New book entitled `Boys` Own Adventure Stories` by Peter Daley is published
Released on = August 6, 2006, 11:25 am
Press Release Author = Peter Daley (author)
Industry = Entertainment
Press Release Summary = This collection of spine-tingling tales take place around the spooky village of Curston Magna, and features a trio of schoolboys fuelled by insatiable childhood curiosity.
Press Release Body = This collection of spine-tingling tales take place around the spooky village of Curston Magna, and features a trio of schoolboys fuelled by insatiable childhood curiosity. There are frights and surprises around every corner of their school and the village beyond, and each Boys' Own story ends with a twist.
Excerpt from the book: The Library in Curston Magna School was huge and dark, and voices - if any were ever raised - echoed around the vaulted arches, so high above their heads that the boys could hardly make them out. Colour-filled shafts of light slanted down from the great gothic windows; dragons of carved oak glowered from the top of every column.
The boys were gathered around an ancient block of stone, on top of which a figure lay. But this was not a knight, lying peacefully with his hands across his sword; this was a twisted figure with a look of pain on his face.
'This is the resting place of Harold the Clerk,' announced the Librarian. There was a pause. Not a sound from any of the boys - not even from Tommy O'Toole.
'Harold was not like you boys. He was a scholar. A real scholar. He loved to learn. He read and read, always hungry to know more. He read about astronomy, philosophy, travel, the arts and about magic. The more he learned, the more he wanted to know.
'As he grew older his knowledge increased. He read by candlelight; he awoke early in the morning and continued his studies. Everyone was amazed at his learning, and he soon became known as the greatest scholar in the world.'
'Swotty creep,' muttered Jimmy Flinders, but a glance from the Librarian immediately silenced him.
'Poor Harold became unhappy as he realised that one day he must die, and that all of his learning would be lost. The idea took hold of him, and he fretted so much that he sometimes sat staring into space, not able to read the pages in front of him.
'One day he decided what must be done, and he sat up in his chair, all the sorrow gone from his face. Harold decided that he should pay Death a visit and offer him a bargain. After all, he was the greatest scholar in the world; even Death would want to know some answers he could give.
'His studies had taught Harold that Death was most easily found after a battle, and so he travelled to a battlefield as soon as he heard that the fighting was over. Many soldiers lay bleeding and groaning on the ground. Few people were standing, and so the dark figure of Death in his long, black robes was easy for a scholar to spot.
'Death, said Harold. I wish to speak with you, if you can spare these poor wretched soldiers for a moment or two.
'Death turned. His voice was cold as he said, This is not your time. I have no business with you, Harold the Clerk.
'Ah, so you know who I am! said Harold. Well, I have business with you. A bargain to offer.
'Death said nothing. He stood motionless, like a pillar of darkness in the daylight.
'Now Harold was nervous. Can you imagine it, boys? The grim figure of Death standing before you, waiting for you to speak?'
The boys could imagine it. One or two of them coughed.
'Harold at last spoke up. I am the greatest scholar in the world. When I die - when you take me - all of my learning will be lost. And who will gain from that? So I propose that you let me live forever. In return I will give you whatever you want from all the knowledge that I have.
'Death considered. Very well, he said, in his nightmarish voice. You must give me all of your knowledge - every bit of it. In exchange, I shall permit you to live forever.
'At first, Harold was dismayed, but then his face grew brighter. A deal! He cried. In one lifetime I can learn again all that I know now - and I will have a thousand lifetimes in which to go on learning. I accept this bargain, Death.
'Harold the Clerk returned to his studies with a light heart. But alas! He soon discovered that he was growing older. He could no longer see the pages by candlelight. His memory was not as good as it used to be. He read pages and then read them again. And later, he began to forget where the books were, or which ones he had read. And his eyes grew dimmer and dimmer.
'You cannot cheat Death, boys. Harold lived on, but he also grew older, and slower. Everyone who saw him pitied him now, and no-one asked him to share any of his knowledge ever again.'
The Librarian paused.
Tommy O'Toole looked down at the cold stone before him, and the twisted figure on top.
'How did he come to die?' he asked in a nervous whisper.
'Die?' asked the Librarian. 'Did I say that he died, O'Toole? I never said that this was a statue of Harold the Clerk. I said this was Harold the Clerk. If you watch him for many weeks, you will see that he moves. Very, very slowly.'
Looking back at the tortured figure of Harold the Clerk, Jimmy Flinders whispered, 'He's kidding, right? It's a sort of Librarian joke, isn't it?'
But he shuddered as he said it.
About the Author: Peter Daley has taught in schools, colleges and in a university. He was Vice Principal in Hull, Principal in Salford, and is currently Director with a national organisation recruiting and selecting college principals.
FOR MORE INFO ABOUT THE BOOK, CONTACT:
Peter Daley (author) E-mail: peter.daley@tribalresourcing.com
A copy of BOYS' OWN ADVENTURE STORIES can be ordered from Authorhouse at:
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