by Down, Reg
“Hey-ho, me mateys!” cried Farmer John from the top of the bluff. “That’s a fine ship to sail the seven seas. I thought the Pirates of Summer’s Fort would need some rum and ship’s biscuits.”
“Come aboard, Master Nutcracker,” called June Berry. “Bring in the vittles,” and Farmer John came down to the beach.
Farmer John climbed aboard and dished out the vittles. Lucy insisted on having a biscuit as well. It vanished down his mouth in one gulp.
“Who’s the captain?” asked Farmer John.
“I am,” said June Berry. “I’m Captain Berrybug the Pirate, and this here is King Thomas Nutcracker. The sea stacks over there are his castles: Castle Ragged and Castle Jagged.”
“Magnificent,” said Farmer John. “And where’s your treasure chest full of gold and jewels.”
“Inside the Treasure Cave,” said King Thomas. “It’s hidden and secret and only we know about it.”
“Don’t forget to save me some golden rings,” said Farmer John. “I’m fond of golden rings on my fingers and toes—and keep a big one for my nose too.” He climbed out of the boat. “Right-o, me mateys, I’ll see you back at the cottage. Supper’s soon, so don’t be late.”
“But we don’t have a watch,” said June Berry.
Farmer John looked at the shadow of the mast on the beach and made a mark.
“When the shadow hits this line it’s time for sailor pirates and kings to come in,” he said, and headed back up the cliff with Lucy trailing behind.
Chapter 14
How Kradak changed the Trees
After supper the family sat by the fire. The living room had two large windows looking out to sea, a worn wooden floor with old rugs scattered about, and paintings the family and children had made hung on the walls. The best spot on cool autumn evenings was around the fireplace. Stuffed armchairs sat on either side and a sofa covered with blankets and cushions was in the middle. The fireplace was large and open, with a wooden mantelpiece. Beside it sat the box for firewood.
“Where’s Tiptoes?” asked Farmer John. He was sitting on the sofa.
“I don’t know,” said June Berry. “I haven’t seen her for hours.”
“Here I am,” said Tiptoes from the mantelpiece. She often turned up when people talked about her. She flitted down and sat on the armchair next to June Berry. “Are you ready for the tale to continue?” she asked. “Tom wanted to know about the fire fairies that dance in the flames.”
Tom nodded and June Berry tucked her legs underneath her and propped her head on her hand. She was tired from all the fresh air and exercise.
“Once,” began Tiptoes, “the world was full of giant trees.”
That was as far as she got when Farmer John’s head fell forward. He’d fallen asleep again.
“That’s funny,” laughed Tom. “He falls asleep in a flash. Perhaps it’s the only way he can hear your story.”
“Maybe, but he’s had a busy day too,” said Tiptoes. “He needs a rest from being a farmer. This is the only holiday he gets in the year.”
Tom put a blanket on his dad and Tiptoes began the story again.
“Once, the world was full of trees. They were giant, mighty trees, for they were the children of Kalor and Vallor and Vive. The clouds sent down rain upon them and the trees drew the water out of the ground and gave it back to the clouds. In those days, clouds and trees were brother and sister, even as they are today.
And in those days Asherah the Earth Mother still walked upon the earth. She was young and beautiful and loved the trees. Often and often she turned to the sun and thanked Kalor and Vallor and Sister Vive for their gift:
‘O shining Ones,
O you, who cloth the radiant sun,
Who give us trees from wellsprings springing,
I give you thanks
For gifts of joy and beauty giving!’
But under the ground Kradak was jealous. He wanted Asherah to love only him and his creation. He made the rocks and boulders and the heavy weight that binds the earth together. Finally his jealousy turned to rage. He rumbled under the earth and shook the ground. He ground the rocks, and rocked the lands, and the lands sent dust into the air. Then the clouds filled with the dust and turned black or brown or rusty red. The clouds rained: black rain, brown rain, rusty rain, and the rains showered down upon the earth and trees. The mighty trees took the black water, the brown water, and earth-red water into their trunks. They lifted it into their mighty limbs, and into their branches and twigs. All the trees turned black or brown or earthy red. And they shrank; the mighty trees shrank under the heavy weight they carried.
Kradak was happy. He danced about and shook the earth and sent volcanoes bursting into the sky. But Asherah was not pleased.
‘Kradak,’ she cried in a terrible voice. ‘Stop! Cease! No more!’ and she stamped her foot on the ground.
Instantly Kradak felt her foot upon his head. It drove him deep into the rocks and boulders. He groaned and shook. He gnashed his teeth. He tore his hair and roared.
‘Kradak!’ cried Asherah again. ‘Be still!’ and she pounded the earth with her foot once more.
Kradak shuddered under her blow and fell silent. Even today he keeps quiet and does not make much fuss—though now and then he coughs from a tickle in this throat, and that’s when we have earthquakes. And if he has a cold and blows his nose, then a volcano explodes and sprouts smoke and ash.”
Tiptoes stopped telling the story and looked at the clock on the mantle. It was getting late.
Suddenly Farmer John’s head jerked up. He looked around wildly and leaped from the couch.
“I felt an earthquake,” he cried. “The whole house shook!”
“No, Dad,” laughed Tom. “You were dreaming the story again.”
“I was?” said Farmer John, sitting down.
Tom and June nodded. They were grinning. Their dad sat for a while, trying to wake up. “Goodness, look at the time,” he said. “You guys have to brush your teeth and get to bed.”
Tom was halfway to the bathroom when he stopped, threw up his hands, and cried: “And Tiptoes still hasn’t told us about the fire fairies.”
Chapter 15
The Lighthouse
Tiptoes sat on the children’s bunk bed. Tom was sleeping above and June Berry below. Tiptoes had sung a song to help June Berry sleep.
“Go to sleep,
count your sheep,
the wind will pass you by—
your angel’s here
to hold you dear
until the morning’s nigh.”
She sang it over and over again until June Berry closed her eyes and slept. Then Tiptoes sat a while and listened to the sea. The cottage was so close to the ocean that the sound of the waves filled the rooms day and night: ‘shush-shush … shush-shush’, they said, now louder, now softer.
Tiptoes flew to the window. The curtain was drawn and the moon, now fuller, crept in and out of the blowing mist. Tiptoes left the cottage and followed the mist as it rolled towards the hills. Up the slopes she went to the first ridge. The mountains were not high here, more like rounded hills. She followed the ridge northwards, up and down, up and down, as the sea drew closer and closer. Below her was the wide bay beyond the seals’ rest. Further on, the hills jutted into the sea and steep cliffs fell into the churning waves. Out on the ocean the lighthouse shone its light round and round from its rocky island.
Tiptoes faced into the wind and flew towards the sea. Out over the waves she soared until she was above the lighthouse. The tide was up and the surf surged around the rocky island in a ring of white. On the landward side, in the lee of the wind, was a small channel with a boat tied to a dock. Someone lived in the lighthouse.
Down Tiptoes flew. She saw a door, but it was closed. She saw a window, two windows, three, four, one over the other, but they were dark and lightless. Only the light in the top of the tower turned and turned and turned. At last Tiptoes headed homeward—over the waves, along the shore,
above the sea meadow and into the cottage to fall sleep.
Chapter 16
~ Monday ~
The Squall and the Passage
Tom Nutcracker and June Berry were up early. They made themselves peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for breakfast. Afterwards, they chose a piece of white cotton from the rag bag, cut it into a flag shape and drew two crossed swords with a crown above. Then they woke their dad.
“Dad, wake up,” said June Berry, shaking his shoulder.
Lucy jumped onto the bed and licked his face.
“Mnomblemoopt,” said Farmer John, pushing Lucy away and sitting up. His hair was scraggly and he looked like a wild man. “What is it?” he asked.
“We’re going to the beach,” said Tom.
Farmer John blinked. His eyes were half closed and sleepy. “What’s the weather like?” he said. It sounded like ‘Mutts de heaver ike’.
June Berry opened the curtains. “Windy and sunny,” she said. “Look.”
Her dad squinted and peered out. Clouds were moving quickly across the sky.
“The weather man said it was going to be sunny and rainy today,” said Farmer John. “Bring your raincoats. I’ll come later,” and he flopped back onto the bed and pulled the covers over his head.
Tom and June ran out of the room.
“And take Lucy too,” called Farmer John after them, and Lucy barked and leaped from the bed.
When they got to the beach the first thing they did was put up the flag. They pulled the mast out of the sand, tied on the flag, and put it back.
“Hurray!” cried Tom and June as the flag blew merrily in the breeze. “No one will attack our ship now!”
They gathered driftwood and built up the sides of the ship. Lucy brought sticks too—they were too small but Tom and June used them anyway. They were almost finished when the wind picked up. The flag crackled and snapped in the wind, and the air suddenly got colder. June Berry looked out to sea.
“Rain’s coming,” she shouted. “Tighten the sails! Batten down the hatches!”
“Aye-aye, Captain Berrybug,” called King Thomas, pulling on the ropes to tighten the sail. “But we don’t have any hatches.”
The first raindrops flew through the air and struck their faces.
“Abandon ship!” cried Captain Berrybug. “Run for the Treasure Cave. Guard our treasures!”
Out of the ship Tom and June jumped and scrambled up the bluff to the cave. Lucy followed, barking loudly at their heels. He wasn’t sure what all the excitement was about but it looked like fun. The rain was already lashing the bluff when they dived into the cave. Lucy ran around inside wagging his tail and barking loudly. The sound echoed off the walls—it was deafening.
“Shush, Lucy, shush,” said Tom. “No barking. Lie down.”
Lucy spun around a few times and flopped down at the back of the cave. Tom and June lay on the sandy floor and peered out the entrance. Outside the wind was howling and the rain beating down, but inside everything was still and dry. They watched as the squall moved inland off the sea and listened to the sound of the surf.
“We forgot out raincoats,” said Tom. “They’re by the boat.”
June Berry shrugged. “We can get them later,” she said.
After a while Lucy got up and explored the cave. He sniffed in every nook and cranny. At the back he began to dig into the sand. Tom looked over and saw that he was digging out another passage. He went over and helped.
“It goes further,” said Tom, “or at least I think so. Let’s find out,” and he set to work with a will.
As he dug down the sand became coarse. Soon he was digging out tightly packed pebbles and stones and his fingers began to hurt.
“The passage goes on,” he said. “I’m sure of it. But we’ll have to get spades from the garden shed to dig this out.”
Chapter 17
The Tail
Tiptoes sat at the living room window. She watched as a sudden squall rushed in from the ocean. The light dimmed and in a moment lashing wind and rain shook the cottage. A short while later, the storm had blown past and was flying over the mountains.
She decided it was time to check on Tom and June. She found them busily digging out a passage in the cave. She wondered what Obaro the cave spirit would think of that, but he was nowhere in sight. So she left and wandered down the beach. Seagulls were everywhere. They were pouring onto the beach from the north and south. Round and round they flew, whirling and calling and mewing. They landed on the sand in great white flocks, only to take off again and fly out over the sea and dive into the waves.
Tiptoes came to the old railway trestle spanning Pudding Creek. The creek flowed down from the hills, past the edge of town, and into the sea at the end of the beach. The trestle was no longer used for trains. It’d been turned into a walkway for people hiking the coast. Seagulls sat shoulder to shoulder along the whole length of the guardrail. All at once a great cry rose up and the gulls swept out to sea. They gathered where the creek, flush with water and running fast, swept into the ocean. Such a noise the gulls made—Tiptoes almost had to cover her ears! By the hundreds they dived and dipped into the swell.
“I wonder what they are fishing for?” thought Tiptoes, and she flew out to join them. She had to be careful. Gulls were twisting and turning here and there and everywhere. Three times she almost got run over. She looked into the water and saw silvery shapes darting in the swirling surf. Squid, baby squid by the thousands! They were chasing and darting hither and thither—just like the gulls. Tiptoes couldn’t see what the squid were feeding on, but they were as busy chasing their food as the gulls were busy chasing them.
Tiptoes went back to the trestle and landed on the railing. Not a single seagull kept her company; they were all out at sea. She watched for a long time until the squid moved away to the south and the seagulls followed them around the headland and out of sight.
She was about to go back to Tom and June when she saw, beyond the breakers, a tail rise and fall amongst the waves. Tiptoes jumped high into the air. There it was again, moving northwards towards the wild bay. Tiptoes sped over the waves but only caught one last glimpse as the tail dipped under the water. It was far too small to be a whale, and there was no fin along the back so it couldn’t be a dolphin, nor did it have the dark brown flippers of the seals and sea lions. This one was beautifully shaped and silvery green.
Chapter 18
The Oyster’s Daughter
Tiptoes returned from the railway trestle to find Farmer John reading a book on the beach. It was called, The Worst Way to Milk a Cow, by A. N. Udder. Farmer John was wrapped up in his rain jacket and sat out of the wind between two rocks. As long as he wasn’t in the wind he was warm and could enjoy the sunshine. Just around the corner was the pirate ship. The hull was almost finished and June Berry was building a teepee on the deck with Lucy’s help.
“Why are you building a teepee?” asked Tiptoes.
“It’s not a teepee,” said June. “It’s a cabin for His Royal Highness King Thomas Nutcracker.”
“I see,” said Tiptoes. “And where is His Royal Highness at the moment?”
“He’s in the Treasure Cave,” said June Berry. “He’s sure there’s a tunnel to another chamber, but there’s only room for one to dig.”
Tiptoes went into the cave. She found Tom on his belly digging with garden trowels. It did look like there was a passage. He’d dug quite far in, but it was narrow, with only enough room for one person. After a while he backed out and cleared the sand and pebbles from the hole.
“Hi, Tiptoes,” said Tom when he saw her. “It’s getting wider again. I’m sure there’s another cavern. There’s gold and silver in there for sure.”
Suddenly the cave darkened as June Berry crawled in the entrance.
“Dad’s taken Lucy for a walk,” she said, looking at the hole Tom had made. “It’s my turn now,” and she squirmed in and started digging.
After a while she called out: “I think I’m thr
ough. There’s another space.”
“Let’s see! Let’s see,” said Tom, and June scooted out.
“There is a space,” said Tom, digging furiously. “I think I can squeeze through.”
“Be careful,” said June Berry. “Make sure you can come back.”
Tom began to wiggle furiously. In a moment his legs and feet disappeared.
“It’s another chamber,” he called, “but it’s too dark to see.”
Tiptoes and June Berry waited as Tom explored. Finally he came wiggling out. He was covered in sand from head to foot. He had something in his fist.
“What’s that?” asked June Berry. “What did you find?”
Tom went to the entrance and opened his hand in the light. In his palm lay a silvery ball, about the size of a large marble. It glinted with delicate rainbow colors.
“It’s a pearl!” exclaimed Tiptoes.
Chapter 19
Grunt Sculpin and the Starfish
Farmer John closed his book and went to fetch the kids for lunch. He found them in their ship putting up the mast again. The squall had blown it over. This time they were burying it deeper.
“Ahoy, me hearties!” he called as he passed their ship. “Time for me mates to gnash some nosh.”
“Yea!” cried Tom and June, rushing up the slope ahead of him. They were starving.
After lunch they wanted to go back to the beach but the rain began again. This time it settled in and looked like it was going to stay for a while.
“You’d better stay here,” said Farmer John. “It’s going to be wet and I don’t want you catching cold.”
But Tiptoes didn’t mind the rain. The tide was out and she’d found a rock pool filled with life. She walked around the edge peering into the water. She saw all sorts of things: periwinkle snails, buckshot barnacles, purple mussels, sunburst anemones, lots of crabs of all kinds and one orange starfish. The starfish looked so lovely that Tiptoes dived into the water to meet it.
