Barbara Gaskell Denvil [Denvil - Leapfrog

Chapter One

"I t's gone," Nathan said, going cold.

John sat glum, his elbows on his knees, and his chin in his hands. I know, he said, without asking what it was that had gone.

"I searched the floor, said Nathan, marching over to stand in front of John. I could just have dropped it. It feels like sort of part of me as if its glued on. It - it's a bit like a brother."

Now John was holding his head as if he thought it might fall off, "I knows where tis," he said, half mumbling. "I were watching and I seen it all. Couldn't do naught, couldnt move, nor twitch nor hiccup. But I seen them hooked fingers and I knows it were Clebbester, I seen them mucky fingers into yer pocket.".

"The fingers stole my knife?" Nathan was shocked, but he nodded. He should have guessed. "But I thought no one else can touch it."

"Can still touch. But gets burned." nodded John, squinting beneath his pounding headache. Reckon that monster dont care bout burning. I seen smoke. Little flames an'all. But he took it."

Flopping down on the large armchair, Nathan stared up at the ceiling a moment. He said, Without the Knife of Clarr, I dont think I have any magic. Im not the lord of anything. Im not even an empole. Im just a miserable kid who ought to go back to school.

John shook his head and then wished he hadnt. It aint the proper moment to get proper sorry for yerself, he said. You aint got a knife fer a bruvver, nor you aint got no school to go back to. We gotta tell yer mum and yer granny. Who knows. Maybe they flings their arms in the air like always, and back comes the knife. If that dont work, then we gotta go to Clarr.

Messina had been standing in the middle of the small room, and ass usual when doing magic, her arms were in the air and her hands high above her head. But she sighed, lowered her arms, and smiled at John. I tried to bring back the picture, she said, but it has been blocked. Whether this was Yaark, or whether it was Clebbester, the magic they have used is strong and I cannot unwind it. So, John, will you please tell me exactly what happened?

Slumped in a large chair, Ninester was looking glum,. Whoever it was, they ate my cake, he said. My dad did magic like that. Making me hungry and stuff.

Little Smudge lowered his head, ears down in shame, but did not whimper. It was Irima, Ninesters mother, who pointed silently at the puppys muzzle where spots of cream told their own tale. But Alfie, half whispering, said, I reckon this is nasty business. If tis Clebbster, and it is, you can bet it is, being a nasty old man, then hes crawled out of his cave to take over Lashtang after all. And hes started here cos he knows exactly who we are. But he let you see everything, John. Why? You couldnt get up nor even speak, but you saw. So why you? Whats he got planned for you?

Poppy gulped. Perhaps he didnt choose John. For any special reason. He was the nearest or something.

Black magicians dont do nuffin wivvout some mean reason, decided John, agreeing with Alfie. Dont like this business none. Dont like it at all.

Getting up and running over to put her arm around John, Alice looked as though she too might burst into tears, but Messina spoke first. The motivation of a monster is never easy to understand, she said, unless youre a monster yourself. So well not try. But I will put a special guard on you, John, since I agree that there must be some secret reason. And Clebbsters reasons will never be kind.

John was nearly shaking in his boots now. Come off it, he croaked. I feels worse now than I did afore. I shall be off to count me toes or sommint.

Well all stay close together, muttered Poppy. And John mustnt go to Clarr. Not yet, anyway.

Ninester was now curled in his mothers arms, and Irima was promising to bake him another cake. John was being hugged by Alice on one side and Poppy on the other, and was busy trying to shake himself free without causing offence. Peter was finding it all a little funny, but Sam didnt think it was humorous at all. Is sick, he said. But let me see if my tiddly little bit of magic can help. His short blonde curls were still silver and the tip of his finger was silver too, and looked as if it was shining brightly, so he sat down in the middle of the room on the big blue rug, held up the finger, and said, Lady, can you help? What happened? Wheres the knife of Clarr?

The voice was soft, but so clear that it echoed. Clebbster Hazlett wishes to rule utterly, called the voice. He wishes control of the Meteor Stars. He wishes control of Peganda. He wishes control of the Tower of Clarr, and he wishes control of the Octobr family. The knife is on the great Table of Magnification in his new home within this village. But his hand is burned from the touch, and he will not risk leaving his home until his full strength returns.

Three questions, three answers. Sam thanked the voice and scrambled back to the couch again. Cant ask more, he said. But did that help?

It helped a great deal, said Messina, sitting beside Sam. But it still leaves a great deal unknown. I must return to the cottage and see what help the others may give.

Still marching around in circles, Nathan was the only one who could not rest. I feel so weak, he said crossly. All weak and useless without my knife. Ive carried it in my pocket every single day ever since I found it, and even at night I kept it under my pillow. I never realised it before, but it sort of gave me a special feeling. Now thats gone, and I feel half lost. Cold and shivery and dizzy.