The Case of the Wayward Professor

by Gareth P. Jones

  ‘You were limping when I saw you back at Karnataka’s place,’ Dirk said to Grendel.

  ‘It’s not true.’ Grendel struggled beneath Dirk’s weight. ‘I lost my claw years ago in an accident.’

  ‘Well, I’ve good news, then, Cinderella, because I’ve found it,’ said Dirk, pulling out the claw he had tucked behind his wing and holding it up.

  ‘Where did you get that?’ demanded Grendel.

  ‘I found it in the hands of a human,’ replied Dirk, ‘the human you sold it to.’

  ‘Councillors, don’t listen to him. I told yow, it was Karnataka,’ protested Grendel. ‘He sold it to the professor.’

  ‘I never mentioned a professor,’ replied Dirk. ‘And I suppose it was you who attacked me back at the old hospital.’

  ‘Give me that,’ exclaimed Grendel, trying to grab the claw, but unable to escape from Dirk’s firm grip.

  ‘You mutilated yourself for the Kinghorns and then you set up your own cousin, didn’t you? What for, Grendel? Surely not just so you could move into his garish bachelor pad?’

  ‘Watch what you’re calling garish,’ interrupted Karnataka.

  ‘Come on, the flaming columns are a bit over the top,’ said Dirk. ‘What’s Vainclaw got planned, Grendel?’

  ‘I don’t know anything about it,’ he screamed.

  ‘You’re another one of Vainclaw’s cronies, aren’t you?’

  ‘I’m not.’

  ‘You’re a Kinghorn. Admit it.’

  ‘I’m not a Kinghorn, I just did it for the gold,’ blurted out Grendel. ‘Oops.’

  ‘Got you,’ announced Dirk triumphantly, jumping off Grendel’s back. ‘Councillors, you’ve heard this Shade-Hugger’s confession. How do you find Grendel Sheving in the matter of selling his own body parts to humans?’

  The councillors shut their enormous eyelids, remaining utterly still for a moment. The white smoke from their nostrils turned black and their eyes opened again.

  WE FIND GRENDEL SHEVING GUILTY OF BREACHING THE FORBIDDEN DIVIDE.

  ‘No,’ screamed Grendel angrily, flapping his wings trying to escape. But the stone beneath his feet had already formed over his claws and was dragging him down into the ground. ‘Please, Dirk. Have mercy. I spared your life back at the hospital. I could have killed you but I didn’t.’

  ‘We were in the middle of London. Even if you’d had the guts to kill me, you’d never have been able to dispose of my body without being seen.’

  The stone speedily pulled Grendel down.

  ‘Please, have pity. I can’t be banished,’ he pleaded, his head now level with the ground. ‘I’ve got sensitive skin. I’ll get a rash.’

  ‘For the last time, what’s Vainclaw plotting?’ insisted Dirk.

  ‘I don’t know. I don’t know anything.’

  ‘Then send me a postcard. I hear the Inner Core is nice and toasty this time of year.’

  Grendel screamed and wriggled to get free but there was no stopping the rock as it formed over his head, silencing his desperate cries.

  Chapter Nineteen

  Leon turned and addressed the councillors.

  ‘Councillors, please,’ he begged, ‘the fact that this Mountain Dragon has the claw is enough to convict him.’

  The councillors looked at Dirk.

  WHAT DO YOU SAY, MOUNTAIN DRAGON?

  ‘If I hadn’t retrieved the claw it would have led to the exposure of our kind. This is what your captain wants. He works for Vainclaw Grandin. He and his brother are Kinghorns.’

  ‘Lies,’ barked Leon, sending a line of fire at Dirk.

  Dirk dodged the flames, but Leon jumped forward and swiped at him with his outstretched claws. Dirk ducked then leapt into the air, spinning round and whacking Leon with his tail.

  Leon rolled over and shouted, ‘I could do with some help, ar’ kid.’

  Mali let go of the chain holding Karnataka and dived at Dirk, but Dirk jumped out of the way.

  ‘Don’t worry, councillors,’ said Leon. ‘Me and ar’ kid will have this one locked up in no time.’

  The councillors remained still and silent.

  Holly watched helplessly as the two Scavengers surrounded Dirk, circling menacingly, sending sporadic bursts of fire at him.

  In a sudden movement, they both pounced forward. Dirk tried to bat them off, but they were too quick for him. Mali landed on his back and pinned him down with a claw to his mouth, to stop him breathing fire.

  ‘Councillors, I am going to burn this traitor’s eyes out as an example to all Kinghorn spies,’ Leon roared, sending fire from his mouth, and walked slowly towards Dirk.

  Holly wished there was something she could do but to reappear would be death to them both. Then she noticed Karnataka, slowly backing away towards the edge of the island.

  Dirk could feel the heat on his face from Leon’s fire. It wasn’t dying that he minded. It was leaving Holly alone in this place. He struggled, desperate to get free, but Mali held him down firmly.

  Then he felt the weight lift from his back and he sprang up on to all fours to see Karnataka wrestling Mali to the ground.

  Dirk leapt into the air and came down hard on Leon’s back, taking him by surprise, getting him in a firm headlock and hauling him back across the island, thrashing wildly. He held him from behind, flattening his pointy yellow ears against his head and digging his claws into his chin.

  ‘Still fighting Vainclaw’s fights for him?’ said Dirk.

  Swiping his tail and struggling to get free, Leon replied, speaking in a low whisper, ‘The Kinghorns’ time is near, Mr Detective. Soon Vainclaw will lead us to victory.’

  ‘These dragons in the cells are all innocent, aren’t they, Leon?’

  ‘Of course,’ hissed Leon. ‘You think we’d arrest our own kind? It doesn’t take much to accuse an innocent dragon. How do you think I got rid of my predecessor as captain?’

  ‘And you’re not worried about being found out?’ replied Dirk.

  ‘The Drakes follow my orders and these senile councillors wouldn’t know a real Kinghorn if he smacked them in their big stupid faces,’ replied Leon triumphantly.

  ‘I think they might now,’ said Dirk, releasing him and allowing him to see that he had dragged him all the way across the island to the voice projector, holding his mouth by the thin end of the cone, broadcasting every word around the hall.

  Dirk tapped the device and then spoke into it. ‘Did everyone get that?’

  Leon glanced back at the Drakes, who were waving their chains in the air and shouting, ‘Traitor … King-horn scum … Arrest the scavengers … Betrayal …’

  ‘You just said that to the whole cave, bro,’ said Mali.

  ‘I think it may be time to go, ar’ kid,’ he replied.

  Mali, who had wrestled himself free from Karnataka, nodded. ‘Last one out is a pot-bellied cave dweller.’

  WE HAVE BEEN TRICKED. THIS CAPTAIN IS A TRAITOR.

  The six councillors reared up and tried to snatch the Scavengers out of the air, but the chains that held them were too tight.

  ‘You’ll get what’s coming to you soon enough, councillors. The time of the Kinghorns is near,’ goaded Leon. The Scavengers disappeared through the waterfall, pursued on foot by a squadron of angry Dragnet officers.

  Dirk edged his way to where Holly was hiding and spread his wings again, giving her enough time to scramble back on and vanish from sight. He approached Karnataka and said, ‘Thanks for your help.’

  ‘Don’t thank me. Thank your friend,’ replied the Shade-Hugger, looking at Dirk’s back, where Holly was hiding.

  ‘Whatever you say, cuddly-tums.’ Dirk grinned.

  ‘This is why I don’t tell anyone my surname,’ sighed Karnataka.

  ‘No, I think it’s nice,’ Dirk chuckled. ‘Cuddle-bum-bums.’

  Holly stifled a giggle.

  ‘All right, very funny.’ Karny sounded annoyed. ‘Just don’t spread it around, OK? I’ve got a reputation to think about.’

 
; Dirk addressed the councillors. ‘Councillors, as you now know, the Kinghorns have returned. You must release all these prisoners. The only real Kinghorns just flew through that waterfall.’

  The councillors gazed at Dirk with huge sad eyes.

  WE ALLOWED THE CAPTAIN TO CHAIN US HERE FOR THE TRIALS, BUT NOW WE ARE TRAPPED. YOU MUST HELP RELEASE US.

  ‘I have to return above ground,’ said Dirk. ‘I believe the Kinghorns are planning an attack on humans. I’m sure Karnataka will be more than happy to lend a claw to your predicament.’

  THE KINGHORNS SHOULD BE STOPPED. THE SHADE-HUGGER WILL HELP US.

  ‘Me?’ said Karnataka, backing away. ‘Thanks, guys, but I’ve got to get back to my pad.’

  THE COUNCIL ELECTS KARNATAKA ACTING CAPTAIN OF DRAGNET.

  ‘Seriously, no …I … ‘Karnataka stopped mid-flow. ‘Captain? Captain Karnataka. Yes, I like the sound of that. All right. It’s a deal. Does it come with a pension and health benefits?’

  RELEASE THE PRISONERS, CAPTAIN, AND FIND A WAY OUT OF THESE CHAINS.

  ‘Sure thing, see you around, Dirk. Make sure she makes good on her promise. The size of a torpedo, OK?’ said Karnataka, taking to the air and flying over the lake to bark orders at the Drakes.

  The councillors turned to Dirk.

  THE WATER WILL TAKE YOU BACK.

  ‘Hold tight,’ muttered Dirk under his breath, taking flight towards the enormous waterfall.

  Holly felt fine spray dampen her face. ‘What did they mean, “the water will take you back”?’ she asked. ‘Water flows down, not up.’

  ‘Not when it’s asked nicely it doesn’t,’ replied Dirk.

  Holly saw the plummeting water pull away, like curtains being drawn, and Dirk flew into the gap, folding his wings and settling on a bed of water that formed beneath him, mid-air.

  Holly couldn’t believe her eyes.

  She looked around, confused by what was happening, and saw that the water was circling them, swirling above her head. They were in the middle of a giant air bubble.

  GOOD LUCK, MOUNTAIN DRAGON, thought the councillors.

  Holly’s stomach lurched as she and Dirk rose against the flow of the waterfall. The bubble took them to the top of the waterfall, then along an underground river.

  ‘What’s happening?’ she said.

  ‘The councillors have asked the water to take us up.’

  ‘Dragons can talk to water?’

  ‘You can talk to anything, just don’t expect much conversation in return,’ said Dirk.

  It was an amazing sensation, rushing upwards inside the sphere of water. The orange earthlight revealed a narrow tunnel, carved out over thousands of years by the underground stream. Stalactites hung down, occasionally so low so that they penetrated the bubble and almost hit Holly as they whizzed past.

  ‘What did you say to Karny to make him help me?’ asked Dirk.

  ‘I told him that my dad works with the ministry of confectionery and hinted that I could get my hands on a piece of liquorice the size of a torpedo.’

  Dirk laughed.

  ‘How come I could hear the councillors?’ she asked.

  ‘Dragon thoughts get more and more powerful with age. The councillors are so old they don’t have to speak at all any more. That’s how they’re able to speak to the water. Rock is easy enough to order around, but water takes a lot more persuasion. It’s kind of fickle.’

  ‘How long will the journey take?’ asked Holly.

  ‘A few hours. We’re a long way down,’ replied Dirk.

  The movement of the water was smooth and the sound of the swishing liquid was strangely calming. Holly relaxed her grip on Dirk’s neck. She felt exhaustion overtake her and it wasn’t long before she drifted off to sleep, dreaming strange watery dreams.

  Chapter Twenty

  Holly didn’t know how long she had been asleep when she was awoken by Dirk saying, ‘Get ready. We’ll take the rock from here.’

  He leapt out of the bubble with a splash and landed on a stone. They must have been a lot nearer the surface because the earthlight had grown dim and dusky. Dirk said something in Dragonspeak and the rock lifted them up.

  ‘Where are we going?’ asked Holly.

  ‘Back to the caves,’ replied Dirk. ‘I’ve got to find those Tree Dragons and stop them. I’m taking you back to school. No stowing away this time. It’s too dangerous.’

  ‘But…’

  ‘No buts.’ Dirk cut her off. ‘I can’t take any more risks. Those Tree Dragons are vicious and I can’t always protect you.’

  Holly protested but nothing she said would make Dirk change his mind. As they grew nearer to the surface, the earthlight ebbed away completely so that all Holly could see were Dirk’s yellow eyes, blinking in the darkness.

  Cracks of light appeared in the rock above them.

  ‘We’re almost there,’ said Dirk. ‘Close your eyes. The sun will hurt them after so much exposure to earth-light.’

  Holly shut her eyes tightly. As they surfaced, she felt sunlight on her face and swirling red shapes appeared on the backs of her eyelids. She clamped her hands over them.

  ‘Open them gradually,’ said Dirk.

  Using the palm of her hand as a visor, Holly blinked open her eyes. The sunlight hurt her eyeballs, but it felt good on her skin. The early morning sun was climbing up the blue sky. White fluffy clouds drifted by. The forest looked vivid and green and the air tasted fresh and pure. Holly felt glad to be above ground again.

  After hugging and saying goodbye to Dirk by the fallen sycamore tree, this time for real Holly walked quickly to the main gate, where she was greeted by the familiar sound of a barking poodle.

  ‘Come back, have you?’ said Hamish, typing in the security code to open the gate. ‘D’you know the trouble you’ve caused?’

  ‘How are you, Bruno boy?’ asked Holly, patting the dog.

  ‘Never mind him. Ah’m taking you to the principal’s office.’

  ‘What day is it?’ asked Holly. The time underground had left her feeling disorientated.

  ‘What sort of question is that? It’s Thursday morning.’

  Holly had made her escape on Tuesday night. She had only been away for one day. It felt like much longer.

  In the reception area, the principal’s secretary was very carefully painting each nail as a different national flag and was currently working on the rather tricky crescent moon in the Turkish flag, which she had decided to place on her thumb.

  ‘Yes?’ she said, not looking up.

  ‘Ah’ve got the wee lass who ran away,’ said Hamish.

  The secretary looked briefly at Holly before returning her full attention to her nails.

  ‘The troublesome Holly Bigsby,’ she said flatly. ‘You’ll have to wait.’

  Holly sat down and Hamish reached into his pocket and pulled out an energy bar, which he proceeded to feed to Bruno.

  Raised voices were coming from inside the principal’s office.

  ‘It is an absolute outrage. I tolerate the press, but TV … You’ve turned the concert into a media circus.’

  It was Miss Gilfeather’s voice. Holly remembered that today was the day of the school concert.

  ‘Please, Vivian, think of the coverage. You can’t buy publicity like this. I was thinking if it goes well we could release an album in time for Christmas. Diversify or die, as they say.’

  ‘Whoever says such a thing? I am not interested in diversifying. It’s a school concert in a local village hall, not a rock concert in Wembley Stadium.’

  ‘It’s just a few cameras. Everyone who is anyone will be there.’

  ‘My musicians have enough pressure without inviting the world and his wife.’

  ‘I’ve also said that Petal Moses can do a number,’ said the principal nervously.

  ‘Petal Moses!’ Miss Gilfeather’s voice exploded with such force that the secretary slipped and covered the flags of France, Germany and Italy with a disastrous yellow streak. ‘That girl has as mu
ch musical talent as a baboon.’

  ‘Now, Vivian …’

  ‘If that.’

  ‘But her mother’s coming. What a coup. The press will have a field day. It’ll be bigger than a royal wedding. Please, Vivian, I can’t do it without your consent.’

  There was a pause.

  ‘Oh, all right, but I’m not happy,’ said Miss Gilfeather at last. ‘Now, I have to go. The coach is waiting.’

  ‘Yes, thank you, Vivian. Thank you so much.’

  The principal’s door opened and Miss Gilfeather emerged, dressed every bit as immaculately as always. Her eyes descended on Holly.

  ‘Holly Bigsby, third trumpet,’ she said automatically.

  ‘Hello, Miss Gilfeather,’ said Holly.

  ‘Why are you not on the coach?’

  ‘Erm …’

  The principal interrupted. ‘This girl has run away from school. I will take care of her punishment,’ asserted the principal.

  ‘You’ll do no such thing. She is in my band. Holly, go and get your trumpet and get on the coach.’

  ‘But, Viv … Miss Gilfeather …’ protested Palmer.

  ‘You may administer your punishment after our concert. Holly, the coach.’

  ‘Yes, Miss Gilfeather,’ said Holly, smiling at Principal Palmer.

  Miss Gilfeather looked at Hamish, who was tapping the confused poodle on his nose, while quietly chanting incantations in his ear.

  ‘What are you doing to that dog?’ she demanded.

  ‘Ah’m teaching him aggression. It’s an old Native American war chant.’

  ‘You know that he’s a poodle?’

  ‘Aye.’

  ‘And you’re flat,’ she said, marching out of the room.

  ‘This isn’t the last you’ll hear of this, young lady,’ said Palmer to Holly. ‘You’ve acted very irresponsibly.’

  ‘OK,’ said Holly, making her way quickly to her room.

  Petal was lying in bed, reading a fashion magazine. ‘Oh, hello, you’re back, are you?’ she said frostily.

  ‘Morning, Petal,’ replied Holly cheerily, quickly changing her clothes and grabbing her trumpet case. ‘I hear you’ll be doing a solo at the concert,’ she said.

  ‘My mother has written a track for me. I’ll be singing it,’ Petal replied proudly.