Jack struggled to open his eyes. He could hear Grandad talking to someone in the kitchen but he’d no idea who it was. He tried to make out what was being said but couldn’t. When the voices stopped he could feel himself drifting back to sleep. The sudden memory of the night before jolted him awake. He swung his legs out of bed, pushed his feet into his slippers and made his way to the kitchen in his pyjamas. He put his ear to the kitchen door. The only sound he could hear was Grandad setting the table. He opened the door a fraction and hesitated.
‘Grandad…’
‘Come on in, P.C. Stone’s gone. Nothing’s been taken except a few bits of metal from the framework, but I’m afraid we’re not going to be able to salvage much. They did a pretty good job of smashing it up. P.C. Stone’s got a good idea who’s responsible and he’s going to be paying them a visit this morning.’
Jack groaned inwardly. He didn’t think a visit from the police would stop Max wanting to get his own back, if anything it would probably make things worse.
‘Will we have time to rebuild the buggy?’
‘It’ll be tight, and unfortunately the plans are covered in paint. Finding wheels might be our biggest problem but we’ll give it our best shot, won’t we?’
Jack nodded.
‘Get yourself ready and we’ll have breakfast. I’ve got to be in the judge’s tent soon but you and Elan can make a start by taking anything we can reuse to Nora’s and I’ll see you all later this afternoon at the show.’
As Jack stood up there was a knock on the front door.
‘Who could that be at this time in the morning?’ said Grandad as he went to investigate.
Jack raced upstairs and quickly got dressed; whoever it was he didn’t want to be seen in his pyjamas. He raced back downstairs when Grandad called him. He’d half expected to see Nora or Elan in the kitchen so it was a complete surprise to find the smallest member of Max’s gang talking to Grandad.
‘I’ve come to apologise,’ said Techno, before Jack could say anything.
‘For what?’ asked Jack.
‘For your racer being trashed.’
Grandad patted Techno on the shoulder.
‘He heard about what happened to the buggy.’
‘It wasn’t me… I didn’t have anything to do with it and I don’t want to have anything to do with Max or his gang any more either.’
‘So it was Max and Tank?’ asked Jack.
Techno bit his lip.
‘What’s done is done,’ said Grandad. ‘We mustn’t let a couple of ruffians stop us. I think you need to listen to what this young man has to say. It took a lot of courage for him to come here this morning.’
Jack smiled weakly at Techno. They were about the same size but unlike Jack, everything about Techno was neat and sleek, including his jet-black hair. Techno took off his glasses and polished them on the bottom of his shirt before replacing them and speaking again.
‘I’d like to help you repair the damage.’
‘Why?’ asked Jack a bit too abruptly.
‘I’ve got a plan, a good plan. The gang didn’t want it. Max and Tank didn’t want to make anything themselves. The men who work for Tank’s dad have made a racing car for them at the scrapyard. I didn’t know your buggy was going to get smashed up. I’m really sorry about it and I’d like to help, if you’ll have me.’
‘See?’ said Grandad. ‘I told you it’d be fine; looks like we’ve got ourselves another team member.’
‘We ought to ask Elan first,’ said Jack.
‘Ask Elan what?’ she said, as she appeared in the doorway.
When Grandad had explained, Techno fished in his back pocket.
‘I’ve got the plans here if you want to have a look.’
Jack watched as Grandad and Elan helped Techno to anchor the four corners of his plan down with the jar of marmalade, a jug, and the salt and pepper pots. Grandad eagerly examined the plans.
‘This is good, very good, much better than the ones we had for the Comet. Did you draw these out on your own?’
Techno nodded. Jack looked at the diagram on the table. It didn’t mean much to him but he could see this buggy didn’t look anything like Grandad’s Comet. It was designed around the frames of two bicycles only there were two big wheels at the back and two smaller ones at the front. The rest of the technical information was a mystery to Jack. Grandad patted Techno on the back.
‘I say we welcome this young man to the team. Are we agreed?’
Elan nodded. They all looked at Jack.
‘It’s fine with me, thanks for coming round.’
Techno grinned at them all.
‘We need to get started as soon as possible.’
‘You’d better come and see if we’ve got anything you need,’ said Grandad, as he showed Techno to the shed.
‘Are you alright?’ asked Elan, when they were alone.
‘Yes and no,’ replied Jack honestly. ‘I’m worried about finding the torc. How do I get into Elidon? No one’s told me anything.’
‘We would have if you hadn’t had to leave so soon. I’ll tell you all about it later, when Techno’s gone.’
‘Shall I meet you at Ewell House? I haven’t had my breakfast yet.’
‘That’ll be fine. Techno and I can start taking what we need to Ewell House. Nora’s already cleared a space… with a little bit of help!’
Jack smiled as Elan waved an imaginary wand around before turning and making her way to the shed.
As Jack got his breakfast he realised that he’d have to visit Camelin later and let him know that Techno was going to be the fourth member of the buggy team so would no longer need to be watched by the Flying Squad. He also realised that Camelin would be annoyed because now he would be excluded every time Techno or Grandad visited Ewell House. Jack sighed; pleasing others wasn’t always easy.
‘You took your time,’ grumbled Camelin, as Jack climbed up the loft ladder.
‘I’m sorry; there was a lot to do,’ said Jack, before explaining about Techno.
‘Why did you say Techno could join in?’
‘He asked and said he was sorry about our buggy. Besides, even if I’d said no, it would have been two against one, both Grandad and Elan were really happy about it and we did need a fourth member for the team.’
‘Well I’m not happy.’
‘You don’t think Max has sent him to spy on us do you?’
‘Naw, Crosspatch told me Max and Techno had a big row this morning and your new team member told Max he wanted nothing more to do with him. Max grabbed Techno by the collar so Crosspatch did a flyover and left a huge deposit on Max’s hat. Max soon let go of him. Snatch saw the whole thing too and gave me the same report. And, Max has got blue hair this morning!’
‘No!’
‘Crosspatch said he watched his mum trying to wash it out but it’s stuck good and proper. He’s got to have his head shaved.’ Camelin laughed loudly.
‘He’ll be even more annoyed now,’ said Jack.
‘Naw, he’s got gang problems. Techno’s walked away from him and Chortle said he’d had a big row with Danny too.’
‘Does he know what that was about?’
‘Max wants the rest of the gang to have their heads shaved too but Danny refused. He told Max he wasn’t cutting his long hair off for no one. Max shouted at him and said he’d have to leave the gang. Danny said good and walked off.’
‘What about Tank, has he got blue hair too?’
‘Naw, but he did agree to have his head shaved. He said his mum would do it. She does his older brother’s hair all the time. They’ve arranged to have it done together tomorrow afternoon at Tank’s house. We can go and watch if you like.’
‘I’ve got to go now. We’re meeting Grandad in the judging tent at the Flower Show.’
‘I suppose you’ll be going back to Brenin House after the show.’
‘Grandad’s helping me to carry my bags back when it’s over.’
‘You’ll come and see me tomorrow though won’t you?’
‘’Course I will.’
By the time Jack and Grandad got back to Brenin House they were both feeling tired. They’d eaten at the show so they didn’t need to make dinner.
‘I think I’m going to have forty winks,’ Grandad told Jack as he flopped down in his favourite chair.
Jack went into the kitchen and poured out two glasses of squash. By the time he got back to the front room Grandad was already snoring. He left one of the glasses on the table and went upstairs with the other one to unpack. He didn’t have to sort Orin out as she’d decided to stay at Ewell House until after the race was over. He took out his Book of Shadows but decided he ought to put his clothes away before he opened his book and started asking questions. The only sound Jack could hear in the house was the loud ticking from the hall clock and Grandad’s snores. He’d be asleep for at least a couple of hours, maybe more.
When the holdall and backpack were empty Jack picked up his book and lay down on his stomach on the bed. He closed his eyes so he could concentrate on the right way to ask his question about Elidon. A loud creak from outside the window broke his concentration. He opened one eye and squinted at the window. Nothing was on the windowsill but a second creak made him go and investigate. He opened the window and was about to look down when a single black feather came into sight, followed by an old battered hat and then Peabody’s face.
‘What are you doing here?’
‘Oh great wizard, I had to come and see you, I don’t know what to do. You’re the only one who can help me.’
Jack knew it must be important if Peabody had risked being seen to visit Jack in daylight.
‘You’d better come in.’
Peabody nimbly swung himself into Jack’s room.
‘Oh thank you, Your Wizardness.’
‘What’s wrong?’
‘Everything! He’s here somewhere in Glasruhen, he grabbed me in the forest, I couldn’t see him but I knew it was him, I could feel his hands digging into my arm, and I felt his hot breath when he whispered in my ear. Thought I was my brother, he did, didn’t know I wasn’t Pyecroft. Wants help. I don’t know what to do. He scares me.’
‘Who? I don’t know what you’re talking about.’
‘It was him, I know it was… you know… the Big One.’
‘Velindur! Here in Glasruhen?’
‘Yes, him, thought I was Pyecroft, obviously doesn’t know my brother’s more like a pig than a Bogie these days.’
‘How do you know it was Velindur if you didn’t see him?’
‘Told me what he wanted. Only one person, apart from yourself who’d want what he’s after.’
‘And what would that be?’
‘The torc of kingship. It’s a long time since I’ve heard that mentioned. The old King of the Forest never came back to claim it as his own but the Big One thinks it belongs to him.’
Jack didn’t know how far to trust Peabody; this could be a trick to get information from him, after all, Bogies specialised in collecting information. He decided to admit nothing and try to find out what Peabody knew.
‘Why did he think you’d know where it was?’
‘He didn’t. He wants me to find out where it is. He knows that whoever finds the torc will be crowned at Samhain. He said because I was his servant I had to help him. Oh that dreadful brother of mine, he’s always getting me into trouble. I don’t want anything to do with any of this. Make the Big One leave me alone.’
‘Are you sure it was Velindur?’
Instead of answering straightaway, Peabody dropped to his knees, clasped both his hands together and hung his head. When he spoke Jack could barely hear him.
‘It was him. He was there but not there. Invisible. Please help me. Can’t you give me a spell to make him go away or put some kind of protection around me? I don’t ever want him to grab me again.’
‘I’ll get you some help but you’ll have to be patient, it might take a while.’
‘Oh thank you, thank you; from the tip of my nose to the top of my toe I thank you.’
Jack got Peabody a cushion to sit on before opening his Book of Shadows. He picked up his wand and wrote to Nora. He waited for an answer but none came. Peabody’s legs were trembling and Jack was sure he was genuinely scared. He tapped the open page in the hope his answer would come but no writing appeared. A loud buzzing made them both turn towards the open window. Jack smiled as a large beetle wearing a tiny pair of spectacles flew into the room and landed on his bed.
‘I think help has arrived.’
The Dorysk transformed into a small bird and then a large rat before his prickles finally appeared. Jack wondered if he was showing off for Peabody’s benefit.
‘I have a message from Nora. The Bogie is to follow me back to Ewell House. Nora wants to hear for herself exactly what happened, and when and where the encounter took place.’
Peabody looked pleadingly at Jack.
‘You’ll be fine, just tell the truth and I’m sure Nora will help you.’
‘Are you ready?’ the Dorysk asked Peabody, as he transformed back into a large rat, identical to Motley except for the glasses.
Peabody stood and followed the Dorysk onto the windowsill but before he climbed down the ivy he turned and bowed low to Jack.
‘You truly are a friend to all.’
When they’d gone Jack wrote down the information he’d gained from Peabody. Velindur was obviously looking for the torc but he didn’t seem to know it was in pieces, not if what Peabody had said was true. He hoped Nora would send him a message later, but while he was waiting he settled down to ask his Book of Shadows about Elidon.
