‘Tashi’s eyes twinkled. He flopped down on the silken carpet at his feet. “All right, Cha Ming, roll me up.” The young man took one end of the carpet and rolled Tashi right up in it. “You see,” Tashi’s voice came from deep inside, “Cha Ming is going to deliver a beautiful last-minute present to the Emperor for his daughter.”
‘And that’s exactly what happened. They went ahead to the Banquet Hall, where five hundred guests were already waiting. Cha Ming followed, with Tashi tucked inside the carpet like a prawn inside a dumpling. At the huge iron doors they were met by two Palace guards with swords gleaming at their sides. But one of them smiled quickly and looked down at the carpet, giving it a nod. Cha Ming smiled back. The guards waved them inside and then went before them, calling, “Make way! Make way!”
‘When Cha Ming stopped in front of the Emperor’s chair, he slipped the carpet from his shoulder and unrolled it across the floor with a flourish. Out popped Tashi, like a seed from its pod.
‘The air was almost whooshed from the hall as five hundred guests gasped. Khan sprang up and signalled to his men. Tashi was ready. He stepped forwards and bowed, holding out the letter to the Emperor.
‘“Gracious Majesty, your friends at the Court have heard that your life is in danger. Please read this letter.”
‘The Emperor’s face froze as he read Khan’s letter to General Zeng. Khan’s hand clutched at his sword. His jaw clenched hard as steel. But he was too late. Tashi’s new friend, the Palace guard, had already doubled the Emperor’s troops and they were surrounding the hall. Khan and his father were seized and marched outside.
‘The Emperor shook his head. “I can’t believe it. He seemed such a fine young man.” He looked over to Princess Hoiti-Toiti. “I’m sorry, my daughter. You were right and I was wrong.” He gave a sad laugh. “And all the wonderful wedding preparations wasted, all the beautiful presents must be sent back …”
‘The Emperor shrugged, and cleared his throat. “Well, young Tashi, once again I must ask how I can reward you for such a great service to me and my family.”
‘Tashi took a deep breath. “Thank you, Majesty. What I would like most of all would be to see the Princess Hoiti-Toiti marry the man she loves – Cha Ming.” And he added in a rush, “The wedding could still take place tomorrow, and all the preparations would not be wasted and the presents not sent back.”
‘The Emperor looked startled. Then he gave a reluctant laugh. “Is that what you really want, Hoiti-Toiti?” His daughter nodded, her smile gleaming wide in the lamplight.
‘“Then let the celebrations begin … again!”
‘Later that evening, Princess Hoiti-Toiti pulled Tashi aside. She took a magnificent gold medallion from her neck and clasped it around Tashi’s. “I want you to wear this, Tashi, as a token of my gratitude and as a sorry from me for all the times I spoke unkindly to you in the past. I am very lucky that you have such a generous heart.”
‘Tashi found it hard to speak just then. There was a lump in his throat – it was the first time Hoiti-Toiti had ever been kind to him.
‘He was saved from answering by Cha Ming, who laughed, “And if you were wondering what to give us for a wedding present, Tashi – there’s nothing we’d like more than one of your special Ghost Cakes!”’
Jack’s family was quiet for a moment, thinking.
‘So what’s the message here?’ said Uncle Joe. ‘The next time I get a bad surprise, I should roll myself up in a carpet?’
Dad was frowning. ‘I can see how the Ghost Cakes were useful, but what about the balm for spider bites and herb for calming snakes? Where do they come in?’
‘That’s another story, I bet,’ said Mum.
‘Or,’ said Dad, his frown clearing, they’re like the extra cash I put in my pocket when I go out for the day – a just-in-case Tashi thing.’
‘A you-never-know Tashi thing.’
‘A Tashi weapon-against-bad-surprises!’ cried Uncle Joe, leaping up with satisfaction and dashing out to the shed.
‘No, you’ll see, they’ll turn up in another story,’ Mum whispered to her teacup. ‘And it’ll be a surprise.’
‘Do you ever remember your dreams?’ asked Jack.
‘Sometimes,’ said Dad, ‘when they're scary.’
‘Me too,’ agreed Jack. ‘Take last night. I was being chased through the jungle by a monster with two heads—one was a lion and the other a goat. The lion-head kept roaring “rip, tear, kill!” and the goat-head kept saying “stop and smell the grass why don't you?”
‘Gosh. Which jungle was this? The African or the Amazon?’
‘Oh Dad, what does it matter?’
‘Well there’s completely different animal life for a start. Take your typical Amazon forest—’
‘Did it catch you in the end?’ put in Mum.
‘The monster? No. The two heads were so busy arguing, it got kind of paralysed. Then a python slid down from a tree and strangled it.’
‘Must have been the African jungle,’ said Dad, ‘what with the python and all.’
‘That’s not true, pythons are everywhere,’ said Mum. ‘We had one in our backyard when I was a girl.’
Dad shuddered. ‘You never mentioned that when I came to visit.’
‘You know, Tashi had troubles with a mixed-up monster,’ Jack said. ‘He was telling me about it yesterday.’
‘Aha, maybe that’s why you had the dream!’ said Mum. ‘What happened? Go on, we want to know everything.’
‘Well, see, it was like this. It was a sunny Sunday afternoon and Tashi, Ah Chu and Lotus Blossom were sprawled on the grass behind Wise-as-an-Owl’s house. They’d just had a big lunch and felt a bit sleepy – especially Ah Chu.’
‘Ah, that one!’ cried Dad. ‘He’d eat the bottom off a porcupine if it stood still for long enough!’
‘Yeah. Well, they could see Wise-as-an-Owl nodding over a book in his garden workshop, and his son, Much-to-Learn, puttering about behind him at a table. Ah Chu was yawning, almost asleep, when suddenly Tashi put his head to the ground. “Listen,” he said, “can you hear something rumbling?”
‘A second later, Wise-as-an-Owl burst out of the workshop. “Tashi, children, run! – no, it’s too late. Hide!” He pulled them over to some thick bushes.
‘“What is it?” Tashi asked.
‘Wise-as-an-Owl groaned. “Oh dear, I should have seen it coming. Much-to-Learn has been reading ahead of his lessons in the Book of Spells. It seems he’s found the chapter on how to create a Chimera.”
‘The three friends looked at each other anxiously. “What is a Chimera?”
‘“It’s a creature from the past – a fearsome, fire-breathing monster with the head of a lion, the body of a goat and the tail of a serpent.”
‘“Wah! How big is it?” Tashi wanted to know.
‘Wise-as-an-Owl’s voice quavered. “This one is almost as big as the workshop.”
‘Suddenly the workshop walls split apart and the roof shot up in the air. A huge snarling lion’s head appeared above the skyline.
‘“Or maybe even a bit bigger,” Wise-as-an-Owl faltered.
‘The head sent out a thunderous roar that rolled out, echoing and re-echoing across the fields.
‘“Do you think Much-to-Learn got away?” Tashi asked in a small voice.
‘“No. I left him hiding under the table.” Wise-as-an-Owl’s face quivered and his eyes filled. “I don’t know how long he can stay out of sight.” The old man’s knees suddenly folded beneath him and he sank onto the grass. “Help me up, Tashi. I must go back to my son.”
‘Tashi and Lotus Blossom put their arms around him and looked at each other fearfully over his head.
‘“What can we do, Wise-as-an-Owl?” Tashi asked. “How can we get rid of this creature?”
‘“I can’t say for sure,” Wise-as-an-Owl moaned. “There is a magic formula somewhere for dealing with the monster, but it’s not the sort of thing you study every day. And I couldn’t stop to take the Book of Spells befor
e leaving.”
‘“No, of course not,” Tashi agreed. “I wonder what a Chimera eats. Do you know, by any chance?”
‘“Well, lions eat animals and people, and goats eat grass and cardboard.” Wise-as-an-Owl sighed. “It will be one or the other, I suppose. Help me up, would you?”
‘“That roar didn’t sound like a grass-eater to me.” Ah Chu gulped. “And it sounded hungry.”
‘“You can’t go just yet, not while that … thing is there!” Tashi said.
‘But Wise-as-an-Owl climbed back through the bushes. He had only taken two shaky steps when the shell of the workshop fell away and the Chimera rose to its full height, unfurling a pair of monstrous wings.
‘“You didn’t say anything about wings, Wise-as-an-Owl!” squeaked Lotus Blossom.
‘“That’s because they shouldn’t be there,” the old man sighed. “Much-to-Learn has got it all wrong again.”
‘They clutched each other as the Chimera tested its wings, and then flew out across the rice fields.
‘“Do you think it will come back?” Ah Chu whimpered.
‘“Yes, I think it will,” Wise-as-an-Owl nodded. “This was its birthplace after all. But I must use this chance to bring my son out.”
‘“And get the Book of Spells,” Tashi added. “I’ll come with you.”
‘Ah Chu took a deep breath. “We’ll wait here and keep watch.”
‘“To warn you if it comes back,” Lotus Blossom promised.
‘Tashi heard Much-to-Learn before he saw him amongst the splintered planks and shattered glass of the workshop. He was moaning and cursing, trying to wriggle out from under the broken table.
‘“My son, thank the gods, you’re safe!” cried Wise-as-an-Owl.
‘While he lifted the wood away, Tashi searched for the Book of Spells, his ears pricked anxiously for the sound of flapping wings. He found the book under a pile of rubble, undamaged except for a sooty hoof print right over the page Mixed-Up Monsters.
‘Wise-as-an-Owl was gently examining his son. “Ouch!” Much-to-Learn yelled as he tried to move his right arm. It was broken; Tashi could see it dangling and useless. But they had no time for making slings, Ah Chu’s urgent whistle told them that. Much-to-Learn flung his good arm around his father’s neck and they hobbled back to their hideaway.
‘Two heartbeats later, the Chimera glided down to its birthplace amongst the ruins of the workshop.
‘Safely back in the bushes, Wise-as-an-Owl flipped through the Book of Spells until he found the page he needed: How to Destroy the Chimera. Tashi tried to peep over his shoulder. It was too hard to read the ancient writing in the dusky light, so he turned to help Lotus Blossom. She was making Much-to-Learn as comfortable as she could with a sling and a splint.
‘Soon the old man lifted his head. “Yes, it’s quite straightforward. Once we get the ingredients from my library—”
‘Ah Chu choked. “Go back down there, do you mean?”
‘“Just give me a list,” Tashi said quickly. “I know where all your potions and mixing bowls are kept, Wise-as-an-Owl. I’m quick and light – it will be easier for me to clamber over all that wreckage. Look,” he went on, “it’s nearly dark and the Chimera has been quiet for ages. I’ll creep down and see if it’s asleep.”
‘Tashi wished he felt as brave as he had sounded. A droning noise greeted him as he drew near. He thought his pounding heart would surely wake the Chimera as he felt his way over the smashed walls and windows. The monster slept, eyes closed, wings furled amongst the wreckage. Only its great tail lay slowly twitching, gleaming through the grass.
‘Tashi tiptoed to the library in the main house where the moonlight poured through the windows, lighting up the shelves of beakers in its cold, eerie beam. Working silently, Tashi found the ingredients on his list, one by one, and put them into a large mixing bowl. He was almost finished when he heard something move behind him.
‘He stood, terrified, his insides churning. The sound came again, slithering towards him across the floor. The hairs on the back of his neck prickled. He looked down and saw something glittering in the moonlight, beside his heel. The tip of the monster’s tail!
‘Tashi tried to slow his breath, to make his hands still. Maybe the creature would think he was a statue, or a piece of wood. But the tail was sliding over his foot!
‘He dug his toes into his boots. He imagined he was a tree, rooted to the ground. The serpent tail was heavy, like the weight of two men.
‘Tashi was melting with fright. But the tail came to rest over his feet. Oh please, thought Tashi, please stay asleep! He counted to one hundred, and still the tail didn’t move. Then slowly, smooth as honey dripping from a spoon, Tashi slid one foot then the other from under the tail.
‘When he was free, Tashi bolted back to the hideaway. Wise-as-an-Owl told him they’d have to wait until it was light before mixing the potion. They all tried to get some rest but twigs and stones stuck into their backs and Ah Chu’s stomach was grumbling like thunder. When the sun finally came up Ah Chu said it looked like a great fried egg and that made everyone even hungrier.
‘But it was time to get to work. Wise-as-an-Owl checked every item, asking Tashi to tick each ingredient as he added it to the bowl. Much-to-Learn sniffed, offended by his father’s choice of helper. “I could have done that, better than young Tashi,” he said, “only my arm—”
‘“If you hadn’t played the fool with the Book of Spells, we wouldn’t have to do any of this,” his father growled.
‘He turned to Tashi. “We’ll wait until the Chimera goes hunting for its next meal and then take this bowl to his den. We’ll just have to keep our fingers crossed that he drinks it when he returns.”
‘Finally the Chimera woke and left to look for food. When he was out of sight Tashi, with Wise-as-an-Owl close behind, carried the bowl of precious mixture down to the ruins of the workshop. He was just deciding where to put it when the air was suddenly filled with the screams of a terrified pig.
‘“Quick Tashi, let’s go!” Wise-as-an-Owl swung round, twisting his ankle on a loose board. He staggered and fell, hitting his head on the edge of the table as he went crashing down.
‘Tashi’s breath stopped in his chest. The old man’s face was still. Tashi tugged at his arm and called his name, but there was no response. He wasn’t dead, was he? You couldn’t die from a fall, could you?
‘Tashi tried to drag his old friend across the rubble. Wise-as-an-Owl was frail and thin, but now he seemed as heavy as a sackful of bricks.
‘And then, Tashi looked up to see the Chimera flying across the fields towards him. So this is it, he thought. This is how I’m going to die.
‘He felt a sharp shove in the middle of his back and Much-to-Learn said, “Quick, take my father’s feet, Tashi. You two, whatever your names are—”
‘“LOTUS BLOSSOM is my name!” said Lotus Blossom, “and this here is AH CHU, if you don’t mind, and as if you wouldn’t know our names, when we’ve both followed you into this deathtrap, risking our very lives for a mistake you—”
‘“Oh just get on with it,” panted Much-to-Learn. He was dragging the workshop door across the floor with his left hand.
‘“What are you doing with that?” asked Lotus Blossom. But then she said nothing more as she watched him lift the door and prop it up against a broken chair.
‘“Bring him over here, quick, and hide!” cried Much-to-Learn.
‘They ducked down behind the door just as the Chimera dropped to the ground. It looked around warily and moved over to sniff the bowl. Four pairs of eyes watched it without blinking.
‘It slurped the potion.
‘Out of the corner of his eye, Tashi noticed that Wise-as-an-Owl had lifted his head. The old man looked around, dazed, and rubbed his forehead.
‘CRASH! The door suddenly banged down, WHUMP! on the floor.
‘The Chimera sprang up with a snarl and faced its enemies. It spread its wings wide, scales glinting like fire
, cutting like glass. Its teeth were bared, its nostrils flared in fury. It pawed the ground with its terrible hoof and opened its mouth and roared a thousand times louder than the Magic Warning Bell.
‘The children clapped their hands over their ears and squeezed their eyes shut, and still the grinding roar went on and on and on until …
‘“Open your eyes. Look!” cried Tashi.
‘“No, I can’t!” wailed Ah Chu.
‘As the Chimera sprang towards them, Tashi could suddenly see through it, to the chair behind. The fiery scales were growing dull, wavering in the air like puddles after rain. The dripping teeth were fading with every second. Something hot stung Tashi’s cheek, leaving a small wet patch. And then, as the children all opened their eyes wide, the monster dissolved like a bubble in the air and there was nothing left to see, at all.
‘“What? How?” Ah Chu was rubbing his eyes as if he couldn’t believe them. The others just stood silently, feeling their hearts thumping.
‘“Well done, Father. Brilliant! I knew you’d find the very potion we needed! Let’s—”
‘But you know, they never did hear what Much-to-Learn was going to suggest because there was suddenly a dreadful yelling and cursing coming from the field below. Wise-as-an-Owl tottered off to find out what it was.
‘He came back with Mr Ping from the village. Much-to-Learn was still beaming. “Well, as I always say, all’s well that ends well!”
‘“Yes you always do, my son,” Wise-as-an-Owl said dryly. “Perhaps you would like to explain that to Mr Ping. He says that someone has stolen his prize pig.”’
‘Well,’ said Dad, getting up to make a cup of tea, ‘it just goes to show you should always listen to your father. Isn’t that right, Jack?’
The Book of Magnificent Monsters Page 5
