Blue Fire and Ice (42 page)

Crimson nodded. ‘Yes. I don’t know how, but I’m sure of it.’

‘Remember the way the blue ice on the peak seemed to ripple when we first saw it?’ said Copper. ‘I wondered what made it ripple like that. I think the ice is the water from a stream that bubbles up through the mountain side and freezes. The rippling is the water trickling underneath.’

‘And it joins the Meddle underground somewhere between here and that snowfield,’ said Dot. She felt an excitement and satisfaction at learning more about the Land which surprised her.

Kevin became aware of a flickering light next to him. He turned his eyes from the river and saw the three Muddles engulfed in a shimmering haze. Their bodies rippled and blurred and then stilled. The change startled him but it made him smile. He had wondered what Crimson, Grunge and Miniver were really like when fully themselves. Now he knew.

‘Ow,’ growled Miniver. Her shoulder ached.

‘How is it?’ asked Grunge.

‘Someone’s fixed it, but it’s still tender,’ replied Miniver. ‘I’m glad I won’t be pulling the sledge back down the mountain. I’m not sure I could.’

The cave was filled with the sound of Crimson’s light laughter.

‘Amelia was wrong. We didn’t fail! We won’t bring back the blue ice, but it will be there waiting for us when we return.’ Delight filled Crimson’s voice. ‘It’s been there all the time!’

They looked at her blankly. Then Dot’s eyes went wide and her laughter joined Crimson’s.

Grunge looked puzzled. ‘How can the blue ice get to Ho-’ He stopped and broke into a huge grin. ‘Of course!’

Realisation came to the others.

‘The river …’ said Aunt Mag and Brian together.

‘The Meddle …’ said Copper.

The happiness and relief in their laughter echoed in the cave. Only Kevin remained puzzled.

‘I don’t understand,’ he said quietly.

‘I’m sorry, Kevin. You couldn’t. Amelia never let you go down from the mountains, did she?’ said Crimson.

Kevin shook his head.

‘There’s a river that runs right through Muddlemarsh called the Meddle. The Meddle starts near here and it’s fed by the blue ice.’

Now Kevin understood. ‘So you could have just used water from the Meddle to put out the blue fire!’ he exclaimed. ‘You didn’t have to come to the mountains after all!’ He paused. ‘Though I’m glad you did.’

‘No, we did have to come,’ said Grunge. ‘If we hadn’t come, perhaps we’d never have realised this. Or maybe only when it was too late.’

‘When we first took our fire cart to Home, we didn’t fill the tank so it would be easier for Sparkle to pull. We filled it at Beadleburg. We might never have known.’

‘Well, what do we do now?’ said Dot.

‘Amelia had probably spent too much time spying on us to have gone back down and started more fires,’ said Brian. ‘But we still need to clean the ground of the blue fire.’

Crimson picked up her pack. ‘First, we need to get our things and clean up the camp. Then we’ll take the tunnel that runs straight down to the river. It means we’ll be a couple of days too early for Shift to meet us with the bus, so it will be a long walk from Bourne Bridge to Home.’

‘It’ll be nice to walk through the Land, though,’ said Dot. ‘After what Aunt Mag read us, I’d like to do that for a bit.’ She stopped to gather her feelings, then continued. ‘To know it still welcomes me.’

There was no need for anyone to say more. Dot had said what they all felt. They picked up their packs and left the cave, the echo of tumbling water bidding them farewell.

*

They stayed at the camp that night and at dawn they prepared to leave. Hoisting his pack on his back, Grunge looked east and saw the distant blue peak sparkle in the first rays of the morning sun. He stood, watching the blue rays dance on the mountain top.

‘It’s beautiful, isn’t?’ said a voice at his shoulder.

Copper stood beside him. Grunge glanced at Copper and nodded. ‘Yes, it is. It’s hard to believe what’s happened. It’s so peaceful now.’

‘I hate to leave the sledge out there,’ said Copper. ‘It doesn’t belong here.’

‘No, it doesn’t,’ replied Grunge.

‘We’d never drag it down the way it is. I’ll come back soon with new runners and some help..’

‘Yeah,’ said Grunge. ‘Now, we’d better be off.’

With the blue peak glittering like a giant sapphire, they turned to the west and entered the mountain once more.

It took less than a day to reach the Salvation River, using the tunnel Amelia had discovered. From there, it was a short walk to Bourne Bridge and back into Muddlemarsh. The warmth of the late- summer afternoon sun restored them after the chill of the mountains, and the green of the valleys and plains brightened their spirits.

They were two days early. It would take them about that to walk to Home. They would arrive at about the time Shift would be leaving to meet them at Bourne Bridge.

But they had forgotten about the plan to watch for Amelia and were surprised when they were hailed by the patrol. A message was sent to Home. Within a few hours, the headlights of Home’s little orange bus were seen coming up the road. It was hard to tell who was more pleased: the travellers, or the patrol, who could go back to their families.

Despite the late hour, all of Home turned out to meet them. There were cheers and hurrahs. Whist brought coffee and biscuits and they had to tell their tale over and over. Kevin was bewildered by the fuss that was made and was quite lost for words when Leaf brought him a cup of hot coffee and sat down beside him. She chatted as if she had known him all her life and Kevin wished with all his heart that it had been so.

Messengers had been sent to Forge and to Beadleburg with the news of their return. It would be too far for anyone to come from Forge that night, but Megan took Bligh and as many Beadles as the bus would hold, and drove all the way into Home.

Calamity ran at full speed up the main road and sprang into Crimson’s arms. She licked her friend’s hands and face and then stretched out her neck for Crimson to scratch. Sparkle stamped her hooves impatiently and nuzzled Crimson until she stopped scratching Calamity and stroked Sparkle’s long neck. Calamity leapt from her arms and bounded into Grunge’s.

‘Hello, Grunge,’ yelped Calamity. ‘How was your holiday?’

Reach, pleased to see her friends safe and sound, completely forgot about her pretty pink tutu and its patches of black and brown. She kissed everyone, including Kevin (who thought she was the prettiest ballerina he had ever seen). But she had an extra hug for Crimson and Grunge.

Megan made quite a fuss over Brian’s red face, though Bligh was convinced that the kiss Megan gave the Factotum was the real cause of Brian’s red face. Brian introduced Kevin to Bligh.

‘Welcome, Kevin,’ said Bligh, less officious than usual. ‘We must get you settled and then get you a job.’ Bligh returned to normal. ‘Come and see me the day after tomorrow. My office. 9.10 a.m.’

The Beadles returned to Beadleburg, where there were more cheers and more hurrahs. Brian invited Kevin to stay in his spare room for as long as he liked and Kevin said he’d be delighted, though he had to refuse at least a dozen other offers.

The Myrmidots were put up in Home that night.

‘Anyway,’ said Copper to Grunge and Crimson, ‘Dot and I discussed it and we don’t want to return until we’ve helped see to the fire rock.’ He grinned. ‘And I suspect Beatrice would have a word or two to say if we came back without finishing the job.’

For the first time in days, the companions slept in soft beds. They slept soundly, their friends’ cheers and welcome still ringing in their heads.

‘Not quite home yet,’ thought Dot as her eyes grew heavy. ‘But it feels as if I am.’ And she drifted off to sleep.

*

The next day, Bell arrived with his fire engine. They filled Beadledom’s fire engine and Home’s fire cart with water from the Meddle.

‘We’ll do the first one together, make sure we’re right,’ said Crimson.

Bell nodded in agreement. ‘I’ve no doubt you are, Crimson,’ he said with quiet respect.

They visited Old Worsted’s Mill first. Miniver had wanted to pull the fire cart but her shoulder still hadn’t healed, so she walked beside Sparkle. There was nothing left of the mill but blackened ground where it had stood for more than four hundred years. Bell, Brian, Kevin, Aunt Mag, Copper, Dot and Grunge pumped the handle of the fire cart. The water of the Meddle River sprayed from the end of the hose in Crimson’s hand. It seeped into the soil of the Land. Moments later, the ground trembled slightly. Steam wafted up from beneath the surface and a low rumble could be heard beneath their feet. The earth split, a small crack, from which popped a piece of rock no larger than a crickle ball.

Bell reached down and gingerly touched the stone. It was cold. He picked it up.

‘It’s just a piece of rock now.’ He held the stone fast in his fist. ‘It works,’ he said with deep gratitude. ‘You did it.’

The companions looked embarrassed and pleased.

‘Come on,’ cried Grunge. ‘There’s work to be done!’

He ran and vaulted onto the fire cart. His shin hit the seat and he tumbled over the bench and disappeared.

‘I think I need more practice,’ came a voice from the other side of the cart.

Chapter 16

H
mmmm,’ said Bligh. ‘Hmmmm,’ he said again. He looked up from the paper he was reading and studied Kevin with a serious frown on his face. He looked down again. ‘Hmmmm,’ he said for the third time. By the time he had finished reading, he had added another seven “Hmmmms” to the first three.

Kevin and Brian were on the other side of Bligh’s desk. Both wore neat three-piece suits; they had on identical black shoes with silver buckles, and identical grey-and-black-striped ties. They looked so similar that one could be forgiven for mistaking them for brothers, if not twins.

After his last ‘Hmmmm’, Bligh put down the paper and looked at Kevin.

‘We have a problem, I’m afraid, Kevin,’ he said. ‘These new aptitude tests are very reliable and the results of yours are very clear. There is only one job for which you are perfectly suited.’

He looked at Brian and he looked at Kevin. ‘Factotum. You would make an admirable Factotum.’

Brian felt his face grow red. Kevin felt his grow longer.

‘Of course, Brian has never taken an aptitude test.’ Bligh paused and looked at Brian, whose heart fell into his shiny shoes. ‘It is one of the initiatives Brian recently introduced.’ He grinned at Brian; not a very friendly grin, either, Brian thought. ‘Though perhaps we should ask Brian to take one and let the test decide.’ His grin became mischievous. ‘That would be unfortunate, Brian, wouldn’t it? To be hoisted by your own petard!’

Brian didn’t have a clue what a petard was and why he would want to be hoisted by one, but he knew it wasn’t a good thing.

‘But, we don’t need a test to know that Brian is the best Factotum that Beadledom has ever had.’ Bligh gave Brian a genuine, warm smile, and Brian felt his heart return to its rightful place in his chest. ‘And that Beadledom owes a great debt to Brian. We would not start repaying that debt by taking away his job.’

‘I see,’ said Kevin. He couldn’t hide the disappointment in his voice. Perhaps they would send him back to The Place. He couldn’t stand that. He’d rather run away and live in the High Mountains for the rest of his life. But he’d so hoped for a new life here in Beadledom. ‘Is there anything I can do that I’m not suited for, perhaps?’

‘That would never do,’ replied Bligh. ‘No, we’re not Muddles here, Kevin. Remember that. In Beadledom, we must do what we are.’

Brian remembered a time when he would have agreed wholeheartedly with Bligh. Now, he wasn’t quite as sure.

‘I understand,’ said Kevin in a small voice. ‘Are you going to send me back, then?’

‘By the hills, no!’ exclaimed Bligh. ‘How could you think such a thing? As it happens, I think I have the answer.’

Kevin and Brian sat, waiting to hear the answer.

‘Would you like to hear it?’ asked Bligh.

‘I should like that very much,’ admitted Kevin.

‘Mint,’ said Bligh, with a big, self-satisfied smile.

‘Mint?’ repeated Kevin, rather puzzled.

‘Just so. Mint.’

Kevin looked uncomprehendingly from Bligh to Brian. Brian merely raised his eyebrows in surprise.

‘May I ask, what do you mean, “Mint”?’ said Kevin politely.

‘Mint! Our second largest town!’ He noticed the blank look on Kevin’s face. ‘Well, our only other town. Mint is growing and it would benefit greatly by having its very own Factotum. I propose that we make you the Factotum for Mint!’ Bligh looked very pleased with himself. ‘Well, Brian, what do you think?’

‘I think it’s a very good idea,’ said Brian, being perfectly honest. ‘They come to me sometimes for help and I really have my hands full with Beadleburg. I’m sure Kevin would make an excellent Factotum of Mint.’

Brian really did think Mint could use a good Factotum and he had no doubt that Kevin would make a very good Factotum. But, if he was perfectly honest, that was only one of the reasons why he thought it such a good solution.