10
Now with everyone ready, they set off on the journey to the mountain. The sun was still shining brightly as they marched across the open fields. Not a cloud was to be seen in the sky. Hiss the snake slithered along through the grass as Pongo, Buck and Fallow deer made threatening noises from behind the gruffits. Bo Bo, Joe and Lucy led them on with a determined look in their eyes.
On and on they marched. Through valleys, hills and other woods, like true soldiers, they kept in line and step all the way. Now they could see the mountain just ahead of them. And over the hill, was the Ixers castle of MIP.
Bo Bo raised his hand for them to stop and called them into a circle. Now he told them of his plan. Calling Hiss the snake, he placed the cobnuts he had been carrying on the grass. Then he asked him to cough up some nasty goo onto them. Hiss then wriggled and coiled, stretching in all directions, until he could spit a huge goofball of venom over the cobnuts. Buck rabbit stood twitching his nose, as he, skunk, and fallow deer listened for Bo Bo’s orders. ‘We shall tie the cobnuts to Buck rabbit’s tail so he can jump over the wall.’ He told them. ‘Pongo the skunk will follow and make a stink, so the Ixer will blame it on fallow deer who he will shoo away from him. Then when he is not looking, Buck rabbit will swap the poisoned nuts for the Ixer to eat. This will make him fall down, so snake can coil cuff him like a prisoner to take back to the king’.
Joe and Lucy smiled. It was a great plan, they thought. Wise gruffit said they were ready to storm the castle as soon as the Ixer had fallen. Bo Bo was pleased. On tying the cobnuts to Buck rabbit’s tail, he gave them the order. ‘Go’ he told them. ‘Do well for the king and capture the Ixer of Mip.’
Buck rabbit was first and fast away, with skunk and fallow deer close behind. Hiss the snake weaved and slithered beside them until they were all out of sight and next to the gates of the castle wall. Very shortly after, they were soon inside as fallow deer pretended to nibble the grass nearby where the wicked Ixer was. He was sitting beneath a tree keeping cool from the hot sun, drinking melonade, and eating from a bowl of cobnuts beside him.
Skunk smiled to himself, and then let off a blast of manuric stink shot from behind a tree. Fallow deer continued to munch at the grass beside him. The Ixer started to sniff the air. It was not pleasant. His eyes began to water. He began to sniff faster and faster. Then he spotted fallow deers bottom. He could stand it no more and jumped up to chase him away. As soon as his back was turned, Buck rabbit swapped the cob nuts and hid behind a tree with Pongo the skunk. Fallow deer stomped his hoofs and poked out his tongue, as the Ixer shooed him away.
The wicked Ixer was a tall skinny man with dark eyes as black as coal. His fingers were long and bony like his nose. A head of scruffy black hair grew down his neck and over his ears. His broken teeth were yellow and stood out from behind a pair of thin mean lips. He was not a nice person to look at.
When fallow deer trotted away, he sat back down and continued eating his cob nuts. Licking his lips, he placed some in his mouth to chew upon. After a few moments he rolled over onto the grass. ‘Oooh’ he mumbled.
On seeing what he saw, Buck rabbit ran to tell Prince Bo Bo who came running to see the Ixer curled up into a ball. Ordering snake to coil cuff him, snake soon wound himself around the Ixers body and had him tied up like a parcel. When the Ixer opened his eyes he realised he had been taken prisoner.
All the gruffits shouted a laud ‘Hooray!’ Buck rabbit did a handstand, as Pongo the skunk waved his tail like a flag. Fallow deer bellowed with joy, while Bo Bo, Joe and Lucy clapped hands. King Greywind will be pleased, they all agreed. Now they would march him back to the king’s palace in the Mighty Shires.
11
They began to form into two lines with the Ixer standing between Joe and Lucy. Bo Bo led the way forward at the front, with the gruffits marching in step behind. Following them was rabbit, skunk and fallow deer. Hiss the snake had his face looking square into the Ixers eyes. His tongue darted in and out in front of him as if he was about to have a tasty meal. Onwards they marched, back through the same paths they had come from. Across the fields, down into the valley and through the woods, until they came into the Mighty Shires.
Now they could see the royal palace just across the field. Wise gruffit soon spotted the kings prize turnips. They were quite a sight to see as all the gruffits licked their lips knowing, that the king was giving a great party for everyone that evening. So they could be sure of a great reward of the king’s juicy turnips.
When they arrived at the palace gates, Iff the idiot, and Ogg the kings chief turnip taster were waiting for them. Poor old Iff was picking his nose and shuffling his feet as he giggled and turned around in circles. Ogg looked on not knowing what to make of him.
As they marched through the palace gates a fanfare of trumpets sounded. The king was there ready to greet them. On seeing the Ixer trussed up with snake coiled around him, the king glared to show his royal dislike at the prisoner before him. Then he held out his arms towards Prince Bo Bo and hugged him. King Greywind was very pleased. Bo Bo gave his father a great hug and spoke to him. ‘Father, we are pleased for you.’ He told him. ‘Let us take his memory quickly and replace it with Iff the idiots.’ King Greywind smiled at his son. ‘Then so it shall be. Bring Iff the idiot to me.’ he ordered.
Two of the king’s soldiers went to fetch and stand him beside the Ixer. Bo Bo took the magic trumpet from his pocket. Then holding it firmly with both hands, he puffed up his cheeks and blew it into the ears of Iff and the Ixer to swap their memories.
On seeing the changeover, the king let out a mighty roar of royal laughter. The Ixer now had Iff the idiot’s memory in his head, and giggled as he picked his nose, shuffled his feet and turned around in circles. Joe and Lucy could not help laughing. All the gruffits fell about, tickled to bits with what they saw. Even Fallow deer, Skunk, and Buck rabbit rolled on their backs not able to stop their laughing, as Hiss the snake rattled his tail. The king was smiling delightfully.
By this time, the son of the Ixer felt so ashamed of his father that he ran to hide behind a tree. Iff was no longer an idiot and even he laughed, not knowing that he was once an idiot like the Ixer now was. And now that he had a new memory, he saw things in a different way. On recognising the king, he bowed before him and said; ‘I have a secret belonging to your majesty. I beg to whisper it in your ear.’ The king lent forward and invited him to do so
After hearing what Iff had told him, the king jumped up and down with joy. For now he had the secret for making melonade again. ‘It’s mine! All mine!’ He shouted. Tonight we shall celebrate. You shall all drink melonade with me at the king’s party. We shall laugh at Ixer the idiot and watch him make a fool of himself.’ Prince Bo Bo, Joe and Lucy clapped their hands happily along with the gruffits. They were pleased for the king.
Now as everyone stood around laughing, the king ordered his palace to be made ready for the party. Bo Bo took Joe and Lucy inside to wash their hands. The gruffits, rabbit and skunk went for a swim in the king’s water fountain, while fallow deer rolled on his back over the splashes they were making.
12
When evening came the king brought the queen to greet them after the trumpeters had sounded his arrival. In the middle of a huge dining hall, was a table with the most delicious food you could imagine? There were fruit, strawberry, coconut and cream cakes, next to jellies the size of goldfish bowls. Buckets of ice cream and freshly chopped fruits, shared a space with toffee apples, chocolate and all kinds of sweets. There were hamburgers and giant sausages too. Also on a big golden plate, were a hundred magnificent turnips and a huge basket of crisp orange carrots. Alongside these, were huge lettuces and cabbages, with Buck and Pongo’s names upon them. Lastly at the end of the table was a great bunch of hawthorn leaves for fallow deer. But the greatest surprise was a big glass tank of the king’s melonade for all to drink. Already, Joe and Lucy were filling up their glasses as the king, queen and Prince Bo Bo tucked in to the
lovely food. The melonade was delicious, they agreed.
Wise gruffit handed around the turnips as Buck rabbit crunched away at the juicy carrots and Pongo the skunk sank his teeth into the cabbages. Fallow deer’s eyes rolled around as he munched at the hawthorn leaves chewing contentedly, while Hiss the snake picked off uninvited flies with his tongue.
When some time had passed, the king clapped his hands to summon a joker who juggled and danced. Then a magician came to show him his tricks. Next came two beautiful ladies who sang for the king. Lastly came the kings band and he ordered that everybody should dance.
The king and queen danced together while Joe danced with Lucy. All the gruffits joined in too. Skunk danced with Buck rabbit as fallow deer stomped with a mouthful of hawthorn leaves. Ixer the idiot giggled, as he picked his nose, shuffled his feet and walked around in circles. Old Ogg, the kings chief turnip taster, continued to stare at him, wondering what was going on, while Iff laughed, not knowing that he was once an idiot like the Ixer now was. As the band played on, the king laughed loudly. He was so happy to be the king again, thanks to Joe and Lucy finding the magic trumpet with their detectors. After a while, the king called his son Bo Bo to him. They whispered together. Then as Bo Bo was seen to nod his head, King Greywind held up his hand for the band to stop playing.
Bo Bo stood next to his father as the king called for silence. It was now time to make the rewards for all those that had helped him. He called for Joe and Lucy to come forward. The queen smiled warmly. Not a sound could be heard as the king started to speak. ‘You are my hero’s’ he told them. ‘But for you, I would not be a king. And my son Prince Bo Bo would still be the monkey boy of Buttercup woods! Therefore, you are honoured with the titles of Prince and Princess Joe and Lucy of the Mighty Shires.’
Suddenly, there were laud cheers and clapping throughout the palace. Everybody bowed to Joe and Lucy. Bo Bo smiled at them as the gruffits thumped their chests in approval. Skunk waved his tail as Buck rabbit somersaulted onto Fallow deer’s back. The king called for a toast to the children. Everyone lifted a glass of melonade and drank to their good health. Next the king called out to the gruffits, ‘For all your loyal help, I reward you with the freedom of my turnip field to eat as many turnips as you wish forever.’ Again everybody cheered. Finally, the king called to skunk, snake, buck rabbit and fallow deer. ‘You shall have the freedom of the Mighty Shires! You shall have the pick of the finest vegetables forever.’ Once again everybody cheered and drank the king’s delicious melonade.
After a lot of hand and paw shaking, the king and queen thanked them all again and led their son Bo Bo out into the garden. It was the signal the party was over. Joe and Lucy smiled for it had been a long day. It had all been so worthwhile and they had made a lot of new friends. Now it was time to get back to mum and dad who would be waiting for them. So saying goodbye to all the gruffits, Buck and Pongo, they assured Fallow deer that they would meet again. After lots of goodbyes, the new Prince and Princess set off over the fields back to Buttercup woods.
13
The sun was going down as they walked through the woods. Lots of birds were chirping and singing as squirrels jumped from tree to tree. Following the stream, it was not long before they arrived back from where they had started.
From the end of the woods, they skipped the rest of the way to the camp. Now they could see the camper van, and as usual, dad was waiting for them. Mum wanted to know if they were hungry. When the children told them they had been to a party at King Greywinds palace, both mum and dad laughed. ‘And what is more, Joe is a Prince and I’m a Princess’ said Lucy. ‘Then I’m a king.’ winked dad. ‘No you’re not’ said Joe. ‘And it’s true. We are the Prince and Princess of the Mighty Shires.’
Mum continued to think it was a joke. But when she saw the children had not eaten their packed lunches, she wondered just what they had eaten all day? Then dad asked what happened to the gold trumpet they had found? Both Joe and Lucy told him it now belonged to Prince Bo Bo. ‘Aha!’ said dad. ‘I bet you never took any pictures with your camera?’
Lucy told him they had had such a busy day that they didn’t have time. ‘Well, in that case you, you should have brought Bo Bo back for tea.’ dad replied winking again. Lucy and Joe pulled a funny face at him, and then said, they would ask Bo Bo tomorrow on their return to Buttercup woods. It was to be their last day. Now they were so tired, that all they wanted to do was go to bed. So after kissing mum and dad goodnight, they got into their pyjamas and went to bed. They were soon fast asleep.
That night, it rained and rained and rained all through the night. And it was still raining when the Thomson family awoke the next morning. In fact it was a really horrible day outside the camper van. Even the birds were under cover. No creatures could be seen except for one. It was Fallow deer. On seeing the children he let out a laud noise, but this time it wasn’t like a deer’s bellow. ‘Oooh! Oooh! Oooh!’ it sounded. With that he trotted off into Buttercup woods.
Joe and Lucy knew it was much to wet to follow after him. ‘Never mind’ said dad, as the rain continued to pour down. ‘Next time we come to Buttercup woods you can show me where the Mighty Shires are? I would love to meet Prince Bo Bo.’
The Prince and Princess looked at dad. ‘We will. We will.’ they promised.
It rained all the way home. But they had a real good story to tell their school friends.
End
This book is published by
Grosvenor House Publishing Ltd
28-30 High Street, Guildford, Surrey, GU1 3HY.
www.grosvenorhousepublishing.co.uk
The book cover picture is copyright to Joe Thomson-Swift
ISBN: 978-1-908105-19-6 in epub format
All rights reserved
Copyright © Joe Thomson-Swift, 2011
All rights reserved. You may not copy, store, distribute, transmit, reproduce or otherwise make available this publication (or any part of it) in any form, or by any means (electronic, digital, optical, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise), without the prior written permission of the publisher. Any person who does any unauthorized act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages.
Joe Thomson-Swift is hereby identified as author of this work in accordance with Section 77 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988
A CIP record for this book is available from the British Library
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means including information storage and retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the author. The only exception is by a book reviewer, who may quote short excerpts in a review.
All characters appearing in this work are fictitious. Any similarity to any person, living or dead is purely coincidental.
The Monkey Boy and the Gruffits Page 3