In the last post: distressed after being hassled by a troll all night, Morris hurries home in the morning sun...

Dear friends, on Tuesdays and Saturdays I’m blogging nibble-sized chunks of new ‘Life in the Clouds’ stories. You can check in regularly and read them free, or wait to buy the whole story when published. ‘Eerie Eve’ is drawing to a close. Next up is ‘Enchanter on the Roof.’ Starting soon.

---

​Eerie Eve ® James Field. Part 30

Just after Morris skirted Trollop Knoll, a new shock brought him to a standstill. High in the branches of a fir tree he saw two black objects that looked like large animals. Apart from deer, there weren't any large animals on the Cloud estate and none that could climb trees. The trolls! He humped the rucksack higher on his back and bolted off, leaving the threat behind.

But then he noticed a pair of long legs in trousers and a shiny bald head glistening in the sunlight. It was no other than Alf who hung there, him and his daft robot. Cradled in the robot's lap, Alf snored, as if it were the most natural pursuit in the world.

Morris staggered back to the evergreen, dumped his rucksack, and blew out his cheeks. What was the Cloud estate's security guard doing in a tree? Sleeping on duty?

"Hello, Alf, see any burglars from up there?" he shouted, feeling safer now that he wasn't alone in the forest. "Or are you hiding from trolls?" It proved big tough Alf was no braver than him, so he forced a laugh, thinking it better to make light of the situation and cover his own distress.

Alf woke with a jolt and almost fell from his perch. Lucky for him, his trouser belt snagged in a branch and held him back. He rubbed his eyes, smacked his tongue, and showed all the signs of a major hangover.
​
To be continued…

Image by Natalia Ovcharenko from Pixabay

---

​The real world:

Rather than miss an instalment, it’s easy to follow my blog on bloglovin’. They’ll give you a friendly nudge as I release new parts.
​
Like to know more about Alf, Bert and the rest of the gang? You can read their chaotic history in What on Earth.