Blue Fire and Ice

by Alan Skinner

  At first, I kept myself hidden. I observed the Myrmidots in the west. I had not believed what I had read about the Myrmidots of the Land letting the Beadles go. I could not believe they would be guilty of forsaking their responsibility. Yet, as I spied on the people of the Land, I knew what was written in the letters was true…

  Gradually, as I watched them and the towns they had built, I came to know that these Myrmidots would never return with me. They had forgotten how to lead and to rule, and were concerned only with their tinkering and inventions.

  With that realisation came an understanding that it was too late for the Myrmidots of The Place. I knew I would never find the way to restore the past. And it was all the fault of those Myrmidots who had deserted The Place so many generations before. They had deprived us of the nourishment of their spirit …

  The more I watched, the angrier I grew … and my hatred of the Myrmidots of the Land grew. They were traitors who had betrayed my beloved Place. The blame for the decay was theirs. Theirs, and the Beadles who had been sent to serve them. They had betrayed their betters… I came to hate the Myrmidots and the Beadles of the Land as much as I loved The Place. And the Muddles, who seduced our people with their laziness…

  Revenge was all I had left. I would punish them all for their betrayal…

  When I discovered the fire rock, I knew I had discovered the shape of my revenge. The Beadles would be first. I would burn their buildings and erase their past. I would drive them from their homes and their little towns. With nowhere to go, they would come with me and I could return them to servitude…

  And then I would deal with the Myrmidots … and those foolish Muddles.’”

  None of the companions said a word while Aunt Mag read Amelia’s account. And there wasn’t one who did not feel sorry for the Myrmidot who had forsaken love for hatred.

  ‘There’s more, so much more. It seems she had been here quite a few times before she brought you here, Kevin,’ said Aunt Mag. She flicked through the pages of the book. ‘Good heavens! You are mentioned here, Crimson. And Beatrice, from Forge!’

  ‘What does it say?’ asked Crimson quietly.

  ‘Well, she believes that you …’ Aunt Mag’s voice trailed off. She looked embarrassed.

  ‘Go on, Aunt Mag.’

  ‘She believes that you are not a pure Muddle; that you have Myrmidot blood in you.’ Aunt Mag sounded very apologetic.

  Crimson laughed. ‘A pure Muddle? That somehow seems like a contradiction in terms, doesn’t it? And if she was right, what does it signify? Oh, Aunt Mag, it’s been centuries since the three peoples started living in the Land side by side. What are the chances of any of us being “pure”?’ Crimson’s face took on a mischievous look. ‘Who knows? Maybe centuries ago Muddles, Myrmidots and Beadles all looked very different!’

  They all laughed and Grunge felt good to hear their laughter.

  ‘What else does she say?’ said Crimson.

  ‘Well, that’s why you could sense her, why she could call to you. You had a tie to her that the Land somehow heightens. It’s the same with Beatrice. Amelia knew Beatrice could sense her, and she was aware of Beatrice even from a distance. She believed that she and Beatrice were related, which is why it was so strong.’

  Brian could believe that. Amelia must have been a very strong-willed Myrmidot and Beatrice struck him as being just the same.

  ‘Beatrice must have felt something about you, Crimson. Maybe she sensed the connection you had with Amelia. Maybe that’s why she warned me to watch you,’ said Copper.

  ‘So perhaps Amelia was speaking the truth at the river, when she called me sister,’ said Crimson. ‘Well, it doesn’t matter much now.’

  ‘This is clever!’ exclaimed Aunt Mag. She unfolded a page at the end of the book. It unfolded once, then unfolded again and again in both directions until a large map was revealed.

  It was a map of the High Mountains, far more detailed than the one Crimson and Grunge had discovered in the library.

  ‘Look,’ said Dot, pointing to a spot on the map, ‘that’s the waterfall! And there’s the ridge where our camp is!’

  ‘Well, by the fire!’ said Copper. ‘There’s a tunnel that leads right from here straight down to the bottom of the mountains. It comes out not far from Bourne Bridge! Amelia would have been able to get down and back in much less time than we did. Perhaps in a day.’

  ‘Well, I think we’ve just found our way home,’ said Grunge.

  ‘And isn’t this curious?’ said Aunt Mag, extracting another, similar map from the end of the book.

  ‘It looks like a map of the caves and tunnels through the mountains,’ said Copper. ‘Here we are now ’ – he traced a dark line eastward – ‘and here’s the tunnel which we followed Amelia through.’ He traced another line. ‘And this must be the one you came through, Brian.’ Copper grinned at the Beadle. ‘You really did take the long way!’

  ‘What’s this wavy line?’ asked Grunge. Brian peered at the map. ‘That must be the underground river I had to cross.’ He shivered at the memory. ‘You could feel the cold coming from it. I’ve never felt anything so cold.’

  Crimson thought a moment. ‘A river underground? Where does it start?’ she asked.

  ‘Hard to tell,’ said Aunt Mag, ‘but it looks as if it starts at that big mountain at the top of the ice field. It runs right under the snowfield and then under the ridge and then … no, this must be wrong, that can’t be.’

  ‘What can’t be, Aunt Mag?’ asked Crimson.

  Aunt Mag looked uncertain. ‘Well, it seems to become the Meddle. But everyone knows that the Meddle comes from the Salvation River.’

  ‘It’s more like everyone assumes it does. No one’s ever really explored that area. According to this map, it must run under the mountains and emerge just south of the Salvation River. That’s why everyone assumes the Meddle runs off the Salvation River,’ said Grunge.

  Crimson’s brow creased. ‘Brian, you said it was very cold. Could you see the water?’

  ‘Of course. It looked very black and very cold. And a bit shiny.’

  ‘Shiny?’ said Crimson.

  ‘Mmm. Shiny, like it sort of glowed.’

  ‘I think we’d better take a look at this river,’ said Crimson.

  A short while later, they had packed everything that Kevin wanted to take and that they could carry.

  ‘If there’s anything you have to leave behind, you can come back another time, Kevin,’ said Brian.

  ‘I’m not sure I want to come back,’ admitted Kevin. ‘I was pretty lonely here and it doesn’t seem right to return to her place.’

  Brian understood. ‘Well, let’s go.’

  The companions filed out through the alcove where Brian had first encountered Kevin. As Kevin disappeared into the tunnel, a thought came to Brian.

  ‘Kevin,’ he yelled, ‘did you bring the rest of that cheese?’

  *

  ‘This is the Land’s Guardian,’ said Crimson. She was certain of it. Here, the feeling of a presence, of a connection, was too strong for there to be any mistake.

  They stood in the cavern through which flowed the river. They could all feel its chill but only Crimson, Grunge and Miniver could feel something else. It was like sensing the blood running through your body. Every once in a while, you can feel your own pulse, the subtle coursing of your blood. That’s what it was like for the Muddles, standing next to the dark river.

  ‘It is the Meddle,’ growled Miniver. She stood between Grunge and Crimson, looking at the rushing waters in the light of their lanterns and torches. A dim, blue glow reflected off the river.

  Grunge patted his friend. ‘Yes, it is, Miniver. And I think I know what Crimson was thinking back there at Amelia’s.’ He looked at Crimson. ‘You think this is fed by the blue ice, don’t you?’

  Crimson nodded. ‘Yes. I don’t know how, but I’m sure of it.’

  ‘Remember the way the blue ice on the peak seemed to ripple when we first saw it?�
�� said Copper. ‘I wondered what made it ripple like that. I think the ice is the water from a stream that bubbles up through the mountain side and freezes. The rippling is the water trickling underneath.’

  ‘And it joins the Meddle underground somewhere between here and that snowfield,’ said Dot. She felt an excitement and satisfaction at learning more about the Land which surprised her.

  Kevin became aware of a flickering light next to him. He turned his eyes from the river and saw the three Muddles engulfed in a shimmering haze. Their bodies rippled and blurred and then stilled. The change startled him but it made him smile. He had wondered what Crimson, Grunge and Miniver were really like when fully themselves. Now he knew.

  ‘Ow,’ growled Miniver. Her shoulder ached.

  ‘How is it?’ asked Grunge.

  ‘Someone’s fixed it, but it’s still tender,’ replied Miniver. ‘I’m glad I won’t be pulling the sledge back down the mountain. I’m not sure I could.’

  The cave was filled with the sound of Crimson’s light laughter.

  ‘Amelia was wrong. We didn’t fail! We won’t bring back the blue ice, but it will be there waiting for us when we return.’ Delight filled Crimson’s voice. ‘It’s been there all the time!’

  They looked at her blankly. Then Dot’s eyes went wide and her laughter joined Crimson’s.

  Grunge looked puzzled. ‘How can the blue ice get to Ho-’ He stopped and broke into a huge grin. ‘Of course!’

  Realisation came to the others.

  ‘The river …’ said Aunt Mag and Brian together.

  ‘The Meddle …’ said Copper.

  The happiness and relief in their laughter echoed in the cave. Only Kevin remained puzzled.

  ‘I don’t understand,’ he said quietly.

  ‘I’m sorry, Kevin. You couldn’t. Amelia never let you go down from the mountains, did she?’ said Crimson.

  Kevin shook his head.

  ‘There’s a river that runs right through Muddlemarsh called the Meddle. The Meddle starts near here and it’s fed by the blue ice.’

  Now Kevin understood. ‘So you could have just used water from the Meddle to put out the blue fire!’ he exclaimed. ‘You didn’t have to come to the mountains after all!’ He paused. ‘Though I’m glad you did.’

  ‘No, we did have to come,’ said Grunge. ‘If we hadn’t come, perhaps we’d never have realised this. Or maybe only when it was too late.’

  ‘When we first took our fire cart to Home, we didn’t fill the tank so it would be easier for Sparkle to pull. We filled it at Beadleburg. We might never have known.’

  ‘Well, what do we do now?’ said Dot.

  ‘Amelia had probably spent too much time spying on us to have gone back down and started more fires,’ said Brian. ‘But we still need to clean the ground of the blue fire.’

  Crimson picked up her pack. ‘First, we need to get our things and clean up the camp. Then we’ll take the tunnel that runs straight down to the river. It means we’ll be a couple of days too early for Shift to meet us with the bus, so it will be a long walk from Bourne Bridge to Home.’

  ‘It’ll be nice to walk through the Land, though,’ said Dot. ‘After what Aunt Mag read us, I’d like to do that for a bit.’ She stopped to gather her feelings, then continued. ‘To know it still welcomes me.’

  There was no need for anyone to say more. Dot had said what they all felt. They picked up their packs and left the cave, the echo of tumbling water bidding them farewell.

  *

  They stayed at the camp that night and at dawn they prepared to leave. Hoisting his pack on his back, Grunge looked east and saw the distant blue peak sparkle in the first rays of the morning sun. He stood, watching the blue rays dance on the mountain top.

  ‘It’s beautiful, isn’t?’ said a voice at his shoulder.

  Copper stood beside him. Grunge glanced at Copper and nodded. ‘Yes, it is. It’s hard to believe what’s happened. It’s so peaceful now.’

  ‘I hate to leave the sledge out there,’ said Copper. ‘It doesn’t belong here.’

  ‘No, it doesn’t,’ replied Grunge.

  ‘We’d never drag it down the way it is. I’ll come back soon with new runners and some help..’

  ‘Yeah,’ said Grunge. ‘Now, we’d better be off.’

  With the blue peak glittering like a giant sapphire, they turned to the west and entered the mountain once more.

  It took less than a day to reach the Salvation River, using the tunnel Amelia had discovered. From there, it was a short walk to Bourne Bridge and back into Muddlemarsh. The warmth of the late- summer afternoon sun restored them after the chill of the mountains, and the green of the valleys and plains brightened their spirits.

  They were two days early. It would take them about that to walk to Home. They would arrive at about the time Shift would be leaving to meet them at Bourne Bridge.

  But they had forgotten about the plan to watch for Amelia and were surprised when they were hailed by the patrol. A message was sent to Home. Within a few hours, the headlights of Home’s little orange bus were seen coming up the road. It was hard to tell who was more pleased: the travellers, or the patrol, who could go back to their families.

  Despite the late hour, all of Home turned out to meet them. There were cheers and hurrahs. Whist brought coffee and biscuits and they had to tell their tale over and over. Kevin was bewildered by the fuss that was made and was quite lost for words when Leaf brought him a cup of hot coffee and sat down beside him. She chatted as if she had known him all her life and Kevin wished with all his heart that it had been so.

  Messengers had been sent to Forge and to Beadleburg with the news of their return. It would be too far for anyone to come from Forge that night, but Megan took Bligh and as many Beadles as the bus would hold, and drove all the way into Home.

  Calamity ran at full speed up the main road and sprang into Crimson’s arms. She licked her friend’s hands and face and then stretched out her neck for Crimson to scratch. Sparkle stamped her hooves impatiently and nuzzled Crimson until she stopped scratching Calamity and stroked Sparkle’s long neck. Calamity leapt from her arms and bounded into Grunge’s.

  ‘Hello, Grunge,’ yelped Calamity. ‘How was your holiday?’

  Reach, pleased to see her friends safe and sound, completely forgot about her pretty pink tutu and its patches of black and brown. She kissed everyone, including Kevin (who thought she was the prettiest ballerina he had ever seen). But she had an extra hug for Crimson and Grunge.

  Megan made quite a fuss over Brian’s red face, though Bligh was convinced that the kiss Megan gave the Factotum was the real cause of Brian’s red face. Brian introduced Kevin to Bligh.

  ‘Welcome, Kevin,’ said Bligh, less officious than usual. ‘We must get you settled and then get you a job.’ Bligh returned to normal. ‘Come and see me the day after tomorrow. My office. 9.10 a.m.’

  The Beadles returned to Beadleburg, where there were more cheers and more hurrahs. Brian invited Kevin to stay in his spare room for as long as he liked and Kevin said he’d be delighted, though he had to refuse at least a dozen other offers.

  The Myrmidots were put up in Home that night.

  ‘Anyway,’ said Copper to Grunge and Crimson, ‘Dot and I discussed it and we don’t want to return until we’ve helped see to the fire rock.’ He grinned. ‘And I suspect Beatrice would have a word or two to say if we came back without finishing the job.’

  For the first time in days, the companions slept in soft beds. They slept soundly, their friends’ cheers and welcome still ringing in their heads.

  ‘Not quite home yet,’ thought Dot as her eyes grew heavy. ‘But it feels as if I am.’ And she drifted off to sleep.

  *

  The next day, Bell arrived with his fire engine. They filled Beadledom’s fire engine and Home’s fire cart with water from the Meddle.

  ‘We’ll do the first one together, make sure we’re right,’ said Crimson.

  Bell nodded in a
greement. ‘I’ve no doubt you are, Crimson,’ he said with quiet respect.

  They visited Old Worsted’s Mill first. Miniver had wanted to pull the fire cart but her shoulder still hadn’t healed, so she walked beside Sparkle. There was nothing left of the mill but blackened ground where it had stood for more than four hundred years. Bell, Brian, Kevin, Aunt Mag, Copper, Dot and Grunge pumped the handle of the fire cart. The water of the Meddle River sprayed from the end of the hose in Crimson’s hand. It seeped into the soil of the Land. Moments later, the ground trembled slightly. Steam wafted up from beneath the surface and a low rumble could be heard beneath their feet. The earth split, a small crack, from which popped a piece of rock no larger than a crickle ball.

  Bell reached down and gingerly touched the stone. It was cold. He picked it up.

  ‘It’s just a piece of rock now.’ He held the stone fast in his fist. ‘It works,’ he said with deep gratitude. ‘You did it.’

  The companions looked embarrassed and pleased.

  ‘Come on,’ cried Grunge. ‘There’s work to be done!’

  He ran and vaulted onto the fire cart. His shin hit the seat and he tumbled over the bench and disappeared.

  ‘I think I need more practice,’ came a voice from the other side of the cart.

  Chapter 16

  A Party

  Hmmmm,’ said Bligh. ‘Hmmmm,’ he said again. He looked up from the paper he was reading and studied Kevin with a serious frown on his face. He looked down again. ‘Hmmmm,’ he said for the third time. By the time he had finished reading, he had added another seven “Hmmmms” to the first three.

  Kevin and Brian were on the other side of Bligh’s desk. Both wore neat three-piece suits; they had on identical black shoes with silver buckles, and identical grey-and-black-striped ties. They looked so similar that one could be forgiven for mistaking them for brothers, if not twins.

  After his last ‘Hmmmm’, Bligh put down the paper and looked at Kevin.

  ‘We have a problem, I’m afraid, Kevin,’ he said. ‘These new aptitude tests are very reliable and the results of yours are very clear. There is only one job for which you are perfectly suited.’