“Yes, yes I am, and I understand that, and we will leave immediately,” replied Colin humbly but just as he was almost out of the door another old wizard asked.
“Well, why did you enter in the first place?”
“It doesn’t matter,” Colin replied.
“I think it does, you disturbed an important council meeting, now we would like to know why?” asked the stern-looking witch.
“Ah well you see…” Colin mumbled before pausing again to think carefully about exactly what he was going to say, because the situation caused for some very delicate and specific words, as so not to upset or anger members of the high council or accuse them of things that could end up getting you thrown in a barrel and rolled down a hill.
“We’re chasing a dark wizard and we thought he came in here,” said Jamie excitedly trying to help.
“What?” cried the council members all together, in horror.
“You think one of us is a dark wizard?” cried Lord Teathorpe, outraged at the implication of the accusation.
“Well no…” replied Colin still trying to think of a polite and suitable answer.
“Then what? You think one us is harbouring a dark wizard?” asked Lord Teathorpe which was just as bad.
“Oh no, no, well…” said Colin still trying to think of the correct words.
“Well, he did come in here,” Jamie said, still trying to help.
“That’s outrageous!” cried a rather plump witch in disgust.
“Yes it is…” agreed Colin but before he could finish another wizard cried.
“Preposterous! We are the high council!”
“Exactly…” Colin said still trying to explain but not really getting a chance before another wizard said,
“I haven’t heard of such a scandalous thing, this is outrageous.”
Then the council members all rose from the table and moved towards the small group of catchers and quickly surrounded them, trapping them right by the door.
“What is the meaning of these allegations?” asked one of the witches.
“It’s not what I meant, no intention was implied,” Colin muttered in protest as the council members voiced their displeasure around him. “It’s all just a mistake, I can assure you,” he added, trying to calm things down.
As the adults argued and bickered around them, Jamie and Trixie stood in the middle of it all getting rather squashed between the larger, plumper bodies.
“Urgh! It’s like being in the world’s worst bouncy castle,” groaned Trixie.
Then Jamie glanced up between the bodies of the crowding council members, and for a second he spotted that familiar evil face again, standing at the back of the group.
“There he is, I see him!” cried Jamie trying to point him out, but instead only getting squashed between two rather large bellies of two old wizards.
“Where?” asked Trixie, unable to see.
“Back there, behind everyone,” replied Jamie, then he began pushing his way through the bigger grown-ups, who were all still hotly debating the whole implication of the possibility of a dark wizard amongst them and why it would be bad for the sale of ice cream if it was true. Until finally emerging on the other side of the group, Jamie stepped free of the adults and stood for a second looking around the room, because now he had lost sight of the dark wizard and had no idea where he had gone.
“Where is he?” asked Trixie, also emerging from the crowd, having followed Jamie and now stood with him ready to continue the pursuit.
“I don’t know, I can’t see him, he’s gone,” replied Jamie, frustrated that they had come so close to seeing the dark wizard properly for the first time.
“Maybe he magic-jumped?”
“No, not possible, the Ministry is sealed off from magic-jumps to stop thieves and intruders,” replied Marty still sitting on Jamie’s shoulder.
“Besides, someone would have seen him leaving,” added Trixie.
So, for a moment or two, they stood looking around the room unsure what to do next, until Trixie suddenly spotted something in the far corner of the room.
“Look, another door!” she exclaimed before marching towards it. Jamie quickly followed her and when they reached the small wooden door, Trixie tried turning the large orange glass handle, and the door eased open and revealed a dark cold room beyond.
Trixie and Jamie peered in cautiously for a second and then slowly they stepped into the room, the windows were covered by old wooden shutters so only a small amount of light could get in through the gaps, and in the dim light Trixie and Jamie could just make out some strange, large, dark objects in front of them.
“What are they?” asked Jamie nervously.
On the left there seemed to be a giant twelve-foot-tall wooden broom leaning against the wall, beyond that was a ten-foot-high black witch’s hat, in the middle of the room was a giant black cauldron that took up most of the space, and beyond that appeared to be several scary-looking giant black crows, and one giant brown toad.
“I think…” but before Trixie could finish her sentence she trod on something that squeaked, making them all jump in terror. “Sorry!” she whispered as they all took a deep breath to calm down.
“You nearly gave me a heart attack,” muttered Marty, annoyed.
“I said I was sorry,” replied Trixie.
“But who leaves a rubber frog on the floor?” she asked picking up the toy she had accidentally trodden on.
“So, what is this?” asked Jamie, looking curiously at the large unusual objects.
“This would be the secret preparations for the annual Magictasium carnival,” said a male voice suddenly from behind them.
The three catchers screamed in surprise, startled by the sudden voice.
“That’s it, I’m definitely having a heart attack now,” exclaimed Marty, dramatically clutching his chest and laying back on Jamie’s shoulder, and overacting badly like a footballer looking for a free kick.
Jamie and Trixie spun around and found a rather handsome gentleman in a dark black suit and tie, with neatly combed hair, standing there smiling at them while holding up an old oil lamp.
“Hello there,” he smiled.
“Sorry to startle you, but who might you be? And how did you find your way back here?” he inquired politely.
Trixie’s eyes lit up and she couldn’t help smiling back at this handsome stranger, as she stared deep into his big blue eyes and charming smile.
“I, I, I…” she stammered nervously, trying to speak.
“We’re looking for someone,” said Jamie abruptly, who was not lost in thought, while staring at this handsome man, like a certain someone else was.
“Oh, who would that be?” enquired the stranger.
“My uncle,” Trixie said, quickly realising that mentioning the presence of the dark wizard might just anger the young man, like the councillors before him.
“My uncle Colin, we lost him, he was giving us a tour of the Ministry and we got separated,” she said, thinking quickly.
“I guess you could say I’m all alone,” she added, staring dreamily at the young man again.
“Except for us,” added Marty who had finished overacting and was now sitting normally again on Jamie’s shoulder.
“And who is your uncle Colin?” asked the young man inquisitively.
“Colin Caterwhich, he used to be on the Ministry council,” replied Jamie.
“Oh yes, I believe I’ve heard his name mentioned once or twice, so that must make you Trixie Caterwhich,” he said with a smile, looking directly at Trixie.
“Yes, yes I am,” she replied. “You’ve heard of me?”
“Well, I’ve heard of this beautiful, intelligent young woman working in the catchers’ department, and so naturally I presumed it must be
you,” he replied with a bigger charming grin to which Trixie began to blush and giggle uncontrollably, while Jamie and Marty looked on in utter disgust and felt the strong need to be sick.
“And I’m Jamie and this is Marty,” Jamie said, abruptly interrupting them and spoiling the moment by offering his hand. “And you are?” he then asked.
“I am the personal secretary to Lord Teathorpe, Darren Farraden,” he replied, shaking Jamie’s hand firmly.
“So why were you back here in the dark?” asked Marty suspiciously.
“Oh, I was just doing some preparation work on the carnival, it doesn’t just happen by magic you know,” he chuckled, to which Trixie joined in the pleasant laughter.
Marty glanced at Jamie and they stared at each other in disbelief that Trixie would find such a lame joke funny.
“Anyway, the lights in here stopped working for some reason, so I was just setting up this lamp when I heard your voices and came to investigate.”
“You’re like a hero, like a really brave wizard,” muttered Trixie dreamily as she continued staring at him in awe.
“Yes, well, err… let’s get you out of here and go find your uncle,” replied Darren politely before ushering them back towards the door. “And not a word about what you saw in here,” he then added. “Remember, this is supposed to be a secret, a surprise for the whole city.”
As Trixie followed him back out, Jamie suddenly spotted a small wooden table against a wall in the corner of the room and stopped to take a look.
“Hey, what’s this?” asked Jamie, curious.
“Probably nothing, just carnival stuff,” replied Marty leaning back on Jamie’s shoulder and closing his eyes for a quick power nap.
In the dim light Jamie could just make out a rather strange-looking silver crown and sceptre sitting on the table, and next to them a sheet of paper with a crude drawing of the carnival mapped out on it.
“Come on!” Trixie said suddenly, so reluctantly Jamie quickly stepped away from the table and followed the others back to the door.
Back in the council meeting room, where the arguing had now ceased and laughter had taken over, Colin was stood entertaining the council members with some humorous jokes.
“And I said to her, and that’s not my broomstick!” exclaimed Colin loudly at which point everyone burst out laughing, then Trixie, Jamie, Marty and Darren entered the room.
“Ah, there you all are,” said Colin as they crossed the room towards him.
“Are you ok?” he enquired.
“Yes, fine, Uncle,” replied Trixie with a smile.
“And who’s this young man then?” inquired Colin as Darren approached him.
“Darren Farraden, sir, Lord Teathorpe’s personal secretary, and you must be Colin Caterwhich?” replied Darren holding out a hand.
“Yes I am, good to meet you, Darren, I hope they haven’t caused you any trouble?” Colin asked jokingly as he glanced at Trixie, Jamie and Marty.
“No sir, your niece is a very charming lady and her friends have been very well-behaved,” Darren replied politely. “But if you’ll excuse me, I must get back to my work,” he replied, giving a little bow before turning to leave.
“Bye,” muttered Trixie dreamily and giving a little wave and a smile as she watched him walk away.
“Bye!” whispered Marty mocking her and making Jamie chuckle.
“Is everything okay, Darren?” asked Lord Teathorpe from his seat at the conference table.
“Everything is fine sir, nothing to worry about, if there is nothing else I shall be next door if you need me,” replied Darren, pausing as he spoke to his superior.
“Good, yes, you get on with the preparations,” replied Lord Teathorpe waving him away. “And on that note, we must be off too and let you get back to your meeting,” Colin said to the council members before ushering Trixie and Jamie quickly towards the main door.
“Yes, indeed, we should continue, anyway nice to see you again Colin,” replied Lord Teathorpe as the other council members all waved goodbye.
“Yes, goodbye, goodbye,” replied Colin politely giving a little half wave back before he stepped out of the room and closed the door behind him.
“Quick, let’s get out of here,” he exclaimed before marching off back down the corridor.
Chapter Six
Back outside in the warm afternoon sunshine the little catcher group stood by Streak and the cart once more.
“Well, that was embarrassing,” Colin muttered in disbelief before he climbed back into the old wooden cart.
“It could have been worse,” muttered Marty.
“I’m a stupid, stupid, stupid old fool,” grumbled Colin shaking his head annoyed at himself. “How could I just walk into the offices of the Magic Ministry high council, and think I was just going to catch a dark wizard just like that, stupid, stupid, stupid!”
“Don’t say that, Uncle, you’re not stupid, you’re a very clever man and you’re witty, and still very active for a man of your age,” Trixie said cuddling his arm to comfort him.
“Oh thank you, my dear, you are very sweet to say that, but I think time may be catching up with me, in my youth I would never had made a mistake like that, but now…” he sighed regretfully.
“Nonsense, Uncle, you’re not even a hundred, in fact you’re still practically a kid compared to some old wizards, after all Merlin was three hundred before he decided to retire from the council,” replied Trixie, trying to cheer him up.
“That’s true!” Colin agreed, nodding.
“See you’re only half an old fool,” grinned Marty.
Ignoring Marty’s attempt at a joke Trixie continued,
“Look it’s just been a long day, let’s just go home and get something to eat and some rest.”
“Yes, perhaps you’re right,” Colin said, cheering up a bit before taking up Streak’s reins and giving them a gentle tug.
“Personally, I reckon he’s losing his dusty old mind,” sniggered Marty.
“Oh I know, let’s put him in a wizarding home for the elderly. Oooh! Dibs on his room!”
“That’s enough from you,” snapped Trixie dropping an empty glass jar over Marty and trapping him inside.
“Hey, that’s not funny,” grumbled Marty from inside the jar. “Let me out!”
Later that evening, back at their cottage in Teathorpe, after a lovely home-cooked meal, they all sat around the fireplace, relaxing. Trixie and Jamie sat on the old green sofa playing cards, Marty sat in his miniature doll’s chair on a side table reading a book and Colin sat in his favourite red wing-back chair blowing on his bubble pipe while contemplating the day’s events.
“Tell me again what you saw in the other room?” he asked breaking the silence of the evening.
“As I said before, it was all big props for the carnival floats, nothing dark or sinister just glittery and large,” replied Trixie before laying down a card upon the pile between her and Jamie.
“And squeaky,” added Marty.
Colin took a deep, long breath then spoke again.
“And Jamie, you saw nothing unusual?”
“No, not really,” replied Jamie. “Well, there was a crown and a street map of the parade route, but that was it.”
“Unfortunately, that’s not helpful either, the crown is just for the parade day king or queen, it’s nothing of any real importance and you can get a map of the parade route at any kiosk around the city,” sighed Colin before blowing more bubbles on his pipe.
They then sat in silence again as Colin continued debating the facts in his head; he knew there was a clue somewhere in the day’s events, he just couldn’t see it yet, and after a few more minutes he stood up and began to pace around the room hoping some light activity might help him think of the thing he was missing.
“There’s a dark wizard hiding in the ministry, that we know,” he muttered to himself. “Magical creatures are being displaced to the human world, but why?”
“Don’t forget what Henry told us,” said Trixie before laying another card down on the pile.
“Yes, important files are going missing in the Ministry and no one seems to be doing anything about it,” he continued, muttering. “And no one at the Ministry seems to know things aren’t right, except for us and Henry.” Colin then casually walked up the wall, and then across the ceiling, oblivious to what he was doing.
Jamie stopped playing cards and stared up in amazement as Colin passed between him and Trixie.
“Uncle, you’re doing it again!” Trixie sighed pushing his long brown wizard’s hat out of the way so she could see her cards.
“What? Oh yes, ceiling, I must stop doing that,” he said, realising where he was now standing before turning and heading back towards the wall.
“Is that normal?” asked Jamie still watching him.
“That’s natural magic for you; as you get older, some things manifest themselves without you realising it, or having any control over,” replied Trixie. “It’s the downside of magic.”
“We will probably need a tracker’s map shortly for when he begins to jump in his sleep,” added Marty, chuckling as he glanced up from his book.
As Colin stepped back down on the floor, he suddenly had a spark of inspiration from Marty’s comment.
“That’s it!” he cried excitedly. “Map, map, map,” he muttered before he began quickly dashing around the room.
Colin feverishly pulled open cupboard doors and drawers of old wooden cabinets, he shuffled through the clutter on shelves and checked under piles of papers that sat around in places, and all the while the others sat watching him curiously. Then, scrambling over the mound of catcher bottles and cages by the stairs, he pulled open an old leather trunk that sat perched near the top of the pile and a large pile of old papers tumbled out onto the floor with various other things.
“Yes, yes!” he cried excitedly, dropping to the floor before grabbing a leaflet from amongst the clutter of papers. “Brochures, glorious pamphlets of information, with a little inspiration and a good brochure you can have a great adventure,” he declared, waving it about above his head triumphantly.
The Catchers Page 12