The Secret of the Storm Cloud

by Sidney Gibson

  Anniolate’s brusque abandonment of Venefica was cruel and harsh, but she had not yet finished her cursing. ‘Nobody would call drifting about as a fluffy puff of cloud punishment’ and anyway, it’s far too good for the likes of you. Let’s change the kind of cloud Goodwill had in mind shall we?’ she said ominously. ‘Before exiting your being I will make a significant modification to Goodwill’s spell’

  She laughed horribly, the cloud seething with an evil energy, and bubbling like a volcano about to erupt. In seconds it had turned alarmingly black, spreading a mantle of darkness over the village. A stab of lightning, a clap of thunder. Then it began to rain. Black ink!

  ‘Let’s see what you make of that Goodwill’ screamed a demented Anniolate. A dark shape shot out of the storm at high speed, trailing a spiral of smouldering embers. Anniolate had gone.

  ***

  The mess from the black ink was unbelievable. Washing left out to dry quickly became unrecognisable rags, cottages painted white were filthy in minutes and rivulets of pollution streamed down the lanes. Anyone holding out a hand to check if it was still raining realised too late the inevitability of inky marks on everything they touched. Even sheep in the fields looked black. Nothing was left untouched.

  Anniolate’s threat of village ruination had become desperately close to realisation. Venefica was now a useless pawn, devoid of power and only Azel knew how to break Anniolate’s curse of raining black ink. To cast a successful reversion spell she needed the Warpsweeper to get above the cloud. And that was something she did not have right now.

  ***

  Cruising towards Lower Chantment with the Warpsweeper in auto return mode Danial and Phemie watched the massive cloud grow, enveloping the horizon in a kind of menacing black envelope.

  ‘Dan’ said Phemie ‘Looks a bit black over my mothers. Is something wrong?’

  ‘Nah, everything’s fine, you’ll see’ said Danial ‘It’s just a storm blowing up and.....’

  The flat tone of the Warpsweeper’s voice interrupted. ‘My sensors detect trouble ahead. Do you wish to divert to an alternative destination or proceed as schedule?’

  ‘Trouble? What kind of trouble?’

  ‘Unrecognised weather conditions. Azel Goodwill rendered temporarily incapacitated. Lower Chantment overrun by unidentified liquidity’

  ‘Unrecognised weather conditions? Temporarily incapacitated? Unidentified liquidity? What on earth do you mean?’ repeated Danial, trying hard to take in what the Warpsweeper said.

  ‘Oh Dan, I knew it, I just knew Mum was in trouble the moment we saw that cloud. We must get there quickly’ Phemie stared anxiously at the horizon.

  ‘Instructions, please’ demanded the Warpsweeper. ‘Divert or proceed?’

  Danial had no hesitation. ‘Proceed. Max speed. Emergency override of auto return mode. Destination details amended to Nancy Snow’s shop. Action with immediate effect’

  The Warpsweeper jerked and accelerated instantly to max speed. Azel had set it on auto return but Dan was more than capable of flying it.

  ‘Must get word to Azel’ he shouted over the roar of slipstream. The broom’s cocoon function had been switched off for the gentle cruise home and both Danial and Phemie crouched low in their seats. ‘We’ll meet her at your Mum’s’ he continued. ‘I’ll use the paperless pencil, but at this speed the message will get blown away. We’ll have to stop’

  ‘No you won’t’ cut in the metallic voice of the Warpsweeper. ‘This is no time to for you to phaff about with fancy smoke pencils and Goodwill’s normal communication functions are unimpaired. I will psychologically transmit the message to the wand receiver and ensure co-ordination of simultaneous manifestation of all persons at the agreed rendezvous’

  Danial felt sure the Warpsweeper must have had its emergency language function programmed by Sir Clive Butterupp judging by the pretentious words it used, but it obviously knew what was required.

  ‘Right, okay. Leave it to you’ he said into the microphone.

  ***

  Activated by the Warpsweeper’s signal Azel’s wand glowed green (it only glowed blue if the palace called). The noise of pouring rain smattering on the remaining leaves of the tree under which Azel sheltered made it hard for her to hear the stark message rattled out by the metallic voice.

  ‘Nancy Snow’s shop identified as rendezvous. Estimated time of arrival four point four five minutes and counting’

  Time was running out fast for the village, but in less than five minutes Azel would not only have her Warpsweeper back but ingredients from the shop could be purchased to make a reversion spell and bring an end to the storm. Hurriedly she pulled up the hood of her cloak and stepped out in the downpour of black rain, transporting herself swiftly towards Nancy Snow’s.

  She arrived just as Phemie and Danial swooped in, stopping with a side-ways skid on the filthy mud forming on the road.

  ‘Phemie!’ called Nancy ‘you’re safe my darling. Come on in out of this horrible rain. I don’t know what’s happened but now you’re back I don’t care.

  ‘Oh Mum its so, so good to see you’ cried Phemie, tearfully throwing her arms around Nancy. ‘I’m so glad to be home and its all thanks to Dan here. He’s been wonderful, haven’t you Dan?’’

  Danial shuffled his feet. ‘Aw, it’s nothing really. Phemie’s been great too’

  Phemie let go her Mum and gave him a hug and a kiss. ‘I wouldn’t be here without you’ she whispered.

  ‘Come along now’ said Azel briskly ‘we’ve got urgent work to do. Nancy, I need some of that whiter than white washing powder. You know, dazzling bright white stuff. Have you any in stock?’

  ‘Er, yes Miss Azel’

  ‘Right, I’ll take the biggest box you have, and that empty toffee tin please. Danial, hold it level while I mix in some crystal crumblings’

  She delved into her cloak pocket, pulling out a handful of tiny microscopic crystals which lit up the shop with a sparkly brightness. Into the toffee tin they went together with all the washing powder. Stirring it vigourously with her wand, head bent over the tin in a kind of trance, Azel whispered words in some incomprehensible language.

  Unexpectedly she asked. ‘Nancy, have you any wall-paper paste?’

  ‘Wall-paper paste?’ Nancy, Phemie and Danial chorused together, spellbound by Azel’s preparations.

  ‘Er, yes I think we have some in the stockroom somewhere’ said Nancy recovering quickly.

  She rushed out of the door and returned instantly. ‘Here we are’ she said passing a crumpled sachet to Azel.

  ‘What?’ said Azel, suddenly aware everyone was staring with incomprehension.

  ‘My spell to change the storm cloud requires wallpaper paste to stop it disintegrating. Okay?’

  ‘Okay’ they all said together.

  ‘Anyway, continued Azel, I’m ready now. Stay indoors and keep dry - I’ll be back in less than ten minutes.’

  With a flourish of her cloak, she disappeared through the door of the shop to find the Warpsweeper hovering dry and clean outside. Its advanced construction made it impervious to the rain attempting to penetrate its sophisticated electronics.

  ‘Combat mode?’ asked the metallic voice.

  ‘Naturally’ said Azel with grim determination. Confronting Anniolate’s evil power called for all the resources built in to the Warpsweeper. ‘Try getting over the eye of the storm’ she said. ‘That will be our prime point of attack’

  ‘Wilkco’ said the Warpsweeper.

  ‘Wilkco?’ exclaimed Azel ‘What are you on about?’

  ‘You’d better look it up afterwards’

  ***

  In moments Azel was above the storm cloud, peering into its inner depths to find evidence of Venefica. There was none. Her cloud spell was still working. It was Anniolate’s change to
it that needed reversing.

  She decided to keep her powder dry and try a simple solution first. Her wand flashed in a blur, whirling frenetically at the eye of the storm as she uttered the ancient incantation. ‘Stormus-desperatum-turn-cumulonimbus-let-sunshine-rule-after-exit-from-here. So may it be done’

  A flash of brilliant light emanated from the wand’s tip, blasting through the saturated blackness and bouncing off the cottages below. The storm cloud groaned like a galleon under full sail, shifting its shape but remaining lethargically hung in the sky. That was it. Nothing else happened. The incantation had failed.

  Venefica’s voice whinged with disembodied scorn. ‘So the great Azel Goodwill has failed to defeat my mistress’s power? Are you surprised? She will return and together we shall eliminate you from our future. You are in her black book of death and shall suffer in place of me at the hand of Anniolate. Is she not the Evil Supreme Witch and all powerful to defeat your puny efforts?’

  Ignoring her jibes, Azel opened the toffee tin of crystal and powder mix, and set the Warpsweeper on ‘high altitude combat hover.’

  ‘What are you expecting to do with the contents of that?’ the Warpsweeper asked. ‘If you’re thinking about scattering them by hand whilst I hover, my chemical elements dispersal mode may be more effective’

  Reluctantly, Azel admitted she’d overlooked that feature and now seemed a good time to put it to the test. ‘Confirmed’ she said confidently.

  ‘Place the mix into my right hand distribution cartridge’ the Warpsweeper continued ‘and prepare for dispersal activity’

  Carefully Azel emptied the crystal crumblings, washing powder and paste into the cartridge and closed its lid with a snap. And held on.

  It was like riding on a demented dodgem car racing at the speed of an Olympic downhill skier. The Warpsweeper speared the storm at lethal velocity. Ducking and diving, it tore in to the ghastly images of Venefica, her eyes bulging, face stretched and distorted, a gaping mouth screaming silently in an attempt to prevent the clouds liquidation. Systematically the magic blend was dispersed in intricate grid patterns calculated for optimum effectiveness. Finally the Warpsweeper emerged from beneath the cloud, swooping over the village and landing at the shop with Azel feeling shaken, rather than stirred.

  Hastily she looked skywards. The cloud heaved and rolling as if in desperate agony - but it was not dead. To finish it off and complete the reversion spell Azel would have to repeat the ancient incantation. The lashing rain almost drowned her voice as she shouted it. ‘Stormus-desperatum-turn-cumulonimbus-let-sunshine-rule-after-exit-from-here. So may it be done.’

  She had anticipated the massive thunderbolt which crashed instantaneously out of the cloud but the shock of its sudden violence made everyone else duck in frightened reaction.

  She closed her eyes, clenched fists and waited, praying her spell had worked. When the cheering and applause began she knew it had, and opened her eyes with a relieved smile. A little crowd of villagers had gathered outside the shop revelling in what was now clean, clear rain soaking them to the skin. It was wonderful to see the black grunge washed away in a deluge of freshness.

  Venefica’s scornful voice sneered unexpectedly from somewhere inside the cloud. ‘Goodwill, you have failed again! Can you not see I am still here? Your puny attempts to thwart the majestic power of my supreme mistress have come to nothing.’

  The storm cloud remained hanging blackly overhead. It appeared the reversion spell had been unsuccessful.

  ‘You delude yourself’ barked Azel angrily. ‘Your mistress has robbed you of the comfort of the soft whiteness I had conceived, and now you must exist forever in the chaos of storm. Cold winds and wetness will be your companions wherever you go. Your empowerment to rain black ink is invalidated forever. People will sometimes look and wonder why it rains clear water from a black sky. That will be the mystery I shall call ‘The secret of the storm cloud.’ Now be gone. Disperse upon the wind. Stop raining forthwith. Go. So may it be done’

  Once again, the wand flashed in a blur, whirling frenetically and ending with a slash-like flourish. Venefica’s anguished cries died away, it stopped raining. Magically the storm evaporated into the greyness of the December afternoon.

  Part Four

  Chapter Fifteen

  A proposal - and time travel

  ‘What do you fancy for tea?’ Nancy asked.

  Azel, Danial, and Phemie had piled in to Nancy’s kitchen, escaping the chilly dampness outside. The villagers, not really believing the magic performance they had just witnessed had gone home leaving the street dark and empty. Snuggling in the glow of the solid fuel stove, Danial felt at home. Warm, cosy and part of the family.

  ‘Ooh, egg and chips please Mum’ answered Phemie ‘its sooo good to be home, isn’t it Dan?’ She smiled and squeezed his hand. They had shared both closeness and affection on the journey from Fargon and Danial felt a sudden pang of loneliness. He was going to miss her, like really miss her when he left Lower Chantment and returned to the palace. They exchanged a caring glance and at that moment he knew what he had to do.

  ***

  ‘Here we are then’ said Nancy plonking a slag-heap of chips on a plate with four fried eggs in front of him. ‘Tomato sauce? Brown sauce? Is there anything else you’d loike? ‘

  Wow, thanks Nancy’ exclaimed Danial. Another three platefuls appeared and Azel coughed politely.

  ‘Are you feeling unwell Miss Azel?’ asked Nancy.

  ‘No I’m fine thanks’ Azel hesitated. ‘But I wonder if I might have a little orange flavoured chocolate with my eggs, please?’

  ‘Orange flavoured chocolate?’ said Nancy somewhat puzzled. These magic people seemed a bit odd she mused, but then we eat chocolate eggs at Easter so what’s the difference? ‘Of course you may. I’ll pop in the shop and get you a bar’

  ‘Thank you.’ said Azel unaware she had asked for anything unusual.

  ***

  ‘I’ll help wash up’ said Danial as Nancy cleared the table and filled the sink with bubbly water. ‘And I wonder if I could have a word with you in private’

  Azel, still munching her chocolate had moved to the sitting room with Phemie to watch the news on TV. It was all about the funny weather they had been having.

  ‘ A word in private? With me?’ said Nancy.

  ‘Er, yes please Mrs Snow’

  ‘Mrs Snow? Don’t you mean Nancy, me dear? Call me Nancy. What’s all this about then?’

  Danial took a deep breath and blurted nervously ‘Well you see Nancy, I really fancy Phemie. In fact I’ve fallen in love with her and I’d like to ask her to marry me that is if you would let me ask her that is I mean would it be all right with you if I did? Ask her’

  ‘You marry my Phemie? Her married to a prince?’ Nancy shouted excitedly. ‘Yes Dan. Of course you can ask her - an if she won’t, I will.’

  Phemie ran in to the kitchen ‘What’s the matter, what’s all the shouting about?’

  ‘You’d better ask Dan’ replied Nancy ‘Go on Dan tell her what you just said to me. I’ll leave you two alone and go and see if Miss Azel’s okay’

  Only moments later Nancy and Azel heard a thrilled Phemie. ‘Yes Dan. Yes, yes, yes! I would love to marry you’ And then it all went very quiet in the kitchen.

  ***

  Later that evening Azel seemed a little tense as if something was bothering her. Finally she said, ‘Danial I’m very happy for you and Phemie but there is something you should know. I can’t tell you what it is - you’ll have to speak to QW, but the sooner the better if you want my opinion’

  Danial looked concerned. It was unusual for Azel to sound worried.

  ‘Here’ said Azel ‘use my wand and make a call to QW right now. She passed him the wand, its tip oscillating blue and silver as it always did when making calls to the
palace.

  “Hello,” drawled the voice at the other end of the wand-line “Hello, its Clive speaking”

  ‘Hello Sir Clive. It’s Prince Danial. I really wanted to talk to Aunt QW. Is she there?’

  ‘Sire!’ exclaimed Clive at his most smarmy as he recognised Danial’s voice. ‘So good to hear you your royal highness. Are you sure you’re quite well and safe after your mission to Lower Chantment? Not tired or injured in any way?’

  Danial sighed patiently ‘Yes thanks I’m good. If you could put me through to Aunt?’

  ‘Of course, Sire. No trouble at all, sire. Hold on a mo mo please I’ll see what I can do’

  Danial rolled his eyes at the ceiling.

  ‘Hello Dan’ the clear voice of QW sprang from the wand. ‘Thank you for getting in touch. Now, about this proposal of marriage of yours’

  Danial took a sharp intake of breath. ‘How can you possibly know that, Aunt? I’ve only just asked her’

  ‘Dan my boy I know everything. I have followed your every move since you left the palace’

  ‘Yes, but how? I don’t understand’

  ‘Magic’ said QW simply ‘Just magic. Now, as I said about this proposal. You do realise, don’t you that ancient law forbids you to marry a commoner? And that unfortunately is what Phemie is. If you marry her you lose the status of royalty, your powers of magic and knowledge of, what do you call it, your computer technology thingy’

  The statement was matter of fact, but Azel detected a note of regret and concern. QW was very fond of her nephew and obviously did not want to come between him and happiness.

  The look on Danial ’s face said it all. His smile had vanished and his brain in overdrive trying to think of a way out of the dilemma.

  Then Azel spoke.

  What you say is true my Queen but that law was passed by our magical ancestors many aeons past. Danial could travel back through time to the Great Assembly Hall of the Ancients and persuade them to change their decision’

  ‘Travel back through time, Goodwill. How will he achieve that?’