EXCERPT FROM BOOK
Nestled in a narrow gorge in western North Carolina lies a magical lake called Lure. It is magical for many reasons. It lies in the shadow of Rumbling Bald Mountain that rumbles and grumbles like a gruff troll every time a thunderstorm rolls over the lake. And, the water that flows into Lake Lure flows straight from the Bottomless Pools. This is magical water from unimaginable depths, full of very deep secrets. And the lake is magical because of the way the sun sparkles on the water in the late afternoon like millions of fiery diamonds.
But most of all, it is magical because of the special creatures that live there. Two of these special creatures are Willy and Billy. Willy is a beautifully speckled white bass, and Billy is a beautifully iridescent black bass, and they are best buddies and fast friends.
When they were born, their parents unknowingly gave them exactly the same name, William T. (for Thomas) Bass. But luckily for us, and their many friends, their parents gave them quite different nicknames. So, there is less confusion then there might have been. Since Willy and Billy are best friends, and rarely far apart, they wouldn’t know who should answer if their friends had to call them both William T.
In one adventure in the book, Willy and Billy swim across the Magic Lake to the dam. Here is a snippet of that encounter.
Above them, a cable was suspended above the water, and from the cable hung signs that read “DANGER – KEEP AWAY”. The signs were put there to keep boats from getting too close to the turbine intakes where the current is strong. But the signs were too high above the water for Willy and Billy to see, and besides they can’t read anyway. So, the two adventurers swam on, getting closer and closer to the large round structure where the water gushes into the turbine standpipe. When they could begin to feel the tug of the current, Billy said, “I don’t think we should go any closer.” But Willy, always the daredevil, said, “Come-on. I want to see where the water goes in. This current isn’t any stronger than the stream from the Bottomless Pools that we swim in all the time.” “Yeah, said Billy, “but that current pushes us back into the lake when we get tired, not out of it like this one.”
“Don’t be a fraidy-fish,” taunted Willy as he continued on in the direction of the current. Billy reluctantly followed his friend towards the standpipe. When they were about ten feet from the entrance, the current was too strong for Billy. He felt himself being pulled faster and faster towards the opening. They both turned tail and tried to swim away. Willy, being the stronger swimmer, made headway against the current and was soon beyond its pull. But Billy, already tired from their long swim, could not resist the current’s strong pull. The last glimpse Willy got of his friend, Billy was sliding through the holes of the metal grating over the entrance and disappearing down the standpipe.
Will Willy and Billy reunite after Billy is sucked through the standpipe and into the river, 100ft below the lake's surface? Buy the book online to find out!
