Читать книгу Legend of the Three Moons - Patricia Bernard - Страница 6

The stork's nest was large enough for them to curl up in and soon all but Lem, who was on guard, were asleep. Two hours later it was Celeste's turn and then Chad's. During his watch the tree warned him the other six purple-tongued creatures were coming, so he woke the others.

With their hair full of stork's feathers and their eyes full of sleep, they climbed higher than their original perches to balance on branches so thin that they feared they might break at any sudden movement.

The dawn sky was the colour of raspberry juice and the pink moon was sliding beneath the horizon when they sighted the first long-necked creature. Behind it plodded five others, one behind the other. On their high backs sat their harsh-voiced, whip-whirling riders. These riders had removed their metal masks and the children could see their hairy faces and bulging eyes. Lem whispered that they were the ugliest of beings, and by the way they whipped their mounts, they were also the cruellest.

`It's not that I like the smelly blind creatures,' he breathed as they watched two of them rear up and bite each other after being fiercely whipped. `It's just not right to hurt them for no reason.'

`Perhaps the reason is that they haven't found us,' whispered Celeste.

Her words silenced them all but they each quietly drew their weapons, ready to fight for their lives. The creatures moving closer and closer to the twain nut tree, but again they were lucky, not just because they were higher but because it seemed as if the creatures were taking less care.

`Why are they looking for us, Cel?' whispered Swift, as the last of the grey monsters thudded out of sight.

`I think it's the same reason the High Enchanter, or the Sender of Storms, sent the storms,' answered Celeste thoughtfully. `To stop us from finding out what was in the moon dial. Now he's sending his creatures to stop us from finding out what the three moons' song means.'

`What does it mean?' yawned Chad, as they climbed back down to the nest.

`That's what we are going to find out,' said Lyla covering him with her cape. `And don't get settled Swift. It's your turn to sit guard.'

They hadn't meant to sleep late but the rocking of the branches lulled them so it was past middle day when they woke. Beside them slept Swift with his arms wrapped around the tree.

`I couldn't keep my eyes open and the tree said it would wake me if the creatures returned,' he argued, after Lyla chastised him for being a bad guard.

`You can't be sure about that!'

`Yes he can,' said Chad, who always stuck up for Swift.

With half the day gone they climbed down to the muddy path and continued following the river, travelling faster this time, because of the blind-headed creatures behind them. Foraging as they went they breakfasted on twain nuts that had to be broken with rocks, sour-berries that made their cheeks suck in, and water licked from the leaves of bushes, as the river no longer looked safe to drink from.

By evening they had left the over-flow and the forest was thinning out when they heard a roaring noise coming from up ahead.

`That reminds me,' said Lyla, pushing her dark curls behind her ears so she could hear the noise better. `I had another dream last night. That noise has just reminded me of it.'

Lem and Celeste moved closer. Behind them Chad and Swift continued to drag their feet while arguing over who had the largest hunger pain.

`I was flying over hills of sand until I reached a vast sea,' continued Lyla.

`What's a vast sea?' asked Celeste.

`Water that goes on forever. I flew along its edge until I reached the same white palace I dreamt of before.

This time its gardens and fountains were brightly lit and its lakes were full of beautiful swan-shaped boats being rowed by laughing people holding red lanterns. I was swooping down for a closer look when Chad woke me to warn me about the creatures coming. But that noise up ahead sounds a lot like the vast sea in my dream.'

`Does the vast sea have trees nearby to sleep in?'

Lyla shook her head.

`Does it have anything to eat in it?' demanded Swift clinging to Lyla's arm.

Lyla tried to shake him free. `Fish. If you can catch them.'

Swift was tired. His bag hurt his shoulders. The seeds, berries and nuts had not filled him, and now they were leaving the Forest to trudge over boot-clinging sand. He clung on tightly and whinged. `I'm hungry.'

`I'm hungry too,' echoed Chad, bumping purposefully into Lem. `I wish Lem hadn't given the wolves our smoked meat.'

Lem bumped back. `Would you rather have been eaten by them?'

`Of course he wouldn't,' said Celeste putting a protective arm around her brother's shoulders. `Stop it both of you. We're all hungry.'

`And thirsty,' complained Swift, pulling on Lyla again.

With a sigh of frustration she took his bag and told him and Chad to scout up ahead. `But don't go too far in case we have to race back to the Forest.'

Half an hour later when she and the other two climbed to the top of the highest sand dune they saw the boys, with their boots off, chasing each other along the wet sand of a vast sea, as if they didn't have a problem or a worry or even a hunger pain between them.

That night they slept in a nest of sea grass. This time Lyla divided the watch between Celeste, Lem and herself so the younger two could sleep. Next morning they all had rumbling stomachs and dry throats and there wasn't a berry or a leaf in sight.

Thinking that there might be something they could eat in the sea, perhaps like the mussels, cockles or edible seaweed they'd read in their books, Celeste suggested they go for a swim. Chad and Swift raced into the waves before the others had pulled off their boots and Celeste could hide Splash in her shirt. Lyla yelled for them to watch out for things that could hurt them, but they were already shouting and rolling in the lacy froth of the incoming waves so they didn't hear her.

Lyla, Lem and Celeste entered the sea more warily. Having bathed, fished and gathered shellfish in the river, they could swim well, but the waves buffeted them and dragged them out into deeper water. So although they could see Chad and Swift enjoying themselves in the shallows they were more worried about what lurked beneath their kicking feet.

Celeste had just dived under to see what she could find when Swift started yelling and hopping around on one foot. Lyla asked Lem to wait for Celeste, then swam to shore as fast as she could.

She discovered that Swift had trodden on a black ball of spikes which had punctured his foot and was very painful. She stroked Swift's swelling foot, told him he'd be fine and glanced back to where her brother and cousin were swimming. Lem waving frantically. She couldn't see Celeste.

`Chad! Cut open the sting. Squeeze out the poison until the wound bleeds. Then bandage his foot with your scarf.'

Lyla ran back down the beach and splashed into the water, swimming towards Lem.

`Celeste has been under for ages,' he yelled.

They dived repeatedly, each time searching deeper and having to kick harder to come up from the chilly depths to gulp in air. After awhile they were too exhausted to do anything more than tread water.

`She's gone,' yelled Lem, searching the waves for any sign of Celeste's long blonde braids. `She's been washed away.'

Lyla angrily slapped the surface of the sea. `No. She hasn't!'

As if her slapping had been a magical command Celeste's head rose above a wave and she waved at them.

With eyes full of righteous anger they swam towards her. `Where have you been?' demanded Lem. `We thought you'd drowned.'

`We've been looking for you for ages,' accused Lyla.

Celeste flicked her fringe off her face. `Sorry. I couldn't help it. I was taken out by a current and couldn't get back until I found a returning one.'

Lem's green eyes glared at her unforgivingly. `But you were under for ages.'

`That's what I want to tell you. I can't …'

`Tell us back on shore,' interrupted Lyla, already swimming towards the beach. `Swift stood on something poisonous and he really needs our help.'

Chad was bandaging Swift's foot when Lyla flopped down beside them. He grinned at her. `He squealed like a wild pig when I squeezed out the poison.'

Swift punched his arm, `I did not! He nearly cut off my foot, Lyla!'

Lyla gave them both a hug as she stared along the beach searching for help. There was no one to see except Celeste and Lem running up the sand.

Celeste dropped down beside her. `Lyla, I'm sorry I didn't mean to frighten you. I didn't realise how long I was under.'

Lyla was still too angry to look at her. `We thought you were drowned.'

`But that's it. I can't be. I can stay underwater as long as I like. I think it's my magical gift.'

This time Lyla did look at her. `Don't be stupid! Cel! No one can stay under water as long as they like.'

`I can. Ask Lem.'

Lem nodded. `She swam all the way to shore without coming up.' Then he made a face at Celeste. `Not that it's much of a gift if we are nowhere near water.'

`It's as useful as talking to animals,' retorted Celeste, pushing him back onto the sand.

`Is there any food under the sea?' demanded Chad, who was equally unimpressed with the gift of swimming without breathing, unless it brought him something to eat.

Celeste shook her head. `No. Just lots of fish too quick for me to catch.'

`In that case Swift and I have the best gift. At least trees grow nuts and berries. Right Swift?'

`Right.'

`Enough!' said Lyla, pulling Swift to his feet with a yelp from the wounded boy. `We have to find someone who knows what to do about your foot.'

With Lyla and Lem helping Swift to hobble, Chad and Celeste carrying the bags, and Celeste still annoyed at Lem for belittling her gift, the trek along the beach seemed to last forever. By evening they were ready to drop where they stood and sleep where they fell.

`I can't go any further,' complained Swift.

`Me neither,' agreed Chad.

`Just a bit more,' cajoled Celeste. `Just as far as that jetty.' Then her eyes widened. `Lyla! How do I know it's a jetty?'

`Maybe you remember it from when you were little. Before we were put in the Forest. I think I remember it. It had a pavilion at the end with curtains and cushions and there was harp music and dancing.'

On reaching the jetty they discovered it to be a skeleton of poles and crooked pylons stuck into the sea bottom.

`Can we sleep here?' whined Swift.

Lyla shook her head and pointed to a stone path leading into the dunes. `There's nothing here. Maybe there is something on the other side of those dunes.'

The path ran between two massive sand hills. On reaching the gap the children discovered two enormous, wind-pocked statues facing each other, each holding back a sand dune. One statue was of a man, the other of a woman. Both wore crowns and were sitting on gigantic thrones balanced on the backs of enormous, thick maned lions, and both had stone tears running down their cheeks.

`Do you think they're our grandparents, Lyla?' whispered Swift, the pain in his foot forgotten as he stared up at the crying statues.

But Lyla wasn't looking at the statues. She was looking at a building on the other side of the dunes.

It was the palace of her dreams. Painted a burnished gold by the rays of the setting sun, with sparkling, stained glass windows and gold-tipped, silver towers and cupolas, it reminded her of an enormous treasure chest.

But, as the others joined her and the sun sank behind the dunes, the palace's golden walls, silver domes and blue-tiled cupolas disappeared, and in its place was a windowless ruin.

Blinking back her tears of disappointment, Lyla squeezed Swift's hand. `Never mind. Maybe someone still lives there. Maybe they'll know what to do about your foot.'

`Or they'll know where we can find an oracle to ask about the three moons' song,' said Lem, giant-stepping down the sand.

`I was thinking about that,' Celeste called out as she giant-stepped after him. `Why do we need an oracle? We know the High Enchanter stole Princess Elle and we know the High Enchanter rules Acirfa. So isn't it likely that that's where he took her?'

Lem sat down at the bottom and pulled off his boots to shake out the the sand. `If all we had to do was find Princess Elle then why would the three moons sing a song about five journeys to find a dragon, a merwoman, a poisoned tree and a swinging cage?'

`I thought dragons were extinct,' said Swift, sitting beside his brother.

`If the High Enchanter can magic up those smelly, blind creatures then he can magic up extinct dragons.'

`Or turn a King or Queen into a dragon. A dragon mocked could mean anything,' said Lyla, staring at a broken swan boat embedded in a sand-filled lake.

They circled a broken fountain and a dead rose garden and arrived at a chipped marble staircase leading to the palace's main entrance. They climbed the stairs and peeked through the splintered wood of a once mighty silver-plated door.

Beyond it was a dark entrance hall lit only by the golden-rimmed and silver-circled moons shining through an enormous hole in the palace roof.

Lyla pushed the door open. It grated against the marble doorstep, its rusted hinges squeaking loudly. From inside the palace there came a fluttering of bats and the scurrying of escaping rodents.

Celeste shuddered and patted her pocket to make sure Splash was safe and Swift gingerly lowered his injured foot to the marble doorstep. `When escaping I'd rather limp fast than hop slowly,' he told Chad.

They crept across the entrance space to a second larger hall, also lit up by the two moons, shining through another ragged hole in the roof. Decorated with dusty red and gold velvet wall hangings and festooned with cobweb curtains, the hall's vastness was so great that its corners and walls disappeared into deep purple shadows.

`Those shadows could hide anything,' breathed Chad into Swift's ear.

`Like those blind creatures,' agreed Swift. `Or a small army.'

`Or more rats,' whispered Celeste.

They tiptoed towards a lopsided dais on which stood five thrones covered in spider webs and bat droppings. A sudden slithering and fluttering sound stopped them in their tracks, making the hairs on the backs of their necks stand up. They backed towards each other, searching the darkness as more and more noises echoed eerily around them.

The creepy fluttering began to sound like whispering.

`Ghosts,' breathed Swift.

`Wind,' breathed Chad.

`Enemies,' shouted Lem.

Six giant shrieking bat-like figures surged out from behind the sagging dais flapping huge and tattered wings. Behind them floated two decapitated heads with hideous skull-faces.

Celeste screamed as one of the faces swayed towards her. Lem leapt in front of her swinging his long sword while Lyla protected Chad and Swift, giving them time to fit arrows to their bows.

`What be you doing here?' demanded a giant bat, dancing out of reach of Lyla's jabbing spear.

`What be you doing in the royal throne room?' shouted another, swooping around Lem and Chad.

`Who be you? What do you want here?' screamed a third.

`There be nothing to steal! It be all stolen long ago by General Tulga's Raiders!'

Lyla brandished her spear under the closest giant bat's nose. `Are you human or animal? Or are you becamed by the High Enchanter? Tell me before I spear you.'

`Or I shoot you,' shouted Swift, trying to sound as brave as his wild-haired sister.

`Or I slice off your head,' threatened Lem.

The giant bats retreated to whisper in a huddle.

Then one of the illuminated faces floated towards the children and they saw it was just an old woman with her face painted to resemble a skull. She was holding a lantern beneath her chin to make herself look more ghostly.

`We be the guardians of the great Royal Palace of M'dgassy. I be Emma Crowsclaw,' she said, then pointed to the other skull. `That be Bethy Bee. The others be men of the royal household. Who be you? Travellers or robbers?'

Lyla stepped forward. `We are travellers. We've come in search of medicine for my brother's poisoned foot and for somewhere to sleep.'

`And eat,' added Chad.

`Be you boys or girls?'

`Boys,' lied Lyla.

`Where be you coming from and where be you heading?'

`We've come along the vast sea in search of an oracle, fairy spinner, sand reader or witch,' said Lem.

`Folks like that be best avoided,' growled one of the bat men.

`Do you have any water?' interrupted Chad, who was very single-minded. `We've not eaten nor drunk for days.'

Again the guardians went into a huddle that ended with Emma Crowsclaw saying she and Bethy Bee would bring food, while three of the men fetched some bedding.

As the five were leaving the hall Lyla, without thinking, asked if it was possible for them to sleep in Queen Hail's nursery?

The six men and two women froze and the hall became so quiet that Swift could hear the scratching of mice nesting in the five thrones.

At last Emma Crowsclaw answered, `That part of the palace be long destroyed. But how would you, a stranger to M'dgassy, know anything of Queen Hail's nursery?'

Cursing herself for being so stupid Lyla searched for a believable explanation. `I saw it in a dream.'

`You be a dream-rider then,' said one of the bat men. `Dream-riders are thought of as witches in these parts and witches be burned.'

A second man nodded. `Aye. Best you not be a dream-rider, boy. Now come along Horris Beck, help me bring back the bedding. I've had enough of this dreary place and my own supper be beckoning.'

While the men fetched the bedding and the women went for food, Lem asked the other three where they all lived and how they managed to find enough to eat. The men were not forthcoming, mumbling about living here and there, fishing here and there, having a small garden somewhere and a milk cow somewhere else. `Barely enough to keep skin and bones alive,' said a younger, ginger-haired man.

`What about the Royals and their servants?'

This time the men were silent for so long that it seemed as if they would never answer, then the ginger-haired one spoke up in a bitter voice. `The Royals disappeared a decade ago, all of them, adults, children and babies. They left us to the so-called mercy of the High Enchanter - Sender of Storms if you prefer that title - and his sadistic General Tulga.'

`Now, now, Migan Crowbeak,' chided the ginger-haired man. `Truth be, General Tulga's Raiders were attacking the Ifraa Peninsula long before our Royals disappeared.'

He turned to the children as he tried to explain. `Everywhere the Raiders went they burnt, looted and stole. Be that not so, Malcolm Leftfoot?

Malcolm Leftfoot nodded. `Aye. I lost a good wife of forty summers. Carried off with the riches of the palace she was.'

Lyla blinked at a memory from her dream palace as she recalled rows of guards lining this hall, and all the other corridors. She frowned. `Why didn't the palace guards stop them?'

`All murdered!' said Malcolm Leftfoot. `No one could stop the Raiders. No one knew from one day to the next what sort of monsters they be riding, what hairy beasts would come flying out of the sky, or what unearthly weapons they'd be carrying.'

He pointed to the hole in the throne room's roof. `That be made by General Tulga's Raiders throwing burning balls the size of my cart. Now I ask you, how could my pike and shovel combat that?'

`No one's could,' agreed Migan Crowbeak. `But it not be a fireball that shattered my farm. It be those no-eyed stinking Goch and their misshapen Gochmasters. What say you young Bertrum?'

`The Goch took my family and the girl I were about to wed,' answered the man called Bertrum. `And no oracle, fairy spinner or sand reader could tell me what happened to her. Not even old Edith, though I paid her with my last goat.'

`Did I hear someone mention Edith the oracle?' demanded Emma, placing a tray containing five bowls of spicy stew, at the children's feet. `I heard lately she still be living in Wartstoe Village. And that be a miracle as I thought her long burned.'

The children were so hungry that the stew was almost finished by the time the men returned with the bedding and the younger woman returned with a bowl of hot water. And they were more than half asleep by the time she'd bathed and bandaged Swift's foot and told him that it would be fine by morning.

Bidding them `fine sleeping' she and all the guardians of the palace, except Malcolm Leftfoot and his dog, departed.

Lem waited a few moments before leaning over to whisper to Celeste and Lyla. `Do you think one of us should stay awake?'

`There'll be no need for that,' said Malcolm Leftfoot, whose hearing was extraordinarily good for someone so old. `I'll be sitting up all night. It be my job.'

`In that case,' Lyla pulled her hood over her head and snuggled further under her blanket. `I bid you good watching, Master Leftfoot.'

Five minutes later she rolled over to Celeste and breathed into her ear. `I'll pretend to sleep for the first two hours, then it is your turn, then Lem's.'