Zia lay on his bed with his hands behind his head. If there were so many enemies outside of the Community which, more or less, made the inhabitants stay within the mine and the Dark Cave, was there any likelihood that these aliens, whoever they were, would and could still be hunting for the various groups that formed the Community?
He was convinced that there must be something, as the security was so very high. Just look what happened to him because he entered the Dark Cave. He had often wondered what it was that he was intended to do for the Community. He had been told on more than one occasion that he was important to them and must learn all that he could. Why, if he was only ever destined to be a Leader to the Zoedledoodles? There were more and more questions pouring into his head until finally he fell asleep.
He had strange dreams again and had learned to take his dreams seriously as so many of them either came true or were part of a story that had happened or was about to happen and this dream led him to believe that some thing far more serious than he knew was about to happen. He must see Grace, at once.
Even before breakfast he made his way to the Dark Cave where he hoped to find Grace and he was not disappointed. She was just removing a tiny piece of paper from the box on the wall outside her cave when Zia arrived. She was mumbling to herself, or was she?
“Good morning Grace, I need to talk to you, if I may. Something is bothering me.”
Grace glanced at him, not surprised at all that he was there at this early hour. She beckoned him in,
“I have been wondering how long it would be before you wanted answers. I have known for some time that you had questions that were not being answered to your liking. Its not easy for one person to take on the responsibility of telling you things that the Question Book wont tell you but we, the C.O.W.A.W.T.O.A.Z. [Council of Witches and Wizards, The Others and Zoedledoodle’s, but when Grace said it it sounded like Cow-or-toes!] have been discussing when we should have a meeting to explain a few things to you.”
Grace sat herself in the big chair beside her fire as she spoke. The piece of paper she had removed from the box seemed to be of great interest and as she unfolded the tiny scrap it grew to a full size sheet of writing paper. Grace studied it carefully and then folded it again and pushed it into one of her pockets. She gave the fire a poke with her stick and it roared into life from, what appeared to be, nothing more than ashes. Then she pointed with the stick to the bench opposite her and for the first time looked straight at Zia,
“Sit down, there is much for you to understand.”
Zia was now very puzzled and as he made himself comfortable on the hard bench he wondered what was about to be revealed to him. He was pleased that what he had felt seemed to have been justified and the dream was maybe about to be proved fact!
“You will not go to your work today. I have just received notification of a very serious matter and the C.O.W.A.W.T.O.A.Z have agreed to a meeting at nine o’clock this morning to discuss things. You are expected to attend and then you will be fully enlightened as to your role here and many more topics that will affect all of us.” Grace, for the first time he had seen, looked concerned, as if for once she did not have all the answers.
“That’s fine,” remarked Zia, “I would like to go and get some breakfast first if that is OK. I haven’t eaten yet and it sounds as though it might be a long day.”
“That is a good idea but don’t mention a word to anyone. Zoe will know about it and will be coming to the meeting, so don’t question her. All will be revealed soon enough. We will meet in the witches Great Hall. Don’t be late,” and she waved her hand in dismissal.
Zia first went back to his room and asked the Question Book a few things. As he now knew that something was about to be disclosed he hoped the book may be allowed to tell him some facts but apart from revealing that there was a great deal resting on his shoulders and that the whole Community would be relying on him, he learned nothing.
As soon as he walked into the dining area Nip was beside him smiling and asking questions.
“Where have you been? I went to your cave over an hour ago and there was no sign of you.”
“Oh, I just felt like a walk. I was restless. Didn’t sleep too well, dreaming again!” Zia replied, not exactly lying, just not telling the whole truth!
He loaded a tray with good things to eat and went to sit on the floor beside Zoe. He was not going to be able to talk to her about the meeting anyway as Nip came to join them. Not that he wasn’t welcome but it was difficult, knowing what he knew, to think of anything to talk about. He need not have worried. Nip did all the talking and soon had them laughing as he told about the things he had been doing since he last saw them…..last evening!!
“You working with The Others again today, Zia?” questioned Nip.
“Err, yes I will be with them most of the day I expect,” again not quite the whole truth but this time Nip picked up on it.
“Most of the day? That’s an odd thing for you to say. Either you are with them or you are not.
There aren’t any part days,” Nip said almost accusingly.
“What he means is that Grace and Talik are going to go and view his work and he will be spending time with them as well,” Zoe said, rescuing the situation.
“I know you cant tell me what goes on down there,” agreed Nip, “but I do hate all the secrecy. Its as if I am not trusted.”
He fell silent for a moment before jumping up and saying goodbye as he went to join two other Mine Minders walking toward the door. He was smiling again as he waved.
Zia hoped he was not upset, but then there was nothing he could do, and Nip knew that.
Zoe and Zia made their way to the Great Hall. Zia wasn’t sure what Zoe knew but he did know she would not tell him anything so he didn’t bother to ask. They moved along the tunnels at a good speed and arrived a little early for the meeting but several of The Council were already there talking among themselves in Mumbling tongue. Zia thought he would like to learn Mumbling but no one had volunteered to teach him. He would see what Calda had to say on the matter later.
More and more members arrived until the hall was crowded and a booming voice ordered,
“Silence, please. Take your seats. We will begin.”
The voice didn’t seem to come from anyone….it just was. Zia sat beside Zoe at the opposite end of the table to Grace. Zoe was given a stool to sit on to bring her up to the same height as everyone else. Zia sat in one of the big carved chairs and around the table sat everyone else, except Calda who floated, as usual, between Grace and Talik.
Grace stood to address them and with one hand on her knobbly stick she straightened her hat.
Then placing her free hand on the arm of her chair, looked all around the table at everyone in turn.
She began, “We are gathered here today, as you are all aware, to talk about Zia and his role in the safety of our Community, which is at the heart of everything we do. Please remember, that each and every one of you is sworn to secrecy and silence. Nothing heard, discussed or decided here today must be spoken of outside these walls. Is that clear? Then I will continue. We have lived together here for many hundreds of years and have bothered nobody. We have served the other Communities like ours, to the best of our ability and in return they have provided and trusted us with their orders for various items which we excel in making. Do you all agree? Good.”
Grace watched all the nodding heads and continued, “We all know Zia joined us in a not too conventional fashion but we have learned that he has many, many talents that can benefit us all and he is happy, I hope, to be with us and share his talents to benefit the Community. Is that correct Zia?”
Zia nodded, “Yes, Grace and everyone. I am very happy to be here, now, and if I can in any way, serve the best interests of the Community through whatever means, I am more than happy to do so.
Although as yet I have no idea what it is you all want of me.”
Zia tried to sound confident, whereas inside he was beginning to wonder what on earth was going to happen next. He looked around the table at the various faces, some he knew better than others but he had met all of them, and seeing the array of swaying feathers, shapes and colours of hats and gowns and the slightly troubled faces he felt suddenly very much part of this odd Community. He smiled.
“Good, that is very well put and we all agree that since you have become part of the workforce here we have come to accept and respect you as one of us. We are fond of you. You have proved a great asset and a very willing pupil. The reason for all your learning and studies is why we are here today.” Grace faltered a little and asked Lord Tupol to continue, as she sat down.
“Uhumm,” Lord Tupol cleared his throat and standing, stretched himself to his full and great height. “We all came here, in the beginning, as a result of the problems we were having in the outside world and even more important, as a result of Grace’s kindness in rescuing us all and allowing us to come here and join her and live as one Community. These things we all know. What is not so readily known is that there has been contact with some of our persecutors. Our Security Circle has reported suspicious happenings. We always have our own security, Mine Minders, Bat Watch, The Raven and Rook Air Patrol but now we have to bring in further measures. Viddy Cats.
These will assist the witches on their Broom Sweep. Which they do under the cover of darkness every night. They will also patrol all the passages and tunnels that we use.” Lord Tupol sat down slowly. Everything about his manner said he was concerned.
Everyone was looking aghast and at each other but there was complete silence, as Calda spoke,
“Many of you will know about Viddy Cats. They are greatly valued as we value our Zoedledoodles. They too, have many attributes which they use to our benefit although we do not see them at all here. They live, as you may know, near Penzance in some of the many disused and abandoned mine workings there. They have powers that none of us poses. Very rare and wonderful powers that only they can control and that they use to help us. They can sense and detect evil, who it is directed at and where it is coming from. They have told us that Travanglers and the Polduggers are plotting against our Communities all over the country. They have warned us that it is intended to infiltrate us by any means, to gain access and, if they can, overwhelm us to gain our secrets.”
All this meant very little to Zia but he could tell from the look on the faces around the table that whatever it all meant was enough to frighten even these great and powerful magicians. If they could be concerned, with all the magic and power they had, it must be bad. Who were these would be attackers? He was about to find out.
Soltagin, pushed back his chair, The great wizard, did not often speak and was rarely seen but now he rose up tall, bewhiskered and resplendent in an incredible outfit of emerald green, gold and mauve. All eyes were on him and he surveyed them all before he spoke, soft and smoothly.
“We are going to need all the help we can get. We are strong, very strong and we have allies but our enemies are strong also, and determined. Somehow our secret places may have been detected and our anonymity is, possibly, no more. Viddy Cats are not like other cats, they have great minds, great loyalty and a long, very long and troubled past. They also, were persecuted for being the cats of witches but the truth was that the witches were only second in line of authority to Viddy Cats.
The witches were the helpers and companions of the Viddy Cats, not as is always thought, the other way round. They left the witches so that they would both have a better chance of survival but now it is clear we must all join forces to combat our common enemy. This is very serious but not, at the moment, disastrous. We can, if we stick together, win. The problem is the powers of the Travanglers and the Polduggers. They have the ability to move through earth and stone so once they locate us they will gain access to our caves and mines.”
Where do I come in to this thought Zia. If they are troubled with all their powers, how can I help?
“We are working very hard on the defences,” Lord Tupol added. “We have developed many new and remarkable ‘Stoppers’ and ‘Wavers’ stronger and more complex than any others we ever had.”
He didn’t go into details as everyone that mattered obviously knew to what he was referring and those that didn’t were not meant to know. Zia hadn’t got a clue but somehow thought he would be told one day.
“Right, now to the subject of Zia. We are all aware of the incredible ability you have in many of your powers, Zia. This is what has decided us also to ask for your help. You will not be forced or bullied into agreeing to assist us but we would be very glad if you would.” Grace spoke directly to him. “Your flying has exceeded all expectations, your enhanced sight and hearing is better than we could have hoped for and your memory is still improving in leaps and bounds. When all your powers are at their highest you will be a real force to be reckoned with. You may not realise it now but you could help save us.”
“Then count me in. I want to do whatever I can. You are all family to me now and there is no way I could stand by and not help. Anything you think I can do, just say the word!”
Zia was excited, not that he knew what he was letting himself in for but if this learned gathering thought he could help then he would try. In the short time since Zia had entered the Dark Cave, he had learned so much and met more people then he ever dreamed existed. He had a far more mature outlook and was now a young man rather than a boy. He took things seriously and always tried to think before he spoke, and he knew he meant what he said. He would do anything he could to help this Community and others like it.
Zoe was the first to voice her opinion and her words were echoed by all around the table,
“Thank you, Zia. I am sure we all appreciate your willingness to help and I am very proud to have you as an apprentice and friend.”
Grace tapped the table with her stick and there was immediate silence, she spoke calmly,
“We are indeed very fortunate to have had you join us Zia, but now that is settled the Council will discuss what is to be done. There is much to talk about. We will adjourn for two hours and meet here again with all the ideas and plans we have, written down in detail and the afternoon will be given to finding out what we have in the way of defence and what we know about the Trevanglers and Polduggers. Also we are hoping that we will be meeting a representative of the Viddy Cats. Is that right, Zoe?”
“Yes. There is a Flying Me’ansome Cab on its way back from Penzance now. With the fastest Express Team of Zoedledoodles pulling so they should soon be coming into the Station and I would like to be there to meet it.” Zoe looked a little anxious, as though she was afraid they would arrive before she could get back to the Station to organise things for the arrival of their important guests.
“Meeting adjourned for two hours. Please be back on time and have all plans and ideas written down”. Grace waved her hand in a circular motion.
With much scraping of the huge carved chairs and bobbing of feathers and gathering of robes around them, the council dispersed and went their various ways.
Zoe headed for the station and Zia for the dining room. He was famished…again, and there was Chilli on the menu which he didn’t want to miss. He had a feeling that the afternoon meeting was going to be long and drawn out.
Having eaten well and being full of anticipation, Zia made his way back to the Great Hall.
Already most of those to attend were there, carrying folders and files, notebooks and reference books. Most were standing talking, discussing their ideas and plans, all with very serious faces. No one was taking this lightly, and Mumbling was the language of choice. Zia must learn to speak it!!
As soon as Grace entered the hall and took her place, all those present moved to their places around the table. Zoe was absent and Zia wished he had gone to the Station to see if the Viddy Cat had arrived by Me’ansome Cab, but it was too late now to do anything. He would just have to wait and hope Zoe arrived soon. Talik was also noticeable by his absence. He must be with Zoe and they surely were going to bring in the mysterious Viddy Cat!
Grace tapped with her stick on the table, but it wasn’t really necessary as there was not a sound.
Everyone was quietly paying attention, waiting for the meeting to come to order.
“We will work around the table. Anyone who has some thing to say may address the Council and our guest Culeada, the Viddy Cat representative. Culeada is one of the original group to settle here in Cornwall after they separated from the Witches over eight hundred years ago.”
Soon Zoe came in and went and spoke to Grace. Grace stood and everyone around the table did the same. All eyes were on the entrance curtain. Talik appeared and held the drape back and there was Culeada, her eyes were bright green, shining and sparkling. She wasn’t particularly big, but had long thick black and gold fur. She was neat and precise. Her walk was that of someone with great influence. Not haughty, but important. She took her place on a padded high stool beside Grace. Talik stood behind her and Zoe came to sit next to Zia, much to his relief.
Grace spoke, “Please welcome Culeada, who has come to help us decide what should be done and how we should proceed to defend ourselves against those that would harm our Communities.”
There was much bowing and a polite ripple of applause.
“Please be seated and let us start the proceedings,” Calda said, “We are all very pleased that you are able to join us Culeada. Would you like to tell us what you know and your ideas for protecting ourselves, should the need arise.”
“Thank you, Calda. This is a very serious situation as you must all realise. It has come to our knowledge that the Trevanglers, an ancient body of agents who, many years ago, worked for the Power Lords that owned and worked the land and farms all over the country and the Polduggers, also a ruthless and cruel group that helped rule the workforce in mines all over Cornwall for the mighty Mine Owners, have been ordered to renew and strengthen their search for Communities like yours but in particular this one, the Dark Cave and the adjoining Mine. For some reason that we are not sure of, they need the knowledge and expertise of The Others. Even if it takes a war to destroy the witch Community in order to make this possible. They will then enslave the Mine Minders.
They have been searching for a long time without any real idea where to find you. Our intelligence now knows that they have combined forces to intensify their search and they are making progress, although they have not yet pin pointed the exact area you are in. You must make plans to defend yourselves in any way you can. You must come up with a plan that will not only stop them but make it impossible for them to ever try and find you again. Not an easy task. Have you any ideas?”
“Lord Tupol, would you please start and tell us what you have planned,” Calda asked.
Lord Tupol stood and opened a large folder and also a book. He spoke without hesitation,
“For some time The Others have been working on security for the safety of this and other Communities, apart from the things you all know and that defend us every day, there are things that have been designed for just such a situation as we now find ourselves in. I think that we must look at the weaknesses of our enemy, if we know what they are then we will have something to work on.
We know some of the things that make them powerful, they have great numbers, great strength.
They can move through earth and stone…….but what they ‘can’t do’ is what we must concentrate on and build our defences to take advantage of those weaknesses. It is a great disadvantage that The Others have never actually met these forces. We came here from Russia and as far as we know, we are not being sought from there. It is because they want our engineering skills that we are a target.
We need to know far more about them, we have not been idle. We have been working on the weaknesses we know they have, like the inability to survive in water, any water for more than a few seconds and that is the same for fire. They can not handle fire, they are allergic to it and even from a distance they start to wither or melt, depending on which group of them it is. So these are good things to work on. We have made prototypes of defences we would like to try.”
“Culeada is there anything you can tell us about these aliens that could help us to build defences?” asked Grand Wizard Soltagin. His yellow eyes more piercing than ever it seemed.
“There are some things that we must all be aware of, ” answered the remarkable Viddy Cat, her black and gold coat glistening as though tiny sequins and gold dust were hidden in every hair.
“Firstly, that although they have some of the most powerful and ruthless people on their side, the Searchers, a combined army from the Trevanglers and Polduggers are not very bright. They work on instructions from those in power. They can find and destroy but their sense of direction is poor, as is their eyesight. They rely entirely on their sensors and instructions from their masters. So they can be fooled and misled BUT they are very determined and rarely, if ever, return to their masters without some success. It is more than their lives are worth to fail completely. You should all be aware of the appearance of these, shall we refer to them overall as…invaders? The Trevanglers are unlike anything you will have met before. They look like someone who has had a fright. They have blue hair that stands on end, skin that is covered in what you might think are moles but are in fact sensors for finding their target. They have very large ears, hands and feet, and very bad breath, it is putrid, vile and their temperaments are unpredictable. The Polguggers, on the other hand, are almost normal to look at but that is where their normality stops. Most of them are very old but look like young adults, their skin is pale cream and their hair is very curly and black. Their eyes are dark, almost black, and they are about the same size as Mine Minders. They are quiet, cruel and ruthless. They have almost no feelings at all. Hunger is their main driving force and their favourite foods are ant eggs and yellow and red fungus. Not very plentiful, so they are always searching and always hungry which makes them cross and easily upset….it also makes them easy to handle as a bowl of these delicacies will distract them from any task they are doing. This does mean that the food they love gives them a flatulence problem to match the breath of the Trevanglers. Be warned!
Never be fooled, they are both dangerous enemies, very dangerous.”
“Do we have any idea of how much time we have to prepare. How long before they will start searching this area?” asked Pecan, who looked very smart in a long grey robe with a green sash.
“No idea at all. It could be weeks or it could be months but the news I am getting is that they are intensifying their efforts.”
The discussion went on for a long time. Almost everyone around the table gave some comment, advice or added yet another question. It seemed that they were totally at the mercy of the Searchers if they couldn’t find a defence strong enough to ward them off. Zia had one burning question but didn’t know whether or not to ask it. That was short lived as Grace looked around the table and said,
“We have covered a great deal of ground. Zia what about you? Have you no questions at all?”
“Well, yes, there is one but .… I would like to know HOW these Searchers can move through earth and rock, and how does anyone think we can track or capture them if they can disappear to where we can’t follow,” Zia answered.
He was glad he had spoken but was aware of the silence that followed and thought maybe he should have kept quiet and asked Calda later when he was at his evening class.
“Very good question. Has anyone any ideas on the matter?” Culeada asked, looking rather pointedly at Lord Tupol, who opened his mouth and closed it again without so much as a word.
“Come now,” Grace remarked looking a little embarrassed that her best brains had no hint of any answers. “Has no one thought on this matter at all? Well then that is something that must become a priority. We must all try to find a solution to this…. the best defence of The Searchers.”
The meeting was disbanded and slowly everyone returned to their departments. Zoe and Talik once again escorted Culeada first to Grace’s cave for refreshments and then back to the station and into the Me’ansom Cab waiting to take the Viddy cat back on the return journey. Once she was on board it soared up and away at great speed, pulled by the Express Team.
Zia had gone back with Calda to his cave. There were a few things he wanted to ask and Calda seemed the best person to question. Zia had the feeling that everyone that was present at the meeting had questions that needed answers but that the answers might be a long time coming.
“How do you feel about the situation, Calda?” Zia asked the tutor he had come to trust so much,
“Is there any hope for the Communities? For this one in particular I mean? Surely there must be something that can be done, soon. Isn’t there Calda? What do you think?”
“I am sure there is a lot that can be done .…it depends on how much time we have to find a solution to this very big problem. I have a feeling that Lord Tupol is more aware than he let on. I am sure he would have thought, as you did, about the powers of the Searchers but as he says he wants to work on their weaknesses. Still that doesn’t mean that he hasn’t given some time and thought to their strengths, does it?”
“He is very clever, isn’t he? I can tell when I am working with The Others on the Lowest Level that he has everything under control and that none of The Others doubt his ability to solve problems and come up with amazing ideas and I don’t know all that is going on down there. I am gradually being allowed to see all the areas and being told lots of things although some times I think I am being kept in the dark about some ‘special and extra secret’ things.” remarked Zia.
“Lord Tupol will never allow anything that he is not pleased with or that he thinks could be improved, to be seen by any but The Others that are actually working on the project. When he is satisfied that it is as good as it can be made then you will see whatever it is that is being worked on or developed. So much of their work is experimental and they have such brilliant minds for solving problems. That’s why The Searchers want to capture them. What we don’t know is what problems they have that are so bad that they need The Others to solve them. That is what we really need to find out. There must be a really big problem if they are prepared to go to these lengths to solve it,”
Calda said this as he busied himself taking things from cupboards, shelves and draws and putting everything on the table. He turned and glided to where Zia was sat on his stool.
“Don’t worry too much about what you think may happen. We have great minds, magic and powers to help us through this problem and although we have never had this sort of thing happen before it doesn’t follow that because it is threatened that it will be as bad as we think. It may never happen at all,” Calda said to Zia as he patted him on the shoulder and tried to cheer him up.
“Come on now we can’t allow one thing to block out another. We have work to do. Grace wants me to show you how to defend yourself against attack, not that you’re are likely to need it but being prepared is very important. So….how good are you at martial arts!?”
“You are joking. Martial arts, I had never even heard of them until I came here and Nip was telling me how the Miners used to have wrestling competitions and then he went on to mention the latest craze of eastern defence from countries far away but I have never seen how it’s done,” Zia said.
“Don’t worry. Yes, I was joking, you will need more than that to protect you if the Searchers do get close. You can fly and that is a very good ‘get away’ defence but if you are trying to defend the Community flying away is not really the answer. We have to outwit them and there is a way we can do that. We all have enhanced hearing and sight, if you practice really hard and concentrate then you should be able to hear them coming even through the walls….or the floors!!”
Zia found several ways that he should be able to help defend the Community. and by the time he left Calda he was feeling more positive about the ability to defeat the Searchers. With the ideas that Lord Tupol was bound to come up with he was beginning to wonder why anyone was concerned for the safety of the Communities. He would sleep better tonight knowing that he was to be prepared along with everyone else. There would be a formidable army to tackle the Searchers if and when they arrive.
The next day was to be a rest day and Nip and Zia had planned a short ‘outside flight’ and some swimming with the Zoedledoodle’s. Then, at the evening meal they were all going to eat together and the Zoedledoodles were going to have a ‘Howling Competition’ which promised to be good fun and some what ‘different’!! The Teams loved to compete. That was obvious when they were working. They all wanted to be the fastest or the strongest but howling was a new contest!!
Zia kept smiling to himself as he thought of the howling contest. He was soon asleep and didn’t wake until Nip was calling him.
“Helloooo!!! Wakey wakey. Come on, Zia. This is going to be a smashing day. We’re going flying and I am so excited. I can’t wait, come on!! Do you think that Grace will let us fly home next week? I think we are good enough now, don’t you? Zoe says we have improved a lot and we have to take the plunge some time.”
“That’s not a good choice of words is it? The plunge is the last thing we want to take!” laughed Zia as he pulled on his clothes. “Come on. Lets go and get some breakfast I am really hungry and fancy some mushrooms and tomatoes on fried bread and a great mug of hot honey tea. Ready? Race you!”
Over breakfast the two friends chatted and made final plans for the day. Zoe and most of the other Zoedledoodles were there and wanted to watch while Zia and Nip flew. As soon as they had finished the meal they all made their way to the Recreation Area
There was a lot of banter and laughing. Zoe had asked Grace to attend and for the roof to be opened. All the practice that Zia and Nip had done so far had been kept close to the pool and the area directly above the pool, although above the roof height. Now they were going to have to go beyond that and do various manoeuvres to prove they would be able to cope with ‘situations’ that may occur.
Grace announced that she would be flying with them, that stopped all the chatter and laughing, the old witch rarely flew and it had never been known for her to do so publicly, but there was no one to argue the point, indeed, there was no point to argue, Grace was, after all, the founder and the leader of this community and although she sought to share all decisions that affected anyone else, she was in charge of her own actions when they concerned no one else and this was what she wanted to do. Her flying broom was very ...tatty. The broom part had twigs missing and the handle had, at some stage, had wood worm but as Nip climbed piggy-back style on to Zia and the safety harness was fastened around them, Grace sat side ways on her broom and hovered about a foot off the ground. Everyone watched. No one spoke. Then Zoe said,
“Do you want any of us to accompany you, Grace, or would you rather go up alone?”
“I would like three of you Zoedledoodles to fly, just to safe guard the boys. I think I am quite able to fly on my own!” Grace gave a toothless smile and cackled, “I’m looking forward to this.
Come along now. Up, up, on high!!” And she flew through the roof space.
“Well don’t just stand there. Come on Zeal and Zella. You can fly with us,” and Zoe led them and the boys up high and fast. Below, all eyes were looking skyward and couldn’t believe what they were seeing.
Grace, the old and doddering witch, was swooping and diving, gliding and speeding along in all direction. Her broom was smooth and powerful in its movements and she never budged an inch in her seat. They made a formidable sight and Zia nearly lost concentration as she swooped by him, turned and came in beside him .…flying backwards…before doing a double somersault around him and Nip. Then taking off vertically, high, high almost out of sight and spiralling down to join them again. Zoe had a broad smile on her face as she flew over to Zia and said,
“I don’t think you are the only one who enjoys flying and maybe not the only one that has been doing a bit of practice!!. I heard she was the champion of all Witch Flyers but have never seen her in action before. No wonder The Others wanted her broom twigs to propagate from and no wonder she was so reluctant to allow it but she did it for you, Zia, so you must mean a great deal to her.”
“Yes, she is amazing. I never imagined that she could or would be able to do what I have just seen. No wonder she was able to save so many. I hope we can help her save us all now,” replied Zia. Nip was craning his neck back to see another of the stunts Grace was performing.
“Can we try some thing like that, Zia? Not SO fast or so high but just a small swizzle or somersault maybe? It looks easy enough and you haven’t got a broom to worry about!!”
“What do you think, Zoe? Should I show her what I can do or would that be pushing things a bit?”
Zia was keen to give a demonstration of his new skill but didn’t want to appear as though he was showing off. Grace must have read his thoughts as she plunged down and stopped beside him.
“Right. Now lets see what you can do…safely!!” she ordered. She looked quite different, younger and more animated than he had ever seen her.
Zia felt a great warmth for this wizened old witch and smiled so widely at her that she smiled back before waving him away. He flew as though he were possessed by an eagle. He flew effortlessly with ease and grace. Turning and swooping but nothing too dangerous, not with Nip on his back and ‘whooping and yipeeeeing ‘in his ear. As he performed he could see Grace and Zoe talking and the other two Zoedledoodles hovering close by but he didn’t feel as though he was in need of help, Zia felt completely in charge of his situation and came back to join the others hovering high above the pool.
“Very well done. I enjoyed your display and must admit that you have mastered the skill beyond my wildest dreams. Zoe, you have taught him well and I don’t think there is any reason that these two can’t fly home next week end,” Grace said.
She led them all back down to the pool edge. There was a lot of howling and ‘well done’ for Zia but what could they say to the performance given by their benefactor, Grace? They had always been in awe of her but now their admiration was obvious and as she left the recreation area there was a great cheer for her, she turned and did her funny wave before returning to her cave.
“Cor, next week we can go to your home, flying. I am so, so excited I don’t think I can wait”. Nip was jumping around with his fists clenched and his face red with the exertion.
“Slow down. Go steady or you will make yourself ill. There’s a whole week to get through yet and its only the flight home and back that will be different. The rest will be like it always has been, visiting and eating, exploring and helping. Are you sure you aren’t expecting too much?”
Zia was afraid that his friend was going to end up rather disappointed as they would be flying in very early, before anyone was about and leaving his home walking until they were far enough away that no one would see them in the air once they took off to fly the rest of the way back to the Dark Cave and of course, they couldn’t talk a word about it…to any of the Little Folk. In spite of all he was thinking, Zia had to admit that he was also feeling just a tiny bit excited about them flying away together!!
“Come on, lets go and swim and then get something to eat,” Zia smiled at his friend.
Most of the Zoedledoodle were already in the water and diving from the platforms and swishing down the slides. They were so funny and did enjoy themselves so much that Zia soon forgot about everything else as he jumped in and swam with all his friends. After they had exhausted themselves in the pool they all went together to the dining area to eat and had a delicious, long and happy meal together, sitting around on the floor. Then it was time for the ‘Howling Competition’.
Posters had been put up in all the places where members of the Community were bound to see them. There was an open invitation for everyone to join the Zoedledoodles around the pool and for the audience to choose the winner. All of the Teams were there, the day as well as the night Teams.
It was going to be a great nights entertainment. All the Zoedledoodles were so fun loving that it didn’t really matter who won or lost. It was just for fun, or so they all said!
It was a full moon, as was only fitting, and the area was soon crowded with all members of the Community. Zoe stood up and walked to the diving platform to announce the start of the competition.
“Before I open proceedings I have a short poem to read to you all, Its called ‘Zoe’s Poem’”.
Zoe cleared her throat and began,
“Write me a song about nothing, write me a song with no tune,
Finnish it just about midnight so I can howl it at the moon.
Write me a song with no meaning, write it with no words at all,
I just want something that’s tuneless to howl at ‘The Wild Wolf Ball’,
The Teams will all gather around me to see if the notes I can hit,
So the words and the tune don’t matter, no, not one tiniest little bit.
I must have the song by midnight so prepare it for me right now,
With no words, no meaning, no music, I’ll manage to learn it some how.
I may be a star of the future, a fortune just for waiting for me,
If you don’t write my song by midnight I’ll just have to howl at a tree.
Then the feeling wont be so thrilling, I’ll have to do the best that I can,
At least if my Mother is listening I know I’ll have one faithful fan!!”
Zoe bowed as the crowd roared with laughter and applauded.
The Zoedledoodles had drawn lots to see which order they would perform and one by one they stepped onto the platform and howled at the moon. It was not tuneless or without meaning. It was, beautiful, some times funny and with a great deal of meaning.
Each Zoedledoodle had a different repertoire and howled in a different way. Some soft and long some louder and yapier, some almost sang, rolling one howl into another. It was very entertaining and although it was done as fun each had put a lot of effort into being different and the effect was quite stunning. Once all had performed individually there was a mass howling by everyone in the Teams. It was deafening to have twenty one of these huge animals in chorus!!!
It was finally decided that Zerb, with his very deep, gruff howl, so very different to all the others, was the winner and he was presented with a carved moon on a plinth and the words,
“Top Team Howler”.
He was so pleased that his tail was a danger to every one and his great lolling tongue and wide smile, when every one applauded, was a site worth seeing.
The long evening was much enjoyed by everyone and as the Night Teams left to start work, every one else made their way back to their own places.