Dominoes

by Barbara Gaskell Denvil

  The thing covered almost all of him from his nose to his ankles, and only the top of his head, his eyes and his toes were free, He was able to see that the thing was dark red and squelchy, and as it moved, settling itself more comfortably, it oozed red slime. It also stank. The gorgeous perfume of the wisteria was all gone behind the strong smell of rotten food and stale sweat. Nathan felt sick, frightened, and very, very angry. Sam had described something like this when he told his story two days ago, but he had described the red jelly-oxen as quite small. One had hidden up under his hair. But this thing could not hide nowhere for it was enormous. In other ways it seemed the same as Sam’s description, for Nathan could see no eyes or ears on the thing., It didn’t even seem to have a mouth, but underneath its huge walloping body, Nathan could feel the grip of its many arms and the large suckers which stuck it to anywhere it wished.

  Trapped and barely able to move, Nathan knew there was just one chance, for beneath his pillow he always kept the Knife of Clarr. But both his arms and hands were caught beneath the jelly, and however much he struggled, he couldn’t pull them free. He tried to hurt the monster, pinching it and kicking upwards, but nothing seemed to make it move, Probably, thought Nathan, being just jelly, it felt no pain at all.

  Wearing his nice striped pyjamas, at least most of his skin was protected from the disgusting gluck and gunge, but where the pyjamas didn’t cover, such as his hands, mouth, chin and neck, he felt the hot slime slipping across his skin. But trying to breathe was the hardest thing, and soon he was feeling faint. In panic, although the idea seemed utterly revolting, he managed to reach up with his chin, and bite hard into the creature’s underbelly.

  It lurched, feeling the attack, and wobbled a little to the side. Nathan spat out the trickle of the sweaty ooze, but the horrible taste remained on his teeth, and he still couldn’t free his hands to wipe it away. Yet his mouth was partially freed now, and he could breathe. He breathed deep, aware of his own blissful return to consciousness. Then he opened his mouth wide and yelled.

  The nearest bedroom to Nathan’s was a spare room, not very large, in fact almost like a cupboard, but large enough for a comfy single bed and a box for clothes. Now it was Richard III who slept there, and it was him who heard the call for help. He leapt from the bed, flung on the bedrobe that Bayldon had lent him, and rushed into the larger bedroom next door. He saw Nathan at once but could not believe he was really seeing the huge red lump that lay squashing him, and almost covering every part of him.

  Yet, as a man of action, Richard did not wait to puzzle out what had happened, He took two steps to Nathan, and grasping hold of one arms either side, began to pull. But despite Richard’s strength, the thing did not shift, and Nathan could not be pulled from beneath it.

  Looking down at Nathan, only his head now free, Richard asked. “What is this? More magic? Do you know how I should kill it?”

  Gulping, still with the vile taste in his mouth, Nathan said, “No. It’s a jelly-ox but it’s squashing me dead. If you can get it off, it might run away.”

  Richard stood back once moment, and shouted, “To arms,” at the top of his voice. The sound echoed throughout the cottage. He was used to calling across a crowded battlefield, and his voice was strong. Immediately almost everyone came running. First was Henry V, who had been dozing in the tiny room next to Richard’s, and then Bayldon who had been awake, worrying about many things that hadn’t yet happened, and probably never would. Bayldon understood the situation as soon as he ran into the room, and although Henry V didn’t understand at all, he helped what he saw the others doing. So as the three men heaved and tugged at the monster, so it gradually loosened the hold of its suckers and began to come free, Then Zakmeister arrived, grabbed the thing beside Bayldon, and again they all pulled. Sherdam arrived next with Messina, Poppy and Peter close behind. Sherdam, instantly pulling a short penknife from his belt, rammed it hard into the jelly things side.

  It wriggled, clearly hurt. Half it suckers had released their hold, and four arms were waving wildly from beneath. Sherdam wrenched out his knife, avoided touching the red slime which poured out, and stuck it in again in a different spot. Peter and Poppy were hitting it on the back with their fists, and Sam came hopping in and was nearly sick when he saw what had happened. “How did it ever grow so huge?” he wailed.

  Messina raised both arms as always, but this time closed her hands in fists. Richard was calling, “One, two, three, pull,” and again they managed to tug another sucker and two arms free.

  “Out,” called Messina, fists pointing at the thing. “I command the jelly-ox to return to the meteor and remain there.” Her arms unmoving, she repeated this three times, and then called, “Be done.”

  Richard, Henry, Bayldon and Zakmeister were all bending over, tightening their grasp and were ready to pull again, when suddenly there was nothing there and they realised they were tugging at empty air. At once Bayldon and Granny rushed to sit beside Nathan and hug him in relief.

  “Where? Where?” demanded Richard, staring around.

  “I cannot guarantee the creature’s death,” answered Messina. But I can assure you it has returned to its natural home, which is a great spinning rock many hundreds of miles away in the sky. I doubt it will return. It has no brain and is merely the servant of other more wicked and deadly creatures. But for the moment,” and she gazed down on Nathan, “I have achieved what was the most important rescue of my son.”

  Nathan lay where he was on the bed, head back on the pillow. The struggle had left him exhausted, and even once his mouth was free for natural breathing, his chest had been so squashed that breathing had been hard. He had honestly felt for some time that he might die. He was still covered in red slime and sighed. “I need a bath,” he said. “And throw my favourite pyjamas away. And then sleep and sleep and sleep.”

  “I felt like that,” nodded Sam. “Shame about the pyjamas.”

  “I’ll buy you another pair exactly the same when I go back to modern Hammersmith next time,” said Granny, leaning down to kiss his cheek. But she recoiled, laughing. “My goodness me, you do smell rather horrible, young Nat.”

  “I’ve got that taste in my mouth,” said Nathan. “I bit the thing, so I could breathe. How can I get rid of the vile taste?”

  “I’ll mix you a special drink,” said Granny, and hurried off to the kitchen.

  It was still night and the sky remained black, pricked with stars. Nathan stared out of the window as he lay relaxing in a very hot bath full of soapy bubbles and perfumes of jasmine and lemongrass. It was a very nice bathroom for a few people had gone back to modern London to buy proper equipment like baths, showers, taps, and a generator to produce hot water. However, a lot of things did not work very well, for in Lashtang there was still no electricity, no flushing toilets, and no central heating or air conditioning. But the three bathrooms spread through the cottage were all a lot more comfortable than they had been in the past. For Richard III, Henry V and Henry VIII this was as much magic as anything else.

  “I had pages to fill my bathtub with hot water in my palaces,” said Henry VIII to Nathan after he emerged, wrapped in towels, and climbed back into bed. “But I never saw a tap. Or a privy with such a nice seat. Or a shower with hot water coming out.”

  Richard was equally impressed. “The luxury,” he said, “of the shower, is magnificent. I was deeply content with the beautiful castle of Middleham where I once lived. It was greatly larger, and beautiful with high vaulted ceilings and tiled floors, with walls painted with wonderful scenes by great artists. But I never had a bathroom like this, nor a privy with a door.”

  “And proper paper designed for the privy,” said Henry V. “I had squares of linen, which were washed for repeated use.”

  “Yuck,” said Poppy, “I couldn’t do that.”

  “Hush,” said Sam. “That’s not a good thing to talk about.”

  But it was later when the sunny day dawned and Bayldon finally woke Nathan in the long hot a
fternoon, telling him it was high time he got up, that Poppy laughed and told him, “You missed a great conversation. Those crazy three kings of yours all started talking about what a great bathroom we have here, and how they never even had doors, or flush water, or even toilet paper.”

  And suddenly Nathan hopped out of bed with a huge smile, saying, “That’s what I should be doing. Fantastic.”

  “Making toilet paper?” asked Poppy in surprise.

  Building a great new city of Peganda with proper bathrooms,” he said. “And working out a way to bring over electricity.” He laughed, pulling on his dressing gown because he was wearing his very old pyjamas. “It really is like dominoes, isn’t it? One thing makes another happen. Just like dominoes falling make the next domino fall, one thing going wrong makes another thing go wrong. But something being good makes something else be good.” He hurried off the kitchen, where Granny immediately passed him a cup of hot chocolate and a piece of coconut cheesecake.

  “Two days’ rest,” she proclaimed. “No flying off to Sparkan yet, young man.”

  “I know what I have to do,” he told her. “Get to Sparkan as soon as possible, cut the Eternal Chain, come back and go to Peganda, and help build good houses for everyone but also find out how I can put electricity over here, and make it work for everyone without costing anything.”

  “I wish it cost nothing in Hammersmith,” smiled Granny. “But I don’t think any of us know enough to create a power plant over here, or hydro-electrics or anything like that.”

  “Well, we could try with magic,” suggested Nathan.

  Everyone else was now also sitting at the kitchen table. Richard III was thoroughly enjoying his hot chocolate drink, but Henry V said it was much too strange and he couldn’t drink anything so sweet and brown. Henry VIII had finished his mug full in one big gulp. He thought it wonderful. They all enjoyed the cheesecake as well. Sam was still sipping his drink, when he looked up, saying, “Nat wasn’t really hurt by the jelly-hog. A little one tried to suck its way right into my brain, but the big one just wanted to squash Nat flat. Why can’t we all go to Sparkan tomorrow? We’ve already lost today.”

  “Many disasters could occur on Sparkan,” explained Granny. “You need all your strength and you can’t risk going while you’re weak. What if Clebbster went to bathe with the serpents? What if Yaark and the other stars have gone there to make a new cloud home, or live by the volcano as the others did? What if one of the lava wolves became horribly hungry and attacked you? You can only go once you feel strong and in good health.”

  “I feel good,” Nathan grumbled.

  “And we’re all going with him,” said Poppy, pointing at Sam and Peter, “so we can look after him if we need to.”

  “You must wait one more day,” insisted Granny, and Messina agreed.

  “One day will make no difference now,” Messina said. “I will not risk my son becoming injured.”

  Bayldon frowned. “As empole, I believe you should be permitted to make your own decisions, my boy,” he said. “But the empole must also take good advice and look after himself for the good of his country.”

  It was a little later outside, sitting on the grass as the sun slowly set, sending great rays of red and gold across the blackening sky, that Richard asked Nathan about Sparkan and the Eternal Chain. “I will accompany you,” he said, “and protect you with my life, if this would help. Is your duty of great importance?”

  “Oh yes.” Nathan nodded, sitting forwards, his arms crossed and resting on his knees. “I’m the sort of prince here, like you were once in England. There’s something called the Eternal Chain and I’m the only person who can use the magic knife that has to cut it. Yes, it’s my duty and my responsibility. When I do it, all sorts of things will be made better. It took me ages and ages to find where the Eternal Chain is actually hidden. But now I know. On a volcanic island, like Stromboli. But Sparkan is floating in the air.”

  Richard was extremely startled to hear of islands floating in the sky, but he had been learning a little about this strange place and the magic everywhere. “But we cannot fly,” he objected. “How do we get there?”

  “If one of the others helps me,” Nathan sighed, “we could go straight there by magic. Maybe Hermes could take two of us. And he can call the ladder.”

  “A mighty tall ladder,” smiled Richard, finding this very hard to believe.

  “It is,” Nathan nodded vigorously. “But we’ve never fallen off and it’s not too bad. If none of the adults with good magic agree to send me there tomorrow, I shall call the ladder. Hermes can call it, and I think my knife can too.”

  “Very well,” said Richard at once. “I shall come to ensure a safe arrival and departure.”

  That night Nathan dreamed no nightmares and he had no return of the jelly-ox, neither in his bed nor in his dreams. Indeed, he felt most determined, and dreamed of success and happiness, bringing electric light, hot water and flushing toilets to all the new houses of Peganda. He woke with plenty of energy and wanted to rush straight away off to Sparkan.

  “Slept well, my boy?” Bayldon asked him over breakfast.

  Nathan was enjoying his scrambled egg and toast. “Yes, I feel fine,” he said. “So can I go to Sparkan?”

  “Yes indeed, tomorrow,” smiled Messina. “The people of the plains and the hills will be most grateful and truly thrilled once the Eternal Chain is cut. They will return slowly to their previous lives. But I believe they need warning, and I think you should accompany myself, Sherdam and Zakmeister today to warn those badly treated people that in one days’ time, they will rediscover their true selves. They can start to prepare, reuniting with their families, returning to their proper homes, and generally making plans. Such a preparation will be most beneficial. I shall enjoy travelling the great inland plains and grasslands of Lashtang, introducing myself and speaking of what is about to come. If the people have no warning, after the fearful things they have undergone before, suddenly changing back into their original form may terrify them. How can they understand? So you shall come with us, Nathan, and we will travel with magic. I do not want you to walk too much. I want you to recover your strength.”

  Nathan was thinking about this when Poppy said, “But why can’t you all do that anyway, while Nat and Sam and Peter and me fly off to Sparkan?”

  “I will not have Nathan facing such danger so soon after his terrible experience with the Jelly-ox,” said Messina at once. “And I fear that Yaark may be waiting. He knows exactly what Nathan wishes to do with the Eternal Chain.”

  Nathan gazed down at his plate. He was determined to go, and he intended asking Hermes. He looked across at Richard, who quietly nodded. The pact was agreed.

  It was shortly after breakfast that Nathan led the others outside. They didn’t want to be watched or heard, so they walked off to quite a distance and over the top of the little hill beyond the end of the garden. The sun was already bright.

  “Right,” said Poppy. “What next?”

  “I have to hurry before anyone catches us, but we need the ladder,” said Nathan. “So we have to find Hermes first.”

  “I hope he hasn’t gone off to market as usual,” sighed Poppy. “I could ask Ninester, but I don’t think he should come with us.”

  Definitely not,” said Nathan. “He’d be awfully scared.”

  Richard, his long sword sheathed within the scabbard on his baldric, stood shading his eyes, saying nothing. Beside him stood Henry V in full armour, but he had left off the small crown he had originally been wearing. Beside them stood Sam and Peter, and Peter was tightly clasping his lute. Poppy stood close to Nathan and wandering up over the hill trudged Henry VIII.

  “I have a bad leg,” complained Henry, “yet no one waits for me. It’s most unfair. I shall remember your bad behaviour when I get all my servants back.”

  It was Sam who said, “Well, you’d best not come. It’s climbing into mountains and tunnels and volcanoes.”

  Henry VIII stared
at Sam. “Then I won’t come,” he scowled. “Such suffering, such agony, none of you appreciate the terrible experiences I’ve had to put up with as king. The injury on my leg is shocking. I cannot climb.”

  “You aren’t even born yet,” grinned Poppy. “So you haven’t even suffered at all.”

  “Not sure about that,” said Nathan. “He was born about five hundred years ago. But in a different world. That makes it sort of hard to say.”

  “But you’ll miss the dragons and the three-headed wolves and the whooshabouts,” said Peter. “And you’ll miss me playing my magic lute. Come on, it’ll be an adventure.”

  “To be eaten by dragons?” said Henry, shocked.

  “No,” Poppy told him. “They’re really sweet. And you can sit and talk to them while the rest of us climb in the mountain.”

  “Oh, very well then,” said Henry. “Since you beg me, I shall please you all, and come with you.”

  Poppy decided not to tell him that she hadn’t begged at all, and no one really cared whether he came or not, but Nathan quickly pulled his knife from his pocket and held it up to the light. “Knife of Clarr,” he asked, “Please tell Hermes I want him.”

  The reflections from the sky and sunbeams were so brilliant that Henry V whispered, “It must be angels,” but Nathan hurriedly pushed the knife back in his coat pocket.

  Everyone looked up, waiting for the first sign of the great white goose, and Poppy pointed as the small shadow appeared, flying quickly closer. Hermes landed at Nathan’s feet, bowing his head. “I have come, my illustrious lord,” he said, “ready to do your bidding. Will you fly with me while I summon the ladder?”

  “Miracles indeed,” murmured Richard III. “If I am dreaming indeed, then I can only hope I never wake up.”

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  “Sparkan,” said Nathan. “And I have to admit the empress and empling don’t want me to go today. That’s why I’m not using my knife, in case its power get weakened. But we’re going. So can you summon the ladder for us, and then fly with Sam and Peter?”