‘“But, Wise-as-an-Owl, I think I made him to be very fierce.”
‘“Even so.”
‘The Baron joined the Emperor on the podium. “Your Mightiness, our village is surrounded by forest. If the fire spreads, we could all be in danger. But more importantly, we could all be eaten!”
‘The Emperor had been looking anxious and now he seized eagerly on this suggestion. “Yes, indeed – we need a champion – someone extremely brave and strong. Do we have any volunteers?”
‘The Bandit Chief, the Warlord, the River Pirate and the warriors all suddenly grew quite deaf. There was complete silence in the village square.
‘“Anyone?” asked the Emperor a little desperately.
‘Tashi whispered to Wise-as-an-Owl, “I suppose, seeing that I am responsible for the Red-Whiskered Dragon’s being here, I should…?”
‘Wise-as-an-Owl sighed and put his arm around Tashi’s shoulders, as if to protect him. But at the same time, he nodded.
‘Tashi stepped forward.’
Jack stared into the fire. A branch crackled in a sudden gust of wind, sending up sparks. He stood up, and stretched. ‘And now I have to go to bed.’
‘What?’ cried Dad. ‘Without telling us what happened next?’
Jack yawned. ‘I was up early, too, Dad.’
‘Oh,’ wailed Dad, ‘that’s so not fair!’
‘You wouldn’t want me to rush it, would you? Part Two of the story is the most exciting.’
‘But we have no more camp-fire nights!’ said Dad. ‘I won’t be able to sleep, I’ll be haunted by ghosts. I’ll be menaced to death by my active imagination!’
‘Come on, let’s put out this fire and get to bed too,’ said Mum, taking Dad’s hand. ‘We’ve got a long drive tomorrow.’
Mum collected the plates while Jack told Dad to use his very active imagination to make up his own part two, whereupon Dad told Jack that was a good idea and he might just do that, but it was still unfair.
Jack wandered off to the tent, just like Tashi had earlier, already half-asleep. He even forgot to clean his teeth.
PART TWO, FACE TO FACE
IN THE MORNING, when they’d packed the last bag into the car, Mum jingled the keys. ‘I’ll drive,’ she said. ‘I had a good sleep.’
Dad gazed bleary-eyed around him. ‘Goodbye tent, goodbye camp fire, goodbye trout fishing, goodbye peaceful river, goodbye lyrebird invention, goodbye summer…’
‘And hello Part Two,’ said Tashi.
Dad smiled for the first time that morning.
When they were on their way, and driving through the hills, Tashi took up the story where Jack had left it.
‘Everybody was very relieved – and a bit ashamed – when I said that I would try to get rid of the Dragon. But I felt myself starting to tremble: the Red-Whiskered Dragon of my dream was still with me, and now, one way or another, I was going to face him in real life.’
Dad shook his head. ‘How do you kill a nightmare? That’s the hardest thing ever.’
‘I had to hide my fear,’ Tashi said. ‘I stepped up onto the podium and announced, “I will find the dragon and do what I can, but I will need a little time to prepare a plan.”
‘The Emperor nodded gravely and wished me luck. As I walked down the steps and out of the village square, people called out their good wishes and advice. With each footstep their voices grew fainter and my fears grew louder; I’d never felt so lonely in my life.
‘But I knew there was someone who could help me – my friend the Raven.’
‘Oh yes,’ Dad turned around to Tashi in the back seat. ‘You did him a big favour once, when he was all weak and thirsty, and you rescued him from that fallen branch.’
‘I remember!’ cried Mum. ‘That was my favourite story – with the Baba Yaga. Oh, dear, I just missed the turn-off.’ Mum bit her lip. ‘You know, I’m going to have to ask you to wait, Tashi, until we stop for morning tea. I can’t concentrate on driving when there are Ravens and Red-Whiskered Dragons in the car.’
Luckily, Dad found quite soon that he needed to go to the toilet, and there, right up ahead, was a welcoming-looking tea shop.
When they were settled comfortably at a large table, Mum ordered a big plate of raisin toast. ‘So, how did you find the Raven?’ Mum asked.
‘It wasn’t hard,’ Tashi said. ‘He was in the mulberry tree when I ran home, and he flew down straight away when I whistled. He listened carefully while I told him my problem.
‘“What we need,” I explained, “is to find out everything we can about the Dragon. Where is his cave? Is he clever or cunning, cowardly or brave? You see, I haven’t ever actually seen him.”
‘The Raven gazed at me thoughtfully. “I will do what I can,” he promised.
‘I crossed my fingers for luck and went to fetch my magic running shoes. In just a few minutes I could travel across whole fields and forests in those shoes, and who knew how far away the Dragon lived?’
‘Do you want jam with that?’ asked the waitress, hovering nearby.
‘Oh, yes please,’ said Jack.
‘There was only time to pull on the magic shoes and pack my bag before the Raven returned,’ said Tashi. ‘He told me that the Dragon was living in a cave on Crimson Mountain, across the valley. “You’ll see the mountain from the river – the lower slopes are covered in a carpet of red flowers.”
‘“And the Dragon himself? What’s he like?”
‘“Well, right now he has indigestion. He is always grizzling about the local food. But the main thing about him is that he’s very vain. He does nothing but sit admiring himself in a mirror, combing his whiskers and eating his way through a great mountain of apples.”
‘“Thank you, Raven, that’s very interesting,” I said, and hurried back to the village where everyone was still milling around anxiously. I found Wise-as-an-Owl, and spoke to him.
‘“Listen, everyone,” he called to the villagers. “Tashi has a good plan but he’ll need some help.”
‘“Yes, yes of course,” they all cried.
‘“First, I’ll need garlands of flowers,” I told them.
‘“Easily done,” several people shouted, glad to have a simple, safe task.
‘“Wait a moment, I haven’t finished. I will also need four white sheets.They must be cut in halves to make eight banners. And we’ll need paint, black and red if you can find it, so it will show up well when you write the slogans.”
‘“What slogans?”
‘“I’m coming to that,” I said. “But there is one more important thing. Some people must come halfway up the mountain with me and wait at a distance from the Dragon’s cave.”
‘Faces fell. People glanced nervously at each other. My Mother and Father, Grandmother and Grandfather stepped up. “Of course we’ll come, Tashi.”
‘“And me,” cried Favourite Aunt.
‘“And me, and me,” cried Big Wu and Not Yet.
‘“We’ll all come!” shouted Lotus Blossom, Ah Chu and Granny White Eyes, and after a small pause, Luk Ahed.
‘The Warlord cleared his throat. “I had best stay behind and guard the Emperor.”
‘The Bandit Chief and the River Pirate thought that really, all things considered, taking into account the dangerous nature of the situation, they should stay too.
‘The Baron explained that as he was the Emperor’s host, he couldn’t very well leave his royal guest to go off adventuring up a mountainside. The villagers grinned knowingly and turned to leave, discussing as they went who would gather the flowers and who would paint the sheets.
‘But as the River Pirate hurried off, Wise-as-an-Owl appeared at his side. “We’ll need you to take Tashi and his helpers up the river in your boat.”
‘“Oh, but I can lend it to them, no need for me to come,” said the River Pirate generously. “Don’t worry, I won’t be using it for a few days.”
‘There was a long silence while Wise-as-an-Owl gazed at him meaningfully, and everyone turned to look.
&n
bsp; ‘“Oh, all right,” he mumbled.
‘We all met up again down at the Baron’s wharf. The villagers hauled sacks of flowers and big bright banners onto the boat, and the River Pirate let loose the rope. Luckily there was a strong breeze and the sail filled out under clouds scudding across the sky. We travelled at good speed, past the Dragon’s Blood Tree and the Warlord’s castle, and through the deep valleys in between.
When we’d rounded the last bend, we saw Crimson Mountain rise up from the forest a short distance away. We were cheered by this, but as we drew up to a small jetty and stepped out, the smell of burning leaves and danger met us.
‘“Best if I wait here at the river for you,” the River Pirate said quickly. “Or maybe over there,” he said, pointing to a small island at a safe distance.
‘Not Yet turned to me. “What do you need from us?”
‘I told them to come with me to the foot of the mountain and wait there. Then I explained what to do when I gave the signal.
‘Loaded up with bundles, we headed off through the forest. Not Yet had borrowed the River Pirate’s sword, and he went ahead, hacking at the vines and bushes blocking our path. It seemed as if we were the first people ever to enter this forest. All around were smoldering cinders, and further off, leaping flames. Smoke stung our eyes, making it hard to see, but soon we were clear of the forest and on bare rocky ground. The mountain rose up sheer and sharp before us.
‘There was no time to lose. “Wait here,” I told them. “Sparks won’t catch on the rocks, you should be safe.”
‘I took a running start and bounded up the mountainside in my magic shoes. I didn’t take a moment to think or get my breath – I didn’t want to let the fear build up inside me any more than it already had.
‘I found the Dragon’s cave easily enough because a mound of bones was piled outside. I stood quietly at the entrance. It was dim inside, and I had to wait for my eyes to grow used to it after the bright day at my back. A shudder rode through me and the terror of my dream rose up behind my eyes. I remembered how the Dragon monster had chased me, almost grabbing me. I remembered the lurking, suffocating doom of him. And now, here, framed in candlelight, was the mighty Red-Whiskered Dragon himself. Here was the very real proof of my imagination.
‘He was lounging in a chair, legs crossed, admiring himself in a mirror, just as the Raven had said. His red whiskers curled out from his jaws in rippling waves.
‘I cleared my throat. “Good afternoon, Mighty Red-Whiskered Dragon. May I come in? You may remember me. My name is Tashi.”
‘The Dragon sat up and narrowed his great green eyes. “Why are you here?”
‘“To see you, of course,” I replied. “To see if you are as magnificent as people have been saying.”
‘The Dragon relaxed. “And am I?” he smirked, looking into the mirror again.
‘“Much, much more handsome,” I gushed, “if only…”
‘“If only what?” demanded the Dragon indignantly.
‘I stepped right up to the Dragon and examined him carefully. “If only we could add a few finishing touches, here and there.”
‘The Dragon picked up the mirror. “What touches?”
‘I walked slowly around the Dragon. “Well, these splendid scales are a bit dull. If we could just polish them up and oil that tremendous tummy, and,” I added, peering up at the Dragon’s red-hot mouth, “if those fearsome teeth were filed into deadly points, you would be quite perfect.” I took a step back as he burped loudly. His hot breath smelled of rotting meat. “See?” I quickly pointed outside. “Already people have come from near and far, bringing you garlands to hang on your horns, but imagine if we made those little improvements… You would be hailed as the most magnificent dragon in all the world.”
‘The Dragon went to the cave entrance and looked down. Standing beside him, I gave the first signal and the villagers stood up and waved their garlands and held up the banners.
‘I gave the second signal, and in their loudest voices, all together, the villagers cheered the slogans they were holding up:
“Long live the Mighty Red-Whiskered Dragon.
Hurrah for the Magnificent Firedrake.
Three Cheers for our Dazzling Dragon.
The Wonder of the World!”
‘The Dragon turned back to me. “Do it,” he said.
‘From my pocket I brought out the magnifying glass the Professor had given me. “I have brought you this present,” I said, and showed him how to use it. “You can watch how your scales and teeth start to shine.”
‘I took a cloth and some fragrant smelling oil out of my bag and, sitting astride the Dragon, (hiding a shiver), I rubbed the oil into his belly. While I worked, he played with the magnifying glass. He held it up to his scales, absorbed in the shining beauty of himself.
‘When I’d finished with his tail, polishing until it glowed, he sprang up and pranced around the cave.
‘“I’ll have to get some more mirrors,” he gloated, and a burst of fire streamed out of his mouth, singeing the tips of my hair. I took out some cutters and trimmed the Dragon’s talons and buffed them till they shone.
‘“That’s better. So graceful and deadly,” crowed the Dragon, waving them about.
‘I took a deep breath. “And now for your teeth.”
‘I climbed up the Dragon’s chest and pulled out my file. “Open, please.”
‘The Dragon lay back, quite relaxed. He dropped his jaw and contemplated the ceiling. “You know, I really should put a mirror up there. Especially if I’m going to have more of these marvellous manicures.”
‘“What a good idea,” I replied. I nodded enthusiastically, trying to catch his eye. My heart thudded. The giant lizard shifted his head. He was lowering his gaze, he was looking into my face…BUMP!
‘I was tossed into the air and crashed to the ground. Had the Dragon guessed what I was trying to do? He glared at me, his green eyes glinting.
‘I crouched where I had fallen, waiting.
‘“You should do something about those sharp little knees of yours,” he growled. “They were sticking into me. Gives me indigestion.”
‘“Perhaps if I climb up your tail and sit on your back where the scales are thicker?”
‘“Yes, that would be better.”
‘I scrambled up the oily spine and looked into the mirror over the Dragon’s shoulder. My moment had come – I had to deal with the monster now, face to face.
‘“How red your whiskers are and how wavy your horns.” We admired them together, the Dragon and I. Our eyes met in the mirror.
‘The Dragon found that he couldn’t look away. He struggled and squirmed, his whole body heaving. But the more he tried to escape, the more stuck he became. His eyes were caught by mine. I didn’t blink. My gaze was a magnet, and he was held fast.
Our eyes met in the mirror.
‘With every second that passed – whisker by whisker, scale by scale – his outline grew fainter. The green of his eyes turned milky, his talons frayed. He was becoming flimsy, almost see-through, until he shrank into a pale green smudge that drifted down, down into my left eye. The end of his tail gave a protesting twitch – and he disappeared.
‘I had pulled him back into my mind.
‘A shudder passed through me, and something sour spurted into my throat. I gulped and shook as my stomach twisted in a hot wave of disgust.
‘I sat quietly for a time with my eyes closed. I don’t know how many minutes passed before my breathing slowed. A whimper of smoke wafted in the air, stale and sad. When I could stand without wobbling, I went outside to wave “All’s well”.
‘From down below a huge cheer burst out, and the villagers came scrambling up the mountain to meet me. They looked around the empty cave, whistled at the great pile of bones, and hoisted me up on their shoulders.
‘There was much singing and exclaiming as we made our way back to the village.
‘“Did you see the size of him standing there beside Tashi
?”
‘“He was as big as the giant Chintu!”
‘“And that great burst of fire coming out of his mouth!”
‘“I don’t suppose you could tell us how you managed to get rid of him, Tashi?” asked Not Yet, skipping along beside me.
“It was a kind of magic,” I explained, “but I don’t really dare to say any more about it in case talking about it undoes the magic.”
‘The villagers quickly agreed that it would be silly to take risks.
‘That evening the square was lit with hundreds of lanterns. The Emperor had ordered a grand feast and afterwards he made a speech, saying all sorts of embarrassing things about how I had saved the village and that from now on I was to be called Tashi the Dragon Slayer. I looked over at Wise-as-an-Owl, and he gave me a little wink.
‘“Now, Tashi,” the Emperor went on, “you must help me to choose your prize.” He beckoned me to climb up onto the podium beside him.
‘There was absolute silence while everyone waited to hear what I would say. I stood there, enjoying the moment, smiling at all my dear family and friends and neighbours. How surprised they were going to be!
‘“Majesty, I think the whole village should share the prize because they all helped me and stood by me on the mountainside. I have been trying to think what we might all like best.” I couldn’t help giving a little wiggle of excitement. “Now it might seem strange to you, Majesty, but you see, everyone has had such a wonderful week during your visit. We’ve all enjoyed the musicians and dancers and acrobats and play actors, and it will be so dull to go back to the old life when they are gone. So that’s what we would like best – a theatre – and for your Master of Revels to send performers out here each month to entertain us and tell us stories, and give us something to look forward to.”
‘“Ooh,” breathed the villagers. “That’s exactly what we would like.”
‘The Emperor was surprised but he agreed happily enough. And so the party continued long into the night. And if the Baron and the Warlord didn’t dance as joyously as the others, “Well,” smiled Grandmother, “it’s hard to please everyone.”’
Tashi and the Wicked Magician Page 5
