Blue Fire and Ice

by Alan Skinner

  ‘Um, excuse me,’ said Reach nervously, ‘you said the fires have been happening each night for about a month. There must be more than fifty dots, most in little groups.’

  ‘We put a dot for each additional fire, Reach. When the heat from the blue fire has caused buildings nearby to catch alight.’ Bell gave Reach a rueful smile. ‘We’ve learned not to waste our time trying to fight the blue fires. We concentrate on the ones started because of the heat of the blue fire. Those, at least, we can put out.’ Bell paused. His head drooped slightly. ‘But the blue fire... I’ve never known a fire as hot. Even the furnaces of Myrmidia don’t burn that hot.’

  Grunge frowned at the dots and the dates. ‘If you never know where the next fire will be, how do you know where you have to be?’

  Bell sighed. ‘We don’t,’ he said. ‘We just send out patrols each night to keep an eye out. They report a fire and we get there as quickly as we can. If there are buildings near the blue fire, the patrols do what they can to stop them burning until we get there.’

  ‘What do you want us to do, Bell?’ asked Crimson.

  Bell traced a line down the middle of the map with his finger. ‘We’ll divide Beadledom in half. You take the western half and I and my volunteers will take the eastern half. The patrols will report a fire to whichever of us is closest. We’ll try to save as many nearby buildings as we can. And maybe during the day we can figure out how to fight the blue fire.’

  No one spoke. They looked at the map. It seemed impossible that two fire carts could do any good across the whole land.

  ‘What happens when you try and put out the blue fire?’

  Bell shook his head, as if he still didn’t believe what he was about to say. ‘It gets worse. It seems to feed off the water. It eats sand or anything else we use just as quickly.’ He looked at Crimson. ‘We’re helpless against the blue fire. A hundred fire carts couldn’t kill it. The only way to stop this is to catch whoever is starting the fires. If we don’t, there’ll be nothing left of Beadledom except ashes.’

  This time no one broke the silence at the table. ‘Ashes,’ thought Reach. ‘Just ashes …’

  ‘Grunge, Reach, we’d better get ready.’ Crimson got up from the table. She said goodnight to the Beadles.

  ‘I’d better come with you,’ said Bell. ‘I’ve prepared beds for you at the fire station. I’ll show you around and get you settled in.’

  They walked to the door. ‘C’mon, Calamity,’ said Crimson. ‘We have work to do tonight.’

  With a quiet little bark, Calamity said thank you to the nice Beadles, jumped from her soft cushion and trotted to Crimson. ‘Bed now,’ thought Calamity, who had eaten far too much of the nice couple’s dinner.

  Bell showed the Muddles around the fire station. As with everything in Beadledom, it was clean and very neat. ‘Though,’ mused Crimson, ‘that pole could do with a bit of a polish.’ Of course, it would have been rude to say anything, so she didn’t mention it to Bell, but she decided that maybe later she would find a cloth and give it a quick rub.

  Bell noticed how nervous Reach seemed climbing the stairs to the upper level. When he tried to show her the pole down which they had to slide to get to the lower level, the ballerina nearly fainted.

  ‘Perhaps it would be better if you had a room at Brew’s,’ he suggested to Reach. ‘He has some very fine rooms on the ground floor and his wife would be delighted to have you there. She’ll make a big fuss over you, but her food’s worth it,’ he reassured the young Muddle.

  ‘Thank you,’ said Reach.

  Crimson and Grunge checked their fire cart, which had been placed next to Bell’s. The large metal water tank was full, everything else was still safely stowed.

  ‘Right,’ said Bell, ‘I’d best be off. Brian sent the volunteers ahead to get the eastern post ready. It’ll be well past midnight by the time I get there. Come on, Reach. I’ll drop you off at Brew’s on the way.’

  Bell walked to his truck. Crimson admired the bright red fire engine. It had a square bonnet, with big, round headlights on polished brass stands on either side. The black wheels had shiny steel spokes and rims. The driver’s cabin was open so that Bell could get in and out quickly. On both sides of the cabin were golden bells which warned everyone when they were in a hurry. Unlike the simple tank on Home’s fire cart, the water tank was a long cylinder lying on its side, with ladders attached. Behind the water tank was another ladder that could be turned right round. It had a little motor and a lever which made the ladder extend like a telescope.

  ‘Sparkle would never be able to pull this,’ decided Calamity. ‘It wouldn’t be fun riding in this without Sparkle to pull it.’

  Bell helped Reach climb into the fire truck then walked round to the driver’s side.

  ‘Don’t forget, the patrol will release a light tower so you can see where the fire is,’ said Bell as he climbed onto his leather seat and started the motor. ‘Good luck.’

  Crimson and Grunge watched the lights of the fire engine gradually fade and disappear into the darkness.

  ‘We’d best get some sleep, Crimson,’ said Grunge.

  ‘What a good idea!’ agreed Calamity silently. ‘I hope my bed is soft!’

  The Muddles went to their beds. Outside, the air was still and quiet. The town seemed to hold its breath, waiting for whatever the night would bring.

  In the hills a few kilometres from Beadleburg a deep blue glow appeared and spread a menacing light over the hills. The night’s fire had come.

  *

  The blue fire tore at the walls and roof of the grain silo. It was an old building, of old wood, and the fire raged through the rafters and beams. Next to the silo was the farmer’s new barn, its wooden roof freshly painted dark green. Wisps of smoke were coming from its wooden walls as they were scorched by the heat of the blue fire tearing at the silo a few metres away.

  The patrol had spotted the fire soon after it had started and raised the alarm. Each patrol had a small electric device with a red button in the middle. As soon as they pressed the button, the alarm bell sounded in the fire station.

  Crimson was on her feet the instant she heard the bell. She ran to Grunge’s room.

  ‘Grunge! Wake up! Fire!’ she said, throwing on her fire jacket. Holding her helmet and boots, she ran to the pole and threw herself at it. She caught it expertly with one arm and spiralled quickly to the floor below. She thrust her feet into the boots and chucked her helmet into the fire cart.

  Grunge gathered his things and followed, Calamity at his heels. At the hole in the floor, he threw himself at the pole. Unfortunately, he missed it and plunged to the ground, landing on his bottom.

  ‘Oooof!’ he gasped and fell onto his back. At the top of the hole he saw Calamity looking down at him. ‘I really thought I was getting better at that,’ Grunge sighed.

  ‘I think I’ll take the stairs,’ decided Calamity.

  ‘What are you doing on the floor, Grunge?’ asked Crimson impatiently. ‘Quick, you get the traces ready! I’ll get Sparkle!’

  In three minutes, Sparkle was hitched and Crimson and Grunge jumped onto the seat. Calamity leapt on the back and then jumped into the front seat between her two friends.

  ‘Sorry, Calamity,’ said Crimson, ‘you have to stay here. There’s not enough room. We have to collect Reach.’

  Calamity knew this was no time for arguing and jumped from the cart, disappointed not to be going. ‘Sometimes it isn’t so good being a puppy,’ she thought.

  They didn’t need to collect Reach. As Calamity jumped, the ballerina ran through the door and climbed aboard the cart. Sparkle lunged forward and the fire cart moved off. Grunge glanced at Reach.

  On her head was a yellow and red fire hat with a deep brim. Over her pink dress she wore her black fire jacket, which came down to her hips. Her pink tutu stuck out from the bottom of the jacket. On her feet, in place of her dancing shoes, was a pair of thick, black rubber boots that came almost to her knees.

  Grun
ge thought it looked pretty cool and wondered what it would look like onstage.

  ‘The signal!’ cried Crimson to Grunge and Reach. ‘Do you see the signal?’

  ‘There!’ shouted Reach. She pointed directly north of Beadleburg. A bright yellow pillar of light split the sky. ‘Brian said Tek made the light tower. I’ve never seen anything so bright!’

  ‘OK, Sparkle, that’s where we’re going. Hurry now, it’s not far!’ Crimson’s voice was low but urgent.

  Sparkle knew they must get there as fast as they could and she gathered all her strength and surged towards the light tower.

  As soon as they had seen the fire, the patrol realised the danger to the nearby barn. Farrow, the poor farmer who owned the silo and barn, was standing, watching the blue fire in horror.

  ‘Buckets!’ one of the patrol yelled to him. ‘Buckets, Farrow! Where are your buckets? You’re supposed to have buckets!’

  The blue fire had shocked Farrow and he stood, not moving or speaking. He felt a sharp clip on his ear.

  ‘Farrow! Do you want to watch everything burn? Are you going to stand there and watch that fire destroy our lives? Fetch a bucket!’ shouted a voice that sounded familiar. He turned and looked at his wife.

  Fallow stooped to pick up the bucket she had dropped when she had given Farrow’s ear a little clip. She saw the pain on her husband’s face and concern and affection softened her voice. ‘We can save the barn, Farrow. Nothing can save the silo, my rooster, but we can save the barn.’

  Farrow looked at his plucky wife. He gave her a little smile. ‘My brave little hen,’ he murmured and ran to fetch more buckets.

  Farrow and Fallow and the three patrol members were throwing water on the barn as fast as they could. Each would run a short way to a nearby dam, fill their bucket and rush back to the barn. With a great heave, they threw the water on the walls. The walls hissed when the cold water hit them.

  It took Sparkle less than a quarter of a clock’s face to get to the fire. She had run as fast as her legs and heart would let her. Her chest heaved as the Muddles jumped from the cart. Crimson ran to the horse and laid a hand on her cheek. ‘Well done, Sparkle,’ she whispered.

  The three Muddles quickly unfastened the hose and attached it to the water tank.

  ‘Crimson, you take the hose. Reach and I will pump!’

  Crimson grabbed the brass nozzle at the end of the hose and ran towards the barn. They had driven the cart as close as they could but the barn lay on the other side of the blazing silo. She would have to run past the blue fire to get to the barn.

  As Crimson neared the silo, she felt the strength draining from her legs. She stumbled and nearly fell. Her heart pounded inside her chest, like it was hammering to get out. She could hear each beat echo in her head. Through the throbbing in her head came a voiceless call, summoning her. She turned towards the blazing silo. The fire; the blue fire was calling her.

  The flames reached out to Crimson. Thin fingers of fire were coming to take her to its cruel heart. She could feel herself drawing near to the flames. The searing heat surrounded her as she approached. Crimson fought to ignore the calling and the pounding in her head. She willed her legs to turn and run, away from the flames, but they no longer obeyed her. ‘No!’ she screamed in her head. ‘I won’t ... I won’t!’ The voice in her head grew stronger until it drowned out her own protests. Step by step she edged closer to the fire.

  Grunge saw Crimson falter, then turn and walk slowly towards the blazing silo.

  ‘Crimson!’ he cried. He ran towards her. ‘Crimson! No!’ Heedless of Grunge’s cries, Crimson kept walking, answering the fire’s call. Sparkle whinnied loudly, calling to Crimson. Crimson kept walking.

  Grunge scooped her in his arms as she neared the flames. The heat scorched his clothes. Crimson was limp in his arms as he ran back to the fire cart. Gently, he laid her on the ground.

  ‘Crimson!’ said Reach. She knelt next to her friend. ‘Crimson!’ she cried again. ‘Grunge, why won’t she answer me?’

  Crimson lay still on the ground, her eyes open, staring at the dark sky.

  Grunge looked to where the Beadles were working frantically drenching the barn. ‘Go and get some water. Quickly!’

  Reach ran, slowed by her cumbersome boots. She said something to one of the patrol and they handed her a bucket. She turned and ran back to Crimson, water splashing from the bucket.

  Grunge scooped water with his cupped hands and sprinkled it on Crimson’s face. Reach tore a small piece of material from her tutu and dipped it into the water, then handed it to Grunge.

  ‘On her cheeks and forehead,’ she said. Grunge bathed Crimson’s face with the cloth.

  ‘Grunge? Reach?’ Crimson’s eyes blinked and she looked at her friends. ‘What happened? Is the fire …?’ She sat up and looked to where the Beadles were desperately throwing buckets of water on the barn. The blue fire still raged.

  ‘We’ve got to help! It’s the fire… It calls…’ Crimson shivered, remembering the dreadful call of the fire. ‘Grunge, take the hose. Reach and I will pump. I can’t go near it, Grunge.’

  Grunge hesitated, not sure Crimson was all right.

  ‘Go, Grunge! We have to save the barn! I’m fine now.’

  Grunge ran to the hose and grabbed the nozzle without stopping. He rushed past the burning silo to the barn. ‘Now!’ he yelled.

  Reach and Crimson pushed up and down on the two handles of the pump. They could hear the water rushing from the tank to the hose. The water sprayed in a sudden spurt and the hose was nearly wrenched from Grunge’s hand. He aimed it at the barn. Smoke was pouring from its walls. The spray of water hit the barn and steam rose in a great cloud.

  Grunge called to the patrol. ‘Leave the buckets! One of you help with the hose. The others help Reach and Crimson pump.’

  Farrow grabbed the hose behind Grunge. ‘It’s my barn,’ he said fiercely. ‘I’ll not let the fire take it!’

  With more arms working the pump, the water came faster and stronger from the nozzle. A steady river of water continued to shower on the barn. The steam and smoke from its walls lessened, and then stopped.

  Grunge glanced at the silo. The fire had destroyed almost all of it. With nothing left to consume, its flames were fading. Its heat no longer felt like it was searing Grunge’s back. He looked at Farrow. The farmer’s face was covered in ash and dirt.

  ‘We’ll save your barn. The fire’s dying.’

  Farrow shook his head grimly. ‘It’s not dying,’ he said. ‘It’s just going back where it came from.’ He looked at the smouldering ruins of his silo. ‘The blue fire doesn’t die. It waits.’

  They continued to pour water onto the barn until they were quite sure the wood had cooled and the blue fire had gone. Finally, Crimson called, ‘Grunge, that’s enough. It’s safe now.’ They all stopped pumping and slumped to the ground, their arms aching. Reach felt as if it were her shoulders that were on fire. Farrow and Grunge dragged the hose back to the cart. The farmer went to Fallow, who was sitting against the wheel of the cart, trying to catch her breath. Farrow reached down and cupped his wife’s face in his hand.

  ‘Thank you, Fallow,’ he said gruffly. ‘Without you …’

  Fallow didn’t let Farrow finished. She smiled at her husband and said. ‘Oh, nonsense. Sometimes the rooster just needs a little nudge to crow. Now, help me up. I think everyone could do with some hot coffee and sandwiches.’

  It was close to dawn by the time they had rested and packed the fire cart. The Muddles said their goodbyes to the patrol and to Farrow and Fallow. Grunge couldn’t help but notice that they were awkward and a bit wary when they said goodbye to Crimson.

  They were grateful that the journey back was short. The sun was peeping over the eastern hills above Beadleburg as they rode slowly into the town. Calamity was sitting at the door of the fire station, waiting. She did what she could to help and before long they had put Sparkle in her stall with fresh water and oats and had cleaned
and put away the equipment.

  Just as they were thinking how nice it would be to get into their beds and sleep, they heard the throaty rumble of Bell’s fire engine. The fire engine turned into the fire station and stopped. The Muddles could see Bell sitting behind the steering wheel, his tired face black with fire smoke.

  That night, for the first time, the blue fire had come twice to Beadledom.

  Chapter 5

  Brindle’s Daughters

  We were too late. The old mill burned quickly and the two warehouses nearby were already on fire by the time we got there.’ Bell shook his head sadly. We tried to save them but it was no good.’

  Bell, Crimson, Grunge, Reach, Brian and Bligh looked glum. When Bligh had heard the news of the night’s fires he had sent Brian to ask Bell and the Muddles to meet them for breakfast. They were to discuss how to cope with the new turn of events.

  ‘Two fires in one night. Are they punishing us for asking for help?’ Brian sounded bewildered.

  Grunge swallowed the last of his toast. ‘I think whoever’s behind these fires is sending us a message. They’re telling us that no matter what we do, it won’t make any difference. They want us to feel helpless.’

  ‘Both fires must have been started at about the same time. It has to be the work of more than one person. It’s impossible to get from one side of Beadledom to the other within an hour,’ said Bligh. He picked up a plate and offered it to Crimson. ‘Muffin?’ he asked. Crimson politely refused. Bligh placed one on his plate. ‘We must ask the Myrmidots again for help.’

  Reach hesitated, then said, ‘But what if the Myrmidots do come and the next night there are three fires? You’ll be worse off.’ Reach hoped she didn’t sound foolish.