The Spy's Door

by Maidie Reeve

  “This must be The Oak Glade,” Sophie said as she looked around. “But it’s a lot different from the glade we were in last time. Do you remember Jun? We had to stand in the middle of a circle of stones and use Eda’s magic to help us get through an invisible gateway. But I can’t see any stones now, or anything that looks like a gate. Can you?”

  “No,” Jun replied. “The path ends here so we can’t go any further. I think it’s time to consult The Book again.”

  Sophie nodded and undid the satchel.

  “I keep forgetting about The Book. But it warned us about Twig, so it must be working again.”

  She squatted down and lay the magic book on the ground. Jun joined her, and they both stared in anticipation at the page for The Seventh Gateway. Twig remained standing, looking blank.

  The Book ruffled its pages, and faint words appeared in two verses on the open page.

  The oak has lived here for many years

  It’s very wise and knows your fears

  It keeps protected the seventh way

  So it needs the passwords or here you’ll stay

  The first is a person known for much good

  The second is magic and made from old wood

  Have faith in the first she will overcome wrong

  Her use of the second will help keep her strong

  Go to the tree and knock on the door

  Three times will do it, and not any more

  Say the passwords out loud, the tree knows what’s true

  All will be well if you continue on through

  A friend will appear, you won’t have to wait

  Follow him closely and go to the gate.

  “This must be one of the easiest puzzles we’ve had,” Jun sighed with relief. “The answer is obviously Eda’s wand.”

  “Yeah, I agree,” Sophie said as she packed away The Book. “Now all we have to do is knock on the tree trunk.”

  “Come on Twig. Come with us. We’re almost at The Seventh Gateway, and once we’re through, you’ll be home again,” Sophie said.

  Twig nodded, although he remained silent.

  They approached the oak tree, and Jun knocked on the wood three times. At the same time he called out ‘Eda’s Wand.’

  The outline of a door appeared in the trunk. Jun pushed it gently, and it swung open.

  The red brick path continued on inside the tree, and then spiralled down a steep set of steps.

  “Do you think that this is The Seventh Gateway?” Jun pondered, as he peered down the steps.

  “I’m not sure,” Sophie replied. “I’m not too happy about having to go underground, just in case we’re trapped. But that’s where the path goes, so that’s what we have to do. And the verse says that we have to follow some sort of friend to the gate.”

  “Just a moment. Did you hear that noise?” Jun, startled, hastily jumped back from the top of the steps.

  “Hellooooo!” A deep voice echoed up the steps.

  A small stout figure dressed in a dark jacket and brown trousers appeared at the top of the narrow stairwell. He had a narrow wrinkled face the colour of a walnut, a large reddish nose, and a long grey beard. His head was covered by a green cloth cap pulled low over long grey hair. He blinked his small brown eyes to adjust to the light, and with his long hairy fingers beckoned the children to approach.

  “I’ve been watching you, but couldn’t do anything until you followed the clues, and said the words that opened the way to the gate.”

  “Are you here to help us?” Sophie asked politely. “Is this The Seventh Gateway?”

  “No, No. This isn’t the gate, but this is the only way to reach it. And I’m Gwulfud, one of the gnomes that guards the gateway on behalf of Eda. These steps are kept well hidden as they lead to our maze of underground tunnels and homes. You need me to show you the way through the tunnels to the gate so that you don’t get lost, or caught in any of the booby traps. Come along now, as I find this light a bit harsh.”

  “Thank you Gwulfud. We’ve no time to lose. Eda’s waiting for us in the world of The Ninth Gateway. But first, we have to get to the world of The Eighth Gateway to rescue some friends.”

  “Is he coming with you?” The gnome waved his hand in Twig’s direction. “He’s not one of your sort, is he? I’m not sure I like the look of him.”

  “He’s fine. Malefic put a spell on him, but I think it’s beginning to wear off. He’s actually a brownie, one of Eda’s followers, and he comes from the next world, the world of The Seventh Gateway. Once we’re there I’m sure he’ll come good,” Sophie explained.

  “Hmph.” Gwulfud shrugged his broad shoulders. “As long as he’s not a goblin. We don’t like them. Anyway, you’re the ones playing the game, so it’s your choice. Follow me.”

  Gwulfud lead the way down about twenty red brick steps. The three friends followed in single file, as the steps were made for very small folk. First came Sophie, then Twig, with Jun in the rear. At the bottom of the steps the path went in multiple directions, all disappearing down narrow dimly lit tunnels with low ceilings.

  “This way,” the gnome said, leading the three friends down one of the identical tunnels. “Don’t wander off. There are a lot of dead ends, or you could fall into one of our deep pits.”

  Sophie and Jun were thankful that they were being shown the way through the underground maze. The tunnel twisted and turned, and they passed several more tunnel openings. They reached an intersection, and almost crashed into several gnomes rushing across their path.

  “Watch it, you lot,” Gwulfud grumbled. “Can’t you see I’ve got visitors?”

  Not stopping to talk, the gnomes, all looking anxious, scuttled off down the tunnel that Gwulfud was leading the children into.

  After a short distance, coming up behind them, they could hear the patter of feet, and then a cross voice called out.

  “Hurry up ahead. We need to get to Fox Tunnel.”

  Looking back, Jun saw another three gnomes.

  “You’re too slow Gwulfud. We’re coming past!” one of the gnomes called out.

  Despite the narrow tunnel, the three gnomes pushed the children and Twig aside as they nudged past, so that the three of them were squashed up against the wall.

  “What’s the hurry?” Gwulfud muttered as he flattened himself against the wall. “Everyone seems to be in a rush today.”

  “The Gnome Council has called a meeting in Fox Tunnel to discuss what’s going on up above. A crisis is looming,” the first gnome said as he pushed past.

  “Haven’t you noticed all the activity on The Elf Road? Eda has opened it up and folk are on the move,” the second gnome panted.

  “Everyone’s worried that Malefic’s getting too strong,” the third gnome quickly explained as he also pushed past Gwulfud. “It’s an EMERGENCY.”

  All three gnomes rushed on ahead, and then disappeared down an opening in the tunnel wall.

  “Come, my friends,” Gwulfud now looked grim. "Once I see you safely through The Seventh Gateway, I will need to join the other gnomes at the council emergency meeting.

  They all quickened their steps, and after a few minutes the small group came to a halt. They had reached the end of the tunnel. Facing them was a low wooden door made from oak, and shut by an iron bolt. Carved into the door was an ancient face. Its eyes were closed.

  “This is it,” Gwulfud said. “This is The Seventh Gateway.”

  “Do we just open it?” Jun asked.

  “No, it is opened by The Gatekeeper, but only after you have answered his questions. Go on, stand in front of him, and he will awaken and speak. He likes polite children.”

  Sophie and Jun moved to stand directly in front of the door with its wooden face. Twig stood behind them with a vacant look on his face. Gwulfud also hung back, but looked on with interest.

  The eyes in the wooden face slowly opened. They flashed with a strange yellow light, and the carved lips moved slightly.

  “Who wants to enter the world of The Sev
enth Gateway, and why?”

  “We do sir. I’m Jun. This is Sophie, and this is Twig, the brownie,” Jun said. “We are in the middle of playing the game ‘The Tenth Gateway’, and the path we have to follow goes under your door.”

  “I know about the game, and I do not, absolutely, do not, let just anyone through MY gate.” The Gate Keeper wanted the children to be very clear who was in control. He narrowed his eyes. “Do you have The Book?”

  “I have it,” Sophie answered. “It’s here, in my satchel.”

  “Read what it says about me, and for your sake, I hope I like what it says.”

  Sophie quickly took the magic book out of her satchel, and Jun helped her to hold it whilst she found the page for the world of The Sixth Gateway. New words now appeared. Sophie felt nervous as she read out the words.

  There once was a man made of oak

  He lived in a door and rarely spoke

  He was part of a game

  But wanted more fame

  So made it hard for the players when he awoke.

  “Ha, ha, ha,” the wooden face laughed croakily. “That old book always makes me laugh. You never know what it’s going to say. But it knows me well.”

  “Will you open the gate now?” Jun asked.

  “No, no. Not yet. I’m enjoying this. It doesn’t happen very often. Now it’s your turn. Tell me one of your own limericks, and then I may let you pass.”

  Jun and Sophie turned away from the door and whispered to each other.

  “We did these at school,” Jun said. “You have to make the first two lines rhyme. Then the next two, but they have to be a bit shorter. And the last line rhymes with the first two. I’ll have go with the first two if you like.”

  "Okay. You start, and then I’ll see what I can make up, Sophie replied.

  Jun looked thoughtful for a minute, and then whispered to Sophie again.

  "I met an old man who lived in a door

  He wanted to laugh, more, and more, and more."

  Sophie nodded, thought for a moment and then added:

  "He made such a loud sound

  It echoed far underground

  And everyone liked him much more than before."

  The two friends then turned back to face the door and repeated their limerick.

  “Mmmm. I think I like that,” The Gatekeeper’s lips seemed to smile, and then his eye-lids drooped. “You three may now pass. But be quick about it. All this effort makes me very tired.”

  The bolt on the door was raised by invisible hands, and the door creaked open. The Gatekeeper’s eyes were now closed. He had gone back to sleep.

  “Goodbye Gwulfud, and thank you,” Sophie said to the gnome as she opened the door so that it was wide enough to let the three of them through.

  “Hurry up. Don’t wait. If The Gatekeeper wakes up again he may not let you through. You never know what mood he will be in,” Gwulfud said. “And I need to get back to the meeting.”

  Sophie grabbed Twig’s arm, and they all just managed to get through the narrow opening before the door swung back, and shut firmly behind them.

  Sophie and Jun, and a very quiet Twig, stood on the path at the very edge of a thick pine forest.

  “Ume,” Twig mumbled. “Ume.”

  “What did he say?” Sophie asked Jun.

  “I don’t know, but he looks more alert.”

  “Ume. Ome.” Twig was still having trouble forming his words.

  “I think he’s trying to say ‘home’,” Sophie said, excited that Twig was beginning to come out of the spell that had bewitched him.

  “Home. Home,” Twig said, much more clearly this time.

  “Twig, are you sure this is home? It doesn’t look like the forest where the Woodland Clan live,” Sophie said. “It seems much thicker and darker. And I don’t remember the path being as overgrown as this.”

  She and Jun were walking carefully over the uneven path. Tree roots had pushed their way through in places, and weeds filled the cracks.

  “Maybe we’ve entered the world from a different direction,” Jun suggested. “Twig, what do you think?”

  By now Twig had lost his dazed look, and his eyes were focused. The spell had almost worn off, but his words were still broken, and a little slurred.

  “Home. Not looked after. Clan hiding. Malefic been here.”

  Jun looked worried.

  “This means we could be in greater danger than we thought. Malefic probably knows we’ve managed to get this far, and will try to trap us again. The sooner we find the clan the better.”

  No sooner had the words left his mouth when they heard an ear-piercing scream.

  Chapter Ten

  Ambushed

  A second wild scream split the air.

  “That sounds like a war cry,” Jun exclaimed.

  “It’s awfully close,” Sophie replied, glancing around.

  “Something bad is coming,” Twig added, pronouncing the words quite clearly.

  They didn’t have long to wait.

  Two goblin soldiers leapt out from the undergrowth at the side of the path where they had been lying in wait. They blocked the path ahead, raised their swords, and screamed loudly. The sound was very frightening.

  “Forget the brownie. Grab the boy. I’ll get the girl,” one of them growled between the screams.

  The goblins advanced, pointing their swords at Sophie and Jun. They backed away, hoping to find a way out of the danger.

  “Twig, can you get help?” Jun yelled above the noise. “I’ve still got my charm, and I’ll try to hold them off.”

  Jun pulled his charm out of his pocket, and made a wish for the shield to protect them. Within seconds, it grew to full size, and Jun slipped his left arm through the leather hand grips.

  “Yes, I’m alright. I’ve recovered my strength and power of invisibility. The clan is nearby. I can feel it,” Twig said, and then vanished.

  “Sophie, get behind me,” Jun cried out. “This shield should protect us until Twig returns with some help.”

  Sophie jumped behind him as Jun held the shield firmly in place, and raised it to cover their heads and bodies. The goblins, initially surprised at the sight of the shield, and that the children were prepared to defend themselves, had paused. However they soon started screaming again, and attacked with force.

  As the swords thudded against the shield the children wondered how long they could hold out. The goblin soldiers were strong, and determined not to let them escape.

  Jun’s shield arm was growing very tired, and he and Sophie thought that this time they were going to lose the challenge. They were now both crouched low on the ground with Jun only just managing to hold onto the shield. The goblins continued their attack, sensing that their victims were weakening.

  Suddenly, the pounding on the shield stopped, and Jun and Sophie heard several new voices, and a clash of weapons.

  Moments later, Twig’s head appeared around the edge of the shield.

  “You’re safe now. You can come out.”

  Still shaken by the ordeal, Jun lowered the shield, and he and Sophie got slowly to their feet. The shield shrank back to its original size, and Jun put it back into his pocket.

  “Thanks Twig. You got here just in time. I thought we were done for,” Jun said a little breathlessly.

  He and Sophie could now see that five members of The Woodland Clan had attacked the goblins, who, greatly outnumbered, had quickly given up the fight and fled into the forest.

  The five forest folk were all dressed alike in long sleeved jerkins and trousers in woodland green, brown caps, and soft leather ankle boots. Their skin was the colour of dark autumn leaves, and their pointed ears poked through long brown hair. They sheathed their short swords as they approached Sophie and Jun.

  “Sophie, do you remember Needle and Moss?” Twig said, sounding much more like his old self.

  “Yes, I do. I’m so glad to see you again, and thank you so much for scaring off the goblins.”

&nbs
p; “And these other three clan members are Fern, Willow and Stump,” Twig said. “A lot has changed in this world since you were here, and everyone has been in training so that we are prepared to fight Malefic and his evil creatures.”

  “We don’t have a very happy story to tell you,” Moss said, looking glum.

  “We’ve managed to scare these two goblins off, but there are many more now occupying this world. We need to get back to the village as soon as possible, before they send a troop to find us.”

  Anxious to reach a safe area they all headed off towards the village. The clan members continued to talk about the dreadful situation.

  “The village is cloaked in invisibility, and is safe within its magic circle. But if we leave its protection we could be attacked and imprisoned, or worse, fall under one of Malefic’s controlling spells,” Needle explained.

  “Some other woodland villages have fallen under his control, and he has forced them to become traders,” Moss added. “They are made to sell their farm produce to the goblin soldiers for almost nothing.”

  “But don’t worry, you will be safe once you cross the bridge into the village,” Stump said.

  “We can’t stay in the village. We’re in the middle of the game, and we have to keep moving forwards. Our next step is to get through The Eighth Gateway. Do you have any news about what’s happening there?” Jun asked the forest folk.

  “The gate’s been broken now for quite a while,” Moss said. “At first the goblins stayed near the gate, and wouldn’t let anyone pass. But now soldiers come and go frequently, and bands of them have built camps throughout our world. Under Malefic’s orders they have cut down a lot of the trees, and driven off most of the wild life.”

  “We’ve managed to keep the village safe, but unless Eda can regain control soon, it will also be destroyed, and our people enslaved.” Stump now joined in the conversation.

  “So, the sooner we can get through The Eighth Gateway, rescue Aisha and Basil, and reach Eda’s camp, the better,” Sophie said.

  “Is the gateway still under guard?” Jun asked the clan members.

  “There are a couple of goblins stationed there at the checkpoint,” Moss replied. “And because Malefic now controls most of this world, the gateway is open during the day, and goblins and traders are moving backwards and forwards quite easily.”