The Ark of Dun Ruah, Book 1 (11 page)

CHAPTER 16

A Laughing Matter

Simon and Niamh were still sitting in their hiding place inside the fireplace of the Great Hall. From this great vantage point they witnessed Kerry's impressive fireworks display and her conversation with the Queen. Kerry didn't realise that Simon had helped her with her firework display. After the pink sparkling cascade faded and he heard the Queen shouting for more he decided to join in the fun. He picked out a handful of matches from inside his jacket, lit them and tossed them out into the room. This caused sparks to flare up like a tornado in the centre of the room. The eagles were so focused on the dazzling fireworks, that they didn't see Simon craning his head out of the fireplace. He laughed when he saw the look of surprise on Kerry's face as she watched the amazing firework display work its magic on the Eagle Queen.

When Kerry and Pod left the hall, Simon turned to Niamh.

‘We've got to go to the prison tower and get them out of there. I don't know where Kerry got that crazy list of ingredients. She must be playing for time. But we'll have to go underground. This place is crawling with eagle guards.'

‘Yes and not just eagles. I can see a pair of green swiftails too.'

‘Green swiftails … where?'

‘They're spying through a peephole in the wall … up there.'

‘They're not spies. That's Timmy and Dot, our friends. They must have followed us here. I've got to catch their attention.'

‘The room looks empty,' said Niamh, ‘but be careful. There could be eagle spies lurking in the corners.'

Simon lit a purple match. A bright plume of purple gas emerged from it and swirled up to Timmy and Dot's peephole. It exploded into sizzling sparks. Timmy looked out and saw the sparks floating up from the fireplace. Then he saw Simon with his head leaning out, beckoning to them to come down. Delighted and relieved to see him, Timmy and Dot flew straight down from their perch on the wall. They joined Simon and Niamh in the fireplace.

Kerry and Pod were escorted back across the main courtyard and through the cloisters to the tower. Four guards locked and chained them into their cages. Then they stood outside the prison cell guarding them. Pod turned to Kerry with a puzzled look on his face.

‘What was that all about?' he whispered. ‘You can't make matches.'

‘I'm not making matches, Pod.'

‘But what was that list of ingredients all about?'

‘Look, I'll explain later when we have some privacy.'

Before long, six eagles arrived at the tower with the ingredients, a pair of gas masks, one large saucepan and a little stove. They released Kerry and Pod from their chains and joined the other guards outside guarding the door.

‘What are you doing? Pod persisted. ‘When they find out that you're spoofing, we're dead.'

‘I'm making laughing gas,' whispered Kerry, ‘and I've remembered all the ingredients. Aren't you proud of me?'

Pod looked aghast. His beak hung wide open, his face tilted to one side with his feathers standing on end.

‘But you don't know what you're doing. Haven't I told you how dangerous it is messing about with strange recipes and potions?'

‘But this is a chance to escape!'

‘Have you thought about how it's going to affect us? I once knew a man who took laughing gas and he ended up in an early grave. He actually died of laughter!'

‘We'll be fine. All we have to do is put the gas masks on. Then we won't be affected by the laughing gas. I've thought up a great escape plan. When we've made the recipe we'll call the guards back in here. They'll inhale the laughing gas and we will make a run for it. We'll head for the library – it is just across the cloisters. Then we'll get that book you found with all the underground maps and we'll know exactly how to get out of here. This time we'll be ready to make our escape properly.'

‘But, Kerry, you've got to listen to me. Laughing gas is extremely dangerous,' said Pod. His eyes began to twitch. ‘It's worse than playing with fire. What if it doesn't wear off? I for one don't fancy spending the rest of my days rolling around here laughing like a clown and making a fool out of myself every time I open my mouth.'

‘Oh, don't be such an old grump, Pod. Do you want all your feathers plucked out? We don't have many choices here. It's either feather plucking or laughing gas. Choose your poison?'

Pod grumbled under his breath while Kerry took out the ingredients and started to make the concoction.

‘Potions can have strange side effects,' said Pod, his large crop of feathers all fluffed out. ‘I once knew an owl who used vanishing cream on his beak to make it look smaller. When he looked in the mirror, his entire head was missing. And it never came back. He remained headless for the rest of his life.'

‘We have to take the chance, Pod.'

‘But I had another friend—'

‘Stop arguing and relax. Your feathers are all standing up. You look scarier than the headless owl.'

Despite much more complaining from Pod, they brewed up the mixture together. When it started to bubble Kerry put the lid on the pot to stop the gas escaping. She ordered Pod to put on the gas mask. It was a bit big and she spent some time adjusting the straps to make it fit. She put on her own gas mask and then removed the lid from the pot. Then she banged on the cell door, calling the guards and shouting.

‘The matches are ready!'

The six guards rushed in together and saw Kerry and Pod with the gas masks on. Immediately, they started to giggle. And Kerry knew the gas was taking effect.

‘Look at the owl with the gas mask on,' they laughed. ‘He looks so silly.' They bent over laughing noisily and fell to the floor.

Soon they were laughing so hard that they didn't notice Kerry and Pod slipping out the door. They left the guards guffawing loudly, rolling about on the floor, with tears streaming down their faces. There was such a commotion that Kerry closed the door and locked it behind them to block out the noise.

Outside in the cloistered square they hurried through the long, arched passageway that led straight to the library. Entering it through a small side door, they turned left towards the library hall. They found their way to the circular room with the spiral staircase without much trouble and hurried up the stairs. Then they set about looking for the geography room where they had seen the book of underground maps.

Pod flew ahead of Kerry and found the room first. But he saw that the map was no longer on the table where they had last seen it.

‘It's gone,' he said when Kerry entered.

‘Somebody must have put it back on the shelves,' said Kerry. ‘We've got to search the room. It has to be here somewhere.'

Pod flew up to the highest shelves and Kerry searched the lower rows of the many bookcases that lined the walls of the room. But, try as they might, they couldn't find the book anywhere.

‘I told you,' said Pod, ‘we shouldn't have made that laughing gas. Now we're in bigger trouble—'

‘Shhhh! I hear someone coming.'

They rushed to hide under the table, crouching low beneath it. To their surprise they heard the sound of human footsteps approaching.

Through the archway a man in a grey, hooded cloak appeared. He entered the room. To Kerry's dismay he walked straight up to their table and bent down. He looked right into her eyes.

CHAPTER 17

The Prophet

The man in the grey, hooded cloak studied Kerry with his piercing green eyes.

‘Don't be afraid,' he said.

‘But who are you?' asked Pod.

‘I am the Messenger.'

‘Are you the prophet that the wise old owls talk about?' asked Pod, emerging from under the table.

‘I'm known as a prophet. But my friends call me Malachy.'

Pod gasped. ‘Malachy, you're a legend in Kilbeggin. I've heard great tales of you from the birds of the Swishtree Forest.'

‘So you must be the man we saw at the cathedral in Kilbeggin,' said Kerry, slowly appearing from her hiding place. ‘And we saw you again on the ship. But why did that eagle attack you and why are you here?'

Malachy smiled. ‘My job is to protect the passengers on board the Ark of Dun Ruah and to keep an eye on Red Beak and his horde. Red Beak doesn't live quietly here on Eyrie Island. He is laying plans to expand his kingdom. No place is safe from his evil eyes. I'm working with the Abbot. He's very concerned about what's going on out here. And you two have created quite a stir with your fireworks and laughing gas. Red Beak is quite annoyed.'

‘I tried to stop her,' said Pod.

‘I had to do something,' said Kerry. ‘It was the only way we could get out of there.'

‘It served its purpose,' said Malachy. ‘But I've come to bring you news of your brother, Simon, and your friends, the swiftails. They are here in the Abbey searching for you.'

Kerry and Pod were delighted to hear that Simon was safe and the swiftails were on the island.

‘Please take us to them,' they begged Malachy.

‘The eagles are combing the Abbey for you right now,' he warned. ‘You are in great danger. Red Beak is in very bad humour. I'm going to help you escape. But first I'm putting you under cover.'

‘Under cover!' they exclaimed.

‘I want you to hide under my cloak. This way the eagles won't see you.'

The Messenger pulled back the folds of his grey cloak to reveal a dazzling silver lining inside. He raised the cloak from his shoulders and tossed it over Kerry and Pod's heads. It billowed out and swirled down to cover them in a soft, sparkling sheath. Kerry felt a tingling sensation, shimmering over her skin.

‘Just stay under my cloak and follow my footsteps. You won't be seen. We will be mere shadows to the eagles.'

Malachy led them through the library, back down the spiral staircase to the large circular room on the ground floor. They passed through a marble hallway and out through its front door. Here they encountered many flocks of eagle guards, patrolling the Abbey grounds. To Kerry's surprise, they passed by without being noticed. Wrapped in Malachy's cloak, she and Pod remained hidden from the eyes of their enemy. They followed him through the main courtyard, past the Great Hall and through the gardens to a little grove of oak trees. Malachy showed them to a hollow in the trunk of an old tree. They crept inside and sheltered.

‘It's safe here,' said Malachy. ‘Wait here for your friends.'

Throughout the Abbey, the eagles were in turmoil. Red Beak arrived in the Great Hall with Queen Kiki at his tail. They were both in a rage after hearing of the disappearance of Kerry and Pod. Red Beak's anger deepened when he discovered the effects of the laughing gas on his henchmen. Roddick lined them up before him in the middle of the Great Hall. The six guards stood there, desperately trying not to laugh. Then one of them snorted and the others broke down into helpless hysteria. Turning to Roddick, the Eagle King demanded, ‘Why are they behaving like this?'

‘Something has gotten into them,' replied Roddick. ‘I think it's that recipe Queen Kiki ordered the prisoners to make. They must have drank it or inhaled it. It's had a strange effect on them. They appear to be drunk!'

At this the guards laughed even harder and one of them fell to the floor.

‘Stop laughing, you idiots,' screeched Roddick. ‘You can't even look after a girl and a decrepit old owl.'

‘He isn't decrepit,' said Queen Kiki. ‘He has a very good coat of feathers.'

‘Exactly,' said Red Beak, ‘and it's a very valuable coat of feathers. You lot will pay for this with your blood if they are not found straight away.'

Another outbreak of laughter emerged from the unfortunate guards, who then dissolved into lengthy fits of sneezing.

‘You fools!' screamed Roddick, flying at the guards, his feathers standing on end. ‘I'll strangle every one of you for this. And pluck every feather off your pathetic bodies. I can't believe that between all of you, you couldn't watch one girl and a neurotic owl.'

Roddick grabbed the nearest guard by the neck.

‘Quiet, all of you,' ordered Red Beak. ‘I must think. Let me concentrate.'

The King raised his right claw and stroked his crown feathers. His eyes turned deep crimson and gleamed like glowing embers. They sent beams of penetrating red light across the walls.

‘I see two figures walking in darkness. They're in the cellars,' declared Red Beak. ‘Search the cellars now.'

When Niamh heard Queen Kiki ordering the guards to take Kerry and Pod to the tower, she decided to follow the secret passage from the fireplace in the Great Hall down to the kitchen cellars. Niamh knew that the prison tower was a new addition to the Abbey, built by Red Beak to torture his prisoners. There was no secret passage leading directly into the tower. But it was close to the library so she led Simon and the swiftails there. They made quick progress and were soon travelling along the main passage to the basement under the library when they heard the sound of eagles approaching.

‘We've got to get out of this passage and into the library,' said Niamh. ‘Hurry! We're not safe here.'

With the cries of the eagles echoing all around them, the little group tried to race faster but Red Beak's army was large and swift. They gained on them with every passing second.

Niamh ran ahead, with Simon and the swiftails following. Simon was on the lookout for something flammable that he could use to create a firework diversion and to frighten the eagles off. But the passages were damp, bare and empty and he found nothing useful.

The eagles were now right behind them. Simon hung back and threw a fistful of lit matches into the faces of the eagle guards. They fell back, screaming in pain as their feathers were scorched and charred. Simon shouted at Niamh and the swiftails to flee. He succeeded in holding the eagles off for several minutes while Niamh made it to the basement under the library and found what she was looking for. There was an opening into a narrow tunnel situated low down in the cave wall.

‘Simon,' she screamed. ‘Hurry Simon!' But all she heard was the flapping of eagles wings behind her. She slipped through the opening.

While the strong eagle guards raided the underground passages the swiftails found a tiny crevice and hid there undetected. But Simon couldn't hide. He struggled against the strongest guards and flung lit matches at their eyes. But without any solid fuel to ignite he couldn't hold the eagles back for long. They swooped through the passage and captured him.

Niamh was in an old tunnel that led from the basement up to the library. She scrambled over fallen rocks and stones, only to discover that the way was blocked before her. It was a dead end. The tunnel had either caved in or was blocked up by the eagles and she could go no further. The eagles tried to follow her into the tunnel but they couldn't stretch their wings in the cramped space. Afraid of being trapped, they gave up the pursuit. Niamh remained hidden behind some fallen rocks and the eagles finally retreated, thinking that she had escaped through the blocked tunnel.

After some anxious minutes waiting in silence Niamh figured it was safe to come out of the tunnel. She emerged from the opening to the tunnel whispering, ‘Simon, Simon where are you?'

Suddenly, a dazzling light flooded her face. Her hands sprang up to protect her eyes. A large torch was flashed straight into her pupils, blinding her for a moment. A shadow lurked behind the torch. She saw the outline of an enormous eagle.

Taking to her heels, Niamh fled into the darkness. But the shadow followed. She raced blindly along the dark passages and caves.

‘Where am I going?' she wondered, looking for landmarks along the way.

The eagle was about to overtake her. It flew over her head. By now she had lost her sense of direction. She turned into a narrow cavern and made for a low point where the roof almost touched the floor. Here she crouched. In this position the eagle couldn't swoop down on her from above. She grabbed a rusty candle stick that lay on the floor, and backed deeper into the crevice. The eagle darted towards her and she lashed out with the piece of metal, striking him on the wing. He screeched in pain and dropped the torch, swooping back out of her way.

Niamh picked up the torch and held it high. The eagle studied her.

‘Who are you?' he demanded.

‘Don't you dare come near me,' cried Niamh, ‘or I'll kill you stone dead.'

‘A nasty little piece of work, aren't you? Stay where you are then. You are trapped. And soon I'll be back with plenty of reinforcements.'

The eagle flew off and Niamh leaned back against the stone wall behind her to gather her strength. But, to her shock, the wall gave way and she fell down a steep shaft. She hit the ground with a crash. Bruised and dazed, she stood up and looked around her. She was still holding the torch.

Niamh saw that she was in a large tomb. Old stone slabs lined the walls and in the dim light she could see inscriptions on many of them. She shuddered. Through an archway she could see another tomb beyond.

‘I must have stumbled into the catacombs under the cloisters,' she thought.

Niamh had never been in the catacombs. It was one place she had never dared to explore with Coleman. But she knew there was no point in trying to climb back up the shaft. It was far too steep. She also knew that the eagles wouldn't dare to follow her into the claustrophobic catacombs. So she tried to find a way through the labyrinth of tombs. A crunching sound under her feet caused her to freeze in her tracks. She shone the flashlight down and saw skulls and bones scattered beneath her.