeared and the lamplight faded, leaving the roaring log fire to continue making shadows by itself.
William was very disappointed.
"Oh no! It was just getting to the most exciting part!"
"It must be a power failure."
Howard tried turning on some of the light switches and changing some fuses, but with no success.
"Yes, the electricity's out completely. I think we can blame the snow for that."
"So what do we do now?"
"How about if I read you a story?"
"Huh! Boredom City."
"How can you say that when you don't even know what it's all about? Have today's children given up on books completely?"
William wasn't exactly thrilled by the idea, but he couldn't think of another.
"Okay, what is it about?"
"Oh, it's a wonderful story, full of danger and adventure..."
"Is there a really evil villain?"
"The most evil one."
"And the hero? There's got to be a hero. Is he brave? Is he strong?"
"Like no other man!"
Howard, now happy and a little excited, went to his bookcase and produced a large, leather-bound book. On the cover was a symbol: a crescent moon, with a tiny circle of gold sparkling near the moon's lower point. The old man blew what looked like half an inch of dust from the top of the book's pages.
"I've not read this for years."
William and Howard sat before the fireplace.
"What's the hero's name, Grandfather?"
"A very familiar one - you'll recognise it straight away. Now... the story begins on a peaceful day, in a peaceful village set deep within a distant, forgotten land."
Howard opened the book and turned to the first page.
"Our hero, who at this time is a boy about your age, is returning home with his father after a week of hunting..."

Part 2

Carla is going to leave the shop. But where is her umbrella?
There is one umbrella near the door. It is not a red umbrella. It is not Carla’s umbrella.
This umbrella is old and black. It has a pattern of yellow ducks. It is not smart. Carla takes the umbrella. “This is not my lucky day!” Carla says.
Carla walks to the town square. A young man speaks to her.
Hello!
He smiles.
Carla does not know this young man. She walks away quickly.
The young man is following Carla. She walks into a crowd of people. The young man follows the black and yellow umbrella. “Hello! Wait!”  A young man says.

Part 3

Carla turns. She looks at the young man. She is angry. “Go away!” she says.
The young man is sad. “Marisa, I’m sorry!” he says.  “I’m very late.”
“I’m not Marisa,” Carla shouts. “You are not Marisa?” says the young man. He points at the black umbrella with yellow ducks. “That’s her umbrella.” “Oh,” says Carla. “Who is Marisa?” “I don’t know Marisa,” says the young man. “I’m going to meet her. We are going to have coffee. It is my cousin’s idea. Marisa works with my cousin.” “I am not Marisa!” says Carla again.
 “My cousin has a photo of Marisa,” says the young man. “She’s tall. You’re tall. Her hair is short and dark. Your hair is short and dark. In the photo, she has an umbrella.
It’s a black umbrella with yellow ducks. You have a black umbrella with yellow ducks!”
Carla looks up at the old umbrella. “Marisa is a thief,” she thinks. “She has my new red umbrella.” Carla is angry again. “Please don’t be angry,” says the young man. He looks at his watch “It’s three o’clock. Marisa goes to work at 2.30. I can’t meet her now. It’s too late.” He smiles at Carla. “Let’s have coffee together,” he says.
Carla thinks for a moment. “OK,” she says. “Let’s go to my aunt’s café.” The young man smiles again. “That will be great,” he says. “My name is Paul. I’m a law student - third year," a young man says. “I’m Carla. I’m a student too. I’m studying science,” Carla says.

Part 4

Carla sits in the café with Paul. They drink coffee. They talk. They laugh and talk.
Suddenly Carla jumps up. “Oh, no!” she says. “It’s late. I must go home. I must study. I’m going to have an exam tomorrow.” “Good luck! Will you meet me again?” Paul says. “Yes. That will be nice.” Carla says.
It is almost dark. The town square is quiet.
Carla sees a tall young woman. The young woman has short dark hair. She has a smart umbrella. It is a red umbrella.
The young woman is Marisa!
Marisa sees the old black umbrella with yellow ducks. She is worried. Suddenly, her face is red. “Don’t worry, says Carla. “Keep my red umbrella. I like this umbrella. It’s a lucky umbrella. This is my lucky day!” The rain falls on the umbrellas. Carla smiles. Then she runs home.