In the last post: the troll stopped chasing Alf around an oak tree and stretched its arms around the trunk to reach him that way...

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 number 1 in the series.

---

​Eerie Eve ® James Field. Part 24

The troll stretched after Alf with so much determination that the tree groaned. Then the troll clenched the trunk and tried to tear it from the ground. The tree shook. Leaves, twigs and birds' nests rained down, but the ancient oak was too massive and stubborn to yield.

Despite the cold, sweat dripped from Alf's brow. He had his knife with him, but what use was that; the troll’s was bigger. And he didn’t have time to divert his attention to fiddle with his phone to call for help. So he mumbled a few prayers remembered from childhood. What else could he do? The troll wouldn’t give up.

But Alf was famous for his 'gumption', and a notion formed in his mind. He still carried the basket of toadstools that the troll was so desperate for. Sibyl, the Cloud Mansion's governess and self-proclaimed witch, had said the toadstools were magic and wanted them for her potions. Right now, Alf wondered what would happen if he ate one. If it poisoned him, so what? He was about to die, anyway!
​
To be continued…

Image by delo 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.