The Golden Acorn - Catherine Cooper [41]
‘Kneel down on the rock,’ Nora called. ‘We haven’t got much time.’
As Jack bent over the rock seemed to rise up and the sky spun around. There was nothing between him and the ground, hundreds of feet below.
‘Be careful,’ warned Nora. ‘When the transformation is complete keep very still, otherwise it could be dangerous.’
Jack had no intention of moving at all now he was on top of the rock.
‘You must lie flat and look into The Raven’s Bowl,’ Nora shouted. ‘When the first ray of light from the sunrise hits the bowl make sure you’re holding Camelin’s wing feather. Touch the water with your forehead and repeat the words of the ritual.’
Camelin for once had been silent and Jack realised why when he turned around. He still had the feather Nora had given him in his beak.
‘Take the feather Jack. Camelin will place his wing on your back as soon as he sees the light. That will be my signal to begin the ritual.’
Nora had the book she’d brought from the library open in one hand and in her other the golden acorn lay on her open palm.
‘Are you feeling OK?’ she asked Jack.
‘Yes,’ Jack and Camelin replied together.
The sky became lighter. Jack lay still and concentrated on his reflection in the Raven’s Bowl. As the first ray of light lit the edge of the water he felt Camelin’s wing touch his shoulder and heard Nora softly speaking words he didn’t understand. From the corner of his eye he saw the golden acorn send out rays of light. Panic filled his whole body; he knew he should be saying his words. The intense light from the golden acorn distracted him. His hand was sweating. It was hard to hold the feather.
The words just wouldn’t come. He tried to concentrate. He could feel his heart pounding in his chest.
The pressure from Camelin’s wing increased. Jack lowered his head and touched the water with his forehead. The sunrise flooded into the bowl and blinded him. At last he spoke...
A feather from a raven’s wing,
His voice was shaky as he completed the next line.
This is the token I do bring.
He felt the pressure increase from Camelin’s wing, which hadn’t left his shoulder...
As sunrise lights the darkened sky,
Transform me so that I can fly.
A crushing pain shot though Jack’s body. He tried to curl up but he couldn’t. The hood of the cloak had flopped down over his head. His hands wouldn’t respond as he tried to push it back. As he writhed around Camelin took the hood in his beak and pulled it aside. Jack caught sight of a reflection in the water. He thought it was Camelin’s, then realised it was his own. The ritual had worked. He’d been transformed into a raven!
‘Caw!’ he exclaimed. ‘Nora, look!’
‘Is everything alright?’
‘Yes,’ they both replied.
‘Touch your foreheads together and you should be able to change back again.’
Jack hadn’t anticipated changing back so soon. He hadn’t got used to the sensation of transforming into a raven and now he was going to have to do it again in reverse. The cloak felt heavy as it engulfed him. Camelin leaned forward and they put their foreheads together. A bright light, as dazzling as the sunrise had been, flashed outwards from the point where their brows touched. Again Jack was blinded. He must remember to close his eyes the next time he transformed.
The crushing pain returned for a few seconds but he knew instinctively, without looking at his reflection, that he was a boy again. His whole body ached. It was painful climbing down the rocks to the crevice where his clothes were hidden. He found it difficult to dress, his hands were shaking so much.
‘I’m glad we don’t have to come up here every time I need to change into a raven,’ he told Camelin.
‘Now the ritual is complete. All you have to do is put your foreheads together and the transformation will take place. You can do it anywhere you want in future,’ explained Nora.
Jack felt very tired and walked a little way behind