“Yeah, that’s true. These artefacts we have, they don’t contain spells do they?”
“Don’t think so,” I said lying, I didn't actually have a clue. All I knew was, we needed as bigger an advantage as we could in the fight to not be the loser form. And beat Jasper.
The other’s returned half an hour after we got back, in very high spirits. “What a party!”—“Did you see Herbert dancing? He was atrocious,” They stopped talking when they saw me propped in bed reading over my notes. I think it rather perturbed them that I was smiling — they were expecting me to be near to tears after the run in with Jasper. None of them mentioned it, although Simon did have an evil glint in his eye.
As soon as I was sure they were all asleep, slow, soft snores rising and falling in tiny cacophonies, I slipped out of the covers and laced up the shoes. I was too excited not to try what I had found out. Anyway, I wouldn't be able to do it during the day with everyone around would I? Even though my eyes felt sore, I put on my dressing gown and crept into the dark hallway outside. This was it, time to try them out. I looked ahead at the long stretch of black darkness.
I took a deep breath and raised my right leg, ready to tap it against the left. Tap-tap. Nothing happened. I looked down, they didn't do anything. I sighed, typical wasn't it? I actually thought for a moment that I had cracked it, but no—fizz, crackle—what was that? Golden light suddenly burst into the hallway with the force of a thousand spells! I left my stomach behind as the shoes shot forwards at break neck speed. My legs moved in a walking motion, but I was now zapping around the corridors faster than a thunder bolt. One corridor, two, three, four… it took barely a second to zap from the start to the end of them. And I needn't even move or turn when I came to the end, they just did it for me. It was incredible. My dressing gown flashed behind me as I whizzed along, torches on the walls lit up as I passed in a flash, Occulus’ peering round, but barely catching sight of me. I even passed Hayden Carmichael coming out of the toilets, he jumped against the wall double-taking as I zoomed past, probably just a flash of light to him.
I wanted to stop, but how? Of course, the double tap again. Tap-tap. I stopped so quickly, that I went skidding headlong into a large tapestry on the fifth floor. As soon as I took stock, shaking the dizziness and the tapestry off, I heard a horrible sound.
WOOOOOO-WOOOOOOH! Came the Occulus’s siren call, loud and clear across the silent night. It was directly above me, peering down large and frightening. Whoops. Then, more sirens began shooting around the corridors from all over the school. This meant trouble, I had to get back to my dorm, now! I fixed my mind on my bed, and double tapped the shoes. After a second they lit up again and I flashed down the corridors, until I stopped directly outside my dorm. The shoes golden light diminished as I wobbled slightly on the spot. I crept inside, slipped off the shoes, sliding them under my bed, took off the dressing gown and got into bed. My heart was beating like a clapper, but I kept my eyes closed as the door opened. The room filled with blue light and Partington’s soft voice.
“See Jenks, my lot are all accounted for…”
CHAPTER SEVEN
The Happendance Carnival
Fortunately nothing came of the early morning sprint around school. Hayden Carmichael hadn't mentioned it, nor had he even looked at me differently. Some of the Magisteer’s were becoming increasingly frustrated with the all night siren calls from the Occulus — they seemed to be getting paranoid, going off whenever someone went to the toilet.
A few days later, on the 21st of December, it was time for all those who wanted to go home for Christmas, to leave. Most did, including Tina who I heard was going to Jasper’s for Christmas. I stood in the hallway waving off Hunter, Dawn, Dennis, Jess, Florence and indeed everyone from our form except Jake and Gret, who said it costed too much to get back to Golandria this time of year. The Hall was packed full of people waving goodbye to their friends, exchanging small wrapped gifts before running outside to catch their carriage. I looked around for Robin but he was no where to be seen. I presumed he would be going home, back to Yorkshire.
“I’m off,” he said behind me, causing me to jump — then he leaned in closer. “You gonna be alright on your own?”
“Think I can handle myself,” I said pointing subtly down at the shoes. “Take care, have a good Christmas in Yorkshire.”
“Cheers,” he said laughing.
“What’s funny, did I say it wrong?”
“No, it just sounds weird you saying Yorkshire,” with that he waved and marched out with his bag floating behind his head, getting in a carriage with Graham — apparently they lived close to each other. I was alone again. Jake, Gret and I stepped outside with the few other people staying at school for Christmas, slipping along the ice to watch the carriages launching into the air and shooting away. Ingralo was dragging a large Christmas tree through the snow, before propping it up in the Hall. Some, for want of anything better to do, helped decorate it. I sat on the steps and watched glumly. What could I do for Christmas? My mind skipped back to me and Tina spending Christmas Day together last year, that was fun. Who did I have here now? Jake and Grettle? I don’t think they even believed in Christmas. I suppose I had homework to do anyway.
Christmas consisted of mainly being bored. I was free to explore and explore I did, but I didn’t have Tina. I had gone and lost her completely — and I had no idea how. Soon enough I had completed all the homework set, sitting by the fire I’d ploughed through it with an intense fury. The Library was locked and I couldn’t remember the spell Robin had done to unlock the door or tame the Occulus’. I thought about using some of the gold I still had leftover from Granddad to purchase some books from the catalogue at the back of the Herrald, but all the good books had age restrictions.
I read the Herrald each day at breakfast in the sparse Chamber with Jake and Gret, who spoke to each other in Golandrian. Rude.
Walking around the school and the grounds alleviated some of the boredom. I’d walk along the long corridors and hallways aimlessly, looking at the paintings, noticing the coloured carpets that corresponded to a certain years dorm and passing other bored looking people. I passed the trophy cabinet near the Lily’s office. It was full to the brim of all sorts of different things. And there I saw, Ernest Partington emblazoned across several of the trophies: winners of the Riptide Cup, the League, and top scorer for three seasons running.
Once or twice on these walks, I’d bump into a Magisteer who was staying behind at the school. Magisteer Mallard nearly took me out as he came out of the drama hall, with a mask on.
“Sorry dear boy, sorry!” he called as I marched away a little frightened. Yearlove was in his room too, I could hear him talking to someone. Maybe I would go back to his lessons after Christmas, it depended on if he was actually going to teach all of us, or make us listen to Jasper.
You had to wrap up warm if you wanted to go outside, it was freezing. Every day I’d go for a solitary stroll in the grounds, round through the forest, past the lake where me and Tina had spent that glorious day last summer. On Christmas Eve I went for a stroll, wrapped up to the hilt in borrowed gloves and a scarf, this time I went around the forest and back past the trees who bowed as I passed, along to the edge of the canyon. Over a long drawbridge was the floating island — it was wonderful, suspended in mid air and covered in benches, rabbits and an angel statue. A great waterfall also fell in long gushing waves down its edge. There was no way I was crossing that drawbridge, I hated heights. My breath came out in long misty streaks ahead of me and I supposed I should go back soon and get some lunch. But then I spotted someone on the island. All I could see, sitting on her own on a bench, was a big flock of bouncy white hair. Zara Faraday was sitting alone on one of the benches, a rabbit on her knee. My heart fluttered and my throat went dry. This was the perfect opportunity to go and talk to her, except, I liked Tina. Or did I? I didn’t know anymore. Anyway, I would probably only mess it up.
***
“Merr
y Christmas everyone!” called the Lily, looking ridiculous in a pink paper hat.
“Slancher!” cried Jake and Gret. I didn’t know what that meant. A great big roasted Dandy bird with all the trimmings burst onto the tables. Partington and Ernie sat together at the Magisteer’s table, along with the Lily, Dodaline, Mallard and Yearlove who were pulling crackers and laughing. Christmas music played while we ate.
I sat back in my chair feeling full, Zara and three of her form were having a great time together, playing some game that one of the Outsider’s had brought in with little houses and paper money. I was staring at her watching them play, when all of a sudden she looked up and saw me staring. I blinked and looked away, my heart suddenly jumping to life as I tried to look interestedly at the ceiling. How embarrassing. I quickly glanced up at the Magisteers table. The Lily was licking his fingers after a sumptuous christmas cake. And then something just behind him caught my eye. The door behind the stage was slightly ajar. Peering through the darkness were glowing eyes, black rags and dirty feet. It was the thing that had attacked me. And it was looking directly at the Lily.
“MEEERRRRRY CHHHRRRRIIISTMAAASSSS!” Shouted a sixth year at the top of his voice, standing on top of the table and scaring everyone half to death. Everyone laughed, except me. I looked back at the door, but the thing, was gone.
In what seemed like weeks and weeks, yet was actually just a few days, everyone returned to school and the life and buzz returned. Hunter came back wearing a golden earring, which Dodaline told him to remove immediately. “Do you know what will happen if someone does a zxanbatters spell near that? Half your ear will come off!”
Robin looked fuller and more rosy cheeked, as indeed did most, returning looking a little more rounded and happier. There was however a slight spanner about to be thrown into the works. The first day back to lessons, Partington greeted us in form and told us that the second years had an assembly.
“Don’t tell me,” said Jake. “The Stadium has fallen over again so we have to restart ‘de whole process!?”
“Not quite,” said Partington with an air of nervousness.
“Two things,” said the Lily prowling around the Magisteer’s table. “As you are all aware the second years are taken on a school trip in mid January to the Eastern Happendance Carnival…” the Lily stopped as excited chattering and loud exclamations filled the air. The Happendance Carnival? I’d only ever heard about it before, but never actually been there. Robin and Hunter, indeed most of the Outsiders looked around blankly, wondering what the excitement was about.
“You will be accompanied by your form tutor, and will stay for two nights. This is a learning trip, not an entertainment one. However…” he said, drawing out the last word making everyone look up anxiously. There was a snag, why was there always a snag? The Lily nodded slowly. “There is one condition. Magisteer Simone has said that due to slow progress on the rebuild of the Riptide Stadium, that if it is not rebuilt by next Friday, which is the last day before the trip — then everyone stays behind to finish it and misses out on the school trip…”
There was a huge exhale of air, as everyone sunk deflated like a hundred blow up snowmen. There was no way that the stadium was going to be finished by then. Muttering comments about Magisteer Simone filled the air, along with stamps of disapproval — the stupid witch!
“Unfortunately, I have to agree with Magisteer Simone, the first Riptide game is scheduled for the start of February and we have many checks to do before then.” After letting the Chamber calm down, the Lily waiting patiently with his hands pressed tightly together, then he resumed. “Lastly, their have been a lot of complaints about the Occulus',” several Magisteer’s pursed their lips. “But, again, I am afraid to say, they are here to stay. I have personally conversed with them about being a little more… lenient, but as they were sent by the school councillors, my hands are tied.”
***
For the next week we worked harder than at any time I can ever remember. Simone and Ingralo stood watching, perturbed by our frantic, yet organised teamwork. The goal of getting to go to Happendance Carnival all in the forefront of our minds. We had to make it. And so on we pushed, skipping lessons, breaks and lunch, working through to the small hours of the morning. We continued pulling rudders into place, push wooden rafters into their slots and hammer in hundreds to thousands of long magic nails. Through wind and rain, cold, biting January frost and a harsh, face numbing sleet we persevered.
After the fourth day there was a moment, as the last nail was hammered in. The girl who was hammering stepped back, we all did, and looked up at the colossal building around us. We had done it, all of it. It was so nearly there. The supports, stairs and surround were completed, now we had two days to fit all the drapes around the outside and all the seats.
Simone took her time summoning them, but finally they popped up in a giant box ten times as big as her. On the last night we were exhausted. We were running from job to job, lifting each massive drape and fixing it to the outside of the stadium, hanging it from giant metal hooks. Each drape a new illustration of each form—Manticore, Centaur, Hubris, Eagles, Condors, Hesserbout, Jaloofia’s, Phoenix, Snares and Swillow’s, amongst many others. Then we jumped up the massive wide staircase we’d constructed and into the seating area where we began laying seat after seat. They had to be fixed to specific markers, and had to be absolutely spot on before the bolt would grasp the magical nut and fasten into place. It was tiring waiting for the nut to grasp. The feint moon shined through silent drifting clouds above casting it's white light across the proceedings. We had less than an hour until time was up. But then… Kenny McCarthy ceremonially raised the last seat into the air, and placed it into the nut, as the entirety of the second year stood and watched.
“HOORAY!” we all called jumping for joy, we’d done it!
We traipsed down to where Simone stood at the foot of the stone stairs. “Quite an achievement,” she said with an evil glare in her eyes. I had a feeling that she was about to say that we’d forgotten something, like laying the pitch, or something stupid. But she didn’t, she turned and beckoned us forwards and muttered that we must sleep now for we had a busy day tomorrow.
***
The mega-carriage landed with a bump in the middle of a large field littered with carriages — the Happendance Carnival carriage parking lot. Some of the carriages were emblazoned with strange words and colours. My muscles ached like never before as we got out. David Starlight tried to trip me up. I turned and glared at his smug little pinched face. That was close, he’d nearly tripped my shoes into blasting me off. Robin pushed past David and came to my side.
Sound rippled across the fields. Far below us, in the valley, was the biggest, loudest, most colourful sight ever — the Magical Eastern Happendance Carnival — it looked to be in full swing too. My eyes drifted to the lines and lines of colourful magical stalls and markets, a bubble of excitement shooting through my insides. I'd never really been anywhere like this before, my parents didn't believe in fun.
“Now,” said Partington getting out of the carriage, and picking up his triangular hat which fell off as it hit the top of the carriage. “There are some rules to this carnival which we’d like you to abide. Stick in twos, no wandering off on your own and if there is any trouble, send a red miseria flash into the air, me or Magisteer Straker will come and find you.” Straker raised his eyebrow. “You are free to do as you please, but first let us show you the tents you will be staying in, you can put your stuff down there first.”
Partington led the way down the hillside towards the carnival. Other second years appeared from all around, walking with us until we merged into a large burgundy mass.
“Here we are!” said Partington in front of a white tent near the back end of the carnival in a muddy bog. “Inside, come on, quickly... Well, you won't be in here for long, you’ll be out all day exploring won't you,” said Partington in response to Simon and Graham's moans about the state of the inside of the
tent.
Small, very old, camp beds lay haphazardly upon the grass. Small, wet carpets lay strewn across the grass in no particular order. “As I said,” said Partington. “We won’t be spending long in here, just to sleep. Thankfully,” he muttered. We all glanced around at each other. Hunter jumped on a near by bed and cried as he fell through it. “Be careful with the camp beds, they are very old…”
After Jake and Dennis helped Hunter out and we all set off together for an explore of the famous Happendance Carnival.
Our tent was right at the back near all the carriages, and storage units. Charming. Graham didn’t look pleased, rolling his eyes at the puddle of mud that surrounded our tent. “I don’t suppose the school could’ve paid for us to stay somewhere a bit nicer… like that?” He said, pointing over the carriages where a huge red and gold tent sprouted up around the edge of the forest, far eclipsing any other tent near it, for size and looks. A flag hung above it reading “Farkingham Mystery School.”
I didn't know there were other magic schools. I just assumed Hailing Hall was the only one. “Don’t be stupid,” said Simon when I said this out loud. “Of course we’re not the only one. Farkingham’s is much better.”
We wandered over towards their tent, the inside was absolutely colossal. Bunk beds ten high reached the ceiling with magical ladders. A huge walking bookshelf, tons of comfy armchairs, a kitchen piled high with food and a room just off the main, was filled with games.
“They don’t even need to leave their tent!” said Hunter dreamily. Some of the Farkingham’s emerged slowly, dressed head to toe in black. A tight black cape huge from under their chin, falling down to their shoes. The faces that greeted us were dark and glaring—I could feel their thoughts echoing towards us: why are you standing near our tent. Why are you watching?
Avis Blackthorn and the Magical Multicolour Jumper (The Wizard Magic School Series, Book 2) Page 15
