Zach and Joel wanted to share. Although brothers and usually wanting their own space, recent events had brought them very much closer together. Grace and George had rooms that would take any sized dragon. The ceilings of both rooms were high and illuminated by phosphorescence strips that lined the hard rock.
Pink realised that all the children had softer skins than dragons and would not be comfortable sleeping on the usual hard rock beds. She gave to each of them pillows she usually used to place her head on for a good night’s sleep. These were to be the children’s mattresses.
Joel could not contain himself any longer. “Where is the food” he cried? He had not eaten since they were captured by Dragon Green and his stomach was making weird gurgling sounds that made the others chuckle with embarrassment. Pink smiled a grin that made the children feel warm and safe. “I’ll make you some dragon stew” she said and returned to the front of her cave where her kitchen was located.
George huddled the group together. “Look we need to think about how we are going to get home. We have been on this island for what appears to be an eternity.” George was cut short by Grace, “It has only been three or is it four days,” she said, counting the days out on her fingers.
“Irrespective how long we have been here,” George continued, “We must find a way to get home.” That evening all four ate a hearty meal and slept like logs, dreaming of finding a way back.
“Another day,” Dragon Gold chanted to Dragon Blue as he arrived early to discuss the pending trial of Dragon Black. Removing an evidence container from his desk drawer, Blue stretched out his paw-like hand. He said: “I have spent most of the night finalising this for you. I have reviewed all the past open cases of missing dragons and believe that Dragon Black is behind them all. In addition I have re drafted the charge sheet to show the key crimes that we should concentrate upon.”
Gold opened the container and peered in. “Well done, Dragon Blue. The sooner we deal with Dragon Black the better for all and looking at these charges I believe Dragon Black now faces the death penalty.”
Blue nodded his head and showed Dragon Gold to the door. “So when will you convene the court hearing? I need to know in order to ensure all witnesses will be available and that their testimonies are fully prepared and checked.” Blue looked at Gold for a reply.
“The day after tomorrow is good for me Blue, will you be ready?” Blue nodded, “Yes, no problem, the day after tomorrow it is then. I will post the times on the notice board outside if you issue the various individual notifications.” Blue waved a half-hearted salute to Gold as Gold turned and departed to his chambers. He had a great deal of work to do.
Having had a good dragon breakfast of fried turnips and turtle eggs, washed down with dragon’s orange juice and milk (Zach only drank milk) the four guests of Dragon Pink went to visit Dragon Blue, who they saw pinning an official notification to the notice board outside the station. Grace read it out aloud.
Draegonia Notification of Hearing
The Council of Dragons hereby decree that Dragon Black will be tried at 10 Dragon Hours on the 164 Dragon Day for crimes against Dragons and Draegonia. Crimes include;
1) Attempted murder of Dragon Brown.
2) Attempted murder of George Slayer.
3) Attempted murder of Grace Garond.
4) Attempted murder of Joel Garond.
5) Attempted Murder of Zach Garond.
6) Aiding and abetting the death of Dragon Green.
7) 172 cases of suspected murder in the first ‘Dragon Degree’.
Signed: Dragon Blue
Chief of Draegonia Police
“Whew,” Joel exclaimed, “He’s a real bad ‘un!”
Zach re-reading the notice pointed to the last entry, “172 suspected murders. How has he managed to get away with it for so long?”
Dragon Blue overheard the remark and explained to the four that Dragon Black had until recently been a formidable creature. Being the only dragon that did not have clipped wings, he used to fly over the island on a regular basis, making all other dragons do his work and removing those who did not do his bidding. Dragon Blue further explained that over the years Dragon Black had became less willing to do anything for himself and just used fear and force to get his own way. However, sitting around all day on his throne and not getting any exercise had resulted in Dragon Black being somewhat out of his past and frighteningly fit condition. This together with the important fact that Dragon Black also had ‘Flame Out’ and therefore had lost his most powerful weapon had made his capture and restraint more possible.
“Grace, will we be at Dragon Black’s trial?” Joel asked.
“Yes, I expect so. Is that right Dragon Blue?” she asked.
Dragon Blue, with a rather sterner face, nodded and with some sense of urgency, (he had been working for nearly 36 ‘Dragon Hours’ now with very little sleep) informed them all that they would be called as witnesses and that they too would have to provide statements. Blue looked at his large ‘Dragon Watch’ suspended from a gold chain that he pulled from his chest pocket.
“There’s no time like the present, come in and we will get them done straight away,” he said. The children followed him through the door with it closing behind them - they would be busy for most of the day.
That evening Dragons Pink and White had met with the four children to have dinner. Dragon Chez Rainbow was just one of three restaurants that were considered by Dragon Gold as outstanding and it was on his recommendation that the six had booked a table.
The cavernous room was decked with different coloured stone slabs placed centrally on cylinders of similar but contrasting coloured rock, allowing dragon legs to comfortably fit under the makeshift table tops. Dragons usually sit on their haunches, so no chairs could be seen.
The dragon restaurant’s French Head Waiter appeared and greeted them. He was a multicoloured dragon that fitted in with the restaurant’s name. He wore a small waistcoat with buttons made of special gem stones that glittered in the subdued light. “Table fer seex” he said, “thees-ah way.”
They were all shown to a dragon table situated in the VID area (Very Important Dragons) close to a quartet that was providing music. One was on ‘Dragon Drums’, one on ‘Dragon Guitar’, one on ‘Dragon Piano’ the fourth was a singing female dragon. The mauve drummer was old and had grey stubble hair protruding from a narrow face with large bulbous eyes flickering from side to side as he kept beat with the music. The tangerine guitarist was not much taller but a great deal fatter. Working in clubs and drinking ‘Dragon Brew’ for years had given him a fat belly. He strummed lazily at the stringed instrument, tapping his foot in time with the music and looking bored with the whole thing.
The very dark beige pianist with a multi colour sash worn across his slim body, was a younger more energetic dragon, who every so often wanted to display his full talents by improvising and playing what appeared to be an entirely different tune, much to the confusion of the orange singer who would turn and gesticulate in a very unfriendly way to attract his attention, which abruptly brought him back to the original melody. As background music it was bearable but as a comic turn it was hilarious and made all four children roar with laughter at the antics.
The four children waited by the table as the Head Waiter sourced items for the children to sit on and bring them up to the height necessary to reach strange looking utensils that replaced their familiar knives and forks. George’s and Grace’s chairs were made of bamboo canes tied together with vine and shaped as a cube with a high back. Placed on the seat were brightly coloured sacks containing soft sponges taken from the sea.
“Wow, these are comfortable George.” Grace said, hopping on to her recently made chair. Another cane made box was brought up for the remaining two boys. This time instead of a seat made for one it formed a bench for two, but the cushions were individually shaped to fit small bottoms.
Menus were handed to each dinner guest as anot
her dragon sporting a white dinner jacket came across to pour water into cups made out of large coconut shells. Dragon White looked at the menu and recommended a starter of Pineapple and Salmon chunks on a bed of grass followed by Turtle Soup. For the main course White again pointed to the menu and exclaimed: “Oh, they have ‘Tortoise Shell Supreme with Baked Rat’. Delicious!”
All four children cried out “Aghhh that sounds horrible!” Zach winced at the thought and Joel just yelled “I am definitely not eating that!!”
Dragon Pink laughed out loudly, “Dragon White is of course only joking, the Pineapple and Salmon starter is very tasty and especially for you the Dragon Chef has been requested to make you fish and those things you call potatoes all heated up in a special dragon fat.” She continued: “We may not eat that type of food but know you’ll like it.” Four, very relieved and very hungry children settled back for a very strange, but delicious meal.
The meal was also consumed with vigorous conversation, each of the children asking in turn questions relating to where the dragons originally came from, why they had not left the island and eventually the chatter focussed on the problem of ‘Flame Outs’.
All of a sudden Grace pointed her finger at Dragon White. “Is it the light in here or are those black spots fading?” she cried. George turned and looked at all the other dragons that, when they first entered the dimly lit restaurant, had the familiar ‘telltale’ black marks apparently caused by the virus spread by Dragon White.
Joel and Zach jumped down from their seat and ran out of the restaurant soon to return with some strange facts. “The dragons walking up and down outside still have the black spots and they do not appear to be fading,” they cried.
“Sit down and don’t leave the table unless told to do so or at least ask for permission next time, which was so bad mannered of you.” Grace was not happy with the boys.
“Oh don’t have ago at them, they are just trying to help.” George was looking round as he spoke to see the reason why all the black spots on the dragons had faded to a light grey and on some were now disappearing altogether. “Are you certain you two that those outside still have their black spot infection?” Both boys answered in unison with an emphatic “Yes.”
Dragon White and Pink looked bewildered. White asked if it could be the water and Pink offered the explanation as something in the food. George pondered and said he was sure that it was not to do with the water as it was supplied from the same source that every Dragon used. He was also sure it had nothing to do with the food as a quick look round at the different eating areas showed different foods being consumed. No, it had to be something else.
Then it dawned on him. High into the ceiling providing the illumination making all white and yellow things glow significantly whiter was a bluish glow that gave him the clue. “Grace,” he whispered, “do you remember when we were down at our Nana’s and Papa’s villa in France last year we went to a restaurant where they used blue fluorescents lights as a means of sterilisation, you know killing insects such as mosquitoes?”
Grace nodded, and peering up to where the glowing strips were irradiating their light, said “That’s it. That’s the cure for the black spot virus - a good dose of being exposed to Ultra Violet Light!”
George explained to Dragon White their findings and that the restaurant had some form of chemical anomaly that turned the special lighting they had into UV. Grace suggested that both dragons should inform Dragon Gold to have every black spotted dragon pass through the restaurant, spending as much time under the light until their spots were all gone.
“This is good news,” Pink spoke softly. “Everyone will be well pleased with you four and ……” she was interrupted by White, “Will it cure our ‘Flame Out’ George?” Before George could answer Grace piped up. “No I don’t think the two problems are related. Clearly the spots are a virus and resulted from you sneezing over everyone spreading your germs. It shows you how important it is to wash your hands regularly and cough or sneeze into a hankie.”
“A Hankie?” White exclaimed.
“Look” George interrupted, “if you organise the curing of the black spot as we suggest, we will try to find a way to re-ignite your flames. After all, if it was the flare from our safety pistol that caused the problem in the first place, we might be able to utilise it with some modifications to restore a flame in one dragon hot enough to ignite others.”
Grace looked at George, he was her hero. Zach said he had a plan and Joel said he had an idea. “OK every one let’s go,” George said rising from the ‘Dragon Table’. “We will go back to Dragon Pink’s to start work on the Flame Out cure. White, you and Pink get to Dragon Gold and organise with him the communication process and timings for the black spot cure.” The Head Waiter thinking there was something wrong with all the commotion was reassured by having the bill paid before all six finally left to put things right for Draegonia.
CHAPTER 20
A Cure for Black Spot & Flame Out
Dragon Red was outside the Dragon Fire Station as the children approached. Pink had used the ‘Dragon Phone’ in the restaurant before leaving and had asked Red to assist, if requested.
The three boys had discussed what they would need and had a mental list of materials and tools to achieve their plan. Picking up an assortment of items from Dragon Red’s maintenance shed, they returned to Dragon Pink’s dwelling.
In one of the many spare rooms of Dragon Pink’s home, one proved ideal for a temporary work shop. All four realised the urgency of restoring dragon flames, as these were absolutely necessary for dragons to survive.
The ability to shoot flame was not only a defence mechanism but also used to heat stones for those cold winter nights, create fire for dragon furnaces and of course catch food on land, in the air or in water. ‘Dragon Flame’ was a matter of survival or extinction.
Working late into the night their plan was to cut down one of the three remaining ballistic charges used to fire the Vary Pistol, the gun that had caught Dragon White by surprise several days earlier.
“Look,” said Joel working out the maths, “we need to reduce the explosive by at least a third if we are to prevent blowing off a dragon’s head. We may have been fortunate in not killing Dragon White as the charge was fired from quite a distance, but to be sure of hitting the target this time without risk of injury, we will have to be a great deal closer and therefore the explosive charge has to be reduced.” Zach confirmed Joel’s figures and had actually started the delicate task of cutting back the charge using a saw like tool that dragons used to cut their nails.
“Be very careful with that” George said with a worried look on his face. “If you generate too much heat whilst cutting through, it could ignite and blow us all up and for goodness sake, move the other cartridges out of the way.” There were three cartridges remaining from the pack of four from the raft.
Grace suggested that to minimise the possibility of injury, a test firing should be made. An hour passed and the delicate cutting of the charge down to 2/3rds of its original size had been completed when Dragon Pink returned. “Is that what will return all ‘Dragon Flames’?” she asked.
Zach was the first to respond, “We just don’t know until we run a test.” “That’s right” George spoke with Grace in support. “We need a safe place to fire the gun with this size of charge in it. We will then know if the correct amount of heat can be generated and we have asked Dragon Red to suggest a firing test range.”
Pink smiled. “And where has he suggested you test it?” Joel, not wanting to be left out as he had been working hard on the project as well piped in, “He has suggested we use the Great Hall’s large fire grate and chimney and to measure from the blast of our shot the temperature the rocks get to. Grace and George have calculated that the temperatures need to get to at least 3,000C.” At that precise moment there was a bang at the door and outside with his truck was Dragon Red ready with the motor running to take the four to the Great Hall.
It did not take long to get there and in fact the children could have walked, but Dragon Red was concerned that the firing test may not go well, cause an injury or start a fire and he wanted to have his equipment on hand just in case.
Passing through the main entrance the five could hear groans and growls coming from one corridor and its makeshift temporary cell. Dragon Black was still annoyed, he was still threatening everyone but now being fed only on dragon bread and water his energy levels were waning. With his constant moaning going on in the background echoing through the chambers, the five moved on into the Great Hall.
“Over there,” pointed Joel. “Wow, it’s enormous” Grace retorted. George and Zach checked and counted the 22 large round rocks that dragons breathed upon to heat. They were black as coal but clearly did not burn like coal and so large and so heavy that none of the children could move any of them.
George gave instructions. “OK, I want Joel to pace out 20 steps and mark the spot. Grace you remove any items that are in the fire surround or close by that could catch fire. Zach you come with me and we shall load the charge.”
Dragons of Draegonia Page 12
