by Adele Abbott
“Who are you and what do you want?”
“I’d like to see Queen Chomp, please.”
“Not possible.”
“I realise she’s in the Rainbow Zone, so if you could just direct me there, I’ll be on my way.”
“You can’t go to the Rainbow Zone without a permit.”
“Who can give me a permit?”
“Queen Chomp.”
“But she’s in the Rainbow Zone.”
“Correct.”
“How am I supposed to get a permit from Queen Chomp if I can only go to the Rainbow Zone if I have a permit?”
“Not my problem. Was there anything else?”
“There must be someone else who can issue me with a permit. Who’s in charge now the queen is away?”
“That would be her sister, Princess Gobble.”
“Great. In that case I’d like to see the Princess.”
“She isn’t accepting visitors.”
“I think she’ll see me.”
“And why would she do that?”
“Because I have these.” I took the box out of my bag and opened the lid. “And if you call her to tell her I’m here, one of these can be yours.”
“Mmm.” She licked her lips. “What’s your name?”
“Jill Maxwell. Tell her I did some business with her sister a few years ago.”
“How do you spell that?”
“J-I-L—”
“I know how to spell Jill. I meant your last name.”
“Right, sorry. It’s M-A-X-W-E-L-L.”
“Wait there.”
She went into the guardhouse, made a phone call, and returned a couple of minutes later.
“The princess says she can spare you a few minutes.” She raised the barrier. “Just follow the—”
“It’s okay. I remember the way.”
The fairy who greeted me at the rainbow coloured gates of the palace was the same one I’d met there on my previous visit. Unfortunately, I couldn’t for the life of me remember her name.
“Welcome back, Jill. It’s been a while.”
“Thanks, err—”
“Felicity.”
“Of course. I was sorry to hear about the queen.”
“It came as something of a shock to us all, but she’s in the best place now.”
“Where is the Rainbow Zone, exactly?”
“I’m afraid I’m not at liberty to divulge that information. Let’s go through to the great hall. The princess is waiting for you in there.”
Princess Gobble was a slightly younger version of her sister, the queen.
“Where are they?” she demanded, as soon as I stepped into the hall. “Where are the Bakewell puddings?”
“In my bag.”
“Give them to me.”
“I’m sorry, your highness, but I need a couple of things from you first.”
“What do you want? Hurry up, I’m starving.”
“I need you to tell me how to find the Rainbow Zone.”
“That’s easy. You go back out of the gates, take a left and keep on walking along the rainbow road until you see the huge pot.”
“Of gold?”
“Why would you think it was full of gold? It’s just a very large pot that someone dumped by the roadside years ago. Take a right there and keep on going until you reach the Zone.”
“How will I know when I have? Reached the Zone, I mean.”
“You’ll know. Trust me.”
“Okay, but I understood that I’d need a permit too.”
“How bothersome. Felicity, go and get me the permit book, would you?”
“Yes, your highness.” Felicity disappeared out of the doors and returned a minute later with a small pad. “The permit book, your highness.”
The princess scribbled her signature, tore a sheet from the book, and handed it to me.
“Thank you.” I gave her a couple of Bakewell puddings, which she began to devour.
“Was there anything else?”
“No, that’s everything. Thank you for your time.”
I’d been walking along the rainbow road for almost twenty-five minutes, and I was beginning to think I’d been sent on a wild goose chase, but then I spotted it.
The giant pot.
Despite what the princess had said, I couldn’t help but wonder if there might be gold in there. For the sake of a couple of minutes, it seemed silly not to at least check. The pot was so tall that I couldn’t see inside, so after making sure that no one was around, I managed to clamber up the side by putting my foot on one of the handles. It was so dark that I couldn’t be sure if there was anything inside it or not. If I could just grab my phone, I’d be able to use the flashlight to—ouch! I overbalanced and tumbled headfirst into the pot. Fortunately, my landing was broken by something soft.
“Do you mind!” Whatever I’d landed on, pushed me away. “That hurt.”
“I’m sorry. It was an accident.” I turned on the flashlight app.
“It’s okay. No permanent harm done.” Whoever or whatever it was, brushed himself down. “I don’t get many visitors in here.”
I wasn’t surprised.
“I’m Jill. Sorry about this. I was looking for—err—gold.” I laughed.
“Then you’re in the right place. I’m Gordon Gold, and I’m very pleased to make your acquaintance.”
“Err, likewise.”
“What did you want to see me about?”
“I understand that you might know the way to the Rainbow Zone.”
“I do indeed. Climb back out of the pot, take the next right, and keep on going.”
“How will I know when I’m there?”
“Trust me, you’ll know.”
“Thanks. Just one more thing, and I hope you don’t mind me asking, but—err—what exactly are you, Gordon?”
“I don’t mind at all. I’m a pot troll.”
“Is this your home?”
“Yes, what do you think of it?”
“It’s very nice, but doesn’t the darkness bother you?”
“No, you get used to it after a while. I’d much rather be in here than at the bottom of a well like my cousin, Timothy.”
“Does he happen to live in the Dark Well?”
“Yes, how did you know?”
“Our paths crossed a long time ago. Anyway, thanks again, I’d better be going.”
“Are you sure you wouldn’t like to stay for a cup of troll tea? It’s exceptionally good.”
“I wish I could. Maybe another day.”
They were right.
Both Princess Gobble and Gordon Gold had said I’d know when I’d arrived at the Rainbow Zone, and I sure did. The road narrowed until it was no more than a foot-wide path that suddenly became much steeper. It took all of my concentration not to fall as I climbed higher and higher. Pretty soon, I was so high that clouds obscured everything below me. The temperature had plummeted too, and I had to blow on my hands to keep them warm.
At long last, the narrow path started to level off, and I was just beginning to think I was through the worst of it when it began to descend sharply again. The ground was still obscured, so I had no idea what was below. If I wasn’t very careful, I would fall. Gently does it— aarghh! My legs went from under me and I began to slide down the path.
This wasn’t going to end well.
I emerged from the clouds, just in time to see the ground hurtling towards me. At this speed, I would surely break every bone in my body. I closed my eyes, and braced myself for the impact, but when it came, it was soft and fluffy.
I was in a large hole full of cotton wool. Relieved to be still alive, and after a few false starts, I eventually managed to climb out.
“Are you okay?” An elderly rainbow fairy, lying in a deckchair, lifted her sunglasses.
“Yes, but only thanks to the cotton wool. Do you happen to know where I can find Queen Chomp?”
“The last time I saw her, she was in the sun lounge.” She pointed to the white bui
lding at the far end of an expansive lawn.
“Thanks.”
The large doors, which faced the lawn, were wide open, so I walked straight in. I’d expected to find lots of frail, elderly rainbow fairies being attended to by doctors and nurses. Nothing could have been further from the truth. The room was full of sprightly-looking fairies, mostly elderly, but all of them looking as fit as fleas. Queen Chomp was seated at a large table, playing cards with three other rainbow fairies.
“Excuse me, your highness.”
“Can’t you see I’m playing—oh, it’s you. What brings you here?”
“I need your help.”
“Are you after more lily sap?”
“No, not this time. I’m just after some information.”
“That comes at a price too.”
“I have Bakewell puddings.”
“Shush!” She glanced around to see if anyone had heard. “If the others know you have them, they’ll all want some.”
“I’m a little confused, your highness.”
“About what?”
“I understood you came here because you were dying.”
“That’s right. I am.”
“You seem to have made a remarkable recovery.”
“If only that were true. I could go at any minute. The same is true for all the others here.”
“But everyone looks so—”
Just then, the woman who was seated to the queen’s right, popped. Yes, I do realise how weird that sounds, but it’s the only way I can think to describe what happened. One minute, she was sitting there, and the next, POP! She disappeared into thin air.
“See what I mean?” the queen said. “Now, where are those Bakewell puddings?”
“I need an answer to my question first.”
“Be quick, then. I’m ravenous.”
“I was led to believe that the north compass stone is somewhere here in the Rainbow Zone. Do you know where?”
“Of course I do. Go back out the way you came. There’s a fountain halfway down the lawn.”
“I saw it. Is the stone in there?”
“It’s in the water.”
“How do I get it?”
“Just put your hand in and grab it.”
“That’s all?”
“Well, yes. Except for the electric eels of course.”
“Eels?”
“Just kidding.” She laughed. “Where are those Bakewell puddings?”
***
“How long is it now, Mummy?”
Despite the eventful day I’d had so far, time had of course stood still in the human world, and Florence had not developed any more patience.
“If you ask me that one more time, young lady, there’ll be no unicorns for you.”
“Not fair.” She pouted.
“Go and play with Buddy. You haven’t thrown his ball for him yet today. And you know how much he likes to chase after it.”
“Okay.” She hurried outside.
“How did it go?” Jack asked.
“Voila!” I held out the compass stone, which was just that, an unimpressive circular rock.
“Is that it? I was expecting something much more impressive.”
“One down, three to go.”
“Where are you going to put it?”
“It has to be somewhere really safe.”
“You could rent a bank deposit box.”
“Nah, I’ll stick it in a shoe box in the wardrobe.”
Chapter 14
“Why didn’t you tell me, Jill?” Kathy shouted down the phone.
Oh bum! She must have found out that Lizzie had skipped school, realised that I knew about it, and was going to have a go at me for not telling her. How would I talk myself out of this one? First, I had to stall for time.
“Tell you what?”
“You know very well what.”
“I—err—well, Lizzie—”
“Never mind about Lizzie. How long have you been going there?”
Huh?
“Going where?”
“To the dance studio. Which one are you going to?”
“What are you talking about? I’m not going to any dance studio.”
“Don’t give me that. I’ve seen the video.”
Oh bum, and double bum!
“Where did you see it?” As if I didn’t know.
“Jack sent it to me. I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw it. You and Florence were great.”
“Thanks, but it was just luck. Every other time I did the dance, I messed up.”
“I don’t understand you, Jill. Normally, you’re only too keen to brag about things, and usually without any justification. How come this time you’re hiding your light under a bushel?”
“What is a bushel, anyway? I’ve always wondered.”
“Oh no you don’t. You’re doing what you always do when you don’t want to talk about something. You’re going off at a tangent.”
“No, I’m not. What’s a tangent, anyway?”
“You know I’ve been wanting to get into shape for ages. Why didn’t you tell me you’d taken up dance? I would have gone with you.”
“Honestly, the only dance class I go to is Florence’s, and all I do is watch.”
“Pull the other one.”
“Would you believe me if I said I cast a magic spell so I could dance like that?”
“Another silly tangent. Look, the next time you go to your dance studio, you’re taking me with you, okay?”
“Sure. I give you my word that the next time I go, you can come with me.” Which will be never.
Florence was upstairs, playing with her unicorns, and counting the minutes until it was time to see the real thing. Jack was in the lounge, adding the stamps, which Oscar had brought around earlier, to his album.
“Which country do you reckon this one is from?” He held up a stamp with a picture of a kangaroo and some kind of reptile.
“Australia, I suppose.”
“That’s what I thought at first, but the marine iguana is found only in the Galápagos Islands.”
“How on earth do you know that?”
“I looked it up. So, where do you think I should put it?”
“That’s a really dangerous question to ask me right now.”
“I’m sensing you’re angry about something.”
“Guess who I’ve just been talking to.”
“Don’t tell me it was Ursula. She hasn’t cancelled Florence’s trip, has she?”
“No, it wasn’t Ursula. It was Kathy.”
“What did she say to upset you?”
“She wanted to know why I hadn’t told her that I was going to a dance studio. Now why do you think she would ask me something like that?”
“I—err—” He shuffled from one foot to the other.
“Go on. I’m listening.”
“I thought it would be nice for her to see Florence’s moment of triumph.”
“But she saw me dancing too.”
“So what? You should be proud of your performance. It’s not like you cheated by using magic, is it?”
***
Donna and Wendy arrived ten minutes earlier than arranged.
“I’m sorry we’re early, Jill,” Donna said. “Wendy has been driving us crazy since six o’clock this morning.”
“Snap. Come on in.”
“Where’s Jack?”
“He’s just nipped to the store.”
The two girls were running around the kitchen, holding plastic cups on their heads.
“Wendy, stop it,” Donna said, more in hope than expectation.
“Florence, why don’t you and Wendy go and run around the garden until it’s time.”
“Isn’t it time now?”
“Not quite. Go outside and I’ll call you.”
“Okay.”
“That’s better.” Donna grinned. “Wendy’s been like that all morning.”
“To be fair, it’s not every day you get to meet a unicorn.”
&nb
sp; “True. By the way, congratulations on your win yesterday. You and Florence were fantastic.”
“Thanks.”
“I’ve put the video on YouTube. Have you seen it?”
“You recorded us?”
“Not just you two. I recorded the whole competition. It’s had over five hundred views already.”
“That’s—err—great.”
At long last, it was time for us to go.
“Are you sure you don’t want to come too, Donna? I’m sure the queen wouldn’t mind.”
“No, it’s okay. I’ll wait here. It’s not like you’ll be gone for more than a few seconds.”
“Okay. Come on, girls, take my hands. It’s time to go and see the unicorns.”
“Bye, Mummy.” Wendy gave Donna a kiss then put her hand in mine.
“Let’s go, Mummy.” Florence grabbed my other hand.
I magicked the three of us to the entrance hall of the queen’s palace. Waiting for us there was Ronald.
“Welcome back, Jill. Who are these two pretty ladies?”
“This is my daughter, Florence. And this is her best friend, Wendy.”
For the first time that day, both girls fell silent; they were so stunned to come face to face with a unicorn.
“I’m very pleased to meet you, Florence and Wendy.” He stomped his hoof.
“Say hello,” I encouraged them.
“Hi, Ronald.” Wendy was the first to speak.
“Are you really a unicorn?” Florence said.
“I certainly am. Can’t you see my horn?”
“Can I touch it?”
I was horrified. “That’s not very polite, Florence.”
“It’s okay,” Ronald said. “Of course you can touch it.” He dipped his head so she could reach the horn.
“It feels funny.” Florence giggled nervously.
“What about you, Wendy?” Ronald turned to her. “Would you like to try?”
“Yes, please.”
When the two girls had finished, Ronald took a couple of steps back. “Now, you two. Would you like your own unicorn horns?”
“Yes, please!” They chorused.
“Follow me, then.” He led the way to the gold cabinet and pulled open the drawer. I expected to see the conical hats that he’d tricked me into wearing on my first visit to the palace, but it was full of realistic looking unicorn horns. Ronald must have seen the look of surprise on my face, so after telling the girls to pick one each, he took me to one side. “It’s okay. They aren’t real.”