Silver Hill (16 page)

Jack had no idea how long they’d been in the dark. He thought he’d get used to it but after a while he began to feel uncomfortable. Just when he thought he couldn’t stay there a moment longer he heard a fluttering of wings.

‘It’s all clear,’ announced Timmery. ‘The Dorysk has led them back down the tunnels. We can go now, but don’t make a sound, just take two steps forwards.’

Jack was amazed as he shuffled towards Timmery’s voice. After a few steps he was able to see again. Jack heard a low mumbling coming from Camelin as he followed but even he must have realised the danger they were in and didn’t say anything out loud. They moved swiftly and were soon back in the main tunnel and heading upwards towards the door. Jack wondered what Pyecroft would say when he found his coat lying in one of the tunnels. He’d probably blame one of the Spriggans.

‘We’re nearly there,’ piped Timmery as a small moth joined them.

‘Are we safe,’ Jack asked the Dorysk.

‘Those two won’t be coming this way, they’re both off chasing a non-existent dragonette into the dark tunnels below the kitchen. And they won’t raise the alarm yet either – they’re desperate to catch them before anyone important finds out they’re missing.’

Even though Jack felt relieved he didn’t slow his pace. They still had to get the two dragonettes safely back to Glasruhen.

INSIDE INFORMATION

They moved as quickly as they could through the last tunnel. Jack couldn’t hear anything except the fluttering of wings and the shuffling of his and Camelin’s feet. He felt very relieved when he saw the doorway up ahead. Once they were airborne they’d be safer than in the tunnels. Jack was just contemplating how to open and shut the door when the Dorysk landed on the floor and took on his usual prickly form.

‘Allow me,’ he said as he turned the doorknob.

When everyone was safely through the Dorysk closed the door. Camelin dropped his sack on the ledge, launched himself off the edge and circled back. His great strong claws grabbed the sack as he swooped past.

‘Be easier to fly home like this,’ he called to Jack before he flew off into the darkness.

Jack waited until the Dorysk had transformed into a tiny bat and attached himself securely onto his back. He knew grabbing the sack wouldn’t be easy and he didn’t want to drop Snook. Jack hesitated before taking off. He circled once and as he neared the ledge, stretched his feet out and opened his claws. It wasn’t quite as he’d planned but he managed to grab the sack firmly in one foot. As he flew after Camelin he closed his other claw securely around the top. He hoped the flight home wasn’t going to be too difficult.

By the time they flew over the ruins of Salchester, Jack was tiring. He’d tried to keep up with Camelin but the distance between them grew longer with each minute that passed. It was a twenty-minute flight back to Ewell House from here. If he couldn’t keep up, at least he knew his way home; the landscape below was very familiar now. He was unbelievably tired and he was worried – he needed to be at his best for tomorrow’s dress rehearsal. Each beat of his wings got harder and harder. His head jerked. For a brief second he’d fallen asleep. He felt the sack slipping and tightened his claws. It was no use, he was going to have to stop and rest. He scanned below to find somewhere to land. A familiar voice made him jump and for the second time he nearly lost his grip on the sack.

‘What’s wrong?’ called Camelin. ‘I thought you were right behind me.’

‘I’m so tired, I couldn’t keep up,’ Jack managed to call back.

It was then Jack realised that Camelin didn’t have his sack. He was suddenly very wide awake.

‘Where’s Norris?’

‘Safe at Ewell House. I thought I’d better come find you. See that haystack down there? Drop your sack on the top. I’ll take it from here and meet you back in your room. I bet I can beat you back.’

Jack didn’t doubt Camelin would be there first. He’d no energy left to even contemplate racing. He followed Camelin and flew low over the haystack. When he was directly over it he gently dropped his sack on the top. Moments later Camelin was flying back towards Ewell House with Snook’s sack securely in his claws. Jack found it much easier flying without the sack. He felt lighter and was able to fly faster. The welcome sight of Grandad’s house and his bedroom window were soon before him. As they approached the end of the forest the Dorysk detached himself from Jack’s back.

‘I’ll be off now, but remember, if I can be of service you only have to ask.’

‘I will. Thank you for everything you’ve done tonight.’

Jack yawned deeply and nearly misjudged his landing.

‘What took you so long?’ said Camelin as Jack skidded to a halt on the windowsill.

Jack was too tired to reply. Once they’d transformed Jack could feel every muscle in his body aching. He struggled into his pyjamas and fell into bed.

Jack heard his name being called, from what seemed like a long way away. He wasn’t awake enough to work out what was being said. When it stopped he could feel himself drifting back to sleep. A loud knock on his door made him sit up with a jolt.‘Come on Jack or you’ll be late. I’ve been calling you for ages, are you up?’

Jack swung his feet out of bed.

‘Sorry, I won’t be long.’

Jack felt awful. He could hardly focus and he knew that if he closed his eyes, even for a second, he’d fall asleep again. Maybe he could find a
Staying Awake
spell in his Book of Shadows. He reached for his wand but it wasn’t there. He looked under the bed, on the table and behind the curtain. Then he remembered – he’d dropped it into the sack. Was that why Camelin had been so helpful last night? He wasn’t going to be able to find out until after school. It was going to be a long day.

‘How was the rehearsal?’ asked Grandad when Jack got home.

‘Awful. I think it was the worst I’ve ever sung.’

‘Not to worry, I’m sure it’ll be perfect for tomorrow afternoon’s performance.’

‘But what if I don’t sing well tomorrow either?’

‘Nonsense you’ll be fine, you’ll see.’

Jack was grateful his Grandad had faith in his singing. Maybe after a good night’s sleep he’d be fine. He could hardly tell Grandad why he hadn’t been able to do his best.

‘Can I go to Ewell House and leave a note for Nora? She’s going to be back later tonight.’

‘That’s fine, there’s no need to feed the birds, I did it earlier. Dinner’s at six.’

Jack didn’t even bother to change out of his school clothes. He went straight down to the bottom of the garden and made his way through the tunnel to Nora’s. He wasn’t sure what he was going to say to Camelin but he needed to get his wand back. There was hardly a sound from the garden. He couldn’t hear Gerda or Medric and Camelin wasn’t anywhere to be seen. When he peeped into the cave behind the rockery there was no sign of Saige either. It was only as he neared the open patio doors that he heard squeaky voices. Without his wand he’d no idea what was being said. He wondered if Nora was already home.

‘Anyone there?’ he called.

The voices stopped and Motley came scurrying onto the patio and began squeaking at him.

‘Hold on a minute, I’ve got to find Camelin and get my wand.’

‘We’re in here, come on in, your wand’s on the table,’ Camelin called from inside the kitchen.

Motley followed him in and scurried onto the table where the rest of the Night Guard sat.

Jack picked up his wand and looked Camelin in the eye.

‘You tried it didn’t you?’

‘Oh that’s nice after I cleaned it for you, it was covered in marinade. You don’t have to worry. It only works for you so you won’t have to go telling Nora anything.’

Jack smiled. He wondered if Camelin had spent most of the day trying to get his wand to work. He looked over at Motley who didn’t look at all happy.

‘What’s wrong?’

‘Oh Jack, we’ve been waiting for you to arrive, such terrible, terrible news and we don’t know what to do.’

‘What kind of news?’

‘Not good,’ said Camelin.

Jack sat down at the kitchen table. In the middle were the two lanterns each with a dragonette still inside. They looked almost identical to Charkle with their purple wings and green shiny scales. The only difference Jack had noticed the night before was that the tip of Snook’s tail had a sharper point but now they were clean he could see Norris was a paler shade of green. They both bowed to Jack. Norris began speaking before Motley could continue.

‘How can we ever thank you enough?’

‘They’d have eaten us for sure,’ added Snook.

Jack looked at the two little dragons. He wished Nora was here, she’d have had them out of their prisons in no time.

‘Are you both alright? I thought you might still be covered in marinade.’

Camelin coughed.

‘I helped to get them clean.’

Jack gave him a disapproving look.

‘Before you say anything, I took the lanterns down to the lake and they had a wash. Waste of a good marinade if you ask me but there was no other way to get it off.’

‘Everyone’s been so kind,’ said Snook. ‘And Camelin told us how he rescued Charkle, it was so brave of him.’

Norris nodded.

‘It’ll be wonderful to see him again. Camelin says he’s a bat now so he can fly around without anyone knowing he’s a dragonette. Do you think Nora will let us stay? Maybe she could turn us into bats too.’