An Army of Good (9 page)

“There was no answer at Dalouhen House.

“Mummy and Daddy are away on urgent work business. They shan't be home until the weekend. Nanny Clara is supposed to be collecting me from school today,” Henrietta said stroppily, with her arms folded.

The spoilt girl continued to whine for some time about how her parents were sure to realise that her clone was an imposter. That they were certain to call the police and report the real her missing; at which point a warrant of arrest would be sent out ordering the capture of her abductors – dead or alive!

Mrs Potts tutted. “Oh Henrietta, do be quiet,” she said, grabbing the girl's hand and leading her away from the house.

“What do we do now?” Ice asked Zavier.

Zavier began to walk away from the empty house. “There isn't anything that we can do. We can't wait for them to return. We will have to take the child without her parents. Maybe there will be an extra one or two people that we can collect from Noah's Ark in place of them,” he said.

“Let's go and find out,” Ice replied, and the group started the short journey to the Veterinary Practice.

“Come on, puppy, you can do it – breathe!” Nurse Cassey willed as she rubbed the puppy's wet and lifeless body with a warm towel. Then she held the newborn still, observing it for any signs of life, but it remained limp in her hands. She funnelled over its nose and mouth with one hand and blew, administering a rescue breath, before continuing with the stimulating rubbing. Still no sound or movement came from the neonate. She placed her thumb and fingers either side of its chest and checked for a heartbeat. Holding her breath and closing her eyes, she concentrated. The puppy's tiny heart flickered vigorously within its ribcage, sending beams of hope pulsing through her fingertips.

“Yes, come on!” she pleaded, continuing to rub.

The puppy gasped its first unassisted breath and began to wriggle and squeal for the comfort of its mother.

“Good job, Cassey!” Vet Noah Copper cheered when he heard the reassuring squeaks that the pup was making. Then he continued to close up the mother's caesarean wound. “What have we got?” he asked.

“Three girls and four boys,” Cassey replied, as she put the last puppy into a heated basket with its litter mates.

Once the mother had finished being stitched and her anaesthetic breathing tube had been removed, Cassey and Flossie carried her to a kennel to recover. The nurses loved their jobs, and they particularly loved assisting with caesareans. They sat on the floor beside the mother's kennel tending to her every need, and they encouraged the puppies to feed from her. When the nurses were satisfied that mum and pups were settled, they began to clean up. After washing and sterilising the surgical drapes and instruments, they swept and mopped the surgery floor while singing along to the radio.

“
Breaking news,”
the radio newsreader stated, interrupting the song.
“A British man has died in South Africa. The man and three other men were killed at a white lion breeding centre while releasing live animals into one of the enclosures. It is thought that the animals, said to be ponies, were being offered as live feed for the lions. Unfortunately for the men, they also appear to have ended up on the menu. The British man, who is yet to be named, was mauled beyond recognition. The other men were: Johan Jacobs the breeding centre owner, and two of his staff members, Mykel Uzolisa and Lukas Madwe. The lions are also thought to have turned on each other during the frenzied attack, due to the presence of lion remains among the carnage. Some of the ferocious animals are still unaccounted for, having escaped via a poorly maintained fence at the breeding centre. A specialised game capture team have been deployed to search for them, but the team's efforts have been hampered by an unusually high number of bush fires in the area. We will bring you more news on the situation as we receive it.
”

“Flo, did you hear that?” Cassey asked.

“Yeah. Scary, hey?” Flossie replied. “I hope that isn't anywhere near where Jenn and Claire are volunteering, and I'm glad there weren't any savage lions on the loose when we were working out there last year. Then again, it would've been really exciting if we'd have been sent out with the vet in the helicopter to dart and capture escaped white lions, wouldn't it?”

“It sure would,” Cassey replied, returning the mop to the cupboard. Then she went back into the kennel room to see how the mother and her pups were.

“How are you doing, mummy, huh?” she asked, softly stroking the miniature schnauzer's head.

Sarra the receptionist appeared in the kennel room doorway.

“Mr and Mrs Evans are here to collect Daisy and her pups,” she said.

“Okay, thanks, Sarra. Can you let Noah know for me? He wants to speak with them first. Flo and I will bring mum and pups down to his room when he's finished explaining everything to them.”

* * *

Mr Copper had an informative chat with Mr and Mrs Evans. He explained the post-operative care that Daisy required, and he also made sure that they knew how to help her to look after her pups. When he was done, he wrote his notes on the computer and Mr and Mrs Evans were able to leave the Vet Practice with big smiles on their faces, and a bustling-basketful of new life.

“Sarra, you can go for lunch now if you like. Cassey, Flo and I will be finished soon. We'll lock up,” Noah said.

“Ooh, thanks, Noah, if you're sure?” Sarra replied. “See you later, girls,” she called out to the nurses, as she left the building clutching her designer handbag and flicking her long blonde hair extensions over her shoulder.

* * *

Once everything was done, the vet nurses waited outside the practice for Noah while he set the alarm, slid the grill across and locked the external door. With the practice secure, they began to walk up the curly footpath that led to the car-park, but before they reached the end, their path was blocked. There, standing before them, were two men, a woman and a child.

“Sorry, we're closed for lunch, so unless it's a matter of life and death I'm afraid you'll have to come back later,” an exhausted Noah said as politely as he could, after an exhausting morning's shift.

“It is indeed a matter of life and death,” Zavier replied as Ice and Francis swooped down from the trees and joined the group, ready to commence cloning the last of the Humans.

The microwave oven ‘pinged', signalling that the delicious Shepherd's pie that Meals on Wheels Janice had delivered to Elsie earlier was ready to eat. The old lady grabbed hold of her mobility trolley's frame and wheeled her way over to collect the hot food. She opened the microwave door and placed her hand inside, but before she could remove the steaming pie, she was disturbed by the musical chiming of her doorbell. Elsie gradually shuffled her way with the aid of her trolley to the front door and opened it a sliver.

“Who is it?” she asked in a frail voice.

“My name is Zavier. Grace sent me.”

“Who?” Elsie questioned.

“It's okay, Elsie, you can let us in. I'll explain everything to you over a nice hot cuppa,” Poppy Paul called out over Zavier's shoulder.

The old lady was reassured by the sound of Paul's familiar voice. He often popped round to her house for a cup of tea and a natter about the war, especially around Remembrance Day. He would sit for hours listening to her wartime memories, and then use the poignant stories that she told as an aid to encourage everyone in the village to buy a poppy.

Elsie shakily removed the security chain and shuffled back from the doorway, allowing everyone to hurry inside, including Ice and Francis.

* * *

Once Elsie had recovered from the initial shock of what Zavier had told her, she sat very quietly. After a few concerning minutes of complete silence and an uncomfortable stillness, she suddenly spoke.

“Well, I would love to be able to help you, but I'm afraid I won't be of any use. I'm an old lady, if you hadn't noticed. I'm almost ninety years old, you know,” she said with a groan. “I wish I wasn't so useless, but I'm afraid I'm no good to anyone.”

Ice perched on the frame of Elsie's mobility trolley. “Do you mind if I ask you a question Elsie?” she t'woo'd

“Not at all,” the old woman replied.

“Your body is aged and worn, yes, but what about your mind? How old are you inside?”

Elsie smiled, her false teeth slightly falling away from her gums. “Ooh well, in my mind I'm still sweet sixteen and doing cartwheels, dear.”

“Then that is how old you will feel after I perform the rejuvenation enchantment on you. But Elsie, I must request that you take it easy on the cartwheels. What do you say?”

“Well dear, if you're going to make me feel sixteen again, then I can hardly say no, can I?” the old lady chuckled.

Thankfully, Ice remembered to clone Elsie before the rejuvenation enchantment began.

Zavier placed a glass of water on the table in front of the delicate old woman, and Ice chanted these words.

“Sip from the well of Afriel, and soon you will no longer tell, that your bones are aching and your body is old.”

Zavier offered Elsie the glass of water, indicating that she should take a sip. Elsie sipped from the glass, then shakily placed it back on the table. The glass began to wobble gently and the water inside began to swirl. A fountain suddenly emerged from within the whirling water, spouting up from the centre of the glass. Cassey, Flo and Mrs Potts gasped in amazement at the spurting water and Ice continued.

“The fountain of youth has come as foretold; now pass through it the riches of gold.”

Zavier glanced down at Elsie's left hand. He carefully took a hold of it and ran her wedding ring finger through the cascading water, ensuring that the band of gold passed through its flow.

“At this stage you should choose an age.”

Ice and Elsie both looked at each other: “Sixteen,” Elsie said, beaming.

“Swallow what's left, let it run through your veins.”

Elsie picked up the glass and snorted a little as the water bubbled up her nose, but she still managed to drink the glass dry.

“Now you will start to feel the change.”

A strange tingling sensation started on the tip of Elsie's tongue. She felt as if her hair had been rubbed with a balloon and was now statically standing on end. The strange feeling spread rapidly through the inside of her head, and before she knew it, it had reached down to the very tips of her toes. She sprang from her chair and rushed out of the back door into the garden.

“Here goes!” she cheered, before cartwheeling the length of the lawn.

Ice flapped after her in a panic. “Elsie, what did I tell you? Take it easy on the cartwheels,” she objected.

* * *

Zavier, Francis, Ice and the newly collected Humans left Elsie's clone sitting in the lounge watching TV, with DD, her pet rabbit, snuggled on her lap. They quickly made their way through Witern Wood. Mrs Potts, Poppy Paul, Henrietta, Noah, Cassey and Flo all tried their best to keep up with Zavier and Elsie. But what with Zavier having transformed into his powerful Shire horse form, and the old lady being freshly energised, they had very little hope.

The gate opened, allowing Elsie, Mrs Potts, Poppy Paul, Henrietta, Noah, Cassey and Flo to take their first steps into the realm of Liberty. Aaron, Ezekiel and Tobias were there as arranged, waiting to carry the Humans back to Serenity Sunrise Beach. Zavier suggested that Aaron, being the strongest, should carry Poppy Paul and Noah. Ezekiel was to take Cassey and Flo. Tobias was to carry Elsie, and Zavier himself was to transport Mrs Potts and Henrietta.

“Okay, so how am I supposed to get on?” Poppy Paul asked, with his hands placed nervously on top of his shaven head. He wasn't the type of fella you'd have thought would be scared of horses, but he'd always felt nervy around the huge animals. Particularly after being shoved around by the ones that the mounted police used at the many football matches he'd attended.

“Grab a hold of my mane with your left hand,” Aaron explained.

Poppy Paul clutched Aaron's dense black hair in his left palm and tried not to let on how intimidated he was by the massive stallion.

“Okay, what now?” he asked, trying to sound confident.

“Place your right hand on my back. Take a couple of big bounces, then throw your right leg up and over.”

“Just like that?” Poppy Paul said doubtfully

“Yep, just like that,” Aaron stated.

Poppy Paul's tattoo-covered biceps bulged as he took a couple of big bounces and pulled on Aaron's mane, but he didn't manage to lift his leg anywhere near high enough to cover the stallion's back.

“Easy, big fella!” Aaron scowled with discomfort at having his hair tugged so forcefully.

“I don't think I can do it,” Poppy Paul stated. “I'm too heavy.”

“Now, I can relate to that,” Aaron chuckled. “Here, stand on this tree,” he said, moving beside a fallen birch.

Poppy Paul stood on the tree-trunk and tried again. This time he was successful.

Noah didn't have any problems climbing upon Aaron. He was a slim man and much more agile. He mounted with ease and sat behind Paul.

Cassey and Flo were both horse owners and they expertly boarded Ezekiel from the ground.

Zavier moved himself beside the fallen birch, so that both Mrs Potts and Henrietta could climb on him. Mrs Potts sat upfront and Henrietta positioned herself behind her. “Hold onto me as tightly as you can please, Henrietta,” the teacher demanded. Henri shuffled closer to Mrs Potts, placed her arms as far around her waist as she could and grimaced in disgust at having to be so close to another person.

The last person to mount their steed was Elsie. She stood far back from the group, watching as the horses shuffled around on the wooded trail, getting used to the weight of their loads.

“What's wrong, Elsie?” Zavier asked.

“Ooh, nothing's wrong, dear, I'm just preparing myself.”

“Preparing for what?”

“This!” she yelled.

The old lady ran towards Tobias's back end at speed. She placed a hand either side of his rump and vaulted herself safely onto his back, then she clasped his brown and white splashed mane in eager anticipation of a thrilling ride. Ice flew down from an overhanging branch and sat before Elsie.

“I can see I'm going to have to keep a close eye on you! You seem to be forgetting your true age!” she scolded.

“No need, dear. I'll behave now. I promise.”

“Well, I think I'll stay here all the same,” Ice said, not trusting the naughty old lady to keep her word.

The Halfses started the journey at a gentle pace, to allow the Humans time to find their balance. As they ambled across the woodland, a flurry of leaves began falling from the trees. Mrs Potts looked up, confused.
There's no wind, it isn't autumn, so why are the leaves falling so heavily?

The tumbling leaves drifted through the air before coming to rest upon the Halfses. One of them landed right between Zavier's ears. Mrs Potts stared at the leaf, curious as to why it had fallen, when all of a sudden it stood up!

“Oh, my golly goodness, it's a leaf person! Look, look, Henrietta. The leaf… it's standing up!” she shrieked excitably, her curls bouncing around her full and rosy cheeks.

Henrietta didn't respond to this strangeness at all, she was much too stubborn for that. She was still sulking after the earlier telling-off that Mrs Potts had given her and instead of answering, she threw a cowardly dirty look behind Mrs Potts's back, huffed loudly and turned her head away.

“I'm so sorry,” Lorenzo whispered into Zavier's ear. “We were watching from the treetops as the Nomeds made their way down to the meadow last night. We wanted to warn you, but there wasn't enough time. We're just too small, we can't travel fast enough. Then when they returned to the woods with, with…” Lorenzo gasped, appalled and unable to say exactly what it was that he'd seen the Nomeds dragging back to the swamp.

“I know you would have warned us if you could, Lorenzo. There's really no need to apologise,” Zavier reassured him.

“It's handy that we bumped into you here. We were just on our way to the beach to report our findings,” Lorenzo said, composing himself.

“What findings?” Zavier asked with concern.

“Well, after the Nomeds returned to the swamp, they weren't seen again. We had no more trouble from them, but something else did trouble us. I'm not sure if it is anything that we should be alarmed about or not, but the swamp seems to have spread further into Bluebell Wood.”

“How much further?” Zavier asked.

“Not much at all. We wouldn't have even known about it if it weren't for a few of the Mushroom Kith that live near the swamp. They told us about it this morning when they noticed it was extending into their habitat.”

“I think we should be very concerned about this. We know that the Nomeds are growing in strength and number. My guess is, the swamp is expanding in size to accommodate the increasing evil that resides within it.”

“Sorry to interrupt, but this swamp, that's full of evil, is it anywhere near here?” Mrs Potts asked, pale with fear.

“No, we are at a relatively safe distance from the swamp,” Zavier replied.

“Oh… relatively… oh, okay,” Mrs Potts said, scanning the surrounding woodland for any possible signs of danger.

Henrietta had been listening in on the whole conversation, but she felt no concern about the swamp. She was angry at Zavier for bringing her into this ridiculous land and she was angry at Mrs Potts for scolding her earlier, so now all she cared about was making her point and remaining petulantly silent.

“Thank you for the update, Lorenzo. We will catch up again tomorrow. Come to the rocky incline at noon. If I'm unable to get there myself, I will ensure that someone else is there to meet with you,” Zavier said.

“Sure, will do, but Zavier, before we go I must ask has there been any sighting of Leah? She's still missing.”

“I'm afraid not, Lorenzo. I will hold a meeting tonight at which I'll discuss her disappearance. If anything comes of it, I will let you know when we meet tomorrow.”

“Okay. Thanks, Zavier. ‘Bye for now.”

Lorenzo and the other Leaf Kith jumped down from the Halfses, gliding through the air until they reached a suitable tree to cling onto and climb.

“We must hurry back now. I'd like you all to hold on tightly. We don't want anyone else to fall like young Christian did,” Zavier said.

Henrietta sniggered to herself at the thought of Christian falling from a horse.

“Hold on!” Zavier reiterated and the Halfses lunged into a gallop.

The Humans gripped tightly to the horses as well as to each other, and they were transported safely and speedily to the beach.