by Roger Hurn
‘That’s a pity. I could tell you much that you need to know.’
‘Like what?’
‘Like why these two silent ones fear me while you don’t.’
Ritchie and Lizzie looked at Alice and Will and saw that they were staring at Madame Saskia, their faces pale with beads of cold sweat standing out above their lips. Alice was squeezing Will’s hand and half hiding behind him.
‘Now why is that do you think?’ Madame Sakia tapped her chin with one of her bright red fingernails. ‘Perhaps they come from another place far away where the old beliefs still hold sway. They don’t seem modern like you two.’
‘They’re from Romania.’ Lizzie said. ‘They don’t speak English. They’re here on a school exchange trip.’
Madame Saskia nodded her head slowly up and down. ‘If you say so, my dear. If you say so.’
She closed her eyes and breathed in deeply while she dealt out four cards onto the tabletop. Then her eyes snapped open. ‘I see trouble ahead for you all,’ she intoned theatrically.
‘Wait a minute,’ said Lizzie. ‘Those aren’t tarot cards – they’re ordinary playing cards.’
Madame Saskia glared at her. ‘Well, what do you expect? You haven’t parted with any money so you’ll have to make do with these.’ She sniffed loudly. ‘Anyway, it’s the teller who is important - not the cards.’
Ritchie slapped a two-pound coin down on the table. ‘Forget the cards. Can you look into your crystal ball instead, please? We’re searching for a Crystal Beast.’
Madame Saskia palmed the money and cleared her throat. ‘Sometimes there are mists in the ball that will not lift but I will try.’ She peered at the ball. Then she shook her head. ‘It is as I feared. The mists are too thick. I can see nothing.’ A crafty look came into her eyes. ‘But if you were to pay another two pounds perhaps that would unleash my psychic powers.’
Lizzie snorted in disgust. ‘This is hopeless. Come on guys let’s go.’
She started to leave but suddenly Madame Saskia called out, ‘Stop! The fog’s gone. I do see something in the glass!’
Something in her startled voice made them stay. Madame Saskia’s eyes were wide open as she stared at her crystal ball. ‘I see a man playing some sort of pipe or flute.’ She sounded genuinely amazed. She put her face closer to the crystal ball. ‘He has stopped playing and is beckoning to me. What does he want? Wait - now he is laughing at me.’ Madame Saskia’s fleshy face twisted and contorted. ‘No! This man is evil,’ she cried as she pushed herself back from the table. There was a loud crack and slowly the crystal ball split in two.
***
Chapter Sixteen
Madame Saskia appeared to be completely rattled by what happened.
‘I don’t know what your little game is,’ she spat. ‘And I surely don’t know how you played that mean trick on me but that crystal ball cost good money. You can pay me for it and for giving me such a fright!’
‘We didn’t do anything,’ protested Ritchie. ‘Honest.’
‘I’ll have the Old Bill on you lot. You see if I don’t. Flaming hooligans.’
‘Please, Madame Saskia. We’re really sorry you’re upset but, my brother’s right, we don’t know what’s going on.’
The woman would not listen. She was beginning to work herself up into a lather so Ritchie gave her the ten pound note he’d stuffed into his back pocket when they left the house earlier that morning. Madame Saskia snatched it from his fingers. ‘It’s not enough.’ She fixed Lizzie with her cold little eyes. ‘So you can cough up too, Missie - and so can your friends.’
Lizzie fumbled with her purse. ‘I’ve only got five pounds and our friends haven’t got any money. They’ve only just arrived in the country.’
Madame Saskia’s top lip curled up. She sneered at the trembling girl. ‘That’ll have to do then, won’t it?’
Lizzie handed the money over.
‘Now get out and you won’t come back if you know what’s good for you.’
The children didn’t need to be told twice. They fell over each other in their haste to leave the tent.
They stood outside blinking in the bright sunshine. ‘What the heck happened in there? I mean was that an act or what?’ Ritchie asked the others. Will and Alice were too frightened to speak and just shook their heads.
‘I’m scared, Ritchie, like really so scared. I want to go home.’
Ritchie had never seen his bossy sister like this before. She looked as if she was about to be sick.
‘But what was all that business with the crystal ball? It was really freaky. Do you think she’s trying to scare us off? Maybe she’s in cahoots with the Piper.’
‘I don’t know and I don’t care.’ Lizzie was on the verge of tears.
‘We can’t back off now, Lizzie. There’s loads of stuff we need to find out here.’
‘You can stay and find it out if you want, Ritchie, but me and Alice and Will are getting out of here right now.’
Ritchie was torn. He wanted to leave with the others but felt that, unless they found some answers soon, they were going to be in even worse trouble. As the oldest of the four children he felt it was his duty to keep digging.
‘You guys go on. I’ll catch up with you in a bit.’
‘Are you sure?’ Lizzie was full of concern for her brother.
‘Yeah – I mean there’s loads of people about and it’s broad daylight. I’ll be fine.’
The others weren’t convinced but they were desperate to leave the carnival. ‘I will protect the maids, I swear it,’ said Will and for once Ritchie didn’t mock him.
‘Thanks mate, you do that,’ he said.
Will nodded solemnly then turned and hurried off with the two girls.
‘You be careful,’ Lizzie called back to him as they disappeared into the crowd. ‘See you back at home like really soon, OK?’
Ritchie gave her the thumbs up but he was feeling far from confident. In fact he hadn’t the faintest idea of what to do next. He thrust his hands in his pockets and kicked at a stone that was sticking up out of the ground. The stone was buried deeper than Ritchie bargained for and didn’t budge when his foot connected with it. He grimaced as he stubbed his toe. ‘Rats!’ he muttered. But that made him think of the Piper. He shivered as if someone had stepped on his grave and he started to limp away.
Before he had taken more than a couple of steps he heard somebody calling his name. He looked up and saw Rona beckoning to him from the Tin Can Alley stall. He coloured up at the memory of his earlier pratfall and prayed she hadn’t just witnessed his latest mishap. However, he knew he couldn’t pretend he hadn’t heard or seen her so he gave a little wave, stopped limping and wandered over as casually as he could.
‘So, was Madame Saskia a batty old bat? Did she tell you you’re going on a journey to meet a tall, dark stranger?’ Rona’s eyes glittered with amusement.
‘Err … not exactly but she was definitely a bit weird.‘
Rona raised a quizzical eyebrow. ‘Really, what did she do?’
‘Oh nothing much. She just gave me the creeps that’s all.’
Rona smiled. ‘I shouldn’t worry about her. She’s a fraud. The only spirits she sees are in a bottle.’
Ritchie laughed and decided this was his chance to ask a few questions.
‘So, do you know her well?’
‘No. I’ve only been working here since yesterday. Me and my cousin Jed came down to the island last week on his motorbike. We figured we’d do a few odd jobs and stay on for the big rock festival that’s happening at the end of August. But we got bored with waiting on tables to make some money so we thought a job with the carnival would be more fun. The carnie people were looking to hire casual workers as there’s something called ‘the Newtown Randy’ on Saturday. So here we are. I’m on Tin Can Alley and Jed’s on the House of Mirrors.’
‘Sounds great,’ said Ritchie.
‘It passes the time,’ replied Rona. ‘Now, tell me, what’s all this abou
t a Crystal Beast? Your sister seemed pretty stirred up about it.’
Her sapphire eyes flashed in the sunlight and Ritchie realised he had never seen such a cool looking girl in his life before. I bet she wouldn’t turn tail and run for home at the first sign of danger, he thought.
‘Actually …’ he began but then he felt as if he’d been punched in the stomach. He had caught sight of the tramp pushing his way towards him through the crowd.
‘What’s up?’ Rona could see something was the matter as Ritchie stood there with his mouth gaping open.
‘That bloke! He’s after me.’
Rona glanced over her shoulder. ‘What that greasy old dosser?’
Ritchie nodded furiously. Rona snapped her fingers.
‘Quick then. Off you go to my cousin Jed at the House of Mirrors. Tell him I sent you and he’ll help you disappear pronto.’
Ritchie took off as if the devil himself was at his heels. What he didn’t notice was the raven perched on top of Madame Saskia’s tent. It cawed, and then turned its head so that its shiny black eyes could watch Ritchie as he ran.
***
Chapter Seventeen
Ritchie arrived red faced and breathless at the House of Mirrors. A lanky youth was lounging against the ticket booth. He was wearing a biker’s leather jacket and a red bandana was tied round his head. His blue jeans were smeared with oil and Ritchie could see his own reflection in the mirrored, wrap-around sunglasses the guy had on.
‘Is your name Jed?’ Ritchie gasped.
‘Who wants to know?’ The biker boy sounded bored and surly.
‘Rona said you’d help me.’
‘Did she now?’
‘Yes she did. There’s a tramp chasing me. She said you’d hide me.’ Ritchie was fighting against a rising tide of panic. ‘Please,’ he said.
The youth pushed himself away from the booth. His mouth split open in a grin that revealed a gold tooth. ‘Well, I’d better do as she says, hadn’t I? Come on.’
He ducked through the entrance to the attraction and Ritchie stumbled after him into a dimly lit corridor. He jumped as he saw his body stretch to a grotesque length then squash up until it looked as fat as a beach ball. Jed chuckled.
‘Welcome to the Fun House. The walls in this bit are covered with a super thin distorting mirror. It’s bent in lots of ways so it gives these crazy reflections. Does your head in if you’re not used to it.’
‘You’re not kidding.’ As Ritchie nodded his reflection rippled and twisted so that he looked like an alien in a sci-fi movie. ‘Gross.’
‘You said it, pal.’
The corridor twisted abruptly and they came to a maze of mirrors.
‘Now this is a bit tricky,’ said Jed. ‘I’ve only just learnt the way through myself. But stick close and finger’s crossed we won’t bash into any glass walls.’
Despite his reservations, Jed led them through the maze without any mishaps. ‘Piece of cake. Don’t know why I doubted myself.’ He pursed his lips. ‘But I bet your mate the tramp has a bit of bother. You do if you take it too fast.’ His face lit up with glee. ‘Already today I’ve had three blokes whack their faces and give themselves nose bleeds trying to show off to their girlfriends.’
‘Yeah, funny,’ agreed Ritchie, ‘but he can’t be far behind.’ Ritchie could hear somebody blundering about in the maze.
Jed put his finger to his lips. ‘Hush, I’m about to show you the best bit.’
He made Ritchie stand behind what appeared to be a large piece of plate glass.
Ritchie groaned. ‘This is hopeless. He’ll see me as soon as he comes out of the maze.’
‘No he won’t.’ Jed waggled his finger at Ritchie. ‘Now you just wait there ‘till I come back for you. Whatever happens don’t move or make a sound’, Jed commanded. ‘Trust me. You’re going to disappear.’ He flashed Ritchie another of his gold toothed grins and slipped away down the corridor.
Ritchie was about to dash after him when suddenly the lighting in the corridor changed. No sooner had it done so than the tramp came out of the maze and stood directly in front of him. Ritchie froze in terror. He held his breath and stared straight at the tramp. To his amazement the tramp’s eyes seemed to slide right over him without seeing him. The man frowned and then spun round and disappeared back into the maze. Ritchie wanted to run but he forced himself to stay.
After a few minutes the tramp emerged again from the maze. He hurried past the glass where Ritchie was hiding without giving it a second look. Ritchie heard the tramp’s footsteps fade away into the silence but he remained where he was. His legs were shaking so badly he doubted if he’d have been able to walk anyway.
He didn’t have to wait there long before Jed strolled out of the labyrinth of mirrors. ‘You can come out now,’ he said breezily. ‘He’s gone.’
Ritchie squeezed out from behind the glass and was stunned to see his reflection staring back at him. ‘But that was clear glass,’ he gasped. ‘I could see straight through it all the time.’
‘Yep, you could. But the tramp couldn’t. You see, what you thought was plain glass was in fact half silvered. When I changed the lighting in here it turned the glass into a mirror so, although you could still see him, all the tramp could see was his own reflection. Simple, eh?’
‘Oh I get it,’ said Ritchie. ‘It’s like those two way mirrors the police use when they’re doing a line up of suspects in an identity parade. The witness can see the suspects through the glass but the suspects can’t see the witness.’
Jed looked blankly at him. ‘If you say so. I try to keep well away from the police if I can.’ He winked slyly at Ritchie. ‘Now I can hear some more punters crashing about thinking they’ve got in for free so you hop off home. I’ve got work to do.’
Ritchie thanked him and slipped out through the exit. He scanned the crowds but there was no sign of the tramp. Ritchie went back to see Rona but she was busy with a family who were clustering around her, clamouring for the wooden balls and all keen to win a prize on the Tin Can Alley stall.
Ritchie decided not to bother her and was jogging off home when he heard her call out his name. He stopped and waved. ‘Thanks, Rona. You’re a life saver.’
She gave him the full force of her magnetic smile. ‘No problem,’ she said. ‘But Ritchie, make sure you don’t talk to any strangers on your way home.’
The family turned to see whom she was talking to. Their eyes met Ritchie’s and, for reasons he couldn’t explain, he felt shivers running up and down his spine. He quickly turned away and bumped into a man hurrying towards the carnival.
‘You want to watch where you’re going, son.’ The man spoke loudly and it seemed to Ritchie as if everyone was looking at him now.
A woman stepped towards him with her hand outstretched. ‘Are you OK my lovely only you’ve gone as pale as a ghost?’
Ritchie knocked her hand away. It was too white, her fingers were too long and it sent alarm bells ringing in the back of his mind. ‘I’m fine,’ he cried. ‘Just back off and leave me alone.’
Now everyone within earshot really was staring at him. It was too much. Ritchie’s nerve broke and he sprinted away from the carnival.
***
Chapter Eighteen.
Ritchie ran in a blind panic until he reached his front door. He stood with his head resting on it panting like a dog in a heat wave. The door was wrenched open and he fell inside. He no longer cared who or what was waiting for him. He lay on the floor gasping for air and promising himself he would never go fishing again. He now knew the agony a fish suffers when dragged unceremoniously out of the water. From a long way off he heard Lizzie’s anxious voice. ‘Was the Piper chasing you?’
Ritchie rolled onto his back and looked up at the three worried faces staring back down at him. His head twitched from side to side on the carpet. ‘Don’t think so.’
‘Then why dost thou run as if the hounds of hell are snapping at thy heels?’ asked Will.
‘It seemed l
ike a good idea at the time,’ was all Ritchie could say before he was violently sick.
Later, when he had recovered and the carpet had been cleaned, Ritchie told the others all about his narrow escape in the House of Mirrors.
‘Twas well for thee that the Maid, Rona, and her noble coz had such nimble wits,’ said Will. ‘Else thou wouldst have been in a pretty pickle.’
‘Will,’ sighed Alice, ‘it’s not thee or thou and wouldst but you and would.’ Will looked puzzled and hurt. Alice gave him a bleak little smile. ‘I’m sorry my brother but I fear it is our doom to live in this time. Until we learn to fit into this world we are in constant danger so we must ape their speech and manners or die.’
‘Nobody’s going to kill you,’ said Lizzie.
‘Except the Piper of course.’ Ritchie blanched as he realised this fact also applied equally to himself and Lizzie. ‘Well, nobody from our world that is.’
‘Perhaps not,’ Alice replied. ‘But you spoke of some strange stoical servants who would take us away if they knew we were different. You said your parents would hand us to them.’
‘Ah,’ said Lizzie. ‘You mean Social Services. They wouldn’t hurt you but they wouldn’t understand what has happened to you both. They’d think you were suffering from delusions.’
‘Then they would burn us as witches or cast us out as madmen to beg and scavenge. We would be whipped from village to village.’ Will leapt to his feet. ‘This cannot come to pass.’
Lizzie decided this had gone far enough. ‘Will, Alice, no way is that going to happen, I promise you.’
‘Absolutely,’ added Ritchie. ‘Anyway, we don’t burn witches anymore. They’re all too busy going on TV chat shows.’
‘What is this TV chat that shows?’ demanded Will.
‘Never mind,’ said Lizzie. ‘Ritchie will explain later. We’ve got more important stuff to talk about like how to get you guys back to 1377 before Mum and Dad start wondering why Ritchie and I are eating twice as much grub as usual.’
