Silver Hill

by Catherine Cooper

  Camelin scowled at her.

  ‘Now, which way?’ said Nora as she looked at the two openings in the rock.

  Motley pointed to the one on the right.

  ‘The platform’s at the end of the tunnel. We’ve already done a bit of exploring.’

  ‘Well that’s saved us time.’

  Elan gave Nora a sack.

  ‘Are you ready,’ she asked as she opened it.

  ‘Ready,’ replied Motley.

  Jack watched as four of the Night Guard jumped into the sack Nora held open and four scampered into Elan’s. As soon as the rats were safely inside Nora and Elan lifted the sacks carefully over their shoulders.

  ‘Hold tight,’ said Nora.

  The tunnel wasn’t very long. At the end a small platform had been carved out of the rock. Next to the platform stood a small train with three carriages. The first two had seats and the last one held a large cage full of rats. Jack could see how sad they looked. He wondered how long they’d been held captive. He wanted to go over and tell them that everything was going to be alright but he knew it wasn’t something a Hag would do. His thoughts were interrupted by a high squeaky voice.

  ‘What yous lot doing? Yous supposed to be down in the hall.’

  Jack could see an old Spriggan tethered to an iron ring on the wall. He wondered if he was a prisoner too until he remembered that all Spriggans needed to be secured or they grew to gigantic proportions. Nora started grumbling at the Spriggan in a screechy voice.

  ‘Couldn’t make it last night, had to take it really easy, it’s daylight out there, didn’t want to be seen, had to wait ’til the coast was clear. We’re here now so hurry up and let us get on board.’

  The old Spriggan shook his head and chittered to himself before opening the first carriage door.

  ‘That won’t do, won’t do at all,’ grumbled Elan. ‘I get sick if I sit at the front, open the other door.’

  There was more chittering and grumbling as the Spriggan banged the first door shut and opened the second. They pushed and shoved each other to get inside the carriage first. It crossed Jack’s mind that Camelin might not be acting. Once they were seated, the Spriggan guard hesitated before closing the door.

  ‘What’s yous got in the sacks?’

  ‘Presents for Chief Knuckle,’ said Elan.

  ‘Off yous go then,’ he squeaked as he went round to the front of the train and started pulling on a rope.

  The old Spriggan must have been incredibly strong. He managed to move the large rock that had been acting as a brake in front of the front wheel of the train. Once the rock was gone the train began to move. The movement was slight at first as they slowly rolled forwards. A sudden drop made Jack’s stomach lurch. His head hit the back of the seat and he grabbed for the handhold. The train thundered down the tunnels. It swerved round corners and sped over bumps gaining momentum all the time. Jack felt queasy as they were thrown from one side to the other. Tunnel entrances whizzed by. They passed several platforms but the train never stopped, it just hurtled downwards towards its destination.

  ‘Whee!’ shouted Camelin. ‘This is great!’

  Jack felt too ill to answer. He couldn’t wait for it to stop so he could put his feet on the ground again.

  ‘We must be nearly there,’ shouted Elan.

  She wasn’t wrong. The tunnel began to level out and as they travelled along a long straight stretch the train began to slow down. Jack was expecting it to roll gently to a halt so he was totally unprepared for the sudden jolt as the train’s front bumpers bashed into a solid wall. Two Spriggans, who were roped together, hurried over to the carriage.

  ‘Wasn’t expecting any more of yous.’

  ‘Late,’ grumbled Nora as she leapt out of the carriage. ‘Need to hurry.’

  Jack, Camelin and Elan followed. The two Spriggans didn’t pay any more attention to them as they busied themselves harnessing the rats to the back of the train.

  Jack hoped the Bogienap wasn’t going to take too long. It was hot inside the hillside, very hot, and he still felt a bit sick. They made their way up the only tunnel. Nora tutted when she saw the crystals lighting the walls. The soft glow made it easy to see where they were going. Elan opened the sack she was carrying. Jack expected to see the rats jump out but it was empty.

  ‘We might as well collect these as we go,’ she said. ‘If you can knock them off Camelin, we’ll pick them up.

  Camelin fluttered up and poked each crystal they passed. They fell onto the soft earth of the tunnel floor and Jack and Elan took it in turns to pick them up. When they reached the end of the tunnel Elan twisted the top of the sack and slung it over her shoulder.

  ‘Come on,’ said Nora, ‘it can’t be too far. I can see some rooms with doors from here. Let’s go and find ourselves a Bogie!’

  UNINVITED GUESTS

  Jack found it difficult to tiptoe down the tunnel. He kept tripping over his long hair. Camelin was having problems too. At least Jack had arms to push the hair away from his face, poor Camelin only had wings and could hardly see where he was going. Jack wondered how they were going to find the Bogie. He watched as Nora put her ear to each door in turn before using her long, Hag-shaped nose to sniff the keyholes. None of the doors were very big but they were all different. When they were halfway down the tunnel Nora stopped outside a faded brown door and pointed to the sign that hung on the doorknob.

  ‘This is it,’ she whispered. ‘Look!’

  A message had been written in untidy capital letters on a tatty piece of cardboard: DO NOT DISTURB.

  Elan put her ear to the door.

  ‘Someone’s inside, I can hear them moving around.’

  Nora turned to Jack and Camelin.

  ‘Go back down to the end of the tunnel and keep a lookout. Elan and I will get the Bogie inside the sack and then we’ll be on our way out of here.’

  Neither Jack nor Camelin spoke as they shuffled back down the tunnel. When they got to the end they stood back-to-back and peered into the gloom. Jack could hear the slow progress of the train being pulled up one of the other tunnels. It would soon be on their level. Everything was going to plan until suddenly a door opened behind them. They didn’t have time to turn round. A hand grabbed Jack by the scruff of his neck. He could see Camelin was being held too but he couldn’t see who was holding them.

  ‘Skulking or sulking?’ a rasping voice asked.

  Neither Jack nor Camelin said a word.

  ‘So, sulking it is. There’s many won’t be pleased if we don’t start on time. Up to the great hall with you. The rehearsal’s about to begin.’

  Jack swallowed hard. The last thing he’d expected was to be singing in another choir quite so soon, especially not a Hag choir. There’d been no time to warn Elan or Nora. They were going to wonder where they were. He hoped that maybe after a couple of songs they’d be free to go, but then he began to worry again as they were pushed along several tunnels. How would they ever find their way back to the platform?

  Jack managed to catch a glimpse of their captor. It wasn’t a Hag or a Spriggan. It wasn’t like any creature Jack had ever seen before. Although it had arms and legs, the creature’s face was covered in silvery grey feathers, its beak-like nose and fiery red eyes made it look owl-like and ferocious. Jack and Camelin were suddenly thrust into a huge chamber. A long table ran down the middle with stools, chairs and benches arranged around it. Stag’s antlers swung on chains from the ceiling. Each one was covered in candles and as they swayed gently to and fro, the soft candlelight sent shadows around the cavern.

  ‘Over there,’ hissed the creature. ‘Go and join the rest so we can get started.’

  As Jack turned he saw an amazing sight. In the shadows a group of Hags, of all shapes and sizes, were assembled. Many were jostling to try to get to the front but none of them shouted, they all spoke in whispers. Jack nodded towards the owl-man.

  ‘What is it?’ he whispered to Camelin.

  ‘A Draygull. Don’t tell m
e you don’t know what a Draygull is.’

  ‘No, I don’t. Whatever it is, it doesn’t look very friendly.’

  ‘It isn’t.’

  ‘We need to get out of here.’

  ‘I know but I think we’re stuck for a bit, we’re not going to be able to just walk out.’

  The Draygull produced a long stick and began tapping it noisily on the side of a metal stand. The whole room went quiet.

  ‘You’d better sing your best. This is our last rehearsal…’

  The Draygull suddenly stopped and tapped his stick again.

  ‘Enough!’ he screeched towards the back row where a scuffle had broken out.

  He waited with his stick poised in the air until the Hags were still.

  ‘That’s better. Now let us begin. Our first song will be Creatures of the Deep.’

  ‘Do you know it?’ Jack asked Camelin.

  ‘No, don’t you?’

  Jack didn’t get chance to answer. The most awful sound he’d ever heard filled the hall and echoed around the room. It went on and on for what seemed like an age. Both Jack and Camelin opened and shut their mouths in what Jack hoped were the right places. The baton tapping the metal stand brought the singing to an end. The smell of barbecued food drifted into the great chamber.

  ‘Oooh!’ crooned the Draygull, ‘won’t Chief Knuckle be pleased when he hears that. Music to the ears, you may congratulate yourselves. You’ll be singing throughout the feast, which will begin shortly, so go and help yourselves to some food now. You’ll find yours on the tables at the back. Don’t wander off when you’ve eaten, and try to keep yourselves looking tidy, no hair pulling or pushing one another around. We want to look our best for Chief Knuckle, don’t we?’

  Jack wanted to laugh. Not one of the Hags, including himself or Camelin looked neat or tidy. There was a great rush for the back of the room. Camelin began to follow. Jack frowned and pulled him back. This wasn’t the time to hang around.

  ‘We’ve got to go now. We need to get out before the feast begins.’

  ‘But he said we could eat.’

  ‘If you go and eat you’ll be trapped in here, besides you haven’t got any hands to pick anything up with, remember. I don’t know how good our disguise will be when the feast starts, look over there.’

  Jack nodded towards the far end of the great hall. Candles had been placed in every available space. Two groups of Spriggans had begun to work their way around the room lighting them. Eventually the great hall would be ablaze with light. Jack watched as they went back and forth to the fireplace with tapers. At least it would take them a while to get round them all.

  ‘We’ve got to go. Can you remember which way we came in?’

  Jack turned around. They’d come through one of the tunnels opposite to where the choir had been standing, but which one?

  ‘Psst!’ said a tiny voice in Jack’s ear. ‘Follow me.’

  A small moth, wearing a pair of spectacles fluttered around Jack’s head.

  ‘Camelin, look! It’s the Dorysk!’

  ‘What’s he doing here?’

  ‘Rescuing you two. Come on we haven’t got much time.’

  The little moth kept to the shadows. Jack and Camelin did their best not to be seen as they followed the Dorysk. He eventually stopped and fluttered around one of the entrances.

  ‘This way.’

  Jack and Camelin found it hard to keep up with the little moth on their short legs. He led them through a maze of tunnels. A short darkened tunnel led them to a lighted platform alongside which stood the train. The door of the second carriage was open. Jack could see Elan and Nora in the first and a lumpy sack, tied up with a rope, on the seat opposite them. They leapt into the carriage. As soon as Jack closed the door the train lurched forward. They sped up the tunnels. Jack knew the rats were being assisted by Nora’s magic.

  ‘How did you find us amongst all those Hags?’ Jack asked the Dorysk who’d already changed into his usual prickly self.

  ‘Easy! I spotted Camelin’s three hair wart straight away. The polite Hag with him had to be you!’

  Camelin grumbled something Jack couldn’t hear.

  ‘We’re very grateful to you. We could have been down there forever trying to find our way out.’

  A small brown rat scampered onto the seat opposite Jack.

  ‘Please, let me introduce myself, Whortle at your service.’

  The little rat bowed low to Jack.

  ‘Pleased to meet you.’

  ‘I’m a puller or I was until one of your Night Guard changed places with me. There’s more hiding in the sacks. I’ve got a message for you from Nora. She wants you to carry one of the sacks when we get off the train. It’s not far now.’

  ‘But we’re nowhere near the top.’

  ‘We’re not going to the top. There are platforms all the way along where Spriggans can get off, we’re being dropped off at one of them. I’ll get back in the sack now, we’re nearly there.’

  As soon as Whortle was back inside Jack carefully picked it up. He could feel the movement from within as he placed it on the seat opposite. The train began to slow down and soon stopped altogether. They all piled out and shuffled towards a doorway at the end of the platform. The train pulled away and continued its journey to the station at the top. Jack could see Fergus and Berry. They didn’t look too happy. He didn’t think they’d complain in future about being left out of the important jobs. Nora pulled her wand out before swinging the sack she was carrying onto her shoulder. She waited until the train had gone.

  ‘Everyone alright? Good. Let’s not waste any time, we don’t know how long it will be until they discover their Bogie is missing. This way.’

  As they approached the door Nora took out her wand and sent a single bolt of light into the keyhole. The door swung open.

  ‘Bogie doors are the easiest thing in the world to open,’ she said as she shuffled out into the light.

  When they’d all gone through the door Nora pointed her wand at the keyhole.

  ‘Obfirmo,’ she commanded.

  The door slammed shut.

  ‘That’ll slow anyone down who tries to follow us,’ explained Elan. ‘They’ll need an axe to open it. No key will ever work in that lock again.’

  Jack looked up. He was surprised but relieved to see they were at the bottom of Stonytop Ridge. Tall bushes hid them from sight. He could see Nora’s car through a gap in the leaves. Nora and Elan put down their sacks and raised their arms in the air. They spiralled upwards and soon shape-shifted back to normal.

  ‘I suppose we have to wait ’til we get home to get rid of all this lot,’ grumbled Camelin.

  ‘You will,’ agreed Nora. ‘Your spell won’t wear off for a while but we can at least get rid of the smell.’

  Elan passed a small bottle to Jack.

  ‘A couple of dabs behind your ears should help.’

  Jack was amazed. Within seconds the revolting Hag smell had disappeared. Elan did her own ears and gave Camelin a good rub under his chin before passing the bottle to Nora.

  ‘Shall we go? I’ve got a lot of questions to ask our visitor before bedtime.’

  There was a muffled protest from the sack that lay on the grass and a lot of wriggling. Nora ignored the complaints as she stood Pyecroft up on his feet and led him to the car.

  ‘So what exactly were you doing here?’ Camelin asked the Dorysk.

  ‘An important job for Nora,’ he replied before following Elan.

  Camelin shuffled ahead. Jack wondered if he was going to try to get more information from the Dorysk but he wasn’t sure he’d learn much. Jack and Elan walked back to the car together.

  ‘We were worried about you,’ said Elan.

  ‘I was worried about us! I didn’t like the look of the Draygull, he frightened me.’

  ‘It’s a good job we used the Hag smell, Draygulls have an amazing sense of smell and they don’t like humans.’

  ‘They can’t have very good hearing. You sho
uld have heard the Hag choir! I’ve never heard such a dreadful sound.’

  ‘I’m sure Chief Knuckle will enjoy it, but it might spoil his fun if he finds out they’ve had uninvited guests tonight.’

  ‘There’s something I don’t understand; when we were in the great hall the whole cavern was filled with candles. Everyone’s been calling it the Candleless Feast. It doesn’t make sense.’

  ‘Norris and Snook told us all about that. Tonight, the Spriggans are celebrating their new light source. They’re burning every candle they have. The feast won’t end until the last flame goes out.’

  ‘I see; they’ll be candleless once they’ve all gone.’

  Nora took the sack from Jack and opened it so the rats could jump out.

  ‘Ready everyone?’ she asked.

  It wasn’t long before the car was on its way back to Glasruhen.

  Nora turned into the garage as the last light from the sinking sun disappeared below Glasruhen Hill.

  ‘We’d better transform you so you can get off home,’ said Nora.

  ‘Me first,’ croaked Camelin as he pushed in front of Jack.

  ‘It’s alright,’ said Jack, ‘do Camelin first.’

  ‘I can’t, he’s got a temporary disguise spell, which is different to yours. It’ll wear off soon enough.’

  Camelin humphed loudly before shuffling off, with his shoulders hunched, towards the house.

  ‘He’ll be fine in the morning,’ said Elan. ‘We’ll see you tomorrow after school and hopefully by then we’ll know exactly what’s been going on. I’ll take Pyecroft in while Nora transforms you.’

  Jack watched as Elan marched Pyecroft into the kitchen. Eight rats scurried around Nora’s feet. Jack recognised Whortle as he stood on his hind legs.

  ‘How can we ever thank you? We are very grateful.’

  Nora smiled.

  ‘When Motley gets back he’ll sort you all out. If you’ve got families to go back to we’ll get you there, if not, you’re welcome to live here.’

  Whortle wiped a tear from his eye.

  ‘I thought we’d end our days in those tunnels, many have before us.’