The Tessellation Saga. Book Two. 'The One' by D. J. Ridgway Read Free Book Online Page A

feeling
the strength and quality of the wood and marvelling at the feeling
of peace and home the cottage gave him, his headache had lessened
considerably and he felt alive again.
    ‘I’ve brought
the pieces we’ve made ‘ome over the years, an’ sometimes yer Da or
I bring raw wood back from the forest, after a visit. Yer gran
thinks’ I should use the local wood but I don’t think it would feel
the same, there’s sommat ‘bout the wood from ‘ome that’s special,’
he added quietly, reverently, and almost speaking to himself.
Gideon smiled at his grandfather knowing exactly what he meant and
knowing that he himself liked nothing better than to walk about the
trees in the Green Home Forest with Blue and his father, in the
forest, he felt at home. Gideon senior, if he could have, would
also have lived out his days among the vast trees of the Green Home
but circumstance and love of his wife had made him move away,
though it had never stopped him pining for the woods and trees he
loved.
    ‘Yer Da made
some of these pieces ‘isel’ afore ‘e were your age,’ Gideon’s
grandfather grinned, as young Gid studied every joint and turn in
the beautifully made furniture, slowly running his fingers across
the wood and enjoying the silky smoothness.
    ‘That were ‘is
first ever piece,’ the old man said, proudly pointing to a large
rectangular box sitting under a window. Gideon walked to the
window, sat on the sill and splayed both hands on the box, seeing
in his mind, his stubborn but methodical father as a boy slowly
working the wood with his knife. He smiled and marvelled at the
box’s intricate design. The carvings on the sides of the box were
functional and solid whereas the top consisted almost entirely of
latticework.
    ‘It’s a blanket
box; it can be taken apart and moved flat, each plank slots into
the next. Yer Da worked fer weeks on it,’ his grandfather said as
he opened the lid showing Gideon the cunning latches and clasps
that held it together.
    Gideon thought
about his own attempts at woodwork and smiled shyly. ‘Well, I be
whittling too grandda but somehow…well, the wood don’t ever flow
fer me like it does fer you or Da,’ he said taking his latest small
wooden figure from the pocket of his jerkin and offering it to his
grandfather for inspection. The faceless figure was tall and
smooth, each fold and crease in the carefully carved robes flowed
like silk; just waiting for a breeze to make them sway and ripple.
The figure felt alive, full of passion and vibrancy just needing a
face to finish it off before it could begin its work. One hand lay
against the robes its fingers spread and finely detailed each nail
and joint carved to perfection.
    ‘I did think at
one time ‘e were ‘olding sommat in both ‘ands!’ Gideon said
quietly, almost granting the wooden carving choices about its own
design, his grandfather smiled at the statement knowing it meant
his grandson understood the nature of the wood. He studied the
carving once more, in its other hand the wooden figure held a book
tightly, it must be an important book, ter be ‘eld so , the
old man thought. Just looking at the piece in his hands Gideon
senior had the feeling he had seen this person before, knew him
well despite the fact the figure had no face.
    “Oo be this
then boy?’ He asked his grandson, who waited quietly for appraisal
of his own piece of woodcraft.
    ‘No-one gramps,
it’s just a figure, I can never finish it though, I’ve made loads
of ‘em an’ they always end up the same, I jus’ can’t seem ter get
the face right, I can’t ever do the face...’ Gideon smiled
apologetically at his grandfather whose skills with a knife and a
piece of wood were second to none.
    ‘Lad,’ the old
man smiled kindly at the boy, ‘tis not ready ter be finished tis
all,’ he placed the piece between Gideon’s palms and clasped his
own hands around his grandson’s. ‘Close yer eyes boy,’ he said
adding, ‘feel the life in