Dirt
By
C.C Hogan
Text Copyright © 2017 C.C. Hogan
All Rights Reserved
2017 – Second Edition
Dedicated to all lovers of wine, great beer and warm, friendly taverns on whatever world.
The Dirt Books
Series 1
Dirt
Bloody Dirt
The fight for Dirt
Hope & Mistry’s Tale
Yona and the Beast – Short Story
Series 2
Girls of Dirt
Dragons of Dirt
People of Dirt
Series 3
TBA
Check out the website for up to date information about the series, maps, the chronology and free stuff!
www.aworldcalleddirt.com
Table of Contents
Prologue – Don’t Believe What They Tell You
Chapter 1 – Digging
Chapter 2 – A Policeman’s Lot
Chapter 3 – If Anger Solved Problems
Chapter 4 – The Red Islands
Chapter 5 – The Hidden Isle
Chapter 6 – The Shallow Sea
Chapter 7 – Taken
Chapter 8 – Companions
Chapter 9 – Plans
Chapter 10 – Sand in the Wings
Chapter 11 – Boy for Sale
Chapter 12 – Captured
Chapter 13 – The Chase
Chapter 14 – Saddle Up!
Chapter 15 – Monster
Chapter 16 – X
Chapter 17 – Healing and Learning
Chapter 18 – To Plan a Rescue
Chapter 19 – Sisters
Chapter 20 – All About Horses
Chapter 21 – River
Chapter 22 – The Mines
Chapter 23 – A Friend in Need
Find out more about Dirt
Books by C. C. Hogan
About the Author
Prologue – Don’t believe what they tell you
“So, what then?” The girl was annoyed, but then he always annoyed her.
“People tell lies. People get things wrong. It always happens and you and I have seen it again and again, time after time over how many years?”
“I have stopped counting, it was depressing me.”
“Quite right too! No one said there had to be one truth and no one has magic that explains what truth is or whether you are correct. Even if they are not lying, and that bloody woman had good reasons aplenty to lie back then, then they just get things wrong. Oh, yes, I know who I am! Oh no, you don’t; you are actually this. Oh, I am that, am I? No, you are not, I lied. What am I then? Something else? So, what really happened ten thousand years ago? Not what we thought? What then? Did I get it wrong again, mummy? Someone want to make another stupid guess?” He growled then offered a tired smile. “Girl, we just go in circles after a while, and you and I more than most I think.”
The young woman poked him in the chest. “You always do this to me. I should learn not to ask you any questions, but I can’t help it. I always have to know.”
“I know you do.” The thin man fidgeted and looked out through the window at the small, bright, warm, friendly port. He loved it here. It had been the perfect choice, a place with no pain. “I know that it matters what the truth was because if you hadn't worked it out, we wouldn't be here and I would still be stuck in a miserable dive trying to get drunk. But even that truth? Are we sure that it really is the true story? At the end of the day, people are people and they will believe what they are most comfortable with. That is the story they will put into song, write in their books, tell their children. And that is what will be passed down from generation to generation, till even the historians are spouting rubbish.”
“Somebody needs to keep hold of the truth. I made so many mistakes because the truth was hidden; because you hid it.”
“Yeah, you’re right. That is what you and I are here for. We keep the truth so everyone else can be comfortable with the myth. I suppose it’s a lesson that we must learn. If you distrust everything, you are probably going to be more right than wrong. Still, makes for some incredible stories, even if it is a complete pain in the arse.”
“Have you finished?”
“More or less.”
“Good, because if you are determined to paint this tavern bright-yellow, then you need to go get some paint.”
“You always were picky, dear one.”