I raced through the town, keeping a watchful eye for Mum and Dad in the oncoming traffic and trying to make up a reason why I was belting along the street on my bike. I couldn’t believe my luck when I got to the back gate of the castle and found that it still hadn’t been bolted properly. I just about managed to squeeze my bike in and headed for the place where I’d left my kit. The silence was the first thing I noticed. No hammering or voices. And the sinking sun was making the dark corners and arches mighty creepy in the big, silent courtyard. I wheeled my bike over to the place where I’d hidden my football kit. There it was! ‘I’m saved,’ I said out loud, securing the kitbag on the carrier and mounting the bike. Mission accomplished. ‘Yee ha!’ I whooped. That’s when I heard another voice from above.
‘Ah, Milo, my friend.’
Sitting high up in the arch of a window was a face and shape I knew well.
‘Mister Lewis!’ I shouted. ‘It’s you! I can’t believe it.’
Sure enough, it really was my good, dead friend who’d helped me save Shane and Big Ella from the clutches of an ancient angry druid called Amergin.
‘The same old me,’ he replied. ‘I was hoping to meet you.’
‘I thought you’d be kinda wafting on clouds and, eh, looking a bit more …’
‘A bit more stylish and handsome?’ he put in.
‘Something like that,’ I said, looking at the same old shabby coat and leaning-to-one-side high hat. ‘Not wishing to hurt your feelings or anything, but I’d have thought you’d at least have a decent suit and a harp.’
‘Harp parp!’ he said with a sniff. ‘Hmff. No such luck. I’m in a sort of holding place.’
‘A what?’ I asked.
‘It’s where dead people like me are sent to help others who’ve made mistakes in life to go back and sort things out.’
‘So, who are you helping?’ I asked, looking warily around the deserted courtyard. Mister Lewis leaned back towards the window.
‘It’s all right,’ he called out. ‘Milo is my very good friend. You can come out now.’
I was still wary of seeing any more deceased ancients shuffling about. I steeled myself for whatever big ghoul would appear. No fears, I told myself – fearfully. Mister Lewis will protect me. Still, I picked up my bike, ready for a quick exit.
I looked up at the window where Mister Lewis was holding out his hand behind him to help out whatever was in there. The first thing that appeared on the parapet was a skinny leg followed by another skinny leg, both of them in red tights. So far so unscary. The rest followed – a red, silky sort of frock, a pale face, sticky-out ears and a head of long, spiky red hair, down to the shoulders.
‘A girl!’ I shouted up to Mister Lewis. ‘You’ve been lumbered with helping a skinny girl!’ I had to laugh.
Mister Lewis shook his head – slowly in case an ear or part of his nose might drop off.
The figure stood up straight on the parapet, hands on hips, eyes glaring down at me.
‘Ossie,’ said Mister Lewis. ‘Take that scowl off your face and say hello to my good friend, Milo …’
‘Osgur,’ the redhead interrupted. ‘My name is Osgur, in honour of my father’s ancestor.’
‘I know, I know,’ said Mister Lewis. ‘So you keep telling me.’
I was surprised at his attitude.
‘You shouldn’t be rude to a girl, Mister Lewis,’ I called up.
‘I’m not a girl. I’m a BOY!’ Ossie shouted down at me.
Well, there was no answer to that. Folks from the past have strange taste in clothes and hairstyles, that’s for sure. However, I didn’t fancy hanging about listening to a grumpy guy, especially one in a frock.
‘I’d best be off home, Mister Lewis,’ I said. ‘It’s great to see you again, but it’s getting dark. I’ll be in right trouble …’
‘No, Milo. Wait!’ Mister Lewis called out. ‘We need your help. Can you come back tomorrow night? About ten thirty would be good.’
‘Huh?’ I exclaimed.
‘Please,’ Mister Lewis added urgently.
‘How could I help?’ I began. ‘What would—?’
‘Good lad. I knew we could depend on you,’ Mister Lewis interrupted, before I could find a polite way to say ‘no’ to more ghostly shenanigans.
‘Oh, and bring your bicycle,’ he added, before the two of them disappeared inside.