The Incredible Journey of Pete McGee (13 page)

When he seemed satisfied Pete had enough, Molloy sat back down in his chair.

‘Go on Pete. Fat pig in. Smelly feet up.'

So there was nothing to do then but eat. Pete didn't know if the food was delicious, or if it was just because he was so hungry, but he had never enjoyed a meal more. The room was filled with laughter. Molloy seemed as if he would never shut up. Pete felt like he really belonged, and he couldn't wait to tell his mum about this place. After she had been cured by the flower they could move to Bandragon. It'd be great. Plus, Tahnee was here.

After eating their fill, everyone slumped back in their chairs, especially Pete, who had never had so much food in one sitting. He looked around the room feeling totally content when, suddenly, Mortone stood at the head of the table and called for silence, his voice echoing off the walls.

‘Eyes this way!'

The room fell silent, all eyes on Mortone. He had such a presence, standing there, that Pete couldn't help but be quiet as he watched. Even Molloy wasn't speaking.

‘People of Bandragon, I hope you enjoyed your meal.'

The crowd roared their approval. Pete joined in, banging the table and stamping his feet along with Molloy and the others. Mortone held his hands up for silence and the crowd was quiet once again.

‘We have in our midst today a very special guest. He is on a quest, one that he hopes will see him collect the Wilderene Flower and save his dying mother. Our guest is a brave young lad. He has already crossed the Plains of Obon, surviving the Mantrils' best efforts.'

The crowd cheered, raising their goblets. Pete blushed a deep red. Mortone continued.

‘I have no doubt that he will be successful in the fulfilment of his quest. Even so, I ask you all to raise your drinks with me in wishing Pete McGee the best of luck for the rest of his journey.'

The crowd roared again and all drank heartily. Tahnee leant over and whispered to Pete that her dad hardly ever gave toasts like that, so he must really like him. Pete almost burst with pride as Mortone finished off his speech.

‘A friend of mine, a knight, mentioned to me before he left that young Pete wishes to become a great knight himself. I think, from what I have seen, that he is well on the way. Sir Pete McGee has a nice ring to it, and I hope that in the future he will visit us once again. He, his family and his friends are always welcome in Bandragon. To Sir Pete McGee!'

Mortone raised his goblet high and pointed it towards Pete, who raised his own in reply. Glasses and goblets around the room were thrust towards Pete, who was floating on cloud nine. It was a moment he would never forget, and one he never wanted to end.

But end it did, as everything must. People continued to talk and drink and laugh, but slowly they began to leave, wishing Pete well as they passed. Finally the room was empty, save for Pete, Tahnee, Molloy and Mortone. Pete spoke to Mortone once more. The town leader was a little wobbly on his feet, no doubt due to the four massive goblets of ale he had drunk during the meal and toasts. Pete thanked him for everything, and promised that he would indeed return one day. Mortone nodded solemnly, focussing hard on Pete while in his head all he could hear were musicians playing a jig. Pete shook the town leader's huge hand then left to his collect his belongings with Tahnee and Molloy, leaving Mortone to survey the mess that filled his dining room.

Once in his room Pete picked up his pack, checked his crystal, note and dagger, and was ready for the next stage of his journey. He found it hard to look at his new friends. He hated awkward goodbyes; he just never knew what to say. The twins seemed to sense this so Molloy leapt forward and grabbed Pete's hand, shaking it wildly. He dropped the rhyming slang, but couldn't be serious, and spoke with a crazy, aristocratic accent.

‘Best of luck then, old chap, what with the flower and all. Here, take this to cover your noggin with, harsh sun out there, m'lad. Pip pip then, what, give King Cyril the Dorky-Dork a jolly old walloping from me, good egg, tally ho, cucumber sandwiches and tea, up over the trenches, Sir, what.'

‘What? Sir Who?' Pete McGee had preferred the rhyming slang. Molloy finally turned serious.

‘Good luck, Pete.' Molloy handed Pete his peaked hat, a parting gift. ‘Get the flower and save your mum, but you have to come back and visit us.'

Pete took the cap from Molloy and placed it on his head.

‘I will.'

‘Jolly good show! Toodles!'

Molloy finally let go of Pete's hand and went jumping out of the room, babbling on to himself in his English accent. Tahnee watched him go, then walked over and held Pete close. Pete was a little stunned, but eventually his arm went around and held Tahnee. He had never hugged a girl before, apart from his mum, and he wondered how long he should hold on.

‘Molloy's right, Pete, you have to come back. I really want to see more of you.'

Realising what she had said, Tahnee blushed bright red and quickly pulled away.

‘I mean, ummm, more time, not more as in, well, you know, ‘cos I already saw heaps, no, I didn't, I mean, ummmm, well, oh just come back, okay?'

Pete laughed. As if he would be able to keep away.

‘I will. I promise.'

Tahnee flashed another one of those incredible smiles then turned and ran out of the room. Having already said his goodbye to Mortone and with a full stomach and full pack, there was nothing else to do but leave. It suddenly struck Pete that he might never see his new friends again. He might never see anyone again. Once more the doubts surfaced, whispering to him to just stay in Bandragon and be safe. Then he pictured his mother's face smiling at him. He saw Ashlyn, desperation in her eyes as she spoke of her love for Marloynne. He saw the people of Bandragon, and he felt Tahnee's arms around him. He would spend more time in Bandragon, but not now. He would be back soon enough.

he time passed easily and quickly. The air was warm, inviting Pete to walk briskly, and he felt good after his brief stay at Bandragon. He also had a feeling of inner peace and confidence that he couldn't really explain. He hadn't thought of what he would do when he faced Dazene, as to worry about that would be to give Dazene an immediate advantage. Pete needed his mind clear and open; he didn't want to be worrying about what his fears were before the confrontation. He would face the monster, and he would handle it.

The enormous tree appeared as Pete walked over a rise in the track he had been following. The sun was low in the sky. It shone through the leaves of the tree, dappling the area around it. Pete sat on the ground and stared. Even from a distance the tree looked huge. There was no sign of the Wilderene Flower, or of Dazene, or even of King Cyril the Nowhere-To-Be-Seen. Pete had planned to arrive at about the same time as the King, but he now began to fear that he was too late. Then, to his left, he spotted three men standing about fifty metres from the tree: King Cyril the Unshaven, Faydon … and Marloynne. Pete smiled in relief. He had been unable to do anything for Marloynne before, but he had been given another chance and he didn't want to let it go.

So this was it then. They were all there, and Dazene lay in wait for them. Pete weighed up his options. He had to try to get the flower. He also had to try to save Marloynne. Maybe he should wait for the other three to make the first move. Or maybe Dazene would come after them, not even letting them get close to the Wilderene Flower. He shook his head, trying to clear it. All these thoughts were getting him nowhere. He needed to take charge, and he needed to do it straight away. He checked his note, crystal and dagger one last time, stood up, left his pack on the ground where it lay and walked towards his destiny.

Unlike Pete, King Cyril the Totally-Fed-Up had no feelings of peace. The journey since the Plains of Obon had not gone according to his plans. Apart from the fact that they had actually added time to their journey rather than saving it, Faydon had not reacted at all well to his inability to control the Mantrils. His power virtually gone, he felt vulnerable and open to attack. He refused to do anything. He walked and he thought about ways to get the Wilderene Flower, so that he would regain all of his powers and more. Unfortunately for the King, Faydon's refusal to do anything also meant that the brainwashing of Marloynne had ceased, and as a consequence the former slave was returning to his normal self. He began asking questions about his life, this journey, and the girl he kept thinking of. Everything was just out of reach, and no answers were forthcoming from his companions. In fact, King Cyril the Grumpy-Bum would barely talk at all. He wanted that flower so badly that he would put up with Faydon's reluctance to help and the servant boy's questioning, but he would not lower himself to actually converse with or comfort them. He was now quite prepared to sacrifice both of the men he was with. He just wanted that flower and he wanted it now. He continued to stare at the Great Oak, as if doing so would give him a clue as to when he should make his move. Then, out of the corner of his eye, the King spotted a lone figure walking towards the tree. It was the boy. Somehow he had escaped the plains. Well, this did make things interesting.

Interesting indeed. Here we are, readers and listeners, we're getting towards the end of the story. I just thought I would jump in and let you take a break. Things are going to get pretty hectic from now on until:

(a) someone gets the Wilderene Flower

(b) everyone dies a horrible, gruesome, bloody, gut-spilling, brain-chewing, vomitous death at the hands of Dazene, OR

(c) they all wimp out and go home without even trying to get the flower.

I reckon I know what happens, at least I think I do, but how will you know unless you read on? Or have you already sneaked a look ahead, because if you have that's just not on. You can't sneak to the back, then you'd be like those people who read the last page of a book first. Anyway, I'll pretend you have read no further than this point, and are ready to dive headlong into the conclusion of
The Incredible Journey of Pete McGee.
Breathe deep, and go for it.