by Kaye Umansky
‘That’s right, you tell him,’ encouraged Corbett.
‘Don’t let him bully you,’ agreed Joey.
‘I thought he’d be sparklier,’ whispered Sylphine. ‘And taller.’
‘Look, please hurry up and say what you want or we’re going in,’ said Elsie. ‘It’s the middle of the night and it’s freezing.’
‘All right,’ said Jack, ‘Let’s talk business. I’m ’ere because I ’appen to be in need of specialist housin’ requirements, in particular the ability to move off sharpish. Magenta Sharp’s famous moving tower’ll do me nicely. A little bird told me she’s disappeared and it’s up for grabs.’
‘That’ll be Nev,’ said Corbett. ‘Spread it around the bird population. Just can’t keep his beak shut. I told him to keep it under his wing.’
‘So I’m here for a viewing,’ went on Jack. ‘See how it works. If I like it, I’ll be movin’ in.’
‘The tower’s not up for grabs,’ said Elsie, ‘You can’t take it over because there’s a witch in it.’
‘You?’ sneered Jack. ‘Hah! Move out the way, girl, I’m comin’ in.’ He took a step forward.
‘Stay where you are,’ said Elsie. ‘We don’t want things to get unpleasant.’
‘You’re threatenin’ me?’ scoffed Jack. ‘You want to test my magical power against a handful of puny kiddy spells?’
‘Elsie’s spells aren’t puny!’ shouted Joey. ‘They’re good!’
‘She can do chocolate eggs!’ piped up Sylphine, not that helpfully.
‘Oh, oh, I’m so scared.’ Jack clutched his head and staggered. ‘Save me from the chocolate eggs!’
‘You won’t like the frog rain!’ said Joey. ‘Nobody does.’
‘And she can freeze people!’ added Sylphine, unwisely. ‘I’ve seen her do it!’
‘She can freeze people?’ Jack Frost’s eyebrows shot up. ‘Do you know who you’re talkin’ to? I’m Jack Frost! The Jack Frost! I’ll show you freezin’! I can make your little pink noses turn blue and drop off! Make the ice crack when you go skating! Bury you in an avalanche! I bring winter!’
‘We’ve noticed,’ said Elsie, ‘but it’s gone on too long.’
‘Girly,’ said Jack Frost. ‘I am through with messin’ about!’
He took another step closer.
This was too much for Nuisance. All this time he had kept the barks back and swallowed the growls and put a lid on the frenzied jumping. But this was too hard to take. This nasty man was threatening Elsie and he wasn’t having it.
He flew forward, barking and snarling and growling and really giving it everything he had.
‘Nuisance!’ shouted Elsie, worried how Jack would react. ‘No! Don’t!’
Jack Frost pointed a long, sharp index finger.
From the tip spurted a white, dazzling stream of frost! It hit Nuisance squarely in the chest as he jumped. There was a crackling sound, and he froze in mid-air. Stiffened, whitened, hardened – and fell heavily into the snow with a crunch.
Bill left his place at Joey’s ankles and launched himself into the air, making a beeline for his doggy friend. Basket to the rescue!
‘Bill!’ yelled Joey, jumping from the doorway. ‘Don’t do it!’
Too late. Two more streams of frost shot from two extended fingers. One struck Bill dead centre. Frost snaked along the wires, turning them silvery white. Bill drifted down to the snow like a broken butterfly. The second stream struck Joey in the shoulder. Crackling white tendrils of frost snapped across his face and around his body. He stiffened, then crashed face-first into the snow.
‘You beast!’ squealed Sylphine. ‘If you’ve hurt them, you mean, nasty m—’
To Elsie and Corbett’s horror, a fourth stream of silver frost zapped Sylphine. She froze on the spot then slowly keeled over sidewise. Only the door frame kept her from falling.
‘Now, that, small witch,’ said Jack, ‘is freezin’.’
‘That was really mean,’ said Elsie in her steeliest voice. The cold, angry one she used with shoplifters. ‘Why on earth did you have to do that? I’m not surprised that the Magic Circle are after you.’
‘So?’ said Jack. ‘They ain’t caught me yet. They’ll ’ave no chance at all when I’m in control of the tower. I’ll be able to move off to another dimension where they can’t get me. A nice cold, icy place . . . lovely! Now why don’t you be a good little witch and show me round?’
‘Don’t!’ hissed Corbett. ‘Don’t let him in!’
‘Defrost my friends,’ Elsie said. A plan was starting to form in her mind. ‘Then maybe I’ll let you inside and show you what the tower can do.’
‘Terry?’ shouted Jack. ‘Trev? Job for yah! Some rubbish needs clearin’ up. Stack ’em up and keep an eye on ’em. I’ll defrost ’em later.’
‘No,’ said Elsie. ‘Thaw them now, or no deal.’
‘Terry? Defrost ’em, but don’t let ’em scarper. Tie ’em up if you like.’
‘No tying up,’ said Elsie.
‘Trev? No tyin’ up.’
‘Thank you,’ said Elsie. ‘Come in, Mr Frost.’
‘What?’ hissed Corbett from her shoulder.
‘Sssh,’ Elsie whispered to him. ‘Trust me, okay?’ She raised her voice. ‘Wipe your boots, please, Mr Frost.’
And with that she picked up the lamp, turned and went in. Jack strode behind her, rudely elbowing Sylphine out of his way. Her frozen body fell sideways like a plank.
Chapter Thirteen
THE PERFECT DESTINATION
The kitchen was bitterly cold. The fire had gone out, of course, which didn’t help, but Jack Frost brought his own, personal cold with him, too. He stood staring around, shaking snow off his white boots.
Elsie took some matches, lit the lamp again and placed it next to the sink. ‘There, that’s better. Now we can see,’ she said.
Jack moved away from the flame. Even the small flicker of heat it gave out obviously made him uncomfortable.
Good, thought Elsie. Just as I hoped.
‘So,’ she said, turning to Jack. ‘This is the kitchen. Small but with some useful inbuilt magical features. Keeps itself tidy. Washes up if you’re really tired. Lays the table. Then there’s the magic larder that will provide anything you want to eat.’
‘Will it do mango an’ cherry ice cream?’
‘No,’ said Corbett coldly. ‘Not for you, it won’t. May sparrows spit on your stupid hat.’
‘Tell that bird to shut its beak. ’Ow many bedrooms?’
‘Two. Do you want to see them?’
‘ ’Ow many steps?’
‘Lots,’ said Corbett. ‘Too steep to climb in daft boots.’
‘You’re askin’ for a frostin’,’ said Jack. ‘I’m warnin’ you, bird.’
‘You could use Witch Sharp’s office if you need an extra bedroom,’ went on Elsie. ‘I don’t know what you’ll do with all her stuff. I suppose you could store it in the cellar.’
Corbett opened his beak to speak, then closed it again. He couldn’t understand what was happening. Not only had Elsie let Jack Frost in, she was being extra helpful. He knew she liked her customer service rules, but Jack Frost wasn’t a customer. He was a thief. Why help a thief?
‘Get to the important bit. ’Ow do I make it move?’
‘Well, you don’t make it do anything,’ said Elsie. ‘It’s more of a polite request kind of thing. Treat the tower with respect and it’s happy to help. Always ask nicely and remember to say thank you.’
‘That’s it?’ asked Jack. ‘I just stand ’ere and tell it where I want to go?’
‘Well, there’s a bit more to it than that. There’s a little ritual you need to go through. I’ll show you, shall I?’
‘Elsie!’ croaked Corbett in her ear. ‘What are you playing at?’
‘Shush. Mr Frost wants to see the tower move and we’re giving him a demonstration.’ She raised her voice. ‘Tower! Access to the Star Room, please!’
There was a pause. Then the wall
s vibrated. The kitchen rug rolled itself back to expose a large flagstone that detached itself from the surrounding stones and rose up and up and up to the ceiling, where it bobbed gently against a rafter.
‘Uh-huh,’ said Jack Frost. ‘A secret slab what floats. Not bad. Now what?’
‘Don’t show him,’ advised Corbett in her ear.
‘Down to the Star Room in the basement,’ said Elsie, ignoring the raven. ‘Follow me.’
Elsie led the way down the steps, with Corbett on her shoulder, still grumbling urgently into her ear. Jack Frost came clumping down behind, complaining that there wasn’t a handrail. His white high-heeled boots were clearly not made for stairs. Cobwebs brushed against his white coat.
At the bottom, a low passageway led away into the shadows.
‘Lights, please, Tower!’ said Elsie.
Instantly, tiny little dots of twinkling lights lined the passage walls.
‘Right,’ said Elsie. ‘Keep your head down, the ceiling’s low. Maybe start thinking about where you want to go? It’s your first trip, so make it something to remember. Why don’t you choose your ideal holiday destination? Where would that be, do you think?’
‘Somewhere freezing, of course,’ said Corbett with a sneer. ‘Just for a change.’
‘You’re right, bird,’ said Jack. ‘That’s what I like. A five-star ice hotel with big screens in all the rooms, showin’ people fallin’ over, en-suite frozen lake, fir trees, snow-capped mountains, big private Keep Out notices.’
‘Perfect,’ said Elsie. ‘Keep that in mind. This is the best bit. The big reveal . . .’
They had reached the end of the passageway and all of a sudden the room before them was lit by thousands upon thousands of stars. Whirling and swirling above and around, shining silver against dark, dark blue. The floor beneath their feet changed into something white and wispy and cool, like the inside of a cloud, or a sandy beach in moonlight. And right in the middle of that starry sky was the large, silver, eight-spoked wheel, like that of a ship, spinning slowly in mid-air, giving off blue twinkles and sparkles.
‘Oh, right,’ said Jack. ‘A magic wheel. I’m supposed to turn it, am I?’
‘Yes,’ said Elsie. ‘Give it one full revolution, while stating slowly and clearly where you want to go. Don’t jerk your hand away when the spokes heat up. Go on.’
‘What d’you mean, spokes ’eat up?’ Jack looked alarmed.
‘The spokes get a bit hot. That’s all.’
‘ ’Ow come?’
‘I don’t know. All part of the magic, I suppose.’
‘You do it,’ Jack told her.
‘What? Why?’
‘I’m not touchin’ ’ot spokes. You do it.’
‘All right, if you insist.’
With Corbett on her shoulder, Elsie stepped up to the wheel, which slowed to a standstill. She reached out and took hold of the two topmost spokes. She felt the usual pleasantly ticklish buzzing sensation in her hands.
‘Tower,’ said Elsie, ‘this is Elsie. Please take me to the perfect holiday destination.’
Slowly, the wheel began to turn. The stars froze in their tracks. There came the sound of faraway tinkling bells and the distinct smell of roses. The wheel completed one full rotation and Elsie stepped back and waited for the last of the special effects, which came right on cue.
There was a sudden, dazzling explosion of white light, causing everyone to clap their hands over their eyes.
‘What’s ’appenin’?’ shouted Jack.
‘Calm down, Mr Frost,’ said Elsie. ‘You can open your eyes now. We’ve arrived.’
Jack opened his eyes. The three of them were standing at the foot of the stairs leading up to the kitchen. There were no stars, no lights, nothing. Just the normal stuff you would find in a basement – broken furniture, old gardening tools, cobwebs. In her hands, Elsie held an old cartwheel.
‘And that’s the show the tower likes to put on when it moves,’ she said, putting down the wheel. ‘It’s not exactly instant transportation, but very reliable. Let’s go up and see where it’s taken us.’
‘I don’t like all these stairs,’ complained Jack, panting a bit as they climbed back up to the kitchen, where the flagstone still wobbled quietly up in the rafters.
‘Probably best not to move into a tower with its controls in the basement, then,’ Corbett snapped.
‘Belt up, bird!’ Jack drew a large white handkerchief from his coat pocket and dabbed at his brow. ‘Phew! It was stuffy down there. I’m too warm.’
‘Do you want a glass of water?’ Elsie walked to the sink.
‘Is it properly cold?’ asked Jack.
‘As cold as you’ll get.’
‘Yes, then.’
Elsie picked up a clean glass and turned on the tap. Behind the sink, on the kitchen windowsill, the solitary lamp still burned.
Now’s my chance, thought Elsie. How did that rhyme go again? Something like . . . hot and cold, cold and hot, come together, hit the spot.
‘What are you doing over there?’ asked Jack, fanning himself with his top hat.
‘Making sure it’s cold enough. Here.’
Jack Frost took the glass from Elsie’s hand. That was his first big mistake.
He took a huge swig. That was his second.
His eyes went huge. His face went red. Sweat began to stream down his face. His mouth opened wide and he sucked in air whilst pointing pitifully down his throat.
‘Fresh air!’ cried Elsie. ‘Quick, the door!’
She ran into the hall and threw the door wide open. Jack staggered towards it.
That was his last big mistake.
Chapter Fourteen
EVERYTHING EXPLAINED
‘That’s when she pushed him!’ crowed Corbett. ‘It was brilliant! His face was like a tomato and he was lurching about, gasping and sweating and pointing down his throat and then Elsie opened the door and outside, instead of it being all wintry, it was blazing sunshine! All hot and nice with blue sea and white sand and coconut trees! The perfect tropical island!’
‘I get it! It was Elsie’s dream holiday destination, not Jack’s!’ said Sylphine. ‘Because she was the one at the wheel. Yes?’
‘You should have seen his face when he realized!’ crowed Corbett. ‘Jack Frost with his mouth on fire, stranded on a tropical island! My beak nearly fell off!’
‘Well done, Elsie,’ said Joey. ‘Er – how did you make the water so hot?’
‘Just the heat from the lamp.’ Elsie explained. ‘I’ve been practising a bit at home. ‘She grinned. ‘I guess I wanted to get into hot water.’ They all burst out laughing.
It was early the following morning and Elsie, Joey, Sylphine and Corbett were sitting in the kitchen, eating pancakes and talking about the events of the night.
Outside, there were big changes. The sky was pale blue, the sun shone and the snow and frost were finally thawing. Water dripped from the trees and the white patches on the forest floor were growing smaller by the minute. There was no sign of the ice house, or the Frost children.
Nuisance and Bill sat quietly on the doorstep, both enjoying the warmth of the first ray of sunshine.
‘At least there are lots of nice cool pools to drink from there,’ said Elsie. ‘I know, because it’s my perfect holiday spot.’
‘He won’t be there long anyway,’ said Corbett. ‘He’s a wanted man trapped on an island.’
‘Well, he brought it all on himself by being so nasty,’ said Sylphine. ‘It’s all gone wrong for him in the end, hasn’t it?’
‘That’s what’s supposed to happen when you’re a baddy,’ said Joey.
‘It was so funny!’ Corbett gave a smirk. ‘I really enjoyed the tearing off of the clothes and running into the sea!’
‘I did, too,’ admitted Elsie, smiling. ‘And I quite liked it when he ducked under the palm tree for shade and the monkeys pelted him with coconuts!’
‘I wish I’d seen that,’ said Joey.
�
�We watched through the letterbox after we closed the door on him,’ said Corbett. ‘It was hilarious.’
‘He deserves to get laughed at,’ said Joey. ‘Him and his silly boots. When the Magic Circle knows where he is, they’ll arrest him and bring him in for questioning and he’ll do some answering and unless he shows loads of humility and agrees to go to therapy, they’ll confiscate his power. Right, Corbs?’
‘Right,’ agreed Corbett. ‘Just think. The great Jack Frost, brought down by our Elsie.’
‘Oh!’ Sylphine gave little gasp. ‘You don’t think he’ll be able to just summon up winter and escape that way, do you? On the back of the north wind or something?’
‘Not a chance. He has to abide by the tower’s rules,’ explained Corbett: ‘No magic power can interfere. The tower’s power shall persevere. Jack can’t meddle with Elsie’s dream holiday destination. He’s stuck there ’til he’s picked up.’
‘So everything’s getting sorted,’ said Elsie happily. ‘Jack’s out of action, the snow’s thawing and Spring’s coming. And, best of all, Magenta’s home!’
Oooh!
Well, now. You weren’t expecting that, were you? Yes, Magenta is back! Shall we find out how that happened and fill in a few other details, while we’re about it?
First, let’s go back to the moment when the tower disappeared. Coincidentally, at the same exact moment, Magenta Sharp materialized in the glade. The air shivered, and there she was, her red hair, cloak, boots and gloves creating a bright splash against the white, moonlit snow. She took one look around and really didn’t like what she saw.
No tower. Now, that was bad. Imagine coming home and finding your house gone.
Instead there was an ice house on a sleigh parked under a tree with a large, hulking, angry-looking reindeer idling between the traces. Also bad.
The next bad thing was that the stray dog who always tagged along with Elsie was sitting in the snow, staring at the place where the tower should be and making sad little noises in his throat.
‘Well now,’ said Magenta aloud. ‘What’s all this about?’
