Barbara Gaskell Denvil [Denvil - Snap

Hello everybody, and welcome to the world of Nathan, Poppy and their medieval friends.

In medieval England, people spoke a little differently, and even today the English language has differences in America, Canada, England and Australia.

Spelling is often different in different countries. In England, they talk about a lift whereas in America it is an elevator. In England, one word is spelled colour whereas the exact same word is spelled color in America. What a muddle!

But wait theres more. Because in my series BANNISTERS MUSTER, there are a few old-fashioned words that arent used in any country anymore. For instance, braes which is the old, old word for mens underpants. Try telling your mother you need a clean pair of braes this morning to wear to school.

John and Alfie are important characters in these books, and both speak old cockney which is a simple distortion of the common language. Aint instead of isnt well, most of us say that from time to time. But also tis (for it is) and twerent instead of it wasnt. They also make some major mistakes in grammar, such as me old man instead of my father and it were me instead of that was me.

I have kept this sort of language to a minimum because I dont want to make my book hard to read for anyone, but these characters all speak a little differently, and I hope you dont find it confusing.

I do hope everyone from all countries enjoys my books and do let me know if you have any problem with the language.

Best Regards,

Barbara Gaskell Denvil

Chapter One

I t was the laughter that woke him. With a jolt, Nathan sat up in bed and stared into the darkness.

What was that? Whos there? he said loudly, startled.

At first there was no answer. Half befuddled with sleep, Nathan almost lay back down, thinking the laughter must simply have been part of his dream. But just as he was ready to go back to sleep, someone said, Well, Bumble-Bee-Head. Are you ready for an adventure? Or not?

Nathan blinked, hiccupped, and sat straighter. Rising up from the corners of his bedroom the huge balloon rocked, its striped colours as bright as the sunshine, even though now it was past midnight. It seemed to burst through the ceiling, huge and beautiful, bigger than his room and yet completely visible, bobbing on its moorings. Below the balloon in a neat wicker basket rather like a shopping bag but much larger, was a thin man, his knees poking up to his chin as he sat squashed into the limited space. He wore black and a top hat as tall as his shadow. His laughter was like water gurgling down the plug hole, and it seemed to be Nathan he was laughing at.

This, said Nathan to himself, is a very stupid dream.

This, answered the laughing man, is no dream at all, my young friend. So climb in with me, and Ill show you just how stupid it is. Or perhaps how stupid it isnt. He nodded and the top hat tilted. Unless, of course, he added, youre too frightened to risk an adventure youll never forget.

Nathan rubbed his eyes and said, Youre a mad man.

Just a mad wizard.

Its the middle of the night and I dont want to go anywhere. This wasnt entirely true, but having been taught not to talk to strangers, getting into a magic balloon with one seemed definitely unwise. So Nathan added, I dont even know your name.

The thin wizard leaned forwards, half out of the basket, until his top hat slipped right over his eyes. He said, voice high and thin, Im Brewster Hazlett. The one and only Brewster Hazlett. And you, Bumble-Bee Head, are Nat Bannister.

Im Nathan Bannister. I hate being called Nat. It sounds like an insect. He wrinkled his nose. And Im not a bumble-bee either. I dont buzz and I dont bite.

Then youll make a good companion, the thin man said, stretching out one long-fingered hand. Come on, Nat. Dont make me wait. Theres an adventure thats itching to be born and its all yours for the taking.

His bedroom was starting to fade. One wall with the pictures of him and his grandmother with his sister when she was a baby, had completely faded away. His small white wardrobe was gone. The spotty wallpaper, and the bedside table had entirely disappeared. Nathan was sitting on his bed with the quilt still up to his waist, but everything else around him was turning into a colourless haze, until all he could see was the huge bobbing balloon and the odd man leaning out from it. The stripes on the balloons sides became brighter and bigger and beyond the top curve, Nathan could see the moon. It was a dark night and the moon was just a thin sliver. Nathan rubbed his eyes, but that helped nothing and now the bedroom ceiling had gone and the floor and walls were fading fast.

Quick, quick, stupid boy, Brewster called. Hurry before the bed disappears and you fall into empty space.

The wizards voice was high and a little squeaky and Nathan wasnt sure he liked it, but there was nothing else to do except obey. Only his quilt remained. Nathan gulped, took the strange mans hand, and found himself pulled straight into the balloons basket. The wizards hand was thin and bony with long scratchy nails like claws. Nathan tumbled in and plopped onto the wicker bottom, where a bright red velvet cushion broke his fall. So he sat on the cushion and peered out.

His bedroom had now entirely gone. His house no longer existed. Even the garden couldnt be seen anymore. All that could be seen was the huge black night sky and a thousand blinking and flickering stars with the thin sickle moon high above.

Brewster said, Well, Nat. Hang on. Were off.

Nathan stared. And Im not dreaming?

Are you cold? demanded the thin wizard. Do you feel the wind? Yes, of course you do, Bumble-Bee Head. And you know that doesnt happen in dreams.

Im not a Bumble-bee Head and I hate being called Nat and this sort of thing doesnt happen in real life either. Nathan was hanging on to one of the ropes that attached the basket to the balloon. He could certainly feel the cold wind, and he was sorry he hadnt had time to put on his dressing gown and slippers. He was only wearing his fleecy striped pyjamas and was shivering as the wind whistled through the ropes. But the excitement was far greater than the discomfort, and as he gazed up and around, Nathan could smell something sharp and spicy.

Smell that? Brewster Hazlett seemed to guess what Nathan was thinking. When that scent comes spinning up your nose any time in the future, youll know Im nearby.