by Kim Gamble
‘Ning Jing, for that was her name, pulled out a little bag hanging on a string around her neck. I looked at the ring respectfully. It was the first emerald I’d ever seen; it was green like the moss outside, green like a cat’s eyes in the dark.
‘I noticed that Ning Jing was rubbing her ankle, so I said, “If your leg is hurting, why don’t you stay here tonight and rest it?”
‘Ning Jing nodded. “But I would need some food, Tashi. I have only this one fish cake left.”
‘“Tomorrow, straight after school, I’ll bring you some more food from home. And then you can go on your way to the city.”
‘I had gone down the path only a little way when Ah Chu and Lotus Blossom popped out of some bushes to join me. We stopped and sat for a while in the gathering dusk as they peppered me with questions. I told them all about Ning Jing and her horrible cousin, and the emerald winking like a cat’s eye.
‘“Thank the Gods of Long Life,” sighed Lotus Blossom. “I’m so glad that the ghost was instead a Ning Jing!”
‘They both promised that they would come with me the next day with the food.
‘Never was a day so long. As soon as school was over we raced home to collect the food. Ah Chu, who always took a great interest in eating, raided his mother’s kitchen so well that he took an age to arrive, laden down with heavy baskets. And that is why, of course, he needed to sit down for a little rest on the way to the house while we went on ahead. And that’s how he came to hear three men blundering about in the forest. He pricked up his ears like a fox when he heard the name Ning Jing.
‘“Demon of a woman!” hissed the man with the long thin beard. “That Ning Jing – her mother was just like her. Stubborn as a mule, tricky as a weasel. Now which way did she go?”
‘“There’s no track here, no sign of her at all.”
‘“Well if you’d been keeping your eyes peeled instead of picking berries and stuffing yourself, we wouldn’t have lost her!”
‘When Ah Chu had heard enough, he stood up quietly and trickled off through the trees.
‘Bursting into the ghost house, he cried, “Three men are looking for Ning Jing in the forest.”
‘“Does one man have a long straggly beard?” asked Ning Jing. When Ah Chu told her, she buried her face in her hands. “I can’t fight my cousin anymore,” she murmured through her fingers. “Oh what will I do, Tashi?”
‘She looked straight at me then, and so did the others. I was just beginning to feel a little bit annoyed about people always asking me that question, when I had an idea.
‘“Don’t worry,” I said to Ning Jing. “I’ve just thought of a plan. Ah Chu, you hurry back to where you saw the men. Tell them you’ve seen a young woman – a stranger in the forest – and that she’s staying the night in an old empty house close by. Don’t forget to mention that the house is haunted, and something dreadful once happened there.”
‘Then I told Lotus Blossom that her job was to follow Ah Chu, but to stay hidden from the men. “You’ve got to make sure that they’re all thinking about ghosts by the time they reach this house.”
‘“How?” she asked.’
‘By making ghostly noises!’ cried Primrose suddenly. And she blew into the empty lemonade bottle on the garden table, making a low wheezy moan.
‘That’s it, my clever one!’ cried Uncle Joe, squeezing her arm.
‘You’ve got it!’ agreed Tashi. ‘I told Lotus Blossom I didn’t know quite how she’d do it, but I knew she’d think of something.
‘Well, Ah Chu quickly found the men in the forest as they were still standing there arguing.
‘“Take us to the girl then, young fellow,” said Cousin Bu Li, “and you’ll have a little something for your trouble.” Turning to his men he laughed, “And he’ll get a fist in the belly if he doesn’t!”
‘“Ooh, sir, I don’t know if I can, sir,” shuddered Ah Chu, making his hands tremble. “That old house is haunted, ever since two people were murdered there … hung by their necks from the rafters!”
‘“Haunted eh?” Cousin Bu Li crowed. “A fine place she’s chosen to hide. Why, she’ll be glad to see us!”
‘But Ah Chu noticed how pale he’d suddenly become.
‘As they moved through the forest, the men grew quiet and jumpy. Suddenly they heard a low wailing and whistling like a whipping autumn wind. They stopped and peered around. But not a leaf moved in the stillness. Cousin Bu Li shivered. “Just a bird,” he muttered, and moved on.
‘A minute passed and now there came thin whooshing sounds like a hundred samurai swords swiping at the air. Then a tremendous rattling noise of thunder made the men hold their hands to their ears, but the sky above them was clear and still as a piece of blue silk. A blood-curdling shriek – like a man having his throat cut from ear to ear – rushed the men through the forest, clutching onto each other’s coats as they went.
‘When they arrived at the path leading to the house, Cousin Bu Li needed all his promises of gold to urge the men on.
‘“Ning Jing!” he shouted. “Come out at once or you’ll be sorry for the rest of your short and miserable life!”
‘There was no sound.
‘The men edged into the house. They tasted the damp and the dust. They peered through the dark and the cobwebs. Then a deep shuddery wailing started and the men looked up to see a gaping black hole in the ceiling. The wail poured out of the darkness, filling the room like a river rushing into the sea.
‘The two men turned and fled. Only Cousin Bu Li stood his ground. Then the hairs on his neck stiffened.
‘A light appeared, shining up into the hole in the ceiling. It lit up a ghastly sight: Ning Jing’s headless body (he knew it was Ning Jing because that was her dress with the blue peacock on the front) and it was swinging from an iron hook. A sob drew his horrified gaze to an old chest in the corner. Resting on the top of the chest was … her head. The eyes in the head wept and the mouth sobbed, “Oh, cousin, why did you drive me to my death?”
‘Cousin Bu Li screamed and raced for the door. He bolted out of the house and ran so fast through the forest that he caught up with his men, passed them in a flash and left them far behind. He never went near that forest again for as long as he lived.
‘Meanwhile, I wriggled out of Ning Jing’s dress. You see, she was taller than me so the collar of her dress had covered my head. Ah Chu and Lotus Blossom, who had arrived back a few minutes before, helped me down and Ning Jing came out from behind the chest. She and her head skipped over to join us.
‘“Oh, Tashi, that was wonderful. I’ll never forget Cousin Bu Li’s face when he looked up and saw – what he thought he saw!”
‘Lotus Blossom was really cross. She said it was all very well for us, but she and Ah Chu hadn’t heard about the plan and they’d had a nasty shock when they saw that swinging body and talking head. She shivered, saying the next time I had a clever idea I needn’t bother to invite her along.
‘“Well, who invited you?” I said, and she gave me a good pinch on the arm!
‘Later, as we were enjoying a little snack of Ah Chu’s food, I said to Ning Jing, “It was strange that you happened to be in the haunted house the very day we came.”
‘“Not so strange,” said Ning Jing. “This house once belonged to my grandparents.”
‘“It did?” we cried. “What happened to them?”
‘“What? What?”
‘Ning Jing looked thoughtful. “I think that is something you should ask your parents.”’
Tashi sat back in his chair and grinned at Jack. ‘And that was all we were ever able to find out.’
Jack said disgustedly, ‘All grown-ups are the same, even the young ones. They never tell you anything.’
‘Some do. Percussionists do,’ argued Primrose. ‘For example, I could tell you what Lotus Blossom used to make that whistling wind sound, the whipping samurai swords, or the rattle like thunder.’
‘Lotus Blossom probably told Tashi everything already,’
protested Jack.
Tashi leaned forwards and tapped his glass. ‘No, she didn’t, Jack. We had quite an argument, actually. I suppose she was still mad with me about the fright she got.’ Tashi grinned into his lemonade. ‘So, Primrose, how did she do it?’
‘Well, come down into the garden and I’ll show you. Now, let’s see, what’ll we need? Some small branches for whipping swords, I think, and pebbles to turn in a basin …’
But Jack and Tashi had already leaped up and dashed off across the lawn. Bloodcurdling shrieks were heard as they disappeared amongst the trees.
THE BIG RACE
Jack burst into the kitchen on Monday afternoon. ‘Guess what happened at school today!’
‘What?’ cried Mum and Uncle Joe and Primrose, who stopped playing the conga drums to listen.
‘Our class was in the assembly hall and we were doing a stomping dance when suddenly the stage floor fell in beneath us—’
‘Batter the barramundi, was anyone hurt?’ asked Uncle Joe.
‘No,’ replied Jack. ‘Mrs Fitzpatrick leaped across the stage and saved Angus Figment who was right on the edge of this great ginormous hole. All the teachers gathered around and asked why wasn’t there ever enough money for public schools and now they’d have to come up with another amazing idea for fundraising to fix the floor, when Tashi stepped in—’
‘Ho ho!’ cried Dad, who’d just come in the door.
‘Yes, and Tashi said, really quietly, you know how he is, that back in the old country he’d raised enough money to build a whole new school! When all the teachers asked “How?” Tashi said, “Well, it was like this—”’
Suddenly the kitchen was filled with a drum roll from the congas.
‘Thank you, Primrose,’ Mum said, holding her head. ‘Perhaps we can leave that for the end of the story, dear.’
‘Yes, let’s,’ agreed Primrose enthusiastically, ‘or better, what about one super-duper roll for the climax, and a soft, furry one for the finish?’
Mum nodded weakly. ‘So, how did he do it, Jack?’
‘Well, Tashi said everybody had known for ages that something would have to be done about their village schoolhouse. The walls were all wrinkled and powdery with dry rot. Sometimes, the children could hear rustling sounds of white ants chewing at the wood.
‘But it was an awful shock when suddenly one morning – luckily while everyone was outside – the large roof beam cracked and sagged. Just a minute later the whole building slowly collapsed, and the walls quietly fell in like buckling knees.’
BOOF! BANG! BOOM! went the drums.
‘That’s not the climax!’ Mum protested. ‘And didn’t Jack say quietly?’
‘Sorry,’ grinned Primrose. ‘I couldn’t resist. That was an exclamation mark.’
‘Well, anyway,’ Jack went on, ‘Teacher Pang and the children stood open-mouthed at the sight of their schoolhouse turned in one moment into a pile of dust and rubble.
‘“What luck!” cried Ah Chu (who hated spelling tests). “No more school! Who’s coming fishing?”
‘“Not me,” said Tashi. “Fishing is one thing, holidays are fun, but just think, to have no school at all, ever! It would be so boring.”
‘A meeting was called in the village to try to find a way of building a new school. A few people brought along some timber and roof tiles and put them in the middle of the square, but there was not nearly enough. No one had any money to spare, as usual.
‘And then, two strangers wandered into the square. They were a mysterious-looking pair. Their clothes didn’t quite fit and although their large hats hid most of their faces, Tashi thought he saw a pair of yellow tusks as one smiled. And there, as one stranger turned to point Tashi out to the other, Tashi saw a a tail poking out from under his coat! Demons!’
‘Oh, those thick-headed thugs!’ cried Dad. ‘Remember when they poured spiders and snakes onto Tashi and he tricked them, jumping into that old Dragon’s Blood Tree?’
‘That’s right,’ said Jack. ‘And that’s why Tashi was especially nervous now. Because demons are always dangerous, but angry demons with revenge in their hearts are diabolical. And now what on earth were they doing in his village square?
‘The demons stood still as stones, listening to all the talk and wild suggestions. But finally one of them boomed over all the voices.
‘“No, no, what you must do is give us a race around the village! We’ll race one of these children.” He pointed a claw-finger at Tashi. “This little dillblot here, for instance. If he wins, we’ll give you all the bricks and timber for a new school.”
‘“And if he loses?”
‘“If he loses, he’ll be ours to do with as we will.” And behind his hand he gave a laugh that cracked with demon spite.
‘Oh NO!” cried the villagers and Tashi’s family. Especially Tashi’s family.
‘But the Baron pushed through the crowd. “I think that’s an excellent idea. Who would like to wager that Tashi wins?”
‘The villagers were so eager to show their faith in Tashi that they all put their hands up before they realised they had been tricked into agreeing.
‘“That’s settled then,” the Baron smiled nastily. The demons poked each other in the ribs and sniggered.
‘He’s the dillblot!’ exploded Dad. ‘That Baron could buy ten new schoolhouses for the village and not even dent his mountain of money. But would he? Never!’
‘“First I’ll go home and get my running shoes,” Tashi told the villagers. “I’ll be back here in one hour,” he called over his shoulder.
‘“Yes, so will we,” hissed the demons and Tashi spied fat drops of drool sliding out from beneath their tusks.
‘“Now where are they off to?” Tashi wondered as the family hurried home with him, begging him not to take part in the race.
‘“Don’t worry,” Tashi comforted his mother. “I’ll be quite safe with these on.” And he pulled his magic dancing shoes out of the playbox in his room. “In just a few seconds I can leap across fields and forests with these.”
‘While he was putting on his shoes, he told the family that they were right to be suspicious about the strangers; they were the two demons who had tortured him with spiders and snakes once before. The family was horrified.
‘“I thought there was something odd when they called you a dillblot,” said Tashi’s father. “What does that mean? I said to myself. Now I know – demons eh? They’re famous for their poor vocabulary.
‘“Now Tashi, my boy, if you must do this, please test your shoes one last time to be sure that the magic is still working.”
‘Tashi agreed, and when they returned to the square all the villagers were waiting.
‘The Wicked Baron raised his silk handkerchief. “Let the race begin!”
‘The demons bared their tusks and their terrible eyes spun and blazed but at the word “GO!” they shot off towards the forest. Tashi had never seen anyone run so fast.
‘He waited until he felt his feet tingle and then he was away. In two minutes he had flashed past the astonished demons. He’d just reached the halfway mark when, as his foot touched the ground for the next step, a loop of tough vine closed around it and he was jerked upside down – he found himself swinging from a tall tree. Had he stepped right into a Tashi-trap the demons had prepared for him? Wah!
‘In the distance he could see the demons coming nearer. He struggled and rocked himself in anguish. He knew what they would do to him once they found him dangling helplessly from a tree. He jerked and twisted but the vine held him fast.
‘And then he noticed that he was swinging a little. He arched his back and drew up his knees. His swings grew wider and higher. Just a little more and he was able to grab at a branch of a tree and pull himself up.
‘There were crashing sounds down in the bushes below and two hot and dripping demons went panting past. Tashi sat astride the branch and slipped the vine over his ankle. Then he scrambled down to the ground and set off again.
&
nbsp; ‘He was just catching up with the demons when he noticed that a mist was rolling in through the trees. In an instant it had thickened so much that the demons ahead disappeared from sight. Tashi crept on slowly, feeling his way, bumping into trees. The fog was cold like a rain cloud, and tasted stale and wet on his lips. He kept blinking against the grey light but it was as if a bandage had been pulled tight over his eyes. He jumped when he heard demon voices right beside him.
‘“I can’t believe you let the misty stuff out of the bottle in front of us instead of behind us! How did you reckon we’d find our way through this fog-thing?” shouted the first demon.
‘“I didn’t think,” whined the second. “Couldn’t you get it back in again?”
‘“You can’t put the fog-thing back into a bottle once it’s out, you dillblot. Don’t you know anything? At least Tashi won’t be able to see either. We’ll just have to sit here until it blows away. Dillblot.”
‘Tashi moved on carefully until his outstretched hands met a fence. He followed the fence around until he came to a familiar gatepost. I know this gate! he thought joyfully. It belongs to Granny White Eyes.
‘Granny White Eyes was so called because she could not see. Tashi and the other children of the village loved going to her house because she always had an interesting story to tell. Her brother had been a sailor and she’d accompanied him on many trips to exotic parts of the world.
‘Tashi crawled up the garden path and knocked on the door. Lotus Blossom opened it.
‘“Hello, Tashi. Oh, Granny White Eyes,” she called into the darkness behind her, “it’s Tashi come to see you!”
