A PEEK AT THE STORIES: THE LENDING LIBRARY

by C.L. Kraemer

On the edge of the last vestige of civilization in the woods outside Eugene, Oregon, sits a small house with wraparound porch. Inside lives Linda Brown. Many years ago when Linda’s husband, Donald, passed away she was finally able to complete her life’s dream. Every inch of her home save a small kitchen, the bathroom and the pantry, was dedicated to Linda’s love of books. In a fit of whimsy, she made a sign she placed out front announcing that this was now “The Lending Library”.
It was Linda’s hope that the neighbors would come share her love of books…but no one stopped by her home. In fact, no one came to visit at all. Except the fae folk.

Faeries started showing up and visiting the woman whom the neighbors referred to as the Witch of the Woods. Well, that was fine by Linda. She preferred the fae folk to most mortals. The fae spoke only the truth; mortals had a tendency to lie to get their own way.

After several years and much trust building, the fae folk consider Linda a friend. But Linda notices that recently the faeries seem agitated, jumpy and, very unusual for them, snappish. When she asks questions most of the faeries brush off the imagined change.

But Kayne and Ailidh speak up and let Linda know that her kind, The Other Ones, are encroaching on the forest with their huge yellow machines. They’re killing Ancient Ones (old oaks) by the dozens and there seems to be no pattern to the slaughter. It is with a sad heart that the faeries feel they must move to Faetown on the east side of Eugene.

Ailidh is excited as she has heard fascinating things, but Kayne—Kayne is skeptical of anything that resembles The Other’s lifestyles. He wants to stay in his tree home and have life move back to normal.

Linda decides to help her faerie friends and find out what is causing the destruction of the old growth forests. When she stumbles on the answer, via the internet and detecting work she and Kayne accomplish, she is flabbergasted at the truth. It is a reality too wretched to imagine.

Follow Linda, Ailidh and Kayne as they ferret out the shocking truth to the destruction of the faeries homes. See how they handle the challenge to the quiet, easy world of the wee ones and show courage they were unaware they possessed.