Barbara Gaskell Denvil [Denvil - Snakes & Ladders

Barbara Gaskell Denvil

1

H es back.

Are you sure? Who says so?

Me. Ive seen him.

So where is he? And how does he look?

Alfie laughed. Like always. Bumble-Bee hair, a ruddy big smile and I reckon his laugh is even bigger. Gone off, he has, fer a walk wiv John Ten-Toes.

Johns voice echoed from behind Alfie. Reckon he looks like this.

And as everyone turned in a hurry, they saw Nathan sitting, grinning wide, on the doorstep.

Within minutes the whole house was in turmoil. Alice ran back inside and called the steward, asked for marzipan cakes and warm drinks to be served at once, changed her mind and asked for honey biscuits and cold drinks, and then changed her mind again and decided that the kitchens should concentrate on producing a very special feast for dinner with steak pie and apple dumplings, which were Nathans favourites. Then she remembered to ask that the grandest spare bedchamber be aired and warmed with fresh sheets, all ready for Nathan to move into.

Meanwhile, Sam rescued Mouse the cat from beneath his bed where she was hiding in sudden bewilderment at the unexpected chaos, and reunited her with her two remaining kittens. Mars Bar, the grey kitten, was busy licking the tip of his tail, of which he was particularly fond, but the black kitten Flop had, as usual, to be discovered in one of his peculiar hiding places. This time it was in a large iron saucepan which had been left outside the pantry to catch the drips when the back window leaked.

John raced upstairs, three steps at a time, to make sure that Nathans bedchamber looked cosy and inviting with the windows open to the bright morning air, while Alfie ran in the opposite direction to make sure all the windows in the great hall were closed, eliminating possible draughts.

Peter, his thumb in his mouth, wandered outside picking flowers, where he could find them, and presented these to the scullery boy who was cleaning the main cooking spit and asked that they be put in a jug of water on the dining table. Peter had left a trail of damp daisies behind him, and now the scullery boy dropped the rest as he tried to juggle between cleaning the spit and filling a jug with water, but Peter forgot all about the flowers anyway.

Hermes, the goose, sat halfway up the main staircase with a small white kitten balanced neatly on his head. Hermes was somewhat in the way because anyone, which was everyone, who wanted to go up or down, had to squash past him. No one, however, considered asking Hermes to move, and it certainly did not occur to Hermes to put himself out of the way. The kitten, now named Gosling, had entirely forgotten it was part of Mouses litter, and clung to Hermes feathers with avid determination.

Nathan, exhausted, found the most heavily cushioned settle in the main hall, stretched himself out, and sighed.

Ive come to ask a favour.

Anything. Alice sat forwards, watching him, her hands tightly clasped. Weve been waiting.

We bin waiting months, said John. You left in May. Now tis July.

Nodding, Nathan said, Yes, the fourth day of July. Rather a special day in my time, being Independence Day in America. But you dont know about that yet.

They all stared back at him. Whats America?

Whats Independence?

It doesnt matter, Nathan said. I wondered if anyone would come back to Lashtang with me. I mean just for an exploration and only a few days. You see, I think things have happened.

Everyone paused, staring back, both excited and dubious.

The sun beamed through the long windows, slanting across the polished floorboards and turning dark wood to golden. The huge hearth was empty, but the settles, chairs and cushions were all grouped around, just as though the fire was still blazing. The wide-eyed stares now reflected the sunbeams.

Finally Alice said, Have you been back since the last time?

He had not. Granny insisted I went back to school, he said. She wanted me to pass my exams. But Im not so good at exams and I took my English and Maths but I dont know the results, so now, Nathans smile grew, schools almost broken up for the summer holidays and Im free.

Do schools break up? What happens to the broken bits?

Nathan ignored Peter, and continued to explain. Last time I was here, I think I managed to get my mother and father out of the ice wall. But, he said, I never saw them. I cant even be sure it happened. Granny refused to go back and check because she said they will both need time to settle down as Empress and Empling again without anyone watching and criticising. I mean they were frozen away for nearly six years. Granny says they should be left alone to do whatever they want.