Tinker's Toys: Lost Land of Mu #1

By Guy Dragon

When the students of Minerton High gathered for a pep rally, they were sure it was going to be just another lame school day. They couldn’t have been further from the truth.

In the middle of the pep rally, the entire school body is kidnapped and brought to another world—the lost world of Mu—by a madman called the Tinker.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Guy Dragon
• Release date: Jan 7, 2011

Book preview

CHAPTER 1 -- SMILEY

The creature that approached the door was a strange looking thing. It was no taller than three feet and was covered in a coarse, bristly fur that looked as if it hadn't been washed in years. It looked like a small, dirty orangutan. What made the creature look so curious, however, was that it had five limbs--and not all of them were quite what you might expect. It had a normal-enough looking long, thin, furry left arm and short left leg, much like an orangutan, but it also had a long, thin, right leg that looked as if were made of rusty steel. As if that weren't strange enough, it also had two right arms that looked to be constructed in much the same way, only instead of rusty steel, they looked as if they were made of bronze that had gone green with age. What stood out as even more bizarre was its huge mouth made of bright, yellow brass, with large, sharp teeth, that seemed to be drawn into a eerily menacing smile. This huge toothy grin is what gave this creature its name: Smiley. Smiley clanked and rattled as she skittered along, clumsily using four of her limbs to keep her balance and one of her metal arms to tightly hold a cloth sack as she made her way to the door.

Upon reaching the door, Smiley hesitated. She dearly loved her master, but sometimes, when she did something to anger him, he would hurt her. She didn't blame him--after all, he was the one that always would fix any damage he had done to her, it isn't his fault if the parts didn't always work as well as they should. Shaking her head with a clatter and a rattle, Smiley knocked on the door with her left hand--a hand that had a metal thumb and pinky in place of those two normal ape fingers. After hearing no answer to her knock, Smiley cautiously opened the door, trying to keep the heavy door from squeaking. Sticking her bristly brown head with its freakishly large grin in the door, she softly called out M - m - m - milord?

There was no response, but Smiley could see that her lord was working at a bench at the back of the workshop, his back to the door.

Smiley looked around the workshop, wondering what the milord Tinker was working on today. The workshop was a large room, larger than the house that many families live in. However there was barely enough room to stand or walk in the room. Everywhere Smiley looked there was clutter. Scraps of metal, pieces of wood, strange contraptions that only Smiley's lord, the Tinker, knew the purpose of. Much of the mess was familiar to Smiley--made up of scraps and pieces of the old junk one finds all over the place when walking around outdoors. In one corner was a pile of farm equipment--old pitchforks, rakes, hoes, even pieces of an old, rusty tractor. In another corner was a pile of electronic parts: computers, and electric cords, topped by an old television. In the center of the room was a large, rusting hulk of a machine. Her master had told her it was a bulldozer, but, Smiley new better. It might be dozing, lying there amid all the clutter, but there was no way it could be a bull. Smiley had seen bulls, and this monstrosity looked nothing like one.

Smiley cleared her throat and called louder than before, M - m - m - Lord, Sir? I got it!

This got the Tinker's attention. He turned, his eyes looking huge behind his thick goggles. A scowl on his large-nosed face. You have what? He barked angrily in a voice that was deep and scratchy, how one would expect a grizzly bear with a sore throat would talk, if bears could talk, of course.

It, milord. The stone. The power stone.

The Power Stone? His scowl abruptly changed from a scowl to a smile, "You have the Dracru? Why didn't you say so?"

Smiley was relieved; she had made him happy. Now, maybe he'll see how important I am to him, she thought.

Well, bring it here! Snapped the Tinker, his face resuming its scowl. Don't stand there day-dreaming! Give it to me!

Smiley clattered and clanked clumsily, and in her rush to get the bag containing the stone to him, her legs became entangled in a roll of barbed wire that was on the floor. She fell face-first on the floor with a crash, the bag flying from her hand.

You clumsy little monkey! exclaimed the Tinker, Can't you even walk correctly? Do I need to make some more improvements to you?

My apologies, milord, said Smiley. I'll try to be more careful.

You better do more than just try, my little friend. If it happens again, I might just have to disassemble you for parts. He grumbled.

Yes milord.

As Smiley untangled herself from the wire, the Tinker retrieved the bag from where it had landed next to a stack of iron and wood wheels that looked as if they once belonged on a wagon, and pulled out the Stone.

It was about the size and shape of a large potato. Its mottled green and orange surface seemed to ooze and drip an orange and green slime. Yet when the slime dripped from the stone, the slime never seemed to reach the floor; it evaporated or vanished before it struck. A sickly steam of the same color rose from the Stone, making it look as if it were either very hot or very cold, but the Tinker held it in his bare hands with no sign of discomfort.

Yesss, he whispered. The Stone of Power. Now my work can proceed. He raised the stone to his nose and breathed in deeply, inhaling the Stone's vapors deeply. Yessss.

Smiley had disentangled herself from the wire and was back on her mismatched feet. Her master seemed to be very happy, so she was happy.

The Tinker turned to look at her with a puzzled look on his face. Is this all there is?

Y-yes, milord, she stuttered, worried he may not be happy, after all. They claimed that was all that the Brothers had when they raided them.

The Tinker frowned, I was hoping for more. His frown switched to a happy smile, I can do what I need with this much, however. This will do just fine. He deeply inhaled the Stone's vapors again, Yessss, I can do what I need with this.

Smiley was very happy. She had never seen her master this satisfied before. All was good.

*****

CHAPTER 2 -- DERREK

I didn't do it! whimpered Derrek. I didn't tell anyone!

Derrek, a small, slender sixteen-year-old, was being held by his ankles upside-down over a trash dumpster by a very large, muscular boy who was standing on the fourth row of seats in the bleachers outside the school. Derrek definitely did not want to be dropped in the dumpster. The dumpster was full of disgusting, greasy rain water in which half eaten hot dogs, french fries, and pizza floated. The smell was revolting, with his head only inches away from the goopy slop.

Then who did? Your buddy over there? snarled Dale, who played on the football team and at eighteen looked big enough to play on a college team or maybe even in the pros. He was much bigger than sixteen-year-old Derrek or Derrek's best friend, Matt. He was probably bigger than both of them put together, even if Matt was a little on the chunky side.

We didn't tell! Please let me down! whimpered Derrek.

A nasty grin spread over Dale's face. You want me to let you down? I can do that. As he let Derrek slip a couple inches closer to the greasy, stinking sludge.

Derrek screamed as he felt himself dropping. He tried to wriggle free of Dale's grasp at the same time as he tried to swing away from the dumpster, hoping that he would fall outside on the hard dirt rather than in the disgusting goop.  He could hear Matt yelling at Dale, trying to explain that the two of them had nothing to do with the football coach finding out about him throwing rolls of toilet paper all over the science teacher's yard. He could also hear the giggles and laughter of the crowd of kids watching the spectacle; they clearly considered watching a kid's humiliation very entertaining.

I'm sick of your lies! Don't be such a chicken and just admit you ratted on me, demanded Dale as he struggled to hold on to Derrek's ankles.

I didn't do it! insisted Derrek, still trying to get free.

Dale started to lower Derrek into the slop. Derrek's big mop of black, curly hair touched the disgusting liquid, causing him to scream and try to crawl up his own legs.

Dale! Stop it! demanded a deep, smooth voice. Put him down.

Dale immediately stopped and Dale, Derrek, and Matt turned to look at Derrek's possible savior.

It was Henry, the Minerton High School sports star and heartthrob. Henry was a tall, slender, muscular, eighteen-year old boy that all the girls had crushes on and all the boys wished they could be like. His long, straight, black hair always looked perfect, and his teeth were perfectly shaped. Being part Asian and Hawaiian gave him a sort of exotic look that the girls found irresistible. When it came to sports, he could do everything equally excellent, it seemed. Besides being the star football quarterback, baseball pitcher, and soccer player, he also was the best skateboarder in town. As if that wasn't all, he also surfed and sailed on the weekends.

Derrek, who usually was envious and jealous of Henry, was glad to see him today. He hoped Henry could talk Dale into letting him go.

What's the deal, Dale? Henry said, breaking into a grin after he realized how his question sounded.

The deal is that this guy and his buddy told the coach I TP'd Sanderson's house last night.

Henry looking thoughtful, said, Dale, how did you find out about them telling?"

Heather told me.

Henry turned to Heather, who was in the crowd surrounding the dumpster, asked And who told you?

Heather frowned, not understanding why she was being questioned, but she answered, Erica did.

Erica, who was also in the crowd, immediately blurted, Danny told me!

Henry nodded as if that was the answer he was expecting. He turned slowly to Danny with a humorless smile, And who told you, Danny?

Danny was an immensely overweight and short troublemaker. He delighted in spreading rumors about other people. The more trouble it caused, the more he enjoyed it. The amazing thing is, no one seemed to catch on to how bad he was. People liked hearing bad stuff about other people, the more scandalous the better. If it was juicy gossip or likely to cause trouble, people would not question whether it was true or not, they just gobbled it up and repeated in as fast as they could.

No one told me, explained Danny, with an expression of pure innocence on his round face, I heard them tell the coach, myself.

Where did this happen? Inquired Henry, sounding more and more like a detective on T.V.

Where did what happen? responded Danny, oozing innocence.

Where did you hear these two tell Coach Winston that Dale TP'd Sanderson's house?

In the coach's office.

When did it happen?

Danny hesitated, then answered, Between 4th and 5th period.

Henry thought a moment, then asked, What were you doing outside Coach Winston's office between 4th and 5th?

Danny looked very uncomfortable. It was becoming evident that Danny might have made up the story about Derrek and Matt. But he replied, I had to see the coach about something.

What something?

Danny stood up straighter and looked Henry in the eye. That's my business. I don't have to answer your questions. Danny turned and bumped his way through the crowd of kids that were beginning to suspect that they were not going to be treated to the sight of someone being dipped in garbage muck.

Henry watched Danny waddle away, and then turned to Dale and the rest of the kids. You guys are such suckers, he said shaking his head. Danny tells you guys anything, and you all fall for it. Put the kid down and let him go. He didn't tell the Coach.

Dale looked doubtful, but he lowered Derrek to the ground. Derrek got up quickly and dusted himself off, trying to regain some dignity after the humiliation he had just endured. Thanks, Henry, he mumbled, I owe you one.

Whatever, kid. Get lost now. Henry responded without even looking at Derrek.

The crowd of kids dispersed, muttering and whispering their suspicions that Derrek did in fact tell the Coach and that it would have been so cool to see someone get dunked in the dumpster. Dale and Henry walk away together, Henry trying to persuade Dale that Danny was full of stories and you can't believe anything the guy says. Soon the only people left around the dumpster were the two friends, Derrek and Matt.

Matt handed Derrek his book bag, You are so lucky, dude. If Henry hadn't come by, you would be a big, stinking pile of muck right now.

Derrek glared at his best friend as he tried to wipe some of the greasy slime off of his hair. Yeah, Henry's so wonderful, Henry's so great, Henry's so cute, he said in a high, squeaky voice, attempting to sound like a girl. Why don't you marry him, then, since you love him so much!

Whoa, dude! Matt said, as he took a step back. Don't take it out on me. I didn't do anything.

Sorry, dude, replied Derrek, It's just that ... that.. I can't stand Dale!

Actually, explained Matt, I think Danny is more to blame than Dale, even though Dale is a big muscle-bound turd. Danny is the one that made up the story about us.

Danny! He is one slimy, lying, slug! growled Derrek, One of these days, I will get even with him. Why can't anyone else see him for the lying storyteller that he his?

Matt responded, Henry knows. I know, I know, you don't like Henry either, but at least Henry isn't fooled by Danny and his stories.

It isn't that I don't like Henry, responded Derrek, It's just that it's not fair that one guy gets everything. He's the best at everything he does, all the girls are, 'ooohh, isn't Henry wonderful and cute,' and everybody thinks he's the greatest, even you.

Hey, I didn't say he was the greatest, I just said you're lucky he came along when he did, explained Matt, And you're lucky he can't stand Danny, otherwise he would probably have let Dale dunk you.

Derrek agreed, but continued to grumble as he tried to wipe the filth out of his hair.

C'mon, I gotta use the sink in the bathroom so I can get this crud out of my hair before the pep rally starts, Derrek said, as the two walked toward the school buildings.

*****

CHAPTER 3 -- MATT

I feel like I'm gonna pass out, Matt whispered to Derrek. It's too hot. Why do we all have to be crammed in here?

During pep rallies, the high school invited the 7th and 8th graders from the junior high school to join in the spirit-raising fun. The gymnasium where they held the rally was meant to hold eight hundred people, and adding the additional three hundred students strained the capacity of the school’s ventilations system, and it always got hot and stuffy in the upper seats, which is where Matt and Derrek always ended up.

I think I'm gonna puke, moaned Matt, who was bent over with his head in his hands. This earned him a few glares from the kids sitting around them. No one wanted to add puke to the uncomfortable situation. Matt turned to the small girl to his right, Trisha, let's trade places.

Nuh-Uh, grunted Trisha, Derrek's fourteen-year-old sister, I don't want to be in the middle.

What difference does it make? whispered Derrek. We're all packed in here like sardines, anyway. It doesn't matter where you sit.

Matt looked back and forth between the two siblings. You could tell they were brother and sister just by looking at them, a fact that irritated both of them to no end. Trisha had Derrek's same deep brown skin tone and big mop of black, curly hair. The same slender build and, even though it wasn't as obvious while seated in the crowded bleachers, they were both relatively short. Matt was always amazed at how different their personalities were, however. Where Derrek was studious and was always building things and performing little scientific experiments, Trisha hated studying and anything else that reminded her of school. What she did love were animals. In Matt opinion, if it were left up to Trisha, she would have one of every animal in the world as a pet—make that two of each, just like Noah’s ark. In one aspect of their personalities, the two siblings were more alike: Derrek was almost like a junior engineer, always building and inventing, and his sister Trisha delighted in crafting things for her many pets. Every time Matt visited their home, he was surprised at what new devices Derrek had constructed, and at what new animal Trisha had managed to adopt. It was like walking into a combination museum of technology and zoo.

Realizing that no one was going to switch seats with him, and there wasn't room enough to move even if they were willing, he settled down and tried breathing deeply to relieve his nausea. Maybe this pep rally will be a short one. They never were, but he always hoped.

*****

CHAPTER 4 -- DERREK

Finally, they're starting, thought Derrek, as he sat wedged in the stifling seats. Let's get this over with so I can breathe again.

Down on the gymnasium floor, Coach Winston approached the lectern with its microphone. Standing behind the lectern, the burly man performed the little habitual ritual that he performed dozens of times a day: The coach turned his head to the left and right as far as he could, causing his neck to crack loud enough to be heard over the microphone, and then he tilted his head left and right, creating another series of cracks.

Derrek winced, and whispered to Matt, I hate when he does that.

And he does it all the time, Matt whispered back. It's creepy.

One of these days his head is going to pop right off, said Derrek.

Trisha giggled at the joke as they watched the coach stretch and roll his shoulders, accompanied by creaking and popping joints.

After fumbling around with the lectern, trying to adjust the microphone's height properly, causing thumps and a very ear-piercing screech that made all the kids groan, the coach cleared his throat, and announced, Welcome to the fighting Cougars' pep rally! I would like to present to you a very special student. A student that represents the best that a Cougar can be. A student that all of you should strive to be more like! Give a big round of applause to....

Oh-no, thought Derrek, with a mental groan, Not him."

.... Henry Akana! Finished the coach as he stepped away from the microphone, clapping his hands.

Henry came jogging out of the doors at the end of the gymnasium, all white teeth, perfect hair, and perfectly tanned skin. You could almost hear the girls all sigh as their Prince Charming appeared. Now I think I'm gonna puke, thought Derrek.

Henry stepped up to the microphone, flashing a smile at the crowd all around. Go, Cougars! He shouted, and the sweating kids in the bleachers all shouted and cheered.

Duh, how original, thought Derrek, I would have never thought to say that.

Henry continued, I don't think you guys want to hear a long, boring speech from me, he said with a grin, So I'm just gonna ask the team to come on out. Give them all a hand, C'mon Cougars!

As the football team hustled through the doorway to the accompaniment of shouts and cheers from the students, Derrek noticed something on the floor next to the bleachers on the other side of the gym. He caught just a glimpse of it before it disappeared behind the bleachers, but he could not have seen what he thought he saw. He rubbed his eyes, This heat is getting to me, he thought. What he thought he saw, but couldn't possibly have seen, was a small man, maybe two feet tall, wearing what looked like a metal helmet and various bits of metal here and there on its clothes, like a hodge-podge of home-made armor. Derrek looked around to see if anyone else had seen the little man, but everyone's eyes were on the football team as they entered the gym. Derrek decided he was just imagining things when a girl in front of him asked loudly, What the heck is that?

In the center of the gym floor had appeared a pile of scrap metal and fur. Steel, bronze, copper, all mixed with some old lady's fur coat was laying there. There was no way it could have been there before, Derrek would have noticed something that unusual. As he looked at it, more piles of scrap started to fade in gradually around the gym. Some were larger than others; some had fur coats, whereas other had what looked like fabric or leather mixed in with the metal, plastic, and other junk. The students and teachers in the gymnasium were all pointing, standing, and talking loudly. The noise became quite loud, as the amazed and confused people started asking their neighbors, What's going on? and, Did you see that? Even the floor and walls of the gymnasium started to change, the floor changing from its glistening polished wood to a dull, brownish-gray, greasy concrete, and the walls changed to grimy stone with all manner of tools, wires, and other clutter hanging from hooks and piled on shelves. Gradually, the gym with which Derrek was familiar was changing into some place that he had never seen before--someplace that he didn't think he would want to have seen before.

Someone screamed, It moved! That thing moved! Sure enough, the piles of scrap and other garbage were definitely moving now. Derrek, amazed and confused, was staring at the first pile that had appeared, watching it move, trying to figure out what it was, when a long, slender, silver rod extended from the pile, followed by another, and another. It wasn't until it had unfolded itself and stood up that Derrek realized it was some sort of creature. A creature half metal and half furry flesh. Derrek looked around at the other piles that had appeared in the gym. They, too, were proving to be, not just piles of scrap, but some sort of strange creatures that had been huddled on the floor. Some looked like distorted little men, others looked like huge toad-like creatures, others like lizards, hogs, dogs, cats, even some bird-like looking creatures. The only thing that any of them had in common is that they all looked like a walking junkyard, dressed in a motley collection of scrap metal, cloth, plastic, you name it. By now, everyone in the gym was either screaming or too scared to scream. This didn't seem