The Golden Acorn - Catherine Cooper [48]
‘Promise,’ said Jack and Camelin together.
‘Good, that’s settled. Now once we have Orin and the acorn back I’ll close the tunnel so well they’ll never get back into the garden again,’ added Nora. ‘Are we all ready.’
Everyone nodded. As Jack touched foreheads with Camelin the kitchen lit up. His clothes fell in a heap on the floor. He struggled out then waddled over to Camelin. He watched Nora raise both arms. She turned slowly and with each rotation her body got smaller and smaller until she’d shape shifted into a large ferret with beautiful silver fur. She darted over to join Jack and Camelin. To Jack’s surprise Elan also raised her arms and turned slowly. She too started to shrink.
‘I didn’t know Elan could shape shift!’ Jack whispered to Camelin.
‘She can do exactly what Nora can,’ explained Camelin. ‘Watch.’
Jack’s eyes grew wider as Elan got smaller and smaller until a chestnut-coloured ferret appeared. She shook her fur and looked around the kitchen. Her green eyes flashed as she darted over to join the rest at the door.
‘Close your beak,’ Camelin said to Jack. ‘Nora says it’s rude to stare.’
Jack was too shocked to say anything.
‘Come on,’ said Nora. ‘But not a sound once we’re inside the tunnel.’
To Jack’s surprise, the tunnel was well made. The Spriggans had compacted the earth on the walls and floor making it smooth to the touch. Nora led, Jack followed, Camelin came next and Elan last. Jack found it hard to keep up with Nora. She scurried along and he kept stumbling. He hadn’t really got used to his new feet yet.
Once they’d left the entrance the tunnel got darker and darker. No one spoke. They’d been travelling for about ten minutes when Nora suddenly stopped. Jack almost bumped into her. There was a rustling of feathers when Camelin crashed into Jack.
‘Shhh,’ Nora whispered. ‘I can see a light ahead; we need to slow down.’
By the time Jack could see the flickering light he could also hear angry high-pitched voices. They’d stopped at the end of the tunnel where it led into a circular cave. Beyond it, the tunnel carried on. Three Spriggans were crouched around a small fire. A pot of water hung from a tripod over the flames. Each Spriggan wore an old felt hat with an unlit candle perched on the brim. The nearest Spriggan had his foot on a drawstring bag. Jack thought he saw something move inside.
‘I says we skins her now and cooks her,’ the nearest Spriggan squeaked.
‘Are you mad, Grub,’ the middle one replied. ‘Chief would skins us alive if he finds out.’
‘Whiff’s right,’ the third Spriggan wheezed. ‘How’d you explains where the middles went? You knows he always get to eat the best meat. When’s the last time you had a nice tender female rat. We only gets the tough ones.’
‘Go on Grub, tell Pinch and me hows you’d explains it to him,’ said Whiff.
‘I just don’t sees why he has all the best meat?’ Grub grumbled.
‘Because he’s the Chief, that’s why,’ explained Pinch.
‘OK, I’d tells him she was dead when we found her and she wasn’t fit to eat so we skinned her and throws the meat away.’
There was silence. The other two Spriggans were nodding at Grub. Jack knew they were going to have to do something soon or Orin was in danger of being eaten.
‘Yeh, why shoulds his lordship get all the bestist meat. It’s us what goes a hunting for him,’ agreed Whiff.
Grub and Whiff looked at Pinch. Before he replied Nora turned and nodded.
‘Now,’ she whispered.
Nora and Elan darted forward. The Spriggans jumped up.
‘Ferrets!’ cried Grub as he jumped behind Pinch.
Nora grabbed the drawstring bag in her strong teeth and Elan went over to the fire. As Nora turned and fled back up the tunnel Jack and Camelin touched foreheads. There was a blinding flash. Before it disappeared they touched foreheads again. Once more the cave filled with light. The Spriggans’ high-pitched squeals echoed around the cave. Elan pulled