by Down, Reg
“That’s okay,” said Tiptoes. “I just want to chat,” and she flew in the door with a flutter of wings.
The lighthouse was round and had three rooms. On the ground floor was the living room and kitchen; above that was the bedroom, and above that was a work room. High on top sat the room with the light that the keeper had to tend. The living room had two small, deep set windows looking towards land. The windows had to face away from the sea, otherwise, when storms sent waves crashing against the lighthouse, they would break and the house be flooded.
The keeper made himself a cup of tea and sat down on the sofa by the fire. He had a brown, weather-beaten face. He stroked his beard and looked carefully at Tiptoes with friendly eyes.
“What’s your name, little one?” he asked.
“Tiptoes Lightly.”
“And why did you want to visit?” asked the keeper.
“To hear about mermaids,” said Tiptoes.
The keeper’s eyes opened a bit. “I see,” he said, stroking his beard again.
“Will you tell me about them?” asked Tiptoes.
The keeper’s head bobbed up and down as if he was thinking. “I suppose,” he said slowly. “There’s not much to say really. They live in the sea and are half human and half fish—or at least that’s what the legends say.”
“What else?” asked Tiptoes.
“What else? Let me see … the ladies are called mermaids or sea maidens, and the men are called mermen.”
“And who’s their king?” asked Tiptoes.
“Neptune,” replied the keeper getting up suddenly. “That’s all I know. I have to check the light,” and he climbed the stairs.
Tiptoes listened to his footsteps going round and round the lighthouse tower until he got to the top. He stayed there for a long time and didn’t come down.
Chapter 26
~ Tuesday ~
Robber Pirates and Sea Dragons
Tom Nutcracker and June Berry spent a good part of the morning finishing their ship. They got their dad to haul long pieces of driftwood from the next bay, and June found an old rope with a float tied to the end. Farmer John said it had broken free from a crab trap. They tied the rope from the mast to the front and sides of the ship. When they were done they decided their boat was a battleship and called it ‘Invincible’. Then Farmer John left with Lucy for a stroll down the beach.
Not long after trouble began to brew. King Thomas and Captain Berrybug were standing on the deck as their battleship heaved up and down over the waves. King Thomas had his telescope to his eye, scanning the sea. Suddenly he saw robber pirates sailing over the horizon, their ships dark and menacing. They had come to steal the silver pearls.
“Captain Berrybug,” said King Thomas sternly. “Set the sails, arm the men, full steam ahead!”
“Aye-aye, yessir,” cried Captain Berrybug. “Ladies and gentlemen, unfurl the sails—full steam ahead!”
The mighty battleship ploughed through the seas, bucking and heaving. It charged amongst the robber pirates come to steal the silver pearls, and fought a dozen of them off.
“Watch out! Watch out!” shouted Captain Berrybug. “Others are attacking the sea castles, Ragged and Jagged. They think the pearls are there.” She swung the ship about and raced to the sea castles. Castle Jagged, surrounded by churning waves, was safe, but pirates were crawling all over Castle Ragged for the tide was out.
“Save Castle Ragged!” commanded King Thomas, leaping from the ship.
Captain Berrybug leaped from the ship too. “With me, ladies and gentlemen,” she cried. “Charge!” and together they charged Castle Ragged and won it back. They stood on the highest peak and watched as the nasty pirates sailed away.
“But look,” said Captain Berrybug, pointing. “A sea dragon! He’s coming! Oh, no! Watch out! He’s sniffing! He smells the pearls hidden in the Treasure Cave.”
“Back to the ship!” shouted King Thomas. “To sea! To sea—before he reaches shore.”
Back they ran and set sail to sea. The dragon was pink and slimy with a long tail and sniffing nose. It wrapped itself around the ship and munched on the sails.
“The ship will sink,” groaned King Thomas. “Slay the slithery monster!”
“It won’t sink our mighty ship, Invincible,” said Captain Berrybug. “I have my trusty sword, Nervous Nail Biter.”
Whack-whack-whack went Captain Berrybug’s sword as she fought the sea dragon.
“It’s falling back into the sea,” cried King Thomas. “Hurray for Captain Berrybug! She’s slain the slimy sea dragon. But watch out, another monster approaches. It’s Sea Dog Lucy and his master, Pegleg John!”
“Woof-woof,” barked the Sea Dog, leaping into the ship and jumping all over them.
“Help! Help!” laughed Captain Berrybug. “He’s licking us to death!”
“Me too,” giggled King Thomas. “What shall we do?”
“Come to lunch,” cried Master Pegleg John. “It’s time! It’s time!
“Yea!” shouted King Thomas and Captain Berrybug, jumping from the battleship. “Charge the bluffs! Capture the cottage! We want lunch!” and off they ran with Sea Dog Lucy chasing after them.
Chapter 27
Tiptoes meets the Sea King
Tiptoes went down to the sea. Pelicans were heading southward in small flocks. They liked to fly in long, sinuous lines a few feet above the waves. The waves pushed the air up as they rose and kept the pelicans aloft. They could fly for miles and miles down the coast, gliding and gliding and gliding from wave to wave. Tiptoes followed a flock of five and tried to talk to them, but they were too busy. They were heading south to spend the winter in warmer waters.
So Tiptoes flew out to sea. Further and further and further she flew until the land sank from sight. Below her the great rollers marched over the ocean deep, and she could feel the strength and vastness of the sea. The wind blew—forever and forever the wind blew. It told her of lands she had never seen; distant lands soaked in the sun or covered in ice and snow.
She looked into the water; Tiptoes’ eyes could see deep into the water. She saw fish swimming in schools: mackerel, sardines, salmon, tuna and swordfish with long pointy noses. She spied a pod of playful dolphins sporting in the distance. Then the waves began to churn. A power moved through the ocean, a great power and Tiptoes could feel it. The schools of fish fled and scattered, and the dolphins dived for the deep. Out of the waves the King of the Sea rose with a crown of glittering gold and a spear with three points in his hand. He searched the horizon from north to south, and from east to west. Suddenly his gaze fell on Tiptoes. She felt very small.
“Have you seen her?” the King of the Sea boomed. His voice was like waves crashing on cliffs and the wind sighing in the rocks.
“Who?” asked Tiptoes in a tiny voice.
“The one I seek—my loveliest daughter,” said the King of the Sea. “I have searched the deeps and the shallow waters. I have searched the mountains miles below the waves. I have searched the underwater caves and coral lagoons. I have searched within forests of tangled weeds and amongst the seals and dolphins. Nowhere have I seen her.”
“I haven’t seen her either,” said Tiptoes. “What does she look like?”
The King of the Sea glowered and raised his spear of three points. “She is beautiful like the sea when the moon is rising; lovely as the ocean when the sun is glowing; delicate as a breath of wind upon still waters. She must come home, home to her palace under the waves.”
“I’ll tell her if I see her,” said Tiptoes. “But I don’t usually come this far out to sea. I live in a tree beside a river.”
“Tell my daughter her father is calling,” cried the King of the Sea. “Tell her my home is waiting. Tell her the Sea King commands her return,” and he turned and sank beneath the waves.
Then the ocean churned no more, the fish stopped fleeing, and the dolphins came up and breathed fresh air.
Chapter 28
How the Sea King found th
e Royal Pearls
Tiptoes flew back towards the land. The mountains rose into sight and so did Summer’s Fort. She saw the lighthouse, slim and delicate, and the seal rocks and the beach. She saw Farmer John walking with Lucy, and she flew low over Castle Ragged and Castle Jagged. Tom and June were standing on top of Castle Ragged, waving their swords and shouting at the top of their lungs.
“I wonder what those two are doing?” thought Tiptoes, but she didn’t stop to find out. She flew on to the cave and went inside.
“Obaro ... Obaro,” called Tiptoes. “Are you home?”
“I am always and always at home, at home,” said Obaro appearing in the half light.
“You have to finish your story of the pearls,” said Tiptoes. “What happened after they were seeded from the sand that fell from the Sea King’s daughter’s hair?”
“Oh, yes. The pearls, the pearls,” said Obaro, his colors changing as he dug deep into his memory. “Yes, the pearls, the precious ones. I will tell you of the pearls.”
Obaro became still and his eyes turned inward. From far, far away he began the tale.
“Time went on and time went on and the pearls grew in beauty and size. The mermaid princess never went back to the sandy beach, but in her heart she found herself longing to see the other world again, the world of solid land and men. Often and often she remembered sitting in the warm sun and how the breeze touched her face and played with her hair.
‘Why does my father despise the world of land and men?’ she thought. ‘It seemed fair to me, and as beautiful as ours,’—but she hid these things away in her heart and never told anyone, not even her sisters.
One day the King of the Sea came looking for his daughter. He entered her cave, but she was not there. He looked at the floor and saw that seven of the oysters were closed and not showing their pearly insides.
‘Open!’ commanded the King, and the oysters obeyed. Inside each one lay a pearl, a royal pearl such as had never been seen before in size and beauty.
‘These are treasures indeed,’ said the King, picking one up. ‘But how were they made?’
The oysters stayed silent.
‘Speak!’ ordered the King.
‘From the sand of a beach that fell from your daughter’s lovely hair,’ replied the oysters.
Then the King of the Sea was furious. He swept up the pearls and stormed out of the cave.
‘Bring my fairest daughter to me,’ he commanded, and she was brought.
The daughter of the King of the Sea saw how angry her father was and for the first time she trembled before his throne.
‘What does this mean?’ thundered the King, holding out the pearls in his hand.
His daughter hung her head.
Then the King ordered the pearls to be made into a necklace, a royal necklace fit for a princess.
‘Never may you take these pearls from around your neck,’ commanded the King of the Sea, as he closed the golden clasp.
“Oh, this was a pretty punishment, a pretty punishment indeed,” said Obaro, “for the pearls were beautiful and the necklace rare and precious and royal. But forever was the daughter reminded that she had disobeyed her father, the King of the Sea; forever was her shame hung around her neck for all to see, and forever was she reminded of the beautiful beach of golden sand in the world of men.”
“But how did they get in this cave?” asked Tiptoes.
“That is another tale,” said Obaro. “Another tale altogether, and I must go,” and he closed his deep-set eyes and vanished.
Chapter 29
Riding
After lunch Farmer John asked if Tom and June would like to go horseback riding. This was a silly question. Tom and June loved riding and even had their own pony back at the farm.
“Can Tiptoes come too?” asked June Berry.
“Of course she can come,” said Farmer John. “I’m not sure these stables have fairy horses for rent—but we can find out.”
So Tiptoes came in the car with them and they drove up the coast for a few miles. They turned in at a farm with a barn and corral beside the road. On the barn was a sign: Lonely Horseshoe Stables. A tough looking lady in a jean jacket and cowboy boots came out of the barn and greeted them.
“Y’all looking fer a ride?” she asked, eyeing them over.
They nodded.
“Y’all look like you know riding,” she said.
They nodded.
“Thought so,” she said. “I’m Jo,” and she shook Farmer John’s hand.
“Well, com’mon outa that there metal stallion and chuse yer mount,” she said.
“What about our dog?” asked Farmer John out the window.
The lady stopped and turned.
“He friendly?”
Farmer John nodded.
“Got sense?”
Farmer John nodded.
“Knows horses?”
Farmer John nodded.
“Obeys?”
Farmer John nodded.
“He can mosey along with us then,” said Jo, walking away.
“I have a feeling that Jo won’t have any fairy horses,” said Farmer John.
“I don’t think so either,” said June Berry.
“Me neither,” laughed Tiptoes. “I’ll see you later,” and out the window she flew.
They got out of the car and went into the barn. A row of stalls ran down either side. There were horses in all of them. Farmer John chose a gentle looking mare, and Tom and June chose pinto ponies with large brown patches.
“Them thar pintos be right good,” said Jo, praising Tom and June’s choice.
“We have our own pony,” said Tom. “His name’s Chiron. We ride him all the time—bareback too.”
“Do ya now,” said Jo. “And where do y’all keep yer pony?”
“At our farm,” said Farmer John. “I’m a farmer.”
Jo looked him up and down.
“Organic, I bet,” she said.
Farmer John nodded.
“Thought so,” said Jo. “What kind?”
“Biodynamic,” said Farmer John.
Jo raised her eyebrows. “Figures,” she said. “I can tell a mile away.”
They helped Jo saddle the horses and lead them outside. She boosted the kids onto their ponies, then tightened the girths and adjusted the stirrups. Jo let them use English saddles because that’s what they were used to. Off they went across the road and down a trail towards the beach. The trail was narrow and lined with trees and wound through a forest hung with old man’s beard. The sound of the surf got louder and louder until at last they came out at the wide, sweeping bay. On the horizon stood the lighthouse, and further north were the high cliffs where the mountains ran into the sea. The beach was backed by sand dunes and sea meadows that ran into the forest on the mountain sides. They rode down to the beach and walked north for a while beside the crashing waves.
“Let’s see if y’all can trot,” said Jo to Tom and June, and she set her horse at a trot.
Tom and June easily kept their ponies abreast of her.
“How about a canter,” said Jo and she clicked her tongue and went faster.
Tom and June kicked their heels and their ponies kept up.
“Ready for a gallop?” asked Jo, slapping the reins against her horse’s neck and taking off like the wind. Tom and June were ready for her. They had been riding since they were tiny and they stood up the stirrups and told their ponies to giddyup. Away along the strand they raced, their hair blowing in the wind and the hooves beneath them sending the wet sand flying.
Far behind, Farmer John plodded along on his old grey mare.
Chapter 30
Tiptoes meets a Kite
Tiptoes Lightly left Tom and June at the stables and followed a trail down to the sea. She met an owl sleeping in a tree, but couldn’t wake him up. She saw a worm crawling across the trail and told him to get under cover or for sure he’d be eaten. She saw a mountain ash covered in red berries being mobbed by a flock of robin
s. She found a deer stepping lightly through the trees and flicking his ears.
Tiptoes left the forest and went out onto the sea meadow. It sloped towards the sea and turned into sand dunes as it met the shore. Overhead, a kite was flying, its wings quickly beating the air whenever it hovered in one place. Tiptoes flew up and hovered next to it, but it moved away across the meadow and hovered again. Tiptoes followed.
“What are you doing?” asked Tiptoes.
“Hunting,” said the kite, his sharp eyes glinting.
“What for?” asked Tiptoes.
“Mice,” said the kite.
Just then Tiptoes spotted a mouse running across the meadow below.
“I have a mouse friend,” said Tiptoes, flying in front of the kite. “His name’s Jeremy Mouse.”
“Jeremy Mouse,” said the kite. “That sounds like a delicious name. Where is he?”
“At home,” said Tiptoes, “far away at home.”
The kite shifted downwind and Tiptoes followed. She saw that the mouse had stopped running and was sitting outside its burrow. Suddenly the kite dived, but the mouse whirled around and disappeared into his house. The kite screeched and flew further along the meadow and Tiptoes followed again.
“Why are you following me?” asked the kite.
“Just chatting,” said Tiptoes.
“Go away,” said the kite fiercely. “I’m hungry. I’m never in a good mood when I’m hungry,” and he let out another screech and wheeled away in the wind.
Chapter 31
Sister Vive casts the Seeds from the fourth Fruit of the Tree of Life
The light was dimming and the mist moving in when Farmer John and his children returned from the riding stables. Jo had taken them for a longer ride than normal because no one else was booked that day and the pinto ponies hadn’t been out in a while. Then they helped her curry and comb the horses afterwards. When they got back to the cottage they were starving.