By C. Smith
Different things we can see in this land, from funny to scary. Just last night when I went, I had an epic tale myself. Off I go, and how to get there is up to you … It could be through a bologna sammich, some juicy hot wings, watching an exciting TV show or a great movie. First though, you need to close your eyes.
When in Nod, I stand there, look around and listen. People are talking, dogs are barking and squawks of the crows are heard as they are looking for their breakfast. Just then a kettle of vultures fly by, and the creepy sound of their giant wings, VA-WOOSH VA-WOOSH, comes from overhead in low tones. They are flying to form a committee in the trees up ahead. There were at least 30 perched in the tree, all with their backs turned to me but one who was watching me over his shoulder. C R E E P Y.
As I walked around looking ahead, I came to a cliff that had big cards on them. In Nod, anything is possible. I came to the cards on the cliff, and each one had a different symbol on it. The first was a picture of a handmade of sticks, then a star, a curly circle, a jug, a knife and more, but you will see those in your Nod journey. The cards were as tall as five feet high. As I stood looking at the giant cards, I could hear some heavy rustling behind me. My hair stood up high on my head. I was afraid to turn around, but I had to find out what was coming. As I turned, I touched the card with the hand of sticks on it and out came a man with a giant hammer. We both looked and saw an army of ants. Somehow I instantly had a hammer also, and we both smashed the ant army. They got a few bites in but nothing to panic over. The war was over, and I turned to my “card” friend. He was gone. We had warred down into the valley. There was lush greenery after the war like the ants had fertilized the land. I looked back onto the cliff, and all the cards were there again. Even the hand card. It looked tattered a little but was still in good shape. At the top of the cliff, above the cards, was an aphyllous tree with the staring vulture looking at me, just staring.
There was a forest up ahead, and I decided to explore further. In the middle of the forest was a room. I walked in and saw a man sitting in a recliner. Behind him stood a man about seven feet tall. He seemed to be caring for or guarding the man, I am not quite sure. There was an open window in the back of the room. Someone or something fired an arrow and it went into the chair and on the inside of the man’s leg who was sitting in the chair. The man behind him squatted down and was talking to the man and then pulled out the arrow. The man was screaming in pain. This was unbelievable. Were the ants coming back or something else? I went outside, and in the trees, I saw more cards, same as before. I ran up to the cards and decided to pick the knife card. I touched it, and the same person was there except with a sword instead of a giant hammer. We went to work on the intruders. They were short intruders but very fierce. That battle lasted a couple of days, but we prevailed. The cards were back on the forest behind the trees and I was alone again except for the vulture. There he was … staring again. In his claws he had a bibelot. He was making a raspy, drawn-out hissing sound. I know that means either fight or food. He jumped and flew away but not before he dropped his bibelot. I walked over and found it. The bibelot did have an inscription on it with the face of the vulture. I put it in my pocket for when I was out of the land of Nod.
I finally was at the end of the forest and came to a cloudy clearing. There were several more aphyllous trees and sitting on them were the vultures, like they were waiting on me. Still only one looked at me though. Directly under the trees were, you guessed it, more cards. This time there were about 10, the two I touched and several more. I remember one had a picture of two people smiling, and I was going to see what that one meant and my eyes opened. I smiled and tried to go back to finish my journey in the Land of Nod, but alas, it was all gone. Hopefully, I can get back there at some point, but until then, I will keep looking up in the trees for the vultures. Ha, I got your bibelot! Wait… oh no, it is gone too! When I realized it was gone, I heard the vultures laughing and sounding…. like… dogs…. barking…. Oh, where am I??