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    Jack Lightfoot Goes Wild
    Jack Lightfoot Goes Wild
    Jack Lightfoot Goes Wild
    Ebook158 pages2 hours

    Jack Lightfoot Goes Wild

    By KJ Revell

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    We are being watched....The world on which we depend is coming to an end due to our uncontrolled over consumption of natural resources and excessive waste which pollutes the environment that permits our very existence. Jack Lightfoot finds he is able to alternate between his life as a suburban child and that of a variety of wild animals with which he is able to communicate, to find out about the harm that humanity is inflicting on the natural world. Gradually the truth is revealed, if the wildlife of the earth is the ‘canary in the mine’, the implications for mankind are clear. Everything is connected, everything in balance, everything matters. From the smallest micro-organism to the largest whale, the web of life is adapted to the wider environment which we alter at our peril, for we all drink from the same well.
    Like the shamen of native cultures, Jack is blessed with insight and seeing. The problem is how to communicate his visions and dreams to the powers that be, for he is on a collision course with his parents, teachers, police, church and government all of whom have their own interests at heart and stop at nothing to prevent the truth from being revealed. It becomes apparent he is not the first human to be granted such insights; he treads the path of the Celtic kings of myth and legend before the time of recorded history. Jack has a number of adventures with a variety of creatures which enable him to learn of threats to the earth, air and water and ultimately ourselves. Increasingly bizarre animal behaviour makes people aware of the need for change, even the politicians start to take notice and wonder how long their tenuous hold on power will last.
    He is summoned to a council of all the wildlife of the world presided over by the Lords of the Realms of earth, air and water. Humanity is presented with an ultimatum; to change its wasteful ways or be destroyed; revert to a more simple respectful relationship with the earth and all its inhabitants or to be left in sole charge of affairs as wildlife disappears in what appears to be a mass extinction due to climate change. Alternatively the intervention of an ancient race of dragons put in place to prevent its destruction will unleash a reign of fire to cleanse the earth. The priorities of humanity will change from leisure and the search for profit at the expense of the environment to survival in a changing world increasingly short of resources. Ironically the apolitical, atheistic Jack is drawn to the heart of government during an international right wing religious uprising, as revolutionary animal behaviour is played out the streets of London. The fate of the earth hangs in the balance; the world’s media gather to see whether one boy can save the day, whether insight and learning is enough to convince the leaders and heads of religion of the most powerful nations on earth to change their ways and earn the respect of their people or continue on their path of destruction with scant regard for the consequences. . Will they make difficult choices or will they be forced by supernatural powers beyond their control?

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherKJ Revell
    Release dateJan 20, 2013
    ISBN9781301864508
    Jack Lightfoot Goes Wild
    Author

    KJ Revell

    Born in Ipswich and raised in Saxmundham, Suffolk I was educated at Woodbridge School, Suffolk and University College Cardiff. Writing mainly on gardening and environmental matters in Cardiff Living magazines 'Saving the Earth Once Garden at a Time' is a collection of my garden writing charting the gardening year while advocating a more environmentally aware approach. 'Jack Lightfoot Goes Wild' was my first novel to be enjoyed by teenagers and adults young and old with an interest in wildlife, what might lie beyond the boundaries of perceived reality,After a lifetime steeped in horticulture, landscaping and garden retail, I now work at Caerphilly Garden Centre as Plant Area Manager where I am always available for help and advice on all gardening matters.I continue to live in north Cardiff with my partner Bernadette, son Torin, three chickens, a bearded dragon and a variety of small furry animals. When not sat at the computer, reading or listening to music, I am often found in the garden tending to my fruit trees and roses or walking in the wild Welsh countryside in search of inspiration and a nice pub serving good food and real ales. I believe tarka dall and chips to be the ultimate comfort food which fortunately harms no otters in its preparation. Live your dreams, (but not the ones that involve falling great distances!)

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      Book preview

      Jack Lightfoot Goes Wild - KJ Revell

      Jack Lightfoot Goes Wild

      By KJ Revell

      Smashwords edition

      Copyright KJ Revell 2013

      This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return toSmashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

      For Bernadette who has been very patient.

      *****

      Table of Contents

      Part1: Genesis

      Chapter 1 - Awakening

      Chapter 2 - Flight of the Swifts

      Chapter 3 - Night of the Moths

      Chapter 4 - To Be or Not to Bee?

      Chapter 5 - Bats in the Belfry

      Chapter 6 - Plenty More Fish in the Sea?

      Chapter 7 - The Road to Nowhere

      Chapter 8 - Sett in Their Ways

      Chapter 9 - Lair of the Fox

      Chapter 10 -Warren in the Woods

      Part2 : Revelation

      Chapter 11 - The Council of Taliesin

      Chapter 12 - Here Be Dragons!

      Chapter 13 - The Silent Spring

      Chapter 14 -.Operation Messiah

      Chapter 15 - The Horn of Avalon

      Chapter 16 - Affirmation

      About the Author

      Part1 Genesis

      Chapter 1

      Awakening

      We on planet earth are being watched, not from some distant planet beyond the stars but from within, by every grazing sheep, each passing bird, even butterflies that flutter by take note and pass their observations down the line. Stern leaders stand in council and pass judgment for it has been foretold that a human child by the name of Jack Lightfoot will come to bridge the void of understanding between the human and animal worlds, across the realms of the earth. This mythology is not from any human cultural belief however but from an oral tradition which transcends species and centuries, humanity has had its own way for too long, the tipping point has been reached and the inhabitants of the natural world want to reclaim what is rightfully theirs. Is there room for mankind in this new world order? Certainly not in its present manifestation; typical human traits such as self-interest, greed and dishonesty must change for the better.

      Wildlife is all around us just waiting to be discovered if only we took the time to look. Mr. Lightfoot, a busy overworked school teacher with his thoughts often elsewhere, is typical of many parents, seeing the countryside as somewhere to quickly pass through on the way to town, something in the way of his journey from outset to destination. His son Jack Lightfoot is different, he notices the changing seasons; the meandering drone of a foraging bumble bee on the first day of spring, thistledown rising on up-draughts of warm summer air, morning dew caught like moments in time on gossamer spider-spun silk on cool autumn mornings and the pungent smell of damp, mouldering leaves pulled down into wet soil on short winter days. What would the insects, animals and birds want from their environment and those who manage it? Jack Lightfoot knows; once everyone is educated we can save the world one step at a time. Like shamen of native cultures and soothsayers of old, he is blessed with insight and seeing. The problem is how to communicate his visions and dreams to the powers that be, for this places him on a collision course with his parents, teachers, police, church and government all of whom have their own vested interests at heart and will stop at nothing to prevent the truth from being revealed.

      Jack had been described by his English teacher as one of life’s dreamers, he enjoyed school and was expected to do well in his exams but felt that there was something untaught, something just out of reach beyond the horizon of his knowing. He explored another world in his dreams surrounded by animals, birds and insects , he stood perched on a ledge of a cliff face urged by an unseen crowd to leap into the void and trust his faith and fly but it seemed to make little sense to him. What could it mean and who would tell him or help him interpret the meaning? As he strolled through a copse of ancient woodland bordering the parkland near his house; he sensed that he was at the start of a great journey. An encircling stand of tall beech trees formed a great green cavern, a natural cathedral, the arching, vaulted branches supporting the verdant, darkening canopy. Small patches of sky glinted like stars in the night sky; the light fell brilliant at first, until filtered through a thousand green window panes, it settled quietly on the moss growing in the fissured, buttressed trunks. He imagined he walked on the seabed and looked up at the patchwork, green choppy waters, through shafts of sunlight from above. Shoals of falling leaves turned this way and that until they settled around his feet. Something else was falling and accumulating in layers, something intangible; insects, pollen, motes of dust, wisdom, knowledge, the truth, who could know?

      Corrupting, potentially poisonous toadstools sprang from the fertile leaf litter and contributed to the earthy smell, the sense of the unknown, returning the nutrients to the soil under the falling leaves as an army of microscopic creatures set about decomposing them. The trees seemed to bridge the gap between the heavens and earth, rooted in the soil, a stream of pure cleansing water vapour evaporating into the polluted air. Even manmade toxins could be removed from the environment and broken down into harmless compounds by soil inhabiting micro-organisms; the cycle of decomposition was truly miraculous. If God was going to speak to him, now would be a good time but all he could hear was the wind or rather the branches of the trees giving the wind a voice, making it visible and audible to those below. The leaves were rustling in the breeze; by listening carefully he could almost hear what they were saying, almost but not quite. He made himself receptive and be aware to reflect on whatever came his way and observed everything in the minutest detail. Jack sought inspiration from the numinous theatre of trees, formulated his plans, honed his arguments; they rustled their leaves in appreciation and groaned their support in the wind, though at this stage his strategy was unclear. He imagined that this was how druids gained enlightenment within wooded glades in ancient times. Just to be walking in the countryside made him feel alive, the creak of a branch made him consider the sea of sap in the ocean of trees and the effect the moon on the tidal flow, no less dramatic than that of open water but rarely measured. Perhaps it would form the basis of some school production, he would like to reach a wider audience but how? He imagined that he was being watched by the animals of the woods, the rabbits, hedgehogs and badgers, perhaps dryads and the green man listened in too, he ardently hoped he would be able rely upon their support and council.

      A flock of starlings billowed above preparing to roost for the night - perhaps he could detect a message in the cacophony of their calls….

      Beware! They seemed to saying…

      Be where? He wondered.

      Was this a warning or invitation to some secret ceremony where all would be revealed? He would discuss this with his friends and family but found it hard to know where to begin, having developed a deep mistrust for authority and realised he would have to seek the answers for himself and entrust his plans only to those closest to him. The next day he discussed it with a group of his friends on their usual trip to the recreation ground after school. The sound of laughing children heading home and distressed dogs barking in response echoed down the road, the resinous smell of cypress trees drifted across from a belt of conifers. Following a kick-about on the football field they congregated around the swings to discuss the behaviours of their parents and the intrigues of grownups which seemed so other worldly to these children on the cusp of their teenage years. Sophie Thompson was well known in school for her stables of ponies and love of animals, so Jack had a natural affinity for her. She had the biggest garden with the best trees to climb but as the brightest girl. with a father in the upper echelons of Government, she was hard to get to know really well and often travelled abroad. Always well dressed, she wore smart navy blue denim jeans and a white blouse printed with a pale blue daisy motif. Jack noticed they matched the colour of her eyes which sparkled brightly beneath her fine mousey hair; blue ankle boots completed her casual but smart appearance. Her father George Thompson was the Minister for the Environment but was seldom seen at home and spent much of his time in London but was happy for his daughter to be educated at the local state school rather than the elitist private schooling received by the children of most of his colleagues reasoning that she would benefit from exposure to people from all walks of life.

      We’ve got a villa in Tuscany which I love to visit but I’m sure my father only goes there to keep in with his Cabinet colleagues. There’s nowhere I’d rather be than right here, right now with my friends - nothing compares to the unknown promise of this British spring day which I feel will live long in the memory.

      James Gostling was intellectually superior to Jack but he lacked the imagination and emotional insight to see the scheming of others and of course was not party to Jack’s dreams. Well dressed at all times in his smart brown leather jacket and black denim jeans and leather boots, he always seemed to have new clothes to wear while a shock of black curly hair gave him a permanently surprised appearance. Jack preferred to get maximum wear from his rather scruffier lumberjack shirt and faded blue jeans which would soon only be fit to wear in the garden. Canvas tennis shoes were a enduring fixture come rain or shine. His dark eyes brooded under a thick fringe of raven black hair as James began to speak.

      My dad is an accountant, he says that he plans to buy an area of woodland which is literally a living investment that will grow with time, as the trees will be sold in due course and pheasants bred for the corporate shooting fraternity. If you factor in the potential value of the land, which must be prime building land the future owner will be minted!

      Jack was appalled.

      "How can you place a value on living systems which are self regulating and if left alone will last forever? As unspoiled woodland it is the most precious habitat you could wish for. My dad’s a teacher but I’m convinced we’re not being taught

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