by David Alric
When Lucy returned she and Richard had a chat. Helen and Julian were at the cave preparing a special farewell evening meal and it was their first opportunity to talk alone.
‘Mummy and the girls must be frantic with worry about us,’ Richard said. ‘If only we could let them know we are safe.’
‘They already know I’m safe,’ replied Lucy with a grin, ‘’cos I sent them a letter.’
Richard’s jaw dropped. ‘You what?’
‘I sent them a letter. Are you deaf or something?’ She grinned again, then relented and explained how she had contrived to get a message back to the family.
‘It’s funny you should mention it,’ she continued, ‘because I was just thinking we should send them another saying we’ve met up. Let’s go and do it. It should be easier to prepare this time. I had to do it in secret before – but it will still need to be short so it’s not too heavy. It should arrive in time for Clare’s birthday. I’ve no idea of today’s date but it must be getting close.’
Richard was thrilled beyond words to hear that they could communicate with home, and arm-in-arm they hurried back to the cave to write a note.
Ten minutes later Clio was scaling the liana ladder, clutching a tiny parcel in her mouth.
Now that Richard and Helen and Julian had grasped the reality of their new situation they could all relax for the first time for many months, and during their meal that evening the conversation turned eventually to home, a place they could all believe – at last – that they might see again. Helen and Julian explained how they had not seen their two sons for almost a year. The elder was at university studying medicine and the younger was still at school. By one of those extraordinary coincidences in life they lived in London, not far from the Bonaventures, and they agreed that when they all got home the two families should meet up. Richard took down the necessary details and promised to contact Helen and Julian’s family to say they were safe as soon as they were able to.
The next day they awoke to the sound of four giant sloths clearing plane fragments and rocks from the areas Lucy had pointed out, and once again the monkeys were waiting with fresh food for breakfast. Helen and Julian were looking forward to resuming their scientific explorations now that they had the protection of the sabre-tooths and Lucy explained to Helen that if she wanted to move far while her legs were healing, the sabre-tooths would allow her to ride on them. Helen seemed extremely doubtful about this but said she would think about it.
Then it was time to go. The three adults had grown very close during their period of enforced companionship and Helen wept a little as she bade goodbye to Richard. Then she took Lucy on one side and talked quietly to her for a few minutes. Her expression was serious and Richard saw Lucy nodding in agreement. As the two came back to join the group Lucy spoke to Queenie who scampered off into the bush.
‘What was all that about?’ said Richard when Lucy returned, instantly regretting this question as it was perfectly obvious that it was something that Helen wished to be discreet about.
‘Oh, just girls’ talk,’ said Lucy lightly, and Richard dropped the matter.
Helen and Julian came with Lucy and Richard to the foot of the rope ladder and watched nervously as they climbed to the top, two monkeys going in front of Lucy and steadying her with their tails as before. Just as they reached the top Queenie reappeared at the foot of the ladder and clambered up after them in a few seconds. As Lucy reached the top Katy Coati scampered over to her yelping with delight, chasing her own tail and then running round and round Lucy’s feet. Lucy had some difficulty in reassuring Richard that the black panther sitting at the top waiting for them was not the mate of the jaguar who had chased him over the cliff, but as Melanie came over purring and rubbing herself against Lucy, he had no choice but to be convinced.
There had been some considerable discussion concerning the fate of the rope ladder so laboriously constructed by Lucy and her animal assistants. Should some disaster befall Richard and Lucy, then help would never come for Helen and Julian and the ladder would be a potential route of escape for them from the crater, assuming Helen’s legs were by then fully healed. Having seen the ease with which the monkeys swarmed up and down the ladder, however, Helen was adamant that Richard and Lucy should cut it free once they had climbed out, so as to avoid contamination of the crater’s ecology by the normal forest fauna and vice versa.
‘These habitats have been isolated from each other for over three million years,’ she said. ‘We can’t possibly allow them to mix just for our convenience – if they do the crater creatures will inevitably be wiped out just as they did in the rest of the continent, and if some crater animals get out they may unbalance the outside environment in ways we don’t know; they may even have diseases to which ordinary animals have no resistance. No, Julian and I will just have to hope that you make it safely back and arrange help for us. Anyway, even if we did climb up the ladder our chances of safely reaching civilization on our own would be negligible.’
Julian looked somewhat doubtful at losing this slender link with the outside world but in the end agreed with Helen’s unselfish and unarguable scientific logic, so it was decided that the steps would be removed. When Richard and Lucy reached the top they pulled the ladder up rather than cutting it and letting it fall, just in case something happened that meant they wanted to return to the crater instead of continuing their journey.
As they laid the ladder on the plateau Lucy saw Queenie looking at it pensively and stroking the rungs with her paw.
‘Just think,’ the monkey said wistfully, catching Lucy’s glance, ‘it was within our capacity to build such a tree-that-bends before you came and for generations we could have entered the Valley of the Mighty Ones and eaten the strange and delicious fruits therein. Yet we did not, because we knew not how. Truly, the Tailless Ones are the masters of all creation.’
Lucy was a little saddened by the monkey’s remarks but the conversation suddenly made her think of one more precaution she had to take. After she and Richard had waved a final goodbye to Helen and Julian far below on the crater floor she asked Queenie to muster all the monkeys and other animals that had helped to build the ladder. They assembled in front of her and she addressed them all.
‘This special tree that you made has saved the lives of the Paterpromise and his companions. No such tree must ever again be made in this place, for if animals of the forest mingle with those in the crater, many creatures will be doomed. Do you all follow my words?’
‘Your command shall always be obeyed by all that stand here,’ replied Queenie, ‘for we know that there are matters within your ken that we shall never comprehend.’
Richard stood mystified by this exchange which, for him had consisted of Lucy and a band of monkeys and assorted other animals standing looking at each other in complete silence. When it was over she explained to her father what had been said. Richard said nothing but realized that when it came to organizing and planning for the future his daughter was wise beyond her years. In the event, Richard’s fears that they might need to return to the crater proved unfounded – as Lucy had always known they would – and within a few weeks the ladder, like all other fallen branches in the jungle, had disappeared under the never-ending onslaught of the myriad insects and moulds of the forest floor.
17
Christmas in the Jungle
Lucy and Richard retraced the journey she had taken previously under the guidance of the condors. The monkeys seemed to have an infallible memory for the route and the return journey was undertaken in much the same way as the outward one a few days earlier. There was now a very large tapir for Richard, and the only serious problem they faced was in crossing the jungle-clad ravine over which the monkeys had carried Lucy. It was impossible for them to assist Richard in the same way as he was a large man, and it took almost a week of additional journey time to circumvent this natural obstacle that the monkeys had traversed with Lucy in less than an hour.
One night, after jou
rneying for two weeks, they sat after supper in the rapidly fading light when Lucy remembered something she had forgotten to tell her father.
‘Dad, I know this sounds stupid, but I don’t suppose you’ve any idea what the exact date is? I heard Chopper say that they were expecting the biggest drugs delivery they’ve ever had on New Year’s Day – they thought it was the ideal day not to get noticed doing something criminal.’
Richard took his diary out of his rucksack.
‘I must say, it’s becoming a novel experience to be one up on you, but as it so happens I do have a diary and I know exactly what day it is. I nearly told you in the crater when you mentioned Clare’s birthday, but I got distracted by the thought of writing a letter home.’ He handed the diary over and pointed to where he had been conscientiously marking off the days since his crash in the jungle.
‘I wasn’t going to tell you until tomorrow as a surprise,’ he continued with a smile, ‘but, now you’ve asked, tomorrow is Christmas Eve. Happy pre-Christmas!’ And he leant over and gave her a kiss and a hug.
‘Christmas! – I can’t believe that I’d forgotten all about it. Normally I think of nothing else for weeks beforehand.’ Then she smiled. ‘Do you think Santa Claws will visit us in the jungle?’ Richard looked slightly mystified. ‘Oh, come on, Dad. Santa Claws!’ They both laughed as he eventually twigged and their thoughts turned at once to Clare, the chief punster in the family. Richard saw Lucy’s eyes beginning to glisten with tears.
‘It’ll be my first Christmas away from Clare, Sarah and Mummy. I wonder what they’ll all be doing.’
At that moment Queenie stiffened and looked up into the treetops. It was now almost dark. As Richard and Lucy watched, a shape detached itself from the canopy and glided silently down to them. The screech owl perched on a nearby shrub and spoke.
‘I bring sad tidings to thee, O Promised One.’ The voice reminded Lucy instantly of this bird’s distant cousin on Wimbledon Common. ‘The henbane that was the last to bear a message to thy kin did not return to his den for many sunsleeps. Now he has been found by the side of the great path that carries the moving houses with paws of rubber that roar. He may have been distracted by a coneyhop, for the remains of one lay near by. His own kin know not whether he perished before his duty to thee was fulfilled. They greatly fear thy wrath.’
Lucy turned to Richard tearfully.
‘They may not have got our message from the crater. The fox carrying it on its last leg got run over.’ Richard was trying to console her when suddenly she sat up straight and wiped her eyes with a leaf.
‘Of course!’ she exclaimed. ‘How could I forget! We must use the animanet.’ She ignored Richard’s mystified expression and turned quickly back to the owl who was waiting patiently to be dismissed.
‘Thanks to thee who rend the night with thy great cry. I have a further errand. First my kin must know that the Paterpromise is with me and that we are safe from all evil. Then the kin of the henbane who sacrificed himself in my cause must be thanked. I feel only gratitude, not wrath. They shall come and speak to me when I return to Albion. Now go in haste: tell the swiftest of the fledgiquills in the forest to fly to the Great Salt and give these messages to the Great Ones. Thank thee and fare thee well!’
‘I fly even now to do thy will.’ The owl rose with a clatter of wings and sped off into the black night.
When he had gone Richard turned to Lucy:
‘I want to know all about this animanet, or whatever it is you said – it sounds fascinating – but first let’s go back to our discussion about Chopper and the drugs delivery on New Year’s Day. We’ve got to try to get to the camp in time to warn the cops so they can stop the drug switch and catch both sets of villains. Do you think we can make the camp within a week?’
Lucy consulted Queenie, then turned back to Richard.
‘She says we’ll be there just after the new moon. I remember it was a full moon about a week ago – so we should be OK.’ They both peered into the night sky for confirmation, and could just see a half-crescent through a gap in the canopy.
‘You’re right,’ said her father. ‘Clever girl! But it’s going to be close: we can’t afford to lose any time in the next few days.’
Christmas morning started off as a sad affair in the Bonaventure household. The family were all together at Joanna’s house and the absence of Richard and Lucy seemed even more poignant on a day that, over the years, had been filled with such happiness in the family. Joanna had decided that, for the sake of Sarah, Ben, Henry and Christopher, they should try to celebrate as best they could in the circumstances with a traditional Christmas meal. Just before lunch, as she was taking the turkey out of the oven, Tibbles came up to her and started purring and rubbing her head against her leg in a most insistent fashion.
‘Out of the way, Tibs,’ she said. ‘I’m really busy just now, we’ll talk to you later.’ But the cat grew even more insistent, mewing incessantly and deliberately moving in front of Joanna’s feet, so that she practically tripped over her.
‘What on earth’s the matter?’ said Joanna. ‘You’ve already had your breakfast. You don’t have lunch as well just because it’s Christmas.’
Clare, who had been making some cranberry sauce and only half paying attention to this little interchange, suddenly stopped and turned to watch the cat. The cat, seeing Clare’s movement, immediately came over to her and started to do the same as she had to Joanna, then went to and fro between the two of them.
‘It’s Lucy!’ exclaimed Clare, practically in a shout. ‘It’s a message from Lucy!’
The cat, seeing it had at last got their attention, turned and raced upstairs, followed by Clare and Joanna. The other members of the family, putting the finishing touches to the table in the dining room, were puzzled to see, through the serving hatch, their sudden disappearance, but presumed it was some kind of surprise they had forgotten to get for the younger children.
Tibbles first went to Lucy’s bedroom and found Jackie, the favourite soft toy from which Lucy was normally inseparable. She then led the curious pair to Joanna and Richard’s room and, jumping up on their bed, laid the toy on Richard’s pillow. Next she went to the wardrobe where Richard kept his clothes and shoes and mewed and pawed at the door. Clare opened it and the cat immediately rummaged inside and emerged with one of Richard’s slippers in her mouth. She then deliberately placed it next to the soft toy on Richard’s pillow, sat by the pillow and started purring as loudly as the astonished mother and daughter had ever heard her purr before.
‘Lucy and Daddy are together in a safe place!’ Clare said, her voice now almost a whisper and trembling with emotion.
Joanna looked at her and nodded, an ecstatic smile crossing her face. ‘You’re right,’ she said. ‘It just can’t mean anything else.’
They hugged each other and wept for joy, with Tibbles purring and rubbing herself against their legs. Then they went downstairs and Joanna told her parents the news.
‘What a wonderful Christmas present – the best any of us could have hoped for,’ said Grandma, crying happily into a tissue.
Clare took Sarah, Ben, Henry and Christopher aside and told them simply that they had heard that Lucy and Richard were safe. The family had decided that none of them should know Lucy’s secret until they were much older.
18
An Even More Uncomfortable Day at the Creek
When at last they reached the river, Lucy and Richard found the boat guarded by the caymans. Following Lucy’s instructions the monkeys had covered it in large fronds to protect it from the rain and hide it from any observer plane that might be sent out from the camp. After several minutes of backbreaking tugging at the starter cord Richard was eventually able to start the outboard motor. They chugged off down the river, accompanied by all the animals.
During their long journey Lucy had recounted in full detail her experiences in Rio and the camp, and Richard had gone cold with anger at the thought of the fate that Chopper and his
associates had planned for his daughter. He was also appalled to learn the truth about the company, though he was convinced that José Verdade was not involved in any of the shady side of the business, and decided he would contact him as soon as he could.
When they got to within a couple of miles of the camp Richard shut off the engine so that its throbbing would not be heard and they floated silently down towards the jetty and the wreck of the spare boat. When they eventually moored the boat it was almost evening on New Year’s Eve and they held a council of war. The first thing they decided they must do was to find out how many men were in the camp and where they were. Lucy was particularly interested to know whether Chopper had come from Rio and whether he was armed.
‘None of the animals must get hurt,’ she said. ‘They have done everything they can to help us and it wouldn’t be fair to send them into danger. I’m going to talk to Queenie about the safest plan of action.’ Richard agreed and watched, fascinated, as his daughter sat down and discussed tactics with a monkey – neither of them apparently speaking; they just looked intently at each other with Lucy nodding now and then. She had started the conversation by taking off her glasses and giving them to the monkey who had immediately put them on and worn them throughout the interchange, adding a final, surreal touch to the scene. Richard wished he had a camcorder to record everything. Soon the monkey got up, gently replaced Lucy’s spectacles, being careful not to knock Michelle off her shoulder, and disappeared towards the camp.
‘What was going on with your specs?’ asked Richard.
‘Oh, she loves them,’ said Lucy. ‘At first she made me take them off when I was about to get into a situation where they might get broken, then I noticed she started to ask me to remove them for more and more trivial reasons just as an excuse to try them on. Now I just give them to her whenever we have a chat.’
