‘Aren’t you going to ask me what I know?’ grumbled Camelin. ‘I go to the trouble of setting up a spy network and neither of you seem in the least bit interested.’
Jack tried not to smile.
‘So… what’s going on at Smedley’s yard?’
Camelin puffed out his chest feathers and cleared his throat dramatically before he spoke again.
‘You do know who owns Smedley’s yard? Frank Smedley’s dad, you know, Tank. Well my source…’
‘Which one?’ interrupted Elan, ‘Would that be Grubber, Grudge or Pippa?’
‘If you’d let me finish I was about to say… my sources, so it’s all three of them, and Crosspatch, Bicker and Dazzle. They all came and told me the same story because Max and Tank have been over at Smedley’s yard since this morning.’
‘And?’ prompted Elan.
‘That’s where their new buggy is.’
‘You mean they’ve finished it already?’ asked Jack.
‘It’s finished but the boys haven’t built it… it’s been made for them by two of the workmen at the yard.’
Jack frowned.
‘But that’s cheating.’
‘Maybe they’ll be disqualified,’ added Elan.
‘Oh no they won’t, Dazzle heard them laughing about it; seems Max’s uncle is one of the judges.’
‘That’s why they were so confident when they came to register,’ groaned Jack. ‘We really don’t stand a chance.’
‘We’re not giving in,’ said Elan.
‘I agree,’ replied Jack, with more confidence than he felt.
‘Any news on the ambush?’ asked Elan.
‘Oh plenty, they’re all set for tomorrow afternoon. Snaffle saw Benbow carrying two big tins of syrup yesterday and Digger says he’s been down to the shops and got two more this morning. That’s four tins of syrup. It won’t be enough to fill the bucket though.’
‘How do you know?’ interrupted Jack.
‘Saige said it would take nine tins and she’s always right.’
Elan laughed. Jack would normally have laughed too but this wasn’t funny.
‘Please don’t come to the match tomorrow, not unless you walk down with us. Grandad won’t mind.’
‘It’s alright, Jack, honestly, there’s nothing to worry about.’
‘But there’ll be five of them.’
The rumble of Grandad’s car cut their conversation short. Camelin hopped down from the table and shuffled out of the shed before the car turned into the drive. Jack gave Elan one last pleading look.
‘Honestly Jack, it will be fine.’
Jack was woken early the next morning by something tickling his nose. He couldn’t hear any buzzing but he didn’t scratch it just in case it was the Dorysk. He didn’t feel good. Not only was he worried about Elan’s ambush, and his own problems with the gang, but he’d also had his bad dream again. Velindur was another problem he hadn’t fully resolved and no matter how much assurance Nora or Elan might give him, he couldn’t shake off his fear. His nose tickled again and he thought he heard someone whispering his name. He forced his eyelids apart and tried to focus on the end of his nose. A small white butterfly fluttered around his head, and he could see it was no ordinary butterfly.
‘Twink?’
‘Good morning Jack Brenin, please forgive my uninvited intrusion.’
Jack sat up; he was really pleased to see the little fairy.
‘You’re welcome anytime.’
‘The others sent me; they’re in the back lane watching two of those boys we chased from the meadow the other day. They’ve got rope around one of the branches of the beech tree with a bucket on the end of it. They were talking about you and Elan. We thought you ought to know.’
‘Thanks Twink, we already know what they’re up to but I can’t persuade Elan to keep out of their way.’
‘We’ll keep a watch on them, I’ll send the Dorysk if we need you.’
Jack didn’t know what help he’d be but if Elan did get into trouble at least he could raise the alarm.
‘Thanks Twink, will one of you let Elan know?’
‘There’s never any need to take news to Ewell House, not if the trees are involved, Nora will already have been informed. I’d better get back; I don’t want to miss anything.’
Jack felt a bit better now he knew the fairies would be there to help. They wouldn’t be able to stop themselves turning into bees if they thought the gang were doing something wrong. Most of them had run from the bees before and Tank seemed to have a big problem with them. Jack got out of bed and opened his curtains. He could see Camelin watching the house from the tree opposite. He opened the window wide so he could fly in.
‘You’re awake early, thought I’d be sat there a while yet.’
Jack was about to tell him about Twink’s visit but thought better of it. Camelin had obviously got some news of his own to tell and if it was the same news he’d be annoyed if he thought Jack already knew.
‘Has something happened?’
‘Aw Jack, you should have seen him, talk about laugh, I nearly fell out of the tree.’
‘Seen what?’
‘Tank, with the feathers!’
‘Feathers?’
‘You know, you can’t have forgotten, Max told Tank to get a pillowcase full of feathers. Grubber came with his report this morning and he’d laughed so much he’d got hiccups, so I had to go and see for myself. You should have seen him. He had two cushions on the grass and a pillowcase. Grubber said when he ripped open the first cushion the feathers exploded out, and went everywhere. He’s been chasing them round the lawn trying to catch them all. I arrived just as he picked up the other cushion… and guess what? Poof! He did it again. You’d think he’d learn from the first one. If he doesn’t want anyone to find out what he’s done he’d better hope there’s a strong wind before his family wake up. Their lawn’s not green anymore, he’ll never pick them all up, there’s just too many of them.’
Camelin bobbed up and down as he chuckled to himself.
‘Does Elan know?’
‘She will by now, there’s not much goes on in Glasruhen they don’t know about at Ewell House.’
‘They didn’t know about the gang’s buggy.’
‘That’s not surprising; you’d know why if you’d seen Smedley’s yard. There’s not a living thing inside their fence. Chopped everything down they did, cleared the land, covered it with concrete, and then piled it high with old cars, motorbikes and other stuff. You don’t even get weeds growing there.’
It didn’t sound like the kind of place Jack would want to visit.
‘I’m worried about the buggy race.’
‘You worry about everything, it’s the boy in you. Try to listen to the raven part and you’ll worry a lot less.’
Jack knew Camelin was right; when he transformed he really did feel different.
‘I’ll try to remember that, thanks.’
‘It sounds like your grandad’s up, I’ll see you later. I’ll be sitting in that blabbermouth of an old ash tree this afternoon, you know the one I mean, don’t you? I can keep an eye on the back lane and the cricket match from there.’
Camelin was gone before Jack could say another word.
There was a lot to do at the Cricket Club in preparation for the match. The visiting club were only travelling a few miles, which meant there’d be, what Grandad called, a good turn out. As Jack went back and forth with chairs from the pavilion to the grassy area, he scoured the trees for any sign of Camelin. He even took the rubbish out to the dustbins in the hope of finding him there but he was nowhere to be seen. Every time a small insect buzzed around Jack’s face he peered hard to see if it was wearing a pair of glasses. He hoped Elan would change her mind and not leave Ewell House but she had seemed determined to come to the match.
At lunchtime, Jack wasn’t hungry, the worry was gnawing at his stomach and the plate of sandwiches he was given didn’t interest him at all. He asked to be excused
and took his plate outside with his glass of juice. He leant his back against one of the trees. He didn’t have long to wait. Camelin landed on a branch above where Jack was sitting.
‘Aw Jack! Are they to share?’
‘Come and help yourself but don’t let anyone see you.’
Camelin dropped down behind the trunk and Jack passed a sandwich round.
‘Do you know what’s going on? Has Elan changed her mind?’
Jack had to wait until he’d heard Camelin gulp before he got his answer.
‘Elan’s coming over later; she’s going to make the gang wait for as long as she can. I’ve been and had a look, they’re all set up. Max, Danny, Techno and Benbow are in the field behind the hedge under the trees. Tank’s on the other side of the back lane with his pillowcase full of feathers, he’s hiding behind the widest tree trunk. You should have heard Max shouting at Benbow when he brought out the tins of syrup. They had a big problem prising the lids off. Max said he should have bought the ones in the squeezy bottles, not tins, but they got the lids off in the end and got most of it in the bucket. There’s loads of syrup all over the grass and they’ve just left the empty tins in the hedge.’
‘Oh dear!’ sighed Jack.
‘Are you eating that other sandwich?’
‘Not really but I’ve had a bite out of it.’
‘Not a problem, pass it round.’
Jack heard the familiar gulp that told him the sandwich was gone.
‘Do you want the cake too?’
‘Cake! I didn’t see any cake!’
Jack reached into his pocket and brought out an individually wrapped chocolate roll. Camelin’s head peeked from around the tree trunk.
‘Ah Jack, you saved me one.’
Jack smiled.
‘I know, I won’t tell Nora.’
‘I’d better go, I need to get myself a grandstand view, it looks like the other team are arriving.’
Jack watched a coach turn off Forest Road and drive past the pavilion towards the car park. He took his plate back to the kitchen.
‘The team are here,’ he told Grandad.
‘Do you want to come and do the scoreboard with me or would you rather watch the match?’
‘If you don’t mind I’d like to watch the game.’
‘See you later then, if you need anything you know where I’ll be.’
Jack went over to the trees at the other side of the pitch. From here he could see over the small hedge into the football field. He wasn’t sure he could vault the hedge but he knew he could squeeze under it if he needed to.
It was hard to concentrate on the match. The only good thing was that he was in the shade. Jack hoped the frequent clapping wouldn’t prevent him from hearing anything that might be happening in the back lane. There was a loud crack as the opposing team’s batsman hit a six. Jack strained to listen; he thought he’d heard a scream. What should he do? A loud buzzing in his ear distracted him.
‘It’s started,’ shouted the Dorysk.
Jack didn’t need to think, his whole body shook, not with fear but with anger. He dropped to the floor and wriggled under the hedge. He was halfway through when he heard the gang running towards him. He knew they’d see him but he didn’t care. He’d face them and tell them what he thought of them for being so horrid to Elan. The boys were shouting as they reached the bottom of the field. They yelled as they scrambled over the fence. Jack couldn’t believe his eyes as Max, Benbow, Danny and Techno all ran past him and vaulted over the hedge into the cricket field. They’d nothing on except their underpants. Close behind them was a swarm of bees. He watched as they fled over the pitch. The crowd stood, some shouted, others pointed but most of them were laughing. One of the police on duty began to chase after the gang. Jack was about to go and find Elan when Tank also burst over the fence. He had one very large bee chasing him. Jack had never met Veronica but he knew this had to be her. He couldn’t imagine any of the fairies he’d met so far looking so angry. Tank ignored Jack and leapt over the cricket club hedge. As he ran after the gang Jack could see his back was streaked with bird droppings. Camelin swooped down to the verge.
‘Did you see that?’
‘I did but where’s Elan? Is she alright?’
‘Did you see his back?’
‘I did, but never mind his back, where’s Elan?’
Jack heard Elan laugh as she turned the corner of the back lane.
‘I’m here, did you see them?’
Jack frowned at them both.
‘I’ve been worried sick for days and you two think it’s funny.’
‘Oh Jack, I told you not to worry. I was planning on teaching them a lesson. I thought I’d make sure the bucket tipped back on them instead of on me.’
‘But I thought we couldn’t use magic.’
‘You can’t but there’s nothing to stop me from defending myself; I’m not from this world and the same rules don’t apply. Anyway… I didn’t have to do anything. Their own stupidity sorted them out.’
‘What do you mean?’
‘Let’s go and sit under the tree in the shade and Camelin can start. He saw all of it and I’ll fill in the bits I know.’
Jack and Elan squeezed under the hedge and sat in the shade of the tree.
‘Well?’ said Jack. ‘Don’t leave me in suspense.’
Elan laughed again as Camelin gave a couple of coughs before beginning.
‘You should have seen them. I told you they had trouble opening the tins. Well they’d managed to get syrup everywhere. It was on the grass, on the trees, on their clothes and just as Elan was about to come through the garden gate, one of them shouted ants. Then the other three shouted too and started screaming. That’s when they started tearing their clothes off. They started swatting the ants on their bodies and stamping on the ones on the grass, which was a big mistake.’
‘Twink came to find me,’ interrupted Elan. ‘I don’t know how any of the ants survived but they did, and by then the fairies were really annoyed. The boys were mistreating the ants and weren’t going to stop. They instantly transformed into bees, just like they did in the field when Max tried to squash the spider.’
‘Did you ploop on them?’ Jack asked Camelin.
‘Didn’t have to, got my own Flying Squad. Think they got a bit carried away though. I hope they taught Tank a lesson.’
‘He still had his clothes on when he passed me,’ added Jack.
‘I think I can explain what happened there,’ said the Dorysk as he flew over the hedge. ‘When the gang started shouting, Tank leapt out from the hedge with the pillowcase. When he saw Elan wasn’t there he went back behind the tree. Max shouted for him to leave the feathers and help. That’s when he bumped into Veronica. He flung his arms about and tried to hit her, which was enough to make her very annoyed. She’ll not give up chasing him now till he gets indoors with the windows shut. It’s going to take her days to calm down after this.’
Jack looked over to the pitch where play had resumed. He couldn’t see any of the gang; they’d already disappeared into the next field. The police officer had given up chasing them and was on his way back to the pavilion. Jack finally laughed as he replayed the scene in his head. Elan, Camelin and the Dorysk laughed too. Jack wiped the tears from his eyes, his chest hurt and when he finally managed to calm down he lay on his back and smiled.
‘So you were never in any real danger?’
‘I told you it would be alright didn’t I?’
‘They’re going to be even more angry now, aren’t they?’
Elan laughed.
‘But we’re going to deal with it aren’t we?’
‘We are,’ came a chorus from a group of starlings who were perched next to Camelin in the tree.
‘Thanks everyone,’ said Jack. It was good not to feel alone even though his friends weren’t the usual kind.
THROUGH THE PORTAL
For the next few days Jack and Elan helped Grandad in the shed. The new Comet was taking s
hape and beginning to look more and more like a buggy. Occasionally Jack caught sight of Camelin sitting in one of the trees. He knew he wasn’t happy about being left out but there wasn’t anything Jack could do or say that would make him feel better about the situation. Grandad wanted to get as much of the buggy finished as possible before the Flower Show. Work would have to stop anyway when Jack went to stay at Ewell House.
Every so often Jack would have a little chuckle to himself when he thought about the gang being chased across the cricket pitch in their underpants. There’d been a report in the local paper about the incident but it didn’t refer to the failed ambush. The gang were described as inconsiderate youths and their run through the match was seen as a deliberate attempt to disrupt the game. Since the incident, the Flying Squad hadn’t seen much of the boys. They hadn’t met together or been into town. Jack was relieved. Maybe they would leave him alone now, he certainly hoped so. Jack was trying to take Camelin’s advice and think like a raven but it wasn’t really helping. It only made him miss Camelin’s company. They’d only been able to send brief messages to each other over the past few days.
By late Wednesday afternoon the pile of wood, wheels and metal had been transformed into something resembling a rocket. The buggy looked almost identical to the picture in the plan except that they’d decided to leave the hardboard flames off. Even without the paint it looked good. After Elan had said goodbye, and gone through the hedge at the bottom of the garden, Jack was exhausted. Grandad put two wooden crates in the doorway before going back to the house. Jack did a final tidy up and when Grandad returned with a cup of tea for them both, they sat on the crates and admired their work.
‘We’ve done well,’ said Grandad. ‘A lick of paint, a few tweaks here and there and she’ll be ready for a test run next week.’
‘Test run?’
‘We’ll need to test her to see how she performs. The course goes around Monument Hill. Whoever’s driving won’t be allowed out of the driving seat. On the uphill stretches the one riding on the tailgate can get off and help push.’
‘Aren’t we both allowed to push?’
‘Not a chance, that’s what makes it even more of a challenge. That’s why we need a third member for the team; their job is to help push the buggy up the steepest part at the end. The driver’s on his own for the last downhill stretch. The other two have to run down the slope to the finish. The clock only stops when all the team members are across the line.’
The Jack Brenin Collection Page 71
