Minecraft (Masters of Minecraft Box Set Book 1)

by Terry Mayer

  "And I suppose you enjoyed that?" Standing on the riverbank, looking bedraggled and sickly, is Jethro.

  "Jethro! You made it, I was starting to worry."

  "Yes, at least I think I'm all here."

  "That was the most awesome ride in history. Hey J-Dog, can you believe we rode the waterfall?"

  "Yes, quite frankly, the way I am feeling, I can definitely believe that I rode that infernal waterfall."

  "Oh come on. That was awesome, you must have enjoyed it."

  "Quite the opposite, dear boy. That was the most terrifying thing I have ever had the displeasure to do, in my entire 58 years."

  "What?"

  "What do you mean what? I said it was the most ..."

  "Yeah, yeah. I got that, but you said you were 58!"

  "That is correct, and I would like to make it to 59 if at all possible."

  "But that's so old Jethro. I thought you were like us."

  "Oh, I see what you mean, well rest assured Nathan, that as old as I am, I am still just like you. We were invited here because we are all minecraft addicts, so age really has little bearing on us, just our abilities."

  "Speak for yourself Jethro, before I got here I had never even heard of minecraft."

  "Right, so really, it is you who is the odd one out, not me. Thank you Nathan, that actually makes me feel a little better."

  "Uh, you're welcome, but it's not really what I meant."

  "Yes I know, but I think we had better take a little look around before we continue this conversation, don't you?"

  "Yeah, you're right. I'll bring your boat over."

  As Nathan approach's with Jethro's boat, his ocelot pokes his head from where it had been hiding and gives him a friendly growl.

  "Oh I see you made it ok, you big coward. You pushed me out. You're supposed to be my companion, you traitorous back stabber."

  Looking suitable sorry, the ocelot jumps from the boat, and gives Jethro a huge lick on his face.

  "Get off me you big lump, you, you...." but he cannot finish his sentence as the ocelot playfully pushes him to the floor and continues to lick him. Laughing despite himself, Jethro finally admits defeat and gives him a big hug, "ok, ok, you win. We're still friends."

  Laughing, Nathan playfully asks. "So what are you going to call him?"

  "I don't think that naming him is such a good idea Nathan. He's here to protect us from creepers, but we have no idea what is ahead for us."

  "True, but he is here now and he needs a name. We can't just call him ocelot, or there will be massive confusion with six of them around."

  "Quite true, so what do you suggest?"

  "Well, I've called my one Flumey, after the log flume ride that we just rode together."

  "Yes, very appropriate, so I guess then I will call my one Fawkes, after Guy Fawkes," turning to look at his ocelot with a smile playing at his lips, he continues, "who was also a treacherous beast."

  Fawkes looks back at him and gives a playful snarl.

  "Good, that's settled, Flumey and Fawkes it is. So what now?"

  "Now Nathan, we need to find Natasha."

  Getting back into his boat they paddle slowly along the edge of the river, looking for signs that Natasha had survived her fall.

  *****

  Watching their friends disappear over the waterfall is a terrifying experience and Jay cannot help but wonder if he will ever see them again. After waiting anxiously for a few minutes, with no announcements, they decide that their friends must have survived the falls and turn and start their march along the edge of the cliff.

  No one speaks for over twenty minutes until Hailey cannot stand the silence any longer.

  "Ok, ok, I'm sorry, if it wasn't for me you could have all gone together."

  "What?" asks Jay.

  "I said that if it wasn't for me you could have all gone together. I never meant to split your group up."

  "Of course you didn't Hailey, it's fine. We'll all meet up again tomorrow, at the temple, don't worry about it."

  "Really, you mean it?"

  "Of course we do, don't we Jack?"

  "Yeah, sure, whatever."

  "Ok, so what's the plan Jay?"

  "Not much we can plan right now, just follow the path, and see if we can find a way down."

  "And what happens if there is no way down?"

  "Well, I guess we cross that bridge when we come to it."

  "Not much of a plan Jay."

  "Well, I never said it was. Come on, let's pick the pace up, and see if we can find somewhere before night fall."

  Breaking into a jog, the three friends cover a lot of ground before Jay calls them to a halt.

  "Hey Jack, look over there, tell me what you see," asks Jay, pointing out over the cliff face.

  "Jungle Jay, just in case you didn't realize it, there's lots and lots of jungle."

  "Yeah, yeah, but what about the jungle?"

  Looking at the treetops, Jack studies the terrain until suddenly it dawns on him.

  "It's closer, the tops of the trees are way closer."

  "Exactly, the drop to the trees can't be more than 50 blocks now, if we keep going at this rate we should be able to find a way down shortly."

  "Cool, let's go," replies Jack, dashing off along the path with his ocelot in tow.

  Turning to face Hailey, Jay remarks, "kids huh, where do they get their energy?"

  Laughing, she turns to face him and replies, "Thanks Jay, for back there, I really appreciate you and Jack staying with me." Reaching up she gives him a kiss on the cheek and dashes off after Jack.

  Watching her run off, he reaches up and touches the spot she had just kissed. Smiling, he runs after the others and quickly catches up with Hailey. He reaches out and touches her arm and smiles. She smiles back at him and they run on together for a few more minutes until they catch up with Jack, who is standing at the base of a massive, fallen tree.

  "What's up Jack, why have you stopped?"

  "Look Jay, if we can move this tree over the edge we could climb down it to the forest, it's only about 50 blocks down."

  "Yeah, but how can we move a tree that size?"

  "Watch and learn, Jay Lightningbuilder."

  Pulling his pickaxe from his inventory, Jack quickly digs around the tree, forming a slope towards the edge of the cliff face. Leaving just one block in place, to prevent the tree from slipping, he turns to face the other two with a huge smile on his face.

  "Tada!"

  "Tada? I don't see much difference Jack."

  "Oh you of little faith, just watch when I knock out this last block, the tree will slide down the slope and the top end will fall over the edge, so making a nice and convenient ladder for us all to climb down."

  "I don't know Jack, how are you going to get out of the way of the tree when it ...."

  Jack lifts his axe and breaks the last block, and immediately the tree rushes down the slope towards him. Unable to get out of its path, the best he can do is jump up into its low hanging branches and hold on for dear life. As the tree slides towards the edge of the cliff, Jay jumps forwards, but is knocked to the ground. Shouting to Jack, he runs after the massive tree at it teeters on the edge of the cliff, then plummets over and disappears.

  "Noooo, Jack," screams Jay, rushing to the edge of the cliff and peering over the edge. Five blocks below, the tree dangles precariously, supported only by a few stout branches tangled in the cliffside vegetation. Even as he watches, the tree groans and slips another block, wavering dangerously close to plummeting to the bottom.

  "Jack, Jack. Where are you?"

  "Here Jay," replies Jack, forcing himself through the foliage at the top of the tree.

  "Are you ok?"

  "Yeah, sorry Jay, I seem to have made a bit of a mess of this."

  "No probs bro, let's just get you out of there. Can you work your way along the branch, back to the main trunk?"

  "I can't Jay, my leg is stuck in something."

  "Right, don't move, I'm
coming down to get you."

  Immediately the tree slips another couple of blocks and swings out over open air.

  "Jay, help, please. I don't want to die."

  "Just hold on Jack, I'm coming."

  Grabbing his pickaxe, he franticly digs down for 5 blocks before hitting granite. Digging outwards, he knocks an opening in the cliff face and can see Jack just 3 blocks below him and maybe 5 blocks over.

  "Hold on Jack, I'm coming to get you, just don't move."

  "No Jay, it's too dangerous, if you come out here the tree will fall and we'll both die."

  "I have no choice Jack. Can you imagine what mum would say if I came home without you. My life would not be worth living."

  "Yeah Jay, I guess mum's the scariest thing around here."

  Laughing and glad that Jack was ok he replies, "you're not wrong there Jack, just hold on a second and I'll think of a way to ...."

  The tree gives a thunderous crack and slips completely over the edge, plummeting towards the earth. Unable to move, all Jack can do is stare up at his brother as he plummets towards the ground. With an earth shattering crash the tree hits the forest canopy and plunges through to the ground below.

  BOOM. The canon sound explodes in the air and then the thunderous voice announces...

  The fifth competitor has been eliminated. Jack the Dweeb has not proven worthy. Seven competitors remain. Continue the tournament.

  *****

  "Over there Jethro, what's that?"

  Turning to look in the direction that Nathan is pointing, Jethro strains his eyes trying to make out what he is seeing.

  "Can't make it out, what do you see Nathan?"

  "I'm not sure, but it's moving around on the bank downstream from us. What do you want to do?"

  "Let's proceed with caution. Get your sword ready just in case but be prepared to get the heck out of there if it turns out to be trouble."

  Paddling cautiously, they proceed down the river. As they draw closer to the thing on the riverbank, Fawkes gives a low growl.

  "Steady boy, let's get a little closer, and see what it is."

  At 50 blocks the figure starts charging up the riverbank towards them, screaming, but the words are lost at this distance.

  "Careful Nathan, be ready to paddle for all you're worth. We do not know what it is yet and it might be able to swim. Now as we approach... Nathan!"

  Paddling like crazy, Nathan pulls ahead of Jethro and shouts happily.

  "I know exactly what it is Jethro, it's Natasha, come on."

  "Natasha! Of thank goodness."

  Paddling hard, Jethro soon catches up to Nathan and they both make it to the riverbank at the same time and find a cross looking Natasha staring at them.

  "About time you guys showed up, I wondered how long I would have to wait here before you sent out the search party. I bet you would have been quicker if someone else had gone over the waterfall."

  "Sorry Natasha, we tried to get here as soon as possible," stammers Jethro, "but there was no path down and then we ran into the ocelots and it wasn't until ..."

  "Shut it Jethro," snaps Natasha. "I don't want an apology from you, what I want is...," rushing forward she grabs hold of Jethro, heaves him from his boat and raps her arms around him. "Is a huge hug, you wonderful, wonderful man. Thank you, thank you, you too Nate," she smiles, pulling Nate from his boat and hugging him hard. "You guys have no idea what it's like to find you are suddenly on your own here."

  As deep, low growls emanate from the boats, Natasha looks over Nathan's shoulder at the two huge ocelots.

  "Well now, what do we have here?"

  Moving forward slowly towards the ocelots they continue to growl and bare their teeth, with their hackles raised they become quite intimidating.

  "Hey guys, cool it, she's with us," shouts Nathan, walking over to his boat and roughly rubbing the back of Flumey's neck, who immediately starts purring. "Flumey, meet Natasha. Natasha, meet Flumey."

  Holding out her hand tentatively, she receives a giant lick from Flumey.

  "Good, and this one is Fawkes," interjects Jethro.

  Receiving another lick from Fawkes, Natasha turns to the lads, "where did you get them, they're so cute."

  "Hailey found them in the jungle and showed us how to tame them with fish. It was so cool Natasha, you should have seen it."

  "Yes, I'm sure it was, so where are the others?" she asks looking back up the river towards the waterfall in the distance.

  "They have gone around by the cliff. Hailey can't come down the waterfall on account of being human and all so we split up to find you."

  BOOM. The canon sound explodes in the air and then the thunderous voice announces...

  The fifth competitor has been eliminated. Jack the Dweeb has not proven worthy. Seven competitors remain. Continue the tournament.

  "Noooo. Not Jack."

  "I'm so sorry Nathan. I know he was your real life friend, let's just hope he is now home safe and sound," soothes Natasha, wrapping her arms around him.

  "I wonder what happened to the poor boy."

  "Not now Jethro, can't you see Nate is upset?"

  "Yes, yes, of course. I'm very sorry for your loss Nathan, we both are."

  Crying, Nathan looks up at Natasha and asks, "what do you really think happens? Is he really dead or will he wake up back at home?"

  "I'm not going to lie to you Nate, I really don't know. I hope, really, really hope that we will all end up back home, but nothing like this has ever happened before. Heck, this should not even be happening at all."

  "How about you Jethro, what do you think?"

  "I think we will all go home at the end of the game Nathan. Anything else is just not worth thinking about. Now, I know we are upset but I really think we need to find somewhere for the night, I can almost feel the sun getting lower as we speak."

  "Right, of course, I know just the place, I wasn't just sat on my fanny the whole time you were deciding if you were coming for me or not."

  "It wasn't like that Natasha, we were always coming to get you it was just..."

  "I know Nate, I'm just teasing. Now come with me, once we are secure for the evening we can grieve, until then, there's work to do."

  Walking back up the riverbank, Natasha moves into the jungle and disappears from sight.

  "Well Nathan, it's time to decide whether you give up or fight on. So, what's it going to be?"

  Looking at his friend, he swallows, and gets to his feet.

  "Jack would hate me forever if I just gave up, so I guess we fight on. Thanks Jethro."

  "You're welcome Nathan, now come on, it seems Natasha has something to show us."

  Running up the riverbank, with Flumey and Fawkes in tow, they all disappear into the jungle after Natasha.

  *****

  "Noooo."

  Plunging over the waterfall, PowerGlide and Munster scream and hang on to their boats for dear life. Hitting the water at the bottom, they plunge under the surface, only to shoot out 20 blocks further on.

  "Arrgghh."

  Flying through the air, they slam back down into the water and skim across the surface, eventually coming to rest against the riverbank 80 or 90 blocks further down from the waterfall. Neither of them move, both still gripping the sides of their boats. First to move is Munster, who peels his fingers from the side of the boat and gives himself a quick pat down. Satisfied that he is in one piece he turns to PowerGlide and asks, "Hey Glide, you ok boss?"

  Receiving no response, he pulls himself from his boat and stumbles over to PowerGlide.

  "Hey boss, you ok?" Slapping his face to try to get some response, PowerGlide replies.

  "You ever do that again I will kill you."

  "Sorry boss, I thought you were catatonic so I slapped you to try and get you to wake up."

  "There you go with that again."

  "With what boss?"

  "Thinking. You see how much trouble you get yourself into ever time you think?"

  "Yes bos
s, sorry, it won't happen again." Yeah, and next time I might just shove a sword down your throat instead of slapping you, he thinks.

  "So what now boss?"

  "I don't know, this wasn't exactly part of the plan. Give me a second will you."

  "Sure boss." Well, well, the all powerful and mighty PowerGlide is suffering after that little pleasure ride. Seems he is not so tough after all.

  "Right, first we need to survey the area, check for mobs, players etc. We don't know if anyone else came this way, probably not as you would have to be mad to come over that thing on purpose. Right Munster, you take the left side of the river, I will take the right. Look out for anything interesting."

  "Yes boss," he replies, jumping back into his boat and paddling across the river.

  BOOM. The canon sound explodes in the air and then the thunderous voice announces...

  The fifth competitor has been eliminated. Jack the Dweeb has not proven worthy. Seven competitors remain. Continue the tournament.

  Well, well, another one bites the dust. Jack the Dweeb, not someone I have heard of, but one less player is one step closer to winning. Smiling, and humming to himself PowerGlide climbs into his boat and paddles along the right hand side of the river, looking for signs of his next victim.

  *****

  Laughing manically, Warlord watches as PowerGlide and Munster slip over the waterfall to their almost certain death. Suddenly dozens of hands grab him roughly and drag him back into the jungle. His laughter turns to a scream as he remembers what was chasing him. Swinging wildly with his sword, he cuts through flesh and bone and severed limbs drop to the floor. For just a moment, the grip that the zombies have on him is released and Warlord takes advantage and throws himself out of the jungle, back into sunlight. Turning to face his attackers, he is surprised when none follow him. Screaming insults at them, he can hardly hear himself over the thunderous roar of the waterfall, when the canon sounds in the air.

  "Ha! So long PowerGlide and Munster. So you thought you could out smart me, now look whose dead eh! Not so smart now are you. Ah shut up meat heads, you've lost too so there!"