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Below is a sample of the book "Nakao the Oak Tree Spirit."

NAKAO2

GETTING ACQUAINTED

A few days after they arrived in the valley Daura and Olon were ready to return to the British Isles, and to whatever new duties the 'Old Ones' would give them.

In the days before, she and Olon had tried to tell Nakao what was expected of him. Being an Oak Tree Spirit had, what seemed to Nakao, a lot of do's and don'ts. He could not make himself visible except on dark stormy nights, play tricks on 'The People,' or go very far from the valley, were just some of the strict rules. Brac also tried to learn all he could from his mother and as he listened to her, he was already starting to feel lonesome. Until now, he had never been beyond of the sound of her wonderful voice...

Brac carried Nakao high up over the Lagunas as they accompanied Olon and his mother for a short distance on their long trip home. With a long last look at his mother, as her image faded in the distance, they turned back to the valley that would be their home for centuries!

The young oak that Nakao had picked for his home did not have a consciousness, such as he and Brac, but it did sense that it and Nakao had become one entity. In the first few months of the relationship it had put out deeper roots and grown somewhat larger, as if to show its new found importance to the rest of the grove. Its shade seemed to have grown cooler, if that were possible, and it seemed happy with it's new role in life!

Nakao had mastered his loneliness and was fast becoming immersed in the comings and goings of his protectorate. He listened to the people that rested under his new home and was delighted with the laughter of the children as they played and even climbed among his branches. Soon he knew most of their names and became attached to some of the regular visitors.

One little girl named Eila had a bright laughter that sounded like the tinkling of a small bell. Nakao wondered how she could seem so happy all the time, because you see, she had a withered leg and walked with a noticeable limp. Her older brother always carried her to and from the shade.

                                                           7.

 Apparently it was painful to walk very far, or perhaps he carried her because she could not keep up with the other children as they ran from the village nearby. When she was under the tree however, she climbed into the low branches and was active in the games that all the other children played. Her pealing laughter rang out with happiness so often it was obvious to all that she was a very happy little girl!

Eila's nearby village was located close by the emergence, from the ground, of very hot water that formed a little stream and ran down the valley. The water gradually cooled downstream and soon became just a pretty little stream flowing on it's way to the sea, some sixty miles away. The hot springs still flow with a constant temperature of about 138 degrees Fahrenheit, never varying more than one degree. The springs are now named 'Warner Hot Springs' and are a great tourist attraction at Warner Springs Ranch Resort.

'The People' considered water from the springs to be sacred and used it for ritual bathing, the water is still reputed to have healing powers. Lame people bathed in a pool formed above a small earthen and stone dam and those with stomach or internal problems drank from the sacred waters every day. Being practical, the villagers used the water to assist in preparing food, such as leaching acorns, heating stones to put under sleeping blankets or skins, and for warmth during the cold high desert nights in winter. They also washed their food and clothes downstream in the still warm and clear waters.

The children's village was the home of about one hundred people that were really an extended family. In those last years before the Spaniards came they were a completely self sufficient small society. There was peaceful trade and marriage arrangements with other clans or tribes, such as trade with the coastal dwellers for sea shells and dried fish, but most of their days were spent near their own village.

8.

The weather in this warm beautiful golden valley was not extreme, however, sometimes in the middle of winter heavy rain storms came with high winds and chilling cold!

The second winter after Nakao's arrival was a very wet and cold time. Little streams that normally dried up in summer were running over their banks and some were raging torrents. The roiling waters rushed downstream as if in a  hurry to meet the great ocean! They carried with them dead trees and all sorts of debris, even some boulders were dislodged and rolled along the bottoms of the  powerful streams! Chunks of the banks along the swollen creeks would be undermined and fall into the water to be broken up and carried along downstream.

Brac and Nakao became visible on such dark stormy nights and flew over the valley to be sure all the children and people were safe. Nakao enjoyed the patrols because before arriving here he and Brac had flown nearly every night just for the thrill of it! With his new responsibilities he stayed pretty much at home in his spreading oak tree. Things went well that winter for the first few storms. They, in their inexperience, were lulled into believing that 'The People' knew how to stay safe in the storms that brought much needed moisture to their valley.

One afternoon the storm clouds gathered over the mountains to the east and as dusk fell the lightning flashed and thunder rumbled in the hills above the village. But in the valley the sun had been shining brightly all afternoon and, even though the air was chilly, the children were busy gathering edible roots along the bank of a stream south of the village. The ground was soaked and spongy after so much rain and the banks of the streams were treacherous. They could collapse when any additional weight was placed upon them. Eila saw a root sticking out of the bank and hobbled quickly over to gather it.

 She and her brother were too busy to see or hear a great wall of debris laden water rushing down upon them! Just as Eila picked up the root her brother saw the wall of flash flood water and raced to save his sister.  

9.

He picked her up in his arms and turned to flee just as the water hit them! Other nearby children saw them and screamed for help even as they were being swept away! Nakao heard their cries and with Brac rushed to see what was wrong! It was only a few hundreds yards before that they saw the terrified children pointing and shouting for help! Brac saw them first and swiftly turned toward the hapless children, they were being tumbled over and over by the action of the waters! Eila's brother was still holding on to his sister for dear life but could not get to the bank and safety, the current was just too strong!

Both spirits were visible to the children as they hovered over the desperate children. "Block the stream Brac" Nakao cried out in anguish! Brac flew a short distance downstream and settled into the stream at an angle, " you catch them Nakao, as they are swept toward the bank!" The wall of water hit Brac's powerful tail first and was then turned away by Brac's huge body. The children were thrown into Nakao's powerful arms as he stood near Brac's head. He clutched them to his chest and strode out of danger to the safety of a small hill. They were both frightened and were struggling against this giant of a man that held them! He set them on the ground and could see that except for a few cuts and bruises the very wet youngsters were all right!!

Soon other breathless children arrived and stared in awe at the huge man and Dragon before them! Nakao ran and jumped onto to the back of his dragon and together they rose into a now almost black sky! "We are in trouble now for sure" he told Brac, the 'Ancient Ones' don't like humans to see dragons or spirits in human form!' All Brac said was "our mission here is to protect the children, we just protected two of them!"

NOTE: Because Oak Tree Spirits are true spirits they have no actual physical form. when they needed to be seen they could use whatever form they wished to take; a rock, a snake, a bird or even a cloud! Nakao, when riding Brac always took the corporeal (solid) form of a human. The ability of hands to hold with, also feet and legs to grip with, caused him to make that choice. In the above adventure being a giant with great strength was best!

I have 4 copyrighted books, "War Years, Boy/to Blooded Veteran", "Bruce Hale in the Orient", ( a semi true novel about my escapades in Japan/Korea during the police action), "Bare Boot Dreamer", the very true bio of my childhood during the Depression in the hills of Kentucky, and for the grand and great grandchildren, a delightful little,read to, childrens book, "Nakao the Oak Tree Spirit."

Also Available in CD's

To order books or CD's contact:

Clifford Spencer          Phone:  760-789-5518        Email:palispen@prodigy.net