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The Harper's Band

Chapter 1.

Noodle

Noodle Shepherd was doing what he liked to do most – as little as possible. It was a beautiful day for doing nothing. The early spring sun was warm overhead. A mild breeze blew through the new leaves in the trees along the little stream that wandered down from the mountains. Noodle, however, was unaware of his surroundings. He lay motionless, face down with his nose an inch above a still pool, his eyes fixed on the green depths below him.

Two large orbs slowly emerged from the depths below, rising to stare back at the lanky boy. Noodle continued to murmur softly to the great grandfather fish, his eyes almost crossing as they sought to focus on the scaly head just beneath the surface. He had no idea how long he had been lying there, but he was immensely pleased with himself.

Noodle had always had a way with animals, as a child he found he could calm the rambunctious sheep in his flock with gentle words and a soothing song. He was always talking to the small animals in the forest. Not talking like a conversation that you and I might have, to be sure, but a conversation, nonetheless. He would look gently into their eyes and talk quietly to them. They would listen as if in a trance, and seem to understand his meaning and loose their fear of him. As long as he could remember he could charm the simple creatures with a comforting patter of kind words and calming thoughts.

Today, however, Noodle had a new plan. He wanted to see if his gift would work on the lower forms. So there he lay, his nose to the water and his feet in the air, looking down at the great fish that had come at last to his call.

It was then that something unusual occurred. Noodle was using his usual quiet patter of consoling words, not quite sure what to say to a fish. He had found that each type of animal had its own approach. Cats usually like flattery, dogs like to be loved, deer liked words of summer winds and green fields, and foxes were proud of their wits. The question was what in the world would a fish like?

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