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“The price is your childhood magic. If you agree, your worldview will change radically. You’ll see things very differently.”

Swampscott Fitzgerald is a seven-year-old boy. He sees a world of magic. When his cat is killed in an accident, he leaves on a quest to bring it back to life. Along the way, unusual friends such as Hobo Dan and Licorice Sally join him.

Is his adventure real or in his head? Is the danger of the malicious Face Collector real? Will Swampscott succeed in his quest?

Excerpt

THE CITY OF CRYPTS

            Ryan did not believe them. He would not listen. Everyone told him he was dead but he refused to lie quietly in the ground.

            “Honey.” His wife entered the room. “You really are dead. It’s time for you to go.”

            Ryan flew into a rage the likes of which he never did while alive. The woman fled the cottage. She ran all the way to the nearby river, collapsed on its bank and wept.

            Eventually the sun touched the Western horizon. She was still there weeping. The local cat Artemis saw her when he happened past. “Loza,” he said, “what’s wrong?”

            “My husband’s dead and refuses to leave. He rots, bringing with him disease. Any mention that he’s dead makes him fly into a rage. He just sits by the fire all day and mutters to himself.”

            “What’s he say?”

            “He’s trying to convince himself he’s not dead.”

            “Leave everything to me.” Artemis went into town and hired the best tomb maker. “I need a mausoleum built as fast as you can.”

            “You got it.”

            “And I need to be able to lock it from the outside.”

            The man was puzzled. “As long as you pay, you can ask for any oddball thing you want.”

            With the mausoleum finished, the cat went to Loza’s cottage. He peered inside. It was dark.

            Artemis entered. “Hello Ryan.” The man only grunted. “Your wife’s sad that you won’t leave.”

            “It’s my house. Why should I go?”

            “For one thing, you’re rotting.”

            “No I’m not.”

            “You’re dead Ryan. You are dead.” Artemis enunciated each word. The man’s head snapped up and he flew into a frenzy, attacking the cat.

            Artemis nimbly dodged each blow. He continually backed up until out of the house. Ryan still attacked. Eventually, his fury spent, the man stopped attacking and seemed not to remember his frenzy.

            “Come with me to your new home,” said Artemis.

            “I already have one.” Wary, Ryan followed anyway. The cat led him to a small stone building. “This is a mausoleum, a crypt,” said Ryan.

            “It’s the latest in houses. Very heat efficient. No windows and only one door. At least look inside.”

            “Fine, but I’m telling you it’s a mausoleum.” Ryan shambled inside to the far wall. “See, it’s a crypt.”

            Artemis slammed the door without warning and locked it from the outside. He left Ryan frenzying and walked away. “Loza,” said the cat, “your dead husband will never bother you again.” Overjoyed, she picked up Artemis and kissed him on the head.

            News of what the cat did spread like wildfire. Soon people from all over the land wanted his help with their wrathful dead. Eventually Artemis charged for his help because it took time away from sleeping and hunting. A small town of crypts grew around Ryan’s mausoleum and Artemis grew rich.

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