Blind Man's Buff

by Barbara Gaskell Denvil

  “After that,” said Granny, “you can all do separate things. Poppy and Nat go to Sparkan, and perhaps some others too. Then there’s William, Hambrick and Tansle Octobr to settle somewhere. Sam can start learning about llamas and Peter can continue with the lute. Some of you may wish to help growing fig trees.”

  Alfie nodded. “I likes gardens,” he said.

  “But first,” said Granny, “it must be Yaark, Braxton and Tansle. For all of us. And I shall help. Tomorrow morning, Nat my dear, you must ask the Knife of Clarr to find the child.”

  It was another fine bright morning with a blaze of brilliant dawn that turned the sky as golden as Gilden. Nathan held up the blade of his knife, and it shone out with its own light and the reflected colours from the sky.

  “I need to find Tansle and Braxton,” he said. “And I need to find out more about Yaark. Can you help?”

  Nathan knew that the knife never spoke, but he had hoped it would send messages in pictures, or some other direction, yet at first nothing happened at all. So he went back into the kitchen where Granny was dishing out breakfast, and sat down at the table beside his father. Clearly Granny had her mind on other things for she had mixed the scrambled egg with icing sugar instead of salt, and it didn’t taste very nice. But no one wanted to complain so they all ate it anyway, and then helped clean away the dishes. Nathan was just about to admit that the knife had not given him any answer, when Alfie called from outside.

  “’Tis Dimples,” he called. “Reckons he’s got a message from them marsh folks fer the Lord o’ Clarr.”

  Nathan had no idea who Dimples was, so he hurried out to see what Alfie was talking about. On the front doorstep sat a very large black hairy spider. It was dancing up and down with its front two legs in the air, and when it saw Nathan, it swept both those legs out in front, as if it was bowing. But when both Gillywobbles and Candykins came galloping in, it rushed out of the way and all its hair stood on end. So Nathan scooped it up and took it into the kitchen table. Ferdinand gave it a nasty look and popped back inside the teapot with a quick click of the lid, and Dimples sat amongst the toast crumbs and spilt scrambled egg, and bowed again.

  “My illustrious lord,” the spider said, “since I and my friends have joined your muster, I thought I should bring you the latest news.”

  Alice had left the kitchen in a hurry as soon as she saw Dimples, and some of the others, having finished their strange breakfast, had also wandered off, but Granny sat down and put on her glasses. “How very kind, Mistress Dimples,” she said. “We were hoping for news.”

  “I live on the great marshlands,” said the tarantula. “It is where I lived as a man, and it is very peaceful there. But now two noisy men have arrived and built a small shed. It’s not a wise place to build as I started to tell them, but the dark-skinned man tried to stamp on me, so I left them both to it. That spot is very marshy and goes underwater after the rains, but they have put a little girl in there, and tied her to the wall. She can only lie down in the water, and it is very cold too. The pale-skinned man wasn’t a good builder and I think the shed will fall down anyway.”

  Clapping his hands, Nathan jumped up with a big grin. This rather confused the spider who had expected Nathan to be upset. “You see,” Nathan explained, “I knew the child had been hidden somewhere but I didn’t know where. Now we can find her and rescue her. Do those two men stay in the shed too?”

  “No, no,” said Dimples. “They went off in a little boat up the river.”

  “Excellent,” said Granny. “And I have an idea. First we rescue Tansle. Mistress Dimples, I hope you can show us where to go.”

  “It’s a long walk,” said the spider with a sigh.

  “Don’t worry,” said Poppy. “We’ll fly there by magic. It’s very useful, having a magical grandmother.”

  After having explained all the news and all their plans to Messina, Bayldon and all the others, it was decided that Zakmeister and Granny, Alfie and John, Nathan and Poppy should be those who went to rescue Tansle. There were enough of them to overcome Braxton and his friend if they turned up, and enough left to protect the cottage, should that become necessary.

  “And Sherdam should soon be back, with a barrel load of figs,” smiled Granny. “Now, all stand together in the garden, and Sam, please keep Gillywobbles and Candykins out of the way. I’ve no desire to take them with us by mistake.” She had left Ferdinand at home too, and instead had taken Dimples into her apron pocket, but she was not accustomed to self-raising flour, and got a cough as she peeped over the edge of the pocket, which gave Alice a fright, and she went to sit with Messina.

  Within just a moment they all were standing on the scrubby green grass and the peat moss, with its many puddles of marshy rivulets. The sunshine here was not as bright, although it was still warm, and the whole place smelled of boggy stale water. No sheds or other buildings were visible, but Dimples jumped from Granny’s pocket, sneezed twice, and scrambled down the wet bank. “Follow me,” she shouted. “It’s not far from here.”

  Within moments they saw it, a tumbledown shack of ill-fitting wooden walls, and a tiny tin roof laid over the top. Zakmeister marched forwards and kicked at one of the walls. Granny called out, “My dear Tansle, are you there? Don’t be frightened. We’ve come to rescue you, and Braxton isn’t here.”

  After a breath, a small voice answered, “Help. It’s me, Tansle. Is Papa there? Or Granddad Octobr?”

  “No. It’s us,” Nathan said, pushing at the wobbly walls. “Nat and Poppy and the rest of us.”

  Granny and Zakmeister pointed their fingers at the shed, and immediately the walls came tumbling outwards, showing the small girl sitting tied up in the middle of a very dirty puddle. She jumped up, but slipped over, and had to be helped up by Granny. Nathan cut the ropes around her wrists with his knife, and she was so weak, she nearly fell over again. Where the ropes had rubbed at her skin, her wrists and hands were bleeding, and she had a terrible cold. “How long have you been kept here, my dear?” asked Granny.

  “I counted the nights,” Tansle said. “There were four nights and five days.”

  “Poor little thing,” said John. “Did they feed ya?” Tansle shook her head. “You must be ruddy starvin’,” John decided. “I ain’t got nuffin’ on me. Anyone got any nosh?” Poppy pulled out two broken biscuits and half a Mars Bar, and gave them to Tansle, who pushed everything immediately into her mouth.

  “Right. No more to do, let’s be off,” said Zakmeister.

  But as soon as he had spoken, there was a shout and two flashes of burning magic hurtled through the air right above his head. Everybody whirled around, and Granny pushed Poppy and Tansle behind her. “Keep right out of the way,” she ordered. “There will be some danger.”

  Braxton stood on the far bank, up to his booted ankles in sludge. In front of him, he held old man William Octobr, whose eyes looked even more blind as he peered out into the sunshine, calling for his granddaughter.

  “Tansle, my dearest, are you there?”

  She called back, but Poppy pulled her further away. “Where’s Hambrick?” asked Zakmeister. “What have you done with him?”

  Next to Braxton stood another man, short and stocky, with bushy eyebrows and a heavy frown. “We ain’t seen him,” said the man. “Just this old geezer looking fer his granddaughter. But he dies, if you try and take the kid away. And they both die if you try to hurt us.”

  Granny and Zakmeister both walked forwards and stood on the nearest bank, right opposite Braxton. “You’ll never get Tansle back now,” said Granny. “She’s safe with us. We’ll find her father and return her to him.”

  William Octobr, tottering as he was held in front of Braxton, was clearly wheezing and having trouble breathing. “Don’t you worry about me,” he called in a wavering voice. “As long as little Tansle is safe, I don’t care about myself. I’ve no position anymore, and nothing to live for except my granddaughter’s safety. Kill me if you wish, but get her back to Hambrick.”r />
  Grabbing him around the neck, Braxton shook him violently and the old man nearly fell, and could not speak. “Then watch this silly old fool die,” Braxton said, half laughing, “or send the child back to me now.”

  “Never,” said Granny. “But there’s two of you, and two of us, even though I’m a plump old woman. So let William go, and face us, two against two, and fight fair.”

  What Braxton had not seen, was that Nathan, Alfie and John, in complete silence, had crossed the marshy rivulet, and doubled back to come around behind Braxton and his friend. Nathan held his knife, and both John and Alfie held swords. Alfie quickly dug the point of his sword into the other man’s neck, while both John and Nathan grabbed Braxton.

  Whirling around, Braxton let William go, and he set off running towards Zakmeister. Unable to see properly, he tumbled into the boggy water, but Granny helped him out, and he crawled over to Tansle, hugged her warmly, and sat there with her while Poppy described what was happening.

  Quite a lot was happening! Both Braxton and the other man were fighting Nathan, John and Alfie, but quickly Zakmeister hopped over to grab his brother, and Granny began to send long silver spears of lightning at Braxton.

  In moments, Alfie, John and the other man were rolling in the mud, and Braxton’s friend was wounded. His short sword had broken as Granny sent magic straight at him.. He looked around wildly, saw no help, and suddenly threw his broken sword at Alfie, ducked, turned around, and set off running away over the marshy flats towards the great River Rass in the far distance.

  Zakmeister pulled back his arm, and punched his brother once very hard on the nose, and as he fell, hauled him up and held him with his face over the marsh, so that his nose, which was now bleeding, was half in the mud. Alfie, Nathan and John let the other man go, and crowded around to where Zakmeister had his brother trapped. “Now then,” Zakmeister said, “I wonder what I should do with you.”

  But managing a glance upwards, Braxton suddenly saw something, gave a loud cackle, and shouted, “Fool. Failed again. I have better friends than you, old fool.”

  A swish of hot air over their heads made everyone look up, and there was the great shining balloon in all its wonderful coloured stripes, with the small basket swinging beneath. It was Brewster in his golden leather cap who was peering down, pointing and waving.

  “Well, well, ‘tis Zacky-Wacky and little old Granny come to play,” called Brewster. “Having fun with your little brother, are you, Zacky-Wacky? And all the others, come to play heroes and villains and swords and magic darts. What a great day! There’s Alfie-Walfy, and Natty-Bumble-Bee-Head, and there’s little Johnny too. But what have we here? Old blind-man’s-buff and Pops the wopsy-head, and another little girl, crying her funny little eyes out. Even though she’s just been rescued.”

  Braxton, managing to pull away from Zakmeister, was delighted. Clearly he had not expected his own rescue. Without care to his elbows in the mud, he wriggled away and stood up, waving and laughing.

  “Well, my friend Hazlett,” he called. “Come and get me and I shall sail away with you. I’ll let old man Octobr and his granddaughter go. I don’t want them anymore. I shall fly away with my friend Brewster, we two greatest magicians together.”

  Granny and Zakmeister were bitterly disappointed, but they stood and watched, saying nothing.

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  The bright striped balloon and its basket dropped lower and lower. Brewster stretched down a hand and linked fingers with Braxton, then hauled him up head first into the basket, legs waving in the air until he managed to settle. Both Brewster and Braxton peered down over the wicker edge, grinning.

  “Not October yet, little people,” Brewster called. “But follow me, and we’ll have a party.”

  “Oh, yes,” called Braxton. “A party as I sing and dance and watch you fools chained up and eaten by the snakes.”

  “Call your birdy train,” Brewster yelled, voice squeaking, “come and watch. T’will be a sight to remember.” He cackled again, waving his arms. “I mean it, all so serious my dear friends. Come see what this great wizard can do! Follow-wallow-swallow-and come see what this comic book hero can do.”

  And the balloon sailed higher, soon lost in the dazzle of the sunshine. Its colours were reflected a moment in the stagnant marshy water, and then that too was gone. Zakmeister turned to Granny. “No matter,” he said, though his voice was full of disappointment. “I thought I had him at last. But we’ve got the little child and old man William safe and sound, and that was our main intention.”

  “Yes indeed,” sighed Granny. “We had no expectations of trapping Braxton, so we’ve lost nothing.”

  Tansle, who was coughing and sneezing, was holding to her grandfather’s hand, guiding him over the puddled marsh. “I’m so hungry, Grandad,” she said, sneezing again. “Can we go home?”

  “Yes, my dearest,” William told her. “But where is home?”

  He was interrupted by Nathan and Poppy who both ran over, splashing through the puddles, and pointing. “Look,” Nathan called. “It’s the sky-train. Who called it?”

  Granny frowned. “Brewster told us to take the train, so perhaps he called it. But that would be a trap.” She marched over to the two large pelicans who were harnessed to the front of the train’s swinging seats. “Where are you supposed to take us?” she demanded. “If we go to Peganda, then William and Tansle can be dropped off at the main gate.”

  But the pelicans shook their heads. One said, “Certainly not, madam, we have our orders. And from the ruling family, no less.”

  The other pelican clacked its large beak. “We are to fly out over the western ocean,” he said, “and take our passengers in six large circles before bringing them back to land.”

  “Ridiculous,” said Poppy.

  “’Tis a trick,” insisted Alfie.

  “I reckons ‘tis sommint else,” said John. “That’s where you done chucked all them boxes o’ guns and stuff. So’s I reckons that Brewster is gonna float ‘em all up again and give ‘em back to Braxton.”

  “And we’re supposed to watch,” sighed Nathan, “and see how clever they are.”

  “But,” said Granny, “we can refuse to go. However, I wouldn’t mind seeing how successful – or not – they are. Those weapons will be sodden and broken.”

  “So,” decided Zakmeister, “everybody on board the sky-train, and follow that balloon.”

  A rather fierce looking golden eagle at the centre of the train, stared as Poppy climbed onto his padded scarlet cushion, and said, “Off to the Ocean of Crall, where the ships dare not go.”

  “Well, don’t drop us into the water,” said Nathan, climbing in to sit beside his sister.

  A large black raven which was looking rather sorry for himself, croaked, “Nevermore,” but then rose up quickly into the air as the train set off. The breeze was warm at first, but as the train rose higher and headed out due west towards the sea, the wind blew stronger and colder. Everybody peered over the edge of their seats, watching as the countryside below changed. First the marshlands dried out, leading directly into the dry grassy plains where the sun basked amongst the wildflowers. Then to the north they could see the first of the mountains soaring up white and frozen in the distance, but they flew away from the Tower of Clarr, and headed to the low hills and green fields further south.

  Eventually they flew over their own cottage, and the ruined palace, and they caught a glimpse of Brewster’s balloon flying in front and a little higher.

  Gradually they came closer to the balloon, and Braxton, looking very pleased with himself, waved again. Brewster was steering the balloon as it swung out towards the glittering horizon.

  The Ocean of Krall lay before them, a dazzle of sunshine on deep blue water, where the waves crashed against the cliffs along the shoreline. Granny was shaking her head, and muttering, “I don’t trust Brewster Hazlett’s plans.” But the sky-train flew on.

  John looked down with pleasure, for he had gro
wn to love the open sea, and sailing with his father had been exciting for him, in spite of the pirate attack. “Hope there ain’t no piraticals here,” he said.

  “Just a few monsters,” said Nathan.

  They were closer to the balloon now, and Braxton called, “Enjoying your trip to the seaside, are you?” But when Zakmeister called back, asking if his brother knew why they had come here, Braxton shrugged and did not answer.

  “I presume Brewster never explains anything to anyone,” Zakmeister muttered. “But this must be about those broken weapons. There’s no other reason to be here. But how does he know what we did?”

  “Magic,” Nathan said. “Brewster always says he’s the best.”

  The balloon was hovering, swaying in the buffeting winds from the cold horizon, almost tipping Brewster to one side, and Braxton had to hang on to the basket’s edge. The winds began to whistle and whine, and the sky-train started to fly in a great circle around the balloon and the dark tides below.

  Around went the sky-train, and the two pelicans at the front started chanting. “First time, all around. Second time, all around.”

  The balloon was swinging now with such force that it seemed most unsafe, and Braxton grabbed Brewster’s arm, shouting, “Take us away, you idiot. This isn’t good.”

  “Lickle scared, is we, Braxy-waxy?” cackled Brewster, shaking off Braxton’s frightened grasp. “Thought we was the greatest wizards? Thought we was the best of friends? Come along, Braxy-Waxy, play the game.”

  “What game?” said Braxton, looking both frightened and angry.

  And at that moment, Brewster gave a little jump, which sent the basket whizzing around even more, and pointed downwards. “Here we are,” Brewster said. “Another friend for you all to meet. A warm and cuddly friend, he is, but always just a little too hungry.”

  Everyone stared down. Emerging from the waves, the pale green body of an enormous octopus appeared, heaving itself up, its two massive red eyes staring out at the sky-train and the rocking balloon. Then as it sank back down into the swirling waters, all its eight great arms stretched upwards, like some sort of ocean-spider. With a twist, it turned, showing the huge black beak below its eyes, and then disappeared again into the depths.