The Book of Spells and Secrets

by Kim Gamble

  ‘So tell me,’ said Mum, as she sorted the socks into pairs.

  ‘Well, it was like this,’ said Jack. ‘One day Tashi was poking about behind Granny White Eyes’ house, weeding her garden, when he came across a clump of mandrake plants. Wise-as-an-Owl will be pleased, he thought, and he set out to tell him.’

  ‘What’s so good about mandrake plants?’ asked Mum.

  ‘Be patient and you’ll hear,’ said Jack. ‘As I was saying, Tashi set off and as he was going through the square he met Lotus Blossom and Ah Chu. “We’ll come with you!” they both said, and Tashi agreed. It was a good excuse, of course, to peek inside the wise man’s house and have a look at all those strange plants and bubbling beakers.

  ‘But when they arrived it was his son Much-to-Learn who opened the door.

  ‘“You didn’t try to pick them I hope?” Much-to-Learn asked anxiously as Tashi told him about the mandrake plants.

  ‘“Of course I didn’t,” said Tashi. “I knew it would be much too dangerous for anyone but Wise-as-an-Owl to pull them up, although I expect you will be able to do it soon, Much-to-Learn,” he added politely.

  ‘Wise-as-an-Owl came in then and offered them all tea. Tashi said it had an odd taste – spicy, with a kick to it that tingled at the back of your throat after you swallowed. But it was nice and left you feeling calm. Anyway, just as they were leaving, Wise-as-an-Owl drew Tashi aside. He thanked him for coming, and he gave Tashi a little present wrapped in brown paper. Tashi tucked it in his hair, where he often carried precious things.

  ‘As they left, the children could hear Much-to-Learn listing all the magical and important parts of wild mandrake root.

  ‘It was a fine day, so they dawdled along, enjoying the sunshine. The way home took them past the Baron’s house and they could smell the delicious scent of flowers on the breeze. The Baron had a beautiful garden – it was a pity no one was allowed to walk in it.

  ‘Tashi said, “Why don’t we stop for a moment? The Baron isn’t here and we could see that new peacock he has been bragging about.”

  ‘“Yes,” agreed Lotus Blossom. “I heard him in the village yesterday. He says it’s the most magnificent bird in the world, and he’s bought a peahen as well. He was boasting that soon he’d be making another fortune breeding the most splendid birds in the country.”

  ‘They wandered around the garden, sniffing the orange and lemon blossoms, but there was no sign of the peacock. A joyful bark made them jump and they swung around to see Pongo bounding towards them. Tashi was just bending to throw a stick for him when the Baron came walking up the path.

  ‘“Where is my peacock?” the Baron shouted.

  ‘Pongo barked and as all eyes turned to him they saw that his jowls and teeth were covered in blood. Nearby, lying on the lawn, were two crumpled feathers.

  ‘The Baron roared again with rage and whipped the dog savagely. Then he dragged the whimpering Pongo to the cellar and shut him in. Tashi couldn’t help following a few paces behind and he heard the Baron shouting, “You’ve made a meal of my peacock, Pongo, now let’s see how many meals you miss before you die!” And he slammed the big iron door with such force that Tashi’s ears were ringing.

  ‘Well, you can imagine how Tashi felt going home that night. He couldn’t stop thinking about poor Pongo. Tashi’s mother wanted to know why he wasn’t eating his dinner but when he told her about Pongo, she said no, they couldn’t bring him home.

  ‘“Pongo is the Baron’s dog, Tashi,” she said. “If you take him it would be stealing.”

  ‘The next morning Tashi and his friends sneaked down into the cellar to bathe Pongo’s cuts and give him some food and water. Tashi had found some leftover chicken necks and egg noodles.

  ‘Ah Chu was sighing – he found it very difficult to watch anyone else eating when he was not. Even a dog. Even if it was a bowl of cold scraps. “Goodness, listen to that,” he said thankfully as they heard the clock strike twelve. “It’s lunchtime already.”

  ‘Tashi grinned. “That’s all right. You two go. I’ll just stay a few minutes more to give Pongo a bit of friendly company.” ‘After checking to see if the coast was clear, Ah Chu and Lotus Blossom slipped away home.

  ‘Tashi scratched behind the dog’s ears and patted his soft tummy. Pongo made low moaning sounds in his throat and licked Tashi’s knees.

  ‘Only a moment later, the door banged open. The Baron glared down at Tashi. “Interfering again, I see, Tashi. Don’t you know that once a dog has tasted a live bird you can never trust him again?”

  ‘“Oh Baron, what can I say to make you change your mind?”

  ‘A crafty look came into the Baron’s eyes. “Well now, let me think. You are supposed to be so clever, Tashi. If you really want to help this cur we’ll see what you can do. I will set you three simple tasks. If you can carry them out, the dog is yours. What do you say to that?”

  ‘“And if I can’t do the tasks?” asked Tashi. “What then?”

  ‘“Then you will have to kill Pongo yourself.”

  ‘Tashi shuddered, but he nodded. What else could he do?

  ‘The Baron paced about the empty cellar. “Let’s see now,” he chuckled. “Yes, that’s it! Task number one: When I return to this room after lunch, I will expect to hear you but not see you.” He paced some more. He sniggered again as he warmed to his work. “Task number two: I will find Pongo no longer bleeding all over my floor and those ugly cuts will be healed. Task number three—” The Baron’s face grew red with rage again. “And THREE: My peacock will be back in my garden ALIVE!”

  ‘The door clanged behind him.

  ‘Tashi sank down on the floor beside Pongo. He gently put the dog’s head in his lap and frowned as he stroked the silky ears. It was quite impossible. He sat for an hour staring in front of him, seeing nothing, and then his gaze dropped to his feet. A smile crept over his face.

  ‘“That’s task number one,” he whispered to Pongo. He leaned back against the wall and looked about the room. His smile grew broader.

  ‘Tashi ran to the far wall where cobwebs hung thickly in the corner. He carefully pulled a web down and took it over to Pongo. It covered his hind quarters. One by one, Tashi brought the cobwebs from the wall to the trusting dog until he was completely covered.

  ‘The bleeding stopped. The thick cobwebs lay like a bandage on the poor dog’s back. “Now we’re getting somewhere, Pongo!”

  ‘Tashi pulled the little parcel that Wise-as-an-Owl had given him from his hair. As he had hoped, it was a teaspoonful of crushed mandrake root. He popped it into Pongo’s mouth and stood back. Before his eyes the deep cuts began to close and heal. In another minute faint pale scars appeared under the fur – the only sign of those dreadful wounds. Tashi gave a shout of joy, but then his smile faded. He looked into Pongo’s trusting brown eyes and his heart shivered. “How can I possibly bring the peacock back?”

  ‘Tashi sat down and rested his chin on his knees. The minutes ticked by. He went over the events of yesterday afternoon again and again. He and his friends had come into the garden, the gate had been closed but the peacock was missing. Pongo had bounded over to meet them …

  ‘Later, when the Baron’s footsteps sounded outside the cellar, Tashi was ready …

  ‘The Baron stood in the doorway. The room was empty except for Pongo cowering against the far wall. “Big brave Tashi couldn’t help you after all, eh mutt? Scampered off home, has he?” sneered the Baron. He peered behind the door. He poked his stick under the bunk bed.

  ‘“No, not at all,” a voice answered.

  ‘The Baron spun around and looked behind him. “Wha – where?”

  ‘“See, I’m up here,” Tashi called, “having a little walk across the ceiling.”

  ‘The Baron’s jaw dropped as he looked up and saw Tashi but he quickly recovered and strode over to the dog. He prodded the cobwebs covering Pongo.

  ‘“What’s this? Trying to cover up the blood with – Good heavens!” The Baron h
ad another shock as he pulled away the cobwebs to expose the completely healed body of his dog. He swung back to face Tashi. “Well then, smart boy, that just leaves the peacock. Are you going to bring him back to life as well?”

  ‘Tashi bowed. “If you will come with me, Baron, perhaps we will solve the mystery.”

  ‘“There’s no mystery here,” snarled the Baron. “My greedy dog gobbled up a prize peacock and he’s going to pay for it.”

  ‘But Tashi went out into the garden and began to search around the spot where he had first seen Pongo yesterday. He examined the grass, the fallen leaves and the bushes nearby. He led the Baron down a path past the pavilion to a large thorn bush. And there, caught fast in the branches of the bush, was the peacock. Beside it lay a dead serpent, its body covered in bites.

  ‘“You see, Baron,” Tashi said quietly, “Pongo must have seen the snake slither towards your peacock, which ran away, trying to escape. The snake followed for the kill but Pongo must have run up and bravely fought him to the death. He risked his life to protect your property.”

  ‘The Baron swallowed and shuffled his feet.

  ‘“But all’s well that ends well,” Tashi beamed, “because now I have a wonderful loyal dog to take home to my family. Don’t I?”

  ‘The Baron nodded glumly. Even he had to admit that a bargain was a bargain.’

  Mum threw a pair of socks up in the air and caught them. ‘Clever Tashi – he saved that dog’s life! I hate it when people are cruel to animals!’

  ‘What dog?’ cried Uncle Joe as he walked in the door with Dad. ‘Have you got a new dog? Where is it?’

  ‘No, no,’ sighed Jack, ‘I was just telling a story about one that nearly lost his —’

  ‘Oh I see. That reminds me of the dog I rescued once from the back of a truck heading for north Queensland—’

  ‘Were you telling a Tashi story, Jack?’ asked Dad. ‘Did I miss out?’

  ‘Yeah, but I’ve written it down so you can read it.’

  ‘So Tashi brought Pongo home and all Tashi’s family were thrilled, I suppose?’ asked Mum. ‘Particularly Grandfather?’

  ‘That’s right. He called Pongo his “Serpent-Slayer” and he saved the best bits of his dinner for him every night. Grandfather said that dog was just about the pluckiest creature on earth, right after his grandson, Tashi.’

  ‘That’s true,’ agreed Uncle Joe. ‘Dogs are brave, but then he probably hasn’t come across the courage of the well-known African mountain ape. Now, when I was in the deep jungle of the Limpopo River I had the opportunity to …’

  When Jack and Tashi raced to the classroom one Monday morning, they screeched to a halt at the door. Was this the right room? The walls were splashed with paintings of pyramids, mummies lying in tombs, strange writing made up of little pictures. From the ceiling hung masks of jackals and fierce-looking kings, and the heavy air smelled sweet, musty like Jack’s jumper drawer where Mum kept a bag of dried flowers.

  ‘Look!’ cried Jack, pointing to gold pots of incense burning on the windowsill. The smoke hung in a curtain above their heads, mysterious, exotic.

  ‘In ancient Egypt,’ Mrs Hall, the teacher, said grandly as she swept into the room, ‘pharaohs were buried in mansions of eternity—’

  ‘Pyramids!’ called out Angus Figment.

  ‘Magnificent tombs,’ agreed Mrs Hall, ‘with burial chambers inside, filled with everything the king might need for the afterlife—’

  ‘And the pharaohs were made into mummies before they were buried,’ put in Angus Figment. ‘All their livers and stomachs and whatnot were pulled out first, and then the bodies were washed with palm wine and covered with salt, and the priests used to burn incense to take away the pong because all the gases in the bodies must have stunk—’

  ‘Thank you, Angus,’ said Mrs Hall.

  Angus looked around the room happily. He’d been wild about ancient Egypt since kindergarten, and knew all sorts of interesting details about burial methods and coffins. His mother had grown worried about him in Year One when he’d talked about embalming the cat, but the school counsellor told her Angus just had a terrific imagination, and soon he’d move on to other things. His mother (and the cat) were still waiting.

  ‘The Viking kings used to have their slaves and warriors buried with them,’ Jack put in.

  ‘Back in my country,’ Tashi said quietly, ‘we had tombs, too.’

  Mrs Hall looked at him. Her eyes were round with interest. ‘Did you ever see any?’ she asked. ‘Were there any ancient burial sites near your village?’

  ‘Oh yes,’ said Tashi. ‘A royal tomb was discovered, and I was nearly buried alive in it!’

  ‘Like a Viking slave!’ cried Jack. ‘Tell us what happened!’

  ‘Yes,’ said Mrs Hall, eagerly pulling up her chair near Tashi. ‘Please do.’

  ‘Well,’ said Tashi, ‘it was like this. Big Uncle had decided he needed a new well. You see, he lived quite far from the village and his wife was tired of having to trudge all that way for their water. So he asked our family to help him dig a new well on his land. Of course, when I told the teacher that I had to miss a day at school, Ah Chu and Lotus Blossom wanted to come too and help.’

  ‘And did they?’ asked Jack enviously.

  ‘Oh yes,’ said Tashi. ‘You know how Lotus Blossom always gets her way. It was fun at first. We poked about in the soil, the men carried away buckets of stones and we built castles with them – that is until Ah Chu sat on them to eat his lunch.

  ‘But the really thrilling part came when the men dug deeper and began to scoop out marvellous treasures, one after the other.

  ‘Ah Chu found a bowl decorated with a golden dragon and then, right next to me, Lotus Blossom gently brushed the soil away from a beautiful bronze tiger.

  ‘When Big Uncle himself uncovered a full-sized terracotta warrior, he told everybody to stop work.

  ‘“This looks like an important find,” he said. “We’ll have to send word to the museum in the city and let the archaeologists come out and see it.”

  ‘Well, I was disappointed – I’d been hoping to find some exciting thing, too. I stepped over to look more closely at the warrior’s battle robe and touch the scarf around his neck. I examined the warrior’s face, and looked into his eyes. And then, it was spooky, everything around me went still for a moment, like when the wind stops in the middle of a storm. I could have sworn the warrior was holding my gaze. There was a circle of silence around us, with just our eyes speaking.

  ‘“What?” I whispered, and perhaps I heard a faint sound. But now Big Uncle and my father bustled up to move everyone away from the digging and to fence it off with a rope.

  ‘Just then, too late, the Baron came charging up the hill. “What’s this I hear?” he shouted. “I don’t believe it! A burial site found here on your land?”’

  ‘Typical,’ groaned Jack. ‘That selfish moneybags ruins everything!’

  ‘Yes,’ agreed Tashi. ‘He’s got snake oil running in his veins instead of blood, I bet. Well, he blustered. “Why wasn’t I told?” and “This will be worth a fortune! To think, the number of times I’ve crossed this very field, never suspecting what was lying under my feet.”

  ‘“Well, if it is a King’s tomb,” my father said gravely, “the government will claim it, you know. It won’t be our fortune.”

  ‘The Baron looked at us with contempt. “These people simply have no idea,” I heard him mutter to himself. No one was supposed to go near the dig until the experts from the city arrived, but the Baron jumped the rope fence and went in to take a good look around.

  ‘Big Uncle gloomily went searching for another spot for his well and I tried to be patient. But I kept picturing the warrior’s eyes and how he seemed to be speaking to me.

  ‘On the fifth day, the team of archaeologists from the city arrived, and they were very excited. “This is a small tomb,” Director Han explained, “but very important.”

  ‘Teacher Pang had brought the
whole school up to hear the verdict and nearly everyone else in the village had followed. They crowded closer to listen.

  ‘“We’ll dig out this fallen soil and restore the walls and the brick floor of the tomb, and then we’ll put all the warriors and their swords and things back just as they were,” Director Han told them. “Unfortunately, as often happens, it seems the King’s burial chamber itself has been robbed and destroyed, but there are still many precious things here in the outer tomb. I’m sure we will find more.”

  ‘Teacher Pang was excited. “Imagine, children, we’ll be able to step into the tomb and go back two thousand years in time!”’

  ‘How marvellous!’ Mrs Hall couldn’t help exclaiming, knocking Tashi’s pencils off the desk. ‘Do you know, when the Great Pyramid was opened up, hot air rushed out and an Egyptian archaeologist said, “I smelt incense … I smelt time … I smelt centuries … I smelt history itself!” Imagine, children, what that would be like!’

  ‘I’m going to be an archaeologist when I grow up,’ said Angus Figment.

  ‘Well,’ Tashi went on, ‘several people from the village were given jobs digging, and I begged so hard that Director Han said I could be in charge of the teapot for the men’s refreshments. This meant I often passed by my particular warrior, and always I felt the soldier’s eyes were following me. But there was so much to see and do, with amazing finds each day: strange coins, weapons, buckles of gold, and even a terracotta chariot and horses.

  ‘So it wasn’t until the dig was almost finished that I felt the pull of the warrior’s gaze. Glancing around to make sure no one was near, I knelt down and whispered to him, “What is it?”