The Carpenter and The Goat Herder (ePub)

A fantasy novella by Merlin Goldman. A 100 pages with illustrations.

A supernatural tale of a widowed carpenter and a beguiling woman carved from an ancient tree felled by lightning. How is it possible that Kip's hands and simple tools have created such beauty? How can a statue come alive? And what are Ekundu's intentions? All the villagers succumb to her charms but worst of all, so does Mzungu, the local warlord, who raids the village for children to sustain his army. Ekundu gives herself in exchange for their safety, leaving Kip alone again. Unable to persuade the village Elders to mount a rescue, he treks to Mzungu's fort, followed by his donkey. But will it be Ekundu who ultimately rescues him? And what of the mysterious goat herder who appears unexpectedly? Does she know what magic is at play?

When widowed carpenter, Kip, returns from market in heavy rain, he stops to help a distressed goat herder. That night, the ancient mahogany tree in Kip's village is felled by lightning, crushing a house. Kip helps to rescue a villager trapped inside but shuns the celebrations. He accepts the tree's trunk as a gift. Kip, guided by an unseen hand, carves the heavy wood into the shape of a woman. It comes alive and calls herself Ekundu. Kip tries to hide her from the curious villagers, but she can't resist exploring. After all, she's got feet now. She makes friends easily, even Kip's grumpy donkey takes a shine to her. When a desperate warlord Mzungu returns to the village, Ekundu gives herself up in exchange for him taking the last of the children. Crestfallen, Kip pleads with the Elders to mount a rescue, but they refuse. Kip trades his wife's pendant to hire an assassin, but they fail. Kip travels to the Mzungu's fort, followed by his donkey.