“Stop!” screamed Jenny.
They ran faster to be able to hear what she was saying. We both raised our hands and shouted again. “Stop!”
They heard us this time and did as commanded. They came to a shuddering halt like we were playing a game of musical statues, limbs in unnatural poses as they wobbled trying to keep their balance.
“What is it?” asked Maurice. “Quicksand?”
We were standing on perfectly solid ground, not sinking from view, so I don’t know why that was his first thought. “It’s the jabberwock. It’s a giant worm that’s under us right now. I think it’s attracted to movement so try to keep as still as possible.”
“How big is it?” asked Claire.
“Enormous,” said Jenny. “It ate Keezy.”
There was a murmur of surprise and disbelief.
“Sounds like Shai-Hulud,” said Maurice knowingly.
“Is that a Dune reference?” I said, regretting it immediately.
“Yes. And it’s pronounced Doon.”
“No, it isn’t,” I said.
Maurice was too deep in his element to be distracted by the nay-saying of plebs like myself. “The giant sandworms, the Shai-Hulud, roam the planet Arrakis as servants of the gods.”
There’s never a giant worm around when you need one. I’d have gladly walked into its yawning gullet at that moment.
“It’s a very interesting book, Doon,” continued Maurice. “It’s the story of Muad’Dib, the mouse that hides from the sun and travels in the cool night.”
“Sounds a bit boring,” said Flossie.
“Do you think we could delay this week’s Book Club until we get out of this mess?” I requested in my most reasonable voice. Stay calm, wait for first light, and then make our way back to the lake, possibly to drown myself and get it all over with. “Just keep quiet and don’t make any sudden movements.”
As soon as I said this, Flossie began hopping from one foot to the other.
“I said don’t move!”
“Ah can’t help it!” said Flossie. “Ah need a wee.”
“Sorry,” said Dudley. “There’s no stopping her when she gets like this.”
Great. If the Indian rain dance didn’t attract the jabberwock, the tinkle of her tinkle probably would.
Something moved under me. I couldn’t be sure, it was only the slightest of tremors, but I doubted one troll would be enough to satisfy our manxome foe. Back for dessert.
I started making balls of light, all different colours, and sent them towards the trees. When they got close enough, I snapped my fingers and they burst one after the other creating wild flashes of red and green and yellow.
“What are you doing?” asked Jenny.
“I’m trying to spook any animals that might be in there. If they panic and run, it might draw the jabberwock away from us.”
“You’re going to sacrifice innocent animals so we can save ourselves?”
“Yes,” I said.
“Good thinking,” said Jenny. She bent down and picked up some stones, then threw them into the bushes.
This gave me an idea. “Hey! Grab any rocks and stones and throw them as far as you can.” If we created enough of a disturbance, perhaps the jabberwock wouldn’t be able to home in on us.
Everyone got to it. The result of all this activity? Not much. The lights didn’t scare up any critters—if my exploding balls had made some noise it might have helped—and the jabberwock didn’t appear to take any notice of the rocks we were chucking about. The only good thing was that all the fireworks distracted Flossie enough that she didn’t wet herself, because, “Ooh, pretty…”
As we stood there, the last of the lights flickering out, I saw a figure approaching. A big one.
“I saw your lights,” called out Kungen. “What are you doing here?”
“Looking for you,” I said. “Didn’t you get eaten by the jabberwock?”
“It tried, but it spat me out. Not even the jabberwock can stand to have me in its presence.”
He was walking towards us but no large worm erupted from the ground to devour him. No one likes tainted meat, I guess.
“Your brother made us come out here,” I said. “He was worried about you.”
Kungen stopped. “Keezy? Why would he care?”
“Because,” said Jenny, “he realised it didn’t matter what you had become. You’re still brothers.”
Kungen seemed perturbed by this. “ Where is he?”
“The jabberwock swallowed him,” I said. “I guess he tasted better than you.”
Kungen’s face fell. His eyes couldn’t stay in one place as he looked from one of us to the next. He spun around and screamed. “Monster! Come out here and face me.”
You could see the family resemblance.
There was no response. I don’t think the jabberwock was much of a listener. It didn’t have ears for one thing.
Kungen was only a few steps away from me now. I leapt as lightly as I could and grabbed hold of him. “I don’t think it’s interested in you. Which means it won’t attack you. Any chance of a piggyback ride to the village?”
“Wait,” said Jenny. I immediately had a bad feeling. “You were inside the jabberwock, right?”
Kungen turned back to face her, with me clinging on. “Only for a few seconds.”