The Golden Acorn - Catherine Cooper [55]
‘Time to go,’ she whispered. ‘I think we made an impression don’t you?’
Once they were back in the garden Nora sealed the hole in the bush again. By the time they reached the kitchen Jack couldn’t stop yawning.
‘I think it’s time we all went to bed. You can tell Camelin all about it if he’s awake and tomorrow we can continue with your flying lessons.’
Jack climbed into the basket and Elan raised him up to the attic window. He waved his wing to her once he was inside. He hopped up the stairs into the loft and waddled over to Camelin.
‘Nothing to report here. It’s all been quiet,’ said Camelin after he’d transformed Jack back.
‘I’ve got lots to tell you.’
‘Don’t want to talk tonight,’ Camelin announced abruptly. ‘I need some sleep.’
‘Tell you in the morning then,’ said Jack.
He wasn’t offended. As he lay on the beanbag Orin came and snuggled in the crook of his arm. He watched the stars though the round window. Moonlight streamed in and bathed Camelin’s raven basket in a pale, ghostly light. It was peaceful in the loft and his thoughts drifted from Chief Knuckle and the Spriggans to Peabody, Orin and Camelin. Jack listened to the loud squeaking from Motley and the Night Guard as they patrolled the garden. Camelin’s rasping snore changed into soft rhythmic breathing. Jack was dozing off when a flapping of wings jolted him awake. Timmery had flown into the loft. Jack reached for his wand so he could understand why Timmery had woken them. He managed to catch the end of his report.
‘… moved from the wall; they’re under the tree now…’
‘Spriggans?’ asked Jack getting ready to leap off the beanbag.
‘No, cows,’ grumbled Camelin. ‘He’s woken me up to tell me the cows in the opposite field have moved from the wall and are under the tree.’
‘… and I’ve seen a car on the main road,’ continued Timmery.
‘Nora told you. It’s unusual things you need to report, not cows and cars.’
‘But the cows don’t usually go over to the tree until dawn,’ explained Timmery.
‘It’s not important. Now go away and leave me in peace,’ Camelin croaked loudly.
‘Only doing my duty,’ twittered Timmery as he flittered out of the window.
By morning Jack and Camelin were both shattered. They hadn’t seen Motley at all but Timmery had disturbed them another three times.
‘He’s taking his duty far too seriously,’ grumbled Camelin, ‘and no matter what I’ve said, he’s intent on reporting every single movement he’s seen.’
Jack nodded in agreement but he was too busy yawning to reply. Camelin began yawning too.
‘I’m going to have to speak to Nora. We can’t have another night like that.’
By the time Nora came into the kitchen Jack and Camelin had been up and waiting for nearly half an hour. Camelin was dozing on the window sill and Jack was grooming Orin.
‘Sleep well?’ she asked cheerfully.
‘No,’ Camelin croaked grumpily through a stifled yawn. ‘None of us did. I need to talk to you about Timmery. He doesn’t understand that it’s only suspicious things he needs to report. He woke us up about cars and cows and at three o’clock this morning he reported there were twenty-three starlings roosting in the dovecote. I hardly think they pose a threat but I’ll go and evict them later; they really shouldn’t be there.’
‘He’ll be here soon. I’ll explain it to him again,’ replied Nora. ‘But you can leave the starlings where they are. They aren’t doing anyone any harm. If the doves are happy to share their roost then I’m not going to interfere, and neither are you.’
Camelin didn’t express his opinion about starlings. It was obvious to Jack that Nora had quite a soft spot for them.
‘She never tells them off about their manners,’ Camelin whispered to Jack. ‘They’re a lot worse than mine. In fact they’re disgustingly messy eaters.’
‘That’s enough Camelin,’ Nora chided.
‘But you will speak to Timmery, won’t you?’ he pleaded.
‘I will. Have you had breakfast yet?’
Jack had seen Camelin help himself to a light snack from the bird table on his way from the loft to the kitchen. Camelin didn’t mention this to Nora.