The Jack Brenin Collection

by Catherine Cooper

  ‘I’d like to help you repair the damage.’

  ‘Why?’ asked Jack a bit too abruptly.

  ‘I’ve got a plan, a good plan. The gang didn’t want it. Max and Tank didn’t want to make anything themselves. The men who work for Tank’s dad have made a racing car for them at the scrapyard. I didn’t know your buggy was going to get smashed up. I’m really sorry about it and I’d like to help, if you’ll have me.’

  ‘See?’ said Grandad. ‘I told you it’d be fine; looks like we’ve got ourselves another team member.’

  ‘We ought to ask Elan first,’ said Jack.

  ‘Ask Elan what?’ she said, as she appeared in the doorway.

  When Grandad had explained, Techno fished in his back pocket.

  ‘I’ve got the plans here if you want to have a look.’

  Jack watched as Grandad and Elan helped Techno to anchor the four corners of his plan down with the jar of marmalade, a jug, and the salt and pepper pots. Grandad eagerly examined the plans.

  ‘This is good, very good, much better than the ones we had for the Comet. Did you draw these out on your own?’

  Techno nodded. Jack looked at the diagram on the table. It didn’t mean much to him but he could see this buggy didn’t look anything like Grandad’s Comet. It was designed around the frames of two bicycles only there were two big wheels at the back and two smaller ones at the front. The rest of the technical information was a mystery to Jack. Grandad patted Techno on the back.

  ‘I say we welcome this young man to the team. Are we agreed?’

  Elan nodded. They all looked at Jack.

  ‘It’s fine with me, thanks for coming round.’

  Techno grinned at them all.

  ‘We need to get started as soon as possible.’

  ‘You’d better come and see if we’ve got anything you need,’ said Grandad, as he showed Techno to the shed.

  ‘Are you alright?’ asked Elan, when they were alone.

  ‘Yes and no,’ replied Jack honestly. ‘I’m worried about finding the torc. How do I get into Elidon? No one’s told me anything.’

  ‘We would have if you hadn’t had to leave so soon. I’ll tell you all about it later, when Techno’s gone.’

  ‘Shall I meet you at Ewell House? I haven’t had my breakfast yet.’

  ‘That’ll be fine. Techno and I can start taking what we need to Ewell House. Nora’s already cleared a space… with a little bit of help!’

  Jack smiled as Elan waved an imaginary wand around before turning and making her way to the shed.

  As Jack got his breakfast he realised that he’d have to visit Camelin later and let him know that Techno was going to be the fourth member of the buggy team so would no longer need to be watched by the Flying Squad. He also realised that Camelin would be annoyed because now he would be excluded every time Techno or Grandad visited Ewell House. Jack sighed; pleasing others wasn’t always easy.

  ‘You took your time,’ grumbled Camelin, as Jack climbed up the loft ladder.

  ‘I’m sorry; there was a lot to do,’ said Jack, before explaining about Techno.

  ‘Why did you say Techno could join in?’

  ‘He asked and said he was sorry about our buggy. Besides, even if I’d said no, it would have been two against one, both Grandad and Elan were really happy about it and we did need a fourth member for the team.’

  ‘Well I’m not happy.’

  ‘You don’t think Max has sent him to spy on us do you?’

  ‘Naw, Crosspatch told me Max and Techno had a big row this morning and your new team member told Max he wanted nothing more to do with him. Max grabbed Techno by the collar so Crosspatch did a flyover and left a huge deposit on Max’s hat. Max soon let go of him. Snatch saw the whole thing too and gave me the same report. And, Max has got blue hair this morning!’

  ‘No!’

  ‘Crosspatch said he watched his mum trying to wash it out but it’s stuck good and proper. He’s got to have his head shaved.’ Camelin laughed loudly.

  ‘He’ll be even more annoyed now,’ said Jack.

  ‘Naw, he’s got gang problems. Techno’s walked away from him and Chortle said he’d had a big row with Danny too.’

  ‘Does he know what that was about?’

  ‘Max wants the rest of the gang to have their heads shaved too but Danny refused. He told Max he wasn’t cutting his long hair off for no one. Max shouted at him and said he’d have to leave the gang. Danny said good and walked off.’

  ‘What about Tank, has he got blue hair too?’

  ‘Naw, but he did agree to have his head shaved. He said his mum would do it. She does his older brother’s hair all the time. They’ve arranged to have it done together tomorrow afternoon at Tank’s house. We can go and watch if you like.’

  ‘I’ve got to go now. We’re meeting Grandad in the judging tent at the Flower Show.’

  ‘I suppose you’ll be going back to Brenin House after the show.’

  ‘Grandad’s helping me to carry my bags back when it’s over.’

  ‘You’ll come and see me tomorrow though won’t you?’

  ‘’Course I will.’

  By the time Jack and Grandad got back to Brenin House they were both feeling tired. They’d eaten at the show so they didn’t need to make dinner.

  ‘I think I’m going to have forty winks,’ Grandad told Jack as he flopped down in his favourite chair.

  Jack went into the kitchen and poured out two glasses of squash. By the time he got back to the front room Grandad was already snoring. He left one of the glasses on the table and went upstairs with the other one to unpack. He didn’t have to sort Orin out as she’d decided to stay at Ewell House until after the race was over. He took out his Book of Shadows but decided he ought to put his clothes away before he opened his book and started asking questions. The only sound Jack could hear in the house was the loud ticking from the hall clock and Grandad’s snores. He’d be asleep for at least a couple of hours, maybe more.

  When the holdall and backpack were empty Jack picked up his book and lay down on his stomach on the bed. He closed his eyes so he could concentrate on the right way to ask his question about Elidon. A loud creak from outside the window broke his concentration. He opened one eye and squinted at the window. Nothing was on the windowsill but a second creak made him go and investigate. He opened the window and was about to look down when a single black feather came into sight, followed by an old battered hat and then Peabody’s face.

  ‘What are you doing here?’

  ‘Oh great wizard, I had to come and see you, I don’t know what to do. You’re the only one who can help me.’

  Jack knew it must be important if Peabody had risked being seen to visit Jack in daylight.

  ‘You’d better come in.’

  Peabody nimbly swung himself into Jack’s room.

  ‘Oh thank you, Your Wizardness.’

  ‘What’s wrong?’

  ‘Everything! He’s here somewhere in Glasruhen, he grabbed me in the forest, I couldn’t see him but I knew it was him, I could feel his hands digging into my arm, and I felt his hot breath when he whispered in my ear. Thought I was my brother, he did, didn’t know I wasn’t Pyecroft. Wants help. I don’t know what to do. He scares me.’

  ‘Who? I don’t know what you’re talking about.’

  ‘It was him, I know it was… you know… the Big One.’

  ‘Velindur! Here in Glasruhen?’

  ‘Yes, him, thought I was Pyecroft, obviously doesn’t know my brother’s more like a pig than a Bogie these days.’

  ‘How do you know it was Velindur if you didn’t see him?’

  ‘Told me what he wanted. Only one person, apart from yourself who’d want what he’s after.’

  ‘And what would that be?’

  ‘The torc of kingship. It’s a long time since I’ve heard that mentioned. The old King of the Forest never came back to claim it as his own but the Big One thinks it belongs to him.’

  Jack
didn’t know how far to trust Peabody; this could be a trick to get information from him, after all, Bogies specialised in collecting information. He decided to admit nothing and try to find out what Peabody knew.

  ‘Why did he think you’d know where it was?’

  ‘He didn’t. He wants me to find out where it is. He knows that whoever finds the torc will be crowned at Samhain. He said because I was his servant I had to help him. Oh that dreadful brother of mine, he’s always getting me into trouble. I don’t want anything to do with any of this. Make the Big One leave me alone.’

  ‘Are you sure it was Velindur?’

  Instead of answering straightaway, Peabody dropped to his knees, clasped both his hands together and hung his head. When he spoke Jack could barely hear him.

  ‘It was him. He was there but not there. Invisible. Please help me. Can’t you give me a spell to make him go away or put some kind of protection around me? I don’t ever want him to grab me again.’

  ‘I’ll get you some help but you’ll have to be patient, it might take a while.’

  ‘Oh thank you, thank you; from the tip of my nose to the top of my toe I thank you.’

  Jack got Peabody a cushion to sit on before opening his Book of Shadows. He picked up his wand and wrote to Nora. He waited for an answer but none came. Peabody’s legs were trembling and Jack was sure he was genuinely scared. He tapped the open page in the hope his answer would come but no writing appeared. A loud buzzing made them both turn towards the open window. Jack smiled as a large beetle wearing a tiny pair of spectacles flew into the room and landed on his bed.

  ‘I think help has arrived.’

  The Dorysk transformed into a small bird and then a large rat before his prickles finally appeared. Jack wondered if he was showing off for Peabody’s benefit.

  ‘I have a message from Nora. The Bogie is to follow me back to Ewell House. Nora wants to hear for herself exactly what happened, and when and where the encounter took place.’

  Peabody looked pleadingly at Jack.

  ‘You’ll be fine, just tell the truth and I’m sure Nora will help you.’

  ‘Are you ready?’ the Dorysk asked Peabody, as he transformed back into a large rat, identical to Motley except for the glasses.

  Peabody stood and followed the Dorysk onto the windowsill but before he climbed down the ivy he turned and bowed low to Jack.

  ‘You truly are a friend to all.’

  When they’d gone Jack wrote down the information he’d gained from Peabody. Velindur was obviously looking for the torc but he didn’t seem to know it was in pieces, not if what Peabody had said was true. He hoped Nora would send him a message later, but while he was waiting he settled down to ask his Book of Shadows about Elidon.

  ELIDON

  Jack was already in bed when Grandad came in to say goodnight. He turned his bedside light off and lay on his back thinking about the events of the last few days. He tried to pick out the information he might need for the quest that lay ahead. He desperately wanted to talk things over with Elan and Nora but he knew he’d have to wait until the morning. His book had answered a few of his questions and he’d read a whole chapter about the Lost Treasure of Annwn. He now knew what the King’s torc looked like, how heavy it was and who’d made it but he’d not had any of his questions answered to his satisfaction. He’d read a lot but learnt nothing at the same time. When he tried a direct question his book had slammed shut. Either it didn’t know the locations of the two missing pieces of the torc or, as he had suspected, this was something he’d have to find out for himself. No matter what he’d tried, his book wouldn’t open again. Elidon was still a mystery. He’d not learnt anything new about the strange land he had to enter. He’d only been told what he knew already by heart…

  Elidon, Land of Shadow, where secrets are hid.

  Was this where Velindur had been transported to? If so, it meant crystal magic was involved.

  It’s in the here and now but nowhere to be seen.

  Peabody had said he couldn’t see Velindur, but he’d been spoken to and grabbed. This would confirm there was a land no one could see. But how could Velindur see Peabody? The more Jack thought about it the less sense it made. He repeated the last piece of information he knew.

  Knowledge is needed from the Druid’s Library and the

  Labyrinth beyond before Elidon can be found.

  Only those with the key may open the door,

  and once inside, there is no turning back.

  He’d used his key, he’d been into the library and the labyrinth, and Elidon certainly wasn’t there. The only knowledge he’d managed to bring out of the Druid’s library was the complete book about crystal magic. He knew it was stored inside his head but he didn’t know how to access the information. Jack was drifting off to sleep when another thought struck him. He’d brought something else away from Falconrock, the magic crystal he’d found in the pool. What if the key his book had mentioned wasn’t the one that hung round his neck? What if the words were referring to the crystal? If he could summon it he might be able to enter Elidon. There was a lot he needed to discuss with Nora and Elan. There was one thing that reassured him: one of the missing pieces of the torc was hidden in the here and now so surely that wouldn’t be too hard to find. Jack closed his eyes and visualised the crystal he’d pulled from the pool. As the crystal spun and shone in Jack’s mind he fell asleep.

  Jack yawned. He still felt sleepy. He half opened one eye then shut it again. He couldn’t see any daylight so with any luck he’d get a few more hours of sleep. A draught made him shudder. He must have left the window open. He reached for the covers but they weren’t there. He rolled over and groped around with his hands but instead of the soft mattress Jack felt grass. He rolled back again; there was grass on the other side too. He must be dreaming; where had his bed gone? He reluctantly opened his eyes. He was still in his pyjamas lying on his back in a meadow near a tall tree. This wasn’t just any meadow, he could see the fairy mound close by and he was next to the old thorn tree. There wasn’t total darkness but there wasn’t any light in the sky either. He rubbed his eyes. Was he dreaming or had he been sleepwalking? It wasn’t something he’d ever done before but there was always a first time for everything. He reached out and touched the bark of the tree. It felt solid enough. He looked at his bare feet and wriggled his toes. If it was a dream why wasn’t he dressed? He wasn’t in the habit of going outside in his pyjamas but dreams weren’t always predictable. He tried to visualise himself in his black tracksuit and trainers. In an instant his bare feet were shod and his pyjamas gone. This still didn’t prove anything, he could still be dreaming. The last thing Jack had seen before he’d fallen asleep was the spinning crystal. He stood up, opened his hand and willed the crystal to appear. The dimness around him grew brighter as the crystal hovered above his palm. It rotated slowly at first but soon it was spinning so fast it became a ball of dazzling light. There was a flash. Jack blinked. When he could see again, the crystal was still. One single beam of light shone directly onto a knot in the bark of the thorn tree. As he watched, the light spread until the bark in front of him disappeared. He couldn’t take his eyes away from the light as it expanded. When it finally stopped, an arched opening of shimmering light appeared within the trunk. He felt compelled to step into it. With each step forward the light dimmed. As he stepped out of the trunk on the other side he was once again in the half-light. He tried to make sense of what had just happened. The crystal and the light had gone. He was still in the meadow. He turned around to look at the archway, but that too had vanished.

  ‘Welcome to Elidon,’ a breathless voice whispered.

  Jack turned around slowly. A moment before there’d been no one in the meadow, but someone, or something, had spoken. Jack nearly jumped out of his skin when he felt something touch his leg.

  ‘Don’t be afraid,’ the voice hissed. ‘No one is going to hurt you. Open your eyes and the veil of disbelief will fall. Let yourself believe an
d you will see me.’

  Jack didn’t know what the voice meant. His eyes were already open. Or were they? Maybe he was just dreaming he was awake? He made a conscious effort to open his eyelids wide. When he saw what blocked his path he hoped he wasn’t awake. An enormous snake lay on the ground before him. On its head were two twisted horns. Jack caught a glimpse of two sharp fangs inside the snake’s partially open mouth. He shut his eyes quickly and stood very still. When nothing happened he opened his eyes a fraction. The snake was still there, swaying from side to side. Jack felt very alone. He wished Camelin were with him. Jack swallowed hard and tried to work out what he could do. If this wasn’t a dream and the snake was real he was in big trouble.

  A muffled sound reached Jack’s ears. It sounded a long way off but he knew it was the call of the raven owl. He instinctively looked up. The very indistinct outline of a raven flew above him. It circled around and around, hooting as it flew. Jack knew it was Camelin but he couldn’t see him clearly. Jack caught a sudden movement out of the corner of his eye as the snake began to slither towards him.

  ‘Run,’ Camelin screeched, as the snake reared.

  Jack’s heart pounded. His feet wouldn’t move. He felt transfixed by the snake. Camelin flew towards them at speed with his extended claws aimed at the snake. There was a rush of air. The snake moved easily to one side and avoided Camelin’s attack. A loud moan came from the ditch. Jack ran over to the stream where his friend had crash-landed. He was surprised to see a boy rather than a raven rise from the water.

  ‘Camelin?’

  ‘What’s happening?’

  ‘I think I’m dreaming. This can’t be real.’

  ‘I assure you it is,’ hissed the snake as it slithered towards them. ‘You are both in Elidon but only one of you was invited.’

  ‘I’m naked,’ wailed Camelin. ‘If this is a dream can’t you think me some clothes.’