The Christmas of Adventure

©2015 June E.

Philip, Dinah, Jack and Lucy-Ann are excited at the prospect of spending their first Christmas together, but by Christmas Eve all their plans lie in ruins. Things get even worse when a severe snowstorm brings the country to a standstill and leaves Bill snowbound, hundreds of miles away. Forced to fend for themselves in Bill's remote moorland cottage, rumours abound of a strange and terrifying creature lurking in the woods nearby... and with a ruthless thief on the loose, striking at night and stealing birds from the local Sanctuary, the scene is set for a frightening and perilous adventure. Can they stop the thief before it's too late? Or will Kiki be the robber's next victim?

Chapter 30: 'We can't be expected to sit on our hands all day, just because Dinah has a cold.'

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Dinah must have slept heavily, for when she awoke sun was streaming in through the bedroom window. The house seemed abnormally quiet. Opening her eyes, Dinah saw that Lucy-Ann's bed was empty.

'I must have overslept,' Dinah said to herself, pushing back her bedcover and sitting up.

A wave of dizziness hit her and immediately she lay back against the pillow. Her head began to pound, and when she swallowed, her throat was dry and sore.

At that moment Bill's face appeared, peeping round the bedroom door.

'I thought I heard something – you're awake at last,' said Bill. 'May I come in?'

Dinah nodded. It was simply too painful to try to speak. Bill entered, wielding a thermometer.

'Pop this under your tongue,' he instructed.

A minute later he examined the thermometer and shook his head.

'You've got a high fever,' he said. 'You mustn't get out of bed today. Could you eat some breakfast?'

Dinah shook her head.

'Then I'll bring you a glass of fresh water, and maybe you'll be able to eat something later.'

Bill disappeared to fetch the water; he soon returned with a brimming tumbler, which he set down on the bedside table.

'Where are the others?' whispered Dinah hoarsely.

'Oh, they've had their breakfast and gone for a walk,' said Bill. 'I sent them out into the fresh air in the hope they won't catch your germs! They'll be back later and maybe I will let Lucy-Ann come and sit with you for a bit – but for now, go back to sleep.'

Dinah sipped some water; it was cold and refreshing, and soothed her sore throat. Then she sank back into her soft, white pillow, and within minutes she had fallen back to sleep.

Meanwhile, Jack, Philip and a reluctant Lucy-Ann were already in Moorland Wood, heading towards the giant oak tree! The boys were determined to get to the other side of the blackthorn and investigate the old wooden hut. They were sorry that Dinah couldn't be with them, but it was just too bad.

'Are you sure Dinah won't be cross when she finds out we have explored without her – after all, it was she who found the rope ladder?' Jack had asked that morning as the boys were getting dressed.

'It's not our fault she's ill,' Philip had retorted unsympathetically, gently shaking Woffly out of his left sock. Socks were Woffly's favourite place to curl up and sleep, so Philip had developed a habit of always checking a sock before thrusting his foot inside.

'We can't be expected to sit on our hands all day, just because Dinah has a cold,' he continued.

Privately Jack thought Philip was being a little mean, but at the same time he was desperate to explore the secret part of the woods beyond the blackthorn. He didn't really care about the hut – he was far more interested in finding out what species of birds might be nesting in that lonely, undisturbed place.

'Don't forget to blow your nose!' squawked Kiki, from her perch on Jack's shoulder. She was glad that he was at home – she had been alone so much lately. She gave his hair an affectionate tug.

A short while later and three children, this time in thick coats, gloves and scarves, were retracing their steps back to the oak tree. The rope ladder was still hanging down, just as they had left it. As Philip looked at it he couldn't help feeling that something was wrong, but he didn't know what... nevertheless, he couldn't shake off an uneasy feeling.

'Do you think anyone's been back here since we left yesterday afternoon?' he asked.

Everyone scouted around looking for any sign that anyone else had been there. They looked about the base of the tree to see if any new footprints were visible in the snow, but it was impossible to tell – they had already trampled the area so thoroughly that it was just a mass of footprints, all merging together. All seemed quiet and peaceful, and they agreed that everything looked just as it had the day before.

'Right then,' said Philip briskly. 'Let's go over one by one – who wants to be first?'

Lucy-Ann visibly shrank at these words!

'That branch looks awfully high,' she gasped. 'And what if we fell off as we shuffled along it – we'd fall straight into the blackthorn and be cut to pieces. I don't think we should risk it, I really don't.'

'Well I'm going,' said Philip firmly. 'You can wait here under the tree. I won't be long, I just want to take a look at that hut and explore a bit, that's all.'

'I really would like to go, too,' said Jack. 'There may be all sorts of interesting birdlife there, living where they will rarely be disturbed. Will you be alright on your own for a bit, Lucy-Ann?'

With a sinking feeling, Lucy-Ann agreed to stay behind and wait at the base of the tree. Philip climbed the rope ladder, and then sat astride the large oak branch.

'Now shuffle along it and keep a tight hold,' advised Jack.

Philip obliged, slowly working his way along the branch as it arched over the blackthorn until he reached the second rope ladder at the far end. Lucy-Ann and Jack were now out of sight.

'Check that rope ladder before you climb down,' called Jack. 'Make sure it's tied to the branch tightly and is good and strong, not rotted or worn anywhere.'

Philip checked the rope carefully.

'It's fine,' he called back. 'I'm going to climb down.'

About thirty seconds later he called again.

'Your turn now Jack – I'm safely on the ground!'

So the whole process was repeated, and very soon Lucy-Ann was all alone at the base of the oak tree.

Whilst Lucy-Ann was shivering under the oak tree, Dinah was lying in the cosy bedroom they shared, feeling restless, feverish and uncomfortable. She had been dozing intermittently, and when Bill appeared with a glass of freshly made lemonade she managed to take a few sips. Then Bill gave her a moist cloth and she wiped her face – the cool cloth felt refreshing against her burning skin.

'Would you like to get up and sit by the fire for a little?' asked Bill.

Dinah shook her head gingerly – getting up was unthinkable. Every limb ached, and the room spun every time she moved. Bill reached for 'People of the World', which was still lying on the end of Dinah's bed.

'No wonder you can't sleep, with this heavy book on top of you – I'll move it.'

'No, please don't,' whispered Dinah hoarsely. 'I might want it later.'

Bill placed a little silver hand bell by her bed.

'If you need anything, ring this,' he ordered. 'I'll be here in a jiffy.'

Dinah drifted off into a restless, feverish sleep. She dreamt she was building a snowman in the cottage garden. Fred Fletcher was looking over the garden wall watching her – and then suddenly he turned into the Midnight Man, and started to climb over the wall! She ran back to the cottage but the door was locked; she hammered on it but no one answered – and all the time the Midnight Man strode nearer and nearer. He towered over her and raised his powerful arm and then, suddenly – THUD! And with that, Dinah woke up, her heart pounding painfully against her ribs.

It took Dinah a few moments to realise that it had only been a nightmare, and that she was actually safely tucked up in her own bed. Her rapid breathing gradually slowed, the sickening grip of fear subsided, and she relaxed. She tried to swallow but her throat was parched and sore. Reaching for her bedside tumbler she found it was empty – bother! She would have to go to the bathroom to refill it. Picking up the tumbler, Dinah swung her legs over the side of the bed and felt around for her slippers. Then she realised what had made the large thud that had awoken her – 'People of the World' had slid off the end of her bed, now lying with its pages splayed open on the floor.

Slowly Dinah padded to the bathroom, her soft footsteps seeming unusually loud in the quiet of the house. She turned on the tap and filled her tumbler with ice cold water. Her forehead was still burning, so she pressed the cold glass against it, relieved to feel something so refreshing and cool against her hot skin. Then she padded softly back to her room and set the glass down by her bed, stubbing her toe painfully against the large heavy book that still lay on the floor.

'Bother!' she thought. 'That hurt!'

She bent down to pick up the book, but what she saw in its pages made her gasp and recoil in horror. Was she awake or still in the middle of a nightmare? For there on the page of 'People of the World' there was a large coloured photograph of the Midnight Man! But how could his picture be in her book – it didn't make any sense!

Dinah tried to shout for Bill, but her inflamed throat could only produce a hoarse whisper. Bill would never hear her. Then she remembered the little silver bell by her bed; she grasped it gratefully and rang and rang!

Within about five seconds Bill came bounding into the room.

'Whatever is the matter?' he demanded, his face full of concern. 'I thought perhaps the house was on fire, you rang the bell so violently!'

Seeing Dinah's confused, agitated expression and pale face, he leapt across the room and gathered her up, just in the nick of time – for Dinah had fainted.

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