by Roger Hurn
Lizzie warmed to her theme. ‘I mean, now I come to think about it, Mr Davies didn’t even look like the tramp who followed us.’ She frowned in concentration and bit her bottom lip. ‘At least I’m pretty sure he didn’t.’
‘That means nothing,’ said Ritchie dismissively. ‘Will and Alice said the tramp didn’t look like the Piper.’
‘No, we said we weren’t sure. He could have been the same man.’ Alice and Will shifted uncomfortably on their seats. ‘And this afternoon you were certain he was.’
‘Well, maybe it was the same guy.’ Ritchie was worrying at the problem like a dog with a bone. He flicked his fingers together in a gesture of inspiration. ‘Got it! He could have disguised himself.’
‘That’s possible I suppose,’ said Lizzie, ‘but I mean how did he know about my music lesson and how could he make Miss Carter ill?’
Ritchie snorted. ‘That’s easy. She’s in league with him.’
Will and Alice agreed with Ritchie.
‘In our time there are many who are in league with witches. Perhaps Miss Carter is one such as these.’
‘Well, she’s a bit of an old hag but I never thought of her as being a real witch.’
‘Yeah but you never thought the Pied Piper was real either, did you?’
Lizzie had to admit her brother had a point. ‘But I don’t believe in witches and Faeries and stuff like that,’ she protested.
‘That’s a shame,’ replied Ritchie, ‘because it seems that they believe in you!’
For a while nobody spoke. Then Alice asked what they were going to do.
Ritchie was eager to re-establish his leadership of the group. He leaned forward and jabbed his index finger at the others. ‘Tomorrow we’ll have a wander over to the carnival and see if we can find out a bit more about the mysterious Mr Davies. He’s obviously not going back to Elfhame or fairyland or wherever it is he calls home until after he’s performed in Saturday’s show.’
‘Yes but what is his game?’ asked Lizzie. ‘What’s he really up to?’
Will spoke up. ‘I think he will steal the Crystal Beast before the Randy and then, after he has performed his mummery at the fair, he will return to Elfhame with it and with more children to sell. I think it is his way of showing the Hooded Lady that he is clever enough to do both. It is what I would do.’
‘His way of acting like a total show off more like,’ sneered Ritchie. ‘So it doesn’t surprise me that it’s what you would do.’
‘Hold on, guys,’ said Lizzie. ‘Just think about it. The Piper must have been shocked when he saw that somehow Alice and Will had managed to find a way into the 21st century. He’ll want to know how they did it.’
‘Yes,’ cried Alice. ‘I remember now that when I looked back at the tramp who pursued us he wore a look of surprise not anger. It was as if he did not expect to see us here.’
‘Exactly,’ said Lizzie. ‘The Hooded Lady had made it pretty clear to him that finding the Crystal Beast was his main task. So what does he do? He figures he’ll nip back here, steal the Crystal Beast and then finish you two off on his way back to the farm in Elfhame. After all, you weren’t going anywhere - you didn’t have a fancy magic flute.’
Ritchie buried his face in his hands and groaned. ‘But now he knows you’ve hooked up with Lizzie and me. He’s found out where we live but doesn’t know where we’ve managed to hide you.’
Ritchie had their complete attention. ‘He must reckon that you’ve told us what the secret is so he won’t rest until he’s caught us as well.’
‘That’s it, Ritchie.’ All eyes turned to Lizzie. ‘He’s using the re-enactment as a trap. He came here tonight to snatch us but then Mum played right into his hands. I mean, why run the risk of kidnapping us now when he can do it with Mum’s blessing on Saturday? He can’t know we’ve seen through his disguise and I’m betting he thinks we’ll bring Alice and Will along with us to the performance.’
‘Why would we do that?’
‘Because he believes we’ll think it’s safer for us all to be with Mr Davies at the Randy than to leave Alice and Will alone in the house at the mercy of the Piper. Then, when he’s lured us into the woods, he’ll spring his trap. All the police will find are our dead bodies, a load of terrified kids but no Mr Davies - aka the Piper of Francheville!’
***
Chapter Thirteen
For the next hour the four children argued about what they should do to foil the Piper and, above all, keep themselves alive. Lizzie made a list of what they knew, thought they knew and what they definitely didn’t know. It helped to make things clearer even though neither Alice nor Will could read.
Lizzie’s List
What we know
The Piper is here.
Rasna is the Piper’s brother.
The Hooded Lady is the Piper’s boss.
She has a pet raven called Loki.
The Piper’s world is called Elfhame.
The people of Elfhame call humans ‘half-lifes’.
Music is the key to time travel.
We were followed by a mysterious tramp.
The Piper is going to steal the Crystal Beast.
The Hooded Lady has told him to kill Alice and Will.
Mr Davies is playing the part of the Piper at the Newtown Randy.
We have to take part in the performance.
What we think we know
The tune the Piper uses to travel through time.
Mr Davies and Miss Carter are in league with each other.
The Piper is Mr Davies
He is going to trap us at the Newtown Randy.
What we don’t know
The identity of the mysterious tramp.
What the Crystal Beast is.
Who the Hooded Lady is.
What tune will take Alice, Will and the rest of the children back to 1377.
Whether the tune Alice and Will remember will work.
When Lizzie read out the list, Alice blurted out, ‘But, faith, we are simpletons. Lizzie, the tune does not work. In truth, you have played it on your flute and, by thine own account, so did Mr Davies. Yet you did not move through time and neither did he.’
‘She’s got a point,’ said Ritchie.
For a moment Lizzie looked downcast, then she brightened up.
‘Let me give it another go. I don’t think I was playing it smoothly enough. It’s pretty tricky, you know, even for someone as talented as me.’ She grinned as Ritchie raised his eyebrows.
‘I bet that’s why Mr Davies was giving me his creepy smile. He knew I hadn’t got it quite right.’
‘Play it for us now,’ said Will excitedly. ‘Alice and I will serve as your judges. For if you have not the charm of it, then perchance, we will know where you err.’
‘Slow down a bit, mate,’ said Ritchie. ‘When you get carried away you start talking like someone out of Shakespeare.’
Will looked puzzled but Lizzie smiled at him reassuringly. ‘You’re doing fine, Will. Don’t worry about Ritchie. I know exactly what you mean.’
She picked up her flute and played the weird little melody. Absolutely nothing happened except that Ritchie listened so hard he slipped off his beanbag chair and hit the floor with a thump.
‘Sorry.’ Ritchie grinned sheepishly as the others stared at him in shock. ‘But as we’re all still here in the den I think it’s safe to say that tune isn’t doing the business.’
‘But it is the one,’ declared Alice.
‘So why isn’t it working then?’
Then Lizzie had a flash of inspiration. ‘Right tune, wrong place. We need to go back into Piper’s Wood and find the exact spot where you two materialised.’ Alice and Will looked baffled. ‘Er…stepped into our world?’
Alice nodded. ‘I understand. It was by a large oak tree that had been struck by lightning.’
‘Gotcha!’ Ritchie leapt to his feet. ‘I know where that is. It’s the one Jamie Simmons fell out of and broke his arm when we had a birthday picnic fo
r him last year. Do you remember Lizzie?’
‘Jamie didn’t invite any girls to his birthday, so I wasn’t there. But I do remember his mum telling our mum that you fainted at the sight of Jamie’s arm sticking out the wrong way.’
‘I didn’t!’
‘You did!’
‘Did not.’
‘Liar, liar, pants on fire.’
‘God’s wounds, this dispute avails us nothing!’ Will brought the squabble to an abrupt halt.
‘Will’s right,’ said Lizzie. ‘What we should be doing is deciding on a plan of action.’
Ritchie was all for sneaking out of the house when his parents were asleep and heading off to Piper’s Wood to try and open the gateway through time. For once Will was on his side, but Alice and Lizzie squashed the idea. As they pointed out, creeping around in the dark was only likely to end in disaster.
‘But I’ve got my torch,’ protested Ritchie. ‘It’s really powerful.’
‘Terrific.’ Lizzie’s voice dripped with sarcasm. ‘That’ll tell everyone for miles around that something’s going on. Strange lights in Piper’s Wood, I don’t think so, Ritchie.’
‘Your light will attract the Piper like a moth to a candle flame,’ said Alice.
‘Correct. So we’ll go there in daylight.’
‘All right but I want to check out the carnival first. We need to know more about what’s happening on Saturday.’
‘Fair enough,’ agreed Lizzie. Then a thought struck her. ‘Hey, the carnival’s been coming to the Island for the Newport Randy for like forever. Do you reckon that some of the carnie folk might have heard of the Crystal Beast?’
‘What, you mean it’s a story that gets handed down from generation to generation?’
‘Could be,’ said Lizzie. ‘Like the legend of the Holy Grail but only travellers know about it.’
‘I think you’re on to something here, Lizzie. The problem is, if it’s a secret, how are we going to get them to tell us about it?’
Lizzie admitted she had no idea. But Ritchie was of the opinion that his charm and good looks would be enough to make someone open up to him. He was in a minority of one in this but, as no one else could come up with a better suggestion, it was agreed that Ritchie would have his chance.
Lizzie smuggled up a loaf of bread, a hunk of cheese and the chocolate digestive biscuits for Alice and Will’s supper and when they had finished making their plans the children turned in for the night.
Lizzie turned off her bedside light and snuggled down under the duvet. She closed her eyes but sleep wouldn’t come. Thoughts of the Piper and the dangers the next day would bring crowded into her mind. She rolled out of bed and paced around her bedroom. Then, on an impulse, she walked over to her window and peeked out from behind the curtain. She ducked back immediately for there, standing under a lamppost at the end of the street, was the tall thin figure of the tramp.
***
Chapter Fourteen
‘You probably imagined it,’ said Ritchie dismissively as the four children set out the next morning to walk to the carnival ground. ‘I didn’t see anyone. But I tell you what, we all need to keep our eyes open in case we bump into that tramp today.’ He chewed his bottom lip which, as Lizzie knew all too well, was a sign that her brother was thinking. ‘And I’ll tell you another thing. We need to watch out for that Mr Davies.’
Lizzie frowned. ‘I thought you thought they were the same person. That the tramp was Mr Davies in disguise.’
Ritchie pulled a face.
‘Maybe he is and maybe he isn’t. All I’m saying is we can’t be too careful.’
They all agreed that it was only sensible to be on their guard but danger seemed to be a remote possibility on such a beautiful August morning. Soon, Lizzie and Ritchie were so occupied by explaining the sights, sounds and especially the fashions of the 21st century to a totally overwhelmed Alice and Will that they failed to notice they were being followed.
The carnival was set up on the outskirts of Yarfleet, the small town where Ritchie and Lizzie lived. The ancient town of Francheville was on the coast, two miles to the north. Piper’s Wood lay in between the two places - a dark and brooding presence even in the height of summer.
It was only just ten o’clock but the grounds were full of holidaymakers and many of the carnival attractions were open for business.
One of the first sideshows the children encountered was called Tin Can Alley and a bright-eyed girl leaned over the barrier and challenged them to have a go.
‘Come on, lads, here’s your chance to impress the girls. All you’ve got to do is knock down a pile of cans. Should be no problem to big, strong fellas like you. Only 50p for three balls.’
She smiled so brightly at Ritchie that he took half a step backwards and blushed. She winked at him. ‘Tell you what; I’ll let you have a couple of extra balls - no charge. I can’t say fairer than that can I?’
Before he knew what he was doing, Ritchie had dug 50p out of his pocket and the girl pushed the wooden balls into his arms.
‘Good lad. You know it makes sense.’ She hit him with her magnetic smile again and Ritchie dropped the balls.
‘You’re a waste of space, Ritchie,’ muttered Lizzie as she and Alice picked them up and handed them back to him. Will was giggling helplessly. Ritchie didn’t care. He couldn’t take his eyes off the teenaged girl.
‘Oh for goodness sake.’ Lizzie snatched a ball from him and hurled it at the cans stacked in a pyramid on a shelf at the back of the stall. She missed but it seemed to break the spell.
‘You’re rubbish,’ said Ritchie as he took aim at the cans. He tried to throw the balls as hard as he could while still looking cool. It was a difficult trick to pull off and sadly Ritchie didn’t manage it. When the final ball thudded harmlessly into the back wall three of the cans were still standing.
‘Bad luck. Knocking down the cans is trickier than it looks. You’ve got to get your eye in first. Why don’t you have another go?’ The girl smiled and Ritchie was reaching into his pocket for another 50p when Lizzie nudged him out of the way.
‘I’ll have a go if you’ll tell me something first.’
The girl tilted her head slightly. Lizzie had never seen anyone with such blue eyes. They sparkled like polished sapphires. She’s wearing contacts, thought Lizzie with a twinge of envy. I wish Mum would let me have some like that.
‘What do you want to know?’
‘Have you ever heard of something called the Crystal Beast?’
For a split second a shadow seemed to pass over the girl’s bright, blue eyes dimming their brilliance but then she laughed and said, ’It sounds like one of the prizes on the Hoop-la. Perhaps you should try there.’
She handed Lizzie the wooden balls and Lizzie took her turn. She had even less success than her brother.
‘Are you sure you don’t know what the Crystal Beast is?’ she asked as she gave the girl her money.
‘She just said so, didn’t she?’ snapped Ritchie. He gave the girl a lop-sided grin. ‘Sorry about my sister. She’s a bit dim.’
Once again the young woman turned on her magnetic smile. ‘No problem, but if you’re searching for answers to a mystery why don’t you pay Madame Saskia, the fortune teller, a visit? Her tent is just over there.’
‘Why, has she got psychic powers?’ said Lizzie more rudely than she’d intended. The teenager didn’t seem to be offended.
‘So she says but there’s only one way to find out.’
Ritchie nodded enthusiastically. ‘We’ll do that. Thanks for the tip.’
‘You’re welcome, Ritchie. Be sure to come back and tell me what she tells you.’
‘Sure,’ said Ritchie. ‘Er… but how did you know my name?’
The girl’s eyes twinkled. ‘Your sister mentioned it when you dropped the balls. My name’s Rona by the way.’
‘OK, Rona - will do.’ He turned to follow the others and tripped up over his own feet. He picked himself and stole a glance back
at Rona.
‘Whoops,’ was all she said.
Ritchie wanted the ground to open up and swallow him as he hurried away.
***
Chapter Fifteen
The others were waiting for him outside Madame Saskia’s tent. Will took one look at him and burst out laughing.
‘Shut it.’
‘Oh but Ritchie you did make a total twerp of yourself. What were you thinking of? I know you look older than you are but she must be at least 16.’
Lizzie tapped herself on her forehead. ‘Doh! I get it. That was you turning on the charm. Well, Mr James Bond, did she whisper any secrets in your ear after we left?’
Ritchie ignored her. ‘Are we going in here or not?’
‘Sure, but Ritchie, Madame Saskia’s probably an old crone so go easy on the chat-up lines.’
Ritchie ground his teeth but made no reply. Instead he pushed open the tent flap and stepped inside.
Madame Saskia, a large lady wearing a floral headscarf and a flowing dress, was sitting behind a rather rickety table on which perched a small crystal ball. She was shuffling a deck of cards. A couple of joss sticks burned in a holder. She looked at the children from under her hooded eyes.
‘Four of you,’ she said.
‘Impressive - she can count and tell fortunes,’ muttered Lizzie to herself.
‘Ah, an unbeliever.’ Madame Saskia smiled revealing an ill-fitting set of false teeth.
I don’t know if she’s really psychic but she’s certainly got sharp ears, thought Lizzie. She put on her best ‘I’m a sensible girl and not easily fooled’ face.
‘Maybe, maybe not,’ she said. ‘But we would like to ask you some questions. Do you want us to cross your palm with silver?’
The statuesque fortune-teller narrowed her eyes.
‘Don’t be silly. That sort of talk went out with the ark. I want two quid if you want me to do a reading. That’s two quid each, mind.’
‘We don’t really want our fortunes told as such,’ said Ritchie.
