Young Storykeeper Volume III

104 | STORYKEEPERS VOLUME III AGE NINE | 105
THE LONELY LIGHTHOUSE
The sinking of the Lusitania was a great big deal
for a lot of people. Most people think that the Galley
Head Lighthouse, near the Lusitania’s sinking place,
was not involved, but it was. The lighthouse keeper was
badly injured that night and since he was the only one there,
he died. The lighthouse was hit also but it survived. The ghost of
the lighthouse keeper still lives there but causes no harm.
One day the ghost and the lighthouse saw a boat going out to sea.
They got very excited as they thought that the boat was coming to visit
them. On the boat, two teenage girls were walking along the deck when they
spotted the lighthouse. They thought it was abandoned and this made them
sad. They felt that even if they could help out just a tiny bit, it would make their
day. So, one of the girls, called Rachel, suggested that she ask the sailor to
bring them to land at the lighthouse but when she did, the sailor refused.
Before lunch, when they had half an hour to play around in the sea, Rachel
and the other girl Emily darted behind people so that the sailor wouldn’t see
them leaving. Along with the help of their underwater swimming skills, Rachel
and Emily managed to get nearer to the lighthouse. Since they were already
quite close when they stopped, it was easy to reach the lighthouse. They were
shocked at how destroyed the lighthouse looked up close, and immediately
decided to do what they could to help. So they took off their flippers and masks
and started exploring the lighthouse, not knowing that they were being watched
by the ghost.
Eventually the ghost was so excited to meet the girls that he showed himself.
He had overheard them planning how they would help to rescue the abandoned
lighthouse. He told them that he wasn’t able to leave the lighthouse until at
least two people visited so now, thanks to them, he was free to go. The girls
were quite astounded to find a ghost talking to them but soon got over it.
Even though the lighthouse could not talk, deep inside he was very
grateful to Emily and Rachel. After listening to the amazing stories
of the ghost of the lighthouse keeper, John, the girls sensed
that it was time to get back to the boat. They told the ghost
that they would make sure a lot more people would come
to visit the lighthouse and promised not to tell anyone
about them meeting a ghost. Nobody would believe
them anyway but the two friends didn’t want to
take any chance.
From that day on, thanks to the fundraising
organised by the girls, more than one thousand people
come every year from all over the world just to visit the
rescued lighthouse at Galley Head. It is all thanks to Rachel
and Emily and their lucky discovery that day.
Sophie Lavanant
Co Cork
THE QUEST
On planet Jum there’s a lighthouse. It’s not just
an ordinary lighthouse, it’s special. It ensures the
safe travel of the Neoxa galaxy.
Jubble, the King of Jum’s son, is the lighthouse
keeper. The lighthouse is powered by diamonds and gives
off a tremendous light. The keeper of the lighthouse is a huge
job because you have to flip over the diamonds so they don’t
explode. They are the most powerful and valuable commodities in
the universe and they give off immense heat so you have to wear
special clothes to touch them.
One day something terrible happened. The Manharians (space
pirates from another galaxy) stole the diamonds. There was a ferocious
battle and Planet Jum was defeated because they had the smaller army.
The diamonds were gone. Jum could no longer trade safely. They needed the
diamonds back - but how?
The king asked for someone to take on this quest. His son Jubble bravely
volunteered but his father refused to let him go. The king asked for another volunteer but
still no one put their hand up. The king reluctantly gave in and said his son could go on
one condition… he had to take someone with him. Jubble’s friend, Haroni, was selected.
The duo then had to be specially trained for their mission. It took six years to train. They
had to learn the art of ‘ribiging,’ where you can make a portal from one place to another.
The day finally came from them to leave. Jubble was now eighteen and Haroni
was nineteen. Jubble said goodbye to his father and made the portal to Manharia. He
teleported there in a nanosecond.
The surface of Manharia felt squishy. They figured they should put a disguise on
so they could fool the King of Manharia but they didn’t know where to get one. Then
Haroni had an idea. She took out her sword and knocked out the two guards guarding the
palace. She told Jubble to put the guard’s clothes on, so he did as he was told.
They snuck into the palace and asked the guards where the king was and if they
could talk to him. The guards said that the king had never hired a girl. Jubble cleverly told
them that she had been handpicked by the king to guard the diamonds and he was to
escort her.
When they got to the throne room, Jubble saw the diamonds beside the king.
“You stole those diamonds from my father’s kingdom six years ago,” declared
Jubble. “I’m here to take them back!”
“You’re outnumbered, ten to two. Guards, seize them!”
Little did they know that Haroni was one of the greatest fighters in the galaxy.
She quickly slayed every guard in minutes. Jubble approached the king and
pierced him through the heart with his sword.
They grabbed the diamonds and teleported back to Jum. The
diamonds were put back in the lighthouse and life returned to
normal on Jum.
Senan McMahon
Co Antrim