The Golden Acorn - Catherine Cooper [66]
‘The light stays until you give us the information we need,’ replied Nora sternly.
Jack looked around the cave. There was rubbish strewn everywhere on the floor, reminding him a bit of Camelin’s loft. The screeching had come from the back of the cave but even with Nora’s light Jack was unable to see who had made such a dreadful noise. From the darkest recess the voice spoke again.
‘We don’t give information. You need a Bogie for that.’
Jack saw Nora frown.
‘And which Bogie would you recommend?’
There was silence for a while, then the Hag started screeching again.
‘Go away! Coming in here uninvited, frightening the life out of me with that great ugly bird, making my eyes hurt. Go away and don’t come back.’
Nora didn’t answer. Instead she pointed her wand in the direction of the voice and gave it a quick flick. A small bundle of purple hair, claws and black ragged clothes tumbled out into the open. Nora raised her hand, held her palm out flat towards the rolling jumble of arms and legs and made it come to an abrupt halt.
‘Aaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhh!’ the Hag wailed as she shielded her eyes.
‘Finnola Fytche I presume,’ began Nora.
‘Who wants to know,’ snapped the Hag.
‘The Seanchai. I command you to answer my questions unless you want to become lunch for my owl?’
Elan raised her wings and hopped a couple of steps towards the cowering Hag.
‘All right, all right, call the bird off. I’ll tell you what you want to know.’
Elan stopped but didn’t lower her wings.
‘You are?’ asked Nora.
‘Finnola Fytche, but why bother asking if you already know?’
‘Which Bogie were you referring to and where might I find him?’
Finnola shook herself and carefully rearranged the ragged cloak. She ran her claw like hands through her mass of purple hair before she spoke again.
‘That would be Pycroft. He visits here; we trade.’
Jack wondered what kind of things the Hag and Bogie might trade. There were a lot of bones lying around the cave floor and what looked like a sheepskin near the entrance.
Nora tapped her wand, waiting for Finnola to continue.
‘Don’t know where you’d find him. Unpredictable he is. Here one day, gone the next. Never know when he’ll reappear. Have you done now with your questions?’
‘Just a few more… when did you last see a family of Dragonettes?’
Charkle peeped out from behind Nora’s neck and stared at Finnola.
‘Few hundred years ago I’d say. Don’t have much to do with Dragonettes, not much meat on them. You need at least three to make a decent meal.’
Charkle shot back behind Nora who frowned again at Finnola.
‘They didn’t stay long after I arrived. Left in the winter when the great earthquake brought the back of the cave down. Not seen any Dragonettes since, not till now anyway.’
Jack wished he could go outside into the fresh air. The smell was making him feel sick and he didn’t like to think what he might be standing in.
‘I’m putting a watch on you,’ Nora said quietly to Finnola. ‘I intend to know everything you do from now on, so if you see Pycroft before I do tell him he’s got something which belongs to me and he needs to return it as quickly as his little legs will carry him. Understood?’
‘Don’t do messages,’ Finnola grumbled.
‘And I don’t take kindly to rudeness so if you want the light to disappear you’ll do as I ask.’
Finnola grumbled under her breath in her squeaky, high-pitched whine.
‘If I hear anything I don’t like, I’ll come back and permanently light this cave. Is that clear?’
Finnola nodded.
Nora turned and walked towards the entrance. With every step she took the light inside grew fainter and fainter until only darkness remained. It was a relief to be outside and Jack gulped in the clean, fresh air.
When they were back in Westwood Elan shape shifted back. No one spoke until they got to the car.
‘Do you think Pycroft is around here somewhere?’ asked Elan.
‘He could be anywhere,’ sighed Nora, ‘but at least we learnt a bit more about Charkle’s family.’
‘You don’t think she ate them all do you?’ whispered Charkle