by Kim Gamble
‘The three friends watched his face. His jaw dropped. He turned the page. A vein began to swell on his forehead. The Baron’s thick finger flipped page after page and his rage mounted, until at last he flung the Book on the floor and jumped on it. Tashi slid over the windowsill and stepped into the room.
‘“Good evening, Baron. You look upset.”
‘“The pages are all blank!” spluttered the Baron. “There isn’t a single word in the whole Book.”
‘“No,” said Tashi. “That’s because you didn’t open it with the golden key that Wise-as-an-Owl wears around his neck. If the Book is opened without it, the words fade right off the pages.”
‘The Baron gaped at Tashi and sank down heavily onto his chair.
‘“How could you?” Tashi burst out angrily. “How could you steal such a precious thing that is used to help all the village?”
‘“Why shouldn’t I?” shouted the Baron. “Why should Wise-as-an-Owl have it, just because his father had it before him? He never made a penny out of it; he doesn’t deserve it.”
‘Tashi looked at him in wonder. It was no use talking to such a man. He picked up the Book but the Baron grabbed it out of his hands.
‘“If I can’t use it,” shouted the Baron, “nobody will. It can burn!” And he ran to the fire.
‘Tashi jumped after him, grabbing his arms, trying to reach the Book, but the Baron held it above his head.
‘“You’d better let me take it back quickly, Baron,” said Tashi, trying to stop the quiver in his voice. “My friends have gone up to the village to tell everyone that the Book has been found.”
‘Lotus Blossom and Ah Chu, who’d been peeping over the windowsill, quickly ducked their heads down.
‘“We don’t want a lot of people hearing that you had stolen it,” Tashi said softly.
‘The Baron lowered his arms. He thought about that. “What about the clasp? It’s broken.”
‘“I’ll take it to Not Yet. He mends locks as well as shoes these days and, if you pay him well, he might break the habit of a lifetime and do it straightaway.”
‘In no time at all, the Baron had agreed, Not Yet had set to work and the Book was back in Wise-as-an-Owl’s trembling hands.
‘Tashi and his friends watched anxiously as he slipped his key into the brass lock and turned it. The Book fell open. White, blank pages … at first. Then slowly, as they watched, faint markings appeared; a moment more and clear black letters marched boldly up and down the pages.
‘The knowledge was back where it belonged.’
‘Ah,’ sighed Mum with satisfaction.
‘What beats me though,’ said Dad, pounding his knee, ‘is how that crook of a Baron stays out of jail!’
Jack smiled. ‘Don’t worry, Dad. I’m sure there’ll be justice in the afterlife.’
Dad snorted and went to find a pillow to punch.
Have you read all of Tashi’s adventures?
