Ben, who’d been carrying the book ever since it had cushioned his fall, looked at the book and shrugged.
‘I haven’t got a clue,’ he replied. ‘Your guess is as good as mine!’ ‘Well, you’d better do something pretty quickly,’ said Trep pointing towards the dark stain of the Whispers. ‘They’re on the move and coming in this direction.’
Without a second glance at the approaching mass, Ben opened the book randomly. At first nothing happened and he was just about to flick over a few more pages when the book started to tremble in his hand. Shoving the diamond into his pocket, Ben tried to steady the book with both hands. The book continued to tremble with such force that Ben’s arms began to shake violently. Then, just as Mak and Noj walked over to help try and control the book, a huge plume of sand shot out from the pages. Still the book trembled as the column of sand spread out above their heads to form a swirling mass.
Noj grinned at the sight. ‘I think we have a unique umbrella,’ he said pointing at the churning mass of sand. ‘Come on,’ he said excitedly. ‘Get under cover and let’s make a run for the mountains.’ He grabbed Ben’s arm and gestured for Trep and Mak to follow suit. ‘Let the Whispers mess with a sandstorm if they dare.’
Chapter 26
The fury of the sandstorm surprised everyone. The Whispers, making tentative attempts to penetrate the maelstrom, quickly found themselves torn to shreds by the razor-like sand particles and their remnants hurled to the wind.
Huddled around the book, the four figures forced their weary limbs to push forward towards the mountains that loomed menacingly in the distance. Cradling the book close to his body, Ben used his free hand to point at the mountains.
‘Are we supposed to be heading towards those unwelcoming pinnacles?’
‘I don’t think we have a choice,’ replied Noj, pointing at the swirling mass overhead, which seemed bent on directing them towards the mountains. ‘It has a mind of its own and I’m not going to argue with it.’
For the next hour the figures trudged firmly on, while the sandstorm continued to make life unpleasant for those beneath and intolerable for the Whispers. Just when it seemed that a more bearable option was to face what was left of the Whispers, Trep suddenly stopped, his face ashen.
‘What?’ he mouthed, slowly raising his arm to indicate what it was that had caught his breath.
Barely visible through the plume of sand lay a broad swathe of huge, bony fingers stretching upwards towards the sky. As silently as it was possible with a whirlwind of grit hurtling around their heads, the four figures walked towards the eerie scene.
With the sun fading rapidly and a chill beginning to permeate the air around them, the four figures finally stood before one of the strangest sights they had seen during their odd journey. As if by some form of weird extrasensory perception, the sandstorm appeared to determine that its protection was no longer necessary and, with a slight stutter, it withdrew into the book.
Ben, with a shrug of his shoulders, closed the book and replaced it inside his cloak.
‘That’s, that then,’ he said coolly. ‘Job done.’
‘Until the next time,’ grinned Noj. He nodded at the disturbing sight in front of them. ‘Weird or what?’
Stretching as far as they could see in the increasing gloom was a forest of dead trees, their branches scratching noiselessly at the sky. Along the tips of their scrawny branches hung a motley collection of faded rags, snatched from the wind and held aloft like souvenirs from a long forgotten carnival.
‘Through there?’ enquired Trep.
No one spoke. The rapidly forming shadows added another dimension to the trees, which made them appear animated whenever anyone looked. Ben shuddered.
‘That’s really strange,’ he said quietly, almost to himself.
‘Strange or not,’ replied Mak, ‘be thankful that the Whispers won’t follow us in there. If they did, what’s left of them will be grabbed, torn and hung out to dry.’
Without further comment, they walked solemnly amongst the lifeless wood.
By some strange coincidence, the further they travelled into the forest the darker the sky became until, eventually, it was almost impossible to see where they were going or where they were putting their feet. Finally, Noj, having stubbed his toes more often than he cared to count, said what they all felt.
‘This is getting ridiculous,’ he said, feeling increasingly agitated. ‘One of us will get injured trying to push through this creepy forest and then what?’
‘A piggy-back?’ suggested Ben.
‘A what?’ snapped Trep. ‘Don’t you ever say anything remotely sensible?’
‘Well, ‘began Ben.
‘Sssh,’ hissed Mak. ‘Over there.’ He pointed deep into the forest where a faint light could be seen gently swaying from side-to-side.
They each looked into the forest at the gently swinging light as it gradually appeared to get larger the more they watched. As the light approached, a vague sound could be heard, a haunting melody carried on the wind. The melody caressed their ears, making them feel safe, secure in the embrace of a comforting tune.
Suddenly, the light stopped growing and the melody drifted away. Stillness crept silently around the four figures.
‘Hello,’ crooned a honeyed-voice. ‘The trees told me there were strangers approaching, so I thought I’d come along and welcome you.’ The honeyed-voice hung in the air, each syllable dripping slowly into sound. ‘Once welcomed,’ continued the honeyed-voice, ‘you’re no longer strangers. So nice.’
The light had approached a little closer as the honeyed-voice spoke, but all that was visible in the veil-like darkness was a slender figure encased in a voluminous cloak. Beneath the lantern light the deep hood revealed little more than the occasional glint of dark eyes dancing in the shadows.
‘Are we supposed to know you?’ enquired Ben peering into the hooded depths.
‘I don’t think so, handsome,’ replied the voice. ‘But I’m sure we can overcome such trivial details.’
Ben, feeling his neck and cheeks flush with embarrassment, nodded to his companions.
‘There’s four of us,’ he said indicating the others.
‘Never been a problem before,’ chuckled the hooded figure. ‘I’ll tell my sisters to expect guests.’ Turning away, the hooded figure paused. ‘Don’t stay out in the cold. Follow me.’
Feeling too tired to argue or even question where they were being led, the four trudged wearily in the dull glow from the lantern.
Time and distance seemed far to long for the tired bodies. Finally, the hooded figure stopped as the trees suddenly moved to one side to reveal an outline of buildings that appeared darker than the night itself. Scarcely aware of any detail in the buildings, the four exhausted figures just about managed to remain upright as the hooded figure opened the door to one of the buildings.
‘Here you are my sweet ones, rest your pretty heads and we’ll tend to your needs first thing in the morning.’ The figure moved away from the door and began to walk into the shadows. ‘Goodnight my loves, sleep tight.’
Cautiously edging his way to the door, Ben tried to peer inside the interior of the building. In the blackness he could see nothing but the smell of freshly laundered sheets and a waft of warm, lavender tinted air, caressed his senses and lured him in. The other three hovered anxiously around the open doorway wondering what might have happened to Ben.
‘Ben?’ called Mak into the inky stillness. There was no reply other than a gentle snoring coming from deep within the room.
‘Sounds comfortable,’ murmured Trep and, without another word, he too disappeared into the darkness.
‘If they’ve taken the only two beds,’ growled Mak as both he and Noj bustled into the welcoming interior.
A few moments later, the hooded figure emerged from the shadows, the honeyed-voice gently singing a lullaby that drifted through the doorway and embraced each of the sleeping figures. With a quiet chuckle, the figure closed the door
on the four travellers.
Chapter 27
The first glimmer of daylight flickered across Ben’s face. Sleepily he brushed at his face and snuggled deeper into duvet. The daylight turned its attention to the sleeping forms of Mak and Trep who, like Ben, tried to brush the irritant away but failed. Mak rubbed his eyes and blinked at the change in light while Trep buried his head under the pillow to avoid being poked in the eye by the fingers of light.
Mak, who had by now rubbed his eyes open, looked around at the room that none of them had been able to see the night before. From where he lay, Mak could see three other beds besides his own, each covered with an elaborately patterned duvet and huge pillows that almost swallowed the occupant’s head. The irritating daylight was now percolating through a rather grimy window whose equally grubby curtains had been drawn back. Wrapped in an ill-fitting duvet stood Noj, staring out at the newly revealed landscape.
‘What’s out there?’ enquired Mak, his voice a sleep-parched squeak.
Noj, turning slowly away from the window, frowned and gave a slight shrug. ‘Not sure,’ he replied thoughtfully. ‘But it’s not what I expected.’
Peering over the edge of his warm duvet, Ben blinked at the daylight. ‘The last I remember,’ he said sleepily, ‘was a forest of dead trees and this hooded figure with a lantern. I can’t remember much after that, apart from a rather inviting pillow,’ he added pushing his head deeper into the inviting softness.
‘Fellas!’ called Mak, wrestling with his duvet.
‘This pillow is something else,’ continued Ben.
‘Fellas!’ repeated Mak. ‘There’s something missing,’ he said staring under the duvet.
‘Really,’ grinned Ben. ‘Have you only just noticed?’
‘No, seriously,’ grimaced Mak. ‘There really is something missing.’
‘He’s right,’ said Noj as a broad smile swept his face. ‘Look for yourself.’
‘No thanks,’ replied Ben sternly.
‘I meant,’ added Noj, ‘look under your own duvet.’
Cautiously, Ben lifted his duvet a peered into the soft gloom. ‘Thank goodness for that,’ he said with relief. ‘You had me worried for a moment.’ He paused, looked from Noj to Mak and back again and then peered once more beneath the duvet. ‘Good grief,’ he cried. ‘Where are my clothes?’
‘I think,’ said Noj, indicating the window with his head. ‘That you’ll find our newly washed clothes embracing the sunlight.’
With one movement, Ben leapt out of bed draping the duvet around him. He paused briefly at the window before turning back towards the room.
‘They’ve been washed,’ he announced with a frown.
‘Remind me to ask you when I need someone to state the blinding obvious,’ snarled Mak.
‘But what about the Book and the diamond?’ Ben asked. ‘My cloak couldn’t have been washed without someone emptying the pockets, my Mum always does,’ he added.
Before anyone had a chance to reply, the door burst open and three beautiful girls walked in carrying trays laden with freshly baked bread, sweet smelling jams and round doughnut-like cakes dripping with syrup.
‘Good morning, boys,’ chirruped the girl with golden hair. ‘Slept well I hope?’
Three of the boys instantly hugged their duvets tightly around them while Trep, still with his head buried beneath his pillow simply grunted.
Golden Hair, smiled and hooked her foot around the leg of a small table. Dragging it into the middle of the room, she motioned to the other two girls to place their laden trays onto the table. ‘Here you are then,’ she smiled. ‘Eat your fill and we’ll catch you later.’
Ben had difficulty deciding which vision to look at first. A quick glance at the food and his mouth began to ache with anticipation. A second, and longer glance at the three girls caused his heart to flutter.
Standing next to the table, and enjoying every moment of being the centre of attention, were three pictures of beauty. Golden Hair, who seemed to be the one the other two girls looked to for guidance, had eyes the colour of deep blue sapphires. Her cheekbones appeared to nudge her eyes closer to her forehead. Her sun-ripened hair was loosely held away from her face with a large, multi-coloured ribbon.
The other two girls were striking in their difference to each other. The taller of the two girls peered coyly at the boys from behind her glistening red hair, which fell across her face, partially hiding eyes of hazel and green. The shortest of the three girls smiled brazenly at each of the boys. Her jet black eyes searched every facet of their features, seemingly appraising each of them before arriving at a decision. Neither of the boys was sure what they were being appraised for or whether they might agree with her decision, whatever that might be.
Almost emphasising their beauty by contrast, each of the three girls wore cloaks that were dour, indiscriminate in colour and displayed a plethora of haphazardly stitched patches. The girls, aware of the boy’s scrutiny, smiled, tugged their ragged cloaks around themselves and, with a slight nod, encouraged the boys to eat the food from the trays.
Golden hair ushered the other two girls towards the door, but not before they had both looked directly at Ben and blinked a welcome to him. With embarrassment beginning to colour his face, Ben busied himself with the contents of the trays. Golden Hair gave an almost imperceptible shake of her head to the other two girls.
‘Come along now,’ she chided. ‘Leave the boys to their stomachs. You can make eyes at them later.’ She winked at Ben. ‘I’ll have your clothes brought over to you in a moment.’
The door closed leaving the four boys staring at each other with full mouths.
‘What did you make of that?’ asked Mak with breadcrumbs tumbling from his lips.
‘Ben seemed to like the look of the other two,’ grinned Trep. ‘He couldn’t take his eyes off them.’
‘Rubbish,’ snapped Ben. ‘They were looking at me.’ He quickly snatched two of the doughnut-like cakes and stuffed them into his mouth.
Trep, following Ben’s example, took two of the cakes and, after pushing them into his mouth, lay back on his bed, placed the pillow over his head and snuggled beneath the duvet.
Aware that if they didn’t act quickly they’d lose out in the cake snaffle, Noj and Mak emptied the plate of the remaining cakes. As the three chewed happily on their cakes, and Trep drifting off into a cake-fuelled slumber, a gentle lullaby drifted into their consciousness.
Hardly aware of the melody playing around their ears, the three wakeful eaters continued working their way through the trays of delightful food. Happy and replete, the three conscious eaters were contented. Each felt that finally they had reached a place of safety, somewhere to rest, to forget their responsibilities and cares and simply relax into the day. Ben, Noj and Mak each lay back on their beds, rested their hands behind their heads and sank into happiness.
Chapter 28
A little while later, rested and feeling content with the world, Ben, Noj and Mak stretched their arms above their heads, happily smiling at each other. Now that their clothes had been delivered just moments before by the girl with the striking red hair, their contentment was complete. Mak sniffed deeply at their fresh laundry.
‘Care for a stroll around this wonderful landscape?’ he asked.
Noj and Ben smiled in agreement. Pulling their clothes under the duvets, the boys hurriedly dressed before ambling beside the slumbering form of Trep. Ben nudged the body with his foot.
‘Come on, sleepy jaws, come and get some exercise while the day is still young.’
A grunt sounded from beneath the pillow.
‘I take it that you require a little more rest than we do,’ Ben replied with a grin. ‘See you later.’
Walking into the bright day, the three occupants of the cabin blinked and rubbed their eyes. Looking around them, they couldn’t help but smile.
‘Just look at that,’ said Noj happily. ‘Have you ever seen such a beautiful sight?’
Surrounding
the collection of cabins and sheds, a flourishing forest filled the landscape. Trees of varying shapes, sizes and colour formed a swathe of natural beauty around the dwellings. Even the buildings seemed resplendent nestling against the slowly rising hills that led to the mountains in the distance. Everywhere seemed to have a lustre that was as attractive as it was colourful. The three lads nodded encouragingly at each other.
‘Absolutely splendid,’ announced Noj.
‘We’re so glad you think so,’ said a sultry voice.
Looking around, the lads were delighted to see three girls that had brought them breakfast earlier in the day.
‘It all looks wonderful,’ said Ben looking at the forest and then the girls. ‘Beautiful.’
The three girls giggled in delight.
‘What a charmer,’ said Golden Hair with a slight shake of her hair. ‘You seem to have a honeyed-tongue. We shall have to watch this one, won’t we girls?’
The other two girls giggled again.
Ben, feeling the temperature rise in his face once again, swallowed noisily. ‘Er, well,’ he stuttered.
‘Oh, and modest too,’ said the raven-haired girl. She blew a kiss towards Ben who, much to his astonishment felt a gentle caress across his lips. His look of surprise made Noj and Mak laugh until they too felt a kiss brush their lips. The three lads stood looking both bemused and embarrassed.
‘Don’t tease so,’ admonished Golden Hair to the Raven beauty. She turned and smiled.
Now, my young gentlemen,’ she said in silky tones. ‘Why don’t you take your time, wander around our lovely forest and experience the beauty all around you.’ She emphasised the last words with a flourish of her arm. ‘See,’ she cried. ‘It’s wonderful!’
Each of the three lads nodded in agreement. Everywhere did, indeed, look wonderful. The myriad of colours glistened in the sunlight while the aromatic flowers almost overwhelmed the senses. Ben sighed.
‘I can’t remember when I last felt so contented, possibly never like this.’
Both Noj and Mak nodded enthusiastically as they watched the three beautiful girls walk away towards a low, wooden building and disappear inside. Ben, sniffing the air, grinned inanely.
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