~Chapter 15~
Return to Santa's Village
High upon a rock face atop the Ingnok Mountains rested our three dejected, and down sodden travelers. The last few days had held: unending despair, never ending danger, acts of great courage, vast deeds of selflessness and tremendous loss.
Jupiter and Apollo the two faithful and courageous horses, who had been so prideful, and never ending in their quest to carry Louis, Molly and Chug to the North Pole had to stay behind, to tend to their wounds, and rest in a lonely rock cave at the bottom of the dark mountains.
Panthera the Snow Panther had fought the battle of his life to defend his friends against Raff the Red Wolf, and his hungry wolf pack, then fought off Growlar the ancient cave bear in his den, and now has fallen from grace over a rocky cliff, and may never be seen or heard from again.
Three of the five friends who started out on the long journey to the North Pole, almost five months ago from Centerville, were now encamped on the top of the world with nowhere to go but forward, or perish from the elements or hunger.
Their supplies were running low, the weather had now turned for the worse, and the three young children were deftly alone and would have to now, rely only upon themselves to survive, and complete the journey by themselves. The only thing left to do was to find their way down the other side of treacherous mountain, find Santa's Village, rescue Charlie, and save Christmas for all the children of the world.
Due north now lay directly ahead.
Only a downward path was underfoot to take them directly into Santa's Village.
Sitting on one of the highest mountain peaks in the world with another great adventure ahead for him, was more than young Louis could ever have imagined in his whole life. The hours and days of daydreaming up in his room, reading his grand books about the world, and everything in it, had given him his inner-strength to have gotten him this far.
He had made mostly strong key and correct judgments so far in the journey and only a few times had his courage wavered but this was, only to be expected of a small boy. The road had been difficult at times, but all three of them were still safe and heading again, in the right direction.
They had built a small snow cave up at the top of a plateau on the south side of the Nanaluk passage against a large group of rocks. They had huddled together for warmth throughout a very lonely and cold night. The winds had picked up again and for fear of being blown off the mountainside they decided to stay in place and hunker down, until the storm would blow, it's self out.
Chug as always was diligent in keeping a fire lit, and with keeping a pot of hot tea or coffee brewing to warm their spirits. Molly kept giving Louis support for his choices, and comforted him whenever he was feeling down or troubled. It seems he just had so much on his mind, especially now since Panthera had fallen over the mountainside.
On the second day, the windstorm finally broke.
The skies cleared up and warm life-giving sunshine brought a renewed since of strength to all. A good night's sleep in the warmth of the snow cave, and a few small hot meals had done just the trick. Molly, Louis, and Chug were now ready to continue down the other side of the mountain.
The camp was broken. Louis headed out in front to blaze the way forward down the path towards Santa's Village, after an hour's hike laid the far side of the mountaintop and another flat summit. Louis guided everyone onto the small open area to find his or her directions again.
The snow on the ground was clean and as white, as the clouds in the sky above them. All walked a few yards over to the north side of the mountain to gaze at the earth below, when just like that...there it was. Seen below in the distant valley, was Santa's Village.
"There it is" called out Molly.
"Santa's Village!" cried out Louis.
"It's just where Mr. Beamer said it would be. In a snow covered valley at the top of the earth. Look at the great building in the center of town. That has to be the great hall where the Great Wrapping-Machine is," said Chug.
"Look at all workers running about and...are...those...reindeer? I can barely make them out...but that has to be reindeer," said Molly.
"We need to get moving, and take advantage of the nice weather. We have to make up for the lost time" said Louis as he grabbed Molly around the waist and gave her big hug.
"You're right Louis that's it, there's Santa's Village. Man are we lucky, you're right, let's get moving and quickly. We lost another day because of that windstorm last night, so let's pick up the pace. I bet they have hot food down there, and warm beds to sleep in. Let's hurry up," said Chug as he started quickly down the path with Molly and Louis trailing behind him, trying to keep up.
The sun was warm and inviting as they descended ever downwards. They were all so excited that the long journey was finally coming to an end that it seemed like their boots hardly touched the ground, as they rapidly walked along.
Conversation was kept lighthearted. All anyone could talk about was seeing Charlie, getting to know the little elves and the reindeer, meeting all the workingmen, and then of course getting to take a hot bath, and having a good hot home cooked, meal again.
Being in such a good mood for a change, they had forgotten temporarily about Black Jack Tilly, Rags Martin, and Cool Joe Biggs, and how they would have to face them, at sometime in the near future, and devise a way to take back control of Santa's Village.
Onward and downward, the travelers went in single file along the narrow rocky pathway. It took most of the day, and a great deal of effort, but they finally made it to the bottom of the mountain, across a small shallow snow covered valley, then on to the outskirts of the quaint inviting village.
They could now see little fires glowing in the small, round comfortable homes at the edge of town where most of the elves lived. There were stately reindeer walking about in the cobblestone streets, and workingmen standing around small fires in the town square, trying to keep warm. There were small wooden carts were being pulled about by mule deer, or other working-reindeer, to various destinations.
A group of small elves and little plump dwarfs could be seen deep in their work, in some of the smaller workshops that lined the snow-covered streets. However, it seemed to Louis that about half of the village was closed: with no real activity going on at all. Many shops were boarded up, and were completely dark.
Nightfall was about to descend upon them when Louis gestured for Chug and Molly to sit down, and take cover behind a large thicket of bushes at the side of the main road into town. They all were tired from the long journey, down the rocky mountainside. The best thing to do now was to just rest, stay out of sight, and try to plan their next step.
"First we need to rest here for a moment and think what to do. It took us about five hours to get down that mountain. We are all very tired. It's getting darker by the moment, and we have to get a real bite to eat," said Louis as he found a small rock to sit on behind the thicket.
After a few moments rest, Louis again spoke up.
"Molly, Chug I've got it. I need to enter the village by myself under the safety of nightfall, because we can't let Black Jack Tilly, or one of his allies spot, us."
"You're right Louis but what if Black Jack has one of his awful friends or others of his gang watching the main roads for intruders or strangers? Black Jack, Rags, and Cool Joe might be themselves watching the roads. We just do not know. What if they brought some other crooks with them from Saint Louis?" asked Chug.
"We just don't know yet what's happening in town yet so your right, its best we keep a low profile. I will go in alone in about an hour to find Charlie. I will see how he is doing, and then I will come back, hopefully with some good news. I just have to know if it's safe or not before, I let you two enter the town with me."
"I think you're right Louis. I will stay here and watch after Molly. We can both get some rest until your return."
All sat and rest
ed quietly for about another hour or so, until darkness fully engulfed the village. As Louis was about to leave them, Molly took Louis by the hand, looked him warmly in the eye and said, "Louis we've made it safely this far, and we still have our wits about us, so don't you go start becoming a hero again, and try to take Black Jack Tilly on all by yourself. You have to promise me you will just go find Charlie, make sure he is all right, check out the town, and come back. Do you promise me Louis? Do you?"
"Oh Molly you're always so worried about things. I ain't going to get in any trouble, do any hero things, and I promise I will be back in about an hour or so if all goes well."
Louis pulled his thick bearskin coat up over his face to help conceal his identity. He pulled his bearskin hat way down over his ears, picked up Mr. Beamer's old walking stick placing in firmly in his hand, then reached into his backpack to take out the small bag of Charlie's belongings (that he'd found in Mr. Beamer's barn, what seemed like so long ago).
A quick goodbye and he was off.
He held his head low and kept his face as concealed as possible as he continued down the outskirts of the road into town. He tried to stay on the darkest pathways and streets that he could find, so he would not be discovered, run into any other travelers, or inquisitive, or searching eyes.
Santa's Village was exactly as Mr. Beamer had said it would be.
There were smallish huts made of thick mud and straw walls, with small oval windows, dotted about every home. Each elf or dwarf's home had: a straw-covered roof, and by peering inside a few small windows, Louis could see warm, inviting fires, burning in each of the undersized fireplaces.
The streets were lined with large gas lamps on small, thick wooden poles, and almost everywhere Louis looked, there were workingmen going to-and-fro, wooden carts being pulled by working-reindeer, mules or horses walking about, and little fire pits were seen every fifty yards or so, with elves or workingmen stationed around, trying to warm their bodies.
Louis went mostly unnoticed. He slunk by without as much of a second glance from anyone. As he walked deeper into the center of the village, he saw a multitude of elves going about in every direction: wearing small green shoes turned up at the toes, blue and red velvet hats pointed at the tips, and large over-sized red coats with matching pants.
They strolled by in small groups conversing about the partial work stoppage, talking about Black Jack Tilly, about Christmas presents not being delivered on time this year, and that Charlie was still not feeling too well. Louis dared not to talk to any of them, until he knew he was not being watched, or followed, and that all the elves and workingmen were friendly.
As Louis came around from behind a few large trees in the center of the village, there it appeared right in front of him, the outsized hall where the Great Christmas Wrapping-Machine was.
The sounds of the machine up and running, was now heard by Louis as he got closer and closer to the dark colored, mammoth building. Two large solid wooden doors had to be over sixty feet tall at the entrance. Louis looked so diminutive and small standing next to them that he rather felt the same way he did while standing next to Mr. Beamer's barn doors, and the great brass bolts that hung there.
Ever since Mr. Beamer had told him about the Great Wrapping-Machine Louis had always wanted to see it for himself, and here it finally was in front of him. Just as he lifted his hands up to the large brass handles, to try to push one of the doors open, he heard a countless number of loud voices coming up from behind him. Just as he turned, he caught a sight that he will never forget again.
There he was, the hated Black Jack Tilly ambling along with Cool Joe Biggs and those horrible teeth of his. Both men were deep into their conversation, and as they passed by neither one of them noticed the new stranger in town.
Louis slowly turned back away from them, pulled his coat collar up higher around his face, and then pulled his bearskin hat down as far as it would go. Slowly he walked away from them, disappearing into a darkened, alley off to the side of the great building.
Louis could not make out what they were conversing about, but he knew if Black Jack was involved it couldn't be anything good. As the two men passed by and started to walk out of sight, Louis decided to stay put where he was, and lay low for a moment, as he thought about his next move.
He thought to himself.
I must first find Charlie as he promised Molly, and not worry about sightseeing right now. Louis wanted to see the Great Wrapping-Machine so bad, but it would be far too dangerous, with Black Jack and Cool Joe walking about.
Louis stayed in the alley under cover of a small shed for a while longer, peering out occasionally to study the outlaying buildings and the layout of the town square, to try, and determine where the animal stables might be, and where Charlie's home might be found. As Louis pondered everything in front of him, he concluded that the stables must be toward the far end of town, where the least activity seemed to be from the elves and men.
There was a small supply area up ahead, and what appeared to be from a distance, a water-trough's and horse-tie areas. Louis waited for another group of working-elves to go by, and then off he scampered in that direction.
The night was now cold and black. Louis hoped to find comfort and warmth upon seeing his old friend again, in Charlie. Charlie had been sick for over five months by now. Louis had been traveling out at the far reaches of the earth, and had not heard any real news about Charlie, other than that one news clipping of Charlie he read about on the Cimarron Cutter. Louis had no idea if Charlie was doing any better, or faired any worse. Louis could hardly contain himself from the worry of not knowing.
As Louis came around the last building at the far end of the village's square, he found out his hunch was right. He looked right dead ahead, and there he could see the horse stables directly in front of him. Louis crept around to the back of the long low lying building deep inside the shadows of the night until he found a small rear door, which lead directly inside. As he peered in through the open doorway, he could see only a few stocky workingmen. They were found to very busy, stoking a small fire, and mending some broken horseshoes, deep into their nightly chores.
They paid no mind to Louis as he entered the long room.
Louis grabbed a handful of hay, throwing it about the floor. He then grabbed a pitchfork to try to fit in with the other workers, all the while caring the cloth bag with Charlie's belongings in the other hand. He nodded to a few of the men as he walked by, and they nodded back without even an odd blink of the eye. Louis drew no attention to himself because he was really, not any taller than any of the workingmen or elves in the room.
The stables were found in a very long, simple looking building, made of thick clay walls and a straw roof. There must have been well over one hundred stalls in a row, and every other one, held some type of horse or animal that Louis had never seen before.
There were small dwarf-ponies, an assortment of large working-horses, working-mules, mule deer, a few older reindeer, milking-cows, a few dozen musk oxen, and water buffalo. Louis hurried along the best he could without trying to cause too much of a fracas. He stopped only for a moment in front of each stall, peering in, and then moving forward. There were just so many stalls to look into. With each stall he investigated, he only found disappointment and sadness.
Where could Charlie be?
Louis had traveled for so many miles, and for so long that the anticipation of finding Charlie alive and well, was the only thing Louis could think about now. That's when Louis had another moment of clarity and deep thought. It was just then that he realized that he had the small Magic Jingle Bell, still in his pocket. That he had, found that night on Mr. Beamer's barn floor. Maybe Charlie was well enough to hear it, and could call out upon hearing its melodic chime. Louis was now so close to where Charlie should be that he would surely be able to hear the bell.
Louis just knew it.
Louis dr
opped the pitchfork held in one hand, opened up his fur coat, and then reached deep into his front pants pocket. Louis located the small bell and chain. He pulled it out into the cold winter air.
As it appeared, it started to glow a strange bright blue color. He now placed it in his other hand, looked around to see if the coast was clear of danger, and then held the bell up high in front of him. He paused for another moment, to look about one last time then gave the magic bell...a slight ring. The bell made a soft, low melodious sound that sweetly echoed deep into the stables. Louis listened as intently as he could for a response from Charlie. Only the sounds of stillness, and quietude hung in the air, except that of the slight echoing of the bell, off the interior walls of the building.
Charlie did not reply.
Louis was crestfallen, and now more distraught than ever.
Perhaps this was not the only horse stall in Santa's Village, or perhaps the bell had lost its magical powers, or even worse...what if...Charlie was too sick to hear it. Louis now became more worried than ever, so he decided to move closer towards the center of the building.
He gave the bell a harder and more violent shake this time, and he did not even care if he was seen, or heard by anyone present. He did not travel across two continents to be shy now. Louis carried on, a little further into the center of the room, held the bell high above his head once again, called out Charlie's name, and rang the bell just as loudly as he could. As he rang the bell harder, it shined a brighter color of blue, and threw out a deeper, clearer, chime.
"Charlie where are you?"
"It's your Louis!"
"I am here Charlie!"
Louis rang the bell one last time in earnestness.
Nothing was heard, not a sound.
Two workingmen looked up at Louis with a puzzled look on their faces, then immediately went back to work, cleaning out one of the stalls at the far end of the building. Louis could not believe it. Where could Charlie be? Louis stood there a moment longer, thought again, and decided there must be other horse stalls in some other buildings here in town. Just as Louis was about to exit the building and begin another search about the village he heard a faint whinny coming from the far end of the lengthy barn.
Louis perked up his ears, leaned forward, and stood still for what seemed like eternity. Louis lifted the bell up in the air again. He gave it another mighty ring. The sweet sound of the bell echoed again off the stalls throughout the interior of the building, again another soft whinny was heard. This time Louis was able to zero in on where the sound was coming from.
Louis started running towards the soft voice at the far end of the building until he came to the last stall at the end of the long room. Louis was so excited, and in such great anticipation that as he approached the stall, he tripped over a large mound of straw on the ground, and stumbled face first, into the center of the stall, throwing Charlie's belongs onto the ground in front of him.
Charlie was alive!
Charlie was lying on his side, covered in straw and breathing heavily. Louis wiped the straw out of his face, and off his clothes, and then looked up to the most wonderful sight on earth!
His Charlie!
Louis could not contain his composure and flung himself on Charlie, giving him the biggest hug, in the whole, wide world. Louis thought he would never let go. Charlie slowly opened his tired eyes. He tried the best he could to raise his weary head off the straw, but he could just not find the strength.
Charlie tried to figure out what was going on, but he could not tell whom his visitor was. He only knew that someone was in his stall with him. Charlie's hearing was almost gone, his once might mane of hair on his neck, and thick illustrious horsehair was now very thin and had grayed. The life-light in Charlie's soft green eyes was almost no more. Simply put, Charlie's days upon this earth were ending soon. Louis could easily see it written across his sunken and sullen face.
Louis released his hold on Charlie, leaned backwards, and sat on his legs that were folded up under him. He looked intently at Charlie, lying in the stall. He almost started to cry out, but wanted to be brave for Charlie. He fought mightily to hold back the tears that were welling up in his eyes. The look on Charlie's face was that of complete peace and serenity.
Charlie was passing on.
The once friendly and proud horse, that had walked the face of the earth, for so many thousands of years with pride and courage in his heart, who had done so many great deeds for mankind, and was beloved by everyone who met him, was now at the end of his days.
The horse that had been reborn the year before, on Christmas Eve into the most beautiful and magical Andalusia Horse who ever walked the face of the earth, could hardly be recognized. The Magic Jingle Bells that gave him life were, missing, either stolen, or lost, and Charlie had now reverted to an older, thinner, and sickly looking version of Charlie the Barnyard Horse.
"Charlie 'I'm here."
Charlie blinked twice then tried to raise his head again, to no avail.
"I'm here to rescue you."
"Can you hear me Charlie?" asked Louis as he tried to gain Charlie's full attention. Charlie was just far too, weak to comprehend what was happening. Louis bent down on his knees and leaned forward to whisper into Charlie's ear.
"Charlie it's your Louis. I love you Charlie...and I am...here...to help you."
Charlie's eyes glowed anew upon hearing Louis's soft voice. His breathing grew stronger, much heavier and now with more depth. Charlie's eyes open fully and he finally recognized Louis sitting in front of him.
"Louis I can see you."
"You came to me just as I knew you would," said Charlie in the softest and sweetest voice Louis had ever heard before.
Louis held the Magic Jingle Bell up in front of Charlie. He rang it softly once again, and upon hearing the bell it once again gave Charlie, some renewed life. The light in Charlie's eyes started to glow stronger, and Louis could tell that Charlie, immediately felt better.
The singular jingle bell's magic was working. Charlie now found some strength pulsing in his kind heart. Finally, Charlie lifted his head up, and spoke to Louis in a now fuller and deeper voice.
"Well hi...Louis. Nice to see you again" said Charlie with a tone in his voice that sounded like the Charlie of old.
"I feel a little better now. How have you been?" asked Charlie still not understanding fully the situation at hand, and what was happening to him.
"Well Charlie nice to see you as well" said Louis with a friendly look on his face.
Charlie sat up for the first time in over three months. He rolled over towards the back of his stall to face Louis.
"Louis what are you doing here in Mr. Beamer's barn? It is way past your bedtime. Hattie May is going to be mad at you."
"No...Charlie...no...I am up here in the North Pole in Santa's Village inside your stall. I am here to save you, and save Christmas. Black Jack Tilly has taken control of Santa's Village and the Great Wrapping-Machine, and we are all in a great deal of trouble. You see Black Jack has stolen the Magic Jingle Bells from around your neck somehow, and you have now taken sick Charlie. Were all in trouble Charlie, we are all in big trouble!"
Charlie listened to Louis, but he really did not understand what Louis was saying or really, where he was. He appeared to be getting tired once again. Charlie slowly lowered himself back down on his bed of hay to rest again. Louis crawled back over to Charlie, and gave him another long hug around his neck.
"Charlie you lie there and rest in your stall, but before you go to sleep again, I have brought you something. I've carried your things, you know the things you love the most...for so...many...many...miles, just to give them to you. Look here, it's your old green straw hat, and the cotton blanket you liked to wear in Mr. Beamer's barn during those cold nights. Here it is your most prized possession of all, the two eagle feathers you found that
one day, when you were working out in cornfields. Here Charlie let me place the blanket on you, for this will keep you warmer tonight."
This seemed to cheer Charlie up. Louis could swear that he saw a loving smile come across Charlie's face. He gave Louis a look of great appreciation, and then gently closed his eyes. He fell back into a deep and restful sleep.
"I have a great deal of work to do now Charlie, but I will be back for you. Don't worry I will be back, and you will be a great horse again Charlie. I promise. I promise Charlie you just wait and see. You will be well again soon enough."
Charlie completely closed his eyes, falling back asleep. Louis placed Charlie's green hat on the floor next to him, then placed his hand over Charlie's chest, and felt his heartbeat for a moment. His heart was still strong and Charlie's breathing became steady again. Louis knew Charlie would be just fine until he could return.
Louis stood up, gave Charlie one long last loving look then turned, to go out the building the same way he entered. As he left, the vision of his Charlie being aged and weak in his stall just broke Louis's heart to no end. Louis spoke to himself under his breath one last time as he exited the building.
"Charlie don't worry I will be back, and everything will be fine. You just wait and see Charlie. Your Louis will be back in time with those Magic Jingle Bells all fixed up the way they were meant to be, and you will soon be just as good as new."
Louis quickly crept out the back door, and back into the shadows of Santa's village. He desperately needed to meet up with his friends, at the thicket outside of town, to tell them everything that he had seen.
As Louis made his way back through the dimly lit streets, he saw Black Jack Tilly again standing in front of the great hall that held the Great Wrapping-Machine. The two massive wooden doors were now wide open. Louis absolutely needed to see inside the building before the night was over. He just had to see the Great Wrapping-Machine before he left for the safety of the outskirts out town.
Louis dodged and darted, in and out of the darkness of the shadows, until he was directly across from Black Jack on the far side of the town's central square. Louis strained his eyes to see into the great hall, as his eyes grew accustomed to the light coming from inside.
There it was!
It was sitting in the center of the great room; the illustrious and Great Wrapping-Machine.
Louis then saw something even more spectacular.
There they were!
The Magic Jingle Bells!
Louis rubbed his eyes repeatedly in utter disbelief at what he was seeing. Hanging inside the center of the great building, attached to a wooden ceiling beam at the ceiling's highest perch. The bells were in plain sight and hanging, down about thirty-five feet above the ground. Furthermore, right below the bells, standing guard were two older teen-aged boys, who from their outer appearances looked to be well on their way to a life of crime and punishment.
The two boys were haphazardly dressed in dirty and raggedy looking clothes, had long scraggly hair, and did not seem to be to overly friendly, by the sour looks on their faces. It was the two Barker Boys, Squint- Eye Pete's boys. It was Sleaze Ball Tom and Big Belly Bill.
The sight of seeing the bells made Louis just about cry out in joy, and despair at the same time. There they were the magic bells that Charlie needed to be well again. He had found them, and they were his for the taking, but of course, nothing was simple for Louis.
All he had to do now was devise a plan to steal them back from Black Jack Tilly and his band of thugs, and add his magic bell to the string, renew their healing powers and place them back around Charlie's neck, so Charlie would be well again.
Louis was just giddy with joy with his newfound good luck. He just had to get those bells in Charlie possession. Before the stroke of midnight on Christmas Eve to save Christmas this year, he just had to.
Louis immediately stole back into the shadows of the evening, but this time with a renewed spirit found inside of him. Louis quickly left the sight of the great hall, making his way, directly back down the road out of town. As he traveled along all he could think about, was the singular thought, and image, of Charlie being the Great White Horse again. The powerful images of Charlie in his golden sleigh full of toys delivering presents to all the children of the world on Christmas Eve again just made Louis so over come with joy and happiness.
As Louis was heading back down the last dark alleyway around the far end of town and just about to safety, he stumbled across some good luck once again. Louis saw three elves standing in a small clearing by a fire. They were all wearing the traditional elf dressage, but these three elves looked to be Master-Elves or Lead-Elves.
They were slightly taller than the portly and stout workingmen, and dwarfs that Louis had seen around town, and they were mostly taller than all the other working-elves. When one of the elves turned towards Louis's direction, Louis saw the tallest elf had on a name tag pinned to his chest, and across the small wooden tag the words read-1st Class Lead Foreman-Elgar.
Louis knew he would need a friend in this town to give his party the help they would need if they were to succeed, on the final leg of their quest. They would need food and water, and a dry place to stay, and they were all so very tired from their long trek down the side of the mountain. Louis thought if they could make even just one friend in town, then they would have a better chance to overthrow Black Jack Tilly and get the Magic Jingle Bells back.
Louis crept closer and closer under the cover of a few low lying trees and bushes that stood between him, and the small fire that, the three elves were standing next to for warmth. Louis finally got close enough to where he could hear what they were saying.
The language was one that Louis had never heard before. It sounded like a language from a time that long ago passed, and from a land faraway, but every once in a while Louis could hear a few words of English which he understood. He heard the name Black Jack Tilly, and Charlie a few times, and that was all that was needed for Louis to gain his courage. He stepped into the light of the fire to introduce himself.
As Louis stepped forward into the small clearing, he became illuminated by the fire, and in full view of the elves standing there. He showed them the most disarming smile he could muster up, opened his arms in a friendly way, and said, "My name is Louis Parks, son of Captain Jeremy Parks, and I have come to save Charlie the Great White Horse. Can you help me in my quest?"
All three elves were startled at the sight of the small boy who looked so tired and dirty.
Elgar spoke first.
"Well, you're quite a sight. Have you looked at yourself in the mirror lately? You look like you ran into the terrible Nebuka the Orange Yeti who lives up in the Ingnok Mountains. On the other hand, did you have the misfortune to come across the ever hungry and nasty, Growlar the Cave Bear? If you would have run into Growlar he would have surely eaten you, so it must have been Nebuka for he only likes to scare little boys and girls, and not eat them."
Louis had a surprised look on his face when he replied.
"I didn't know there was someone or something, more horrible that lives on that mountain than Growlar, but I don't want to find out about it, and I don't want to know about it. Yes, you were right, I did run into Growlar but he is no more, for I slew him, with the help of the great Panthera the Snow Panther.
The second elf then walked a little closer to Louis, placed his small hand on Louis's shoulder and spoke.
"Are you trying to tell us that you killed the very mean and vile Growlar, the Gate Keeper? Why, you are no more than a small boy. You must have quite an imagination, as most boys of your age are known to have. We can get back to Growlar a bit later. Now, why did you not tell us in the first place that you knew Panthera, because he is a friend of the elves, reindeer and all of the workingmen that reside here in Santa's Village, and any friend of Panthera's is a friend of the elves. Hi Louis Parks, m
y name is Elfrida, the second elf in charge to Elgar who is a 1st class Machinist Lead Elf-Foreman, on the Great Wrapping-Machine. Elgar is the elf standing there to your left who just spoke to you, and standing behind Elgar, is the Lead Master-Elf Woodworker Elf, Alfeo."
"Well it's a pleasure to meet you all, and thank you for the introductions Elfrida. I must be brief and right to the point. I am sorry for my appearance, but I have been traveling on the road for so many months now, and have come across so many obstacles in my way that I must have forgotten, to wash myself properly, or take care of my clothes, on more than one occasion. I must surely be a sight to see as you said but again I need to get right to the point, and not linger about. I am here to save Charlie, run that rat Black Jack Tilly out of Santa's Village, and get that wrapping-machine up and running again; to get the presents wrapped in time for Christmas. Then I've got to get Charlie's sleigh loaded up on Christmas Eve, and get those Christmas presents delivered to all those well deserving children, who live down below the North Pole. I don't have much time, only three days from now by my calculations before Christmas Eve. So if you will help me and my friends, who are waiting for my return tonight at the outskirts of town, then I'm sure I will be able to complete my quest."
"Well anybody who managed to end the reign of terror that Growlar brought upon the earth then surely he will be able to defeat Black Jack Tilly, and his lowly friends. How can we help?" asked Elgar as he slowly walked forward and offered Louis a hearty handshake.
"We've been shut down now for over four months, with none of the right presents being wrapped and Charlie has been tired and sick for so long. We are all just so worried about him. Do you have a plan yet as to how to solve this mess?"
"Well, I have some ideas about what to do, but I needed to find Charlie and locate the Magic Jingle Bells before I could formulate any real plans. Through luck, which I seem to be getting a little of lately I was able to solve both of those problems tonight here in Santa's Village. Nevertheless, I what I really need is a place to stay tonight for my two friends and me, eat some good hot food, and rest awhile. I can fill you in about Panthera, all about my long and difficult journey just to get here and about my friends in the morning."
"I would be honored if you would stay with me tonight," said Algar.
"Well it's settled then, if you will stay here I will go get my friends, who are only a short distant away and be back in a snap."
Algar offered Louis and his weary travelers shelter, and homage in his elfish home for as long as he and his friends would need it. All three elves nodded in agreement and said that they would help Louis and his two friends all they could.
Louis was off again without haste, back into the heart of the night.
As he faded out of the light and warmth of the firelight, and back into the darkness, Louis felt he was on the right track, and that things were looking better by the moment.
His first short trek into Santa's Village was a success. He felt he had accomplished more than he could have possibly have hoped. By midnight he and his two friends would have a hot home cooked meal in their thin bellies, get to take a soothing hot bath, be able to sleep indoors, and in a real home for the first time in who knows how long, and most importantly of all, he had made three new friends in, Algar, Alfreda, and Alfeo.
As Louis approached, where Chug and Molly were resting, Molly upon seeing Louis again let out a little yell.
"Louis you're back. You took my advice, and did not try to sleigh any monsters or tigers...or did you?
"Well I did see a vampire with bloodied teeth, dragging a dead body."
"Louis just...quit it. I hate when you do that. Do you want The Look again?" asked Molly as she grabbed Louis by the arm in a playful manner.
"Well I'm back and I have good news. Chug I made three good friends who will help us, and Molly I found...Charlie, if you can believe it. Most of all I saw the Magic Jingle Bells inside the Great Hall...where the Great Wrapping-Machine is located. I will tell you everything later, but right now, we must get rest inside a good shelter and get some hot food in us. Grab your packs and let's get moving. A friendly elf is going to let us stay with him and his family tonight."
All three quickly headed for the clearing where Louis had just been. They met up with the three elves then left for the shelter of Algar's home that was only a few blocks away. Walking down a few alleys and staying out of sight, they promptly reached his home. Inside they went, with the small round wooden door closing quickly behind them.
Charlie the Great White Horse and the Journey to the North Pole Page 20