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 6: 'My goodness, what a gloomy place!'

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The four children stood shivering in the dark, deserted street. Snow was falling heavily, and an icy wind blew ferociously, chilling any bit of exposed skin. The children were perishingly cold, even despite wearing their thick winter coats, woollen scarves, hats and gloves. Kiki was the only warm and comfortable one, for she had tucked her head down inside Jack's coat and was snuggling there, in between his winter coat and his thick woollen jumper.

'Perhaps Bill will be along shortly,' suggested Dinah, weakly hopeful. 'He might be delayed because of the weather.'

'But don't forget, our train got in over two hours late,' Jack reminded her. 'So even if Bill is running late, surely he would be here by now.'

'What if he is stranded somewhere and won't be coming at all!' said Lucy-Ann, sounding alarmed. 'What shall we do? We'll freeze if we stand here much longer.'

'Does anyone know the way to Bill's house?' asked Dinah, trying to be practical. 'Perhaps we can walk there.'

'No, that's impossible,' said Philip. 'His village is in the middle of the moors. Even if we knew the way – which we don't – we couldn't walk that far in this blizzard, especially with these heavy suitcases and rucksacks.'

After a few more minutes of shivering in the cold, Philip took the lead.

'I'm going to try to find a way back into the railway station to see if anybody is about,' he said decisively. 'There might be a night watchman on duty or something who will let us use the telephone.'

At that moment there was a powerful gust of wind, and then, in the distance, a terrific crashing sound. The street lights flickered, and then went off. They were completely and utterly in the dark, without even a moon to see by.

'Gracious, what was that crashing sound?' asked Lucy-Ann, trembling and clutching the person nearest to her, who happened to be Jack.

'I think the electric power line has been brought down by the storm,' said Philip. 'Are you girls all right? Our eyes will get used to the dark soon... then it won't seem quite so...' Philip hesitated, trying to find the right word.

'Terrifying?' offered Dinah, sounding really alarmed. 'Honestly, Philip, I think we should stay very close together, will you give me your arm?'

Philip kindly reached out his arm in the darkness, searching for and finding Dinah's outstretched hand.

'Goodness, as if we didn't have enough to contend with already!' he said, trying to keep his voice calm and steady. 'And I didn't bring a torch with me.'

Everyone said the same thing – in their haste to pack, none of them had remembered to bring a torch.

Suddenly Jack smacked himself on the forehead with his hand, much to the disgust of Kiki who was jolted out of a nice, cosy sleep.

'Philip, open your Christmas present – the one I bought you when I drew your name out of the hat,' said Jack.

'Really, Jack, this is not the time for opening presents. We're standing here in the pitch dark, in a snow storm,' retorted Philip impatiently. What was Jack thinking!

'Seriously, Philip – do as I ask,' insisted Jack. 'You see, I've just remembered – I bought you a smashing new torch for Christmas!'

Philip felt about in one of the rucksacks and found a long, hard parcel – it was probably the torch. He tore off the wrapping paper hurriedly. Yes, he was right!

'Wow, this is a terrific torch, and such a powerful beam,' he said, shining the torch at his friends and seeing their pale, cold faces. 'Thanks awfully, Jack.'

'Save that for later, when we're somewhere warm!' said a shivering Jack, his teeth chattering. 'Now go and see if you can find a way back into the station. We'll wait here in case Bill arrives.'

Philip walked briskly back towards the station, the powerful torch beam lighting the way. The main gate was padlocked, but he spotted a small side gate and pushing it firmly – it opened! Once inside the station, Philip called out, 'I say, is anybody about?'

'Who goes there?' shouted a gruff man's voice. 'Who goes there?' the voice repeated.

And to Philip's relief, an office door opened and Joe Dobbs appeared.

'What are you doing in the station after I've locked it up?' he demanded, not recognising Philip in the dark.

'Look, it's me,' said Philip, shining the torch onto his own face. 'We seem to be stranded. The chap who was supposed to pick us up hasn't arrived. May I use your telephone?'

'Bless my soul!' said Mr Dobbs, finally recognising Philip. 'You are in a fix, and on a stormy night like this too! I'm afraid the telephone will be no good to you – a tree has blown down, and brought down all the power lines, and the telephone lines too! The station phone is absolutely stone dead. Stone dead!'

This was just too disappointing, and Philips face fell. Seeing his expression the Mr Dobbs said, 'Now then, young man, don't you fret. Don't fret. I've just finished my shift and am about to jump into my little car and go home to a nice hot dinner. If we can squeeze you and your friends in, I'll take you to wherever it is you're staying. How about it?'

Now Philip knew very well that he should never accept a lift from a stranger, so he had to think quickly. Mr Dobbs was still in his uniform and was obviously a respectable railway employee. Furthermore, Mother had asked him to keep an eye on them, and they had been with him all day, so he wasn't a stranger in the normal sense of the word. And all four children would be in the car together. So all in all, Philip decided that it would be safe enough.

'Yes, please, sir,' he answered. 'That would be awfully kind of you.'

'Not at all, not at all,' chuckled Mr Dobbs. 'After all, it is Christmas – I can hardly leave you shivering in the street now, can I? Oh dear me, no. Now you can call me Joe, as I am no longer on duty. Go and tell your friends, and I will have the car ready in a jiffy.'

And sure enough, a few minutes later, the children were crammed into Joe's little car. There weren't enough seats for everyone so Lucy-Ann and Dinah had to crouch on the floor, as they were the smallest. Jack sat on a seat, carefully protecting Kiki, and Philip had a seat but had both suitcases and two rucksacks on his lap, so only the top of his hat was showing. It was a most uncomfortable ride, but at least they were out of the storm and heading for Bill's house at last!

Philip had Bill's address written on a scrap of paper:

Bill Cunningham
Oak Tree Cottage
Moorland Village

Joe knew Moorland village very well for his sister lived there, and he had no trouble finding Oak Tree Cottage. Before long he was setting down four crumpled children at Bill's garden gate.

'I'd better head back double-quick,' he said as soon as the children were out of the car. 'The road will be closed soon, if this snow keeps on, and then I'll be the one who's stranded!'

They thanked him warmly, and watched him disappear off down the lane.

'Oak Tree Cottage. Look, here's the sign nailed to the gate,' said Dinah, pointing to some white letters painted on a rough-hewn piece of wood. 'My goodness, what a gloomy place!'

'That's probably just because it's so wild and dark tonight,' said Lucy-Ann, clutching at Dinah's coat sleeve. 'Don't go too quickly, I don't want to lose you in the dark!'

'Just follow my torch beam,' said Philip. 'I'll soon find the way in.'

And then he called out, 'Bill, Bill! I say, are you there? We're here at last!'

The powerful wind seemed to whip the words right out of his mouth and carry them off over the moor. Certainly, Bill did not hear them, for he did not appear at either door or window. The cottage was completely dark, with no light showing anywhere.

The four children tramped down the snowy cottage path, and Philip pushed open the front door. It opened easily, but not a soul appeared to greet them.

'I say, Bill!' called all four children.

They were met with silence. No one was home.

And as they stood there in the hallway of that dark silent house, the wild storm continued to rage above them; fresh drifts of snow covered the garden path, and soon the children's footprints were completely obliterated.

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