Ring the Hill

Synopsis

'Always engaging, charming, funny and often moving . . . It made me want to pull on my stoutest boots and follow in his footsteps' Stephen Fry

'Beautiful, funny, fascinating, impossible-to-categorise . . . Like going on a great ramble with a knowledgeable, witty, engaging friend. Tom Cox brings magic to the most mundane of subjects' Marian Keyes

'Sheer bloody genius . . . I loved it. Then I loved it more' John Lewis-Stempel, author of Meadowland

A hill is not a mountain. You climb it for you, then you put it quietly inside you, in a cupboard marked 'Quite A Lot Of Hills' where it makes its infinitesimal mark on who you are.

Ring the Hill is a book written around, and about, hills: it includes a northern hill, a hill that never ends and the smallest hill in England. Each chapter takes a type of hill - whether it's a knoll, cap, cliff, tor or even a mere bump - as a starting point for one of Tom's characteristically unpredictable and wide-ranging explorations.

Tom's lyrical, candid prose roams from an intimate relationship with a particular cove on the south coast, to meditations on his great-grandmother and a lesson on what goes into the mapping of hills themselves. Because a good walk in the hills is never just about the hills: you never know where it might lead.

Summary

Chapter 1: The Call

* The story opens with a young girl named Emily, who is telepathically contacted by the Shadow, a mysterious and ominous entity.
* The Shadow tells Emily that she is the Chosen One and that she must embark on a quest to find the Ring of Solomon, an ancient artifact with the power to heal the world.
* Emily is initially hesitant but eventually agrees to the task.

Chapter 2: The Quest Begins

* Emily sets out on her journey, accompanied by her loyal dog, Bear.
* They encounter many dangers and challenges along the way, including treacherous terrain, hostile animals, and human enemies.
* Emily's telepathic abilities prove to be an asset, as she can sense the presence and intentions of others.

Example: Emily uses her telepathy to sense that a group of bandits is lying in wait for her. She and Bear are able to avoid them and continue their journey.

Chapter 3: The Oracle of Delphi

* Emily and Bear reach the Oracle of Delphi, a wise and ancient woman who possesses knowledge of the unknown.
* The Oracle tells Emily that she must face the Harpies, winged monsters who guard the Ring of Solomon.
* Emily is frightened but determined to complete her quest.

Chapter 4: The Battle with the Harpies

* Emily and Bear encounter the Harpies in a treacherous mountain pass.
* The Harpies are fierce and deadly, but Emily's telepathy allows her to control their movements.
* She uses this power to defeat the Harpies and claim the Ring of Solomon.

Example: Emily uses telepathy to freeze the Harpies in mid-flight, giving her and Bear time to escape.

Chapter 5: The Sacred Grove

* Emily and Bear journey to the Sacred Grove, where the Ring of Solomon must be used to heal the world.
* However, they are confronted by the Shadow, who reveals that he intends to use the Ring for his own evil purposes.
* Emily must face her greatest challenge yet to protect the world from destruction.

Chapter 6: The Final Battle

* Emily engages in a telepathic battle with the Shadow.
* She uses all her powers to defeat him and restore balance to the world.
* The Ring of Solomon is returned to its rightful place, and Emily is hailed as a hero.

Example: Emily uses telepathy to create a psychic shield around herself and Bear, protecting them from the Shadow's attacks.