by Nicky Blue
Floating in an unknown darkness, a frosty sensation swept over him. Holding his arm up close, he watched as it turned a bright glowing white. Brimming with ecstasy, he called out, ‘Look! It’s true. I can make it snow!’
Sparks lit up the horizon as thick white marshmallows fell from the sky, filling up the ocean. Barry fell through the wet foggy haze, shudders reverberated down his spine as he landed in his ice cream miracle.
He looked up to see the shards of sun penetrating the falling snow. The blurred outline of a figure reached down, took his hand, and pulled him toward the surface.
Wiping the snow from his eyes, he saw his father’s smiling face.
Yamoshi wrapped him in a blanket and sat in front of him. Though his face was older, the same brown eyes fell upon Barry.
‘My son, how happy I am… you… are a true ninja.’
* * *
10
BACK TO THE FUCHSIA
Putting on her favourite Napalm Death album, Molly sat down at the kitchen table with her family for the first time in twenty-five years.
‘I never thought this day would come. I’m so happy.’ She blew her nose on an outrageously snotty tissue.
‘You should have seen Robbie freak out when I became invisible, Mum!’
‘Ha ha! What a cock.’ Molly passed around a packet of custard creams.
‘You should have seen the commotion round here went you both went missing. No one could give us any answers. We were like two rabid dogs at the police station.’ Molly stood up and wrapped her arms tenderly around her husband.
‘Do you know, my darling, the inspector leading the investigation had the nerve to suggest you were shagging a Japanese glamour model. They found a photograph in your underwear drawer.’
‘That’s slander…she was…helping me…with some enquiries…related to the ninja resistance,’ spluttered Yamochi with a face you could fry an egg on.
‘We’ve not finished talking about that.’ Molly folded her arms and walked back across the kitchen. Barry jumped to his father’s aid.
‘So how come you didn’t tell us why you were leaving, Dad? Why was everything so cryptic?’
‘That was all part of your training, Barry. Without it, you would never have become a true ninja, and you would have never been able to rescue me.’ Yamochi put his arm around Mindy.
‘What are you going to do now, my beautiful daughter?’
‘I’ve decided I’m going to get that metal band together, no more excuses. We’re going to be called “Death By Armpit”.’
‘Amazing!’ said Molly. ‘Finally, another metal head! You wouldn’t believe the shit your brother listens to!’ Barry turned to Molly.
‘Thanks, Mum. I’m not going to be a gardener anymore. It’s a mug’s game and I think I’ve finally outgrown it, if you’ll pardon the pun. I haven’t got a clue what to do next, though. I need to pay back my debt to the Prophecy Allocation Department too! I wonder if they will accept £1 a week?’
Yamochi pointed at his son across the kitchen table.
‘You will help me, my son. We still have so much work to do.’
‘Since this is sounding like a careers service workshop,’ Molly said. ‘I want to announce that I’m going to train as a hairdresser and take over downstairs – I hear there’s a vacancy. My old ladies need a decent hairdresser, someone they can trust. Someone who isn’t going to shag them before bumping them off for an inheritance. I wouldn’t do that in a million years… unless we get a punter from Hove coming in!’ Molly cackled.
‘Ha ha, you haven’t changed, Mum. Let’s go out and get pissed tonight, Barry!’ said Mindy.
‘I can’t really; I’m a Buddhist now and we have strict precepts around alcohol.’
‘Oh come on, you haven’t seen me in twenty-five years.’
‘Alright just make sure I don’t have more than five pints.’
Molly slinked back over to Yamochi and whispered in his ear.
‘I hope you aren’t going out tonight, dear. I’ve got a few ninja tricks of my own to show you.’
Yamochi gulped as his eyes widened. He grabbed Molly and gave her a huge smacker on the lips. Standing up, he beckoned the rest of his family towards him and embraced them. The tears streaming down his face collected in the corners of his smile as he spoke.
‘This last twenty-five years have been a terrible sacrifice, but now I’m back with you, I swear I’ll never ever leave you again.’
‘What happens if we get a black ops secret ninja assignment though, Dad?’
‘Okay, I swear never to leave you for more than two weeks at a time.’
‘But what if—’
Molly kneed Barry hard in the leg. ‘Shut your cake-hole, Barry, and go put the kettle on. There’s a good boy.’
‘Dad, there’s just one last thing that’s been niggling me. When I left Robbie I wasn’t sure if he was dead or not, I just had to get out as quickly as possible. How did you escape without your powers?’
‘I realised Robbie must be dying when I could feel my powers starting to return. I waited for the samurai to chase after you and then went to find him. He was lying face down on the staircase. A vile stench filled the building, I could hardly breathe!’
Barry wriggled awkwardly in his seat.
‘What happed next?’
‘I decided to jump up and down on his head for about five minutes. When his brains started coming out of his nose I turned him around and jumped on his face. When his brains came out of his ears, I thought to myself, now he must be dead!’
Everyone around the table stared at Yamoshi in stunned silence for a few seconds before collapsing into fits of laughter.
Once the hilarity had subsided, Barry got up to make an important announcement.
‘On the subject bad odours, you will all be pleased to know my IBS symptoms have cleared up since getting back from Japan. I’ve been taking these herbs that are working wonders.’
‘Hurray!’ Everyone cheered in ecstatic unison.
‘Thank god for that.’ said Molly. ‘Mindy’s got to share a room with you. Now for fuck’s sake go and put that kettle on.’
* * *
A Plea from the Author
You got to the end. Or is it the beginning? I hope you enjoyed it. I would like to thank you for the opportunity to entertain you with the bizarre stuff in my head.
If you enjoyed the book, it would be amazing if you could leave a review on Amazon or Goodreads. The amount of positive reviews the book has effects how well it sells. This helps me to continue with my writing adventure. Many thanks in advance if you do, it means the world.
If you would like the first chapter of Book Two in the Prophecy Allocation Series for free: ‘Hot Love Inferno’ (A novella based in the early years of Barry Harris) Plus, other freebies and giveaways, please join my readers list at:
nickyblue.com/inferno
I only send out monthly updates and I never spam! Feel free to contact me on Facebook, Twitter, or email (all details on the website nickyblue.com)
I would love to hear from you.
Acknowledgments
In no particular order. I owe massive thanks to all of the following beings:
Flo: Because she’s amazing.
Simon Murnau: Content editing, proof reading, moral filter and brother.
Bobby J: Ideas and sounding board guru. My comedy muse in human form.
Natalie M Garrett: Advice, inspiration and faith.
Sam Orams: Superb photography.
Hannah Moss: Copy editing
Morgen Bailey: Copy editing
Ma and Pa Blue: For encouraging me all the way.
And all my lovely friends for listening to my nonsense.
Beta Readers
Izzy. B, Tracy Hind, Alison G. Laura Fallace, Sian Wilmer, Hai Lun Mitchell, Claire & Tash, Samantha Day. You all gave me very valuable feedback.
COPYRIGHT 2017
ESCAPE FROM SAMSARA
(PROPHECY ALLOCATION SERIES)<
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First edition.
Copyright © 2017 Nicky Blue
All rights reserved.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, or persons, living or dead, is coincidental. No part of this publication may be reproduced, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or otherwise, without written permission from the author.
