In Search of Herobrine: A Famous Novel About Minecraft (6 page)

              The next morning villagers crowded the street as Steve rode up and dismounted. The librarian was there too. “Did you find any diamonds?” he asked.

              Steve nodded. “Enough for a sword and full suit.” All the villagers looked around at each other, very impressed.

              “Did you find any emeralds?” asked a villager. “I’ll trade you three flints for an emerald.”

              “No emeralds,” said Steve. The villagers looked slightly disappointed.

              “Ah well, at least you have the diamonds,” said the librarian. “Come right this way.” Steve followed the librarian into a large house full of books with an enchanting table at one end. The

librarian pointed to a crafting table in one corner. “You can craft your weapons and armor there while I get ready to enchant.”

              Steve was soon ready for the enchanting ceremony. The librarian took the diamond sword and raised it in front of the enchanting table. “May this sword always be sharp,” he said.

              Then the librarian raised the helmet. “May this helmet protect you from damage.” He picked up each piece of armor, one by one. “May this chestplate never break. May these leggings protect you from fire. May these boots keep you from taking too much fall damage.”

              As each piece of armor was enchanted, it began to glow with energy. The sword was glowing too. All the villagers watched as Steve put on the armor piece by piece and drew his sword. “It’s time to find Herobrine,” said Steve. The villagers gathered eagerly and the town’s blacksmith spoke.

              “We’ve often seen Herobrine come from the hills off to the east. If you look there, you may well find him. Also, I’d be willing to give you an enchanted shovel for three emeralds.”

              “I’ll have to say no to the shovel,” said Steve, “but thank you all for your help. I’ll look for Herobrine in the hills and come back once he’s been defeated.” The villagers cheered as Steve got on Pigphelas and rode off towards the hills.

              The villagers were right about the hills being an area where Herobrine was very active— Steve saw trees without leaves, little tunnels, and pyramids everywhere. There weren’t any animals around, and the only noise was Pigphelas’s plodding steps. Steve had his sword ready, just in case.

              Steve and Pigphelas came to a cave with little pyramids on both sides. Steve dismounted and pulled out a torch to investigate. Pigphelas followed as Steve carefully walked into the cave. Going deeper into the hill was a two by two tunnel.

              As Steve and Pigphelas stepped carefully forward, there was a click, and a load of gravel crashed down over the entrance they had just come in from. Steve tried digging through a few blocks, but more gravel always fell to replace the gravel he dug away. The entrance must have been completely covered.

              Gritting his teeth, Steve put a torch on the wall and went on. Pigphelas was staying closer now. The tunnel branched ahead, and Steve was beginning to feel a bit less sure of himself. He looked and Pigphelas and Pigphelas looked back at him. He had a bad feeling about the tunnel.

              Steve and Pigphelas continued along the tunnel and turned right, trying to look out for any dangers. The tunnel branched out again and this time Steve and Pigphelas went left. It was a pure guess, but Steve didn’t know what else to do.

              They were approaching a third branch when suddenly there was another click. Remembering the gravel, Steve dove to the side and Pigphelas rolled over, squealing. Gravel thundered down at a number of points all along the tunnel. Steve had reached safety, but four blocks of gravel had separated him from Pigphelas.

              Steve quickly placed a torch and took out his shovel, but when he dug through the thin wall of gravel, Pigphelas was gone.

Steve barely had time to think before there was another click and the floor opened beneath his feet.

              Steve fell for a few seconds of terror and landed in some water with a huge splash. Looking around, Steve saw that he was in a rough cave lit by torches. He stepped out of the water and tried to clear his head.

              Steve took another few steps and suddenly heard a gravelly voice behind him. “Hello…Ssteve…” Steve felt a chill down his spine as he turned to come face to face with Herobrine. Steve

swung his enchanted sword, but Herobrine teleported to the other end of the cave.

              The villagers weren’t far off in their description of Herobrine. His eyes didn’t glow, but they were completely white. Apart from that, he looked almost exactly the same as Steve, only without armor. It was eerie. Herobrine teleported again to stand on a rock a few blocks in front of Steve.

              Steve lunged forward and swung his sword again, but Herobrine teleported away and then back to another rock. Steve took another swing, and this time Herobrine only stepped back to avoid it. “Hello Steve,” said Herobrine.

              Herobrine pulled a lever that Steve hadn’t seen before, and they both watched as a trail of redstone lit up and part of the cave wall disappeared to reveal Pigphelas surrounded by fences automated arrow dispensers. Herobrine looked back at Steve and suddenly his eyes started glowing. He reached for a second lever, which Steve saw was linked to the dispensers.

              Herobrine put his hand on the execution lever slowly, as if daring Steve to try and stop him. Steve froze, then made his move. Time seemed to slow down as Steve leapt through the air. Herobrine pulled the lever and teleported away, but Steve had not

been jumping towards him. Steve landed on the redstone wire and cut it just as the current had begun to reach the dispensers.

              Herobrine growled in anger as Steve pulled out his axe and freed Pigphelas from the broken trap. Right away, Pigphelas lowered his head and charged at Herobrine. Herobrine teleported away only to find Steve rushing at him, sword in hand.

              Herobrine stepped to the side and summoned a diamond sword of his own, blocking Steve’s blow. Steve swung again and their swords clashed together as Pigphelas prepared for another charge.