Spirit Magic

by Olivia Swift

  They parted company with an agreement to be back in touch, and Magda set off to find some food to take with them on the camping trip.

  “I bet the men will want to light a fire and cook bacon,” she thought to herself. “They can pretend they are in the wild west.” She collected what she needed and went back to work.

  Mikey was there having his usual chocolate drink and told her that he had climbed the wall already.

  “Was Utric there?” Magda asked, and Mikey said that he had felt a breeze across his face.

  “I’ll try and put the rest of the wall up tonight after work,” he told her.

  Chapter 9

  The evening was a hectic rush to pack everything they would need to spend a couple of days outdoors. Magda had arranged with Rula to feed the cats before and after work, so she left out all of their things.

  Sam arrived with the truck and they loaded everything inside.

  “You and Katie can sleep in the cab” he said, as she stood with hands on hips to survey what they had packed.

  “And you and Declan want to pretend that you are roughing it in a tent and sitting around a campfire with coffee and beans like cowboys,” she said.

  “Dead right,” he answered. “Declan has wood and tools in his truck as well. He’s driving over here first thing and then I’ll lead the way to the Carnoustie estate.”

  In the morning she told the cats to be good for Auntie Rula, saw that Declan had picked up Katie, and they were ready to go. The two trucks roared out of town. As the road wound slowly uphill, the views were spectacular. Magda sat back to enjoy the trip. They turned off the public road onto a private one that was lined with a tunnel of trees which made it seem like a journey into a storybook.

  “What a lovely place to live,” Magda exclaimed as they came out in front of a big house that was built of stone and wood and which fit perfectly into its surroundings. Sam jumped out and went up to the door. Jeff Carnoustie and his wife made them welcome and pointed the way to a road which wound around behind the house.

  “You know the way, Sam. You know what we would like. Make yourselves at home.”

  There was a rough gateway that looked vaguely like something from the days of the pioneers. They closed it behind them. Eventually, the track became rougher which made their ride somewhat bumpy.

  “The covered-wagon folk must have been tough people,” Magda said as she held on to the door handle.

  “Not far now,” Sam said and swung the truck into a clearing in the trees. The other truck did the same. They all got out of their vehicles and looked around.

  “This is where the teardrop tree house will be suspended,” Sam said as he showed them the location. “The steps to lead up to it will be on the other side and not seen as you approach. It should look as if it hangs there by invisible strings.”

  “What a great idea,” Katie exclaimed. She had a backpack in her hand, camera round her neck and wore strong boots. A jacket was tied around her waist. “I’m ready to start.”

  “Let’s unload what we need,” Sam said.

  “If I grab what I need, Katie and I can explore together,” Magda added and they all made a start.

  “The paths are pretty well marked out,” Sam told the girls. “Just don’t wander off them.”

  “Yes Dad,” Magda said and kissed his cheek. The two girls set off and left the men to unload the basic shape of the tree house and the ladders which would let them climb into the tree canopy.

  In only a few steps, they felt as if they were miles away from the rest of the world. There were openings that showed them the views and pretty little streams that meandered downhill. The open areas had a myriad of wildflowers. They walked at a leisurely pace, stopping to take photographs.

  “Oh, it’s been so long since I’ve been able to do this,” Katie remarked. “It is just the right time of the year as well.”

  “What a great adventure the Carnoustie boys from the house will have when they can camp out in their tree house and run around in their own woodland,” Magda said as she took photos with her cell phone.

  After about an hour, the girls came to a rocky outcrop that jutted from one side of a hill. They sat at the foot of it, ate energy bars and enjoyed the view across the lower parts of the land.

  “Well, I haven’t found any raspberries yet,” Magda said. “Mister Carnoustie seemed to think that there were some.”

  “If we do another half an hour around this rocky part and then turn back, we might see some that we missed on the way,” Katie suggested. After the next half an hour, Magda confessed that she was not as fit as she had thought she was.

  “Glad to turn back,” Magda said and then spotted the raspberries. “Look,” she added. “There’s a good crop. The Carnousties say we are welcome to pick them. Here goes,” she said as she pulled out the plastic containers she had brought with her.

  The two girls collected two full containers and then had a bit of a rest before starting back to the campsite. They found Sam checking his watch and looking a bit concerned.

  “We are back,” she told him. “Stop worrying.”

  “Where’s Declan?” Katie asked and Sam pointed above his head. They looked up. Declan was sitting in the center of the tree house, legs hanging through the wooden slats and taking measurements.

  “Hi, girls,” he called down. “Did you find what you wanted?”

  “Got some great photos,” Katie told him and Magda held up the boxes of raspberries. Declan swung his legs over to where the ladder was tied against the tree. He was about to climb down, when he stopped where he was and pointed to the trucks.

  What?” Sam asked.

  “I hate to tell you, guys. Our Viking friend is with us.”

  “Oh, no,” Magda said. “I was enjoying myself.”

  Declan climbed down and suggested ignoring the ghostly visitor and having some food.

  Sam nodded and started a fire in a circle of stones which had been previously left by others. He stood an iron tripod stand over it, which Mikey had provided, and hung a coffee pot above the flames. The girls found mugs, plates, and the food that had been packed, and then found some logs to sit on around the fire.

  “I think we are using the boys’ camping site,” Sam said with a smile. “I don’t think their dad has told them about the tree house.”

  “What a great surprise that will be,” Katie replied. “Kids these days have such great things to do. I can’t understand why they sit with computer games all day.”

  “Maybe they can do both,” Magda said. “They can play on their tablets swinging in the trees.”

  “I wonder how Utric came to be with us,” Declan pondered, and Sam held up his hands.

  “My fault. I’m sorry. I took the wood out of the trunk of the car and put it in the truck, then never put it back.”

  “I suppose,” Katie mused, “that we could take the wood to that rocky cliff thing and see if he wants to climb.”

  “He never followed us before, but he might if we take the wood,” Magda added.

  “Not on your own, girls. Wait until we finish this bit of the work and we’ll come as well,” Sam said. Magda nodded.

  “Yes, fusspot,” she smiled. “I need a rest anyway. Maybe we should do that tomorrow.”

  “I can take photos around here as well. Lots of leaves, bark and there are skeletonized leaves which I really love,” Katie told them. “I need a rest as well. Thank heaven for digital cameras. I must have taken a couple of hundred shots already.”

  The two men went back to the hanging construction in the trees and the girls lay back and watched them. Finally, the structure was suspended between three big trees and it all seemed to be coming together.

  “As you come toward it, it will look quite fantastic,” Magda observed. “It will look as if it is staying up there by itself.”

  The two builders came and looked at it from the ground.

  “When the sides are filled in, it will look mysterious as well,” Declan added.
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  “Can I climb up and see what the view is like from up there?” Magda asked, and they showed her the ladder hidden behind the tree.

  “The actual steps will be three trees away and completely hidden. Then there will be a walkway through the tree canopy to get into the house itself,” Sam explained. Magda climbed the ladder and stepped cautiously onto the base of the tree house. It was about the size of a two-berth trailer and bigger than she thought it would be.

  The floor swayed slightly but not enough to be frightening, and looking out from the leaves made it feel like a secret place.

  “It will be marvelous,” Magda called. “Even without the walls, it feels like something magical.”

  “What about the movement?” Declan asked, and she said it moved slightly but still felt quite safe. Katie went up the ladder and swapped places with Magda. Even with two people in the structure, there was room to move. Magda came down and she saw Declan’s face change.

  “What?” she asked and he pointed.

  “The Viking is climbing the tree.”

  “Utric,” Magda called. “Please come back down.” There was no response, and of course, Magda could not see the man. Declan ran to the ladder and climbed up the steps. He stepped into the tree house and held up his hand.

  “Keep out of here,” he said and put an arm around Katie, but the others knew by his face that the Viking had taken no notice. “Katie, try and get down. Sam will help you,” Declan told her, but the tree house started to shake violently and Katie gave a little cry and hung on to the wooden slats at the side. A strong wind blew around the clearing and clutched at the two people in the partly constructed building. Declan held Katie with one arm and hung on with the other. He put himself between the spirit form and the woman he was protecting.

  Magda ran to the bottom of the ladder but Sam was already halfway up. When his head was over the top, he called out for Katie to hold on to him and he would help her down. She let go of one piece of wood but the thing swayed so much that she grabbed it again. Sam went further up and held out his arm. The ladder was fixed to the tree trunk and felt quite steady.

  “Grab on to me,” he shouted, and she made an attempt, but there was still no real room to connect. Magda had an idea and raced to the truck. She found the piece of wood from Scotland and held it over the fire.

  “I’ll burn this if you don’t stop,” she shouted. The wind stopped instantly but a strong gust swiped at Magda and knocked her to the ground. The wood flew out of her hand and she lay still.

  Chapter 10

  Katie reached out and Sam helped her onto the ladder, and then he almost slid down the rungs himself.

  “Magda,” he shouted and ran to where she had fallen. He dropped to his knees beside her and held her in his arms. “Wake up, sweetheart.” He saw with relief that she was opening her eyes. Katie and Declan both rushed over as well and Katie took Magda’s hand.

  “Oh, Lord above,” she said. “That stupid Viking. Why can’t we have a couple of days without him?”

  “I’m okay, folks,” Magda said and struggled to sit up properly. “Are you all right? That certainly gave the tree house a test run.” She looked around. “What happened to that flippin’ lump of wood?”

  Declan went and retrieved the wood from where it had fallen and turned it in his hands.

  “You know when Mikey said the whisky tasted of the ocean? I think this piece of wood gives me a feeling of the sea as well. It is a lovely shape. It would turn beautifully on the lathe and look really special.”

  “Maybe it was washed up on the shore and never came from the castle at all,” Magda pondered.

  “I don’t suppose we’ll ever know for sure,” Katie replied.

  “What do we do with it?” Sam asked the rest of them. “He seems to follow it if we move it but when it was in the trunk of the car, he was happily climbing on Mikey’s wall. It doesn’t make any sense.”

  “I stinkin’ well wish he was back in Scotland,” Magda said a bit grumpily and then looked around as a sudden gust of cold wind swept around the clearing. “I know you’re out there, Utric,” she added in a louder voice. “I don’t like being knocked over.” The wind subsided and they decided to make some food and sit around the campfire. The place was calm and the prototype tree house swung gently on its supports.

  “I know that the connection to the trees on all sides will hold up in a gale force wind,” Sam observed. “I suppose he gave us a test run.”

  “If we ignore him and don’t mention anything to do with where he came from, he might just stay hidden,” Declan remarked and added some wood to the fire.

  “I’ll put the wood in the other truck from the one you are sleeping in and hope that keeps him happy,” Sam added and went to do what he said. Magda drank some water and said she felt much better and was really quite hungry.

  Declan glanced at Katie. “You are a bit shaken up by that, aren’t you?” She admitted that she did feel a bit wobbly and would just have a coffee.

  “How much have you got to do tomorrow?” Magda asked Sam and Declan.

  “Just an hour or so to check the fittings and then we take it all down for safety’s sake,” Sam told her.

  “Maybe we could take the wood to that rock formation we found and see if he goes climbing,” Magda suggested.

  “And leave it there?” Katie whispered. Magda nodded.

  “It’s worth a try,” Declan answered.

  “I could get a few more photos,” Katie added, and they talked about all sorts of other things.

  As the light disappeared, it was very dark among the trees. Magda shivered.

  “I don’t know how Katie and Declan feel,” she began, “but I would feel better if we were all in the truck together.”

  “I have to admit, I feel the same,” Katie added, and Declan said he was happy to go along with what they all wanted. They put out the fire and packed anything edible away in case of wild creatures helping themselves, and then climbed into the bigger truck with sleeping bags and a lantern.

  Magda giggled. “Like a teenage sleepover,” she said, and gained a smile from Katie. “I don’t suppose anyone would like to tell ghost stories?” she added mischievously.

  “No thanks,” Katie answered, and Declan said that his ghosts were real enough so he would pass on that one.

  “What happened at the brandy place?” Sam changed the subject, and Magda took the hint and told them about the raspberry brandy and how it all had to be sterile.

  “Thing is, it sounds good to say ‘local, wild raspberries,’ but yesterday I saw how difficult that would be. I think locally sourced raspberries will have to do instead.”

  “And the distillery is making the syrup for you?” Declan asked, and pointed with his head at Katie. Magda smiled and saw that Katie had drifted off to sleep. Still smiling, she said that the distillery would try the recipe and see if it would work.

  “He seemed to think that it might be something he could sell. He’s working on quite a small scale for a niche market”—she glanced at Sam—“and his wife’s favorite truffle is the pecan and marzipan.”

  “A woman with good taste,” Sam answered and said that he would turn out the lantern. “’ Night folks,” he added. Declan and Magda said good night.

  Sam woke first and saw that the others were still asleep. He nudged Magda and they climbed quietly outside to light the fire and set up the coffee pot to brew. He managed to steal a good-morning kiss and then they carried cups of coffee to the truck.

  “Come on, you two. Time to rise and possibly shine,” Sam called, and Magda passed out the coffee before climbing back inside with the others.

  “Not like me to oversleep,” Declan said as he sat up to take the coffee.

  “That is because you have four cats that jump on you as soon as daylight arrives,” Magda told him. Katie rubbed her eyes.

  “Do you feel better now?” Declan asked Katie, and she said that she was fine.

  “I’m sorry I was a bit shaken
by the wobbly tree house.”

  “Wasn’t your fault,” Magda told her. “That stupid Viking lost his temper again.”

  “If we just do a final check and dismantle everything, we can go and find that rock face,” Sam suggested and they all agreed. “The tree house will work. We have found that out.”

  Magda took some photos of the two men in the tree taking down the prototype, and they packed up everything to be ready to leave when they came back from the walk.

  They took small backpacks with some food and bottled water. Declan picked up the piece of wood from the truck and they set off. The little pathway was easy to follow, especially as the girls knew where they were going. It was a pleasant morning, an easy walk, and the four of them chatted as they went.

  The path widened out as they reached where the land started to rise, and the rocky wall stretched up on their right with the fantastic view across the land on the left.

  “You don’t realize that you’ve been climbing,” Sam said as he looked out at the view. He turned and looked up at the side of what was really the start of a mountain. Declan laid the wood against the rocks and looked around.

  “Has he come with us?” Magda asked, but Declan couldn’t see the ghostly man.

  “Maybe he has stayed where we were before,” Katie remarked, and Magda decided to call out like Merle did.

  “Utric, are you there?” she asked. “Can you see this wonderful mountainside? We thought you might like to climb here.” There was no response and Sam said that Merle sometimes had to ask two or three times. Magda called out again and tried a third time. Declan said nothing, but pointed to the piece of wood.

  “Utric, are you beside the wood and the mountain?” A slight breeze disturbed her hair and she knew that he had heard her. “That looks like a difficult climb. What do you think?”

  “I can’t climb,” said Sam as he realized what she was trying to do. “Maybe you could get up there.”

  “Mikey would find it easy,” Declan added, and nodded as he saw the Viking look at the mountainside.