‘“Where did she go?”
‘“I don’t know. The darkness swallowed her up as soon as she left the light from the window.”
‘“The path from your house only leads to the forest,” said Lotus Blossom quietly.
‘Tashi felt a shiver of fear. “We’ll take turns to keep watch,” he said quickly. “I’ll start tonight.”
‘Tashi’s eyes grew heavy during the long night and every now and again he had to creep about the house to stay awake. Even so, his head was nodding when the sound of a door clicking shut jerked him to his feet.
‘His grandma was already moving down the path towards the village. Tashi followed, his heart like lead as his beloved grandma stopped at Hai Ping’s house. She came out a moment later carrying a copper kettle and walked briskly on, past Ah Chu’s door and into the forest.
‘Just as Ah Chu had said, she didn’t seem to need a lantern and Tashi almost had to walk on her heels so he would not lose her in the dark.
‘And so, when she stopped suddenly at a small cave opening in the mountainside, Tashi ran into her back.
‘“Tashi! What are you doing here?” She looked about her. “And what am I doing here?”
‘“You were sleepwalking, Grandma,” Tashi told her gently, and took the copper kettle from her hand. “And I’m afraid it is you who has been taking all the things from the village.”
‘Together they pushed aside the bushes in front of the cave and by the light of the rising moon they could see all the missing things.
‘“There’s Mrs Wang’s carpet,” cried Grandma in horror.
‘“And Not Yet’s hammer.”
‘“And Luk Ahed’s ebony ruler,” moaned Grandma.
‘“AND MY RED POTTED ORCHID!” bellowed a great voice behind them.
‘They spun around and there was the Wicked Baron filling the opening of the cave.
‘“Grandma didn’t know she was taking things, Baron,” Tashi cried desperately. “She’s been sleepwalking. We were just about to take them back to the village.”
‘“Of course you were,” scoffed the Baron, “and I’m a tiger with purple stripes! Well, now you’ve been caught.”
‘Grandma began to plead with him, but Tashi cut her short. “Don’t bother with him, Grandma, just pile everything onto this bed cover—”
‘“Third Aunt’s beautiful quilted bed cover!” wailed Grandma.
‘“Never mind, Grandma, now fold the two corners like me and we can carry it all back with us tonight.”
‘Out of the corner of his eye, Tashi saw the Baron stoop to pick up a golden cup and slip it into his pocket.
‘He said nothing, but tied the quilt corners together and turned to the Baron. “The village will know we aren’t thieves when they see how we have brought everything back.”
‘“Not if I get back first and tell them you’re only returning their goods because I caught you red-handed!”
‘“Then we will just have to make sure that you don’t get back first,” Tashi said evenly.
‘Grandma touched the Baron’s sleeve. “Please, Baron, you must know I didn’t mean any harm. I couldn’t help it.’
‘As the Baron turned to flick off her hand, Tashi poured a cupful of sand and pebbles into his boot (using Hai Ping’s good copper kettle!).
‘The Baron strode ahead, but soon he slowed up, limping a little, then stopped and loosened his boot.
‘“Are you having trouble, Baron?” Tashi ran up and poured some more sand and pebbles into the other boot while the Baron was emptying the first.
‘“Not as much trouble as you are going to have,” the Baron gloated.
‘They set off again, but soon the Baron had to stop and see to his other boot. Again Tashi ran up with his kettle. The Baron was so busy cursing “these stupid stones” and “this despicable dirt” and “that lazy dolt of a shoemaker, Not Yet, who couldn’t make a decent boot to save his life” that he didn’t see what was going on right behind him.
‘This all happened several times, with the Baron never getting very far ahead, until at last he realised what was happening.
‘“You can’t stop me, Tashi. I’m going to wake the village and tell them what you have been up to. Your family will be run out of town and at last I will be free of your meddling.”
‘The sky was beginning to lighten and down below in the village Tashi could see people stirring. The Baron was hurrying along the path. He would soon be reaching the village, raising the alarm, shouting from the square that Tashi and his family were thieves. No one would want to live beside a family who stole. They would have to leave the village that had been the family home for a hundred years.
‘“Where will we go?” Grandma cried as she sank to the ground in despair.
‘Tashi had just one last trick to try. He put his fingers to his lips and gave a piercing whistle.
‘He didn’t have long to wait. Very quickly there was a crashing through the trees and out leaped his dog, Pongo.
‘“Come, Pongo,” Tashi called as he ran after the Baron. The Baron looked over his shoulder when he heard them coming and smiled scornfully.
‘“Guard him!” Tashi ordered. “Pongo, stay!”
‘The Baron sneered. “That animal was my creature, you don’t think he will obey you now, do you?” He glared down at Pongo. “SIT!”
‘“Guard!” Tashi repeated desperately.
‘Pongo looked from one to the other. He hesitated, his pink tongue lolling.
‘“SIT, YOU ROTTEN DOG!” the Baron shouted.
‘Pongo made up his mind. He bounded over to the Baron and barked. He circled him, snarling, until the Baron dropped to his knees.
‘“Good boy, Pongo,” Tashi beamed. “Guard!”
‘Tashi ran back to Grandma. “Come on, Grandma. We’re nearly there.”
‘It was amazing how quickly Grandma revived once she saw the Baron cowering before Pongo the Brave. “Make yourself comfortable, Baron,” she crowed. “You’ll be there for some time.”
‘As soon as they arrived at the village square, Tashi rang the Magic Bell. When everyone had gathered around, he showed them their missing treasures and explained what had happened. People tutted and looked at each other in wonder but they were all so pleased to see their goods again, they were soon smiling and nodding to Grandma. Someone noticed how exhausted she was and brought over a chair. Another gave her a cup of tea.
‘This was too much for Grandma and she had a little weep. “She’ll feel much better after that,” said Third Aunt, who knew about such things.
‘Tashi thought it was probably time to release the Baron. So he gave three sharp whistles. In a flash Pongo came bouncing up, but the Baron wasn’t far behind. He pushed importantly through the crowd.
‘“Quiet everyone! I have something to tell—”
‘“Good morning, Baron,” Tashi stepped up beside him and smiled at the villagers. “The Baron met us coming down the mountain but his heels were so sore he told us to come on ahead.” The Baron tried to push in front of Tashi and started to speak again.
‘Tashi raised his voice. “I was just about to tell everyone how you helped us and how you put Wise-as-an-Owl’s golden cup in your pocket so it wouldn’t fall out of the quilt. Your left pocket,” he added helpfully.
‘“The Baron looked down at Tashi with furious eyes. Slowly he put his hand into his pocket and pulled out the golden measuring cup. He and Tashi stared at each other long and hard.
‘“Just so, Tashi,” he said stiffly, as he handed the cup to Wise-as-an-Owl with a little bow.
‘They all had a party that night to celebrate getting their things back. And Grandma tied a string around her ankle and hooked it up to a bell on her door. But she never did sleepwalk again.’
Jack stretched and nudged his dad. ‘Don’t tell me you are asleep.’
‘Huh? No, no, I was just thinking. Your Uncle Joe was a bit of a sleepwalker when he was young. Sleepwalked right into the girls’ dormitory one
night at school camp.’
‘Yeah?’ said Jack. ‘So, how about we all go out shopping, and while we’re there, we could get me an ice cream?’
‘Yep,’ said Mum, standing up, ‘and don’t forget the organic broccoli.’
‘How could we?’ said Dad, and went to find his shoes.
Have you read all of Tashi’s adventures?
The Book of Giant Adventures Page 5