The Golden Acorn - Catherine Cooper [68]
‘Something’s wrong,’ Jack called to Camelin. ‘They look worried.’
As soon as they landed the Dryads circled around them. They all began speaking at once until the tallest raised her arms and everything went quiet.
‘What’s wrong?’ asked Jack.
‘We couldn’t deliver the message. Arrana won’t wake up. She’s been like this before but never this sleepy,’ the Dryad explained.
Jack hopped back a little way and in his loudest voice addressed the Hamadryad.
‘Arrana the Wise, Protector and Most Sacred of All Dryads.’
Everyone held their breath. Arrana didn’t stir.
‘Try singing,’ the Dryad suggested, ‘and we’ll all join in. That might wake her.’
Jack thought carefully. He didn’t know which song would be best, and then he remembered The Tree in the Wood. He opened his beak to sing but instead of his lovely voice a terrible croaking sound came out.
‘Oooh, I know this one,’ said Camelin enthusiastically as he joined in with Jack.
Together they made a terrible racket. All the Dryads put their hands over their ears. Jack and Camelin threw their heads back and croaked the chorus as loudly as they could…
‘…and the green grass grew all around, all around, and the green grass grew all around.’
Their song rang through the forest. The noise was awful but it seemed to be having an effect on Arrana. The Hamadryad quivered slightly. Jack and Camelin croaked even louder until the whole trunk began to vibrate and eventually became a blur. As Arrana transformed leaves began to fall from her branches. When eventually she stood where the gnarled trunk had been, everyone gasped. Arrana’s copper coloured hair was flecked with silver, her face was pale and Jack could see through her smooth, nut-brown skin. He didn’t know what to say.
‘It’s started,’ she whispered. ‘I’m beginning to fade.’
THE SEARCH
The message had already reached Nora by the time Jack and Camelin returned but she still wanted to hear what they both had to say about Arrana.
‘This is very worrying,’ she said as she paced up and down. ‘And you say you could see right through her?’
Jack and Camelin both nodded.
‘She was sort of transparent,’ explained Jack. ‘Is there anything we can do?’
‘Not until we open the window in time and send you two back to find those missing cauldron plates. We don’t have much time and we’re still no nearer to getting the golden acorn back.’
The atmosphere was subdued. No one spoke. All were lost in their own thoughts.
‘Elan’s out now, looking in all the obvious places where Pycroft might be. I don’t understand why the trees haven’t seen anything of either Bogie.’
‘Could Pycroft be in Newton Gill with Peabody?’ Jack asked.
I doubt it. If Peabody knew where he was he’d have got him here somehow. He’ll want his own nose back as soon as possible. I imagine he’s looking everywhere for his brother too.’
Jack thought about Camelin’s secret cave at the bottom of the garden and the Hag in Westwood Roost. Pycroft had to be in a place with no trees or Nora would know his whereabouts.
‘Somewhere underground then, like a cave,’ suggested Jack.
‘I’ve got Timmery and Charkle checking them,’ Nora replied. ‘But so far he’s left no trace’.
‘I think we need to have a look at the map and start a systematic search. We have so little time and such a lot of ground to cover.’
Nora went over to the dresser and brought out her map.
‘Now let’s think, areas where there aren’t any trees.’
Nora tapped the map in several places.
‘The top of the hills to the north of Glasruhen are sparse and bleak. Then there are the old quarries, disused mines, caves and more Spriggan tunnels than I care to think about.’
A worried silence filled the room. Again no one spoke until a fluttering of wings announced the arrival of Charkle and Timmery.
‘Any news?’ asked Nora.
The two tiny bats fluttered around Nora’s head. Jack tried to see