“I like the way your mind works,” her husband replied.
“So we’d better get moving, Mrs. Z said. “It’ll take us five minutes just to walk over there, and we don’t want to miss the beginning.”
As they exited O Canada, Charlie noticed something quite alarming. The candy man and his two shady friends from the Mouse Gear shop were about thirty feet behind them. And worse yet, they quickly looked away when Charlie made eye contact. Charlie’s heart dropped to his stomach. “Michael, we’re being followed,” he mumbled to his brother. “The short round guy in the flower shirt, and his two buddies, are right behind us. We gotta make sure we stay out in the open with Mom and Dad so they can’t touch us.”
Michael took a quick peak as they wound their way out of the Canada Pavilion and headed towards the United Kingdom. “Looks like your’e right,” he confirmed.
“Did you say something honey?” their mom asked Michael.
“What? Oh, I’m just talking to Charlie,” he replied.
The boys tried to keep a far enough distance from their parents to talk freely about the situation, but at the same time, close enough so the candy man and his two shady companions could not grab them.
“Don’t let those little rascals get away, understand boys,” Captain Fibs said, flip-flopping along with sweat pouring over his puffy, red face, down the trunk of his neck, and onto his double-X luau shirt—which was two sizes too large.
“We won’t let ‘em out of our sight,” Grim replied.
“That’s right, there’s nowhere for them to hide now,” Duke added, as the three Thorns kept pace with Charlie and his family.
“Good, cause if the two of you fail me, I’ll have to—”
Fibs struggled to catch his breath as they briskly marched along.
“Have to what?” Duke asked.
Captain Fibs stopped in his tracks—panting and sweating like he had just run a marathon. “Just…make…sure…we don’t lose that…boy. We need the watch.”
“Righty-O, Captain,” Grim replied.
“Now…we need to… keep after ‘em,” Fibs said, still trying to catch his breath. His over-fed body leaned heavily on a trash can in the shade, as he struggled to point towards the Zastawits family with his free hand.
“C’mon Duke, let’s go get us a watch.”
“Now you’re talk’n mate,” Duke replied. “You just rest here a minute, Captain, while we go fetch us a watch.”
Charlie and his family had stopped at the Yorkshire County Fish Shop to grab a tasty bite of fish ’n chips, and shady relief from the heat, along World Showcase Lagoon. While most of the family had enjoyed their meals, Charlie did not.
Savoring his last hearty chip smothered in catsup, he caught a glimpse of the candyman’s two henchmen go storming by. He knew they were looking for him. He knew what they were after. He knew…they would never quit. Slowly, the food in his mouth became tasteless—as it no longer mattered. The only thing that was important now, was their safety and keeping away from their unfriendly pursuers.
As Mr. Z discarded the remains of the meal into a trash receptacle, the boys and their mother got up and slowly meandered towards the United Kingdom shops to officially begin their World Showcase shop hop.
Charlie had other things on his mind. “Michael, keep an eye out. They’re still looking for us, I just saw them a minute ago,” he whispered. Cautiously, he and his brother scanned the area while crossing the promenade—tying not to look directly at anyone in their immediate surroundings. Their mother was five steps ahead, their father, seven behind. First up on the right were the Crown and Crest and Toy Soldier shops.
While their parents were talking, laughing and making jokes with the cast members in the shops, the boys were experiencing something quite different. All they could think about was what lied around the next corner. Where was the candyman and his two goons? What were they going to do if they caught them? And what would happen to their parents?
The family wandered to the other side of the road to check out the Tea Caddy, where, for a brief moment, they found a tiny bit of joy. It was an assortment of deliciously scrumptious cookies and candy—which their mother gladly purchased for everyone to split up and enjoy as a belated lunch desert.
As Charlie and his brother were savoring melted chocolate in their mouths, rounding the outside corner of The Queen’s Table shop, trouble found them.
There stood Fibs, blocking their way, as Duke and Grim came walking up from behind.
Their parents had been distracted by something in the shop and were nowhere to be seen.
The captain, in all his splendor of disgustingness, spat out, “Grab ‘em, gents, while I fish out the watch.”
“It’s doesn’t belong to you,” Charlie said.
“Well kid, that ain’t for you to say, now is it,” Fibs replied, as sweat rolled down his face. “We’ve been following you for half the day, waiting for an opportunity to get that watch. And it looks to me like all that hard work is about to pay off.”
Duke and Grim grabbed each boy by their arms, while Fibs moved in for the watch.
“No, stay away from him. You’re not getting it,” Michael yelled, as he struggled to break free of Duke’s grasp. He watched as the captain closed in on his brother.
“Captain, what, what is that?”
“Huh, what are you talking about Duke?” Fibs replied—unaware of what was happening behind him.
“The, the hedges, they’re movin’, Captain,” Grim said.
“Come off it boys, I think this heat has melted your brains—what little there is to melt, that is.”
“No, really, Captain. The hedges behind ya are movin’ and growin’, me and Grimsly aren’t pulling your leg. You see it too, right, Grimsly?”
“You bet I—ow! Why you little—”
Through all the distractions of conversation, Michael managed to kick Duke square in the shin, causing him to let go of his arms. He took off running towards the hedge maze.
“Go get him, you fool!” Fibs shouted.
Duke took off after the speedy little runner, which distracted Grim just enough, enabling Charlie to break free and take off towards the other end of the hedge maze.
“Oh! What’s wrong with you numbskulls! Don’t let them get away, I need that watch!” Fibs shouted in frustration. “Duke, forget the little one. Go help Grim catch the outsider. He’s the one we need.”
“Right, Captain,” Duke replied. “Uh, and why do we need him again?”
“Because he’s the one carrying the watch you bloomin’ fool.”
“Oh, that’s right,” Duke replied. He changed course and headed towards Charlie. Attempting to cut him off before he reached the hedge maze, which had now grown to over ten feet tall—totally concealing the band pavilion, which sat in its center.
“Hurry, he’s almost in the maze,” Fibs yelled.
As the hedges continued to grow upward, now nearly fifteen feet in height, a magic gust of wind stirred up and knocked the two men chasing Charlie off their feet—allowing him to make it into the maze. Why am I going in here, I don’t even know if this was created for our escape or not? Charlie thought to himself. Whether it was a trap or an escape route, Charlie came to the quick conclusion that it had to be better than the alternative.
Within a matter of seconds, he and his brother disappeared into the maze—both from opposite ends.
“No-no-NO!” Fibs screamed out, his face now red as a tomato. “Get up, up-up-up, you stinkin’ fools! I need that watch. Go in there and find him. Find him or else.” Even though the captain’s words sounded like a threat to Duke and Grim, it was really Fibs worrying about his own consequences if they failed to bring back the watch. Consequences he most certainly wished to avoid.
Earlier on he had made a promise to his leader, Dark Thorn Senkrad, to bring back the Watch of WONDER by the end of the day. Which Senkrad replied, “With that promise comes two consequences. The first being, if you and your men succeeded, yo
u will be greatly rewarded beyond your wildest imaginations. If however, you fail, you and your men will be wrapped in shackles and thrown into my dungeon of doom, for two full weeks, with one piece of bread and a single glass of water to live off each day.”
The captain had no problem being shackled up in a dungeon for two weeks—he’d done it before. But being forced to live off one piece of bread per day, one single piece, would be more than he could tolerate. Especially for a man who enjoyed eating as much as he did.
The maze was tall and vast, much more so than it appeared from its exterior. The four foot wide pathways, flanked by fifteen feet high walls of shrubbery, seemed to go on forever.
Charlie called out to his brother, “Micheal, Michael, where are you?” but there was no response.
Not more than a few steps behind, the voices of Duke and Grim bickering could be heard.
Charlie increased his pace to assure they would not catch him. Left, right, straight twenty feet, then two rights—the young boy kept moving forward, trying not to look back. For five long minutes, he silently continued on—not wanting to give away his location to Fib’s two flunkies. Just as he made another right turn into a long straightaway, he noticed that the left side of the hedge began to move.
From within its walls, a human form slowly emerged, stepping out of the hedge. It was a female figure of a full grown woman. Her hair was long, yet twirled up into a unique shape atop her head. Her facial features resembled those of a princess— very well defined and beautiful, while her body was draped in an elegant dress, with long, flowing sleeves, that effortlessly moved through the air as if gravity did not exist. All was made of foliage from the hedge.
“I’ve been expecting you, Charlie,” the hedge maiden said. “I’m here to show you the way out.”
“And who exactly are you?” Charlie asked.
“I am Lady Hedgemaze. Please, follow me. I will lead you to safety.”
“But my brother is in here as well. I need to find him before I leave.”
“I have already visited your brother and have started him on his way. You will meet him at the crossroads, where you both shall be shown a secret way out.”
“How do I know I can trust you?”
“I was summoned by the magic of your Patron friend, Frank. He must have sensed you and your brother were in trouble and needed assistance. I am here to help as a loyal servant of the Patrons.”
Having earned Charlie’s trust, the two set off through the maze to find Michael. Lady Hedgemaze flowed in and out of the maze walls in a ubiquitous manner, pointing the way for Charlie to go. And every so often she would disappear to help Michael, then reappear, seconds later, to keep Charlie on the right path. This continued on for several minutes, until finally they met, face-to-face.
“Michael.”
“Charlie.”
Then suddenly, rising up over the walls, the unpleasant voices of their pursuers came into range. “They’re getting close, Michael. We need to keep moving.”
“We can’t go back the way I came,” Michael said. The candyman is probably waiting for us.
“Hmm, perhaps, you’re right, Michael. Lady Hedgemaze,” Charlie said, “do you know a way out? A way that’s safe?”
“Your path to safety lies right behind you,” she said while pointing.
The boys turned and looked. A section of the wall began to shift right—and behind the gap it exposed, more hedge walls shifted and turned, creating an alternate pathway that did not exist until that very moment. Charlie and Michael looked at each other with astonishment.
“Here lies your path to safety.”
“Thank you, uh, Ma’am, I mean, Lady Hedgemaze,” Charlie said respectfully.
“You are very welcome. Now move along before the others arrive.”
“Thank you again,” Charlie said. He and his brother headed down the secret pathway towards a safer place.
“Yes, thank you,” Michael added as he trailed behind his brother—looking back at the hedge maiden. She closed her hands together and disappeared behind the hedge wall as it slid back into place.
Magically, when Charlie and Michael walked out of the maze they were near the front of the France pavilion, where another hedge maze existed. To their left, stood their mother and father, taking photos of fanciful flower arrangements.
The afternoon has slipped by. Filled with shows, shops and snacks in several of the countries. The Zastawits family had thoroughly enjoyed their time together touring World Showcase. From the Tangier Traders in Morocco, to the Mitsukoshi Department store in Japan, and the Stein Haus in Germany—there was something for everyone in the family to add to their list of possible souvenirs. Between the shops, everyone enjoyed a multitude of delicious snacks including fresh caramel corn in Germany, cool and refreshing kakigori (shaved ice) in Japan, and tasty gelato sandwiches from Italy, to help take the edge off Florida’s summer heat.
Charlie and his family managed to make it all the way to Norway, before realizing it was almost time to head back to Italy for dinner.
At that moment, inside The Puffin’s Roost in Norway, Charlie and Michael were addressed by someone rather unusual. A giant troll.
The room where the troll stood was unoccupied except for the boys and a single cast member—who acted as if she knew what was to happen next.
Their parents were in the room next door looking at clothing. Close enough to see their sons, but far enough to not hear their conversations. Nor could they see the troll’s movements, which were cloaked by magic.
“Hello there, boys, I have a quick couple of words for ya.”
Charlie and Michael looked at each other, then all around to see if anyone was watching.
“No need to worry about that little ones, only you and the kind lady over there can see me for who I am,” the troll said, pointing to the cast member—who was straightening up merchandise and keeping an eye out for unwelcome guests.
“And who exactly are you?” Charlie asked.
“Just a messenger for your old friend Frank.”
“So you have something to tell us?” Charlie said.
“Indeed I do,” the happy troll replied.
“Well go ahead and spit it out,” Michael said impatiently.”
“Michael, hush,” Charlie said. “Go ahead Mr. Troll.”
“Uh-hmm-hmmm-hmm. Sir Charlie and Sir Michael, it is with GREAT privilege that I remind you Mr. Wellington has requested your presence after dinner by the Neptune fountain at precisely 8:15,” the giant troll said with a mischievous grin.
“Is there anything else, Mr. Troll?” Charlie asked.
“No sir, that is all.”
“Please, you can call me Charlie.”
“OK, Sir Charlie.”
“Just Charlie is fine.”
“OK, just Charlie.”
Charlie giggled. “No, what I meant was, you can call me, Charlie, without ‘Sir’ in front of it.”
“OK, Charlie.”
“And what is your name, Mr. Troll?”
“I never really thought about a name, but my friends call me, Mort.”
“Well, nice to meet you, Mort,” Charlie said, as he shook the troll’s giant hand. “And this is my brother, Michael.”
“Hello, Michael.”
“Hey ya, Mort,” Michael said in an uninterested manner.
“Oh, don’t worry about him, he was born cranky,” Charlie said, to lighten the moment.
The troll and cast member laughed at Charlie’s comment.
“Thanks for nothing, Charlie,” Michael replied.
“See, what did I tell you, Charlie said, with a funny facial gesture—triggering more laughs from Mort and the cast member.
“OK boys, looks like Mort’s time is up,” Brit, the cast member said.
“Ope, heh-heh, guess I gotta go fellas,” the troll said. “It was nice chat’n with ya.”
“You too, Mort,” Charlie replied. “Maybe we’ll get a chance to talk again some day.”
“I’d like that, the troll replied with a giant grin. He returned back to his normal pose and froze in place.
“Thank you too, Brit,” Charlie said, reading the cast member’s name tag.
“You’re welcome, I hope we get to see you again some day,” she replied with a smile.
“Me too,” the boy said.
“Yes sir. I know sir. I, I remember what I promised,” Captain Fibs said to Dark Thorn Senkrad, as they stood high above the Bijutsu-kan Gallery, near the back of the Japan Pavilion.
Senkrad stood tall, cloaked in a black robe. He was looking through a small window, staring out into World Showcase, as an unnerved Fibs pleaded his case.
“But sir, they were rescued by Patron magic. The hedge maze, it, it came alive and provided an escape for those two little brats.”
Captain, are you telling me you and your two pudding-for-brains spies—what were their names again, Dink and Groogle?, are incapable of dealing with a little measly spell from some old washed up Imagineer?”
“There names are Duke and Grim, sir. And no, the hedge incident was just a minor setback. I’ve got my boys out tracking down those two little worms right now as we speak. In fact, I expect a call any time now saying they found ‘em.”
Senkrad turned and gazed upon Fibs with his dark, soulless eyes. “I do hope so for your sake.”
The captain swallowed hard, almost chocking on air. “Yes, I do as well, sir.”
“Then go, bring me the watch. And the boy if you must. Either way, I need the watch by midnight, and not a second later.”
“Yes, dark leader,” Fibs replied obediently—which was very unusual behavior for the captain. But Senkrad, like all other Dark Thorns, had an intimidating presence.
“I know they are still in the park. I can feel the magic of the watch,” Senkrad said, turning back towards the window—he looked out into World Showcase. “The evening is upon us Captain, I suggest you go now. Midnight will be here before you know it.”
“Yes, yes sir,” Fibs replied. He slowly backed away towards the staircase.
Senkrad stood in silence, continuing to stare out the window, as if Fibs were not even there.
The intimidated captain took it as a sign to leave. He excited the room, headed down the stairs, through the Bijutsu-kan Gallery, and back into World Showcase—alone, and desperate to find the watch.
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