by James Erith
Cain, though invisible, smiled. Kemp felt it. ‘We cheat.’
‘Cheat,’ Kemp said, ‘Really?’
‘Of course, you numbskull.’
‘How?’
‘I will show you,’ Cain said. ‘This way the pain will be easier for both of you to bear. Moreover, if Gus dies in, let’s say, a terrible accident, where perhaps you are trying to save him, eventually Sue may, at length, give you her trust. She never needs to know there was a fight, or that we made an arrangement. You will fight Gus at the ruin where there is a hidden entrance that leads into the structure beneath the ruins. I will point it out to you. Get him close and Gus will fall into the beasts’ lair – a little meal for the mother serpent.’
‘What if he gets me first?’
‘You must avoid him at all costs. I will do the final flourish for, as you know, I do have an element of oomph in my ghostly being.’
Kemp outwardly exhaled. He could live with this plan. Once again, the ghost’s scheming felt neat, tight.
Footsteps – a boy’s, walking up the stairs.
Gus entered, rubbing his scalp.
‘Some of your hair missing?’ Kemp said, grinning. He sniffed the air. ‘You honk.’
Gus raised his not-so bushy eyebrows. ‘All your hair disappeared, so I don’t know why you’re so pleased with yourself. Or hadn’t you noticed?’
Kemp smiled badly. ‘Think you can handle it?’
‘Yeah. Course I can. No big deal,’ Gus said. ‘Me and the spirit got on just fine, didn’t we?’
‘You did well, boy,’ Cain said. ‘Now you know how to dance with the devil. Are you ready to live with it?
‘Yeah,’ Gus said confidently. ‘When?’
Cain summoned Asgard and together they spoke in a low voice. Then his trilby turned towards the boys and tilted upwards.
His voice sounded victorious. ‘The Heirs of Eden,’ he crowed, ‘are in serious trouble. Should they not succeed in their task within the next hour, they will die. In this case you will fight at noon tomorrow. If, by some miracle, they succeed and emerge from the cavern, you will engage with one another five hours after midnight at the ruin, as light breaks. It will give you a chance to say your farewells.’
‘That’s it then?’
‘Yes. Time is running out for everyone. The end is fast approaching. One of you will live and the other will die.’ Cain’s voice lowered. ‘Say not a word to anyone. Especially the “hot” one. Do not cross one another and do not be late. I will provide a weapon for each of you at the appointed hour. For my part, I am off to see the stage of your duel and speak with Gorialla Yingarna so she knows what to expect.’
Cain tilted his hat. ‘Until tomorrow, boys.’ And then he vanished, leaving his coat and hat falling to the floor.
ONE HUNDRED SIXTEEN
GAIA REVEALS
Gaia, the dreamspinner, flashed from the corner of the cavern, in which Blabisterberry Jelly was causing untold havoc, and arrived in the attic room where Kemp lay in wait for Sue. She hid in a corner, invisible to the human eye.
Right now, the children looked as likely to fail as they ever had. And, with only two and a half days to go, Cain was spinning his web around them using the children’s friends as his allies. Even as a spirit, Cain was a smart operator, but how far would he push the parameters of the unwritten rules?
Gaia inverted through her maghole and found Genesis. ‘Mother, you seem better,’ she said, walking towards her.
‘Enough!’ Genesis snapped back. ‘We must aid the Heirs of Eden. The finding of Blabisterberry Jelly is all in the mind. Use dream powders to stimulate the girl.’
‘I have done much already. I dare not meddle again.’
Genesis reared up. ‘Gaia! Does Asgard care?’
‘But we are different.’
‘Huh! Do as you did with the old man. Dreamspinners do not want – will never want – dream-powders from Havilah. It is a nasty, short-term solution. Go now. Let the girl understand the true nature of Blabisterberry Jelly.’
Gaia inverted and flashed to the scene of foodie hell in the small room. In no time she was over Isabella, the dream powders invisibly sucked deep into her lungs with every long, deep breath.
There. It is done.
With any luck, she would dream fast, and then the girl will wake. So long as the girl interpreted the visions correctly, her understanding would be enriched. Her choices clearer.
Gaia looked at the table and the foul, rotting beast that now sat upon it.
Blabisterberry Jelly grew in proportion to the time and struggle. She knew that at a certain point of enlargement, there came a tipping point, whereby one person’s eating alone would not suffice. For if Blabisterberry Jelly suspected it could not be beaten, it would grow exponentially, quickly suffocating those inside the room.
By the size of the huge, decaying monster pulsing with maggots on the table, that moment had already been and gone.
ONE HUNDRED SEVENTEEN
ISABELLA COMES TO LIFE
Isabella leapt to her feet as though a bolt of lightning had smashed into her. ‘I’ve got it!’ she said, pointing a finger in the air.
Archie jumped. ‘Bells! You’re back! You OK?’
‘Couldn’t be better,’ she said. She turned towards Daisy. ‘What happened to her?’
Archie wondered if this was the same Isabella. ‘Knocked out,’ Archie said, ‘just like you.’
Isabella whistled, picked her way across the foul-smelling floor and picked Daisy up. ‘Come on, come on, little sis. I’m going to need your help.’
‘Help?’ Archie said. ‘For what?’
‘To eat that enormous banoffee pie on the table. I can’t do it on my own.’
Archie exchanged looks with Old Man Wood and twirled his finger around his temple as if she were mad. They sat down as Daisy stirred.
‘OK,’ Isabella said. ‘Now, come on. Why don’t we all tuck in?’
‘Because,’ Archie said, ‘the last time we tried, Daisy and I were propelled into the wall and, believe it or not, the wall won.’ He raised his eyebrows. ‘Between you, me and these four walls, I’m not sure I’m ready to do it again.’
‘I am,’ Daisy slurred, as she joined them, nestling her head in her hands. ‘Beats death-by-maggot any day.’
‘Excellent, Daisy!’ Isabella cried. ‘Come on then! Let’s do it!’
‘You cannot be serious?’ Archie said, nervously.
‘I’m deadly serious, bro. Loosen up,’ Isabella said, as she held her spoon in one hand and kissed it in a mildly theatrical way.
Daisy picked hers up and tried to do the same but it went wrong and clattered to the floor.
‘Leave that there, Daisy darling,’ Isabella said. ‘You won’t be needing it.’
Archie and Daisy exchanged glances.
‘This is how we’re going to proceed,’ Isabella said. ‘I’m going to sing a song.’
‘Really? You’re going to sing?’ Daisy quizzed. ‘Do you have to?’
‘Of course. I have the finest voice in all the world.’
Archie heard a small guffaw from Old Man Wood. He found himself staring at the floor to hold back the floodgates of nervous hysterics.
Isabella stood up. ‘Now, it goes like this,’ she began. ‘I’ll stand here in front of my banoffee pie and, on my command, you lot are going to line up over there.’
‘She’s gone completely mad,’ Archie whispered.
Old Man Wood draped an arm around him. ‘She’s got a plan, Archie, and no one else has a plan, and we need a plan, and apple-fast. Let’s see how it goes, huh?’
Isabella turned on them. ‘Be quiet you two!’ she said. ‘The first spoonful is for me, then, the next one is for you. I can’t eat all of that banoffee pie on my own, so you’re going to help me. Are you all clear with this?’
Archie and Daisy swapped glances. ‘I’m not sure we’re allowed to eat yours. It nearly killed us last time we tried.’
‘We’ll see about tha
t,’ Isabella said. ‘The difference is that this time, I’m going to feed you with my spoon.’
‘You sure this is going to work?’
Isabella looked astonished. ‘Of course it is! Do you think I’m crazy, or something?’
Daisy pulled a face that implied they did.
‘Anyway,’ Isabella continued unabashed, ‘I don’t think there’s another option, do you? Now, mine is delicious banoffee pie. Yours can be whatever you want it to be. But you must say it out loud.’
This time, it was Daisy’s turn to question her. ‘Sis, are you totally one hundred and a little bit percent sure about this?’
‘Of course! The brain works far better with spoken commands rather than concealed inside the grey matter.’ She sucked in a massive breath. ‘Now I want you to sing with me – are you ready Daisy?’
‘Sing?’
‘Absolutely. Follow my lead.’
Daisy nodded, slowly.
‘Archie?’
‘Er, yeah. I suppose.’
‘Not good enough. Yes or no?’
‘Yes,’ Archie said, beads of sweat bubbling on his forehead.
‘Old Man Wood?’
‘Absolutely. Can’t wait.’
‘Good. That’s the way.’ She shut her eyes. ‘Banoffee pie, banoffee pie, I need banoffee pie,’ she chanted.
She continued, a little more assuredly, clapping slowly in time with the words encouraging the others to join her. She cut away a spoonful.
‘Banoffee pie, banoffee pie, I need banoffee pie,’ she popped the spoonful in her mouth. ‘Del-i-c-i-ous!’
Isabella pointed at Daisy as she chewed. Daisy came forward and opened her mouth.
‘Duck pancake, duck pancake’ she said out loud. The others joined in. ‘I need a duck pancake.’ Isabella sliced a spoonful off and fed Daisy’s open mouth.
‘Mmmm.’
‘Banoffee pie, banoffee pie, I need banoffee pie,’ Isabella said again, quickly popping a spoonful in her mouth.
Now it was Archie’s turn, ‘Steak and chips, steak and chips,’ everyone joined in. ‘I need steak and chips!’ Archie munched it down, a look of blissful surprise on his face.
‘Banoffee pie, banoffee pie, I need banoffee pie,’ they sang as Isabella scoffed on her latest helping.
Old Man Wood came up to the table.
‘Starlight apple crumble with lovely thick cream, starlight apple crumble with lovely thick cream. I need starlight apple crumble with lovely thick cream,’ they laughed, as their mouths struggled with the words.
He devoured the spoonful.
‘Banoffee pie, banoffee pie, I need banoffee pie,’ they sang. Isabella demolished another mouthful.
‘Roast chicken dinner,’ Daisy tried and repeated clapping her hands. ‘She needs a roast chicken dinner.’
Gulp.
And on it went:
Archie; ‘Strawberries and cream.’
Old Man Wood; ‘Fish pie.’
Daisy; ‘Liver and bacon.’ (ugh, from Archie!)
Archie; ‘Scrambled eggs.’
Old Man Wood; ‘Beef stew.’
Daisy; ‘Chocolate ice cream.’
Archie; ‘Spaghetti Bolognese.’
Old Man Wood; ‘A juicy apple.’
Daisy; ‘Chicken stir-fry.’
Archie; ‘Seafood paella.’
Old Man Wood; ‘A juicy pear.’
Daisy; ‘Strawberry jelly.’
Archie; ‘Orange jelly.’
And they looked at one another, wondering if Old Man Wood might say Blabisterberry Jelly, but instead he said:
‘Carrot jelly.’
‘You’re so weird, Old Man Wood,’ Daisy said, and in the same breath, ‘lemon sorbet.’
Archie; ‘Veg spring roll.’
Old Man Wood; ‘Starlight apple crumble.’
After each mouthful, Isabella took a large spoonful of the maggoty-rat-banoffee pie.
After a lull in enthusiasm where the pace lessened, the children and Old Man Wood puffed out their cheeks, their tummies expanding.
‘We’re nearly there,’ Daisy announced. ‘A couple more each, that’s all. She clapped her hands. ‘We can do this!’
The noise level increased.
‘Fillet steak, fillet steak,’ Archie said. ‘I need fillet steak,’ they shouted.
Isabella tucked in again. But she was struggling to maintain her concentration.
Archie noticed. When it came round to him again he said, ‘Celery, celery. I need celery.
‘Ugh. Celery,’ Daisy quipped. ‘Everyone knows Celery is disgusting.’
‘... But it’s mainly water, isn’t it?’ he said. ‘I’m not sure I can fit anything else in.’
‘Two more,’ Daisy yelled. ‘Come on, Old Man Wood.’
The children clapped repetitively. But Old Man Wood’s brain had gone blank
‘What is your food, Old Man Wood,’ Isabella demanded.
‘Hmm, there is something—’
‘Another apple, perhaps?’
‘Not this time,’ he said rubbing his chin. ‘This one’s special,’ he said with a big smile on his wrinkly old face. ‘Yes, I know! Mammoth testicles!’
The children collectively looked at him.
‘Mammoth testicles?’ Archie said.
‘Mammoth bollocks?’ Daisy said, incredulously.
‘Oh, it’s an apple-tastic delicacy I believe I used to be very fond of.’
Isabella cut out a portion as the others clapped.
‘I need mammoth testicles,’ they howled, laughing.
‘Last one, Bells!’ Daisy yelled, ‘it’s all yours.’
Isabella felt so enormous that it would need a crane to move her. She took a deep breath. ‘OK. Here we go.’
‘What’s it going to be?’ Archie asked.
‘There is one thing,’ she said, eyeing up the goblet, ‘that has to be the best thing of all—’
‘Oh, no.’ Archie said. ‘I’m not sure that’s a good idea.’
‘Oh, yes it is,’ she said, drawing a deep breath. ‘Blabisterberry Jelly,’ she said. ‘I need Blabisterberry Jelly.’ Her eyes sparkled as the others looked on with a mixture of amazement and trepidation.
‘I need Blabisterberry Jelly,’ they yelled.
Isabella gathered the last morsels onto her spoon, held it up to the others like a toast, and shoved it in.
‘Eurgh ... Revolting ...
‘YUM ...
‘OH NO! … Urggugh ...
‘… ooooohHHHH
‘CRIKEY … OW! …
‘INCREDIBLE!
‘… No! Hang on ... good! Oh YES! ... no …
‘Blimey ... Yeeeessss!
‘WOOOOOWEEE!’
She tossed her spoon into the corner of the room and wiped her mouth.
Silence filled the room.
‘God, I’m full,’ Daisy said, swaying on her stool.
‘Me too. Don’t think I can move,’ Archie replied. ‘I think I’m going to be sick.’
All four sat for a minute, digesting.
Finally Archie spoke again. ‘Well, I’m not sure I can believe it,’ Archie said. ‘Tell me, Bells, what did Blabisterberry Jelly taste like again?’
Daisy hit him on the arm.
Getting up, smiles spread across their faces. Suddenly all four of them were jumping up and down, as energetically as they could in view of the vast quantities they’d scoffed, like a football crowd enjoying a dramatic win.
Suddenly it happened.
From out of Isabella’s mouth the most enormous burp they’d ever heard burst forth, like the long, unwavering note of a French horn, and it continued on and on, producing a balloon out of her mouth that looked like a mini amber-coloured tent.
Archie laughed so hard that he had to hold his sides and for a moment thought his eyeballs might come up. Then he burped again, followed by Daisy and finally Old Man Wood, who looked deeply embarrassed, the noise a cacophony of burpy trumpeting.
Daisy clapped her hands. ‘
Put them together. Put the burp-bubbles together. Isn’t that what we’ve got to do?’
Carefully they stuck the strange, floating, sticky bubbles together. Nothing happened.
‘Are you sure we’re doing this right?’ Isabella said.
‘Well, I don’t know,’ Archie said. ‘It’s not like I know anyone who specialises in this kind of thing.’
Immediately, a huge...
“POP”
... as though a massive cork had blown out of a champagne bottle, reverberated around the room, followed by a “PUFF” like a firework, with a plume of colourful, showy glitter.
And there, on the table lay a stone tablet, identical to the one that had come from the fire, with matching markings.
THE STAIRWELL they’d come down in the first instance reappeared and they dashed up it and into the dark, foggy courtyard. Collectively they drew in a large lungful of fresh air and, when they looked back, the stairs had reverted to a normal, grey-coloured paving slabs as though nothing had happened and the room had never been.
Archie was desperate to know one thing. ‘Old Man Wood, we had to overcome our worst fears. Daisy hates dog poo after the slipper episode when she was little, Isabella screams the house down if she sees rats – or maggots for that matter – and those must have been the eyes of the blind Ancient Woman from my dreams. But who, and what, were those weird kind of spiders doing on your plate?’
‘Hmmm,’ Old Man Wood said, a little taken aback. ‘That, littlun, is most observant. That spidery-thing you saw, if I’m not mistaken, was a dreamspinner. These aren’t spiders like the ones that busy themselves in the corners of a room. These dreamspinner creatures give dreams to living things.’
‘Dreams?’
‘Oh yes. There’s very little known about them – humans don’t even know they exist – until now, of course. They’re extraordinary, remarkable things.’
‘But why do you fear them so much?’
‘Anyone as old as I am fears them, for they know the truth of space and time. And if you must know, I had the same nightmare involving a dreamspinner spider night after night. The dream was trying to tell me something.’ He scratched his wispy hair as he wondered about it, his frown lines growing deeper on his brow.
