Читать книгу The Lost Gargoyle Series 3-Book Bundle - Philippa Dowding - Страница 19

Christmas Day Statues

In no time, it seemed to Katherine, the first term of school was ended and it was time for Christmas holidays.

Christmas was always a fairly laid-back time for the Newberrys, pleasant and unhurried, with lots of friends to visit. They usually had one, large, exciting party for all their friends. Katherine was allowed to invite two friends, and they were always Sarah and Rubie.

This year was going to be a little different. Instead of the huge party they always had, Katherine’s parents had decided they would tell everyone they couldn’t have it this year because they were planning a long-awaited ski trip to Quebec. Katherine loved skiing, and although she would really miss the great party her parents always threw, she was really excited about the ski trip.

They were leaving on Boxing Day and had everything all ready and packed to go several days before, so they could laze around and enjoy Christmas day itself. They also wanted to say goodbye to Gargoth.

Christmas morning was clear and cold. Just as though the snow gods were listening to every child’s prayer on Christmas Eve, Christmas morning dawned with a fresh blanket of snow.

Katherine woke, sprang out of bed and looked out the window. It was her custom now to check on Gargoth from her bedroom window first thing each morning. Somehow he always knew when she was awake, and was waiting, smiling up at her when she peeked out. Christmas morning was no different. He was awake, gazing up at her window, waiting for her.

She waved excitedly at him, and he waved back.

But then she gasped and clapped her hands together in delight! Gargoth had been busy all night, making the most beautiful sculptures with the new snow!

As she looked over the backyard, she counted seventeen snow statues, each one a perfect gargoyle. Each was unique in its way, some were clearly female gargoyles, some were younger, older, grumpy or happy as Gargoth had made them.

One gargoyle was balanced perfectly on one toe, caught in a pirouette, just as Gargoth himself had been that terrible night when he’d stolen Katherine’s shoes.

Another held a bouquet of what looked like asters.

Still another had her wings spread and was flying above a block of snow, suspended on a column of nearly invisible ice.

Each one was a beautiful work of art.

Katherine opened her window and called down to Gargoth, who was sitting perched on his pedestal, smoking his pipe. “Gargoth, they’re beautiful!” She smiled at him.

He grinned back. “Good morning, Katherine! Merry Christmas!” he called.

“Merry Christmas, Gargoth!” she called and quickly shut the window. It really was a cold morning.

She ran down the hall to her parents’ room and burst through the door, breathless. Both her parents, sleepy but happy, smiled up at her as she entered. Milly was curled up between them, asleep. They had already been up and made coffee and hot chocolate. Her mug was steaming on their bedside table. She jumped between them and said, “Merry Christmas, Mom! Merry Christmas, Dad!”

“Did you see the statues?” she asked, after sipping her delicious cocoa.

Her mother was smiling. For the first time in a long while, she looked really happy.

“Yes, they’re really beautiful. I think we should take pictures of them so we can keep them around forever,” she said.

Soon it was time for presents. After each Newberry family member had opened his or her gift, and after a huge breakfast of Froot Loops (forbidden the rest of the year), pancakes and maple syrup, the Newberrys put their warmest coats and boots on over their pajamas, and carried out their presents for Gargoth.

Gargoth was sitting beneath the sculpture of the beautiful flying gargoyle, smoking his pipe. He looked calm and peaceful, almost happy.

“Hello, Newberrys. I hope you enjoy the snow sculptures I have made for you.”

“Oh, they’re beautiful, Gargoth. Thank you!” said Katherine and her mother, almost together. Katherine’s father simply said “The statues are beautiful, Gargoth.” He still hadn’t been able to understand when Gargoth spoke, although sometimes he thought he caught a word here and there.

Gargoth stood up and came over to the family. He waved his arms over the seventeen beautiful statues, and said, “I have created a world of friends I will never have.” He pointed at a squat, very sturdy and youthful-looking sculpture with fat cheeks. “A young friend perhaps. I will name him Andrathene.”

“And that one I will name Magra.” This time he waved toward an older-looking gargoyle with a grandmotherly face.

He turned and gazed up at the flying gargoyle. Up close, Katherine could see that she was sweet looking, her face wasn’t wrinkled and crumpled like the others. She had a small pouch at her side, just like Gargoth’s.

“Who is that one?” asked Katherine, pointing at the flying gargoyle.

Gargoth looked at her steadily. He sighed. “Her name is Ambergine. But she is no one.”

Katherine and Gargoth looked at each other for a moment, and she knew he was lying. This was a sculpture of the gargoyle he was hoping to find, the only real gargoyle in the entire group of imaginary friends. She was the gargoyle that they would soon be searching for in every candle and comic book store in Toronto.

She tactfully changed the subject. “Um, Mom! What do you have for Gargoth?”

“Oh! Right!” her mother said. “Look Gargoth, these are Cellini apples shipped from a hillside in southern Italy—they are an ancient variety once cultivated by the Greeks and Romans. They are difficult to grow, but they are exquisite. I had to sample one for myself! I hope you like them!” She placed a huge basket overflowing with the most beautiful, glowing apples Katherine had ever seen.

They smelled like heaven. Gargoth picked one up gently in his claw and took a long sniff of its rich, sweet scent. “Oh, they will be delicious. Thank you, Mother Newberry.”

It was Katherine’s turn. She brought her gift out from behind her back and held out a new, oversized cocoa cup for Gargoth. “This is so we can enjoy long chats over hot chocolate together, and you don’t run out first!” she said. Gargoth seemed really touched and turned the cocoa cup around in his hands, holding it up close to his face. It had a checkered pattern and wavy lines on it, which seemed to intrigue him. He looked at it for a long time, finally thanking Katherine in a hushed voice.

Then Katherine’s father stepped forward, not understanding a word, but seeing it was his turn. He dropped a large pouch into Gargoth’s claw. On opening it, Gargoth made a strange noise, which sounded like a gargoyle being taken by surprise (an odd sound to be sure, but not an unpleasant one).

“Ah, Father Newberry, you honour me with fine English tobacco, my favourite,” he said, clearly touched once again.

Gargoth surprised Katherine’s father with a genuine smile and a handshake. (Shaking Gargoth’s claw was actually a little dangerous, it was sharp!)

The Newberrys were very happy. If anyone were looking into their little backyard, they would have seen a very loving family gathered around a gargoyle, who looked just like he loved them back.

And a very smart cat watching everything from the warmth of indoors.