Short Story: The Whisperer (ctd.)

Short Story: The Whisperer (ctd.)

This piece has not been edited by the ShortbreadStories team.

Wendy was looking forward to seeing her first dragon. But

when he came to the cottage, long after darkness, he was

invisible. Jethro greeted him.

'Much news my friend. First, this is Wendy, a Whisperer

like myself.'

Wendy was surprised to hear herself butting in. 'I would like

to see you Rastaban.'

Slowly, in the dark, his form became visible.

He was probably over 10 metres long, a long neck, stout,

firm body, rather ridiculously short legs, she thought,

and a long tail tapering off with some rather fearsome weaponry -

4 long, sharp horns. His back was armoured with upright

triangular plates and was rather humped. Folded neatly

against that humped back were his wings. His head and snout

were long, his teeth were fearsome but Wendy noticed that his

eyes were kind. The overall colour appeared to be emerald green,

the plates on his back were tan and those fearsome tail horns

and his teeth, white.

'You are a very handsome dragon' she said.

'Thank you' replied Rastaban. 'It is indeed a great pleasure

to know another Whisperer. Your kind have been invaluable

to our survival. Now Jethro, good news, I trust?'

'Some, my friend,' continued Jethro. 'First, thanks to our

young friend here, we have found Eltanin.'

Rastaban was visibly moved. 'You have found her. My love.

She is well?'

Jethro answers, 'She is well. She, like yourself, took

flight after persecution and remains well hidden. Florence

will bring her to you. But there is more, my friend. Time

has come when for both your sakes - you and Eltanin - you must

be moving on.'

Rastabans elation turns to mild anger. Wendy witnessed the

flicker of a flame around his nostrils. He composed himself.

'Tell me, Jethro, why we need to flee yet again? Do I not live

under protected land here?'

Jethro sensed all was not about to go well. 'I'm afraid Jonathan

Baileys current ancestor is about to disturb Six Acre Field

for the purpose of building dwellings, my friend. No more

fetes and fairs and rituals. No more of the things you love

so much.'

Rastabans mood had turned to sadness. 'But many years ago

Florence told Jonathan - knowing she could trust

him, knowing he cared for the rights of all living things

- that I lived under that field. That it was my home, my

safe haven. He agreed to let it be mine forever. He bequeathed

it to the village to be forever a recreation area, a community

area where the humans down the ages would gather to celebrate,

sing, praise, be happy, be together - learn to love one another

in peace and harmony. Why? Why now? His ancestors were to honour

his wishes for all time and never sell or cultivate or build on

Six Acre Field. They cannot disturb my home.'

Rastaban was resilient.

'No. Not this time Jethro. This time Eltanin and I will stay

and fight for what is rightfully ours. What was created for us.

Our world. Humans will not cause us to run and hide again, for -

if necessary - our strength is much greater than they could

ever muster. Understand me, I dont want to fight. But, Jethro,

if they leave us no choice... he tailed off.

Jethro was nodding his head. 'I understand, for you are noble

creatures. But wait on me, Rastaban. I will do everything in

my power to protect you, Eltanin and that which is rightfully

yours.'

'But now,' said Rastaban, 'I am to be reunited with Eltanin?'

'Florence will bring her to you with a spell' said Jethro.

'I believe she is already working on it.'

Rastaban anticipated, 'She will bring her here tonight?'

'Yes, my friend, yes. Wendy, go inside and see what stage

we are at.'

Wendy reached out and touched Rastabans cheek. He pressed

his head gently against her hand.

'We will help you and Eltanin' she said. 'You will be safe here

forever.'

Then she turned and entered the cottage. The first thing

she noticed was the pungent smell that made her eyes smart.

She could here Florence speaking in tongues, casting the spell,

she assumed. The air was thick with - not smoke - no, it was

more like a fog. Wendy wondered if she should disturb Florence

and decided best not to and returned outside to be greeted by

a rumbling sound, like distant thunder, then the ground where

she stood began to shake.

'It is happening' said Rastaban 'she is returning to me.'

As they watched, the form of a dragon began to appear on

the road outside the cottage. Smaller than Rastaban, but

otherwise she appeared just like him. And then, the noise

abated, the ground ceased to tremble. There in the darkness

stood Eltanin.

'Eltanin!' cried Rastaban.

She turned. They lumbered towards one another. Their long

necks entwined, their faces pressed together,their eyes closed,

locked in an embrace. Lovers reunited after a parting that had

lasted 2000 years, driven apart by humans. Florence appeared

from the cottage, looking tired and exhausted.

'It is successful! Oh, how lovely! Now, Wendy. Jethro. The rest

is up to us.'

Rastaban and Eltanin returned to their lair under Six

Acre Field after repeating Rastabans vow to Jethro that

they would be willing - and able - to fight for their

rights this time. Jethro promised them he would do

everything in his power to avert such a disaster.

Daybreak. Jethro went to Six Acre Field to talk with Rainbow.

He told of events from the previous night and the dragons'

vow to fight should development go ahead.

'Are you sure about this stone?' He asked Rainbow.

'Very sure' he replied.

'I will send Wendy to help you search. Florence and I

need to devise an alternative solution fast as we are

running out of time. It may involve witchcraft. Although

not favourable 'in public' these days, it is better than

the alternative.'

Wendy arrived at the field in thoughtful mood.

'Come on, come on' said Rainbow, 'wake yourself up, we have

work to do.'

'Rainbow?'

'Yes, what now?'

'I need to talk with Rastaban. How do I get him to come out?'

'Talk to... OK, you're the Whisperer. I'll summon him, you'll

draw attention to events - being human. Almost. Er, you go. Go

to Florences cottage. I'll send him there. I dont know. Leave a

unicorn to do all the hard work. My hooves are killing me.'

Rainbow was still moaning as Wendy left. She waited outside

the cottage, not disturbing Florence and Jethro as she knew

they must plan for the worst. Soon she sensed Rastabans

presence. He was invisible and hovering above the ground

some way but his long neck reached down so they could

speak.

'What is wrong, my child?'

'Rastaban, you and Eltanin cannot fight. They WILL kill you.

Kill you both. You must not fight anyway. You are the last two

dragons. If anything were to happen to you... Dragons will become

extinct! I love you both so much, you MUST go! Go and

make a new home. And have babies. And love them and

protect them so that their babies can have babies.

Please, Rastaban, we must leave. Florence and I will come

with you.'

Rastaban was thoughtful.

'I have been selfish. My beautiful Eltanin. We want to be

together for all time now. You have made me see sense, my

child. For I was angered last night. For the sake of our

species - we will move on.'

Wendy was crying. She reached up and hugged where she knew

his head to be.

'Why,' he said, 'if I didn't know better, I'd say you could

see me! Even Jethro cant do that.'

Later that same day Henry Cheetham arrived at Simon Baileys

home in Hadley Hill with the court order.

'Come on, old boy, lets go and serve this on Bolton and his

louts. Your men can get cracking tomorrow morning at this rate.'

Bailey was laughing.

'Hold your horses Henry, whoah! I've some champagne on ice for

a little private celebration, now lets crack open a bottle and

drink a toast.'

The cork popped, they laughed and cheered and raised their glasses.

'Er, what are we drinking to?' asked Cheetham.

'Progress, Cheetham, progress. And goodbye to 'ancient rights'.

And hello to lots of lovely money!'

They laughed and drank.

Wendy had told Florence and Jethro of her talk with Rastaban

and his decision.

'Oh, I am proud of you, child, a fine Whisperer and more you

are, already. Well done Wendy.'

She hugged Wendy.

'Of course,' she continued, 'hes moving with his betrothed,

and thats what we both wanted.'

She looked at Jethro, who nodded.

'But it brings about its own problems, child. I must move on

to watch out for our pair, and you, for now, must come with me.'

Wendy nodded.

'I'm ready.' she said. 'But I'm sad, Florence, because, well,

Jonathan Bailey might have left Six Acre Field to Rastaban,

but all this time the villagers have thought it was for them.

And now that other Mr Bailey is going to take it away.'

'I know, child, I know. Short of witchcraft, theres nothing

I can do.'

She hugged Wendy.

George Bolton and his two most trusted friends - the only

people who knew the local TV news team were coming that

evening - were at the field waiting for their arrival.

Bolton checked his watch.

'Should be any time now.'

No sooner had he said the words when he sighted the convoy,

headed by a silver mercedes, behind which a black jeep

and the news stations transit van with its logo and 'Fen

News' emblazoned, blue on silver, on the side. He smiled.

'That should draw some attention. And a nice crowd. Lets

go.'

George waved the merc down. A window opened.

'I'm George Bolton, who contacted you.'

The car flashed its hazard warning lights and pulled over,

followed by the other vehicles. A man alighted from the back

of the merc.

'Thats Leslie Harper himself!'

Leslie Harper usually presented the six o'clock news show

from the studio every evening.

'Well, we must be big news!'

Leslie approached George, hand extended. The two men introduced

themselves formerly.

'Give us some time to get set-up' said Leslie, 'then we'll get

started. Live and dangerous, ah!' he said, laughing and rubbing

his hands together. 'Lets see if we can get the full story on

air and stop this travesty.'

The people cheered.

Some time later, with cameras up and rolling, Leslie is

talking to George. Its an action shot, the pair are moving

amongst the people on the field, George is pointing out

things and telling tales of carnivals and festivals down

the ages and how the heart would be ripped out of yet

another community by greedy landowners. Onto the scene

drives Simon Bailey in his Range Rover, Henry Cheetham

seated beside him, ready to serve the court order.

'Whats all this?' asks a bemused Cheetham.

Bailey is half smiling. 'They've only gone and got the

ruddy local news people here. My God, they've got Harper

himself, look, with Bolton. Oh, good grief. C'mon Henry,

soon put an end to this. What is it, don't look like that!

After all - it is my land!' Bailey laughs.

Out of the vehicle they get, Bailey striding across the field

towards Bolton and Harper, Cheetham somewhat scuttling along

behind him, head down, court order in hand. Bailey reaches the

crew.

'Good evening, I'm Simon Bailey, local farmer and entrepreneur

and I do actually own this land.'

Harper intervenes. 'Mr Bailey himself. Good, we really need

both sides of the story for our viewers.'

Bailey butts in. 'For your viewers, I'm sorry, Good evening

everyone watching at home, but we're not taking some kind of

a vote here. This land has served the community well for

centuries but this is the 21st century and its time to move on.

All these pagan rituals and things. My development will actually

bring work into the village. We may see some shops opening up

again. Prosperity for...'

'The only one whos going to make any money here is you!'

Folks turned, the cameras turned, to see who had dared to

shout above Bailey when he was talking. It was Jethro.

Bailey played it cool. 'Well. If this - gentleman - knows

something I dont. With his information, if he is RUDE

enough to shout above the person who is speaking - pray

tell. I'm all ears. The floor is yours sir.'

Jethro, being a Whisperer and spending more time talking

to animals and not being used to dealing with a wily human

animal such as Bailey was rather stumped at this point.

'Its true.' he floundered. 'He is just a greedy man. Why, his

ancestor - Jonathan Bailey - bequeathed this land to the village

centuries ago for...'

'Oh, are we going to hear all this again'. Bailey butting in

this time. 'I'm sorry, for those who don't know it, Jonathan

Bailey is a long gone relative of mine who may have let the

villagers hold fetes here, whatever, but nowhere - I can assure

you - is there any bequest.'

Anything he may have said further would have been drowned

out for now everybody could hear the most frantic whinnying

and neighing and thrashing about possible.

'Theres a horse caught over there in that thicket.' somebody

shouted.

As animals in trouble are always newsworthy, the camera team,

Leslie Harper and most everybody else dashed to see what was

going on. They arrived deep in the copse, George Bolton and

Leslie Harper out in front, Jethro close behind, to find Rainbow

frantically pawing at a large object overgrown with ivy. He was

stripping the ivy off with his hooves and teeth.

'Whatever is he doing? Whats he got? Lets have a look.' said Bolton.

Rainbow had found the stone. Rainbow had found the bequest

in writing that George had spoke of that night in The Pig

and Trumpet. Here it was unearthed and Georges eyes would

read it first. He read silently, then became emotional.

'My God, my God - GET YOUR CAMERAS IN HERE! Wheres Bailey?

Get me Bailey!'

Leslie Harper motioned the camera man to film the stone.

Bailey was heading over, looking bemused.

The camera, the whole of Fenland, saw this:

*************

I, Jonathan Bailey hereby bequeath this land being of six

acres around this stone to be forever more a sanctuary for

the people of Hadley Hill, an area for their recreation,

health and general wellbeing and I do hereby state that

this land will stay free from all cultivation or buildings

thereupon and will remain in the Bailey families safekeeping

from this day hence - June 15 1780

'Thou shalt not hunt or kill in all my holy mountain'

***************

Jethro caught Rainbows eye and his message was clear. 'Well

done, my friend!'

Rainbow was looking as smug as a unicorn could.

Bailey arrived on the scene to be manhandled over to the stone

by Bolton.

'Read!'

Bailey read. His mouth opened but nothing came out. Bailey was

speechless. Live on local TV.

Eventually he managed, 'Well... I didn't know it was there.'

A man in the crowd said 'Nobody knew it was there, I reckon

- 'cept that 'orse.'

Then realizing what he had said he looked at his feet for a

full thirty seconds.

'We DO have it in writing!!' an elated George

Bolton yelled to his supporters, forgetting all about

Harper and the TV crew.

Harper motioned his team to simply carry on filming events.

Bolton now turned on Bailey.

'Now,Mr Bailey, You can take your engineers and planners

with their machinery and big ideas and leave. You will not turn

a single sod on this land, Mr Bailey. In fact, the only

sod thats for turning round here - is you! Thataway!!'

With the cheers of the crowd ringing in his ears Bailey

at once looked fuming angry and acutely embarassed. He

spun on his heels and stalked off the field to his car

to find Henry Cheetham waiting for him in the passenger

seat. The conversation between those two men on the drive

back to Baileys mansion can only be guessed at but suffice

to imagine Cheetham and his partners will probably no

longer represent the Bailey family. Back on the field

the celebrations had started. Bolton was telling Harper

he would have the stone restored to its former glory and

placed where it should be; at the centre of Six Acre Field.

'We will have a ceremonial unveiling of it, Leslie,and

would be honoured if you would come back and do that, for

the community here.'

Leslie agreed. One man read the stone for himself and came

away with a puzzled expression on his face. Bolton put an arm

round his shoulder.

'Whats up, Pete? Heres everybody highly delighted and you

looking like a wet weekend.'

'Oh, I'm delighted alright - its just that last bit.

There was never a mountain round here was there?'

Jethro and Rainbow had come away from the celebrations

back to Florence and Wendy at the cottage with their

news.

'We will leave it to you to tell Rastaban and Eltanin, Wendy.

Our job here is done.'

'You're leaving?' said Wendy, 'But what will I do? - without you.'

'Wendy, you have proved yourself a very capable Whisperer with

powers that go far beyond mine. One day - when Florence

believes you are ready - you will leave here, as I am

about to, on a mission of your own.'

'Will I have a unicorn like Rainbow?'

Jethro laughed. 'Ah, Rainbow is very special. I have a feeling

your companion may well be a dragon. Rastaban and Eltanin's

first born.'

'You have a mission now? asked Wendy.

'Yes, somewhere out there in the universe, there is always

a mission.'

'The universe!' said Wendy, shocked.

'Florence has much to tell you. Another thing I will tell

you now before I leave. You are immortal - like myself and

Florence and Rainbow. And our Dragon friends.'

Wendys mouth had dropped wide open.

'Ah, too much, too fast, too soon!!' said Jethro, laughing.

'We will meet again Wendy. Now I must leave. There is an insect

in the rainforests of Borneo whose very existence is threatened

due to the destruction of the rainforest for timber. A wrong I

must right. Our little insect friend - Asphotalbos Supremi - is

emerald green with wings. Just like our dragon friends. And just

as important. Until the next time, Wendy.'

Jethro climbed onto Rainbows back and set off down the village.

Before they reached the bend in the road, Wendy saw thousands

of stars swirling around the pair, blocking them from her view.

The apparition lasted only momentarily but when the stars faded

Jethro and Rainbow were gone.

**************

Wendy stayed with Florence to continue to learn about her

powers and spent many a pleasant time with her friends,

the dragons.

The delighted villagers had the stone restored

and placed in the centre of Six Acre Field - protecting

Rastaban and Eltanin forever. The celebrations, festivals

and carnivals go on.

Bailey continues to farm but has dropped out of public life.

The dragons are expecting their first egg.

And if you ever go to Hadley Hill, remember, you wont see them

because dragons can make themselves invisible, but they'll be

there, flying above your head or lumbering along behind you.

For in Hadley Hill - There Be Dragons!