The Jack Brenin Collection

by Catherine Cooper

  Jack slipped the key into his pocket and looked through the neatly labelled bottles and jars inside the cupboard.

  ‘Here it is: dragon-wort pollen and these must be the leaves.’

  Jack took out a small green bottle with a glass stopper and a long brown paper package that had been neatly tied up with string.

  ‘We’ll help,’ Fergus offered. ‘We’re good at counting seeds and berries.

  Jack took the stoppers out of the various bottles and jars before grating the zest from the lemons. The air in the herborium began to smell wonderful and as the rats breathed in each new aroma their little noses twitched excitedly. He was grateful Fergus and Berry were able to crack the hazelnuts with their sharp teeth. After half an hour, all the ingredients from Nora’s kitchen had been added to the mixture in the cauldron. The goo wasn’t so green any more. Jack looked around for the hawthorn stick Nora had left, so he could stir the liquid. He pulled a face as he stirred, something didn’t smell too good. He wondered if he’d done something wrong until he remembered to check Nora’s instruction page.

  ‘It’s the stick that smells,’ he explained to Fergus and Berry, who’d gone to the other end of the table. ‘It says here it smells of rotting flesh.’

  ‘What do you think Nora’s going to use it for?’ asked Berry.

  ‘I’ve no idea, she just asked me to make it. I hope I’m doing it right.’

  ‘It might be better when the dragon-wort’s gone in,’ suggested Fergus.

  ‘Well here goes,’ announced Jack. ‘The last two ingredients, I’d better do this bit.’

  As he pulled the stopper from the bottle the whole room filled with the smell of rotten eggs. He quickly put the stopper back.

  ‘Ugh!’ cried Berry as he leapt off the table and scurried out of the open door. Fergus and Jack weren’t far behind him. ‘What is that stuff? I didn’t know pollen could smell like that!’

  ‘We’ll stay out here till you’ve finished,’ said Berry.

  Jack took a deep breath before entering the herborium again. He opened the bottle, held it over the cauldron and carefully tapped the side three times as the instructions said to do. The tiny grains of orange pollen spread rapidly over the surface but didn’t sink. By the time Jack got the stopper back in, his eyes were watering. He took the bottle over to the cupboard and replaced it before taking a few gulps of fresh air by the open door.

  ‘Nearly done,’ he spluttered to Berry and Fergus.

  The leaf didn’t smell too good either, but not as bad as the pollen. Even though it was dried and wrinkled it was a flame red colour. Jack turned it over and found the back was covered in small green spots. After reading Nora’s notes again, he crushed the leaf between his hands and rubbed it into a fine powder. He sprinkled it evenly into the cauldron and watched to see what would happen. It filled the gaps between the pollen and also floated on top of the mixture. All he had left to do now was to find the spell and turn the Dragon’s Brew into Dragon’s Breath. The bad smell had almost gone so Jack decided to clear away before asking his Book of Shadows for the spell. He repacked the picnic basket first and put it outside the door. Fergus and Berry weren’t anywhere to be seen.

  ‘Not much more to do,’ Jack called.

  He wrapped the dragon-wort leaves up in the paper and retied the string before returning the package to the cupboard. He took the key out of his pocket and examined it closely. It was still the same size as the small keyhole. It tingled in his hand again as he turned it in the lock. Once the key was safely back in his pocket he went over to the table and put his hand on the front of his book and asked for the spell.

  ‘How do I make this brew into Dragon’s Breath?’

  The book jolted into action, the pages flew open and turned rapidly until the spell he’d asked for appeared. Above and below the spell were instructions, written in red ink.

  Jack read everything twice before he picked up his wand. He put his left hand over his nose in case the smell was as bad as it had been before and then repeated the words. He tried to make sure he kept a steady glow from the tip of his wand as he pointed it at the mixture inside the cauldron. A bright yellow plume came out of the pot. It rose to the ceiling then spread around the room. The smell was dreadful. As the mixture swirled around, the pollen and crushed leaf disappeared. Once the last speck of orange had gone the contents of the cauldron started to bubble. Jack was finding it hard to breathe. He had to use the hand protecting his nose to wipe his streaming eyes. He began to cough which made his wand wobble. The mixture rose to the top of the cauldron and began to bubble over the sides. Jack needed both hands to steady his wand. His nostrils filled with the pungent smell and his eyes streamed making it hard to see if he’d got the potion under control again. Just when he thought he wasn’t going to be able to stay inside the herborium a moment longer the mixture stopped bubbling and the air suddenly cleared. Jack dashed to the open door and breathed in great gulps of fresh air. When his eyes had stopped streaming he looked back inside the herborium. There was a green mess on the table where some of the potion had run down the side of the cauldron but everything else seemed to be alright. The yellow cloud was gone. Fergus and Berry joined him at the doorway.

  ‘I think it’s safe to go in now,’ said Jack as he wiped his eyes again.

  Fergus and Berry leapt onto the table and sniffed the spilt potion. Jack hesitated before looking into the cauldron.

  ‘I wonder what it’s for?’

  ‘What what’s for?’ croaked a familiar voice as Camelin flew in through the open door and landed on the table. He immediately started to cough and choke.

  ‘What’s that smell?’

  ‘That’s nothing. You should have been here five minutes ago.’

  ‘But where’s it come from?’

  ‘It’s the important job Nora wanted me to do.’

  Camelin took a look inside the cauldron.

  ‘Ugh! Are you sure you’ve done it right? It doesn’t look too good to me, not something I’d want to drink!’

  ‘I don’t think it’s for drinking, at least I hope not!’

  Camelin shuffled to the other end of the table.

  ‘Are you ready to help me now?’

  ‘I was going to give you a shout as soon as I’d put all these things away in the kitchen.’

  ‘Aw, leave them ’til later, I need you to help me in here.’

  Jack smiled, he thought he knew what Camelin was about to say next, and maybe Fergus and Berry thought the same since they were nowhere to be seen. It came as a surprise when Camelin pushed a small key towards him.

  ‘Nora left this so it must be alright for you to use it. You can get my wand out now. It’s the key, look, it says THE Cupboard on the label.’

  Jack looked at the key carefully. He put his hand in his pocket and felt the shape of the key inside. They were identical. He tried not to let Camelin see his smile.

  ‘That’s OK, I’ll open the cupboard for you,’ said Jack as he picked up the key.

  ‘You will! Aw Jack, that’s great, you’re a real pal.’

  Jack started walking towards the three small cupboards.

  ‘Where are you going? It’s this way,’ croaked Camelin.

  ‘I think you’ll find your key opens this door,’ said Jack as he bent down and unlocked the cupboard with the faint letter T on the front.

  ‘But it says THE Cupboard, and Nora left it out.’

  ‘Nora left it for me, and I think you’ll find THE is Nora’s abbreviation for Third Herb Extract cupboard.’

  Camelin humphed loudly.

  ‘You mean it’s not my key?’

  ‘No, it’s not.’

  ‘But what about my wand?’

  ‘Only Nora can decide when you’re ready to have it back.’

  ‘It’s all right for you, you’ve got yours. Can you try and magic it open?’

  ‘I don’t think so.’

  ‘You’re no fun any more. That wand’s gone to your head.’

 
; Before Jack could reply Camelin took off, swerved past him and disappeared through the open door.

  ‘Oh dear!’ said Jack, as Fergus and Berry came out from behind the dresser. ‘I didn’t mean to upset him.’

  ‘He’s been like that all week,’ explained Berry.

  ‘He’ll be fine when it’s teatime,’ squeaked Fergus.

  Jack laughed. He knew the little rat was right. He wondered how long Nora was going to be. He didn’t want to feed Camelin too early but there was no reason why he couldn’t take Medric and Gerda’s food to them now.

  ‘I’m going over to the island. Do you two want to come?’

  Both rats shook their heads.

  ‘Things to do,’ said Fergus, as he stood to attention. ‘Things to do.’

  Jack smiled. He knew Fergus was mimicking Motley.

  ‘We’ve been left a list of jobs too, so we’d better get on with them, or we’ll be in trouble again if they’re not done by the time Motley and the others get back,’ explained Berry.

  ‘See you later,’ said Jack, but there was no reply, the two little rats had already gone.

  The bucket of grain was heavier than Jack had imagined it would be. He struggled with it to the edge of the lake and eventually managed to get it into the boat without spilling too much. He sat down under the willow tree for a few moments to get his breath back. He’d never rowed a boat before and it looked a long way to the island.

  Jack tried to push the boat into the water, he heaved and shoved but the boat wouldn’t move. Maybe he ought to go and get Grandad but he didn’t want to admit defeat so easily. He held up his wand and then hesitated. He’d been told to use it wisely and he didn’t know if transporting a bucket of grain across the lake would count as a good use of magic. Maybe he could just use his wand to help him get the boat into the water and start rowing once he was afloat. He looked around to make sure no one was watching, stepped into the boat and pointed his wand towards the front. He focused his thoughts into a request, ‘I need help to get the boat to the island.’

  The boat began to rock violently from side to side. Jack wished he’d sat down before he’d spoken. He staggered to gain his balance and ended up banging his knee on the bucket. There was a sudden jolt as the boat left the shore and hit the water. Jack didn’t have time to pick up the oars, he just managed to grab the seat and steady himself before the little boat began speeding towards the middle of the lake.

  ‘Slow down!’ he yelled. ‘Slow down!’

  He really must think very carefully before he used his wand again and make sure he gave better instructions. The boat slowed gracefully and ran ashore onto the sloping bank of the island’s soft earth. Jack breathed a sigh of relief, his hands hurt and his knuckles were white from clinging onto the seat. His legs were shaking as he climbed onto the island. He’d thought either Gerda or Medric would have been there to meet him but neither goose appeared. He didn’t want to go over to the shelter without being invited so he called as loudly as he could.

  ‘Hello! It’s Jack, I’ve brought your supper.’

  Medric’s head shot out of the shelter.

  ‘Shhh!’

  ‘Sorry!’ whispered Jack. ‘I didn’t mean to disturb you.’

  ‘It’s not me it’s Gerda. Loud noises when you’re laying aren’t good.’

  ‘Sorry, do you want me to take the eggs back for Nora?’

  Medric lowered his neck and shook his tail feathers. Jack realised he’d said the wrong thing.

  ‘I most certainly do not want you to take any of Gerda’s eggs, these eggs aren’t for eating they’re for hatching.’

  ‘Hatching!’

  ‘Yes, hatching, don’t you know anything?’

  ‘Nora didn’t tell me. I’m sorry. I was only trying to help. I’ve brought your supper.’

  ‘Supper! It’s a bit early for supper.’

  ‘I know but I’ve got to go home for mine soon so I thought I’d bring it over now and say hello.’

  ‘You’d better come inside after you’ve put it out.’

  It was harder lifting the bucket of grain out of the boat than it had been getting it in. Jack tipped the contents onto the bare earth where Nora usually put it, returned the empty bucket to the boat then made his way to the shelter. He knocked on the side of the open door.

  ‘Come in, come in,’ said Medric.

  Jack was worried he might tread on the eggs but when he entered the shelter he found that the straw from around the entrance had gone. It had been piled into the far corner and shaped into a circular mound, on top of which sat Gerda.

  ‘Do you want to come and have a quick look?’ she asked as she slowly raised her body.

  Jack could see a clutch of large white eggs.

  ‘Ten,’ Medric informed him. ‘Better sit down my dear, you don’t want them getting cold.’

  ‘When will they hatch?’ asked Jack as he watched Gerda settle herself gently back onto the nest.

  ‘Not for a while yet,’ replied Medric as he started hustling Jack towards the doorway.

  ‘Well I’d better go. I don’t want to disturb you.’

  ‘Fine, fine,’ said Medric as he waddled out of the shelter. ‘Gerda’s looking forward to hearing the splatter of webbed feet. We’ll invite you over when they’ve hatched.’

  ‘Thank you, I’d like that,’ replied Jack before saying goodbye.

  When he reached the boat he turned to wave but Medric had already gone back inside. He wondered if Camelin knew about Gerda’s eggs. As he climbed into the boat he thought carefully about what he was going to instruct the boat to do. ‘Return me slowly to the shore,’ was the best he could come up with.

  The journey back was much better. Jack trailed one hand over the side and dangled it in the water as he enjoyed the view. He thought he saw a movement in the willow tree and a black shape he recognised. As the small boat ran ashore Camelin swooped out of the tree and landed by the water’s edge. He waddled over and waited until Jack had secured the boat and removed the bucket before speaking.

  ‘Using magic again? I thought we had to use our wands wisely?’

  Jack didn’t want to get into an argument and he knew it was useless to try to explain.

  ‘Do you want dinner too?’

  ‘Now you’re talking,’ replied Camelin as he flew past Jack. ‘Race you to the kitchen.’

  Jack had no intention of racing. He returned the bucket to the shed and then peeked into the herborium. He sniffed the air. The nasty smell had gone so he checked the potion. Everything looked alright, as far as he could tell, so he closed the door and started to make his way towards the kitchen. A rapid fluttering of wings above his head made him look up. Before Jack could say or do anything, Timmery flew past him and crashed into the wall. He spiralled down to the grass and lay there, not moving.

  ‘Timmery!’ yelled Jack.

  ‘Never mind that, where’s my dinner,’ grumbled Camelin from inside.

  Jack carefully picked up the little bat. He could feel his heart beating but he still wasn’t moving.

  ‘Ooh! What you got there?’

  ‘It’s Timmery. He’s knocked himself out on the wall.’

  ‘What’s he doing out at this time of day, he knows he can’t see anything when it’s sunny.’

  ‘I don’t know. What do you think we should do?’

  ‘Have dinner?’

  Jack ignored Camelin and tried to make Timmery comfortable. The little bat began to stir.

  ‘Are you alright?’ asked Jack.

  ‘Oh dear! Oh dear!’ piped Timmery.

  ‘What can I do? Have you broken anything?’

  ‘I don’t think so. I couldn’t see but I had to come and tell Nora, we’ve got a problem and it’s all my fault. Oh dear! What to do? What to do?’

  ‘Nora’s not here. Can I help?’

  ‘It’s Charkle, he’s gone.’

  ‘Gone!’ exclaimed Jack.

  ‘I told him about the map and now he’s not in the belfry. I can�
�t find him anywhere. He’s gone and it’s all my fault.’

  DECISIONS

  Jack felt worried. He knew he was partly to blame. If only he’d told Timmery not to say anything to Charkle about Howling Hill until they’d spoken to Nora he might not have disappeared.

  ‘Try not to worry,’ Jack told Timmery. ‘Maybe he’s already back at the belfry. Do you want Camelin to fly over and have a look?’

  Timmery nodded.

  ‘I’m not going anywhere ’til I’ve had some food,’ grumbled Camelin.

  ‘You might as well go and take a look and by the time you get back I’ll have your tea ready.’

  Camelin glowered at Jack before flying off towards the church tower. When he’d gone Jack looked at Nora’s list. He prepared the food for the bird table first then put Camelin’s in his dish. When he’d finished he sat down next to Timmery. He looked very forlorn and was using his wings to shield the bright sunlight from his eyes. Jack pulled the curtains closed so he’d be able to see a bit better.

  ‘Tell me what happened after you left my room last night.’

  ‘I went back to the belfry and Charkle wasn’t there but I didn’t worry because I knew he was with Nora. He came back about dawn. He was very upset and I thought if I told him about Howling Hill it would cheer him up. I told him everything, about the questions, your book and the map. He was really excited. By the time we’d finished talking it was sunrise so I said we’d go and have a look together tonight and went to sleep. When I woke up, he’d gone.’

  ‘Nora’s gone too and I don’t know how long she’s going to be away.’

  ‘Gone where?’

  ‘Annwn.’

  Timmery looked upset. Jack didn’t feel happy either. He wished Nora was here. He didn’t think Camelin would find the little dragonette at the church; he suspected Charkle had gone back to the Westwood Roost.

  ‘Did he say anything at all to you?’

  ‘Not really, it was getting light and I was sleepy. I was just glad he wasn’t upset any more. We’ve got to do something. You will help won’t you Jack?’