The Golden Acorn

by Catherine Cooper

  You must fly.

  ‘Fly!’

  This was the second time he’d heard that word today but before he could ask the book anything else it snapped shut with a resounding thud. Try as he might, Jack couldn’t get the book to open again beyond the first page. He decided to write to Elan.

  …I’ve got some answers but I think I’ve broken the book.

  I can’t get it to open again.

  It wasn’t long before Elan’s reply appeared.

  …It won’t be broken. Bring it tomorrow and Nora will answer your question.

  Jack lay awake. He kept replaying everything he’d seen and heard again and again. He didn’t know if he wanted the responsibility Arrana had given him. He was worried he would fail. The word fly filled him with fear. He hated the flight from Greece to England and he really didn’t like heights. There must be a mistake; he’d have to talk to Nora about it.

  Eventually he fell asleep.

  A tapping on the window woke Jack. His head hurt and his eyes didn’t want to open. Reluctantly he got out of bed to investigate. When he drew back the curtain there was Camelin perched on the window ledge about to tap the window again with his beak.

  ‘Rise and shine!’

  It was obvious Jack had been asleep. He was sure Camelin was pleased he’d woken him.

  ‘What do you want at this time in the morning?’ grumbled Jack as he opened the window.

  ‘I’ve got a message from Nora. You’re invited for lunch so you can come round straight after breakfast. She’s already asked your Grandad and he said it would be fine.’

  Jack stifled a yawn.

  ‘Don’t forget to bring something with you,’ added Camelin.

  Without waiting for a reply he flew off in the direction of Ewell House.

  It was still early but Jack decided to get up instead of going back to bed. Last night he’d found two loops on the spine of his Book of Shadows where his wand could be stored. He made sure it was securely in place before putting it into his backpack.

  He could tell Grandad was impressed when he walked into the kitchen.

  ‘I’m glad you’re up and dressed early,’ he began. ‘You’ve been invited over to Ewell House for the day.’

  Jack was about to say he already knew and only just managed to stop himself in time. Explaining to Grandad that he’d been told by a talking raven was probably not a good idea.

  ‘I’m glad you’ve made a friend already,’ Grandad said as he started breakfast. ‘If you’re going to be out I can crack on in the garden. There’s a lot to do.’

  Before Jack left he went back into the kitchen. There wasn’t any cheese in the fridge and he hoped Camelin wouldn’t be too disappointed. He searched around the pantry and found a piece of fruitcake, which he wrapped up and put in his backpack.

  ‘I’ll see you later,’ he called to Grandad, who was already working in his vegetable plot.

  The shortcut through the hedge didn’t seem as bad as it had the first time and it hadn’t been difficult to find. It wasn’t long before he was standing at the bottom of Nora’s garden.

  Before Jack took another step he heard a muffled but familiar croaky voice.

  ‘This way.’

  He looked around but he couldn’t see Camelin.

  ‘In here.’

  Jack caught a glimpse of Camelin’s head from behind Nora’s rockery.

  ‘You took your time, I’ve been waiting ages. You didn’t forget did you?’

  ‘No.’

  ‘Come inside.’

  It was like a small cave and perfectly dry. Jack crawled in. He could see why he’d been invited. Neither of them would be seen from the house.

  ‘This is great!’ exclaimed Jack.

  ‘It’s safe in here. What the trees can’t see or hear can’t get reported back. What have you brought me?’

  ‘There wasn’t any cheese but I got you some cake.’

  Camelin’s eyes grew wide when he saw the size of the package Jack produced from out of his backpack. Once it was unwrapped, Camelin began to attack the cake and gobble it down greedily. Then he delicately and slowly picked up every last crumb until nothing was left.

  ‘You can bring me something every day in return for your flying lessons,’ he announced.

  ‘You’re not really going to teach me to fly are you?’

  ‘How else do you think you’re going to get through the window in time? We’ve got to fly.’

  ‘But I’m a boy. It’s not possible.’

  Camelin began to laugh.

  ‘You won’t be a boy when you fly, stupid. Nora’s got to turn you into a raven first, just like me.’

  Jack’s mouth fell open.

  ‘How?’

  ‘She’ll take you up Glasruhen Hill and do a special ritual at the Raven’s Bowl. You’ve heard of the Raven’s Bowl haven’t you?’

  Jack shook his head. He’d only heard of Glasruhen yesterday.

  ‘Of course you’ll have to be naked.’

  ‘Naked!’

  ‘You won’t need your clothes when you’re a raven!’

  Camelin laughed as he hopped out of the cave and flew off.

  Jack needed time to think. Why hadn’t he been told yesterday about the ritual? He didn’t mind helping but there was no way he was being turned into a raven, especially a naked one. He went over and over everything he’d seen and heard. He needed his questions answered. He’d have to talk to Nora. He wriggled out of the cave, picked up his backpack and set off towards the house.

  QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

  Jack didn’t know what he was going to say to Nora. He’d promised Arrana his help and he knew they were depending on him but he wasn’t sure he wanted to be changed into a raven. He was certain he didn’t want to fly. There had to be another way for him to get through the window in time. He didn’t even know where it was. He’d been too excited and eager to leave the house this morning. If he’d been thinking straight he could have tried asking the book some more questions. Now he felt apprehensive.

  ‘Are you ok?’ Elan asked. ‘Nora asked me to come and look for you. When Camelin eventually came back he said you were on your way but you didn’t arrive and she wondered if you’d got lost or changed your mind.’

  He must have been in the cave quite a while and he’d no idea how long he’d been standing in the garden lost in thought. Jack felt embarrassed. He didn’t want to tell Elan where he’d been or why he was worried. He looked around.

  ‘I… er… I thought I heard water. Has Nora got a fountain?’

  ‘No, it’s a lake.’

  ‘A lake!’

  Elan led Jack around the back of the kitchen garden down to the water’s edge. They stood in the sunshine by a group of willow trees. Their long tapering branches were draped in the water. It was breathtakingly beautiful. The water reflected the bright blue sky and sunlight danced across the ripples that lapped the shore by their feet.

  ‘Wow! You’ve got a boat too.’

  ‘Nora uses it to row out to Gerda’s island when she takes fresh straw for her shelter. Poor Gerda’s on her own now. She lost her mate a long time ago and never quite got over it. Nora says she gets very sad some days.’

  There was a loud cackling as Gerda waddled by. Jack wondered if she’d overheard Elan. Her beak was full of long green stalks. She seemed to nod her head several times in a kind of greeting.

  ‘Nora sent her to get some chives from the herb garden. She likes to help and she’s very good at grabbing them with her beak.’

  ‘How does she know which ones to pick?’

  ‘Nora’s taught her about all the different plants in the garden.’

  It seemed incredible for a goose to be able to understand and follow instructions but Jack had to accept it was true. Not long ago he’d been talking to a raven which could not only understand him but talk back too.

  ‘Where’s Camelin?’ he asked.

  ‘He’s in his loft. You’ll be able to see him later. I think Nora wants t
o talk to you first.’

  Jack and Elan made their way back to the house. As they entered the kitchen Nora was chopping the chives and talking to Gerda who cackled happily back. She sprinkled the herbs into a large steaming saucepan that bubbled on the range at the far end of the kitchen. The smell of freshly baked bread again filled the room. He felt so at home in this kitchen. It was like Grandad’s but much more interesting. The large dresser behind the table didn’t have china plates or ornaments on its shelves. Instead it was covered in rocks and fossils. On the work surface two huge pieces of amethyst were being used as book-ends. Gerda waddled out of the open doors and settled down on the patio in the warm sunshine. Jack looked around but there still wasn’t any sign of Camelin.

  ‘I’ll go and collect the eggs,’ announced Elan as she picked up a basket and headed into the garden.

  Jack thought it was probably a good time to talk to Nora now they were on their own.

  ‘I think Camelin’s probably right. I’m not going to be much help.’

  ‘Nonsense, you’re going to be just fine. He’ll change his mind, you’ll see.’

  Jack hung his head.

  ‘You said you’d try your best. What more could we ask? You listened to Arrana and agreed to help. Not many boys of your age would have done that.’

  Jack shuffled his feet. Nora was waiting for him to reply but he couldn’t find the right words.

  ‘Now, there are things you need to know. Our first and most important task is to prepare you for the ritual.’

  ‘I’m afraid.’

  ‘That’s only natural. You’ve seen a lot of unusual things in the last few days. You’re bound to feel different.’

  ‘Do I have to be turned into a raven?’

  ‘You didn’t find that out from your Book of Shadows.’

  Jack felt worried when Nora scowled.

  ‘What has Camelin been telling you?’

  ‘Not much, but he did say you were going to transform me into a raven and I’d have to be naked.’

  ‘Yes, he’d take great delight in telling you that. We wouldn’t do anything to hurt you. The ritual is very quick. It involves a walk to the Raven’s Bowl at sunrise on a very special day of the year.’

  ‘Where’s the Raven’s Bowl?’

  ‘I’ll show you.’

  Nora selected one of the books from the dresser and carefully opened it at the middle page. She unfolded a hand drawn map and spread it out on the table. It was different from any map Jack had seen before. It wasn’t drawn to scale and there were strange words and symbols around the edge. Nora pointed to the top of Glasruhen Hill and then let her finger move slightly lower down.

  ‘Here,’ she said, and pointed to a craggy rock on the map which was labelled the Raven’s Bowl. ‘There’s a natural hollow in the rock. That’s where we have to perform the ritual.’

  ‘Will a lot of people be there?’ Jack asked with renewed concern.

  ‘Please don’t worry. No one will see us and you can have my cloak. I doubt Camelin told you that.’

  ‘He didn’t.’

  ‘The ritual is quite easy. You’ll have a few words to learn but I’ll do the rest. All you’ll have to do is lie on the rock and look into the water inside the Raven’s Bowl. When you see the reflection of the sunrise recite the words and touch the water with your forehead.’

  Nora paused.

  ‘The hardest part will be down to you Jack. You’ll have to want to become a raven with all your heart or it won’t happen.’

  Nora was right. It would be hard. The last thing on earth he wanted was to be a raven. Even if he agreed to the ritual he’d never be able to leave the house so early in the morning and climb up to the Raven’s Bowl. What would he say to Grandad? How could he explain where he was going?

  ‘Don’t worry,’ said Nora as if she could read his mind. ‘We’ll invite you to stay here for a couple of days. You’ll see, everything will be fine.’

  ‘Will I have to go back to the Raven’s Bowl and do the ritual again to change back?’ enquired Jack, and then as a worrying afterthought he asked, ‘I will be able to change back won’t I?’

  ‘Of course you will. Once the ritual is complete you’ll be able to change into a raven and back again whenever you want just by putting your forehead on Camelin’s.’

  ‘When’s it going to happen?’

  ‘This Saturday.’

  Jack felt sick.

  Nora returned the book and picked up a piece of paper from the dresser and handed it to Jack.

  ‘I’ve written out a list of the things you’ll need to know before the ritual. You’ll be able to ask your Book of Shadows when you get home. You’ve put my golden acorn in a safe place haven’t you? We’ll need it for the ritual.’

  Jack nodded and checked his pocket. The acorn was there. He looked at the paper. It was going to take him ages to ask all the questions Nora had given him.

  ‘The book wouldn’t answer one of my questions last night and then I couldn’t get it to open again.’

  ‘That was my fault. I didn’t want you to know about the transformation ritual until I’d spoken to you but I can remove the block now.’

  Jack got his Book of Shadows out of his backpack and gave it to Nora. She held it between both hands.

  ‘Cardea,’ she whispered.

  A blue light glowed from the closed book.

  ‘There you are, all done. Now you can ask anything you want and you’ll get the answers.’

  ‘Thanks,’ said Jack nervously. He wasn’t sure how answers would help him feel better about what lay ahead. He was glad Nora was convinced he’d succeed. He wished Camelin felt the same.

  Elan came in with the basket full of eggs.

  ‘Will Camelin come down soon?’ asked Jack.

  ‘No, not until after lunch,’ replied Nora. ‘I’ve forbidden him to eat with us. He’s been sent upstairs to think about his bad behaviour. He’s in his loft sulking.’

  ‘Could I go and see him?’ asked Jack.

  ‘I think that would be alright,’ replied Nora. ‘Elan will show you the way.’

  Jack followed Elan along the passageway. At the end she turned right and started to climb up a steep creaky staircase.

  ‘What did he do to make Nora so cross?’

  Elan stopped, turned to face Jack and started to laugh.

  ‘Early this morning Nora made an apple pie and left it on the windowsill to cool. Camelin must have seen it when he went out to give you Nora’s message. He sampled the insides. Unfortunately he sucked out all the filling!’

  Jack laughed at the thought of Camelin using his beak as a very efficient straw.

  ‘How did Nora find out?’

  ‘The lid collapsed. She realised there was nothing left inside and knew straight away where it had gone. The beak-shaped hole in the top rather gave it away. He got well and truly told off when he came back; even more so when he asked if he could have the rest of the pastry since it wouldn’t be any good for lunch. He was sent up to his loft and much to his disgust Nora put the rest of the pie out for the birds in the garden. Camelin’s had to watch them finishing it off. He wouldn’t dare go down and steal anything else.’

  ‘I thought it would be something to do with food,’ chuckled Jack.

  ‘It’s his big weakness. In fact that was another reason why Nora was so cross. Instead of saying he was sorry he said he’d wished he eaten it all and giving it to the other birds was a waste of good pastry. He doesn’t like starlings, mainly because they can clear the bird-table of scraps before he gets there. He shouldn’t get annoyed. He’s not allowed on the bird table. It’s a bit of a sore point.’

  Elan opened a door at the top of the stairs.

  ‘When you get to the ladder give him a shout.’

  ‘I don’t think he likes me much.’

  ‘You could always try tempting him with some food. He’s not so crabby when his stomach’s full!’

  The only thing Jack had in his pocket was a half-eaten
packet of mints he’d bought at the airport in Athens.

  Jack crossed the attic floor. He looked around but there didn’t seem to be any sign of Camelin. He heard a faint cough from somewhere above his head. At the far end of the attic was a rung ladder leaning against an opening in the roof.

  ‘Hello,’ shouted Jack.

  ‘What do you want?’ snapped Camelin. ‘If I’m not allowed downstairs I don’t see why you should be allowed up here.’

  ‘I thought we could talk.’

  ‘Well you thought wrong. I’m too hungry to talk.’

  ‘I’ve got some mints.’

  ‘I’m not usually allowed sweets but this is an emergency. Hand them over.’

  Jack fished in his pocket and brought out the mints. Camelin’s face appeared in the opening.

  ‘They smell good.’

  ‘I’m not sure you’ll like them. They’re extra strong.’

  Camelin started chuckling.

  ‘Always willing to sample anything new. You’d better come up.’

  Jack climbed up the small ladder and was impressed by the sight, which greeted him. Camelin’s room wasn’t the dark, dusty place the word ‘loft’ suggested. It was light and airy. Sunshine streamed in through a large round window creating a pool of light on the floor. In its centre was a furry cat basket with a beanbag bottom. The rafters were covered in shiny objects which glinted in the sunlight. The low roof meant that Jack had to shuffle through the opening and crouch down. He was grateful he wasn’t any taller. As he pulled himself into the loft his hand touched something sticky. It was then that Jack noticed the floor. He’d never seen such a mess. Empty sweet wrappers, crisp packets and ripped bags were strewn everywhere. What looked like an empty pizza box had been stuffed into the far corner.

  ‘You can have that if you want,’ said Camelin as he nodded towards the half-eaten yellow chew which was stuck to Jack’s hand. ‘It’s banana flavour.’

  ‘Thank you, but no,’ said Jack as he looked around for some means of getting rid of the sweet. He pulled over an empty paper bag and wiped it onto that.

  ‘Where’s the mints then?’ Camelin enquired as he hopped around Jack.

  Jack offered one to Camelin. Instead of taking it the raven grabbed the pack and skipped off to the cat basket. He ripped the paper off and scooped up the mints. Within seconds he shot out of the basket and hopped wildly around the loft. He stretched his wings out and flapped them towards his beak.