The Golden Acorn - Catherine Cooper [71]
Jack winked at Camelin but didn’t tell Nora about the terrible mess in the loft.
‘Can you go and find Motley for me?’ Nora asked Camelin.
He shuffled his feet for a few seconds before reluctantly flying off.
‘I was beginning to give up hope,’ said Nora. ‘I really think there’s a good chance he might be there. If he is we’ll need a plan to make sure he can’t escape. I’m sure he knows we want the acorn back and the last thing he’ll want to do is return it, especially after he’s gone to all that trouble to acquire it.’
‘But it doesn’t belong to him. He can’t keep it,’ Jack said crossly.
‘I’m afraid that as long as Pycroft has the acorn he’ll believe it’s his. Bogies are like that. They don’t have a better nature you can appeal to. I’ll send Camelin over to you later to let you know if he’s there or not and what we intend to do.’
‘Can’t I go with you?’
‘I wouldn’t know how to begin to explain to your Grandad that we’re visiting a rubbish tip after dark. Would you?’
Jack had to agree with Nora. He’d have to wait for her to send him news later.
It was a long wait. For hours Jack watched from his bedroom window for any sign of Camelin. It was useless to write to Elan in his Book of Shadows. He knew she’d be out with the others. Orin kept Jack company until she yawned and scampered onto his pillow, where she fell fast asleep. It was nearly midnight when Jack finally saw Camelin’s silhouette swoop over the trees. He opened the window wide and Camelin flew straight in and landed on the back of Jack’s chair. He was really excited and began noisily telling Jack the news.
‘We’ve got the tip surrounded. You were right, he’s in there. Motley found him. He won’t escape.’
‘Jack,’ shouted Grandad from his bedroom, ‘is that the radio? It’s a bit late. Turn if off, there’s a good lad.’
‘Sorry Grandad,’ Jack shouted back then whispered to Camelin. ‘You’re going to have to keep your voice down and start again slowly from the beginning.’
‘Nora sent Motley and the Night Guard over to the tip. They came back and said they’d found a burrow, a big one made out of rubbish, and someone was living in it. Elan’s keeping watch and as soon as he returns she’ll help Motley and the Night Guard bring him over to Ewell House.’
‘Won’t he put up a fight?’
‘Naw. Bogie’s don’t like anything with teeth and claws. Besides, Charkle’s going to be there. If the Bogie gives them any trouble Charkle can persuade him to be good by directing his flame in the right place. I doubt any Bogie would want a singed bottom.’
Jack laughed then remembered that Grandad was sleeping in the next room.
‘You’re going to have to go now.’
‘What about my lesson?’
‘We’ll have a double one in your loft tomorrow night. I hope I’m there when Pycroft returns the acorn.’
Camelin was very excited when Jack arrived at Ewell House after school the next day.
‘They’ve got him,’ he cawed loudly before Nora could tell Jack the news. ‘Motley said they’d captured Pycroft and they’ll bring him to the house as soon as it’s dark.’
‘We must be ready,’ said Nora. ‘We can’t afford any mistakes. We must have the acorn back. The solstice is tomorrow night.’
Camelin puffed his feathers out, strutted along the table and interrupted Nora again before she could continue.
‘Timmery’s gone to let Chief Knuckle know the good news. As soon as we’ve got the acorn back the Spriggans can come and shrink Grub back down to size.’
‘I shan’t be sorry to see him go,’ sighed Nora. ‘He’s such a size to feed. I’d better go and re-open the tunnel. Have you two got something to do before it goes dark?’
‘Yes,’ Jack and Camelin replied together.
They went up to the loft. At the end of Camelin’s double reading lesson Jack congratulated him.
‘You’re nearly there. A bit more practice and you’ll be able to read anything.’ Camelin looked pleased.
Once Jack had transformed they went outside to practise flying through the hoop for the last time.
After supper Jack and Camelin kept watch from the chimney pot.
‘Are you feeling OK about the ritual tomorrow night?’ Camelin